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  • Joya Restaurant & Lounge

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Joya Restaurant & Lounge
Joya Restaurant & Lounge

Joya Restaurant & Lounge Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.joyarestaurant.com
  • Email: info@joyarestaurant.com
  • Phone: (650) 853-9800
  • Hours of Operation: Open Daily from 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Open until Midnight on Thursday - Saturday
  • Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Latin / Spanish, Tapas / Small Plates
  • Executive Chef: Fabrice Roux
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
  • Private Party Facilities: From initial design inception, Joya was envisioned to beautifully accomodate private parties. As such, Joya is a collection of unique, yet flowing separate spaces capable of hosting private parties from 8 to over 200 people in comfortable, modern style.
  • Private Party Contact: Jane Zakharchuk (650) 853-9800 x3
  • Entertainment: During the spring and summer seasons, Joya often hosts live Latin musical performances on its open air patio. The lastest event information is announced on our website: www.joyarestaurant.com

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Florence Street
  • Public Transit: Palo Alto Caltrain stop is just a few blocks away.
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: Abundant free parking adjacent to Joya in the multi-level Florence Street parking garage.
A word from Joya Restaurant & Lounge
From tapas to entradas, Joya Restaurant and Lounge provides a modern interpretation of the rich culinary lineage of Spain and Latin America. Joya is proud to have teamed with Shopworks (designers of W-Hotels in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego) to create a natural-hued,… contemporary restaurant and lounge that imparts guests with a feeling of comfortable exclusivity. So if you are looking to enjoy a refined Latin-influenced dining experience, new age cocktails and festive live music, we invite you to join us at Joya Restaurant & Lounge.Continued
Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerHot Spot
Diner Reviews
  • "Just misses being 5 stars. While very, very good service and service, both fall just short of 5 stars. Not sure what it is, I just think it could be a little better. Weekend lunch includes bottomless Mimosas (used blood oranges instead, which made it very tasty), and an awesome assortment of tapas. Everything we had was very good: white corn empanadas, fried local calamari (a little salty for me), chipotle chicken tostadas (these were the star of lunch), chorizo corndogs (I'm a sucker for chorizo), and dungeness crab cakes (good, not great). To top off our meal, we had the churros with hot chocolate (so freaking good). I would go back again. I really want to try their breakfasts."
    Dined on 3/2/2014
  • "Happy hour meal is good and drinks are well priced - mixed drinks are quite strong in alcohol and flavor Outdoor seating is nice during warmer months reservations recommended"
    Dined on 2/6/2014
  • "Our tapas ranged from below average to fairly good, but were disappointing in general; the steak entree was very good. We had well-made, if somewhat expensive ($12) cocktails. Service was somewhat slow; the food was very slow. Nice atmosphere & a well-designed interior."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "The table setting on a semi-private area was perfect to make the evening special for the b-day girl. Paella was great too."
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "For such a busy day, Joya hit it out of the park. Been here a few times and the food is always consistent. Although the dishes seem to be heavy on the salt and butter, it's pretty decent for the price point. Known for their tapas, I would definitely get the scallops. If you can get a table, you will enjoy this place."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Variety of tapas is the best thing at Joya....been there a few times and the food is always great. Great place for a date, maybe a double date. Best way to enjoy the food is order a few tapas and one main dish to share, the tapas platter i recommend the Tapas Platter, Mini Burgers are great, Yuca fries, empanadas are also delicious!!! Favorite main dish is the sautéed camarones with mescal cream. Usually service is excellent but this last time the Waiter was not up to par, not so friendly..."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "We enjoyed a "pre-Valentine" dinner at Joya. We sampled many appetizers for our meal accompanied by a lovely bottle of pinot noir. Excellent gambas, deviled eggs w/ caviar and calamari...not to mention the warm chocolate lava cake for dessert."
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "Great dining experience with friends. The staff was friendly and patient while we took our timing deciding what to order. We did not feel rushed and enjoyed the food, wine and over all experience."
    Dined on 2/8/2014
  • "Chef Fabrice Roux does a wonderful job, managing the restaurant, interacting with customers, and designing great, creative, ever changing tapas. He loves what he does, and is passionate about it. He spends time not only in the kitchen, but also managing the restaurant staff to ensure that all is well. He takes the time to interact with customers. He is also there to help you plan a special event. He is very dedicated to making everyone's experience at Joya unforgettable. I have never been disappointed. Joya has become our favorite destination for a good, relaxing, creative, interesting meal. Prices are reasonable given the value and the symphony of tastes."
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "Had dinner here. Nice and relaxing interior design. We tried several of the tapas plates. My favorite were the croquetas and blood sausage; I can describe them both the same way, rich, creamy, delicious!"
    Dined on 2/7/2014
  • "The food was decent but we couldn't get over how bad the service was. We kept having to ask waiter for EVERYTHING and the timing was off in bringing food. They also never checked in on us. It required several attempt to get their attention for each request. The waiters were more like bus boys -at best. They did not engage with us during the entire meal. They didn't seem to have knowledge about the food or drinks - very unpolished. The table next to us complained so they got a little more attention. It's shocking to experience this poor service in Palo Alto where the population is generally sophisticated. Definitely not going back."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "This place has solid food and good service. By no means is it anything spectacular, but it's a good place for the price."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "Joys has good food, good service, and is well located in bustling Palo Alto. It's worth a visit if you like tapas."
    Dined on 1/23/2014
  • "We booked a table for ten for an office dinner, and they provided us with a private area off the dining room that truly allowed us to talk without any other diners nearby. The food was incredible and the service was outstanding. They also had vegetarian options available. Joya is definitely part of our permanent rotation now - thank you!!"
    Dined on 1/23/2014
  • "We had a large group and it was perfect. Everything on the able was delicious and the service was outstanding."
    Dined on 1/13/2014
  • "Hanger Steak was excellent. Most small plates were very good but not excellent. Calamari was not very good."
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "Ordered four tapas. All were disappointing. And incredibly noisy...apparently by design ."
    Dined on 1/16/2014
  • "Very enjoyable. Wish there were more wines by the glass, but great dining experience"
    Dined on 1/16/2014
  • "The menu is creative and has many seasonal and fresh ingredients."
    Dined on 1/15/2014
  • "We celebrated a birthday here. Some guests had diet restrictions and there was a nice offering of gluten-free, sugar-free and vinegar-free dishes The ambience is good, not too loud, lighting just right. They were ready at the time we reserved. The table was nicely located - there are partitions throughout the restaurant and you never feel you are in a large hall We elected to enjoy the Tapas only, and pretty much selected them all. The food came in waves so we could enjoy them at an easy pace. (we didn't order drinks so I cannot comment) Overall Favorites: Ahi-tuna tartare Ceviche Carmelized brussel sprouts"
    Dined on 1/5/2014
  • "Yes, there was a spider in the ceviche. When we told the waiter, he asked, "Well, was it on the plate already or was it actually in the food?" Really?! Does it matter? Then he said he would bring a mew one and take it off the bill. The bill came and it was on there still. Poor service. Unfriendly."
    Dined on 12/23/2013
  • "My wife and I love to travel and when we do, good food is high on the list of what makes the experience special. We're here in Palo Alto for medical reasons, finding Joya has made our visit a bit more like a vacation. I'll not bore you with descriptions of particular dishes, let's just say everything item on the menu is uniquely presented and flavorful. The service staff is extremely attentive and concerned, yet never seems to get in the way of fully enjoying the food and the company. The décor is contemporary, though comfortable...making it a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. We found this gem about a month ago and have been back four times since. It's winner...enjoy!"
    Dined on 12/22/2013
  • "Warm atmosphere with a vibrant scene not typical in PA. Our waitress was attentive & knowledgeable. Food was interesting and fun. Overall, great spot for a fun night out!"
    Dined on 12/19/2013
  • "I would have given a 5 star on service BUT, I'm not because I feel the server should not have brought our soup when he just brought our cocktail. Then no sooner did he bring our next course. Especially since we didn't start eating our soup until we finished our cocktail. So everything was cold. They had plenty of tables and they knew we were celebrating a birthday, had presents to open, yet they continued to rush us through lunch. Too bad."
    Dined on 12/9/2013
  • "Excellent food combined with professional service! Modern, open space. Tapas is great fun to share with friends and family. I am looking forward to my next visit to sample even more!"
    Dined on 12/8/2013
  • "I had salmon with brussels sprouts, which was very tasty. The salmon wasn't exactly dry, but it could have been moister. My companion raved about her braised ribs tapas. Surprised no decaf cappuccino. The service was attentive---perhaps too much so. Our entrees arrived literally three minutes after they brought us our drinks. My pet peeve is wait staff who interrupt patrons' conversations to ask if everything is okay, or for any reason. Please wait til we at least take a breath! It's rude and it's extremely irritating. Didn't have dessert but I've eaten here three times, and each time the food has been good. And you'll find dishes here you won't find anywhere else. Definitely worth a try."
    Dined on 12/7/2013
  • "2nd time for me at Joya in Palo Alto. Great atmosphere - lively but not too over the top. I had the Lingcod on kale and red quinoa which was superb and a glass of awesome Malbec. The only downside is the tables are a bit too close together"
    Dined on 12/4/2013
  • "The food was good but nothing to really write home about. Had the sliders, crab cakes and mushroom risotto. Also had the sangria, which were really good. Other than that, the service was good and they were attentive. Ambiance was nice and intimate."
    Dined on 12/2/2013
  • "I had a lunch meeting here, and both of us ended up leaving most of our food untouched. Not sure if the chef wasn't feeling well that day, but EVERYTHING was salty. They have a lunch combo, so I ordered the soup of the day and a brussel sprout dish. The soup was super salty and I barely managed to finish it. The brussel sprouts were so salty and oily that I took two bites and ended up taking the rest of it home. I didn't have the heart to eat it later, so it went straight into the trash. Ended up having to eat a second lunch shortly after to make up for this meal."
    Dined on 11/19/2013
  • "Location and ambience were great, but food was below expectation. Service was ok. One thing that bothered me - we were at the bar waiting for our table, and when the hostess came to walk us to the table, she asked us to settle the bar bill. We were halfway through our drinks, and I would have expected that we could carry our drinks to the table and the tab would be carried over."
    Dined on 11/24/2013
  • "I always love coming here! I'm so happy there's a place in the neighborhood with a great atmosphere, amazing food, and wonderful drinks!"
    Dined on 11/22/2013
  • "The tables at Joya are way too small for the serving of tapas. There isn't any room for the dishes and glassware so adding multiple small plates is a disaster. We tried to consolidate as many dishes as possible to give us more room. The noise level is deafening because the tables are crammed together. We could easily be a part of the conversation at the next table. The service wasn't inspired. We waited for refills of drinks and the check. They do get the food out quickly however. The food was good but not outstanding enough to warrant a second visit."
    Dined on 11/22/2013
  • "Good food with no equivalent here (a mix of Spanish, Peruvian and Argentinian), can be very spicy (not mentioned in menu) Service a bit slow but friendly Loud fun atmosphere in the early evening"
    Dined on 11/22/2013
  • "Joya was OK. We had a couple of good apps and a nice Flank Steak. However we ordered the Paella, by far the most expensive item on the menu. I saw it sitting under the warmer for a good fifteen minutes before it was brought to the table. I would say at best it tasted mediocre. Very disappointing. I would still to drinks and tapas at this restaurant."
    Dined on 11/13/2013
  • "We had great service. And when our server found out we were celebrating birthdays she offered us a dessert on the house - a nice touch."
    Dined on 11/10/2013
  • "Gary, Allen Sergio are all fantastic servers. Jytte, Ashton, Shannon, Daniel are fantastic. The hostesses and cocktailers are professional and beautiful. It is what you expect from Palo Alto, A perfect menu with great wines, and great service!"
    Dined on 6/29/2013
  • "I love stopping at Joya for a Caipirinha and some yucca fries, yum! Their tapas are great and it's the best Caipirinha I've had in the Bay Area."
    Dined on 11/1/2013
  • "Service was friendly and attentive. We ordered off the tapas menu only and enjoyed each of our dishes. Wine list is only so-so and pricey for the offerings, but overall I would return and recommend."
    Dined on 10/29/2013
  • "We found a piece of plactic wrap in our sangria! The manager said they are wrapping sangria pichers and sometimes this is happening. I prefer he got stunned instead of normalizing the situation. Anyway, the food was tasty and the serving materials were nice and well designed. I would not reject to go there again but probably I would prefer to try other restaurants."
    Dined on 10/26/2013
  • "We made a reservation at Joya for my son's 31st birthday celebration. We had not been before and we were pleasantly surprised with the service and food. Excellent tapas and the waiter was amazing. He suggested items and they were all delicious. Will definitely be back!"
    Dined on 10/20/2013
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