I’ve been visiting Blue Joanna in Norwich since it first opened in 2020, and it has become one of those places I return to again and again.
We’ve been for birthdays, celebrations and date nights, but it works just as well for dinner with friends or a catch up with family. There’s something about the combination of delicious food, great music and welcoming atmosphere that makes an evening here feel a little bit special without becoming formal.
And despite having been plenty of times over the years, I still seem to spend far too long deciding what to order.
The vibe at Blue Joanna
Blue Joanna is small, cosy and usually buzzing.
The tables sit fairly close together, but it feels intimate rather than cramped. There’s normally enough music and background chatter that you can’t hear what’s being said at the next table.
And music is a big part of the personality of the place. There’s a turntable, concert posters and album artwork around the walls, and on our latest visit the soundtrack moved through ska and Motown without feeling janky.
I don’t think I’ve ever visited without seeing the owner, Ecky, there either. He’s a brilliant host and always seems pleased to welcome people in, talk through what’s new and explain the specials.
The whole place has a smart-casual feel. People make an effort, but it certainly isn’t somewhere you need to dress up for.
What’s on the menu at Blue Joanna?
Blue Joanna serves a small menu of fusion dishes designed for sharing.
Rather than ordering an individual starter and main course, we normally choose four or five plates between the two of us. That has always been plenty of food for two hungry foodies.
The difficulty is deciding which ones.
There are usually several dishes I want to order, along with specials that make the decision even harder. There are vegan choices too, including the banana blossom ‘fish’ tacos.
The plates come out of the kitchen when they’re ready, rather than all at once. We’ve never had to wait long for dishes to arrive, and I can’t remember ever having one turn up noticeably later than everything else.
The Korean beef tacos are still my favourite
There is one dish we almost always order at Blue Joanna: the Korean beef tacos.
I’m very pleased they have never disappeared from the menu because they remain my favourite dish.
You get two generously filled blue corn tacos for £9.75, and there’s a lot going on in each one.
The beef has plenty of rich, savoury umami flavour with a little heat, while the pickles cut through the richness and stop everything becoming too heavy. The balance works brilliantly.
They are messy, loaded and incredibly moreish.
Every time we go, I tell myself I should try something different. Every time, the beef tacos end up on the table.
What else did we eat?
On our latest visit, we managed to venture a little further than the first item on the menu and ordered the coconut chicken tacos too.
These have a more subtle flavour than the Korean beef version, with lime, pickles and guava hot sauce bringing sweetness, acidity and a little heat.
Another regular order for me is the Tajín-spiced calamari.
Calamari can go badly wrong if it’s not fresh or is cooked for too long, but I’ve always found Blue Joanna’s version beautifully tender. It almost melts in the mouth, with a gentle kick of spice from the Tajín and a creamy dipping sauce that goes alongside it.
On our most recent visit, we also added the Mexican pickled slaw for a little vegetable action.
It might sound like the least exciting dish on the table, but the sharp vinegar tang works really well alongside the meat tacos and calamari. It acts as the perfect counterpoint for the richer dishes and stops the meal feeling too heavy.
Drinks and desserts
The drinks menu at Blue Joanna deserves a mention too.
There’s a good choice of draught beers and lagers, wine and alcohol-free options, but I’m almost always distracted by the cocktail list.
The gingerbread espresso martini has become a particular favourite. In fact, I’ve ordered it instead of pudding on at least two occasions.
That probably also says something about my feelings towards the dessert menu.
I’ve never been bowled over by the dessert choices here. It’s not that they’re bad, they just rarely appeal to me in the same way as the savoury dishes. Cheesecake feels too heavy after the mains, and I’m not a fan of cooked banana (which I’m sure is lovely but does nothing for me).
To be fair, after four or five small plates I’m normally pretty satisfied. And when there’s an espresso martini available, I don’t feel particularly deprived.
Service at Blue Joanna
The team are friendly, helpful and impressively patient when I spend ages trying to choose between dishes.
They are also good at explaining the menu and specials without making you feel hurried.
Ecky plays a big part in the atmosphere too. Having the owner visibly involved in the restaurant gives it a personal feel, and he seems to know exactly how to make people feel welcome.
Is Blue Joanna worth visiting?
For me, absolutely.
I’ve been going to Blue Joanna for years and it remains one of my favourite Norwich restaurants for an informal evening out.
It works particularly well for date nights, birthdays and dinner with friends. The food has plenty of interesting flavours without feeling fussy, the atmosphere is lively and relaxed, and sharing several plates makes the meal feel sociable.
It’s worth mentioning that families visit too. There was a toddler at the table next to use recently and he seemed to be having a lovely time. That said, some of the dishes have fairly complex flavours and spice, so Blue Joanna naturally lends itself to grown-up dinners than a traditional family meal.
And if you want my recommendation, order the Korean beef tacos.
Booking and getting to Blue Joanna
Blue Joanna is on Unthank Road in Norwich.
It’s a very popular restaurant, so I recommend booking rather than trying to get a walk in. You can contact Ecky using the booking details on the Blue Joanna website.
I should also mention that there is only a small amount of parking outside and spaces are limited. You may need to look for street parking nearby instead.
There is also a bus stop close by, which makes it a handy option if you’re heading into the city for drinks before dinner.
