Black Joy Kitchen

Black Joy Kitchen is something truly special - easily one of the most memorable meals of my life. This newer spot on the island brings rich, vibrant flavors from around the globe, blending spices and textures in a way that keeps every bite exciting and unexpected. We dined family-style, which is 100% the move - it lets you experience the full range of what the kitchen is all about. Personal standouts were the BBQ meatballs (tender and smoky), the SUYA HONEY DRUMSTICK CHANDELIER (yep, as epic as it sounds - sweet, spicy, perfectly charred), and the BILLIONAIRE’S BACON BOUQUET (crispy, savory, sweet perfection). Every dish showed up with presentation just as bold as the flavor, and it added to the whole experience. The cocktails were just as thoughtful and creative. Our server, Isaac, took amazing care of us - super friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about the food and drinks. You can truly feel the love behind every detail. This wasn’t just dinner - it was an experience. A must-visit if you’re on Martha’s Vineyard.

Black Joy Kitchen is that spot — run, don’t walk! I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Black Joy Kitchen while on Martha’s Vineyard and let me tell you… it’s the perfect mix of culture, community, and good eats. From the moment you walk in, the space radiates Black excellence — vibrant Black art covers the walls, setting the scene and reminding you that this is more than a restaurant… it’s a whole experience. The food? Pure chef’s kiss 🤌🏾. That fried snapper? LISTEN. Perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside — every bite had me humming like it was Sunday dinner at home. The staff? So warm and welcoming, you feel like you’ve been coming here for years. And I absolutely loved the Black Joy fans 🪭 — such a fun, practical touch, especially for those summer Vineyard days. If you’re looking for good food, beautiful art, and that unapologetic Black joy energy — this is your spot. I’ll definitely be back!

This restaurant was honestly a magical experience! It only opened a few weeks ago, but the months of prep and competence of the incredibly kind staff and chef have paid off in a beautiful and delightful ambience. The food was excellent — we came for Sunday brunch and split both combos (2 meats/3 sides and grilled veg/3 sides) for 4 people and were stuffed. We particularly loved the baked beans, perfectly spicy vegan greens, and absolutely drool-worthy brisket. It is also adorable inside, with beautiful natural wood booths and tasteful touches of Black art, and we saw outside that it looks like they are close to setting up a beautiful large outdoor seating area. This is a family affair, with a queer Black woman at the helm. They are committed to highlighting flavors, cuisines, and languages from all around the world. The head of beverages welcomed us at our table and told us a bit about their Black-only liquor and wines selection, and all homemade shrubs and syrups. This is sure to become a Vineyard must! Can’t wait to return.

Food was excellent. Staff are superior. Atmosphere and live DJ music was phenomenal. To to top it all off, the chef comes around and greets each table.... The best Darn cornbread I've ever had😋🤤!!

This place came highly recommended, we made reservations almost a month before our trip. I wasn't impressed, the portions were too small for the price and the brisket was tough/ chewy, it was hard to cut with the butter knife we were given. I can't see myself paying $24 for 1 slice of cake. I guess I was meant to support a black owned restaurant today.

We went on opening day to support and try all the things!! The drinks were delicious (although I like my spicy on the hot side). There were some highlights like the greens and peanut stew (and a few lowlights, which is why you have a soft opening, to work out the kinks). My favorite dish was the Passionfruit Situation!! I look forward to trying the full menu!!

I absolutely loved our dinner at Black Joy Kitchen. What Chef Ting has created is nothing short of remarkable. The space strikes a perfect balance—airy and modern, yet warm and intimate, inviting you to settle in and savor every moment. The menu is truly special—thoughtfully and uniquely structured into categories like rice dishes, green dishes, meat dishes, and fish dishes, all rooted in African and Caribbean culinary traditions. Every section felt like a journey, and it was honestly hard to choose because everything sounded so intriguing. What we did order was beyond delicious—bursting with flavor, creativity, and care. And we couldn’t help but eye the dishes being served to nearby tables with serious food envy! It is one of those rare places where you immediately start planning your return visit halfway through the meal. Chef Ting has brought something bold, soulful, and deeply delicious to the MV dining scene. I’ll be back again and again until I’ve tried everything on this incredible menu.

Each team members are very attentive. My whole family met the owner, who was beautiful and kind. I highly recommend them for their perfectly crafted greens and rice🍚. Will definitely return for more. 💯

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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!!!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.