770 S Grand Ave

WOW! Beautiful restaurant. Great customer service. Ambiance is perfect for a date or a group gathering. Everything was absolutely DELICIOUS! Every dish was packed with so much flavor. Cast Iron Mac & Cheese: 5/5 Warm and ooey gooey cheese with every bite! Fried Green Tomatoes: 6/5 Crunchy and flavorful. The dipping sauce has a kick to it. Sooo good! Edisto Island Cornbread: 10/5. This was the BEST cornbread anyone at our table has ever had (and there were 9 people in our party). Baked to perfection! Sweet and fluffy. Definitely ordered extras to take home! Low Country Shrimp and Grits: 4/5 so much seasoning in the shrimp and grits. The texture of the grits was a surprise. It was definitely NOT instant grits. Salad with candied walnuts: 5/5 whatever dressing they used. It was perfect- light and tangy. The candied walnuts added great texture and sweetness to the salad. The only complaint I have about the salad pieces were quite big. It probably could be chopped up into slightly smaller pieces. Sunday Collards: 5/5 So much flavor. Greens had a bite to it. Not mushy at all. Fried Chicken Waffles: 5/5 The waffles! Crispy on the outside and sweet and slightly chewy on the inside. The fried chicken was a bit dry for me, but when you dip it in the maple syrup and have it with the waffle... DELICIOUS! Blackness in Bloom: 5/5 looking at the menu, the ingredients (hibiscus, rose, oat milk, honey, cardamon, etc) seem kinda intimidating. BUT it is absolutely refreshing and light and all the flavors come together so nicely. If you haven't been here, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

I walked into Joyce with high hopes, ready for a soulful culinary journey, but left with my taste buds searching for the 'soul' in this soul food. Sure, the dishes looked like art on a plate, but the flavors fell flat--like a gospel choir missing its lead singer. I can appreciate the attempt at a modern twist on tradition, but this lacked the heart and southern flair that makes soul food feel like a warm hug from Big Mama. The absence of authentic southern representation in both ownership and the kitchen shows in every bite--some things just can't be Googled or guessed. I was also very disappointed by the portion size and the accompanying price. Like what are you charging for? Service? Let's just say it was as basic as sweet tea without the sugar. The layout and ambiance? Beautifully done, but ambiance can't carry a forkful of flavorless collards. Oh, and limiting happy hour to the bar? Big miss there. In the end, Joyce tried, but it's a swing and a miss for me. If you're looking for true soul food that sings to your spirit, this isn't it. But hey, don't take my word for it--try it yourself. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Thank me later... or not.

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.

Trying new places is something I enjoy doing. Spending time with friends is another. Combining the two, brings me joy. And this happened earlier this week at Joyce DTLA. Start with parking. It's LA after all. Parking structure, right across the street. I mean, literally. $7 flat rate. It's after a certain time. Don't remember what time, but it's posted on a big sign before you enter. Also don't know what other restrictions there might be. Made a reservation. Again, it's DTLA. Didn't feel I needed to. The restaurant wasn't empty but steady. But it's always good to, just in case. We opted to sit at the bar. After all, drinks would definitely be had. The service was great. A few hiccups but nothing that wasn't resolved or negatively impacted our experience. Surely didn't help that my friend and I were semi just hanging out then out of the blue, ordering something else. But like I said - great. Attentive. Friendly. I'd definitely sit at the bar again. Food and drinks were great too! See pics. Just know a few drink pics didn't make the cut (because of me). Ordered off both the Happy Hour and regular menu for both food and drinks. If you're looking for the staple dishes, know that it won't be that. It'll be names you'll recognize with Chef Sammy's modern twists focusing but not completely on seafood. Tried the Braised Short Rib. Was so tender you didn't need a fork and knife. Or teeth. Anyway, it's not far from work so Joyce will definitely be on the list of places I'll head back to, to try the rest of the menu.

I've been eyeing this spot for a really long time, and I'm so glad we finally made it in! Beautiful, bright, modern interior, friendly and attentive waitstaff, delicious southern style food, unique and well balanced cocktails (that were a bit on the pricier side). Edisto Island Cornbread - moist, buttery, and decadent (comes with more butter!) Vinny Smalls Seafood Platter w/ Ceviche - great for 2 people that want to try everything on the raw bar menu. The oysters were briny and creamy, the colossal shrimp was flavorful, and the ceviche in the mango avocado sauce was like none other I'd ever had. Truly wonderful. Nashville Hot Fried Catfish - really moist and tender. Comes with fried pickles, but I think it should come with something that's not fried. Great experience! It won't be too long until we come back again. Would love to come in for happy hour (which happens daily from 5-7pm).

Overall ambiance of the restaurant is very nice. It's a cute spot for date night and I definitely would recommend it for friends to try Joyce to make their own opinion. We came on a Friday at 7:30pm and were able to get seated immediately at the bar. Bar is first come first serve seating. Food I would say was fairly decent however a lot of things were on the salty side and a lot of menu items are quite heavy. Baby back ribs- favorite dish of the night, very tender and went well with the sides Cornbread- pretty good but a little disappointed on how dense it was. I was expecting something more light and airy Catfish- very yummy but very very salty Caesar salad- I DO NOT recommend. Was the fishiest Caesar salad I've had in my life. Thankfully our server was nice enough to let us send this one back.

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.

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.

First, if you don't find street parking, park in the garage across the street as it'll be the cheapest place to park. Second, service was very warm and friendly. And food came out at a great pace. Third, the food was delicious and we loved that the portion sizes weren't too big. And since everything was good food, we couldn't pick a fave. However, I will point out that the cornbread was a soft, sticky, sweet cake instead of the drier kind.

Well! I came back (and brought more people with me). I had another great experience at Joyce and will continue to recommend it!! This time around we shared 5 dishes. There were two I could live without but the rest were *chefs kiss*! - Monterey bay Caesar salad (Great salad, but I was distracted by the "seaweed" taste of the garnish) - Caviar dip with chips (Welcome to the Clean Plate Club... I wish we got more of this) - Crab slaw salad roll (I love crab! But this had a distracting taste as well) - Calabash shrimp sandwich (An elevated po'boy and so soo good) - Nashville hot game hen (SO flavorful, crispy, moist, and delicious) Once I conquer the lunch menu, it's dinner next haha!

We went to Joyce to celebrate our friend's birthday. Excellent service by Robert. He was super attentive. Great with recommendations. Food was delicious. Oysters were fresh and I loved the homemade hot sauces. Drinks were very good. The whole atmosphere was so zen. The music was excellent for brunch not too loud. The Christmas decorations were perfect. I'll definitely return to enjoy the Shrimp and Grits and their Mac and cheese was so tasty.

Ambiance: Super gorgeous in here! It felt fancy but casual at the same time. I think everything looked pretty and tasteful. The music playing was vibey but not over the top. Service: Tony was friendly and gave us great service! He greeted us at the door and promptly led us to our table. Food: The Blackness in Bloom latte was pretty tasty! Tart from the hibiscus, sweet from the honey, with a creaminess from the oat milk. The cardamom and rose gave the drink a light floral flavor that was really pleasant. Vegan Chicken Sandwich - Delicious! I could do without the guac but it was yummy nonetheless. I don't recall what the brown sauce was but it added a good sweet savory taste to the sandwich! Fries - Perfectly crispy and seasoned!! I usually hate fries cut in this style because NO PLACE does it crisp enough. For some reason my experience with these has always been soggy. Overall, really good experience! I just hate how it's far in LA :')

I had been wanting to try this place out since it is a Black Owned Business and I wanted to support. This restaurant has a quaint and elegant vibe. The staff are really nice and answered all our questions about the menu. My mom ordered the chicken Cobb salad which she said was fresh and delicious. I got the chicken sandwich which also came with chicken bacon which I thought was interesting. I feel like the sandwich could have done without the extra chicken bacon. The star of the show was the cornbread! It was so good we wanted to order one to go, very moist and the seasoned butter was the perfect compliment. I think I would want to try this place for brunch or dinner as we came during lunch time during the week and only had the lunch options.

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!

My friends and I had a reservation at 11 am when they first opened. I loved the location downtown. We sat by a window and were able to people watch as we enjoyed our food. Everything we had was excellent! We decided to order a bunch of dishes and share. Joyce did not disappoint. We got the shrimp and grits...amazing! The biscuits came with a honey-like topping that had a unique flavor, along with a spread that was the consistency of butter, but which also had a unique flavor that I couldn't identify...delicious! My friends ordered the chicken and waffles. I didn't have any, but they said it was phenomenal. We ordered the chicken bacon my friend insisted we try...outstanding. Lastly, we ordered the omelette with our choice of veggies and hashbrowns. These hashbrowns were so good and had some sort of spice on them! And of course mimosas. Yummm! For brunch, this is a MUST-try! We will likely go back for dinner at some point. Also, the restaurant wasn't very crowded yet, but the service was awesome as well. We loved everything about this place! Can't wait to go back!

Lovely, welcoming restaurant as soon as we walked in. We were seated swiftly and our server was friendly and provided insights on the menu. We ordered a bottle of bubbly for mimosas, the flavored ice cubes kept the drinks tasty. The cornbread was fluffy and paired well with the butter. Shrimp and grits were packed with flavor, yet not heavy. French toast was on the drier side but the texture and flavor was on point. Loved the ambience, friendly staff, and music.

What a gem of a restaurant in downtown LA! We went to the Dodgers parade and then searched for a restaurant for lunch. Most places looked more like fast food or brewery type spots, but we had our son and dog with us, so I was looking for something nice and comfortable, but also family and pet friendly. Joyce is the perfect blend of casual, upscale (without being snooty), beautiful, approachable and welcoming. That applies to the decor, the people, and the food. We ate 3 different fried chicken sandwiches, French fries, cornbread, and two cocktails. The food is out of this world good! Everything hit the spot. The service - even on a crazy busy day with 150,000 people flooding the city- was really good. I appreciated that the owner of the restaurant and the waiter paid incredible attention to who had been waiting, who needed a drink, who hadn't ordered etc. I didn't feel like I needed to ask for anything, even though it was crowded and I assume slower than normal, because you could tell the staff was paying attention and keeping things running as smoothly as possible. Can't wait to check out the owners other restaurants!

This place should be put at the list of top 10 places to eat in Los Angeles. This was absolutely incredible. The food is so flavorful but you don't feel like you're eating a mountain of butter. The service is excellent and people are very attentive. It's a very nice atmosphere. It seemed to be Like a lot of Friend groups and date nights were happening so if you and your girls are you and your boys or you and just your friends want to hang out and eat some delicious food you must get the fried green tomatoes and you must stop yourself from eating all of the cornbread. My personal favorite is the shrimp and grits. And as a woman from Louisiana that says a lot. I would love to tell you that I have photos, but I don't because every time I go there I eat way before I think about taking a photo!

We had a good experience at Joyce on a Saturday night. We made reservations and were seated right away. We didn't really care for the dinner menu so we opted to sit at the bar so that we could order off of the happy hour menu. The happy hour is only for bar seating or outside. The inside of Joyce is not large but it is really nice, I love their decor and ambiance. There's nearby parking lot that charges $7 or you can take your chance and try to find street parking. The food was good and the drinks were strong, I definitely want to back to try some of the other items. It's worth mentioning that the cornbread was really good, it says shareable but I know to order one just for myself next time because it's so good.

I came for brunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was easy to get seated without a reservation. The service was fast and friendly. 9 would recommend the biscuits, catfish, chicken and waffles. The grits were disappointing, they had an oatmeal consistency and no flavor

We decided to try a new spot in LA for our wedding anniversary brunch with the kids, as they love soul food and this restaurant had high ratings on Yelp and OpenTable. Upon arrival, the restaurant was undeniably beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. We ordered the caviar and chips, Hokkaido Scallops, Tomahawk Pork Chop, Sunday Collard Greens, and the Mac n' Cheese. My husband ordered the Shrimp and Grits, which he never received because the waitress didn't put the order in. I tried to make eye contact to call for service, but she didn't acknowledge me nor any other waiter. We had our water refilled by a busboy, I believe- he was also the one that seated us. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Our waitress was not engaging and didn't check on us throughout our meal. This lack of attention was quite disheartening, especially for a special occasion. As for the food, it was good but not quite worth the price. The kids enjoyed the Mac and Cheese, but the Tomahawk Pork Chop was a bit dry and could have used more sauce. The plating, however, was beautiful and well put together. Overall, while the ambiance and presentation were commendable, the service fell short, impacting our overall experience. I hope the restaurant can improve in this area because it has the potential to be a great spot.

I'm so glad we visited Joyce as a group of friends because it allowed us to try many different dishes: - Hawaiian Kanpachi Ceviche - Cornmeal Crusted Nashville Hot Catfish - Cast Iron Mac & Cheese - Black Tiger Prawn & Oyster Perloo - Charred Spanish Octopus - Edisto Island Cornbread - Colorado Lamb Ribs - Banana Custard Pie Among all the dishes, my favorites were the Cornbread, Catfish, and Mac & Cheese. The seasoning on the Catfish was spot on, and the Mac & Cheese was perfectly broiled on top with the macaroni cooked al dente. However, I would not recommend the Banana Custard Pie; it was as hard as a rock, almost impossible to cut, and the flavor was mediocre. Joyce is a very popular restaurant with a lovely ambiance. While it can be difficult to grab our server's attention at times, the bus staff did their best to check on our table.

We initially came here for dinner before watching a movie at the Bloc. The restaurant itself is walkable from there and the inside is very well decorated. Retro, homey vibes with great art on the walls. The staff are super friendly and attentive! For dinner the lamb ribs were really the star. I love lamb in general and these ribs were prepared perfectly, juicy, and not too gamey. Very memorable! The corn cakes were also surprisingly addictive! Ate up every bite. The octopus also had a great char to it giving it this aromatic flavor. And of course because the cornbread is a must try, we tried it and it's 100% worth it! I like that it's flat, more surface area for crispness and the butter was nice and fluffy! Lastly we had the affogato, fresh espresso poured over ice cream. Large enough to share among two. The cocktail I got for dinner was also super unique and refreshing! So this dinner was so good we actually came back for brunch! At brunch I had the shrimp and grits and they were absolutely delicious! The sauce is unique, not like every standard shrimp and grits. The shrimp were large and many! Definitely a good choice. Overall Joyce is an amazing restaurant with absolutely delicious foods. The people are caring and you leave completely satisfied! Highly recommend!

I must to say we were really impressed by this place. Food was excellent, service was good and the cocktails were fun. Selection of food is good. The food comes out hot and you can taste the freshness. Cocktails are very good and they have a full bar. We will be back.

We were going on our group bi-monthly dinner and one of the members chose this restaurant. The restaurant was very nice and easy to find in downtown LA. Our server, Tony, was great in explaining the amount of the food and what dishes were typically shared. Food was great overall. My only complaint that the temperature in the restaurant was really warm. Almost to the point it was uncomfortable to eat. I would have enjoyed the food better if I wasn't constantly dabbing my head due to the sweat. We addressed the matter with our server and the response was that it's been warm all day and we can't cool it down any further. I work in the customer service industry and we were taught to not say what you can't do but say what you can do. In this case, maybe a response of let me go check the temperature or let me tell my manager to see if they can do anything. Manager did not come over to address the temperature issue nor cold complimentary drinks(did not have to be alcoholic drinks) were offered to help with how warm it was. Maybe it was something that they couldn't address or improve at that time, but an explanation would have been appreciated. Overall, I would recommend this place but hopefully the temperature issue will be addressed in the future.

First time at Joyce was so good that I had to come back for their weekend brunch and it did not disappoint! This time we were a group of 4 and the more the merrier because that means you can try more items! I was a sober sally this time, but I did try one of the non-alcoholic beers they have on draft, which was okay, not amazing. But that's my fault because I ordered alcohol without alcohol in it, so I shouldn't expect much lol. Steven took care of us this time and he was very accommodating! He offered some great recommendations on the brunch menu and steered us in the right direction! Here's what we ordered: * Edisto Island Cornbread * Nashville Hot Fried Green Tomatoes * Sunday Collards * Crunchy Panko French Toast * Truffled Scrambled Eggs Toast * Biscuits & Sausage Gravy * Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits * "Jelly Donut" Beignets Again, everything was amazing. My friend took one bite of the cornbread and instantly asked Steven for one to-go lol. My favorites of the day were the Nashville Hot Fried Green Tomatoes - pimento cheese and cornmeal crust, golden fried to perfection. I wanted to order more! Also, the Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits - ever since I went to NOLA, I can't get enough and theirs are delicious! Lastly, the Crunchy Panko French Toast - YOOOOO! I'm not typically a sweet person for breakfast, but you gotta try this dish! I was just as impressed as my first time dining there and I still have items I need to try on their menu!

Location: DTLA, shady neighborhood but has whole foods and other good stores. Street parking is $6 p hr and lot is $12. OpenTable reservations. Pretty open, can even walk in. Service: Good, kitchen is fast too. No complaints. We were celebrating but they didn't do anything or even acknowledge. Food: mid. More flavorful than any American cuisine restaurant but really passable for that price. We tried mac and cheese, kale (pass), squashini (pass), catfish(double pass because it was soggy). Taste wise decent,texture was bothersome overall. Doesn't justify $$. Drinks: Good,strong. Hootie hoo, rose, voodoo something and punk evans - all of these were delicious. Would recommend just Ubering here, grabbing a drink by the bar and eating elsewhere.

Looking for a nice place to dine this weekend? Try Joyce in DTLA. They specialize in Southern cooking. Service: Very nice. Our server, Mr. Samuel K., was friendly and efficient. Our busser too was efficient as well (we did not get his name). Drinks: I was the only in our group of three who ordered a drink. I ordered my usual glass of Chardonnay but they didn't have that and Samuel suggested a glass of White BORDEAUX ($19). It was on the dry side but just as well because they did not offer bread to soak my alcohol. Instead we had the delicious Cornbread. Food: Yes, we started with the aforementioned CORNBREAD which they call "Edisto Island Cornbread" ($22) served with some really delicious butter. You gotta order this! (We ordered a couple for our group of 3.) (They serve small-plate-style-to-share) Another winner was their CATFISH ("Cornmeal-Crusted-Nashville-Hot Catfish"). Yes, hot and spicy. You gotta order this too!! ($29) We also ordered their Caesar Salad, and their Kale braised with coconut milk. Both pretty good. We did NOT care for one thing -- their HUSHPUPPIES ("Louisiana Crawfish Hushpuppies", $18). They were bland. We never had Hushpuppies before so we don't know if they are supposed to taste like that. But whatever the case, the hushpuppies we had at this restaurant were bland. Dessert: By the end of the meal, we were so full. But they showed us the dessert menu anyway. I saw my all-time favorite an AFFOGATO. (Yes, that's Italian.)So we ordered the Affogato to share. It was pretty good too. And they'll make the espresso a decaf if you request it. Moneytalk: They charged 3.5% fee for credit-card payments. But that's fine since times are a bit hard. Their Tip suggestions - I commend them for calculating it the correct way. Based on the food and drinks that you order, EXCLUDING sale tax, and certainly EXCLUDING the credit-card-payment fee. Location: They are located in the building where the Whole Foods DTLA is located (on Grand Ave). And they are directly next to a Wells Fargo Parking: There is a parking structing directly across from them. Fees on weekend is a flat of $7 after 4 pm. Not too shabby. Before 4 pm or on weekdays, you pay a maximum of $14. That's not bad. Okay, c'mon down to Joyce's!

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.

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.

Everything was fantastic!! a friend and I went and had drinks and appetizers and enjoyed everything that we got. The staff was really friendly and our favorite dish was the hush puppies.

***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.

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.

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.

Went here on a whim for lunch with the bestie based off proximity and food pics. This cute little spot did not disappoint. The decor was very clean and chic but had a hint of whimsy from the eclectic plates and non standard cutlery. The place was very busy so we opted to eat at the bar. We had the smash burger, chicken and waffles and the fired green tomatoes. The smash burger had great taste and the chick and waffle were great. If you are looking for traditional soul food this is not the place this is more soul food with a modern upscale flair. Meats were tender and cooked well. Flavors were really good. However, The fried green tomatoes were too firm but the sauce they came with were bomb. I like their take on mimosas bc they freeze the juice and place it in the drink to keep it chilled but does not water it down. Def a splash of juice moment lol! We were sad bc it was so busy that the peach and pomegranate were not available. The staff was mostly attentive and seemed to have a good expedite system to get food out pretty quick. This is def a cute spot and would surely go back bc we saw a lot of dishes come out that looked amazing.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

On July 12,2024... I had the privilege in eating at this beautiful BLACK OWNED restaurant. The ambiance was very demure and classy. I ordered the duck, cornbread and my partner ordered-the catfish. FANTASTIC‼ The drinks were great nice and strong lol The service was nice and prompt and very informative and attentive. I happy , and excited for this nice and elegant place. The portions were well balanced and very well seasoned ‼ I will be back.

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

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.

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.

The food was AMAZING! I got oysters, Lamb ribs, Macaroni and cheese (enough for 3 people for sure) and the cornbread. Oh ... and the Freshly made peach cobbler...with lavender ice cream (they'd run out of brown sugar ice cream) .... I could barely walk out of my booth! It's a cool spot with a great vibe next door to Bottega Louie. Service was great. The peach cobbler took a bit long to come out so they comped it to us. Will definitely be back!

I've been on the hunt for good soul food in LA and Joyce was amazing for dinner! FLAVOR (4.7/5): 1. SCALLOPS: The scallops we had were okay; I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor profile and I think it could have used more of a bite. 2. MARINATED ROMANESCO CAULIFLOWER: So delicious! It's a great side that can help cut the heaviness of the other dishes with its acidity and freshness. 3. EDISTO ISLAND CORNBREAD: Oh my god. Probably the highlight of the night and the one thing you absolutely must get on this menu. This might be the best cornbread I've ever had... and the salt and pepper with the butter is a combination to die for. 4. CAST IRON MAC & CHEESE: Another winner! The sear they got on the mac and cheese is beautiful. Flavor-wise? Couldn't get enough. 5. CORNMEAL CRUSTED NASHVILLE HOT CATFISH: Wow wow wow! So packed with flavor. The catfish was tender while still having a nice crust, and the fried pickles paired perfectly with the remoulade. 6. BANANA CUSTARD PIE: Good, but not great, especially when compared to their savory dishes. I think next time I'd want to try the Peach Bourbon Cobbler or the Beignets. SERVICE (5/5): Service was good! AMBIENCE (5/5): Nice atmosphere - I can see it being great for date night. PARKING (3/5): If dinner is short, you can park at the whole foods, eat at Joyce, and then do some quick grocery shopping to validate. TAKEAWAYS: I had a great time at Joyce and their standout dishes (Mac & Cheese, Cornbread, Catfish) are totally worth it. I'll definitely be back!

The place is pretty, seemed great for a date. But the experience was messy - our food was brought very out of order and not the "we serve as it's ready" kind of out of order--the oysters came towards the end of the meal. I really did not enjoy that. The food was fine but the out of order ness of it was off putting. But again, the food was fine and the ambiance was pretty.