Joia Italian Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Scotland

Visited this restaurant soon after it opened June 2021. First of all, nice to see a restaurant back in this space ( next to Tesco Express, Finnieston on Argyle Street). Previously the restaurant here was Pelligrini and before that Panevino. These were good restaurants and I was sad to see them go. This restaurant doesn't do much to cheer me up. This is, again, a modern Italian eaterie. They have basically retained all the furniture and setting of the previous restaurant. In my estimation the decor and ambience is too 'cafè'ish'. The room is too bright and when we were in there was a decent amount of patrons and it was noisey. If you are looking for a romantic setting for two, this isn't it. Furthermore, if you are Vegan or Vegetarian there is slim pickings here for you. Something that would help is to identify the vegan/veggie dishes on the menu, making them easier to spot. Would have saved me some time googling Italian foody words. There are some dishes for non meat eaters, but the menu pays scant regard to that preference. Fish eaters and carnivores are well catered for. I would have to say the food was adequate. The bread was hard and tough and possibly not being kept air-tight. The mozzarella starter was served like a lollipop, complete with stick... just silly. The pasta dishes for some reason were served in a copper pan with a handle. Why? I don't get this obsession. Just serve food in restaurants on clean, white crockery. All in all, very average for me. REVISIT I have returned to this restaurant April 2022. I have to confess some of my initial criticisms have been addressed. The Veggie/Vegan options are highlighted on the menu. The mozzarella is not now served like a lollipop ( and was excellent) and both our dishes came served on crockery. It was an extremely quiet evening, so no rowdiness but room still a tad bright for me. They should turn the lighting down a bit as the evening progresses. However, a much better experience and deffo worth a visit. Great pre-Hydro haunt. Happy to put the record straight(er)..... Another Revisit Went back Jan 24. This place just gets better. The room has been improved with all seating now matching. The vibe is more romantic. However, most importantly the menu has been improved no end. Now seasonal, updated 4 times a year the options are exceptional and more complex. Much more 'grown-up' and very well executed. The owner has listened to his patrons and made the changes needed. This shows a lack of ego on his part and this eatery deserves to be a success. In the heart of Finnieston and handy for The Hydro....

The place itself has a very warm, cozy and authentic atmosphere. Only Italians work there. The manager or owner is very attentive, so is most of the staff. It’s busy for a reason but it’s very sad that for that reason, the experience was sad for me. I can understand how much pressure it is to give 100% service while it’s this busy. However, I was placed at the bar since I was on my own and they didn’t had anymore seats. I was asked before and I agreed so. Little did I know that this was a seat that was just randomly instead also a full on experience. I felt that I didn’t get the service as you’d be expecting (the same as table). 1) all customers who were waiting were sitting beside, infront and behind me. It was SO suffocating. Everyone was just waiting around me and the staff did not realized how bad that would be for me. I was litterly squeezed with all those ppl with all their jackets on while I was taking myself out for a dinner and having a special time as a solo traveller. My heart bumped and I needed to go outside because I didn’t feel well. I told one of the staff and also that I rather not have all these ppl around me. The manager was soo nice and agreed. Then, another staff asked me to move my bags that I placed next to me for overcomming that ppl would sit with their wet jackets and their backs facing me (imagine me eating my food). I said that I didn’t want to and it would be too small for me. He then suggested me to move more to the door in front of all the sugar and different pots. 1) he did not realized before how bad of an experience this would be for me and 2) while realizing I did not feel well, he asked me to MOVE to what was like a corner with stuff for tables….. how dare he! And got into discussion that people needed to be seated while waiting. Ehmm yes? But maybe not like this? And what about me? I at least expected some apology, not a “joke” once the people left that I have all the space in the world now…….. My evening was supposed to be special for me but was...

Came here sunday 24/8/25 for my wife's birthday. Food was of the highest order, every dish was perfect for the four of us. The service was top notch too. The server was fantastic, an asset to the restaurant!! I will definitely be returning to Joia and i honestly cant recommend this place enough. Proper high end italian cuisine with an excellent menu with some dishes most high street italian restaurants don’t offer. My wife loved the baccala main and the polenta starter, she doesn’t get the chance to have baccala very often (outside italy) and she loved it. We had the parpadelle pasta with 8 hour lamb ragu which was lovely and rich. The tagliere misto starter has to be seen, like an antipasta it came on a tower of 3 plates and had a great selection. I had a pizza nero for the first time and it was an excellent pizza. I could go on and on about the cubotta stuffed pastry with ‘nduja, italian sausage and marscapone (tasty/first time for us) or birra tiramisu (different/superb) or the mozzarella fritta, my daughter loved them. Cheese pull for her insta😂 anyway if i could give an extra star i would. Just a great experience with top notch food and...