"The best seat in the house: The moody, tucked-away alcove with red leather backrests. What you’re seeing: Someone on the cusp of a proposal, or repeat-ordering the brioche and morteau sausage—either way, a love story. Chelsea locals and giddy dates chase the last drops of mustard and tarragon sauce around plates branded with scarlet J’s, and everyone looks their best in the dim light of vintage table lamps at this charming French spot." - jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak
"There’s nothing subtle about the wooing process at Josephine Bouchon, a French spot in Chelsea. It's all heavy, red velvet curtains, dangling, low-level lanterns, and breathy candle flames. It’s the little touches that make all the difference—scarlet Js imprinted on each plate and curtains hand-embroidered with ‘Josephine’. Champagne arrives with a bowl of moreish pork and duck scratchings, garlic splatters from excellent buttery frog legs to create a Jackson Pollock number on white tablecloths, and well-dressed diners seem on the edge of proposing or being proposed to." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna
"There’s nothing subtle about the wooing process at Josephine Bouchon, a Lyonnaise spot in Chelsea. Heavy, red velvet curtains frame the doorway and the dining room is all dangling, low-level lanterns and breathy candle flames. But this isn’t a stuffy place. Champagne arrives with a silky smooth cheese soufflé, garlic splatters from excellent buttery frog legs onto white tablecloths, and waiters banter with you while whipping out a ruler to measure how much wine you’ve drunk." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, daisy meager, sinead cranna
"This French spot on Fulham Road is all heavy red velvet curtains, dangling lanterns, and breathy candle flames. Garlic splatters from excellent buttery frog legs to create a Jackson Pollock number on white tablecloths and sharing plates are served family-style in casserole dishes. The mustardy tarragon sauce on rabbit is beyond anything we’ve whipped up from a Schwartz sauce packet, and the little touches—scarlet Js imprinted on each plate and curtains hand-embroidered with ‘Josephine’—make us feel like a giddy, lovestruck teenager." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"A classy French brasserie in Chelsea that can make a pot of buttery frog legs feel romantic, Josephine Bouchon wants everyone to feel the love with its prix fixe menu. There’s a choice of four starters, four mains, and two desserts—from a decadent pike mousse with langoustine sauce, to an elegant brawn made by the same expert hands as Cadet, to Lyonnaise beignets. It’s available at lunch, too." - jake missing, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak