Joan's on Third — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So we went to get a phone activated at a local Verizon store and noticed a restaurant across the street. It had Valet parking and we both thought it might be a fancy dinner house. Hmm… Well I like to peruse menus and take a peek into places, noticing what is on the places at the table to give me additional clues as to what may be coming to me later. Well we were both surprised to find that we had just located what some might call a quick trip to Paris. Here were beautiful pastries, an incredible cheese counter, fresh baguettes, a daily changing hot food counter, a lovely array of salads and side dishes, and a shop with manner of jellies, jams, crackers and more all from France. Add on Stumptown coffee, and well almost everyone would be pleased for dinner, lunch or breakfast here. Now the tables we set so there was a selection of tables of 2 or 4 both inside and out, and a long family style table for about 18, just like one would find in France. Now this was only a lookie visit, but with Noreen drooling on the menu, we has to come back for dinner. We were told the specialties of the place are breakfast and lunch, with the omelettes being a particular specialty. We were also told the place turns into almost chaos during breakfast and lunch. We returned for dinner and fully enjoyed, creamy mashed potatoes, grilled potatoes, curry chick peas, and a chicken breast melanese. We were both happy and vowed to come again to Joan’s on Third. If I didn’t live 200 miles away, I would drop in for a scone in...

I had been wanting to try this restaurant for some time, so I finally went for lunch. I had heard that the Chinese salad was especially good, so I ordered it. The crispy texture combined with the chicken made it very filling honestly, it was too much for me to finish on my own. The only slight downside was that the flavor became a bit monotonous toward the end, but overall it was delicious and satisfying. I would love to come back and try other items on the menu. The restaurant has both indoor and terrace seating, with a fair number of tables, so I think it is easier to find a seat on weekdays than on weekends. Inside, they also sell cheeses, sweets, and other small items, and you can enjoy breakfast dishes, desserts, or drinks depending on your mood. The interior is stylish and clean, and the terrace offers a pleasant open-air feel. I also noticed many guests bringing their dogs, which makes it a very pet-friendly spot. Overall, the atmosphere and menu variety make me want to return and explore more dishes...

Never disappoints! I've gotten so many things from Joan's (on Ventura Place AND her original place on 3rd Street) that it's tough to be specific. Their kitchen is great - everything is beautifully plated AND tastes as good as it looks. Great variety.

Wonderful selection of items for cooking and for your foodie friends.

Great cheese selection. I recently did a wild mushroom risotto (mushrooms from the vendor at the Sunday morning Farmer's Market on Ventura Place), and went into Joan's for a parm. I came out with something even better (what? better than Parm? YES) - Ewephoria - a sheep gouda, that I grated and put into th risotto. HEAVENLY! I've gotten it 3 more times, and gifted it to a couple foodie pals of mine since then.

The only "con", and this isn't Joan's fault, is that parking can be challenging. Plan to ride-share, or walk a couple of blocks. Although the upside to that is there are also a ton of great shops on Ventura Place for shopping or just window...