Joy Restaurant

Absolutely exquisite. Definitely worth the wait. Sarah is nothing short of a culinary artist-what she creates in the kitchen is pure magic. I’m completely captivated not only by the flavours but by the entire experience she’s so thoughtfully crafted. Every dish was a masterpiece, beautifully plated and paired to perfection, with each bite more indulgent than the last. As someone who adores the finer details - delicate cutlery, elegant glassware, the weight of a beautiful plate, and the perfect simple curve of a stemless wine glass - this dinner was a dream. The aesthetics were just as impeccable as the food and wine pairings, all enhancing the evening in the most sensual, luxurious way. And then there’s Loren - what an absolute gem. She does an exceptional job curating wines that harmonise flawlessly with Sarah’s culinary flair. We hadn’t originally opted for the wine pairing due to an early start the next day, and nearly missed out on what can only be described as a transcendent dessert wine experience. Loren, with perfect timing and intuition, gently insisted we try just one pour with the dessert course - and it elevated the dish to another level. Trust her. She knows exactly what she’s doing. We left completely satisfied, blissfully full, and already dreaming of our return if we can snag another table in 4 months. An unforgettable dining experience, and a must-do in Brisbane for any lover of fine food and wine. Worth every second of the wait.

That was one of the most amazing dining experiences we’ve ever had. We cannot fault a thing!! Every single dish was delicious and so beautiful!! Ambiance perfect and Sarah and Lauren were the loveliest hosts. My mum is in early stages of dementia, so sometimes is unsettled and not happy, but she had the best time which meant the world to me. Sarah, you are so talented yet humble. Thank you so much. I highly recommend to all. Thanks , Esther and Evelyn xxx

We had an absolutely outstanding experience at Joy. The food, wine, and service were all exceptional — truly world-class. Having dined at Michelin restaurants around the world, we feel confident saying that Joy sits comfortably among them in quality, creativity, and overall dining experience. Each dish was beautifully balanced, inventive without being pretentious, and full of flavour. The wine pairings were thoughtful and elevated every course. What really sets Joy apart, though, is the warmth and precision of the service — attentive, personal, and flawlessly executed.

All I can say is that my girlfriend and I absolutely loved this experience. It was so nice to see such a young g female create such a great degustation experience. From the moment that we walked in, we were greeted with a smile, and the show began. Sarah the owner was absolutely delightful, joyful, and you could see that she had absolute passion with the food that she was creating. I love the fact that we didn’t have to choose from a menu, it was chosen for us. Each dish was truly a master craft. The presentation was incredible, and we definitely thought that the food proportion sizes were great for the experience that we received. I absolutely love the fact that you could interact with the owner, and her amazing assistant. They explained each dish, and we actually did the alcoholic and non-alcoholic food pairing. Each item was described in detail, and had a story behind the dish that was presented. I can see why this restaurant is booked for months in advance, and if you’re a Brisbane local or someone visiting, I strongly recommend to go and support this great young girl, and her amazing small restaurant. I will definitely be going back here. The wine list was well thought of and I did think that pricing was relatively reasonable for alcohol. The food pricing reflects the effort that goes into the food. Put this on the restaurant must list for 2025. All I can say is well done to Sarah, I’m so proud of you. I am also a business owner and it’s great to see someone that has such passion for what they do.

Absolutely incredible. Sarah is a kitchen wizard and I’m so in awe of her talents and the experience she’s created. Every dish was delectable and perfectly presented. We were so so full by the end of it but we didn’t want it to end!! The most satisfying dinner everrrrr and I’m so glad we got a reservation. Worth the wait, highly recommend as a must do in Brisbane.

From beginning to end, this dining experience was nothing short of extraordinary. It was far beyond a mere meal; it was a celebration of the culinary craft, with a level of service that made me feel as though I wasn't just dining, but rather fully immersing myself in the art of food preparation and service from start to finish. Every aspect of the experience, from the first greeting to the final course, exuded a deep passion and commitment to excellence that was evident in every detail. The two staff members, Maddy and Sarah, were the perfect pairing, working together seamlessly and with an impressive level of methodical precision. They exuded professionalism while remaining warm and approachable, creating an atmosphere where I felt completely at ease. Their coordination was impeccable, with each one anticipating the other’s movements, which made the service feel smooth and effortless. Their attentiveness to our needs, without being intrusive, made the entire experience feel personal and exceptional. My only minor complaint—though one that certainly isn’t a reflection on the restaurant itself—was the behavior of some of the other patrons during the meal. Unfortunately, the level of conversation at neighboring tables was so loud that it was easily audible from outside the restaurant, disrupting what would have otherwise been a perfectly serene and enjoyable atmosphere. In addition, some of these guests seemed to take an extraordinarily long time to finish their meals, which added to the overall sense of disruption. While I understand that this is outside the restaurant's control, it did somewhat detract from the otherwise flawless experience. However, despite these challenges, the overall experience was more than worth it. The anticipation leading up to securing a reservation each month is always a bit of a battle, but it is undoubtedly a battle worth fighting. Every moment spent at this restaurant, every ounce of time and every penny spent, is more than justified by the incredible quality of the experience. I eagerly look forward to the next opportunity to dine here again and would not hesitate to do so. Thank you for providing such a memorable and rewarding dining experience.

This restaurant makes me feel stupid. I mostly dine in fine dining restaurants, and I have my own personal rating system. For the first time I rate a restaurant 0 out of 10. I do not feel satisfied at all. This restaurant is overrated, overpriced, with low food quality and* quantity. This restaurant teaches me what "overrated" means. Even the design of their dishes has problems. They don't balance the dish with taste or texture and all other details that a culinary chef should understand. And instead of putting gold on top of a dessert dish they served, I would rather they invest in how to improve their food quality. For the quantity, the whole meal feels like many tiny dishes, which combined would be around the portion of an appetizer in a normal restaurant. Given that I always have a smaller appetite than others, this restaurant did not even make me feel full at the end of the meal, so I can already feel that everyone in the restaurant were not full at all. I had to go buy a box of chicken after the meal. $16. Given that this meal costs me over $200 I could have bought 13 boxes of chicken and give it to homeless people. Stupidity, guilt and shame are what I feel after the meal, not joy, not a tiny bit of joy. Edit: I did have a list of dietary requirements but most of them were ignored by my decision, I had dairy, e.g. cheese on tart, and no rice wine was in the menu anyway, so most dishes I had are the same as everyone else, and my review is based only on the dishes that are same as everybody.

I went here a few weeks ago and have been meaning to write this review ever since. To sum it up in one word: outstanding. The venue is so welcoming, calm and inviting. From the moment I stepped in the door, I knew this was special. The food was such an amazing experience, and the drinks pairing is definitely worth it! If you’re thinking about going, go. It’s worth the wait and I cannot wait to go back