Josephine

My friend and I came to Josephine for the first time for their Wednesday Pasta Social, and we had such a great experience. The special pasta, games, and curated playlist made it such a fun night. Everything was delicious, and the espresso martini was honestly the best I’ve ever had! Shoutout to flamingo coffee where the espresso is from! Our waiter was also amazing and even recommended the pasta I ordered, which I loved. The only downside is that parking is difficult to find, and I didn’t see many gluten-free options. I’d love to bring my fiancé who is GF, so I hope they have some options I may have missed. Overall, I highly recommend Josephine for the beautiful aesthetic, delicious food, and amazing service!

Josephine‘s A beautifully designed Italian restaurant delivering standout cocktails, memorable appetizers, and well‑executed entrées. A few service and dessert missteps, but overall a strong dining experience that justifies its rising popularity. Entry & Ambience: Walking into Josephine’s, one of Jacksonville’s increasingly popular Italian spots, the dinner rush was in full swing. The initial interaction at the host stand felt a bit cool—no greeting, a moment of silence—but once the reservation was confirmed, seating was prompt. The ambience, however, immediately reset the tone. The space is elegant, warm, and thoughtfully designed, the kind of environment that encourages lingering conversation. Our server—whose name I unfortunately don’t recall—was excellent: attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Drinks & Cocktails: Terry Berry — A bright mix of berry vodka, lime, and orgeat. Tart, refreshing, and genuinely delicious. • Coconut Water Mocktail — Coconut cream and lime in a silky, tropical blend. My wife loved it, and it’s a great non‑alcoholic option. Both drinks showcased balance and creativity—an early sign that Josephine’s takes its beverage program seriously. Appetizers: • Sourdough Focaccia — Soft, fresh, and served warm with whipped butter. Simple, but executed perfectly. • Nduja Arancini — A standout dish. The combination of melting goat cheese and minced sausage created a rich, savory bite with great texture. Highly recommended as a starter. Both appetizers were impressive and set a strong foundation for the meal. Entree: Josephine Rigatoni (with grilled chicken) — The cream sauce was well‑balanced, flavorful, and paired beautifully with the rigatoni. The grilled chicken added a nice touch of protein without overwhelming the dish. • Pinwheel Lasagna — A popular choice, and for good reason. The sauce was deeply seasoned and satisfying, and the presentation added a bit of flair. A hearty, comforting entrée done right. Both dishes demonstrated strong technique and consistency—hallmarks of a kitchen that knows its identity. Dessert: We finished with the lemon tart and a scoop of vanilla bean gelato. While the flavor of the tart was bright and accurate, the portion felt unexpectedly small, and the missing center filling made it feel incomplete. The cookie base was excellent, but the gelato didn’t stand out. A decent finish, but not on the same level as the earlier courses.

came here for brunch with my parents and had an almost perfect meal. the food was outstanding - easily one of the best meals i’ve had in Jacksonville and i’m not aware of any Italian restaurant here that comes close to the quality of food served at Josephine. the best dish was the rigatoni bolognese - their bolognese is rich and complex, with notes of red wine and an earthiness from the maitake mushroom. the burrata is an excellent addition. if you come here you must get this! the honey butter toast was my favorite of the breakfast offerings they tried - the focaccia is caramelized in the honey butter sauce and is crispy on the outside while pillowy and airy inside. the mascarpone vanilla topping is great and the berry compote is sweet but acidic which helps to cut through the sweetness of everything else! my parents both got breakfast sandwiches which were pretty good, but their pastas are definitely the star here imo. my only real complaint was the service - our waitress was AMAZING and very kind, she took her time explaining the menu to us and talking with my parents so don’t get it twisted. she was truly delightful and i don’t blame her at all for the issues we had. the lounge was pretty empty, but they had a large party in the back - maybe 20-30 people. our waitress was serving every table in the lounge and it seemed maybe helping with the large party too. in my opinion the restaurant wasn’t adequately staffed. our honey butter toast was ready about 25-30 minutes before the rest of our meal. our waitress brought salad dressing over thinking we had received our food already and had to go look for it. we ordered some bread to go with my pasta and i waited about 10 minutes for it. it was my moms birthday and so they very kindly brought out some complementary gelato, which our waitress said would have a candle but it didn’t. this is a really small thing - normally i probably wouldn’t even notice, but in combination with the other issues with service (or maybe kitchen management?) it just stood out to me. again, i do not blame our waitress at all - staffing is out of her hands and she was great with us. and like i said, the food really was outstanding. but i feel like when you’re paying as much as you are for this meal, it’s fair to have higher expectations for the service! on another note, it was easy to make a reservation by calling and they were very accommodating and kind. overall, i can easily recommend Josephine, but maybe go for their dinner service over brunch. we will definitely come back for dinner and i’ll be sure to update this review if there are any noticeable differences :)

We had an amazing time at the pasta making class! Our instructor, James, was fantastic, very patient, and clear. Before the class, Chrystal gave clear and helpful communication and details. The rest of the staff provided great service from start to finish and the food was AMAZING! Highly recommend!"