Denise S.
Yelp
I went here with a couple Croatian friends who have been coming here for years (the owner's family is from Zadar). This is one of the best seafood restaurants in the city and it's surprising that it has gone under the radar for a while. I mean, there is a wall of celebrities who have visited the restaurant, but I haven't read a recent review of this place in any website/magazine/newspaper for a long time. So, even though Joso's has been in business for decades and is Zagat-rated, it still felt like a "discovery".
I went for dinner on a Friday and they do 2 seatings, 6:30 and 9:30pm, so plan/reserve accordingly. This is the kind of place to have a long, unhurried dinner with lots of courses!
The restaurant itself is cozy with 2 floors and the walls are absolutely covered in art. The current owner is Leo, the son of "the" Joso behind the name. His father's art work is on display, including paintings and sculpture. I sat in the corner table on the first floor, which has a lovely collection of Picasso sketches to admire while you eat. The whole atmosphere is very European with a laid-back elegance. There is a small, covered patio in front.
The food is best enjoyed with a group. We ordered the famous risotto nero (black risotto dyed with octopus ink). It's around $45 and only comes in one serving size for 3-4 people. We were just 3 people and definitely had leftovers. Beware, the dish is delicious but it does sort of turn your teeth black for the rest of the meal! So be careful if you're on a date:P Next we shared a seafood platter. At the beginning of your meal, the waitress brings out a display of the seafood available for the day and you can choose whatever looks good. We opted for the red snapper, with some sardines and calamari (a must here!). Everything was very fresh and cooked in a healthy way, without a lot of oil or butter, just grilled with some seasoning. Delicious. It came with some potatoes cooked in the Croatian style (sort of like potato salad but the potatoes are sliced, not mashed).
Decent wine list with choices in a wide price range.
Exceptional service. Although it was my first visit, I got kisses on either cheek from the owner. It's the kind of place where it seems that everyone is a regular.
We unfortunately did not have room for any desserts. Next time. There will definitely be a next time!