Great ambiance!!! Loved the food and our waiter Jacob! Such a lovely dinner and fantastic drinks. Would definitely come again and would definitely ask for Jacob to serve us. read more

Josephine - Dessert and espresso martini - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Josephine's is the perfect spot for every occasion. I went to catch up with a friend and our server (Jacob) was attentive and knowledgeable. I had the strip au pouvre with pommes puree, best steak I've ever had! The cocktails were well balanced and Jacob recommended we finish the night with an espresso martini, which was the perfect night cap. We can't wait to come back, and sit with Jacob again! read more

The food was excellent. Our server was brand new, but she worked incredibly hard to make sure we were well taken care of and happy throughout the meal. She was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. I had the steak and fries, which were both very good. The salad and salmon were excellent as well. Make sure you save room for dessert--it was fantastic. We had the cream puff ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, and it was worth every calorie. The atmosphere really stood out too. With the dark wood accents and beautiful bar area, the restaurant had a warm, classic French feel that made you feel like you were dining in France. read more

I had the most special lunch with my mom here. When we lived in NoVA we used to come to this restaurant for special occasions. My grandmother used to love it. It's interior design is absolutely stunning. I adore all the art deco wallpaper and art that lines the walls. We were seated pretty quickly for lunch in their gorgeous inside patio. Our server was super sweet. We ordered the moule frites, endive beet salad, French dip, berry sorbet, pineapple passionfruit sorbet, and an opera. The fries and endive salad were my favorite. We didn't care for how salty the French dip sandwich was. I love that they surprised us with macarons at the end with our dessert orders. I am not a sorbet person, but at this place I am. The sorbets were so refreshing. The berry one was surprisingly creamy. We adored our time here and I would love to return when I'm in the area. read more

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I was hoping that my first visit to Josephine was going to be the first of many, but it ended up being the first and last visit. I dined at the bar during Happy Hour on a Saturday Afternoon. I ordered their Burger Josephine. When the burger came out, I noticed there was the slightest spread of burger sauce underneath the patties. I politely asked the bartender for a bit more burger sauce on the side and he said he would get that for me. I waited an additional 10 minutes for the bartender to get the sauce. He tended to everyone else at the bar before going to the back. He could have easily asked his assistant at the bar, or the many servers that were standing right next to the end of the bar talking, if he didn't have the time to get it for me. By the time the sauce came out, the burger wasn't hot anymore. The Burger was just okay. Nothing to write home to mama about. I didn't like the bun. Very crumbly and dry. The burger sauce was good though and that's what saved the burger. So glad I did ask for more of it. I'd give the burger a 6.5 out of 10. The fries were also nothing out of the ordinary. I'd give them a 6 out of 10. When I was finished with my food, my empty plate sat there for another 15 minutes and finally a runner noticed, asked if I was done, and took my plate. No acknowledgement from the bartender the whole time, even though I tried to make eye contact to let him know I was done. Even after all of that, I still was going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and tip him fairly well. I asked the bar assistant for my check, since the bartender seemed preoccupied with other patrons. The total was somewhere around 16 dollars and some change. I had a twenty that I could have easily just gave him for the food and the tip, but I was going to tip more than just 3 dollars and some change. So, I gave the bar assistant two 20 dollar bills, so that I could tip at least 20%. He looked at me confused and went to the bartender. He gave the bartender the two 20s to get change and the bar assistant came back with 6 dollars. When I asked the bartender why I only received 6 dollars when I gave his assistant two 20s, he took the 6 dollars, and then came back with my correct change. Very odd transaction. I sincerely hope that he wasn't trying to purposely take more money than what was owed to him. Overall, I won't be back. I usually give places at least three times to give me a poor experience, but when you are dealing with people not being right about the payment, I'd rather not chance it again. read more

Josephine - Main Bar at Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Solid French bistro in the old Columbia firehouse space in old town. Cramped entry area, but great atrium area. Solid food, decent staff, reasonable prices and an overall good time. Worth a visit. read more

Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The name of this restaurant should be splendid!! Not only was everyone so nice, how restaurants use to be when I was a kid. Beautiful dinning rooms one by the bar, a bright scenic cheerful room, another quieter room upstairs and they have outside dining. This step into France will be a regular when I'm in the area. The escargot is special with a puff pastry on top, the tomato soup sparked every taste bud, the chicken I felt could have been cooked a little more but it was juicy and delicious the risotto was cooked perfectly!! We chose this place for my daughter's college graduation. I think we picked a diamond! I really want to thank the staff for making my daughter's special day so memorable! read more

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I came for a birthday dinner on a Saturday. I was seated quickly with my boyfriend and we were able to order our food soon after we were seated. Since it was my birthday, my boyfriend and I were offered free sparkling wine. Sadly, my boyfriend's glass had a fruit fly in it so we had to send it back. We ordered the escargot, steak frites, and creme brulee on the Restaurant Week menu. Everything was delicious and my steak was cooked to my liking. We also ordered the duck dish. It was flavorful and we liked the brussel sprouts in the dish. Another small reason why the restaurant doesn't get 5 stars is because I had to ask for a steak knife after my main dish came out. With slightly better service, I would give it a 5 star rating since all of the food was good. I recommend this place for a slightly fancier dinner that won't break the budget. read more

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Beef bourguignon was 10/10 I licked the plate clean, had cod croquettes as an app- it wasn't bad! Paired the main with a glass of beaujolais read more

Josephine - Cod croquettes - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Josephine has my heart! - my partner and I came for their New Year's Eve 3 course, it was $150/pp and we have never tried something like this so we went in worried but left speechless! We had one of the managers (whose name I can't remember, sorry) greet us and explain the nights menu, he also provided recommendations and was very attentive. Our server Daniel was the BEST. Daniel was extremely welcoming, open to questions and also shared recommendations. Daniel really made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The food, perfect, every bite. Some of these dishes were new to us but we're so glad we branched out! The ratatouille was warm and paired great with the burrata/bread. We were lucky enough to get one of the last lobsters and thank God! The softest warmest experience truly. Next we went onto our main entrees and both meats were cooked to perfection. Dessert, filled us and was a mixture of cold (ice cream) plus soft (baked bread). The ambiance of Josephine transforms you to a fancy sophisticated dinner, you'd think you're in NYC. Definitely recommending to family and friends for their date nights. Thank you, Josephine! read more

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I was pretty surprised with the price which was very reasonable, for up scale (ish) French restaurant! Food was delicious, albeit a bit salty, mediocre service read more

Josephine - Mussels - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We had a wonderful dinner here. We were able to get a table for 8 with little notice on a weekday evening. It's a beautiful space inside. It's located in Old Town Alexandria and is an easy walk from area hotels. The manager checked on us a few times, which was nice. Service was decently friendly and attentive. The food courses were paced well. Everyone greatly enjoyed their dishes. I had the mussels and they were incredibly yum. I wanted to just straight up drink the broth they were in. Would absolutely dine here again. A great spot for a nice meal. read more

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wow. From the ornate bar to fabulous food to perfect service. One of the best places I've dined in a while. Party of 8 and the server handled with grace and perfection every step of the way Gluten free bread? No problem. Boom delivered! Vegetarian? No problem try this specially designed dish! Birthday girl? Boom! Here enjoy some complimentary macaroons for the table no less! We had the duck; scallops (amazing) beef; mussels; chicken and a vegetarian dish. None disappointed. Do yourself a favor and dine here! read more

Just a fantastic evening. The mussels were excellent. The steak frites was perfect. So enjoyed the dirty martini. Just a lovely celebration spot. read more

French restaurant inside of a large, regal, building with delicious food I came here for dinner on a Friday night with my fiance and we had a great experience. We started off with their complimentary bread & butter basket, which was large and delicious. I opted for their special cocktail, which although cost ~$25, was in my opinion worth it. It tasted like I was drinking a key lime pie and had a cool meringue on the top. They warned us that this drink would take a little while to come out, but I didn't realize that this also meant that it would take them a little while to take our food order as well, as they didn't do so until after my drink came. The menu is very large and has pretty much everything you could want, though some of it is in French so it can be hard to understand what everything is. I opted for the steak frites and my GF opted for the duck special. The portions were large and delicious. Since everything was so tasty, as we were getting close to finishing our entrees my fiance and I decided that we would take some of our food home as to save space for their dessert. There were a solid selection of desert options, and my fiance opted for the profiteroles while I went for their honey banana ice cream. Again, everything was delicious. It seemed like this place is very common for special occasions, as our waiter asked us multiple times if we were celebrating anything and then, even though we told him we were not, brought us each a glass of champagne and some macaroons. The people who were next to us were celebrating a birthday and had the same treats given to them + a very large sparking candle, so I think that we still got the "special occasion treatment". The tables are a little close together, but nothing terrible. read more

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A piece of Paris in Old Town Alexandria! The tables outside reminded me of the streets in Paris and the inside has character. The service and the ambience are great for a date night or a celebration. The service is great, very attentive and knowledgeable. There was some miscommunication between the kitchen and the waiter, but very pleased on how was handled. The appetizer was delayed and got the entrees first, very polite the waiter removed it from the check. Excellent wine list from different regions in France and the food is really good. I had the steak and frites, it was well cook and tasteful. Good meat quality. Overall a great place for a fancy dinner ! read more

Josephine - Steak & frites! - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Everything I am about to share is no reflection on the staff who assisted our table. They were polite, kind, and attentive throughout the evening. My concern lies more with the overall dining experience, which unfortunately left me underwhelmed. The cheese course was extremely difficult to cut--so much so that even after a manager came over to help, they struggled as well. The duck, which is usually tender and easy to cut, was overcooked and tough this time. Given its condition, I should have been provided with a steak knife, as it was nearly impossible to manage with standard cutlery. The Brussels sprouts were also disappointing--completely under-seasoned and bland. I asked for salt and pepper to try to improve the dish, only to discover that the salt shaker was blocked and improperly assembled, so nothing came out. A staff member kindly brought a replacement, but the dish still lacked flavor and reminded me of a very plain, home-style protein and vegetable dinner rather than the vibrant restaurant quality I expected. On a brighter note, the restaurant ambience was amazing. The beautiful décor, mixed with old-world charm, created a wonderful setting that would be perfect for a romantic dinner, a family or group gathering, coworkers meeting after work, or even singles enjoying the lively bar area. Dessert was also a highlight--light, not overly sweet, and topped with a crunchy layer that gave it a nice texture. The coffee was an enjoyable finish. Overall, while the service was excellent and the atmosphere exceptional, the food execution fell short of expectations during this visit. That said, I may come back again, hopeful for an improved dining experience next time. read more

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Great service; our res was met with no wait time. We enjoyed the food entirely - steak was very good and the fries as well as the green beans. Really pretty design on the sunlit side of the restaurant. The pop of green was lovely. Go, enjoy! read more

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Josephine's in Old Town Alexandria completely exceeded my expectations. The Salade Josephine was incredible -- fresh, flavorful, and beautifully done. Our server Riley was amazing, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Honestly, everyone on staff was so attentive throughout the meal. I'd go back in a heartbeat and I'm already recommending it to all my friends and family. If you're in Old Town, you have to try this place -- and ask for Riley! read more

My boyfriend and I went for restaurant week and the food was amazing and the ambiance was beautiful. Reminded me of being in Paris. I believe we got good service but that being said I feel like A slight racial undertone though it was only a feeling. I'm black and my boyfriend Arabic. I got the duck and he got steak. We got a few of the non-alcoholic drinks and the restaurant week menu came with appetizers and desserts. I had absolutely no regrets when it came to the food. There was some confusion about being sat. The hostess said we couldn't be sat until 6 and we were there maybe 6. We said okay but then got sat immediately. I was confused by that but that's it. read more

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Classy feeling place. Amazing building which has been adapted to be a restaurant in this guise since around 2023. Feels like it should be steak restaurant Ala Morton's. Plenty of wait staff for Saturday brunch. Immaculately dressed and attentive. A bit odd that support staff wanted to remove used plates before everyone at our table was finished. Several floors and outside option. Paid parking outside or 2 hour free just down street. Food generous and good. Croque madam salty but lots of food. Duck confit looked good but not massive. Fries not French or American style and unappetizing. Selection of beers suitably served in small continental glasses and generous pour of mimosa with overflow supplied in separate iced glass. Attractive looking entrance and as I mentioned really smart looking interior. Pretty impressive bar also. read more

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Ambiance: love the old world charm with brick walls, mirrors and Parisian artwork. Main dining hall has tall ceiling that made the space feel really big. Love the outdoor dining area. The bar is small and moody. Service: we came on a Friday during restaurant week so it was super busy. I'm t took the waitstaff awhile to bring us water. Then we needed a refill and had to ask numerous times. Food: classic French dishes. I love the steak tartare which had great seasoning. The duck confit was good. Duck perfectly cooked and fall off the bones tender. The accompaniments to the dish were ok nothing stellar on the Brussels sprouts or the smear of potato puree. Crème brûlée was standard. Maybe if it was less busy we would have had more attention. Overall, I would say the hype was ok. Classic French in a beautiful charming building. It did not blow my mind but a very cute and good restaurant. read more

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I thought I would try Josephine's to do something than my normal weekend spot. I've walked past it for years. The interior dies remind me of French restaurants I went to in Paris but a lot bigger. The service was good but the food was just average. Food was fine but wasn't blown away. It was fine. read more

Josephine - Steak frites - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Beautiful brasserie with a ton of details to soak in during your meal. It's a little unassuming from the outside but the interior looks like something out of a stunning Parisian townhouse. Definitely recommend getting a table in the atrium section with the vaulted skylight overhead. (You can also see the stunning mural of roses in the courtyard.) If I lived nearby, I'd love to check out the different sections of the restaurant, from the champagne bar to a lounge tucked away on the third floor. We came on a busy pre-holiday weekday lunch and it took some time to get our food, put in orders, etc., but it was fine, we were catching up with a friend. For appetizers, we got the escargot with tiny puff pastries. Never had snails before; it tasted like a slightly meatier mushroom and was mostly a vehicle for soaking up all the garlic and butter sauce. For my main, I got the omelette with herbs and cheese - pretty standard and a decent size. My husband's burger was the better choice, honestly. We went a little overboard with dessert. Did we need the pudding cake and the profiteroles (as well as the free tray of macarons they brought out)? Yes and no. The profiteroles were the dark horse winner, with a beautiful crackly crust. Perfect size of a dessert. I liked the pudding cake less, I was envisioning something lighter and it was a little too dense for me. Definitely worth a repeat visit if we're ever in the area again. read more

The food was amazing and Ernesto, our server was excellent! He truly went above and beyond. I got the steak frites which was absolutely delicious and cooked so perfectly. The restaurant itself is so beautiful. Will definitely be coming back!! read more

The setup was so nice in here! We stopped by on a Sunday evening and indulged in a few of their signature cocktails. I really enjoyed the service, especially Ashley & Alex's. The couple next to us had the mussels and it smelled amazing! Looking forward to returning here for their dining experience. read more

Josephine - Food menu - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

AMAZING experience at Josephine!! We celebrated a milestone here and the staff went ALL OUT. They were so attentive, the food was amazing, the drinks were so good, and the space is just gorgeous. I had been pushing off trying this place but we will now be regulars. I could not recommend this more!! (We got the trout, 10/10, and the steak, also 10/10, white Bordeaux, otherworldly!) Sit in the atrium if you can!! What a phenomenal establishment who truly know how to serve their guests an experience to remember. read more

Amazing experience! The food was delicious, but the most spectacular part was the interior of the restaurant. The service was mostly great; everyone was very friendly. Only took one star off because there were a couple times we ordered something and it never came. Otherwise, everything was great! read more

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DECENT GESTURE, BUT STILL A DISAPPOINTING FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH Came here for Father's Day brunch at 2:30 PM (Josephine, Old Town Alexandria). We were a party of four, seated indoors. We arrived early at 1:20 but still waited over 30 minutes to be seated. Unfortunately, by the time we ordered, they were already out of the quiche -- and two minutes after placing my order, I was told they were also out of French toast. I ended up settling for the Florentine Benedict to avoid more back-and-forth. At our table, we had: * Florentine & Norwegian Benedicts * Duck confit * Latte The food was okay, though nothing special. Portion sizes were small, and it felt overpriced for what we got -- more like upscale diner fare than what I'd expect at a French restaurant. It's understandable they were busy on Father's Day, but being out of two brunch staples by mid-afternoon points to poor planning. Also a bit odd they don't offer a lunch menu on weekends. That said, the owner did issue a refund, which I appreciated -- a nice gesture that shows they care about customer feedback. Overall, the service was polite and the space was nice, but the food and experience didn't live up to the price. I'm bumping this to 3 stars out of fairness, but I likely won't return for another holiday meal. read more

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I went here for the valentines special and the 2 best things about Josephine's is its ambiance and service. Josephine's has kind and attentive staff. They made sure we were always taken care of. We chose the atrium at 5pm so we could enjoy both the light and the sun going down. The atrium was beautifully decorated and when the sun set, the candles contributed to a cozy, romantic feel. We got lucky and got placed in one of the 3 booths which is typically a 4 seater. I recommend booking way ahead of time if it's for a special occasion (It was $125/person for the valentines event) and request the atrium. I really cannot say enough about the clear ceilings and floor to ceiling windows they have and how pretty it all looked. My favorite dishes were the scallops and steak tartare. My partner loved the salad. The food is decent but what makes Josephine's exemplary is its ambiance and service. read more

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Josephine: Brunch so good, even the tables next to you get involved. Brunched at Josephine in Alexandria and it was fantastique. Patio vibes, sunshine, and mimosas served with personal refill bottles on ice--elegant and effortless. The escargot? Rich, buttery perfection with a golden puff pastry topper. Beet and goat cheese salad? Bright, citrusy, and easily the best I've ever had. The quiche was light, almost custardy, and came with fresh greens that didn't feel like an afterthought. Service was warm and attentive--just the right amount of friendly. Now for the sides: the patio is lovely, but the two-tops are packed in tight. Like, elbows-almost-touching tight. So tight, in fact, that our neighbors didn't just overhear us--they basically joined the meal. Every dish we received turned into a group commentary: "Oh, that's the quiche?" "Escargot? Do you want escargot? Eww." It felt less like a private brunch and more like a culinary Q&A session. To top it off, one table over, a diva-in-training slowly tortured her brunch date with long, dramatic sighs and wine-snob theatrics. Her friend looked like she was mentally door-dashing a sandwich. Despite the unsolicited commentary and reality show energy, the food and service were excellent. Josephine knows how to do brunch--just be ready for a little table-side entertainment. read more

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Best French available. Food was very good. Onion soup very salty. Escargot delightful.

We came for Saturday brunch and had an absolutely fantastic experience. The food was delicious, and our server was gracious, professional, and attentive. If you are looking for affordable and authentic French cuisine, then I highly recommend that a visit to Josephine in Alexandria. read more

Love, love this place! Great ambiance and vibe- made a reservation for 5p (highly recommend reservations) and right before the dinner rush. Everything was good. Foie Gras wasn't as rich as our preference but still very delicious. The cheeseburger had just the right amount of char. Steak frites had a garlic butter and cooked perfectly. Beef bourguignon was my daughter's favorite with mashed potatoes. Perfect place for celebrating - came for my daughter's birthday. Out of all the desserts we ordered, the creme brulee was our favorite. Super friendly staff and very accommodating. 10 out of 10 for me! read more

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Josephine's continues to impress us every time. The customer service is truly above and beyond, and the food is outstanding. Our steak dinner was cooked perfectly, and the drinks were superb, clearly made with care. The waiter was completely on point from start to finish, attentive without being overbearing. A special shout-out to David Jones, the manager, who was amazing. He checked in on us throughout the evening and genuinely made us feel welcomed and appreciated. This was our second visit, and somehow it was even better than the first-which already had great service and incredible food. Being invited back made the experience feel extra special. No complaints at all. We'll absolutely be returning and recommending Josephine's to others. Highly recommend dining here! Thanks again! :) read more

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Food was delicious, ambiance was classy, lively, and approachable. Staff was attentive and good came quickly, we were biased as it was our wedding celebration but truly couldn't have asked for a better or more delicious dinner. Will definitely bring our family here! read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary, which we noted in our OpenTable reservation. We arrived about 30 minutes early and our table wasn't ready, so we grabbed a drink at Akeno nearby. When we returned, the manager asked a staff member to seat us, though the hostess, manager, and person who walked us to our table didn't speak to us, which felt a bit odd. We were seated on the top floor next to the bar with a lot of foot traffic, which felt a little busy for a special occasion. Our server, however, was kind and attentive, which we appreciated. The escargot, duck, and scallops were good. Unfortunately, the tartare and foie gras were underwhelming and somewhat bland. Our anniversary also wasn't acknowledged during the visit. Overall, there were some positives, but the experience felt a bit impersonal and didn't quite match what we were hoping for on such a special evening. Given the restaurant's reviews we read, we expected a more welcoming and polished experience. read more

We've only experience the happy hour / midday menu but honestly it's worth it and I assume better value than regular menu. We got the dirty martini, espresso martini, seasonal cocktail, and old fashioned and loved it all for only $8 per drink. Additionally, got a cheese platter, smoked trout rillette, and burger (this came with lots of fries) and it was all a good portion and good value for money! Our bartender / server was also so friendly and helpful. It's definitely our new happy hour spot read more

Superb service. Excellent and authentic French fare. And even with nut and dairy allergies in out party, our dining experience was smooth and so fine! We will be back! read more

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delicious food! romantic vibe, STRONGGGG drinks. free bread for the table. the service was great but then near the end it felt like our waiter forgot about us but i don't blame him since it was restaurant week and they were packed. highly recommend the duck! read more

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