I saw Joyce on a random list of restaurants in LA, then I made a reservation on Open Table for less than an hour's time ahead. Google said it had soul food, but I did not expect it to be so fancy. I found street parking nearby. It's $0.50/hour for max of two hours between 4-8 PM, but free after 8 PM. The meters have slots for inserting a credit card as payment. Joyce is right next to Whole Foods and across the street from a CVS. I was greeted by the hostess and seated right away. It was dimly lit, and the interior was very pretty. I was offered water right away, but it legit took 20 minutes for someone to come take my order. I thought that was odd. Cornbread $11- ngl I wasn't going to order this because a Yelp review said it was just ok. The server convinced me saying it was really popular, so I ended up getting it. It was way better than I expected because it looked really ugly, like a flan almost, and the butter was just spread out on half the plate. The bottom of the cornbread was sweet while the top of the cornbread had some salt. I think I would get this again. Catfish $29- This dish was surprisingly good to me. The cornmeal was so crunchy outside, and the catfish was so delicate inside. The fried pickles weren't that sour but still tasty with the sauce. The server offered their house hot sauce (that I thought was similar to Tobasco), and I think they made the catfish taste better. I'm drooling just thinking back to it. Pork chop $74- This was the star of the meal. The meat was so tender and so flavorful. I could smell the char from the grill as soon as the dish was brought out to the table. Highly recommend getting this dish. I'm sure their dessert would have been very tasty too, so I would want to leave room for dessert next time! Dinner ended up being like $80 per person (without drinks). Overall I had a pleasant meal. read more

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Second time here but came here for brunch with a group of 6 and we were sat immediately at our reservation time. I ordered the old fashion for my libation which came with a cute ice cube that had a design engraved on it. For food, I ordered the French toast, which was phenomenal, and grits, which wasn't so much. The presentation and texture reminded me of oatmeal and it was super thick and grainy so wouldn't get that again for sure. Unfortunately the service was super slow and there were multiple things that were forgotten that we ordered so definitely left a bad first impression on some of group. Love the affordable parking deck across the street though! read more

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Overall, my visit to Joyce left much to be desired. While the ambiance was inviting with its modern decor, and the service was satisfactory, the culinary experience fell short of expectations. The portions were small for the price point. The blue crab sandwich was very light and the flavors were a little muted. The bread was very soft. We also ordered the catfish sandwich. Although the bread was soft and the catfish tender, the breading lacked the desired crispiness. The addition of purple cabbage and pickles left the sandwich somewhat soggy. On a brighter note, the cast iron mac and cheese provided a pleasant surprise with its crunchy cheese topping, offering a delightful textural contrast. However, the fries and salad were rather standard fare. Overall, while there were some highlights, the dining experience at failed to leave a lasting impression that would compel me to return. read more

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This place is everything! It's black owned so 10 stars for that! But let's break down what you REALLY want to know Food 4/5: fair prices for the portions you receive I got the biscuits and gravy and my bff got the shrimp and grits all food came out fresh! He liked his shrimp and grits my biscuits and gravy were ok I didn't like the big pieces of sausages it was on would've just liked it as a gravy. Cornbread was bomb.com and so were the collard greens! The champagne with the flavored (we got peach) were REALLY cute very instagramable! Service 5/5: we got there right when they opened so we got to experience a good pace of service and our food coming quickly our server was amazing and so was the hostess and pretty much everyone working! This is my number one seeker is GREAT service and we definitely received that! Ambiance 5/5: My favorite part this place is so CUTTTEEEEE HUNTY! It's a clean slightly boho chic feel! I absolutely loved it. You can park next door at the WF and the music was bomb.com and not too loud where you gotta scream at each other lol! And they have an elegant feeling bar area!! I will definitely be making this a new spot of mine! Joyce for the win read more

Joyce - Biscuit and gravy - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Joyce was fantastic, our server, Jade, was excellent. I'm dealing with a back injury, and when we asked to sit side by side (table of 2) she very graciously combined tables for us. Admittedly the restaurant had some open tables, so not sure if they would accommodate if it was packed. She was very helpful and answered all our questions. She was very knowledgable of all the intricacies of the menu and her recommendations were spot on. The décor and ambience were great, cozy yet chic, buzzy without being overwhelming, even on a slow night. Music was a vibe. Most everything food/drink wise was great, we can't recommend the Catfish and the Fried Game Hen enough. But the stars were definitely the Cornbread and the Biscuits that came with the fried game hen. We had a shellfish + pork allergy, so didn't try any of those, but have heard good things. Of the food, we'd say the Kanpachi Ceviche was the weakest - still tasty, but the mango/avocado overpowered the fish. We would highly recommend the Lydia's spritz for anyone looking at an N/A option, sweet but with that signature aperol/prosecco taste. The Punk Evans was also very tasty - their watermelon juice ice cubes were a real winner! Overall, very pleased and would love to go back. read more

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I was so disappointed that I did not like this food. Our server did such a good job recommending things but yall when I tell you the chicken had NO SEASONING!!! The table next to us got the chicken and waffles and she said the same thing. Considering the amount I paid I was sad I left hungry 10/10 DONT recommend read more

Love the vibe! Nice ambiance! Great drinks. Drayson the bartender and the bar-back were great. I did not eat at the bar, but my friend loved the dish she ordered, and I look forward to returning to try the food. The dishes nearby looked great. read more

Joyce - Holidays Drinks! - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food was fantastic and our server knew the menu through and through! I'm not a fan of grits and this was delicious and flavourful - peppery and filling! The corn bread, YUM - must have :) The restaurant is well maintained with high ceilings and bright! read more

I finally got a chance to try Joyce & I'm so happy that I did! Came in today for lunch & was greeted by a happy individual (I forgot his name but he was the only one working the floor so that's not hard to figure out & his nose is pierced) service was great!! but anyways, we ordered Nashville hot catfish platter with the fries , the Mac & cheese, & the vegan chicken sandwich plate with a salad. The fish was thickkkk and nicely breaded but needed a bit more seasoning for my liking. The fries were standard, I dipped them in the Aioli so that helped. The vegan chicken sandwich was pretty good too! Buns were nice and fresh, plump lol the Mac was top tier! Cast iron, served fresh and hot. No complaints there. We tried the Punk Evan's cocktail and it was 10/10. Try it! Let the cranberry ice cubes melt a bit. The star of the visit was the peach & bourbon cobbler . 10/10 Will return for dinner menu! read more

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First time here today. Was hoping this place had good food from their pictures on yelp. For southern style food this place is so MID. Would have gave them a 2 . The female waitress totally ruin our dinner tonight. We ordered 8 items. After waiting for 50 mins mins 2 of our items didn't come out. Another gentleman took over and we asked him why our food taking so long. He said he just got in and the previous waiter left and he has to check. For the gentleman the black guy with the glasses and beard he was very helpful. Realizing the screw up. He made up for it. (HE DESERVES a 5 ). But the original black female waiter no comment on her because there's nothing good to say. Would I recommend this place to say the food here is good? NOT really. If you're a real foodie you'll know what good southern food is read more

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A hostess can really make or break your experience and ours hit 2 strikes within 10mins of our arrival. Strike 1: We walked in the "open doors" at 4:51pm on a Saturday, we had no idea Yelp's hours were wrong but we were swiftly notified by the hostess that "they weren't open and would be opening in about 5 minutes so we needed to go back outside" (in the rain) and wait. Seriously? Another couple walked inside and she told them the same thing. THEN WHY NOT LOCK THE DOOR? Or better yet, how about saying we aren't open yet but feel free to sit on the couch area (inside) until we're ready to seat you. It's just petty to make someone go back outside for less than a 10min. wait. **Hospitality 101! Strike 2: We get inside at 5:00pm and she asks us if we had reservations. We said no b/c it says online reservations are not required. She then leads with "UNFORTUNATELY" we don't have any availability. Unfortunately for who? Them or us? Saying "unfortunately" to a customer is a trigger and is just as bad as telling someone to "calm down". It's condescending!! We tell her nowhere did it say we needed reservations and there were only 3 couples inside at this point. She tells us we can sit at the bar. Fine. We sit at the bar. I was actually ready to leave at this point. When we got our food there were still about 5 or 6 open tables that I could see. Why couldn't we be seated there? I'll bet the Open Table reservations were paid for so they didn't want to give those tables away even if the parties were late. Anyway - don't have much energy for the full food review at this point. The food is high-end fancy soul-ish food. The cornbread was delicious, catfish was decent, the Mac n cheese was a little too sharp for me, Caesar salad was decent (fyi - had full bodied sardines). Service from everyone *else* was great. read more

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I decided to walk in and save money. Online, if you want a reservation, you have to pay $25 per person to reserve the table. I'm not paying to reserve a table to eat, the refund is not immediate. Everyone was nice and welcoming when you enter the space. We were able to be seated at a nice table with a comfy couch on one side. We ordered the mac n cheese, fried fish, Caesar salad and corn bread. The mac n cheese was savory. It reminds you of a grilled cheese. Fried cat fish was barely seasoned and the sauce it laid on had a slight horseradish flavor. The cornbread was like a dessert cake. The butter had notes of salt and a little pepper. The host brought over crab dip and the cheese and crab were present and tangy. The cheese crackers accompanied with the crab dip merried well. The menu seems to change each month. My friend mentioned the black history month cocktail and now the menu said women's history month cocktails. The bill was steep for what we ordered but... DTLA 7th and Grand will have a price. There is a 3.5% charge for credit card use, so I paid cash. When I got my change, it still included the 3.5% charge, which I didn't think right. But I included it as part of the tip. I'm fed up paying these small extra fees for restaurants. read more

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We came to Joyce with a large group of breast cancer survivors and couldn't have been happier. Working with Prince was so easy and a pleasant experience. The staff was attentive and so kind. The food was SO good! There wasn't a dish we didn't love!! If I had to pick a favorite it was the shrimp and grits. I think I may have licked the plate. This was also my second time visiting Joyce. I didn't take pictures the first time, but it was an equally pleasant experience. read more

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This place has been talked about a lot so I decided to make reservations for my mom on Mother's Day. When we arrived at 11:45am, we noticed the limited menu for brunch. My mom selected the fish tacos but of course they didn't have the one most raved about item that day leading her to scramble to find something else to eat. Due to her dietary restrictions and lack of interests in the rest of the menu, she just chose the burger and asked for it to be wrapped in lettuce with just veggie toppings and the server (with the curly hair bob) wasn't too helpful with knowing if accommodations could be made. She received her burger in the middle of two humongous pieces of lettuce and was still charged the full expensive price for it without receiving any of the added sides on it. We did have the cornbread which was good but had to return the two sides of greens we ordered due to how salty they were. The server never came and checked on us to see if there was anything else we needed due to the issues we experienced. The rest of us ordered the burgers which were fine, a bit salty, but the best thing we could find on the menu. We noticed our time was almost up due to the front desk maître d' looking at us and then his watch multiple times which doesn't make anyone feel welcomed or wanted. We understood we had a time limit but we had been trying to request our check multiple times and didn't receive it. When we did receive the check, the greens were still on it and it took another 10 minutes to get our check back. The icing on the cake was the waitress didn't even say any words to us when we left as if we also didn't just tip her and were her customers. It's a disappointment that we tried to support this black owned restaurant and it truly let us down and on Mother's Day of all of the days. read more

Joyce has been on my list to try for a while, and I brought three girlfriends for brunch this weekend. One of the best meals I've had in a long time! I can't wait to go back for dinner! We wanted to try everything, so we ordered every shareable plate (collard greens, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, mac and cheese). The cornbread was a huge hit, with my friend proclaiming it to be "The best cornbread I have had in my life. Not 'one of the best,' I am saying THE BEST." For entrees, I ordered the shrimp and grits, which were absolutely delicious. The shrimp was generous and I always appreciate it when the tails are removed for shrimp dishes! Everyone loved their entrees. We shared the beignets and the banana custard pie, the pie being the group's overwhelming favorite and we cleaned the plate. For drinks, we split the champagne bottle with orange and pomegranate ice cubes (good champagne for $45!) some excellent espresso martinis (the Gussied Up), and my favorite, FAVORITE was the matcha-cha, a frozen, stiff drink of green tea, rum and pineapple. It was so rich, delicious and refreshing, tasting like a vacation in a glass. The restaurant was beautiful, and I always appreciate a restaurant that has a good musical background, but not TOO loud so that you can't enjoy your conversations! Props for also having paper menus. Call me a vieja for these two preferences, but not having to scroll through a menu on my phone or strain to hear people next to me in what sounds like a daytime club, are both my jam these days. Service was fantastic, and we all left happy. Trying to think of an excuse to go back! read more

So glad to have this restaurant downtown. Came here for brunch, which was delicious. I started with the Matcha Cha, which was amazing. For small plates, we tried the cornbread (tasty, thinner and less cakey than other places) the mac & cheese (they understand that you need to have a crispy top) and the sunday collards (in turkey, it tastes like french onion soup). I have to come back and try the chicken and waffles, they looked huge! read more

Joyce - Matcha Cha - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

First things first, this place's decor is gorgeous. I love the bar setup; it's honestly a whole vibe! Okay, so this is a Creole and African cuisine-inspired style soul food restaurant. Sounds like a lot, but they explain it better than I do. Our food had so many interesting explosive flavors. We ordered: - Marinated Romanesco Cauliflower - Whole fried game hen ( this dish was AMAZING like nothing I ever taste before. The honey sauce drizzled all over the chicken and the biscuits OMG!) - Louisiana crawfish hush puppies For dessert: Banana custard pie All the dishes are shareable, and they are a little more on the expensive side. We paid $20 a glass for rosé. The only thing I didn't like is that they close very early, and our waiter forgot to tell us that the bar closed at 8:30, and our reservation was at 8. We had plans to sip a little bit but that was cut short for tonight. Never the less he was a phenomenal server. He knew the menu and the dishes flawlessly and was very honest about dishes he recommends. Parking is what you expect for downtown, but if you park in the Whole Foods parking lot, they validate parking for you. read more

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Ambiance: it's located in the center area of DTLA, spacious dining area inside with full bar service Service: super friendly and accommodating special requests, although it's slow and had to wait a while to place order and get the bill Food: simple menu and decent choices HIPSTER DELUXE - **** fried chicken breast, avocado mash, hickory smoked chicken bacon, heirloom tomato, baby iceberg, dill buttermilk ranch, even though the meat were a bit too dry, overall good combination of flavors, recommend lowcountry seasoned crinkle cut fries - **** served with sandwiches, recommend Price: generous portions and reasonable prices, expect $30+ per person read more

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***NOTICE - this restaurant charges an undisclosed 3.5% surcharge for using a credit card.*** Location: right next to Whole Foods DTLA. Ambiance: slightly upscale, not too much ambient noise, good for dates Food: good, not great. We started with the scallop, which was bathed in peach and black tea, and described to us as "refreshing." I think it missed the mark a bit, mostly with having insufficient acidity to cancel out/balance the fishiness. The camu camu zest was a nice touch, but the rainier cherry seemed out of place. The cornbread was nice--mildly sweet and freshly made with a side of whipped butter. Harissa roasted carrots were good...but why were they $22?? Even Bavel (pricey middle-eastern restaurant with a similar menu concept) doesn't price its vegetable dishes this high. Charred Spanish Octopus was done pretty well, nicely balanced flavors and very tender and flavorful octopus, although price was a bit high at $42. Whole Fried Game Hen was just fried chicken with honey, nothing more, nothing less. $46 for fried chicken though??? Pretty egregious. Price: outrageous price point for a new restaurant serving soul food, despite being in an elevated environment. For reference, a party of 4 ordering 1 drink each ($17-22/drink), 2 apps (scallop and cornbread), and 3 large dishes (carrots, octopus, and fried chicken), totaled $70 per person including 18% tip and their bulsh** 3.5% surcharge, with no food left over. And yes, on top of your pretax bill, they add a 3.5% "surcharge" for using a credit card, which is not mentioned anywhere on the menu and not mentioned by staff. I had to search yelp reviews to see what this surcharge was even for. read more

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Love the ambiance of this spot. It's right in the middle of downtown and conveniently close to Whole Foods but the vibe is like you stepped into a fine dining establishment of the south. Not sure how to articulate it but that's what I'm rolling with. Lots of sea food options of which I can't partake but my friend thoroughly enjoyed the blue crab dip which she quickly proclaimed was FULL OF CRAB. I thoroughly enjoyed the cornbread that came with butter that was both salted AND peppered. I'm used to a thicker serving of cornbread, but it works. They brought our greens out with a green house hot sauce, but I didn't feel my greens needed added seasoning. The Mac n cheese was good but the roux was a bit watery and mainly at the bottom so the noodles atop were cheesy but lacked the consistency we desired. She got prosecco and I got a mocktail, my first mocktail was a bit bitter to the taste, maybe went over board with the aromatic bitters, but our server Rob was extremely accommodating and brought over something I much better enjoyed. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and definitely plan to return. I'm curious about the hen and biscuits as well as their dessert options. Stay Tuned! read more

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I heard mixed reviews about Joyce, and was hesitant to try. I'm glad I did, our group enjoyed the food . The drinks were okay, but we did enjoy the cornbread, hush puppies, and the catfish the most. They have a nice ambience, and also a happy hour. read more

The inside of this restaurant is so cute. We did not have a reservation so we sat at the bar, I loved all of the raw bar items and the mac & cheese might have been the best mac & cheese I've ever had. It tasted like fondue. This is a very fish based restaurant, the Caesar had fish and seaweed. It is a bit on the pricier side, but it is LA. The drinks were really good and it was a fun atmosphere. Service was really prompt and from our vantage point at the bar the kitchen seemed very organized and efficient. read more

Joyce - Scallops, oysters and one of their vodka based drinks - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friends and I decided to grab dinner at Joyce Soul and Sea on a rainy weekday night. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded, and we were able to get a reservation without any trouble (apparently this isn't the norm). The restaurant is pretty cute, small and quaint. We tried several dishes from the menu, and they were all quite tasty. The raw scallops were definitely a highlight for me and sooo tasty - I still think about them at random times throughout the day. The cocktails were also well-made and quite strong. Our server provided great service, although I can't remember his name now, but he was amazing! Parking was convenient, with options available out front or in nearby parking garages. I can't wait to get back for brunch! read more

Joyce - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here for brunch and had a fantastic time and fantastic food. Loved the decor and the ambience and had some of the best chicken and waffles I've ever had (still thinking about that lavender syrup). The mimosas were flowing, everyone had a great time. Highly suggest the cornbread! The only tiny little snafu were the beignets which were underdone however they were quickly and graciously removed from the bill. Definitely recommend and will be back if I'm ever in LA again read more

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My friend and I wanted to grab drinks/dinner before heading to a concert. I've had Joyce bookmarked for a while and she was down to check it out too. Joyce is such a cute restaurant - The decors were totally mid-century modern! Server was friendly and provided a ton of recs from the menu. + Colossal shrimp cocktail 2/5: Shrimp was huge but the seasoning on it was too heavy and salty. I could barely taste the shrimp. + Cornbread 3/5: Decent and standard cornbread. Tasted like something I can whip up at home with no prior experience. Nothing special. + Marinated romanesco cauliflower 3/5: Kinda soggy, but actually very flavorful and tasty. + Cornmeal crusted Nashville hot catfish 5/5: I actually really enjoyed the catfish sticks. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. + Cocktails 5/5: I got the Hootie Hoo and my friend got the Mother of Pearl Martini. Both cocktails were decent. Overall, I had a good experience at Joyce despite the ridiculously salty shrimp. read more

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Tasty! I would definitely go back for the steaming hot catfish (with sauce on the side) and the hush puppies. Also, my family thoroughly enjoyed the braised the greens. The scallops didn't hit the mark for us. Nick was amazing! We wanna sit in his section when we return. Great anniversary dinner overall. read more

Had a pleasure to stop in for a Saturday brunch after two other places were either a nightmare for parking or decided to be stealthily closed lol. First off, the drinks are amazing. I had a very cool frozen mocha cocktail, and then maybe one of the best tiki drinks I've ever had in my life. And if you follow any of my reviews, you will know that I seek out tiki bars from one side of the country to the other. Honest to God I think I'm going to go back just to have this drink. The food was impeccable as well. Of particular note was their cornbread with the sorghum butter and the hashbrowns. The person next to me had the chicken and waffles and I'm going to have to get that next time I'm in. The vibe inside was very chill and very bright, our server was energetic and on point without hovering. Really loved this place. read more

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Joyce was great! The food and ambiance were amazing as well but everything was slightly pricier than I would expect. Service was great! read more

Made the right Joyce. Last day of our quick LA trip and we needed one last brunch spot to eat at before we left and there were many options but my wife chose Joyce and it was the right choice. Joyce had a very welcoming ambiance inside, well decorated and for the first few minutes I found myself looking all over the restaurant at all the modern decor. The menu had a good amount of options but we went with what our hearts were calling for... - Fried Chicken & Waffles - Grassfed Smash Burger And last but NOT LEAST -- the Edisto Island Cornbread (this is a must try) The cornbread stole the show, along with the whipped butter that it was served with it nearly melted in your mouth. The Chicken and Waffles I had was decent, chicken was moist but something in the breading didn't taste right to me. The waffle was great though! Customer service was good, the food took a little while to come out but at least the waiting staff came to check on us regularly. Overall I would recommend this place but just know you're paying a little more for food you can probably find for cheaper around the area -- but the cornbread, that was worth it! read more

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Let me start with the positive. The restaurant is so nice and the music was great! The staff were also very sweet and attentive. However, the food was a hit or miss. I had high hopes but unfortunately was disappointed. I don't know why the other reviews are hyping the mac and cheese, but it was very bland. Had no seasoning on it. We ordered the shrimp hush puppies but you couldn't taste the shrimp at all. Don't think you're going to bite into any shrimp cause it's actually ground up. The red beans and rice were okay, but the sausage wasn't good. My friend got the Paloma drink and she said she didn't like it. I got the Georgia Peach drink and that was good! What I did like was the fried chicken and the corn bread! The corn bread was probably the best thing we had at our table. I don't think I would come back for the food, but I wouldn't mind going to get a drink to just vibe there. read more

Food, Service, and Ambiance were 10/10! PARKING: This spot is next to Whole Foods and 8th & Grand apartments. I parked in the garage directly across the street. $7 for two hours. I don't know if they validate. AMBIANCE: Sexy! In the evenings, this spot is fantastic for a date night, just connecting with friends, or sipping at the bar. I was there to celebrate with 5 girlfriends. The lighting and intimate energy were electric. FOOD: We ordered most things on the menu and shared everything. The cornbread was CRAZY GOOD. It didn't even make sense! The catfish and fried pickles were yummy. The braised short rib was the most tender succulent meat that I have ever had in my adventure-filled tender sweet little life! My friends devoured the tomahawk Porkchop and they reported it to be delicious! The grilled striped bass was lovely but not my fave. The braised kale was just okay. The roasted baby carrots were insane. Mouthwatering. Perfection. Hooowww????!!! The caesar salad and mac & cheese were nice enough. The shrimp cocktail was perfect! PRICE: The price is on the higher end with respect to the serving size. read more

Joyce - Just order two servings of the cornbread. - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My organization has our holiday brunch here on a Sunday morning. Due to the size of our party we all pre-ordered our food. The menu was limited for brunch and kinda odd pairings, but I figured I'd give it a try. Most dishes were ala carte. I ordered the Nashville catfish, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and collard greens. The catfish was seasoned well, however, it didn't have the spice that I'm used to when it's deemed Nashville hot. The macaroni and cheese is served in a cast iron skillet and has a ton of different cheeses. It was tasty and I would almost say had too much cheese. The cornbread was very tasty and probably my favorite dish. Not for the greens. Unfortunately, these were very disappointing. They lacked flavor throughout. I had to add a generous portion of salt and hot sauce for them to be edible. Overall, it was slightly disappointing, but I may give them another try. read more

Joyce - Catfish, greens and cornbread - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Loved the ambience of the space!! The energy was at 100% when I arrived. I did however reserve a table, but I can never turn down a bar! I informed my server/bartender that I booked on open table and to check me in! I was greeted with a glass of water, and menu! You know what I came for.....the chicken and waffles!! Well!!!! They were amazing!!(I've found my new brunch spot in DTLA!) I also ordered a "build your own" mimosas! Did!!! A little pricey, but to be expected DTLA! It won't turn me away at all! Food was great!! It's really hard for me to find an amazing spot that does my chicken and waffle the way I enjoy!! No bones!!!!!!!!! And it's not a chicken tender! WASN'T!!!!! Chile!!! Yall gonna be tired of me here. I'm already trying to set up a date for dinner!!! A must check out!!!! I'll be telling my clients about this space for brunch! Maybe even dinner!! And to top it off!!!!!!! I only had 2 glasses of mimosas of my bottle...chile they sealed the bottle up and I took it home!!!! I myself, and referral to my clients!!! Will be back!! Enjoyed!!! Oh! And Zoe was awesome!! read more

Joyce - Chicken and waffles!! Cut'up!! - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I had the fried chicken side of Mac and cheese. The chicken was really good. Good flavor and nice crunch. Biscuit came with my order biscuts are small but good. I ordered corn bread for the table. Cornbread was 5 star. Service was fast and polite. Ambiance is good. read more

Joyce - Adult drink - Southern Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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EXPENSIVE! Extremely pretentious for what is supposed to be soul food. The food portions were tiny and deliver little value when compared with the price. I live in downtown LA, so I'm used to expensive, but the value just plain sucks here. My martini was expensive and it was so awful I didn't even finish it. That entire thing was made incorrectly. Oh, and I forgot that worst part! They force you to order all your food at once. Seeing that it was our first visit, we wanted to try a view appetizers before committing to entrees, especially given the prices of the entrees. The wait staff strictly enforced this when I tried to push back on this bullshit policy. I felt bad for him for having to do so. Avoid at all costs. I'm just plain not seeing what any of the positive reviewers are excited about with Joyce. read more

Joyce is a beautiful, light space with lovely artwork on the walls. The service was exceptional. Although they didn't have any mocktails on the menu, they took the time to make a drink that was savory and complex which I appreciated. We started with the cornbread and we immediately wanted to order a second one after the first bite. The whipped butter with fresh pepper really changed how a normal cornbread would taste. We didn't love the beat salad as we wished the dressing was a bit one note. But the jerk duck confit was exceptional. Wish the serving was larger as it was just one leg. But I also ordered one to go. The whole fried hen turned out to be a Cornish game hen. Although the flavor was good, we wished it had a bit more salt and it was a little dry. But we would definitely try it again when we go next. We really enjoyed our meal and the experience. read more

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I've been here twice now and had a great experience each time! The interior is beautiful. Love the colors, layout, and the artwork on the walls from Black artists. Food was delicious. My faves were the collard greens and the chicken and waffles. If you like your fried chicken a little sweet, you'll love it here. Our servers were very friendly, and the management is very accommodating. Great for groups and for celebrating a special occasion! read more

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I kind of ventured outside of my comfort zone with this place and I'm glad I did. It's not really my thing, but I have to say that I was really impressed with the execution of my dish. The flavors really worked well together. I could tell that the chef was very talented so if you like southern food, I would highly recommend that you try this place. read more

If I had to sum up my first impression of Joyce in one word, it would be "beautiful"! The decor is a striking blend of nostalgia and elegance--think wicker shades on the light fixtures, soft pastels, black art, forest green velvet seats, and timeless music that transports you to a Saturday morning when Mom was cleaning the house. It's a welcoming and charming atmosphere that sets the stage for what should be a memorable dining experience. To top it off, the service was exceptional. The thoughtful front desk staff quickly seats you and gives a quick rundown of the menu. But how did it taste? Island Cornbread - Nicely browned with fresh cracked salt and pepper on top, and the butter is a nice touch. It's good, but honestly, it's not anything that will make you get the "Holy Ghost!" Crawfish Hushpuppies - These were a major letdown. Traditionally, hushpuppies are deep-fried cornmeal batter with seasonings and perhaps a few whole corn kernels to add texture and freshness. Unfortunately, these were doughy with an undercooked "breading". The batter didn't taste like cornmeal at all. I could tell the dish had some green onions and chunks of crawfish, but it couldn't save this one. Definitely not what I was expecting. Nashville Hot Catfish - This was a highlight of the meal. Flaky, spicy, and perfectly battered. It lived up to its billing and was the standout dish of the evening. The remoulade sauce was a nice addition, balancing out the heat. Oyster Perloo with Chorizo Sausage - I was sold on the "like jambalaya" description from the hostess, but this dish didn't live up to expectations. It looked nothing like the image posted on their site. My date and I were the only ones left in the restaurant with nearly 3 hours to go before closing--there was no excuse for a dish that came out underseasoned and lacking in flavor and far off from what was advertised. The only redeeming element was the saltiness of the sausage. In the end, I ended up sending both the Perloo and the Crawfish Hushpuppies back. As much as I'd love to see a high-quality elevated soul food restaurant in this area, there are a few things Joyce will need to address in order to truly succeed. 1. Menu Structure - The menu is decadent, but there's a disconnect between the dishes themselves and the "à la carte" structure they're presented in. The hostess made it clear that everything should be ordered family-style to share, but when you look at the menu, it's not immediately clear why this is the case when dishes like the pork chop or Perloo are complete entree with meat and a starch. It's a concept I'm familiar with, but it felt a little off given the format of the menu. 2. Menu Availability - I tried to order Shrimp & Grits, only to find out that it's a brunch-only item. The same went for the collard greens, which are apparently exclusive to the Sunday brunch menu. On a Sunday evening, I found this disappointing. I think staple items like these should be available at all times unless there's a specific reason they aren't. 3. Cultural Authenticity - As much as it pains me to mention this, it's hard to ignore that the cooking staff wasn't Black. Now, I have nothing but respect for the chef and the owners, but when you're selling a niche product like soul food, it feels a bit off when the person cooking it doesn't have cultural ties to the cuisine. A dish like the hushpuppies, which should be cornmeal-based, really highlights this disconnect. I also understand how easy it is to undercook something like that, so it's especially important for the kitchen staff to taste or test the dish before serving. Despite these critiques, I'm still rooting for Joyce and plan to return for brunch, hoping for a better experience that will be worth celebrating. read more

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Brunch: My food was really good. Shrimp and grits. and fried green tomatoes! And I had the Hootie Hoo! Service was great as well. My only negative: the menu options are very minimal. read more