Janae H.
Yelp
My girlfriends and I decided to dress up in holiday green and celebrate Friendsmas with a dinner at Joey's, and it was all of our first time visiting. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing.
As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with complimentary champagne, with the option of alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Even on a busy Saturday night, our wait time was less than 10 minutes. We were greeted by multiple hosts, servers, and even the manager, who noticed our gifts and asked what we were celebrating -- such a thoughtful and personal touch. The customer service truly stood out and set the tone for the evening.
We were seated in an upstairs corner booth, which I absolutely loved. It gave us a great view of the entire restaurant, including the bar area. The music, ambiance, and décor were exceptional and perfectly matched the upscale holiday vibe we were going for. Even the gender-neutral bathrooms felt elevated, with private rooms and personal sinks -- attention to detail everywhere.
We started with appetizers:
* Spicy crab and shrimp dip - 6/10. Flavorful, but I would've loved a bit more heat and slightly softer bread. Still enjoyable overall.
* Korean fried cauliflower - 10/10. An absolute standout. The sweet chili Thai sauce, light crispy batter, sweet peppers, and watermelon radish created the perfect balance of flavor and texture, plus the presentation was beautiful.
I brought a bottle of champagne to toast our friendship and celebrate a successful year. The $30 corkage fee was well worth it -- they kept the bottle on ice until we were ready, and once opened, our waitress made sure our glasses stayed full throughout the night. The level of service exceeded expectations.
For entrees, we ordered several dishes to share:
* Lobster spaghetti - 8/10. Great flavor and very enjoyable overall. The noodles could've been cooked a bit longer and the dish could've used more sauce, but the taste was still delicious. Excellent customer service truly elevated the experience.
* Ravioli Bianco - 10/10. The truffle flavor gave this dish an amazing punch and made it a favorite at the table.
* Herb-crusted salmon - 10/10. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor.
* Sake-glazed Chilean sea bass - 9/10. Tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented.
Presentation for all the dishes was a solid 10/10. The pasta portions were generous, while the salmon and sea bass were slightly smaller but packed with flavor. The sides helped balance the meal nicely.
The crispy mashed potato egg rolls were definitely unique -- mashed potatoes in egg roll form! 7/10 because they were flavorful, cooked well, and fun to try, even though they weren't what my eyes initially expected.
To end the night, our waitress surprised us with a dessert that looked and tasted like a crème brûlée cheesecake, topped with raspberry sauce that spelled out "Happy Friendsmas." The thoughtfulness and attention to detail were immaculate.
Shoutout to our waitress Darcy -- she was incredibly sweet, attentive, and provided exceptional service throughout the night. She truly made the evening feel special.
Overall, it was an unforgettable Friendsmas dinner and an amazing first experience for me and my girls. We will absolutely be back to try more items on the menu.