Joe's Restaurant

(310) 399-5811

1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 33.9922 -118.4718

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Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA

www.joesrestaurant.com

Years in business

Established in 1990

Hours:

Tue-Thu 12pm-2:30pm

6pm-10pm

Fri 12pm-2:30pm

6pm-11pm

Sat 11am-2:30pm

6pm-11pm

Sun 11am-2:30pm

Brunch

Saturday and Sunday

11:00 - 2:30

Price:

$$$

Last updated 6.15.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Online Reservations, Fine Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

French, Californian

Notable Chef:

Joe Miller

What People Are Saying About Joe's Restaurant

Featured Review

Mar Yvette

Contributor

Perfectly at home on the westernmost edge of all the Abbot Kinney action, Joe's has been a steady and familiar dining force since opening in 1991 (long before this stretch became gentrified). The tiny bar perched at the entrance of the cottage-like space is where to grab a drink or wait for a table, the main dining room--suited in not much more than white tablecloths and hardwood floors--offers a little more legroom, while the hallway leading to the outdoor patio is where to catch a glimpse of the kitchen working its magic. Chef/owner Joe Miller's farm-to-table menu pulls out all the stops…

Editor's Tips

Save Money:
Try the three-course prix-fixe lunch offering a choice from about ten different entrees (plus appetizer and dessert) for $18.
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant is a no-cell-phone zone, so turn it off. Imagine, you might actually enjoy your company!
Where to Sit:
The back patio with its stone water wall and slatted wood roof is romantic at night and refreshing during brunch.
ambiance
93.05999755859375% positive
  1. It makes for a calming scene and makes for a romantic evening as well.
  2. It has a comfortable and pleasant ambiance with inventive yet tasty food.
  3. The price tag is high, but the quality of the food cannot be argued with, and the rich, elegant ambience make you feel like a million bucks.
  4. The entire restaurant has a cozy, modern woodsy feeling.
  5. Over all, I think it is a PERFECT place for a romantic dinner w/ a significant other, esp.
  6. Also the restaurant's perfect location is a great start for the evening to drink, before you could bar hoping around the local Santa Monica!
  7. With the warm colors of the room and wooden floors, Joe's decor creates an ambience of coziness.
  8. The service was impeccable, which we find is becoming more and more rare in LA, as restaurants rely on their celebrity clientele (or owners), their location, or their past reputation.
  9. quiet, romantic room, great menu, spectacular food and while expensive, still a value.
  10. the atmosphere is beautiful, the food is delicate and delicious, and the area is getting more hip with each wave's crash.
  11. The atmosphere here is elegant and casual at the same time.
  12. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere pleasant.
  13. The atmosphere is excellent which i found fantastic.
  14. Wonderful atmosphere and.
  15. We sat by the rock fountain in the patio which was very romantic.
  16. perfect place for a romantic dinner, especially on a winter night!
  17. This was so awsome, we got free appetizers and dessert because of the "bad" location and full introductory for each from the chef himself!
  18. would definitely recommend this place for the quality of the food, ambience, and service.
dessert
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. This was so awsome, we got free appetizers and dessert because of the "bad" location and full introductory for each from the chef himself!
  2. Strawberry shortcake had sides made of something (I could not figure out what it was, but tasted disgusting), the filling was some resemblance of a whipped cream, but with absolutely no taste and a few pieces of spoiled strawberry.
  3. ordered the snapper which was quite delicious and my gf and I shared the chocolate escape which was especially exquisite.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. the bartender made great drinks and was a please to talk to.
  2. be happy with the table in the bar.
  3. The wine list is fairly extensive and interesting, and my pomegranate martini was tasty.
  4. The most important, the bar manager is one of the most charming and nice bartender around!
  5. Also the restaurant's perfect location is a great start for the evening to drink, before you could bar hoping around the local Santa Monica!
  6. His suggestions for drinks were fantastic and while I am most capable to select a wine, I listened to him and was pleased again.
  7. It had a rich wine sauce and was above average.
food quality
83.17999839782715% positive
  1. Sadly, the days when this restaurant provided the most beautiful food and impeccable service are over.
  2. the atmosphere is beautiful, the food is delicate and delicious, and the area is getting more hip with each wave's crash.
  3. The first course, consisting of heirloom beets, scared me a bit (I'm not a huge fan), but even those were tasty.
  4. Great food, great price
  5. Such a bargain, and tastes farmers market fresh.
  6. Very good food, but poor service left bad taste.
  7. They were also out of all the fish entrees (my 1st and 2nd choices) and the service was less than pleasing.
  8. On our last visit to the restaurant (late December '06) it was a train wreck from start to finish--long waits, cold food or tasteless food, mixed up orders, and such shocking rudeness when we expressed our disappointment to the maitre'd that we have vowed
  9. The food was delicious even if it was overpriced!
  10. everything was delicious and Joe has earned our business back.
  11. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere pleasant.
  12. The food was excellent (but not life-changing).
  13. had east coast family in town who really enjoy and know good food, and I suggested going to Joe's.
  14. It had a rich wine sauce and was above average.
  15. The food is very good and the setting is very clean and modern - this is a very nice place for dates or couples.
  16. It has a comfortable and pleasant ambiance with inventive yet tasty food.
  17. The food was excellent and a great value.
  18. The food was very good - I had a simple green salad with radishes and a truffle dressing which was light and refreshing, followed by a tender monkfish with a tasty risotto.
  19. You want great food in Venice.
  20. Great gourmet food that isn't absurdly expensive :)
  21. The food was excellent.
  22. Very formal dinning area with pretty descent food.
  23. The food was very good: house salad was special.
  24. This used to be my favorite restaurant in LA - always excellent food that you knew would be exquisitely prepared once you saw Joe manning the kitchen.
  25. Horrible service, first-class food
  26. the food was good but not excellent.
  27. Creative cuisine that still makes you feel at home.
  28. ordered the snapper which was quite delicious and my gf and I shared the chocolate escape which was especially exquisite.
  29. The food, in a word, was TERRIBLE!
  30. cannot say that I really enjoyed the food (although there were definately good parts).
  31. quiet, romantic room, great menu, spectacular food and while expensive, still a value.
  32. know great food.
  33. here was our meal: undercooked vegetables, a pot au feu made of bad scraps, non-existent service, over-salted food--so much that on two separate dishes of the same fish, we each bit into salt balls that killed the rest of our meal!
  34. But that's to be expected and well deserved when you see the classy presentation and you taste the great cuisine.
  35. came here for a special occasion once and we were served their tomato soup which was probably the best I've ever had.
  36. The wine list is fairly extensive and interesting, and my pomegranate martini was tasty.
  37. food was very good, but the real stand-out was the service.
  38. The food is mediocre.
  39. The salmon was good, but nothing spectacular.
  40. The price tag is high, but the quality of the food cannot be argued with, and the rich, elegant ambience make you feel like a million bucks.
  41. Our meal came with some bread with a minced olive spread that was simply delicious!
  42. My friends ordered the steak, and that was a huge success too - it was cooked perfectly.
  43. would definitely recommend this place for the quality of the food, ambience, and service.
  44. The kobe beef was tender and had a rich sauce.
  45. The seasonal food, friendly service and reasonable prices confirms its reputation as one of LA's top restaurants.
  46. Good food but took 1 hr to be seated!
  47. Best service in LA, interesting dishes
  48. There were always fresh seasonal ingredients, great menu, and service!
  49. When we first came here a few years ago this restaurant served incredible food.
  50. Terrific food at a very reasonable price.
  51. The food was very mediocre.
  52. Great place to enjoy a meal without breaking the bank.
  53. Excellent food in a great atomosphere.
menu variety
89.28999900817871% positive
  1. Mr. Miller puts his best selections, according to the plundering of the local markets that day, and lets you sample 6 courses of poor flavor.
  2. The evening started out well-we were promptly seated, ordered a great cocktail and presented with the menus.
  3. If your evening is not ruined by the staff, highly recommend truffle menu.
  4. They were also out of all the fish entrees (my 1st and 2nd choices) and the service was less than pleasing.
  5. quiet, romantic room, great menu, spectacular food and while expensive, still a value.
  6. The wine list is fairly extensive and interesting, and my pomegranate martini was tasty.
  7. There were always fresh seasonal ingredients, great menu, and service!
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Joe's is a great place for lunch.
  2. As a local, I am a happy to have such a great restaurant in my neighborhood that provides a consistently excellent dining experience.
  3. Classy, Romantic, and top notch cheff make this a great date place or special occassion dinner for those whom are a bit more financially challenged.
  4. This used to be my favorite restaurant in LA - always excellent food that you knew would be exquisitely prepared once you saw Joe manning the kitchen.
  5. The food is very good and the setting is very clean and modern - this is a very nice place for dates or couples.
  6. met the owners who are great people and really run a nice restaurant.
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. On our last visit to the restaurant (late December '06) it was a train wreck from start to finish--long waits, cold food or tasteless food, mixed up orders, and such shocking rudeness when we expressed our disappointment to the maitre'd that we have vowed
service
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. The waiter was witty with a dry sense of humor, while not a requirement, he was a pleasure to have.
  2. food was very good, but the real stand-out was the service.
  3. Best service in LA, interesting dishes
  4. would definitely recommend this place for the quality of the food, ambience, and service.
  5. The service was attentive and gracious.
  6. met the owners who are great people and really run a nice restaurant.
  7. While friendly unpretentious waiter was very nice, he only came around two times- but they were busy.
  8. thought the service was pretty bad.
  9. When we asked for a warmer table, she made another rude comment.
  10. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere pleasant.
  11. The seasonal food, friendly service and reasonable prices confirms its reputation as one of LA's top restaurants.
  12. They were also out of all the fish entrees (my 1st and 2nd choices) and the service was less than pleasing.
  13. The most important, the bar manager is one of the most charming and nice bartender around!
  14. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine finding a place in LA with cosmopolitan sophistication AND genuinely nice people.
  15. The bartenders were great too.
  16. love the bartender, he is polite, quick-witted and prompt.
  17. here was our meal: undercooked vegetables, a pot au feu made of bad scraps, non-existent service, over-salted food--so much that on two separate dishes of the same fish, we each bit into salt balls that killed the rest of our meal!
  18. Horrible service, first-class food
  19. The servers were very friendly and helpful.
  20. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
  21. The service was impeccable, which we find is becoming more and more rare in LA, as restaurants rely on their celebrity clientele (or owners), their location, or their past reputation.
  22. If your evening is not ruined by the staff, highly recommend truffle menu.
  23. The service was excellent, the staff was very attentive and I never found myself wanting for anything very long, if at all.
  24. There were always fresh seasonal ingredients, great menu, and service!
  25. Very good food, but poor service left bad taste.
  26. We were promptly seated outside in the patio area and the service was good.
  27. Sadly, the days when this restaurant provided the most beautiful food and impeccable service are over.
  28. The service has been awful all three times.
  29. the bartender made great drinks and was a please to talk to.
  30. Mimosa's flowing, service was great and th.
value
86.54000282287598% positive
  1. Great gourmet food that isn't absurdly expensive :)
  2. The first course, consisting of heirloom beets, scared me a bit (I'm not a huge fan), but even those were tasty.
  3. lunch special is a good value
  4. The food was delicious even if it was overpriced!
  5. quiet, romantic room, great menu, spectacular food and while expensive, still a value.
  6. Great food, great price
  7. Terrific food at a very reasonable price.
  8. The price tag is high, but the quality of the food cannot be argued with, and the rich, elegant ambience make you feel like a million bucks.
  9. The seasonal food, friendly service and reasonable prices confirms its reputation as one of LA's top restaurants.
  10. The place has a very upscale vibe, but prices are reasonable.
  11. Everywhere else we went with a large group it seemed a little chaotic - at Joe's they were a smooth running machine and we ate like kings for a great price.
  12. The food was excellent and a great value.
  13. My friends ordered the steak, and that was a huge success too - it was cooked perfectly.
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. The service was excellent, the staff was very attentive and I never found myself wanting for anything very long, if at all.
  2. love the bartender, he is polite, quick-witted and prompt.
  3. On our last visit to the restaurant (late December '06) it was a train wreck from start to finish--long waits, cold food or tasteless food, mixed up orders, and such shocking rudeness when we expressed our disappointment to the maitre'd that we have vowed
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/08/10

LOVE!

by LuxuryGirl at Citysearch

I love this place! The food is excellent and it's a fantastic atmosphere. I want to go every day!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/10/08

Gourmet food in a quaint atmosphere

by rodney_tonya at Citysearch

The food was excellent. We went for lunch and the place was nice, quiet, seated immediately. Gourmet 3 course meal for $16 is tough to beat. The specials menu change daily. Abbot-Kinney can be hard to find parking but I would recommend giving it a try.

  • Pros: World class dining at an affordable prce.
  • Cons: Parking
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/01/08

Great place gone BAD? (April 2009)

by LAgirl2008 at Citysearch

We used to love this place! There were always fresh seasonal ingredients, great menu, and service! After a long break (about a year) we went there for a dinner and were shocked. The service and the quality went down the drain.The seafood appetizer was undercooked and I left it. My short rib was inedible. Basically I paid about $30 for a cube of fat with no meat. And of course, the desert. I don't remember the last time I ate something so awful. Strawberry shortcake had sides made of something (I could not figure out what it was, but tasted disgusting), the filling was some resemblance of a whipped cream, but with absolutely no taste and a few pieces of spoiled strawberry. I am still shocked that I lost one of my favorite paces. NEVER will we come back...

  • Pros: none
  • Cons: not fresh ingredients, disgusting food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/09/08

exceptional service

by cortastic at Citysearch

was new to joe's but had heard great things. food was very good, but the real stand-out was the service. eric was extremely knowledgable, charming and personable-- best waiter i've had in LA. I would definitely recommend this place for the quality of the food, ambience, and service. great date spot.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/02/08

Lucky Experience

by wam08 at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary and didn't have reservations, so we got put back at the "chef's table" across from the noisy kitchen and by the bathrooms, best bad table we ever had!!!! This was so awsome, we got free appetizers and dessert because of the "bad" location and full introductory for each from the chef himself!!! He was HILARIOUS and charming. The dishes were definitely expensive, probably over priced, so this was lthe only way we could have afforded to eat like this. I would go again to sit there, or I would love to try the pre-fix lunch. The food was delicious even if it was overpriced!

  • Pros: delicous food, great chef
  • Cons: expensive!!!

The Details on Joe's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • very clean setting
  • interesting dishes
  • rich elegant ambience
  • creative cuisine
  • consistently excellent dining
  • excellent good food
  • great service
  • great date place
  • mediocre firstclass food
  • nice restaurant
  • beautiful atmosphere
  • terrific dining experience
  • pretty bad nonexistent service
  • great price
  • most charming bartender
  • friendly unpretentious waiter
  • romantic value
  • great special occassion dinner
  • just great whole evening
  • good sunday brunch
  • helpful servers
  • sucked place
  • bad location
  • creative californian eclectic fare
  • great truffle menu

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