Josephine

Took in brunch at Josephine a couple of times recently. Service is here is always great and on a previous visit, I did get the best Old Fashioned I'd ever had. The interior is casual but elegant and there is great cafe seating as well. While Josephine is basically an Italian restaurant, it takes traditional dishes and puts great twists on them. For instance, the Eggplant Parmesan sandwich comes with a great vodka sauce. Very atypical, very good. We ordered the pastry board as an appetizer. A huge buttermilk biscuit that is crusty on the top and bottom while soft, buttery and velvety inside. There is a great mascarpone butter that comes with it but you may not need it. The zeppole is solid. The lemon olive oil cake is incredible!! A touch of lemon flavor, perfect blend of sweet and the olive oil creates a consistency and flavor that is next level. The fries are thin, crispy and flavored perfectly. The Eggplant Parmesan sandwich was fantastic. The bread, thick, fresh, flavorful and the vodka sauce a perfect accent. We also ordered the "Classic sandwich" which my wife claimed was delicious as well. I highly recommend this great place in Avondale. If I have any constructive criticism, it is only that any sauces or toppings should be listed on the menu. I don't do mayonnaise and the Classic did have mayonnaise on it. I would have asked for it without or simply ordered something else.

Located in downtown Avondale area, parking is always hit or miss. But it's free, so..... We stopped in here on a bustling Saturday afternoon, 2:40pm to eat. We were told that it was still only Brunch and offered to sit where we liked. The inside was much larger than it looked, with many tables and semi circular booths available. The back also had 2 very large areas for dining, meetings and parties. We started off with the pastry platter. It looks small but was large enough to share. The madeleine looking cake was actually an olive oil cake, moist and delectable. Just like the ones in Europe! Next was the zeppole. It was delicate and served with a sweet strawberry sauce. Next was a biscuit thing that was doughy and served with a rancid parmesan butter. It went downhill from there. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancake. It was served steaming hot, underside almost burned. It came with a sweet butter that melted and pooled in one spot, which looked horrible. Maybe it should be served on the side since we eat with our eyes first,? The pancake was like a soufflé , very egg tasting, but very bland. A few lemon sugared rinds on the top did not help. It was not as expected. When the waitress came to clear the table I said " you can go ahead and take the strawberry sauce. It was delicious and I was saving it for my pancake but a bug flew in it", as I picked it out ! She shrugged and walked away...... Several flying insects were where we sat, close to the window in the back. I do not recommend for Brunch....Maybe dessert and coffee only or maybe dinner is better.

We dined here for Mother's Day brunch based on recommendations from some of the people with us (they had their rehearsal dinner here). So we booked this months before the actual day. Let me start with the highlights: Restaurant is very pretty Our server John was great The vibe is great The not so good things: The food overall was not good- We were a table of 11 and no one really liked their dish- multiple chicken Parmesan dishes scored 6/10, shrimp and polenta scored 2/10, pancake scored 2/10, biscuits and gravy scored 2/10, donuts scored 4/10, eggs in purgatory scored 5/10. Overall food was disappointing and multiple people complained about how salty their food was. The drinks were hit or miss. Some were not good at all. Some were good, but none were great. Cocktails 6/10. This place is a bit pricey and that's fine, but bring the good food and drinks with the good service and vibe.

It's hard to find a good Italian place but I'm happy I found Josephine's because it's got the ambiance, cocktails, and pasta that makes it worth leaving my hobbit home for. The design from bar to seating feels like I walked into another era. I loved the vintage lighting and brick walls, also, I want to paint my house the same color as the bar area. I was impressed by the happy hour because the quality of the drinks were well worth the price. As for the food, I never order pasta unless someone can make it better than something I can make at home and I'm sure I could learn something from Josephine's because the flavor makes me want to come back for more.

This restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere in downtown Riverside with a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. The art and decor of the restaurant is fancy, elegant, and a little modern. We were seated at a booth. Our server explained the menu and specials very well. There were so many delicious appetizers that it was hard to choose one. The steak tartare was a star! Well stacked on just a little bit of toast and the flavors melted in your mouth. The sourdough focaccia was light, had a crisp exterior with a herby crust. For our main dishes, the ribeye was classic, and paired nicely with an Au Jus. It came with some grilled veggies as well. The cut of meat seemed decent but there was more fat on the meat than expected that wasn't grilled as much as I wanted. The fiola de mare was coated in a heavy cream sauce, which was rich and had great flavor. I was surprised to see the noodles so short though, not the most beautiful dish!

Service was fantastic, our server was very attentive and kind. The over all ambiance is perfect as well, such a vibe and is a perfect date night/girls spot. I got a mocktail "mai tai" and it was fabulous as well. As far as food there were definitely some high points and low points. For appetizer we got the focaccia and were blown away with how moist and flavorful it was. We also got to try the burrata and lamb balls and all were very good. Now for the lows... we got the Cacio E Pepe and it wasn't great. The overall appearance when it came out was underwhelming but we still had high hopes for flavor. The pasta was very overcooked, the pasta was lukewarm and the flavor was off. I've looked up other people's reviews who have had this dish and even their photos of appearance look way better than what we got. We got a few other sides with dinner so thankfully we had other stuff to snack on. Overall I would still recommend this place to a friend I just hope if we choose to try it again our main dish is better than what we experienced last night.

This was my first time here and I went with some friends. We had a good time and were treated very well by our server. The atmosphere was cozy, which made it feel more intimate. Regarding drinks, I started off with the Mixed Signals, which was good. It's like an upscale margarita. I then had the Strawberry Fields, which I loved and was much more my speed, as a gin drinker. For appetizers, we ordered the burrata, sourdough focaccia, and the polpette lamb meatballs. Unfortunately, we weren't super impressed with any of the appetizers. If anything, the focaccia bread was the best. The burrata, which I was most excited for, was underwhelming. For my main dish, I ordered the cacio e pepe, which was heavier on the cheese side and the noodles were a little more cooked than they probably should have been. I think overall this wasn't a bad restaurant or bad experience by any means, there were just a few things here and there that made me feel underwhelmed, especially after all the great things I've heard about this wonderful place.

I booked a reservation over the phone, and the lady I spoke to was super friendly and helpful. We arrived at 7:30 and were seated right away. My partner grabbed a coffee, and I went for a martini - both were excellent. The waitress even gave my fiance a free second cup, thinking it might be taking too long (it wasn't, and the coffee was fine) - a nice gesture. The food choices seemed a bit limited unless you're a cheese fanatic. Since I'm not big on cheese or dairy, it was a bit restrictive. I opted for the Crudo, which was refreshing but maybe not the best choice for a January night. The French fries with aioli sauce, though, were incredible and a generous portion size. My fiance enjoyed the ravioli. We ended up paying $80 before tip for three menu items and three drinks. The place was gorgeous, and the food was good, although nothing blew me away - it was a decent experience overall.

All the good I've heard about this place is true. The Lasagne Pinwheels everyone raves about are absolutely deserving of their praise. Service was wonderful too. Everything was delightful.

A group of friends and I came here for the happy hour on a Friday. It was a real treat and I loved the vibe and decor of the restaurant. We were seated in the back dining area which was a great set up for our group size. Not pictured were the amazing appetizers we chose, including the Sourdough focaccia and Apollo fritto (highly recommend both of these starters!) For the main course, my husband and I split the pictured, antipasto and carbonara di mare (the popular squid black ink pasta). Both were delicious and a great portion size. As far as happy hour drinks, both of my cocktails were very well prepared. I had the strawberry fields and as a gin lover, this was definitely a great tasting drink. Our service was quick, super attentive, and friendly. They were clearing our table very promptly and made the experience great. I like this place a lot and look forward to coming back again soon.

This place was just so cute! The ambiance is that of a 1920-50s restaurant with pink booths, wooden tables and warm, dark lighting. There is a beautiful wine wall lining the back of the restaurant as well. The drinks and food were beyond expectation! I had the Strawberry Fields martini and my partner had an aperol spritz--both of which were delicious. The strawberry fields was not very sweet and it was tart (lovely). we had the focaccia bread appetizer, which brings 4 slices of bread and a dish of Parmesan butter which was delightful. We also tried the pizza rolls, which were very fresh and flavorful--I recommend. For my main course, I had the Josephine rigatoni which was slightly spicy, due to the Calabrian peppers, but otherwise was outstanding. My partner had the bolognese which had rigatoni as the pasta--also outstanding. My other 2 guests had the white lasagna 1/2 portion (which was still hefty) and the ravioli--both of which were also outstanding. I highly recommend any of the dishes mentioned. Finally we finished our meal with the tiramisu, which was not like the traditional tiramisu. It was a slightly frozen dish, with the lady finger of a tiramisu sort of lining the bottom of a chocolate covered, slightly frozen slice of tiramisu cream. Honestly, the dish lasted 2 seconds! The service we received was amazing as well, as they were very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. I highly recommend going to Josephine's and I will be returning.

Waited a while to try, sad to say it won't be on my rotation go forward. Service was a 5, ambiance a 4, food.....2.5, just meh. Flavor was a bit odd or just not there, and the fish was just not good. I had high hopes for the lasagna, but it was just so so. And the prices are some of, if not the highest, in jax. $52 for lasagna? Seriously? If you want great Italian, go to la cena.

Enjoyed Josephine's for our anniversary dinner. They were able to seat us on short notice.

Best espresso martini and vodka sauce in Jacksonville. It's so good you're basically drooling about it all day. Everyone is always super nice but I recommend always making a reservation and eating inside. Outside area is very small and on the strip where everyone walks.

Met up with friends for an early dinner. Our reservation was at 5:15 PM and we were seated promptly upon arrival. The place filled up quick. Menu is limited when it comes to entrees and I'm picky so when dining in Italian restaurants, I usually order the Veal (or chicken) Picatta or Francese or sometimes Marsala, but none of them are on the menu. I love steak so I try to order the ribeye. Our server stated that the chef only grills it "medium rare" and nothing else and I was disappointed since my preference is "Medium to Medium Well." I decided to get it anyway since nothing else in menu I like. No other meats aside from the rotisserie chicken. Good thing it came with au jus so that made up for that after taste in my mouth. I had a couple of bites of my wife's squid ink pasta and it was ok. Also ordered side dishes of collard greens and eggplant. The eggplant was delicious, but the collard greens were salty. Service was pretty good. Elvis was accommodating and patient with us. It was loud in there and at times, he had a hard time hearing us. I wish they can grill the steaks to the customers' liking and make the portions bigger. Also, if they can provide complimentary bread like other restaurants would be a plus.

Really enjoyed our brunch on a beautiful Sunday. We arrived with a reservation a bit early for our 1:45pm reservation and found inside was fairly open and outside seating with many tables available. Since it was a gorgeous afternoon we asked to sit outside and were told we could choose our table. We picked a two-top near the far end of the front of the restaurant under the awning. We were given menus and quickly filled our water glasses, eventually given a refill water bottle for the table which was great. We decided on the pastry board and coffees to start and chose two sandwiches that we planned to share. The pastry board was more than enough for two to share and could have been enough for me for the meal. The tall biscuit was fantastic, it was buttery and flaky at the same time and made even better with the mascarpone spread. Strawberry spread was also on the platter. The zeppole, a light and fluffy donut, was perfectly done, light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside, coated in powdered sugar. Finally, the lemon olive oil cake which was perfect. Moist and flavorful, so good it left me wanting more even though I was already full. We ordered a cold brew and coffee but unfortunately did not get those until we were almost finished with our pastry board. The cold brew was disappointing, not strong and we were not offered any cream or sugar. My coffee was tiny but good, having sweetener offered would have been nice. Our enormous and flavorful sandwiches came next and we managed a few bites before wrapping them up to enjoy later. The Eggplant Parm made with vodka sauce was a delicious change from typical eggplant parmigiana with red sauce. The layers of fried eggplant were cooked perfectly and the focaccia bread was so good. The Classic reminded me of a typical Italian meat and cheese hero elevated by the ciabatta bread. We were surprised by the herbed mayo on this sandwich and would have preferred oil/vinegar. The seasoned fries were done really well, crispy and flavorful. I enjoyed my side salad and was sad that my leftover salad was not boxed with my sandwich. Overall, fantastic meal.

I had a great experience at this restaurant. The ambiance and vibes were just what I was looking for, and the nice bar added to the overall atmosphere. The food was delicious, especially if you're into fresh Italian cuisine. Everything tasted really authentic and well-prepared. One thing to note is that the restaurant opens at 4, but they don't start serving food until 5 pm. This was a bit disappointing because I had to wait for an hour before I could eat. However, once the food arrived, it was worth the wait. Besides that, everything else was perfect.

Josephine was everything I hoped it would be and more!! Our experience started with our super sweet server Chelby. She was great! We started with the burrata and housemate foccicia! The burrata was perfection and the bread matched its delicacy. The foccicia was fluffy, warm, and fresh out of the oven. I chose the pinwheel lasagna for my meal and boy am I glad I did! It was stupendous! The flavor of the sauce and the Intricacy of the pin wheels...perfection on a plate. My girlfriends choose the braised beef ravioli and the vegetarian risotto. Both dishes were also wonderful. The ravioli were delicious and the beef was cooked to perfection with a very moist center. We finished with the tiramisu and the meringue. The tiramisu wasn't a traditional tiramisu but it was wonderful! I will absolutely be back and cannot wait to try more menu items! Thank you Chelby for making our girls night even better!!!

Went to Josephine's for an event for the first time. This neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of historic Avondale serves Italian-American cuisine and named after the owner's late grandmother. From the ambience and decor to the aperetivo menu, there is much to be desired and a great setting for a gathering of friends or a date. For drinks I ordered the zero proof Mai Tai to Shine-- a refreshing glass of seedlip grove, orgeat, lime, spices and a fresh mint leaf. For small plates I went ahead and got the Cacio e Pepe Arancini as well as the Crostinis. Although on the pricier side for the serving, each plate was filled with flavor and delectable. I think the only qualms I have in giving it 5 stars was that even in a reserved, private room, it was hard to hear my party's conversations as the sound from the bar and main area traveled quickly around the restaurant. I also thought that the bread for the crostini may have a bit tough and stale rather than crusty, but hey, then again it is crostini-- not really something to wow about.

First time at Josephine's and we were amazed! They did an amazing job renovating this place, it definitely gave us a New York vibe. They have a huge bar and you will see it when you enter the restaurant, we were greeted right away which always a good sign. We got sat in in this very comfortable booth, they were originally going to say us at the high top table and I said no and they were very nice to accommodate my request. Food was phenomenal! Husband got the Caesar salad and I had the bread of course of both of them was very tasty! Bread was super soft but yet a little crunch on the outside. Salad was good as well! The dressing was just perfect on the salad and you can tell that it is very fresh. Our main meal was the blank ink pasta which was out of this world and I'm so mad at myself that I forgot to take home my left over and we had another pasta for dinner but I completely forgot the name of it and it's actually a great meal as well. Servjce was extremely good they gave us a complimentary champagne since we were celebrating our Anniversary. I was so impressed at Josephine's that I asked to see their private rooms/banquets so that I can book them for our next event. This place is great for date nights and girl nights and I heard their brunch is pretty good as well! So hopefully we can go back here and try their brunch but for now don't walk! Make your reservations at Josephine's !

Upon entering this place it's very nice. Super spacious on the inside but also very open and clean cut. I'm in town to see my family and they recommended we come here for brunch. We didn't make reservations but, it wasn't that busy this particular Saturday morning. The hostess sat us right away. Our waitress came over shortly after and was extremely informative and pleasant. I ended up ordering a mimosa with pineapple juice. Which I liked, it's hard to go wrong with those. For the table we did the donuts which I was highly underwhelmed by. They came out like they been in the fridge, and I thought they would be hot but the very least warm. For myself I ended up getting the Caesar salad which came with white anchovies. This was the highlight of my meal. The lettuce was crisp and the salad had the perfect amount of dressing. I found it very refreshing. I had some of my moms polenta and grits which was ok, I like the little kick the sauce had. So the food was a three but the service was great so that's going to land this review at a four.

We made reservations for a graduation celebration. We were greeted and sat right away. The ambiance was great. The tables we nicely spaced out and allowed room to walk with it feeling like you had to squeeze by. Joe was our server and he was amazing . He really took the time to explain the menu and answered our questions. He checked in on us but did not hover! I feel like we ordered a little of everything and all of it was wonderful. My favorite was the small plate of grilled quail and would love to see that as a main course option. The bread MELTED in your mouth and did not leave you with a heavy feeling. The drinks were well made and our water glasses were never empty for long - they leave a bottle at the table and replace the bottle as needed. Bathrooms - there were 4 single person use and seemed to be well maintained.

So good earlier in the week with family, I had to come back and enjoy a dinner and wine at the bar. First thing you'll find are incredible bartenders who exude hospitality. Couldn't be any more happy to make your experience top notch. I came back especially for the Carbonara which is squid ink pasta with octopus bacon and black pepper. I had them add shrimp. They loaded the dish with huge fresh shrimp which were a stand the offering exceeded my expectation. I enjoyed their Sauvignon Blanc offered by the glass. It is delightful. The people who serve here are extremely talented and they are all eager to please with their service. This place is outstanding.

I decided take my husband on a date and he love Italian style food, Omg. The atmosphere, at Josephine, even from the outside was welcoming, low light, open space, gives I came here to spend money lol. Our seating in the back, was okay, they were half booth, they called it. Next time I know to ask for a regular. Our waitress, gave the best services, she was very punctual, her suggestions from the menu were on point. She knew her stuff! We order the pizza roll for appetizers which tasted nothing like pizza. It's had stuffed lumpia style crunch with artichoke flavor. The White lasagna for my Entre. Yummmmm. I was impressed. I don't like too much tomato sauce. It was made for queso like cream with the tomatoes on top. My husband had the CACIO E PEPE ARANCINI and the Marinated Cucumbers and the Lobster agnolotti. He loved The food is great here! I highly recommend.

Adorable restaurant on the corner in Avondale! I enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was delicious. I will be back :)

So, the review by Kyle R. back on 5/17/23 really tells the story of how my experience went as well. I was super, super excited to check out the new spot that everyone was raving about, and was unfortunately, very underwhelmed and disappointed. My parents came to town and I had made a reservation for us and my husband to go to dinner - for a *treat* meal. Well, it ended up being a very different night than I anticipated. When you first walk in - beautiful, fun, vibrant, happy, cool. You get the impression it's going to be an amazing meal as well. Our table wasn't quite ready so we went to the bar to order a drink while we waited. Service was fast, cocktails were good -- we ordered a dirty martini, Moscow Mule and 2 Aperol Spritz's. Tasted fine, quick to order, no issues. We sit down at our table a little later, and it was so loud that we could barely hear each other speak - other tables were yelling to talk and it was just getting worse the more people came in. Our server also had trouble hearing us and kept having to bend down and have us repeat ourselves. We couldn't hear her either so it was just a vicious cycle. Food comes out... we ordered some small plates to start so we could hang out and enjoy a nice dinner together. The focaccia wasn't cooked all the way through and was just lackluster. The burrata was decent but we had to ask for more bread because the ratios were completely off. Caesar salad - my dad was okay with it. Rigatoni just seemed to lack flavor, the cook wasn't great and it was so sad because the dish was so beautiful. Eggplant parmesan was a sad dish... it came with only 4 pieces of huge and undercooked asparagus. So, so sad. I had the cacio e pepe - which I was PUMPED to order because it's hard to find in Jax - and it was just.... bad. I felt the ratio of sauce to pasta was off, it was lacking a ton of flavor and didn't even have the freshness I expected. For such a simple dish without a protein added, I really thought it would be out-of-this-world. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and that was great - nice selection of wines and cocktails and we had no issues. After the meal, we thought we'd give dessert a try to see if it would be better. My dad ordered a double espresso after dinner and we got the affogato and tiramisu. The affogato was like a whipped cream, not a gelato... It instantly was liquid when we poured the espresso over. I could not believe our experience for this price - it was a very expensive and disappointing night. At this rate, I don't plan to come back unless I hear that things have changed. It was a really disappointing night and if things stay the way they are, I don't know that this spot will last. I'm hopeful that they will take the feedback and reevaluate and make some changes for the future. I'd love to see them succeed and for this to be a staple in the area, but in the meantime, I'll be waiting.

Great food and atmosphere! The decor is on point with its chic modernism and playful colors. The drinks are fabulous and so is the lasagna pinwheels--what a unique take on traditional lasagna. We got the whipped ricotta crostini for app and it was yummy. Wish I tried dessert, but there's always next time! Hoping this place makes it at this location than all the previous restaurants there.

One of my favorite Italian places in town! The staff is always so friendly and will make great recommendations. They recently had Christmas decor and a holiday drink menu for the season. The food and drinks are always delicious! There is usually always something new for the season to try whenever I go!

Another location where we seldom visit due to parking, but I have been looking forward to visiting Josephine's since they opened. We made a reservation for a party of 6 and ordered the following: Cafe Disco - I super love this drink! I wish it's in a bigger or taller glass. I could probably drink 3 more glasses lol. Sourdough Focaccia- 4 pieces of bread with butter. You can tell that it's freshly baked. Soft in the middle with a slight crisp on the outside. I liked it. Ribeye Steak Pizzaiola - we were informed that they can only do medium rare, my husband prefer medium, but he relented. Being it's a ribeye, there will be a bit of fat, but there was a lot from his steak as you can see from the picture. In my opinion, it was pricey for the portion. Carbonara Di Mare - I enjoyed the squid ink flavor, it was tasty but the pasta was not al dente. Collared Greens - just okay, it was salty. We were not able to finish it. Our friends enjoyed most of their orders but we all agree that it was pricey, I mean 4 pieces of scallops for $40! We were also disappointed that there was no complimentary bread considering their price range. Service was good and our server answered all our questions regarding the food and drinks. They have a nice interior and also offer private rooms for bigger groups. The place was full by the time we started eating. It can be quite loud, so it's really hard to make a conversation that even our server had to lean closer to hear us lol. Overall, we would still go back and order their bestsellers such as the lasagna pinwheel and bolognese, but it might take a while. Will update my review then.

I met up for a friend's birthday celebration and was excited to check out Josephine's. We met for happy hour and I ordered an amazing cocktail but can't remember the name. The table ordered a ton of appetizers. I started with the lamb meatballs and house olives. The meatballs were tender and delicious! The olives were fresh and yummy. I sampled several other appetizers and they all made me smile with delight. My friend ordered the pinwheel lasagna and shared a bite. I was sold. I split an order of lasagna with a friend. It was made with roast fennel sausage ragu, fontina, parmigiano and basil. I had never heard of pinwheel lasagna but I will not be forgetting this dish any time soon! We ordered three desserts to share with the birthday girl. First I tried the olive oil cake which was moist and sweet. Made with orange marmalade, citrus salad and whipped mascarpone. Then I tried the meyer lemon tart made with vanilla sable, torched meringue and compressed dill. This was my favorite dessert! If you like lemon it's a must try! Last I tried the tiramisu semifreddo which was served frozen and made with mascarpone mousse, faretti whip with candied cocoa nibs added to the plate. All were yummy in there own unique way. Shout out to our server Joe who took excellent care of us! He made the evening special.

Food was amazing! The vodka pasta and the caio e peppe was awesome! The ambiance is great! The place is so cute!

Third time visiting Josephine's and it gets better every time! Our server tonight was Joe, he was PHENOMENAL! Extremely attentive, thorough, professional and an overall crowd pleaser! We were throwing drink, appetizer and food orders at him left and right and he was catching everything like a Major League Baseball player. Not many servers can keep up with my high maintenance hydration and yet my water remained full throughout the evening. I have not had anything (food, beverage or dessert) that I did not absolutely love! Tonight the highlights for me were the bread (omg! Best I've ever had!) pinwheel lasagna, cucumber appetizer and lemon tart dessert. This establishment has it going on and I am here for it! So thrilled at this addition to Avondale!

What a great gem in Avondale! Staff and ambience were fabulous! Hubby and I both enjoyed a small Caesar to start. He's not an anchovy fan so I lucked out and got his! Delicious dressing, fresh lettuce, so good!!!! I enjoyed the lasagna pinwheels and hubby had the braised beef ravioli. Both were outstanding! We will be back!

Yum, yum, yum. Your not so traditional take on Italian food. What a great plane with such a relax ambiance in Jacksonville. With a variety of small plates to large pasta and entree dishes everyone will have a chance to try something new on the menu. I enjoyed the chicken cacciatore which was a spin on the traditional cacciatore with polenta which was cooked with perfection. The sourdough focaccia with whipped Parmesan butter was AMAZING. Made in house. The service and cocktails were also great. This place is great for a date at the bar that could lead to some dinner and also a great spot to come for a work dinner.

Yes I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I enjoyed the ambiance, food, and the great service.

I absolutely loved this restaurant. It was recommended by the community manager of Yelp. My girlfriends wanted to grab happy hour so I quickly picked Josephine and made a reservation! My girlfriends and absolutely loved the restaurant's service, ambiance, the drinks, appetizers, entres and desserts. Our waiter was so attentive and constantly refilling our glasses with water, grabbing us new drinks once ours finished and quickly brought our food to our table. He was polite and recommended some great food options. The food was very tasty. My ex boyfriend was a chef so I had a distinct pallet and know when pasta and sauces are freshly made from scratch. I ordered the lasagna roll and my friends beet risotto was the best dish on our table! The desserts were also so delicious. Highly recommend!

Went to dinner here yesterday and had a great time. This place is a wonderful addition to the Avondale area and I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. Let's talk about the great part of the evening- the food was great. Although I stepped out of my comfort zone I didn't regret it a bit. For appetizers, we tried out the sticky short ribs, and the sourdough Focaccia. I'll tell you, the focaccia was so good we ended up getting 2 orders. Lol. Perfectly toasted, seasoned and it didn't take long, this stuff is literally like ..breaded crack. The sticky ribs were good too. They didn't have a lot of meat though, but the meat that they did have, were flavorful and hella tender! For dinner I ordered the Branzino, with a side of fries and collard greens. HANDS down, the best collards I've ever tasted. Ever. The fish was tasty and flaky. It was a smaller portion, and I relied on the sides, but nevertheless I'd order this again if it came down to it. My table mate ordered the pinwheel lasagna. It was pretty good. For their "small" portion, there was still food left over, which is always a plus. Lastly, our server was AMAZING!! All of her suggestions were on point and her sense of humor was a 10/10. I can't even lie and say I remember her name, but she was good. As with everything, there's always cons... here are a few. The parking. The parking on a Friday night in Avondale is a disaster. You may get lucky and get a front row spot, or you may end up walking a mile. Lol, plan accordingly. The restrooms were filthy. Trash was running over, there was urine on the floor under the stalls and on the toilet seats. There needs to be a person that tends to the restrooms often, being that this place is a very popular place to go on the weekend. Reservations - if I made a reservation, I expect to be seated within +/- 5 mins of that reservation. We had a 2045 reservation, and got seated right around 2100. I don't mind a wait, but that defeats the point of a reservation IMO. Lastly, I'm not a fan of the seating. At all. You wait 15 mins or so, to be seated at a table that has no privacy. You're literally sitting not even a full arms length next to your neighbor. Not the absolute worst thing, but when you're having a conversation and the folks next to you are laughing at your jokes, you're too close. All in all, I'd go back. I'm not sure it would be my suggestion, but I'd def come back if invited.

I loved everything I ate last night, and our server was top notch! Thank you Josephine's and Colette for helping our group have a lovely Galentine's Day dinner! Colette was such a knowledgeable, upbeat & attentive server - it really was a pleasure dining with her. Atmosphere is beautiful & comfortable as well. As for the food, if you love mushrooms, Josephine's mushroom ravioli is THE BEST ravioli i've ever had. Seriously. The pasta is made in house and nice & plump with delicious stuffing, and the sauce & veggies that accompany it are also yummy. I also LOVED the eggplant polenta app- i could have eaten 2 of those as an entree lol. I really liked the mushroom pizza rolls (aka spring rolls) too. Interesting cocktail menu as well - lots of fun new drinks to try. It was wonderful to see so many well trained enthusiastic mixologists behind a bar.

This is a tough review for me. No question, this is a great restaurant. It checks off all the boxes. They know their mission. The food, drinks, environment, and delivery has been caringly crafted. The ambience is welcoming, bright, pristime, and roomy. However, for me (so take this with a grain of salt) it just misses. Why? Well, this is the reason it's taken me so long to write a review. The first few months Josephine's opened, I frequented a lot. Like many locals in the area; I brought different groups of friends and family from all over the city. Everyone agrees it is a quality place. I recommend it to others all the time. But a few things rub a little raw. The staff is professional and knowledgeable but also a little salty or intrusive at times. Whether I've sat at the bar, outside or in the front, dining room; there always seems to be someone a little too busy or quick to jump in on a conversation. When at the bar a few times; the fella seemed slightly annoyed when we asked some questions about the menu. When seated outside, we got a little flack because we ordered all the appetizers and not a main dish. Just the other day, while dining in the main dining room at 5:15 my friend didn't get his mocktail until after all the appetizers were completed and we were midway through the main menu items. (Hey, not a big deal.) However, when I told the staff about him getting the wrong menu item and not receiving his mocktail; the tone was "they are on it and I don't need to let them know." Okay. Well, we didn't need to hear the opinions of the staff when they overheard us talk to each other and say our order of bread was less peppery than other times. (We weren't complaining but making conversation. It was still delicious; but why are you chiming in?) Also, it is unneccessary to chime in and explain to another party at the table that one of the words meant "meat". He knew that. He's a chef. He was talking to us and didn't ask a question. None of this was aggressive or rude. Like I said above; it just rubs me the wrong way. The food is heavy and salty. I like this but some don't I love the caesar, bread, collard greens, and carpaccio. They've taken some other items off the menu I liked. I should have looked up the menu before I came so that's my bad. They did give me spaghetti noodles instead of rigatoni for the bolognese entree. (I appreciated that.) I did think it was amusing when my waitress felt the need to tell me spaghetti was a noodle. (Yep, I knew that. That's why I asked for the substitution. I like that noodle more than rigatoni.) Once again, not said in a rude tone but why is everyone "schooling" the patrons It's not a inexpensive place. During happy hour, I paid $12 for a cranberry vodka that was not balanced. I'm paying $10 for 4 pieces of bread. This is a place where the patrons don't know everything, but we're not your "Olive garden" variety; so maybe slow down a little. All in all, we had a good time. The food was ok this time. We all agreed the caesar and antipasta salad had too much dressing, the steak was a little tough, the bolognese with the spaghetti noodle was salty but still delicious, the carpaccio was perfect the mocktail was ok, the cranberry, vodke and lime-- not so much. I'm a local so parking issues don't affect me. I'll be back. I always have high hopes and support businesses in my community. It won't be on my "go-to" places in the hood but I hope it continues to do well and receive continued local support.

The ambiance and service were amazing but it just wasn't what I was looking for tonight. I heard raved reviews of the new Italian place in Avondale, so my husband & I decided to check it out for our anniversary. It's Italian, with a twist. Great, if you like that, but we were looking for more "classic" Italian food. We tried the "pizza rolls" (like spring rolls with Italian themed filling): yummy but small for the price. Then for dinner my husband ordered the beef ravioli and I had the chicken cacciatore. Mine was definitely the better choice! The ravioli filling is a braised beef that reminded me of pot roast. It was tasty but I thought it a weird texture for a ravioli filling. The chicken cacciatore was the highlight of the night! Tender and flavorful, I would definitely get that again. Overall, we had fun but....we may not be the right customers for this restaurant

I'm one not to write negative reviews however our dining experience was less then stellar. Our expirations were High based on reviews,etc. we ordered two entrees, egg plant and chicken cacciatore. This must of been a new age recipe for both dishes. Egg plant was fried not baked and chicken cacciatore was not smothered in red sauce but rather some sweet brown sauce. Very very disappointing especially spending $120 with out tip. I will say the ambiance and service was stellar. We should of asked our server how the meals were prepared. I sincerely believe most who enjoy Italian food and experienced what we did would be disappointed. My recommendation is to ask how meals are prepared.

Great spot in Jacksonville! Was very happy to have stumbled upon it while on a work trip. Drinks and food were great and the place clearly has a following since it was busy even on a Tuesday night! Service was well timed, and everyone was very kind and pleasant. Will be back!

Very nice walking into the restaurant-open and nicely decorated. Is in Avondale area on the main street, an Italian inspired restaurant with daily made breads and pasta. I got a sandwich classic which is their version of an Italian sub on focaccia bread; very good (bread so soft and seasoned) with nice side salad ($15). Others had eggplant focaccia, chicken parm on brioche, and Sarah had two apps-the minestrone and cacio e Pepe arancine. Everyone liked their choices; we had a nice big booth to talk snd not be rushed with excellent service!

If you cant grab a Resy for a table its just as fun at the bar. Josephines hosted us with delightful appetizers and Shannon served us perfection in our cocktail choices. Their menu inspires you to think Italian so we shared some Spuntinis (snacks)... Stickey ribs ( win) and Polpette, Italian meatballs and of course the fries with truffle aioli.(Yum)The delicious combinations of simple flavours speak volumes in these shareables. The dinner menu is full of great dishes to try. Many have caught my pasta loving eye but that will be for another day coming soon.

This is a super popular spot in Avondale & if you're young, have lots of disposable income and perceive "noisy" as "energetic" you'll probably love it. I was hoping for a quieter and more elegant fine dining experience based on the prices and lovely decor, but no. I realize I'm not the demographic they're serving. No worries, they do a great business, and I wish them well. They really have created a beautiful neighborhood restaurant.

I've been even more impressed with Josephine since a trip to Italy. They've captured culture and cuisine from the old world mixed it with excellent American service for a outstanding culinary experience.

Not sure what more there is to say, but Josephine was excellent. This is a beautiful spot, really well designed with a modern upscale interior and really comfortable seating. Made for a really nice date night meal. The service we had was great, we never felt rushed, we were guided through the Italian words and dishes we were unfamiliar with on the menu, and just felt like we were home. We really enjoyed our service. Now. The part you all came here for. The food. We started with the burrata- which the server recommended and we already had an eye on. It had a sour cherry relish and some toasted nuts and an herb oil and it was delicious - sour and salty and peppery. I had the squid ink carbonara for my entree - really a great dish. Super creamy cheesy sauce with a very generous serving of octopus. Very salty and creamy and at the same time light. My partner had the bolognese and honestly it was so much better than the carbonara which is saying something. Hearty veal ragu, plenty of cheese, and a bright acidic pesto sauce - it was the best thing we had. For dessert we shared the chocolate budino - which is a dense pudding almost. It wasn't too sweet, it had hints of bitter and had a huckleberry sauce on it. All in all - this just became a top date night destination for us.

Make your reservations now for this great new spot in Avondale! Replacing the old wine bar, Josephine is a great upscale food and drinks spot with shareable Mediterranean comfort food. We had reservations for opening night and were seated promptly. The dining room has a very cozy yet open ambiance and the bar area has plenty of seating. We were seated at a bar top table and presented with three menus- one for food, one for cocktails and one for wine. Interestingly the wine list is only wines by the bottle, wines by the glass are listed on the cocktail menu. Our table was a little bit dark as it was tucked away in the corner by the bar with no lighting and it was hard to read the menu. I ordered the uncut gem cocktail which was delicious although could have benefitted from a straw so that I could drink it without being hit in the face by the thyme garnish. We ordered several shareable plates, the highlights of which were the whipped ricotta on crostini and the Carbonara di Mare which was squid ink pasta with octopus bacon! Seriously these two plates alone are worth a trip to this restaurant. Other things we ordered- roast chicken, a very anchovy-forward Caesar salad, polenta crisp and the prosciutto wrapped dates were all very good and enjoyable. The only thing I wouldn't order again was the roasted eggplant, it was fine. There was a nice selection of desserts and after dinner drinks to choose from. I should have gotten the espresso martini instead of the dirty martini, which was quite dirty indeed and came with olive brine, olive oil and was just a little too stringent for my taste. We ordered the ricotta pana cotta (so fun to say!) which came with biscotti and fig jam. The taste was delicious and the fig jam was as well, although the iconic pana cotta texture was missing as it had no wobble but was flat and dense. I'm sure they will be working out all the kinks in service (waiter came back twice because he forgot what we ordered, and they left a dirty rag next to our table when they seated us) and otherwise (the bathroom garbage cans are stylish but impractical) but I'll be returning again for the whipped ricotta and to try some other dishes. It did get a little loud inside by the bar but that's what you get for a rowdy Avondale crowd enjoying a great new local spot!

Wonderful experience, I normally go for happy hour with my girlfriends but I recently went for dinner and I loved everything!

What an amazing find!!! Absolutely perfect for a date or a celebration! It's absolutely stunning inside! The food was delicious. We started off we Aperol Spritz. And the bread and marinated olives! Then we got the burrata and the spicy pickles. And the pinwheel lasagna and the popular pasta that has bacon in it! I also tried the BEST EXPRESSO MARTINI IN JACKSONVILLE! Highly recommend!! Definitely need to come back !