Comfortably eclectic menu and atmosphere; Delicious Italian food and awesome sushi? Check; Moody lounge vibe with intermittent disco strobe for "Happy Birthdays"? Check; The service was top-notch; the attention to our table and dietary needs (one GF) was thoughtful; great bar and cocktails - first glance at all Joia offers might seem like it couldn't work well, but it does! We will definitely go back! read more

This place is hip. Maybe a little too hip for the likes of me. The place is decorated really well. Everyone was friendly and the service was great. But the club music, the awkwardly deep chairs compared to table height made it less than 5 stars for me. We got a carbonera and a porcini pillows. The carbonera was pretty bland, didn't taste like much. But the pillows were amazing. Has the lemonchello dessert and a lava cake. The lemonchello was great but the lava cake was amazing. Really good desserts here. Overall it was a good experience. Wouldn't come back because too hip for me, but it's worth a try. read more

Cool little hotel bar with a very friendly staff and nice selection of cocktails. We enjoyed coming here each night before going to bed. Fun lounge with a diverse patron group read more

Conveniently located and nice atmosphere, located within the hotel. Our waitress was great but we had a little mixup with our food order first off. They don't have a kids menu which was unfortunate because it would be convenient to have the whole family eat here especially for hotel residence. We asked for a hamburger plain and we received a cheeseburger we noted that our son wouldn't eat it with cheese. They took it back and when they brought it back to our table, we noticed that all they did was peel off the cheese, and it was melted onto the meat. It was also expensive, a $33 burger no matter if you get all the fixings or not. The food was not bad. We did have to ask for the hotel guest discount to be applied, they did not ask and then had to give us an adjusted bill. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Short rib pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Love the ambiance! Classy, service and food were great! Recommended this to my sister and we had a great time for her birthday too! Reservations are needed. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The Scarlet Vetter says....Everything I am in Boston I stay at the Harborside Hotel on State Street, mainly because my job requires that I do work across the street from the hotel, and it's very convenient. A nice benefit of the hotel is the restaurant inside of it with a beautiful, long bar. Excellent bartenders abound and an added bonus of twenty percent off your food bill if you stay at the hotel and eat in the restaurant. During the summer, it has a beautiful outside patio. The restaurant has a great low key vibe. I have never been disappointed in the food or the service. read more

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Joia Restaurant and Lounge has a patio out front and is located close to the Greenway, opposite the Boston Aquarium area. I ordered my lunch to go. Beef Short Rib - pickles, American cheese, and aioli sauce, Italian fries $16 There were a ton of fries in the take-out container, so there was no going hungry! The short rib within the roll was generous as well. The pickle ratio was a bit too strong and not a good match for the sandwich. read more

Had a great experience at Joia! The Porcini Pillows were an incredibly delicious entree. Other standouts included the Meatballs & Ricotta appetizer & Tiramisu for dessert! Their signature Joia spritz cocktail was also delicious. The interior has an upscale, dark & moody vibe that seems like it would make for a great late night spot. Joia is centrally located in downtown Boston and has a cute, covered patio as well. The staff was so kind and attentive & provided great recommendations from the menu. I'd love to come back and try more of their wonderful offerings! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Porcini Pillows - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Extremely fancy and delicious! We came with a large party for dinner. The team spoke mostly Italian. The waiter was helpful, but the support team dropped the ball. We ordered a variety of pasta dishes. The support waiter gave the wrong dish to the wrong person. We didn't realize it till all of the plats came out and it was halfway gone. They fixed the mistake, but actively ignored our table for the rest of the meal till it was time for the check. They didn't ask if everything was ok after, didn't refill drinks and it felt awkward. Good food, but not worth the price. The portions were tiny too, and I eat like a bird! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Brazed beef - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Place had a great atmosphere. Service was great and felt personalized. Food was good.

This place is definitely intimate, and the aesthetics are absolutely beautiful. It's the kind of spot that makes you check yourself before you sit down because everything looks so pretty. There's one section of the restaurant where all the flowers are that requires a reservation, and now I understand why. The birthday celebrations there are on another level compared to the rest of the space. If you want the "main character" birthday experience, that's the section to book. We started with the calamari. Visually? Stunning. Texture? Fried to perfection. Seasoning? On vacation. A little salt would have completely transformed it. I also wasn't sold on the spicy marinara sauce. It just didn't compliment the calamari the way I wanted it to. It was giving "we tried something different" but I wished it kept it classic. I ordered a strawberry mocktail concoction and I have zero complaints. It was refreshing, delicious, and honestly made me feel a little fancy. For my entrée, I got the steak tips and fries. The steak tips were cooked perfectly and super tender. The fries were seasoned beautifully, ironically with the exact seasoning the calamari was missing. The entrée was top tier and absolutely mouthwatering, though they could have eased up just a tiny bit on the salt. My blood pressure was like "okay, we get it." My friend celebrated her birthday early and the presentation was adorable. They really do know how to make you feel special. The chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream, however, didn't quite do it for me. It tasted a bit heavy on the cacao powder. Not bad, just not the dramatic dessert moment I was hoping for. Overall, we had a great time. The ambiance alone makes it worth the visit, even if a few dishes missed the mark. I'd definitely come back to try their brunch because I feel like that might be where they really shine. Just be prepared for parking to test your patience since it's right by State Street. read more

A few steps from our hotel. I was really craving eggplant parm, but a festival in North End prevented me from dining there. Defeated, I decided to grab a quick salad or appetizer at Joi'a. I was thrilled to see eggplant involtini on the menu. Ordered that with the Black Dahlia cocktail. Pleased with both offerings. The music was good. Loved being seated in the window with the table and chairs. Service was great. read more

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Wow what a spectacular Sunday brunch experience at Joia Boston. From the moment we sat down the atmosphere was upscale yet relaxed making it the perfect spot to enjoy a long brunch. The truffle ravioli was rich and indulgent with a perfectly balanced truffle flavor that did not overpower the dish, while the steak tips were tender flavorful and cooked just right. Every cocktail we tried was thoughtfully crafted and absolutely delicious, easily one of the highlights of the meal. The overall vibe was ideal for catching up and spending time with a friend, and it truly felt like a place you could linger and enjoy. I will definitely be back to experience dinner here. The food earns a strong 9 out of 10 and the drinks are a clear 10 out of 10. read more

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We happened here by accident. We had a group of 8 on a busy December evening and Joia was the only spot that could accommodate all of us. The space is beautiful and even more so with the decor for the holidays. The group only ordered drinks, but all were happy with their choices. I had an espresso martini that was fantastic - smooth and full of flavor, as well as a glass of wine. Our server was friendly and attentive. Can't speak to the food menu, but would definitely recommend as a stop for drinks for date night or with friends. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I was staying in the adjoining hotel for a few nights and decided to try this restaurant for dinner. The restaurant offers hotel guests a discount. My server was so helpful. He gave me the best suggestions. I also used the inkind app to get an additional discount. I had the mushroom ravioli, they started me off with bread, I had soup, and a dessert. I only paid $65. I also had a pistachio martini that tasted amazing. I would definitely go back here if I were in the area. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and felt like you were at a black tie affair just sitting there. read more

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Only tried breakfast and coffee here. Food was just ok. They had very slow service. May need either more staff or more motivated energetic staff? Be aware the motel next door offers 20 percent off if u show motel key but was told that is for dinner only. read more

The food, the service, and the atmosphere are fantastic! I like the fact there were comfortable chairs, music wasn't too loud, and there were standard tables. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Great wine choices! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Only had dessert to go staying in the hotel. The dessert was incredible. I had the lava tortino fabulous ice cream. Fabulous! Fresh strawberries molten chocolate cake. Unbelievable. The vibe in the place is gorgeous. I have pictures of the entire inside of the restaurant. The food was great. The staff was amazing read more

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Stopped by Joia for the first time at a private party and I got a chance to try the espresso martini and brunch spread. The restaurant had a really nice decor and good vibes. The martini and the food was ok but they didn't make the espresso martini with espresso. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great dining experience. Went here with a bigger party (i think 20ish people) and we were all accomodated for in terms of both food and service. We got appetizers for the table so I'm not too sure what each were. One was like a sushi roll, one was bruschetta, and a caesar salad. My meal was the cacio e pepe with shrimp. It was delicious and so thoughtfully prepared. YUM. Desserts we got the lava cake and the tiramisu. Both were also really delicious and well prepared. Worth the price forsure! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Beautiful place, comfortable seats, attentive servers! It was just so relaxing inside with chill music. Ordered the lobster tagliatelle, risotto of the day and tiramisu for dessert. The food had adequate serving and was sumptuous! The homemade tiramisu was just perfect! Will definitely recommend this place for carboloading for the Boston Marathon runners! read more

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Had dinner on Saturday nite.... Had reservations Seated immediately at 630PM Service by David G.was super ! Started with a pistachio martini....perfect .. Appetizer ...EGGPLANT INVOLTINI DELICIOUS I had CHICKEN PARM Date could not decide between CARBONARA or PAPPDELLA David our waiter said no problem as give half & half 7 year old had MARGARITA PIZZA Eat it all Dessert TIRAMISU SCOPE OF vanilla ice cream with sliced strawberries Highly recommend for Italian cuisine Next trip to Beantown ...stop again read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - CHICKEN PARM - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Absolutely amazing experience! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was perfect -- such a beautiful space with great lighting, music, and energy. It feels upscale but still fun and welcoming. The food was incredible. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can really tell there's attention to detail in every dish -- honestly some of the best we've had in a while. Our server, Carmen, truly made the night. She was so attentive, friendly, and on top of everything without being overwhelming. She gave great recommendations, checked in at the perfect times, and brought the best energy to our table. You can tell she genuinely cares about her guests and wants everyone to have a great experience. Between the amazing food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service (especially Carmen!), we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Very slow service. The over stuffed chair I was seated in lack enough stuffing to support my 200lb weight and the framework cut into my thighs. Small portions that are expensive. The overall flavor of the food was good. It's unfortunate the all we got was three small bites of ham, 2 eggs and maybe what amounted to 1/4 of a diced potato for around $20. read more

I decided to make last-minute reservations at Joia to celebrate my cousin's birthday. Neither of us had been to Joia before and we wanted to try it out, though I was a bit skeptical after reading some of the reviews. However, I can say that Joia is definitely worth trying for yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. The host, who we later found out was actually the owner, was very nice, and our waitress was super sweet and attentive. The aesthetic was beautiful and the vibe was great. For our appetizer, we ordered the Frittura di Calamari ($18.00). I had an Espresso Martini ($19.00), the Cacio e Pepe pasta ($38.00), and the Lava Tortino for dessert ($13.00). My cousin ordered a mocktail ($8.00), the special Chicken Parm dish ($38.00), and the Tiramisu for dessert ($12.00). Please keep in mind that a kitchen appreciation fee of $5.47 was added to our bill read more

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Ambience was impeccable and prices very reasonable. Enjoyed my wine and pizza night :) read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Overpriced like all downtown upscale places, but at least it was good food. Some of the best fries I've had in a while. Pretty good table service even being very busy. However, we asked twice for them to extend an awning to block the direct sun and they never did. Comfortbale outdoor seating. Awesome that they put up an outdoor big screen for world cup! read more

Beautiful restaurant & bar. We stopped in on our first night, for some drinks while staying at the hotel next door. A few days later we returned for breakfast. Our table enjoyed omelets and French toast, both meals were delicious and served hot! The restaurant is beautifully decorated with comfortable seating. The service was great both times! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Western Omlett - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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A great experience on a recent business trip. The people were so friendly and the food fantastic. Scratch pasta dishes and great short ribs were on the menu and are recommended. They have a beautiful room or great window seating as options. Full bar with complimenting cocktails and of course expresso. read more

Joia was a hidden gem! The margarita pizza was delicious and the atmosphere was really fun for a Saturday night pre-game. Our waitress Carmen was such a sweetheart and was very attentive throughout the entire dining experience. Thank you very much, Joia! read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - The dirty martini! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The service was great, I really enjoyed my drinks ! Carmen was a great waitress and suggested many good options. The atmosphere was nice and it was very friendly in here. I would come back again!!!!!! read more

The food is under seasoned and way overpriced I had the Romain salad (which had zero taste and then I got bolognese pizza where I couldn't taste the bolognese and the cheese was bland. The best thing about it was the broccolini. This place is mid. Don't waste your money. read more

* Ambiance amazing, food not-bad * We visited this restaurant as a group of 8 for dinner. First off, I loved the ambiance and the service. It's a perfect place for celebrations like birthdays. However, I felt the menu is too short. It's difficult to feel very luxurious in terms of getting choices to choose from. That being said, the server did a great job in catering to our dietary needs. Parking was available for a fee about 3-4 mins away from the restaurant. Overall not bad and I would somewhat recommend it. read more

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We stayed at the hotel (Harborside Inn) next door for 5 days, came here for breakfast every day, dinner twice, we loved this restaurant! Food is excellent, service is great, restaurant is beautiful and clean. For breakfast, we've tried everything, omelettes, eggs, sausages, ham, bacon, pancakes.... everything is tasty. They have good chefs. I drink tea. They use good quality tea here. Waiter Santiago is the best! He is professional and friendly. He remembered I like Earl Grey tea, and served us hot steamed milk for coffee and tea. He tried harder to do a better job. We were very happy to see him every morning :)) read more

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It's lovely. A modern Italian restaurant that is attached to the Harborside Inn. Beautiful intimate dining room with an equally large bar-space with lower lighting and high-top booths. They offered and we choose the high-top in the window. It's a very small table with a light and an orchid. We had to move the orchid off to the window sill to have room. Very pretty though. The first gal that asked which water we wanted and mentioned sparkling. I said oh no thank you, just still regular water. Thankfully, she hadn't opened the bottle at our table before I stopped her and clarified tap water. So be careful when you order. I did select a glass of Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. It was perfect. Only thing not perfect was the dust inside the glass made a fine layer on top of my wine. The light on the table made it apparent. I had been working then travelling all day and was at a point I didn't care but was surprised. You can see it in my pic below with the bread service. The server recommended the short ribs that I did order. Excellent portion size, served on a bed of polenta with red pepper jam and interesting Italian glaze or gravy. (gravy doesn't sound sexy). The pepper jam was odd but it was very good. The bread service was a nice surprise. It was a pesto with some cream or cheese dollop in the middle. My husband had the Chicken parmesan dish. We should have shared, it was huge. Since we were staying at the hotel, we received 20% off our dine in dinner. I believe it is for dine in and dinner only. Great deal. Excellent service, atmosphere and entrees. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Bread and wine - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I loved my experience at joia! I sat on the patio with a reservation I made the day before (walk in would have been fine tho). The patio is super cute and well spaced. I ordered an espresso martini and loved the beautiful design as well as the taste. I sampled several things from the small plates menu but what really stole the show was the octopus- wow! Incredible flavor, texture, and consistency. Seasoned and cooked to perfection. I'd go back for that alone! Service was very good too. read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The restaurant is very pretty inside and small. but nicely decorated, and the drinks were good, which is the only reason this isn't a zero-star review. Our reservation was for 7:30pm yet we didn't get seated until 8:45pm. My husband ordered the chicken parm, which had absolutely no flavor, and I had the steak tips which were okay at best. Also, just an FYI: a call was made ahead to ask if it was okay to bring our own cake. they said yes but failed to mention there's an extra $5 per person fee for them to cut it. That should've been communicated upfront. Overall, very disappointing experience. Not worth the wait or the price. read more

I came here for my friend's birthday and I had a great time. Carmen was an amazing server, definitely ask for her! The food was amazing, the music was amazing, and the service was great. I had the special which was a white wine pasta with lobster and shrimp and the strawberry blush drink. Amazing! Will def come again read more

Joia Restaurant and Lounge - special pasta - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

All I can say is ... DANIELLA! The best bartender/server one could ask for. Incredible service, kind, comfortable companionship. Daniella was such a bright light in a crowded sea of bars, servers, etc, Staying at Harborside Inn, stopping in for a nightcap on a few occasions, had such great service from Daniella and crew that we had to keep coming back. What a great way to end the evening. Oh, and have the calamari... so freaking good! THANK YOU! read more

Had such a great night here!!! We came to celebrate my friend's Birthday and it was the perfect place for the occasion!! The Carbonara and the Arrabbiata pasta dishes were delicious and the drinks were shaken to perfection!!! The service from our waitress Carmen was top notch, she made the evening extra special for our birthday girl!!! We will definitely be back to celebrate the next one! read more