Black Joy Kitchen is a great place to eat and spend time with your family and friends! I visited the restaurant on June 11, 2026. I thought since that was the early part of June that it would not be crowded and I did not need a reservation and I could just walk in, boy was I wrong! That place was jammed packed full of happy, joyful customers! (I did make a reservation ahead of time!) I had the Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas and the Mr. James Smoked turkey greens. The Jerk Chicken was great and flavorful, but the rice and peas, well they were not all that great. It tasted like that they were nuked in the Microwave. Chef Ting needs to look into that. But the Mr. James Greens were to die for! Very flavorful! The staff were great, friendly and very professional. All the customers that I seen walking out were very happy with big smiles on their faces! I was hoping to meet Chef Ting while I was there because I seen her on her social media accounts being the life of party, but she was not there. Her Manager/Hostess Kimberly really worked that room keeping the customers in great spirits and making sure that the trains were running on time. She chatted with me during my stay there and make me feel right at home there. If you want a table at Black Joy Kitchen start making your reservations right now! read more

I went to Black Joy Kitchen with five friends and, on a last-minute decision, we walked in on a four-course wine pairing--so glad we did! Every course introduced us to incredible, unique flavors. As a self-proclaimed lobster connoisseur, I was blown away; there were seasonings and flavor combinations I had never experienced before. Absolutely tantalizing. The prawns were enormous and perfectly cooked, paired beautifully with a rich mushroom farro that really elevated the dish. And the final course? The most tender, flavorful oxtail I've ever had--and I've traveled the world and tried a lot of amazing food. While the wine pairings were excellent, the food was truly the star of the night. This was more than a meal--it was an experience. Highly recommend. read more

I can't say enough about this restaurant! What a gem! My daughter and I had brunch this past Sunday & we will back! Live Dj spinning music from R&B to hip hop while we feasted on soul food! Chef's kiss to the complimentary bread, ribs, brisket and the greens!! Chef Joy put her foot in it!!! read more

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This was the first restaurant I went to once I landed on Marthas Vineyard and it was a great introduction to say the least. We came on a Sunday, in September and it was not as crowded as expected. We got the biscuits with honey butter. The biscuit was a lot harder than expected and more on the savory side. I did have to adjust my flavor palate for it, but enjoyed it nonetheless. I absolutely loved the ribs and side: mac & cheese, baked beans. The fall off the bone beef ribs were great, but I have to say the sides showed out in taste and umami flavor. The most interesting part of my dining experience was how the chef's message resonated when encountering a distant family member's friend at the restaurant. How similar yet distinct the black diaspora is such a beautiful concept to explore. read more

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The Black Joy Kitchen is an experience, a vibe and a taste delight! This Black owned restaurant takes diners on a journey of the black diaspora- exploring food of the African continent, Caribbean and the U.S. using our common and differing approaches to meat, seafood, rice, greens, and vegetables. The vibe is truly joyous as it is clear that the staff love sharing Chef Ting's recipes and the stories of the food that tie folks together. read more

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Enjoyed at "Black Joy" 6 amazing food Courses, that were paired with wines from around the world. Great service and presentations by Chef Ting and The Black Joy Kitchen staff. The Lobster, Prawns Chicken, Mushrooms and Oxtails dinners were culinary masterpieces. Book Reservation Now--'cause Black Joy is already SOLD OUT in August. read more

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Visited Black Joy Kitchen during a trip to Martha's Vineyard and it was a great experience! Be aware that Black Joy Kitchen is a very popular restaurant so although the wait might be long, it is well worth it. Since this was my first visit, I wanted to try as much as I could so I ordered the ribs with brisket, Mac and cheese, greens, and baked beans. Everything was seasoned to my liking and well prepared! We also ordered the bacon as an appetizer. Black Joy Kitchen has a casual vibe and because of the wait time, I wouldn't suggest a group larger than 4. The best part of the experience was meeting the owner, who was walking around greeting everyone. She is such a pleasant person and she even gave us a sample of an item that was not on the menu. She swore us to secrecy, so I won't reveal what it was but like everything else, it was great! Looking forward to my next visit to Black Joy Kitchen - highly recommended! read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

I genuinely was excited to eat at Black Joy Kitchen and truly want it to succeed--it's a beautiful concept with great potential. However, if you're charging five-star prices, the customer service, food quality, and accountability must consistently meet five-star standards. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. We had a 5:00 PM reservation and arrived at 5:10 PM, clearly informing the staff that we needed to leave by 7:00 PM for the Martha's Vineyard Black Film Festival. By 6:22 PM, we still had no food on the table. we requested two Saratoga still bottled waters and our waitress disappeared for over 30 minutes and never returned. We eventually had to flag down another employee to receive basic service. When we addressed the issue, the front-of-house manager gave a passing, half-hearted apology while walking by, never stopping to acknowledge the disruption to our experience. He claimed to have no idea where our server went and offered nothing to make the situation right. The owner never came over to check in, either. To add insult to injury, my husband's flank steak came saturated in spicy sauce after he specifically asked for it on the side. We barely touched our meals, yet the bill came to over $224--90% of the food went uneaten, not because we were picky, but because it simply wasn't what we ordered or expected. The owner's daughter with beautiful short hair and cute glasses (I think her name was McKenzie). Not sure if the name is correct. However she was the one saving grace. She was warm, professional, explain the entire menu to us, and incredibly gracious spirit--without her presence, we likely would have walked out. Again, I sincerely say this: I want this business to thrive. However, that will only happen if leadership takes responsibility, service improves, and food meets the expectations of the price point. Right now, we will not return and most likely will not recommend if we are asked by our business partners, colleagues, family, or friends. Perhaps this will change once the quirks are worked out. read more

The restaurant and ambiance were amazing. Unfortunately, the menu we saw online was not the same menu presented at the restaurant, and we were unaware that the menu changes weekly. Our server was incredibly sweet and attentive. However, when we ordered sodas, we were served diet soda because they were out of Sprite. I wish we had been informed first and given the option to choose something else instead. The BBQ ribs were charred, dry, and heavily covered in BBQ sauce, but the sauce could not mask the taste or texture. The jollof rice was also dry and overly spicy without much seasoning or flavor beyond the heat. The mac and cheese, however, was excellent. The owner noticed that we were unhappy with our meal and kindly removed it from the check, which was greatly appreciated. Overall, the service and atmosphere were wonderful, but I do wish the food had been better. read more

Excellent, creative food of the melanated diaspora beautifully prepared and presented. Excellent personal service in a lovely setting. Overall a great chef, crew and restaurant building community with love. read more

LOVE the concept and Chef Ting! Wonderful space and vibe. Sadly, brunch was quite disappointing. Some items were clearly from... yesterday? Ice cold brisket with a little warm BBQ sauce on top. Way overcooked ribs. Cold biscuits that could have at least been revived in the oven. We were looking forward to the veggie option with chimichuri grilled portobello and zucchini. It came out as only zucchini (with no evidence of being grilled or chimichuri) and peppers...no prior explanation that they actually had no portobellos...until we asked. Highlights were the greens with smoked turkey and the mac & cheese. Given how expensive Black Joy is, we expected better. Felt sorry for the server...she was very nice and of course none of the missteps were her fault. Plan to return for dinner to try what looks like a fabulous menu...and in hopes of providing a stellar review! read more

I can across this restaurant while randomly scrolling IG. Came up with a video of the owner and executive chef, Chef Ting making their famous focaccia. I am so happy we got to try this place out. It's definite is a place you want to try out while visiting MV. The concept of the restaurant is amazing and something I have not experienced before. Every dish tells a story. All I can say is get there and try the all that you can on the menu. The food was really tasty. Everything we ordered was delicious (see pictures). Chef Ting, executive chef and owner is super sweet. She came to every table to say hello to the guest. The service was exceptional, all the staff members were friendly. Food came out fairly quick. The ambiance was also nice. Clean, bright and great decor. Will go back when in the area. read more

Everything we are greeted with warmth and hospitality unsurpassed by any other establishment on the Island. It starts right and doesn't disappoint. read more

As much as I wanted this place to be a great experience, it left a lot to be desired. We had the snapper, chicken, shrimp, scallops, flight of greens, and rice. We sent the rice back and eventually had removed from our check. The food was overpriced, which I would have been fine with if it were actually good. The snapper was the best thing we had(fried well and served hot) but like everything else it was unseasoned. I wish them well, as the concept was great to see but I would not visit again or recommend. read more

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Listen, As a person who will complain if something is wrong, I'm back to give a review on a place that is consistently right. If you are in Oak Bluffs and are lucky enough to get a reservation on Resy for this gem, here's what I'm going to recommend that you ask from my Summer of 25 visits: Brunch: Billionaire's Bacon. Delicious and enough to share if you are a sharing type of person. A serving for one if you are like me and reheats nicely if you want to save some for later. Brisket. Ribs. Mac and Cheese and the Beans. Dinner: Chandelier Chicken. This is one for the foodies. Ever heard of something being amazing third hand? My neighbor who hasn't yet had it recommended it to me based on someone else's reco who had tried it. Let me tell you this: I do not eat chicken on the bone. Ever. But this chicken right here? It's hard to describe why it's so good. It has a sweetness and a tanginesss that is the best, moist *baked* chicken I've ever had. But it's not BBQ. Some kinda seasoning magic that is kinda carmelized or something. Facts: One person in our party put a piece in their carryon on to take home and someone else (writing this review) stuck a carefully wrapped piece into the freezer for a rainy day. Cocktails: Yup, back again for the Kuwee Quasan. You know how you sometimes take a picture of a drink on the menu because you think - Oooh this is so good I'm going to make it at home. Don't bother. Just come back for it like I did. The vibe: Consistently lovely. The young servers are charming and the whole place vibrates food love, joy and a happiness to be there. read more

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The food, service and ambiance was amazing a great experience and the staff was attentive, knowledgeable and the owners/chef Ting treated us like royalty. The bartender did her thing with the drinks! I definitely recommend Black Joy Kitchen..definitely brought me JOY! read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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This was an amazing dining experience. Each of the dishes were great. The service was great. The restaurant was high energy. We had an amazing time. Get reservations read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

This is one of my favorite restaurants on the Island. Delicious enough for a special occasion, but you won't want to wait! Go now, and go often. It's THAT special~ from the service to the atmosphere, and the food? That's the WOW factor. It's THAT good! read more

My friends and I visited this restaurant this past weekend as part of my birthday trip. We were all excited and really looking forward to going and experiencing the different cultural flavors and dishes ....unfortunately there was a left A-LOT to be desired in the flavor department. Nothing had a real bold flavor. There was no spice (heat) not even the jerk. The dishes were also pricey, which would not have been a problem because we have no issue spending money on good food, but it just wasn't up to par with the price. We did have some delicious drinks, and the staff were very nice and accommodating. Sadly, we were disappointed in our visit. The concept is wonderful and I see so much potential in what they are trying to do, but the execution was just not good. Would I visit again? Yes. Solely based on the potential I see but some changes are definitely needed. read more

I planned a date night with my wife and made reservations for Black Joy Kitchen. I was so excited because I thought we would have a fantastic meal based on what I read. Our reservations were for 9 PM, and we immediately placed an order. It started with three items that we wanted were no longer available. It took 30 minutes to get my drink. After one hour and fifteen minutes, we received one dish. It was so cold you could not taste the flavors. After an hour and a half, I decided to leave. No restaurant should take this long to deliver food. Especially at the prices Black Joy Kitchen is charging. While waiting for my check, the steak dish we ordered came out. It looked like a one-ounce steak for which they were charging $48. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. It pains me to write such a bad review, but it needs to be said. Day one of my vacation, Disappointed and mad!!! read more

I booked a party for 12 to celebrate the retirement of a colleague. Leading up to the party is was easy to communicate with Stephen, and he really made us feel special. We decided to dine "family style" with the chef choosing the food, it was marvelous! Every course, every dish, the cocktails, the music, every moment. The bbq ribs were better than the bacon, and NOTHING is better than the bacon! Make a reservation soon...I know this will be a go to restaurant for me from now on. read more

We were initially disappointed to learn that the fried snapper is no longer on the menu. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the cod fish in curry sauce -- it was delicious and full of flavor! The greens and Gullah rice were decent, but not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the portion sizes were more in line with standard restaurant side orders -- which made the pricing feel out of step. $24.00 for a side of Gullah rice, $24.00 for greens, and most surprisingly, $24.00 for a slightly stale piece of "butter" cake topped with an overly hot microwaved compote -- sadly, that dessert was a regret. We genuinely wish them all the best. The food, for the most part, was good -- but the pricing could use some realignment. read more

We had 6 people in a booth and we had the best Sunday brunch. Every dish was so delicious and the Chef's intentions and personality shined through like pure magic. I have returned for another Sunday brunch. You will be lucky if you can get a reservation! read more

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The Gullah rice is amazing. However, we only got to try this rice because the steamer went down and the host brought us over the Gullah rice to keep us at bay until the Jollof arrived. The Jollof rice is trash- and does not resemble Ghana Jollof. The scallops were tender, but lacking flavor. The greens were amazing!!! The seating is small and they place cushions inside the booths making it a cramped space. read more

Tonight 8/13/25 we had reservations for 6 at 10pm (note you must arrive 15 min prior to your reservation and if you cancel you are charged 50$ per person). When we arrived our server should have informed us that they were out of most of the menu (veggies, fish, rice selection). But she didn't so we finally asked her what is available. Long story short three of the six of us decided not to order and left. read more

Go here!! Just go and see for yourself what a great experience it is -- with both food and ambiance. Chef Ting puts plenty of heart and soul into her food, and it is delivered smoothly and flawlessly by the staff -- including her charming and efficient daughter. Order ANY of the greens, and be sure to get the scallops, which made n mouth dance with unique spices (berbere!!) that still have me fantasizing about them. Just go here. Multiple times. Join the love and celebration. read more

The service is terrific, very friendly and welcoming and the food is delicious with unique flavors from around the world!

Food was excellent! Our server and service was not, my other issue drink menu , you can only order off drink menu, you can't order anything different I was told, also no beer on menu which I thought was strange and on menu many things not available the night we went? read more

Beware! I booked a reservation and ate at the restaurant. I was then charged a $100 no show fee. I tried contacting the restaurant and their mailbox is full. this is fraud! I have receipts. read more

I try not to speak poorly of Black owned businesses, but I feel compelled to share my experience at and with Black Joy Kitchen to hopefully help others be more cautious with their money. I was looking forward to a great, soulful meal on the island and was unfortunately disappointed. My best friend and I arrived early to our 5:15 reservation back in August on the 14th (date is important) and, though seated quickly, was warned the wait time for our meal would take a while - they just opened, y'all. So, expectantly, the food came out staggered, not a complete meal at once, and was cold (rice and collards) and mildly warm (the meat) at best. We stayed pleasant, tipped well, and left. THIS MONTH, October 14, TWO MONTHS LATER, I was charged a cancellation fee of $100 to my card. I called immediately, but of course they were closed, as this was a Tuesday, and had to leave a message. A representative from the restaurant called me back the next day and, after I explained the situation, told me he didn't understand the charge, but would take care of it with the company, Resy, the site they use for reservations. He said he would send me a follow-up email and now, 10 days later, I'm still waiting on that email. I'm now in the process of disputing this charge with my bank and will hopefully get my full refund, but this is not a fun experience. I'm hoping no one else will have to go through this, but do be aware this could happen to you. read more

Ambiance/Drinks were good. Food ok. Was a bad night. Vegetable dish w/cauliflower, rice & coconut sauce not good. Cauliflower was singed dark brown/black, the char overpowered the cauliflower. Cornbread burnt, extremely dry, did not rise & portion was small. Ribs & Cod in coconut sauce were ok. The mac and cheese just ok. Our waitress, Alana C. was unsatisfactory. Unfamiliar with menu & couldn't give a description of dishes or explain how food was served. We asked if the menu was served family style, she replied, yes I guess, could be shared by 2-3 persons. Service was horrible, never gave her name, checked to see if food was satisfactory. Others came to give food, water, remove dishes. When she did return she replied, Hi, I'm sorry. We asked other waitress to get her for check. She picked up check and replied, oh ok no change. Never goodbye, thank you for coming, etc. Same w/front of restaurant. Chef was in the dining room never greeted our table. We won't be returning. read more