Joan's on Third

07/30/2008 Posted by tdubbs

I was just in this past Saturday visiting from out of town. Although it was crowded we were very pleased with the service, especially the manager Kenny. He was able to recommend some great dishes, I loved the chicken Milanese. He also was able to find us a table when it looked like we were out of luck. Had a great experience, loved the food, loved the service can't wait to come back again the next time I am in town.

07/02/2008 Posted by wam08

NEVER try to eat in on the weekends, there is limited seating and it is packed, youare guaranteed to wait and may not get to sit with in large groups. The food is good, great side dishes to take home, clean kind atmosphere. a little pricey for simple sandwiches, etc

Pros: Good selection, nice sides

Cons: too packed to eat in

06/21/2008 Posted by gcgc11

Limited menu, overpriced and never willing to bend their rigid rules. God forbid you're a vegetarian and would like fruit with your eggs instead of bacon - of course they won't charge you less if you refuse the bacon AND of course you have to pay more for the fruit. An egg-white omelet? -- can't be done. You'd think with all the baking they do they'd be happy to have a few extra egg yolks around, but I guess not.

05/01/2008 Posted by finedine2008

I went on a weekday and it was super packed. Food is great, love the sandwiches and the salads. The cheese selection is also amazing.

04/11/2008 Posted by hmk360

I've been to Joan's a few times. Each time thinking that the food is just so-so. The third time I went back with my wife, we both thought the food was awful and we both hade stomach aches the entire night. Besides the food being on the lower end of average, it's extremely overpriced. I could see other LA people loving this place if this is all they know...like if they were from Kansas! Anyway, I think we'll skip Joan's for the rest of our lives.

Pros: not many

Cons: Below average food, parking

03/30/2008 Posted by nisa35

I've heard so much about this place that finally I decided to visit it. We went for breakfast that along with eggs, mushrooms and herbs contained HAIR as well. When my friend brought the fact that some of the ingredients are simply unacceptable manager in an extremely rude manner replied " this is not HAIR, THOSE ARE EYELASHES" to her and took away the plate with her tastless mixture they call "omlet" in that place. My own experience was not any better; the New York egg sandwich ( I asked them to replace bacon with turkey bacon or avocados,which they refused to do and refused to adjust the price as well) consists of two pieces of bread completely soaked in pure grease, generic mixture of egg and melted cheese of suspiciously rubbery structure. Despite the fact we were all starving, we left that place hungry, frustrated and disappointed. On top of that I had bad heartburn. So if you like to pay money for gross food with special ingredients including pubes (I call it Borat special) then Joan's on Third is definitely for you!

Pros: Hair in the food

Cons: Poor customer service

03/20/2008 Posted by MoxieTheCat

When you think about it, it's deli-style, pre-made, refrigerated food! How good can it be?!? Not only that, it is quite pricey for what it is. Joan's is also a relatively high-end caterer - I think that's how they started - so that should give you some idea about their food and prices. It costs the same to eat at Joan's as a relatively nice sit-down meal that's made-to-order but I find myself craving Joan's and going back time and time again, especially picking up food for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's. Their offerings vary so that can be a bummer (mmm... vermont maple syrup yams... when will it make another appearance?!?). Anyways, Joan's is a great place to get food for a party, or on a sunny, lazy afternoon, to get a snack and catch some rays at one of their tables out front. The cheese plate is fabulous and a pretty good deal relative to everything else. They will recommend and let you sample different cheeses from around the world - if you like cheese, get some to go for yourself or your next party! The desserts (e.g. cakes, cupcakes) are pretty good too - not the best but we always walk away with something sweet! It's hard to name my favorites. The sandwiches are good but I wouldn't go out of my way just to get a sandwich there. Try getting a 3-selection plate and sample things like the pasta salads, couscous, etc. For certain foods (e.g. korean bbq short rib - I know, it's odd), they will reheat it for you so that could make all the difference. Joan's is often quite busy so this is not the place to go if you are in a hurry or have limited time. Parking can be a challenge but that's 3rd street for you. We've heard people complain about the service but we've generally received excellent service. Sometimes saying "hi" and being polite will get you want you want. :)

Pros: great food to pickup for parties, variety of things to try

Cons: parking, prices

02/17/2008 Posted by wonderlily

I visited Joan’s on Third on a Friday around 3-4pm. I found myself a parking spot pretty quickly about two blocks away because I know my way around this area and don’t waste time trying to find a close spot like all the other lazy people who circle around for 30 minutes so they won't have to walk a block or two. I didn’t think it would be busy since I was going at an off time but when i got there I noticed that it was pretty crowded and all the tables were taken outside. Once I was inside it i was a little overwhelmed ; it took me a minute or two to adjust to the environment and setup of the marketplace and to take everything in. There are lines all over the store for specialty items (take out, desert, eating in, drinks, deli), but you can order whatever you want at any of the lines. I got the tarragon chicken salad (sandwich) on a baguette, which turned out to be an unwise decision as far as the bread goes because it was really hard to bite into and embarrassingly messy, but wow it was delicious. I also walked over to the desert section and got a vanilla cupcake with raspberry filling and a cappuccino. The cupcake was on the heavy side, a little too sweet but nice anyway. I spotted a few celebrities while lunching at the counter by the window. Eric Dane aka Dr. Mc Steamy was having a late lunch/ice cream with his son I presume, and looked pretty casual, blending in with all the other people (but not enough for me not to spot him). :)

Pros: atmosphere, quality, celeb sightings

Cons: unorganized, cluttered, busy, slow service

02/15/2008 Posted by KatieHillUSC

It's definitely chaotic, but you have to embrace that! The line makes no sense, but whatever! The food is so worth it. I had the best prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich I've had since I moved out here from the East Coast. And the bread they use is so fresh, nutty, and healthy-tasting, yum! Reminiscent of a trendy NYC deli in SoHo, which totally appealed to me. Also, all of the side dishes are so unusual and great, what a diverse selection! I had the grilled artichoke dipped in balsamic on the side. Awesome. Seating is very limited inside, which is a drag when it's cold. The heat lamps outside don't do much for you. They also offer cute little snacks inside, like trail mix and other goodies. The prices are high, but the food is truly gourmet. I would love to have them cater an event.

Pros: diverse gourmet side dishes, wonderful sandwiches and breads

Cons: expensive for a student budget, the line oh god!

01/13/2008 Posted by vsusa

Everyone talks about the lack of parking and seating, the crowded space where you stand to put your order in, and that it's overpriced, but Joan's food is terrific. The pickles can't be beat and you can buy some to go. We always get sandwiches and share the Salad Trio (a selection of three of their daily special salads) to share for $10.25. The Lentil salad is a standout. I can't go to Joan's and not order it. The Pressed Chicken, Bacon and Brie sandwich with carmelized onions on french bread ($10.75) is excellent! The Tuna Salad sandwich ($8.75) is also good, but it's for those who like their tuna salad with a lot of lemon. On the pastry side, the cookies are just OK, but the Rustic Apple Pie is really good. I have yet to try the cupcakes everyone is raving about. I looked at them recently and they look kind of small for $2.75-4.00 each. In summary, if you can deal with the crowds, the food is worth it.

Pros: Delicious food you can't just get anywhere, fun location near Third Street shopping

Cons: Seating, Parking, Prices