Josephine - Old Town

Review summary

1. S

   Sean

   VIP

   Washington DC

   68 reviews

   3.0

   68 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   **Josephine Restaurant: A Disappointing Lunch Experience in Old Town Alexandria** As a frequent visitor to Old Town Alexandria, I was eager to finally experience Josephine, a restaurant that had caught my attention through glowing guides and online reviews. Unfortunately, my long-anticipated lunch visit this past weekend left me underwhelmed, though I may consider returning to explore their full dinner menu before passing final judgment. The highlight of the meal was, without question, the appetizers. The steak tartare and escargot were respectable, meeting expectations without exceeding them—comparable to the offerings at other local French establishments. However, the rest of the dishes fell noticeably short. The quiche and Josephine Burger were passable but unremarkable, lacking the finesse and boldness one might hope for. The French onion soup was flavorful but leaned heavily on the salt, overshadowing its otherwise solid execution. The most disappointing dish was the duck confit. The sauce, overly dominant, masked the natural flavor of the duck, resulting in a bland and uninspired plate that failed to stand out in any way. Service was adequate—attentive enough, though nothing particularly memorable. The historic charm and classic elegance of the interior decor provided a pleasant backdrop, though it did little to elevate the overall dining experience. While Josephine’s lunch offerings were a letdown, I remain cautiously optimistic about what the dinner menu might reveal. For now, this visit has left me unimpressed and wondering whether the restaurant’s reputation is truly deserved.
   

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2. S

   Shawen

   Richmond

   19 reviews

   5.0

   19 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Wonderful experience eating at Josephine's. Delicious food with wonderful service! Looking forward to returning soon hopefully!
   

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3. M

   Marsha

   VIP

   Washington DC

   83 reviews

   5.0

   83 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My niece and I had a lovely dinner. I asked for a quiet table as it can be pretty noisy at Josephine. We were seated at the very back, and it made conversation easy. Our waiter was excellent. I have multiple dietary restrictions and he helped me to choose. I had the trout, which was very tasty. My niece had the scallops, which she loved. She had vanilla ice cream for dessert and I had the mixed berry sorbet. Both are housemade and delicious. I've been to Josephine a number of times and appreciate that the menu changes seasonally. A nice touch was the manager stopping by to check on us.
   

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4. D

   Divya

   San Francisco

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Had the delicious cab franc (my all time favorite wine)! The pappardelle pasta was delicious and scallops were very weak cooked! Tender, juicy, and just a little crispy on the top!
   

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5. B

   Ben

   Hawaii

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Went on a date here and sat upstairs, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We ordered the french onion soup and paired it with the dirty martini special. For our mains the Coq Au Vin (Sunday plat de jour) was absolutely phenomenal. We really enjoyed the kind service and romantic atmosphere. Would totally recommend this spot to a friend or family member for their next date night or special dinner event.
   

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6. L

   Lisa

   VIP

   Washington DC

   26 reviews

   5.0

   26 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Sunday brunch was delicious! Excellent service, quality coffee and a piping hot basket of fresh pastry- lovely! Nice atmosphere . Omelette was made perfectly. Recommend!
   

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7. K

   Kristen

   Philadelphia

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My favorite restaurant in old town! Love the quiche for brunch and dinner at Josephine is superb!
   

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8. B

   Bridgett

   VIP

   Washington DC

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on December 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We went for date night in Friday evening and returned Sunday for brunch. Good atmosphere and service and even better food! Get the escargot! We will be returning
   

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9. S

   Steve

   New York City

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent service! My medium-rare steak came out medium-well. I'm not usually one to complain, but I mentioned it in passing to the waitress and before I knew it I was being offered a comped replacement cooked correctly, which was excellent! Mistakes happen so I appreciate the promptness in correcting it. Turned a disappointing meal into an amazing one and makes me eager to return.
   

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10. A

    ANANDA

    VIP

    Washington DC

    49 reviews

    2.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2

    I took my nephew and his fiancee to Josephine on Dec 7. We were quite excited about it but unfortunately the experience did not live up to the hype. Food - decent but nothing out of the ordinary. Better food at Chez Billy Sud (Georgetown) or Cafe Colline (related restaurant in Arlington) Service - fair to middling. I guess it was Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk and the restaurant had been open since 7am. One could tell because the service was haphazard. In fact, I could overhear the lady in the table next to me complain to the manager about the service. So for example, I ordered a fairly pricey bottle of Bordeaux wine to celebrate. Was was great but (1) not decanted and it should have been; and (2) and no effort to fill our glasses. I had to do it. So, to me, a case of a restaurant not trying too hard because they think they don't have to. Completely unfair on patrons, especially first-time ones. Do not believe I will go back.
    

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