Black Joy Kitchen lived up to the hype! The staff is so welcoming and cheerful. The food - African honey glazed salmon & lamb Waakye bowl were delicious. And I will be dreaming about the bourbon Kentucky cake. Yum!! read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Lamb bowl - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

What an absolutely unforgettable dining experience! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was vibrant, welcoming, and packed with fantastic African American and Diaspora cultural vibes. The staff immediately set a warm tone, and our server, Ryan, was a total delight--funny, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about every item on the menu. We started our evening with some great drinks and appetizers. My daughter ordered the Kuwee Quasan cocktail, and I had an excellent, perfectly crafted Old Fashioned. For our starters, we tried the suya honey wings, the corn cheddar chowder which my wife loved, and the cheese bread, though the bread was a bit gummy for our taste. Thankfully, that was the only minor misstep of the entire meal, as every other dish was pure perfection. The main courses and sides were packed with incredible flavor. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her suya lamb lollipops paired with the Mr. James smoked turkey greens. I opted for the waakye goat and djon djon rice alongside kelewele and macaroni and cheese, which featured a remarkably rich, smoky, savory, and gooey cheese. The depth of flavor across all the Diaspora dishes was truly impressive. To make the night even more special, Chef Ting came out to our table and spent quite a bit of time chatting with us. She is so down-to-earth and genuinely friendly. To top off an already fantastic celebration, Ryan and the entire staff came out to sing me Happy Birthday and presented me with a delicious devil's food cake. With incredible food, top-tier hospitality, and an unforgettable vibe, we will definitely be coming back! read more

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Black Joy Kitchen had been on my Martha's Vineyard bucket list for months, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Every dish--from the barbecue chicken and ribs to the Mr. James turkey greens, cornbread, potato salad, mac & cheese, baked beans, and grilled chimichurri vegetables--was packed with flavour and made with care. The Be Easy on the Beet mocktail was the perfect refreshing touch to round out the meal. The space itself adds another layer of meaning, with reclaimed furnishings that tell their own story. Much of tables, chairs, and decorative elements have been thoughtfully sourced and repurposed, giving new life to materials that might otherwise have been discarded. This intentional design not only reflects sustainability but also honors history and craftsmanship, creating a warm, lived-in atmosphere that feels both rooted and welcoming. Our server, Ava, was an absolute gem, making the experience even more memorable with her warmth and attentiveness. It was also incredibly uplifting to see so many people of color gathered in support of such a vibrant, Black-owned space. Huge congratulations to Chef Ting for creating something so special. read more

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Black Joy Kitchen is a great place to eat and spend time with your family and friends! I visited the restaurant on June 11, 2026. I thought since that was the early part of June that it would not be crowded and I did not need a reservation and I could just walk in, boy was I wrong! That place was jammed packed full of happy, joyful customers! (I did make a reservation ahead of time!) I had the Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas and the Mr. James Smoked turkey greens. The Jerk Chicken was great and flavorful, but the rice and peas, well they were not all that great. It tasted like that they were nuked in the Microwave. Chef Ting needs to look into that. But the Mr. James Greens were to die for! Very flavorful! The staff were great, friendly and very professional. All the customers that I seen walking out were very happy with big smiles on their faces! I was hoping to meet Chef Ting while I was there because I seen her on her social media accounts being the life of party, but she was not there. Her Manager/Hostess Kimberly really worked that room keeping the customers in great spirits and making sure that the trains were running on time. She chatted with me during my stay there and make me feel right at home there. If you want a table at Black Joy Kitchen start making your reservations right now! read more

Came here in September and had a fabulous time trying foods from the diaspora for a large group. Their drinks are very good, I had the forbidden fruit which was delcious. My favorite food was the African Honey Glazed Salmon, the parsnip was really good. Their butter cake for dessert was also very good. A really fun place for a large group. read more

Food came out cold. Took a long time to get service. Rice came out hard. Drinks were good. Overall will not be back. Very disappointed.

I went here for my birthday, and I was really glad I did. First thing I saw is an LGBTQIA+ flag and i knew i was in the right place. The food was spectacular and just what I needed. read more

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. read more

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Very disappointed with the family style dinner at Black Joy Kitchen. The portions were extremely small for six people. One dish was a single chicken leg quarter in a bowl on a bed of rice to be shared among six diners. Another was a single serving piece of cod swimming in a bland curry sauce with two cups of rice that also had to be shared among the table. The portions served as "family style" did not provide good value for the price. Needless to say we did not leave joyful. read more

I really wanted to love Black Joy Kitchen, and I still believe there is a lot of potential here. As a Black-owned business, I especially want to see them succeed, so I'm sharing this feedback in that spirit. Unfortunately, our experience fell short. Some of the food had good ideas behind it, but the execution was inconsistent. The chicken wings were very dry, the cod dish was under-seasoned, the gumbo was over-seasoned and the overall food just didn't quite hit the mark for our table of 8 (seated separtately). I know others have had great experiences here, so hopefully ours was simply an off day. Service was also challenging. We learned that several members of the waitstaff were on their first day, and it showed. There were communication difficulties, uncertainty about service, and a lack of the warmth and attentiveness you expect when dining out-especially on Martha's Vineyard, where hospitality is such an important part of the experience. One of the biggest issue, however, was that there was **no air conditioning**, and the restaurant was extremely hot and uncomfortable. That made an already disappointing experience much harder to enjoy. I'm not writing Black Joy Kitchen off because I genuinely want to see this restaurant do well. The concept is there and the food has potential. With more consistency in the kitchen, stronger staff training, and a more comfortable dining environment, I think the experience could be so much better. read more

It's unfortunate to say that y experience at Black Joy Kitchen was not asjoyful asone would expect. Our group of 12 was genuinely excited to patronize a black owned establishment with such a beautiful food concept. Unfortunately, the experience didnot live up to the hype. The foos was not as flaforful as we had anticipated, and the portion size did not seem to match the prices, especially since we were told that thedishes were designed to be shared, for example $24 for six wingettes. Nevertheless, we did not complain and simple made the best of our experience with no intention of returning. The most disappointing and what has continued to linger in my mind was how our evening ended. Our total bill was $815.96 and as we were preparing to pay, the manager approached our table and asked us to hurry becauses they needed to flip the table for other guest who were waiting, which by the way were four people at the front door as we departed. I completely understand the importance of turning tables, particularly when there are other customers waiting. However, this situation felt unnecessary and uncomfortable as it was very clear that we were not simply sitting around chatting or lingering after our meal but actively gathering and counting our money becaue we had chosen to pay our substantial bill in cash rather than by creditcard. After spending more than $800 as a group, I woud have expected a little more patience and hospitality. Being rushed while we were in the process of paying left a particularly negative impression and overshadowed what was already an underwhelming dining experience. As a patron, I wanted to support the concept and see their establishment succeed. Unfortunately, the food, value and especially the way our group was treated at the end or our meal did not leave us feeling valued as customers. I sincerely hope managment take this feedback into consideration. Guest should feel welcome and appreciated from the moment they arrive untl the moment they leave. read more

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. read more

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I went to Black Joy Kitchen with five friends and, on a last-minute decision, we walked in on a four-course wine pairing--so glad we did! Every course introduced us to incredible, unique flavors. As a self-proclaimed lobster connoisseur, I was blown away; there were seasonings and flavor combinations I had never experienced before. Absolutely tantalizing. The prawns were enormous and perfectly cooked, paired beautifully with a rich mushroom farro that really elevated the dish. And the final course? The most tender, flavorful oxtail I've ever had--and I've traveled the world and tried a lot of amazing food. While the wine pairings were excellent, the food was truly the star of the night. This was more than a meal--it was an experience. Highly recommend. read more

Visited Black Joy Kitchen during a trip to Martha's Vineyard and it was a great experience! Be aware that Black Joy Kitchen is a very popular restaurant so although the wait might be long, it is well worth it. Since this was my first visit, I wanted to try as much as I could so I ordered the ribs with brisket, Mac and cheese, greens, and baked beans. Everything was seasoned to my liking and well prepared! We also ordered the bacon as an appetizer. Black Joy Kitchen has a casual vibe and because of the wait time, I wouldn't suggest a group larger than 4. The best part of the experience was meeting the owner, who was walking around greeting everyone. She is such a pleasant person and she even gave us a sample of an item that was not on the menu. She swore us to secrecy, so I won't reveal what it was but like everything else, it was great! Looking forward to my next visit to Black Joy Kitchen - highly recommended! read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

I can't say enough about this restaurant! What a gem! My daughter and I had brunch this past Sunday & we will back! Live Dj spinning music from R&B to hip hop while we feasted on soul food! Chef's kiss to the complimentary bread, ribs, brisket and the greens!! Chef Joy put her foot in it!!! read more

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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. read more

Enjoyed at "Black Joy" 6 amazing food Courses, that were paired with wines from around the world. Great service and presentations by Chef Ting and The Black Joy Kitchen staff. The Lobster, Prawns Chicken, Mushrooms and Oxtails dinners were culinary masterpieces. Book Reservation Now--'cause Black Joy is already SOLD OUT in August. read more

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I am disappointed in my visit to Black Joy on Brunch bbq Sunday, 9/6/2026. I arrived at 10am for my reservation. I was the first person in the restaurant & the first to be seated. As a solo traveler I always reserve a table for 2 so that I can sit comfortably at a table. The Black Joy hostess asked me to sit at the bar since I was a party of 1 & I declined. This appeared to upset the hostess. After 15 minutes i never had a waitress approach my table so the hostess took my food order. All around me waitresses & waiters were waiting on other customers & those customers started to receive their food orders. At 40 minutes past the hour the hostess finally came back to my table to inform me that my order was 'skipped over' by the kitchen so she put the order in again. I informed the hostess that I had only planned to be there an hour & needed to catch a flight. The hostess asked me what time is my flight, what does that matter?! I've been sitting here for 40 minutes! By then I was hungry & frustrated & just ready to leave. There was no apology from the hostess for the delay & she just walked off like I offended her because I was disappointed in the service. I finished the complimentary bread & my drink & left. I hope to visit Black Joy again next summer & hopefully I can have a better experience. read more

The food is delicious and prepared with care and flavor! Service was on point, great space!

Food was excellent and the service was great! It was my 1st time there. I just wish they had regular tables and chairs. If you're on MV, I recommend going! You will not be disappointed! read more

Excellent, creative food of the melanated diaspora beautifully prepared and presented. Excellent personal service in a lovely setting. Overall a great chef, crew and restaurant building community with love. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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The restaurant and ambiance were amazing. Unfortunately, the menu we saw online was not the same menu presented at the restaurant, and we were unaware that the menu changes weekly. Our server was incredibly sweet and attentive. However, when we ordered sodas, we were served diet soda because they were out of Sprite. I wish we had been informed first and given the option to choose something else instead. The BBQ ribs were charred, dry, and heavily covered in BBQ sauce, but the sauce could not mask the taste or texture. The jollof rice was also dry and overly spicy without much seasoning or flavor beyond the heat. The mac and cheese, however, was excellent. The owner noticed that we were unhappy with our meal and kindly removed it from the check, which was greatly appreciated. Overall, the service and atmosphere were wonderful, but I do wish the food had been better. read more

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. read more

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Delicious meal great service but long wait. I would recommend it though. gumbo was pretty delicious.

Everything we are greeted with warmth and hospitality unsurpassed by any other establishment on the Island. It starts right and doesn't disappoint. read more

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! read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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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 read more

Black Joy Kitchen - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

LOVE the concept and Chef Ting! Wonderful space and vibe. Sadly, brunch was quite disappointing. Some items were clearly from... yesterday? Ice cold brisket with a little warm BBQ sauce on top. Way overcooked ribs. Cold biscuits that could have at least been revived in the oven. We were looking forward to the veggie option with chimichuri grilled portobello and zucchini. It came out as only zucchini (with no evidence of being grilled or chimichuri) and peppers...no prior explanation that they actually had no portobellos...until we asked. Highlights were the greens with smoked turkey and the mac & cheese. Given how expensive Black Joy is, we expected better. Felt sorry for the server...she was very nice and of course none of the missteps were her fault. Plan to return for dinner to try what looks like a fabulous menu...and in hopes of providing a stellar review! read more

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. read more

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!!! read more

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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants on the Island. Delicious enough for a special occasion, but you won't want to wait! Go now, and go often. It's THAT special~ from the service to the atmosphere, and the food? That's the WOW factor. It's THAT good! read more

I booked a party for 12 to celebrate the retirement of a colleague. Leading up to the party is was easy to communicate with Stephen, and he really made us feel special. We decided to dine "family style" with the chef choosing the food, it was marvelous! Every course, every dish, the cocktails, the music, every moment. The bbq ribs were better than the bacon, and NOTHING is better than the bacon! Make a reservation soon...I know this will be a go to restaurant for me from now on. read more

Black Joy Kitchen feels like home-I know I am out at a restaurant, but I am being myself, enjoying myself and nourishing myself. It's a place where I laugh out loud, and use my bread to sop up what's left on my plate. I have had such joy with family and friends there. Feeling welcome, safe to be myself, and free to feel my joy is the best way to enjoy a meal. That's why I love Black Joy Kitchen. I feel fed when I eat there. read more

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. read more

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? read more