Kelli G.
Yelp
Let me start by saying, it breaks my heart to leave a subpar review for Joy. I've been a loyal customer of theirs for many (many) years. Far before they had the Greenville or Fort Worth locations. Their macarons used to be my go to, special treat. I've worked in bakeries before that sold macarons, so I understand the labor and skill that go into making them well. And previously, they were perfect. I'm talking chewy exterior, impactful flavors, and soft melt in your mouth fillings. However, over the years their quality has declined significantly.
I've given them multiple tries, but the last few visits have left a sour taste in my mouth. Most recently, I came by with a friend to grab a box of macarons. We sampled all my go-to flavors: lavender/honey, pistachio, almond, but missed the dark chocolate (which was no longer on the menu). The macarons were not chewy but rather dry and hollow. The top of the shell was bumpy and matte (they should be smooth and have a slight sheen). The filling was not melt-in your mouth, but rather overly sweet and the portion was far too much for shell ratio. I was disappointed, as my friend had heard me rave about the macarons in the past and we both agreed that these were mediocre. I was hoping my previous visits were off days, but I simply can't justify the cost of the macarons when their quality is more comparable to grocery store macarons than a bakery. I'm not sure what's going on: new baker? quality control loss from expansion? trying to save money? Not sure. What I do know is that these used to be my favorite macarons and they've lost my business. I'll probably cash out my rewards on a final visit and start looking for my new spot. If management sees this review, please consider doing a quality control assessment of your products. The new menu items (icecream) is great, but they can't compensate for the decline in your main product.