Never knew this place existed before a Yelp search for a decent craft beer bar in the Acton area. The beer brewed on premises was very good, and the tap selection extended to other well-regarded regional craft beers. We tried one appetizer (they forgot the second one in the order), which was OK, but a bit pricey (it is Acton, after all). They only open at 4 or 5PM, even on weekends, so lunch or weekend game watching appears not to be an option. Since there aren't many options in the area, I'm sure this place will do well, but I'm not one for battling crowds and waiting 45 minutes for a beer. It's interesting that the crowd age (which really packs in after 6PM), reflects the affluent demographics of the area, and is heavily skewed to the 40-60 something range. These are my people, but it just seemed odd to have a hipster-ish place relatively unpopulated by hipsters. BTW, their website needs significant work. read more

Have so greatly enjoyed since its opening, especially since we can walk there (!) -- love this outstanding, creative solar powered brewed beer selection / seasonally, the local area grown food, and the wonderful teams who've make this pub a reality in our area. This neighborhood pub gives West Acton a real town-home feeling. Have gotten to know all of the bartenders and staff across this neat pub over the years -- and have really enjoyed talking with them about life and hopes. They work hard and, as they get to know you, we really enjoy the wonderful atmosphere, watching a game, talking with people at the bar, inviting friends and family for a meal and drinks! Big shout out to current crew, especially the long-timers (as I can try to remember everyone by first name!) -- Amanda, Amy, Cheyenne, Drew, Julie, Ken, Kate, Kat, Lia, Matt, Matteo, Nick, Pete, Scott ... (If I missed anyone, my sincere apologies, as I'm still getting names noted -- and, of course, all those who worked there before this amazing crew, too!) read more

We were very disappointed in this restaurant. The beer is good, food is just okay, but it doesn't offset how rude and bitchy the bartenders are. For being in a service industry, they don't know how to treat their customers. I have tried this restaurant 3-4 times and every time the service gets worse. I am done going here and will try any other place going forward. read more

First, I want to say that I really want to like this restaurant. The location is great, and is part of an effort to build a town center for Acton, of which I'm a huge proponent. I also think both the food, and the environment are really appealing, despite some of the other reviews I've read. Unfortunately, the fatal flaw of this place has been service, and my experience is that it's coming from the top down. We took two couples with us on a Saturday night and learned that our reserved table was not ready. That happens, but the hostess was surly and not at all apologetic about it. The owner, Pete, offered to give us a tour of the brewery, which we appreciated. Unfortunately when we came out of the tour, they'd given our table away. To make matters worse, the waitress got every one of our orders wrong. I would have overlooked all of these things and written it off as they're still relatively new. But when one of our party posted a negative review here on Yelp during the dinner, the owner came over and read it out loud to the table. It was rude and embarrassing, particularly since I was bringing friends to a local place that I was trying to support. Had he just said "I read the review and am glad you're still here because I'd love to make it right", he could have turned the whole thing around. To me it demonstrates a lack of focus on the customer's experience, and close-mindedness to feedback, regardless of the style in which it's delivered. A look at the defensive responses of the owner here on Yelp only reinforce that impression. I still wish them well, but it would be very hard for me to go back. read more

We had an ok experience. Waitress was great. We had the potato dumplings and the fries with cheese. Everyone loved them. I had the chorizo flatbread (delicious), My husband had a burger( he said it was very good), My daughter, my father-in-law and mother-in-law all had the fish and chips and no one liked them. They said the breading was too thick and had no flavor and the chips were also too thick. Although my daughter liked the chips. There was no salt and pepper on the table. My son had the chicken nuggets and fries off the kids menu. He did like them but all the condiments were house made and not that good. The "ketchup" tasted like tomato sauce and the bbq sauce was not that good. Also, kids meals don't need anything in them. The chicken came on a bed of lettuce and I had to ask for a plate to remove it We did let the waitress know and left a comment card. I found it weird though that 3 people ordered fish and chips and no one ate them! Yet we were not compensated at all. Overall it was a nice atmosphere, the wait staff was attentive but the food was mediocre. Being from a restaurant family we understand there will be kinks to work out so we will try it again I'm a few months. read more

We went there for the second time within a week, and are undecided about a third visit. First visit was a 5 star experience, and second was not. Food was good, beer was great but service is inconsistent. I called in 6 hours earlier requesting the hightop table because there is an area where I could slide our stroller and it would be out of the way. I did this because the first time we went, the host recommended this seating and it worked out amazingly well. When we arrived we were sat at a corner table in main area. We have twins with a long stroller. My concern was that the stroller would be bumped alot and we would be in everyone's way. Which was the case. One particular server kept bumping into it and stood at an impass with me because we both couldnt fit due to the stroller and she made us move so she could get by with her to go box. Our server brought one to go box for my meal before i started yo eat since i was holding babies, it felt like we were asked to leave. I do recognize she was trying to be helpful, but it felt bad because of everything else. I had to remove babies from stroller because they were bumped so frequently and i thought some food or drink would fall on them. The manager eventually came to greet us. I was unhappy and said it. I probably did have an attitude because it was an unpleasant experience. The first time the manager came he was fine. The second time he came off aggressive. Talked a little too loud, raised his hands as if saying he couldnt do anything to please me and other guests were starring at our table. I am so disappointed as we were hoping to make this a regular spot. read more

I simply love this place. When you look at the prices you pay for the quality you receive, the value is better than almost any restaurant I've ever been to. I've been going there for the past year and a half, and I notice they are constantly looking for ways to improve your experience. I've also rarely been to a bar/restaurant of any kind that offers perfectly fresh draft beer with the consistency of True West. And any staff member I've dealt with has been kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to be working there. read more

Just went there for the first time. I am going to round up to 4 stars. I'm not sure that the food or the the beer make this an "I can't wait to go back again" experience, but seems like a reliable, "go to" kind of place. Plus, how can you not like a place named for the play and with a likeness of the playwright on their wall? read more

Went on a Tuesday night when the kitchen was closed and it was drinks only. The bartender Rob was friendly and helpful suggesting beers my friend and I might like. Both beers I tried were delicious and the atmosphere was perfect, plenty of people but very quiet and conversational. So an off-beat idea, go on Monday or Tuesday, pick up some food at Twin's Seafood and enjoy some great drinks at the bar with some friends. read more

Went here a couple weeks back with my five year old son at lunchtime. Bartender was extremely rude about my son sitting at the bar, even though the place was half empty and I was just waiting for my takeout. Asked him for a milk for my son who was now sitting at a table and he never brought it. Ordered and appetizer while I was waiting for my food and he never brought it. Not kid friendly at all. Bartender couldn't have been more uncooperative. I'll never go back.... read more

Just what Acton needed. This a a happening place. Great crowd and excellent food and beer. Have already been here a handful of times and the service keeps improving. read more

Excellent food. Opportunity for beer flight which was a great way to try 6 beers. I had the shrimp and Buratta flatbread which was so tasty. Sirloin burger, turkey sandwich was more than enough and will bring home the rest for lunch tomorrow. Decor was interesting and fresh looking. Highly recommend. read more

Terrible, terrible service. Took over an hour to get our food. Had to ask for our drinks after my child already had food. Had to ask where our food was after we were asked if we needed anything else. (Yes, our food please!) Had to get up and find someone to ask for check. The server was nice but inattentive, but yet there were 3-6 people standing at the host table at any time. The food wasn't amazing after the wait- good, fresh, but not amazing flavor wise. The fries were definitely the highlight. read more

I wish I likedthis place. Beer and cider was amazing. But the food. Not so much. Fish tacos were fishy and heaped with too much apparently canned salsa and sour cream. Pulled pork tacos were heavy and soaked in grease. Go there for a drink and stop there. read more

Great food. Great beer. Great vibe. Waiting staff was amazing and the host/hostess was very patient with everyone. Large space in front of the bar to hangout and wait for your table as well as an outdoor patio to drink your beer. A much needed awesome addition to the Acton food scene. read more

In my opinion, this place has legs, but they still need to iron out a few more kinks. When we arrived we were told the wait would be 20 minutes. It was 40. Yelp said they don't take reservations, yet we were told folks were seated before us because they had them. From our vantage point, tables sat empty after being cleared for ten minutes or so. Just two bar tenders were getting drinks, which meant for a long wait standing awkwardly behind folks sitting at the bar. At one point during dinner I saw seven--that's right--seven servers waiting at the bar to pick up drink orders. In general, the wait staff seemed very green. They gathered by the computers throughout the evening, not just putting in orders, but conferring with one another. Food was decent. Not great, but decent. Our server did not initially know how much cocktails cost (no price on the menu) and she said she knew the margarita was 18 dollars. I asked her to double check and she let me know they actually range between 8 and 12 dollars. Whoops. Still, we really liked the atmosphere, especially the extra seating around the perimeter of the bar and the use of the front porch. Seems like a great place if you are just looking for drinks and apps. We'll give this place another few months to pull it all together. My advice is to do the same and hope for the best come late August or early September. read more

First of all let me say I'm not picky. As long as I don't have to cook and clean then I'm happy. All I ask is the the food and service be relatively good. Unfortunately I did not find this to be the case at True West. The first time we dined here we chalked up some of the kinks to it being new. But the second time was just flat out disappointing. We went early on a Wednesday night and the place was already very busy. We were seated pretty quickly though greeted by a nice but clearly over burdened waitress who took our drink orders and promised to bring us water. Didn't see her again for 20 minutes. When she returned she told us the bar was backed up and the manager was making our drinks. 10 more minutes before she brought us our water and then later our drinks. At that point she apologetically told us that our order had never gone in and that we could order an app on the house...that took another 15 minutes. Finally our food arrived nearly an hour after we arrived. My husbands burger was good but my tacos were over cooked and flavorless. I mean it's a taco...not that hard. We over head several other patrons complain about the wait for food and in fact the couple seated next to us never got their drinks and ended up leaving. I don't blame the waitress, she had way too many tables. If management knew there was a problem with our drink and food order it would have made a world of difference for someone to just come by our table to apologize or let us know what was going on. Sorry won't be going back. Beer is good and that's about it. Plenty of other places in the area with way better food, service and management. read more

Been here a few times. Food and drink is 3 to 4 stars, but the pricing is 5 stars. If you like a place that is a little above average and don't mind paying as if it was top notch then this is the place for you! read more

This is in a very up and coming area to town. The ambiance is great. Beers are great. Food is pretty good. Not outstanding but a good meal. The service wasn't amazing. I met a group of friends for dinner and drinks and the waitress never came back for a second round. Chairs were a little uncomfortable to sit in after awhile. I think they would benefit greatly from a few additional tables. They seem to have the room that goes unused . read more

We just went for a late lunch and it was lovely. We sat on the porch out front, had delicious beers and the fish tacos were excellent. Good service too. We will definitely go back. read more

Less than mediocre food and a funky smell. The menu is reasonably interesting but the execution lacking. Not terrible but not really worth the time either. read more

Absolutely hands down the worst service. First off, we ordered buffalo wings - but received their sweet and spicy dry rubbed wings instead. Second, I ordered their chicken sandwich with brie and bacon for my entrée. I received the chicken sandwich with no brie or bacon. I told the waitress who took the sandwich back. When she returned with the proper sandwich, my friends had already finished their meal. No apologies. No compensation for eating alone. Finally, and the most offensive service issue, is that they kicked my husband and me and our 2 friends out of the restaurant at 10:45pm. Apparently after only two rounds of drinks the owner claimed "we had enough". We are all in our late-thirties, we all have young children at home -- we are well aware of our alcohol limitations - two drinks during dinner is hardly enough to be cut off. The bar was packed with patrons, the restaurant was still serving dinner to other customers, so we were utterly confused as to why we were being told to leave. Note to owner: We are locals - we live in Concord - you may want to treat your customers better if you want to succeed in the restaurant world. Adults who are kind, mature and acting appropriately should not be kicked out of your restaurant. read more

Went during xmas shopping season. I love the slabs of wood decorating the walls. The ladies in our party had cranberry pecan salad and delicatta squash salad. The gentleman had pulled pork sandwich with white fries. There were no complaints with any of the food and we all shared those richly cheesy fries. Lots of yummyness! The youngest with us just turned 21 so we ordered 3 fleets of different brews for her to try, She had help, but we all had our favorites and polished them off happily. Mine was a rich dark beer with the essence of coffee. It paired well with the giant brownie that came topped with vanilla Ice cream. Great meal. Go and you will be happy you did!!!!!! read more

I love the setting and location here. The menu sounds terrific but beef is rarely executed well. I would recommend ordering beef rare always, even for kids. The beer is cold, has original characteristics and is well defined on the tap list. The service is dismal though. I have never been offered a second drink no matter how long my glass sits empty and rarely get a beer before food arrives. Always, sit at the bar if you don't have kids in tow. My kids both have favorite menu items, so I will be back - and I'll upgrade this rating the instant the service improves. read more

Overall a great dining experience. The food was delicious, the beers were great, and the service was outstanding. Colleen did an excellent job making us feel welcome and went above and beyond because she found out we were military. She brought out a dessert and wrote a nice "thank you" note to us and our spouses. That meant a lot to both families...thank you! I was planning on 4 stars since the prices were a little high but the service from start to finish earned the 5th star. Thanks for a great night! read more

I was cruising through West Acton last Sunday around five, when I decided to check out True West, the new brewpub restaurant that opened a month ago. The place was packed for a Sunday early evening. The entrance opens to an L-shaped dining area with high ceilings and wooden floors with a bar near the entrance The noise was quite loud (8.5 on the Richter scale of bar loudness) and there was not an table empty to be seen. A large screen menu over the bar displays the current brew offerings of about 10. I chose the True West Colonial Gold ale. They describe it as their entry level beer, which I would generally agree with. Not terribly remarkable but drinkable. A space opened up at the bar, I sat down and ordered the pulled pork sandwich from the very pleasant wait staff. I waited about 15 minutes for my sandwich and fries to arrive which was not unreasonable considering the busyness. The enthusiastic 30s, 40s, and 50s somethings crowd was understandable as Acton has had a limited selection of restaurants to choose from until recently. The menu described the beer braised pork sandwich as "house made barbecue piled high with honey-citrus coleslaw and tomato jam". The flavor of the pulled pork was good though the barbecue flavor too subtle and not as tender as pulled pork should be. As for being "piled high" that should be considered as taking literary license. The generic hamburger bun and mound of somewhat over cooked, slightly greasy fries dominated the plate and did not make it a memorable experience. More pork, less fries. The "tomato jam" was a nice touch. At $14 it was a bit pricey for a modest pub sandwich. I will certainly give True West another try in the future when some of the initial buzz has worn off. read more

were seated in the rear where it wasn't so noisy - and it wasn't, so we were able to have a conversation with the couple we were with. The service was good, but be aware of certain dishes on the the menu. My party had the Taco's and the hamburger which were good but I have to write this review to say that my Caesar salad that I started with was not good in that the scant dressing was not Caesar and the croutons were hard and not fresh. I asked the waitress to bring more dressing and that's when I discovered that it was thin and did not have the "Caesar" taste to it. If it was just the salad I wouldn't be prompted to write this review; it was the "Truben" that I order for my entree that was truly horrible. I am a Ruben lover and I have had many variations of it. I can understand when chefs like to experiment with traditional to make it more interesting or better tasting, but the True West Truben is by far the worst variation of a Ruben I every had and did not finish it. It was completely dry and void of any dressing. The Pastrami was good but it wasn't incased with Rye, but rather toasted grain and then (I think) Gouda cheese and that was it - no dressing, nothing else! it was so dry I had a hard time getting thru the 1/2 of it. The fries that came with it were nothing special and like anything I'd get at a fast food. I don't think this was a mistake since the wife of the couple we were with had it too and had the same opinion. So all in all, atmosphere, service and some items on the menu - all good, but be careful of some of their dishes. I hope the restaurant reads their Yelp reviews so that the Chef can be informed about this. read more

Beer is great, but that becomes irrelevant with bad service. We were told table seating was closed and that we have to try and find spots at the bar. Did not apologize or try to accommodate. read more

Bartenders are terrible. They need to scan the bar and when they are too busy to stop, they should at least acknowledge your presence.

We have gone to True West a number of times. The atmosphere and the food are both decent. We had our personal favorites including the white cheese fries. However, we have tried calling for take out several times recently. Everything we asked for we were told they don't have anymore. We double-checked their menu online and we were definitely trying to order items listed on the website menu (white cheese fries, pulled pork sandwich, the taco flight, and the list goes on). What is the point of having an online menu when you can't order anything from it? We have gotten so frustrated that we have just given up on the place. Advice to management: update your menu and website and bring back the white cheese fries! read more

This place will be great when they figure out the kinks. Good menu, though would have preferred a few healthier options. Good wine and beer selection, and solid pours. Warm, friendly service and very kid friendly. Food needed to be seasoned better and service was very slow even with an attentive waitress. But we are looking forward to this being a routine place for us and expect these to be growing pains! read more

I had lunch there & was very disappointed. We didn't go for the beer/ale, but expected good food to match the high prices. The french fries were good, but the Reuben bore no resemblance to a real Reuben. The meat was grey & had chunks of fat, & there was little or no Thousand Island dressing on it. They should go to Zaftig's to see what a REAL Reuben looks & tastes like. Too bad - I had hoped for much better. read more

We tried this new place out last night for dinner after my wife heard about it on Boston.com. I really don't understand any of the negative yelp reviews for True West. We thought the food selection was inspired, their beer was awesome, the ambience was really cool, and the service was very fast/friendly with great attention to detail. I usually view the "farm-to-table" theme with suspicion since so many of those places hide behind that label to justify a very limited menu and high prices. True West had a very diverse menu and everything our party of four ordered was awesome. Even the seemingly mundane was great (best tater tots on Earth). As for some of the haters complaining about the price, check out the menu online before you go! I thought the price was well worth it! read more

I have been waiting so long for True West. This is just the kind of place Acton has been dying for. A true brew pub in a lovely walkable area. We have been here quite a few times since the opening and have, luckily, timed our visits so that we have not had to wait long for a table. Family friendly with great food for parents to enjoy as well as great selections for the kids. The beer selection is also phenomenal. Added plus, there is a playground across the street to send the children to, or hang out at while you wait for your table. read more

Visited one Friday evening before the rush. We enjoyed our beers and food. Had the loaded fries to start. They were tasty but could have been a bit warmer when brought out. We also never got plates with the appetizer but just dug in as they were getting a bit busier. Enjoyed both the fish tacos and brew-masters burger. Both were filling and very tasty. Too full from the assortment of beers to try dessert but maybe next time. We plan to return but have to arrive when not too busy to find a seat. As we left it was quite busy. Nice job gents! read more

Like others I wanted to like this place. It was loud but will forgive that. My husband says beer was good but couldn't make up for the food which was way below average. Had wings- no flavor- did they forget the rub? Pub salad - most bland thing I have ever not eaten. Not worth the calories. Chicken sandwich was only somewhat decent because of the bacon on top of it. So disappointing. We don't plan on going back. read more

We went a few weeks ago getting there right at six before the crazy rush. The food was good, the service was good. Nothing spectacularly stood out to make me want to go back. I had the fish and chips; they didn't have malt vinegar available (maybe they do now, but who serves fish and chips without vinegar available??). My boys had the chicken tenders and the PB&J. I think the peanut butter was home made because it was "micro-crunchy" as my seven-year old described it (he's used to store bought creamy or extra crunchy). The chicken tenders disappeared. The restaurant is loud. read more

True West is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. Food is solid to great. I recommend the chicken sandwich or pork tacos and the small plates/appetizers go great with a pint. Bar tenders are friendly and invested in making the place successful. All of their beers are great to excellent. I'm a big fan of the ruckus IPA. Two big tvs behind bar that may appear to only show beer menu, but they are happy to change to anything you want. I guess it's loud for a restaurant, but word is they are working on this. Big place and outdoor seating is nice now that spring has come. Been in 6 times now and have gotten just the experience I wanted every time. Acton and everywhere needs more places like this! read more

Beer great. French rose great. Food, eh. Love the concept, will go back, but please reduce the plate size and alter the menu. More flavor, herbs, better cheese, less focus on fries. read more

A disappointing experience! We went there on a Wednesday night and the wait for the table was 40 minutes at 7pm and parking was a challenge. We waited outside as the noise level. inside was awful! At least outside we had a chance to have a conversation. We were finally seated in the rear of the restaurant in a corner. If they added accoustic tiles it did not help! The table was set up with seat at each end and a banquet on one side so with the noise level it was impossible to talk to the person at the other end of the table. Water was served quickly which was a good thing as our drinks did not come for quite some time. I ordered a cocktail and asked to have it without the Vodka. After a long wait the waitress came back and asked me if I wanted it without the whiskey?? No mention of whiskey being in the cocktail. Someone was confused at the bar. I wondered if I was going to get the correct drink ( I did) One beer arrived first after quite a wait and then the other drinks finally arrived. Our waitress took our orders. I ordered the Caesar salad and we ordered the Pretzel to share. The Pretzel arrived after a wait the salad did not. The waitress took our main orders, then we waited. Still no salad. Finally our main course arrived as well as the salad. I sent it back. It was a wedge of very wilted and brown lettuce with a smidge of dressing on top. I ordered the fish taco as did one other in the party. They were OK, not great, and only slightly warm not hot. My husband ordered a burger and said it was OK, the fries were burnt. The other person ordered a flat bread and that was fine. Sadly between the noise level and the food we are not inclined to come again. Too many other good restaurants to choose from. Also I would prefer to go somewhere where I can make a reservation. If we want a brew pub Rapscallion would be our alternate choice at this point. read more