Loveeee their French onion soup- I've tried it at many other places but this one was the best in the area. The seating is nice but it can be a little cramped, it's not uncomfortable though. The service was friendly and quick. I also only tried brunch but I thought it was great restaurant overall and would suggest it to everyone - The perk is that it's beautiful inside as well. read more

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Hands down the best quiche I've ever had. I've never had a filling that fluffy before. There was a set menu that my brother took advantage of that came with an appetizer, entree and drink, but the quiche wasn't an option so I ordered a la carte. So worth it! I paired it with the lavender lemonade. If you like French pastries definitely get the pastry basket. There's an assortment of things to try from biscuits to croissants. The dining room is very classy and the staff is really friendly. This would be a great date brunch/dinner venue. read more

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I am from France originally and it was hard to find a real French restaurant until I found Josephine and let me tell you how happy I am. The food is amazing. The service is honestly great. I cannot complain and the ambience is really chill. It's really nice. It's not too much 10 out of 10 recommended and I will definitely go again. read more

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Delicious food and great service. Nebi was a great server and her recommendations were spot on. read more

Josephine - Friendly staff! - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food and service were excellent as is customary at Josephine's. The restaurant is a neighborhood gem.

Josephine's is such a cute French restaurant! I love the sun room with the clear roof. It's like having brunch in an atrium. So pretty. I also heard that the upstairs dining area is very aesthetically pleasing. The food and drinks lived up to the overall good vibes! I had a saison beer that was great. My husband enjoyed his bloody mary. I had the avocado toast. It was very nice, and I did enjoy it! I was just surprised that the toast was actually a little sweet. I was expecting a more savory toast. I really loved trying the onion soup. That is always a hit! We had a really great brunch. Service was excellent! I would definitely recommend coming here for brunch. read more

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We went here for a friendsmas brunch. We had a reservation and were seated quickly on the third floor. There is no elevator so you are traversing steps but it's a short walk about 5-8 steps between floors. The food did not disappoint. Perfectly fluffy French toast, delicious avocado toast and eggs Benedict's. The pastry basket was 90% savory items but it was still delicious.. The desserts were also pretty tasty. We had the apple tart which is really just sliced apples and ice cream but it's pretty good. They also offered ice cream of the day, which were interesting choices of cinnamon or pumpkin spice. The most disappointing part was the drinks. Understandably they have a ton of awesome wine choices but during brunch i'd like a cocktail. They have 4 on the menu. Just very lacking for my preferences, but otherwise great experience, great staff and also awesome interior for some cute pics! Parking garage is directly across the street too and it's only 5 bucks! read more

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Delightful and relaxing spot.. I was embrace by the aroma as I walked in. The host was very attentive and trying to accommodate us right away. We just wanted to give the spot a taste, so we sat at the bar where Ashley was on point from first eye glance. Mixing a French 75 and an old fashion that was amazing to the taste buds. Looking forward to coming back to experience the food and more cocktails... read more

Celebrated a gf's 60th birthday here. It was a top notch experience from start to finish. The GM greeted us at our arrival and escorted us to a great table where a gifted from family bottle of chilled champagne was poured. They even included a personalized postcard from the family members that sent the bottle! We started off with the French onion soup, followed by some fresh seafood. I ordered the trout (excellent) and my friend ordered the salmon. Dessert was a trio of selected sweets from her family and what we chose. The crème brûlée was top notch. The presentation of the desserts was with a festive firecracker like candle. Our server was attentive without being intrusive and both manager and GM circled back to us throughout the night to ensure everything was to our liking. It was a perfect choice for a special occasion!!! read more

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A darkly lit atmosphere with intimate table seating. Service was very professional, knowledgeable and prompt, not overbearing. Salmon Rillettes: passable, as this was like a smoked salmon dip, and came with sandwich bread. Poulet Roti: so worth it! Would recommend! Mashed potatoes was really good, and chicken was crispy and juicy Would recommend for a classic French dinner, and service was great. read more

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Over the weekend I had a double date here at Josephine's in old town Alexandria! To be completely honest, I was a little hesitant at first as I have not always been a big fan of French food, but boy was I wrong! We made reservations as we heard this place could get pretty packed over the weekends and immediately upon arrival they were able to see us, and as we walked through the restaurant, you could immediately tell by the ambience, decor, and vibrance of the people it was going to be a great time! We were immediately taken away by the skylight that was over head for the duration of the dinner, that gave you a lot of natural light throughout while also still a high level of elegance that transported us to a different time and place! We started with a three cheese board, homemade crackers, local honey, and roasted almonds. Following that we were walked through the menu by our waitress as a number of the items are in French, and they not steer us wrong. We had a widespread of entrées from trout to steak and half chicken but all were equally delicious, flavorful, and filling. We were practically stuffed to the brim, but were told all the desserts were made in house and as the same, goes, " when in France. You have to get dessert." so we did! We got a sorbet, ice cream, cake, and peach sticky rice to all share and sample and it was absolutely worth it! Overall, we had a great time, talking, laughing, eating, and admiring the decor! We're excited to go back and try more items on the menu as well as their brunch as we have heard that it is all the rave! read more

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I don't know what it is about the old firehouse building - but it feels cursed! I've been to so many restaurants in this beautiful location and they have all fallen short. Josephine included. We started out with drinks and appetizers. There was something weird in my ice in my cocktail... looked like a lemon pit? Grossed me out right away. They remade the drink. My husband and I have a rule - if the bread is bad - the meal probably will be too. And the bread was disappointing! It's definitely not house made - seemed like it was from the grocery store. Bummer. Our salmon rillettes looked unappetizing when it hit the table. The crab soup hardly had any crab in it. The beet salad was all chopped up and presented strangely (but it was tasty). I enjoyed the nicely cooked beets and dressing. Then our entrees were disappointing. The trout almandine was cooked nicely with crispy skin, but had no sauce or flavor. The Beef Bourguignon had barely any sauce, the beef was tough and it needed salt. One positive note - we had very good service and were treated to not one... but 4 free desserts (which were quite tasty). I hope they can make some improvements and break the curse!! read more

Service stands out for me. I sat at the bar and the bartender, Raphael, was lovely to speak too. The manager decisively helped my neighbor decide on his meal. History- originally originally a fire station. fun to eat in a historical building. Food- french food - beef tartar, good amount to share. Perfect amount of chips to pair with. Fresh and flavorful. - French onion soup- as good as you can get close to being in France. Keep in mind, it's French onion soup- so don't expect mind blowing. If you're into it, you'll enjoy. - Macaroni gratin (I was in denial while ordering that it was mac and cheese) it was quality and per the nature of dish, heavy. My kids would have LOVED it. - cocktail- was delicious!! Ambiance- dark. I would like a bit more lighting, or I'm getting old. Value- standard as expected for a place like this. between 1 cocktail, soup and 2 appetizers it was $80 something for me. Recommend- If you're feeling like French food it's a fantastic option. read more

Josephine is always a solid choice when wanting an elevated dining experience. We sat in the upstairs dining area for brunch, which has cathedral ceilings with large candelabra chandeliers, big bay windows and plenty of antique charm. They changed our table upon request without any questions asked. The food was delightful, although pricey, but we are in Alexandria. My favorite from this meal was certainly the Hemingway Royale Kir, one of the best aperitifs I've ever had. Our server was charming and even brought us a feee dessert at the end since we were the only ones left in the restaurant before they turned over for dinner service! The crème brûlée was fantastic! read more

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I've eaten here 1 other time and it was just as good. Food is always amazing and VERY celiac friendly/accommodating which any one with celiac knows is always a win. I had the French onion soup (made GF) and it was perfection. I also had the scallops and they were cooked perfectly and I apprecite that they weren't drenched in sauce. read more

Josephine - Scallops - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The interior is beautiful, and our food was all delicious. I would return the next time I visit! read more

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This is a beautiful, intimate, and most importantly delicious spot in Alexandria! For authentic and hearty French specialities like trout almandine and duck confit served by a fun and professional staff, you couldn't pick a better place to spend a special evening. read more

Everything about our dining experience was top-notch, from the interior decorations and ambiance in the saloon to the service staff. The waitress had deep knowledge of French wines and food. We stuck to the basics. The foie gras was par excellence. And our group had steak frites, which was cooked to perfection. read more

This is one of the best French restaurants I've been to! I loved my whole experience there. You walk in and it feels so grand and lux! The staff is all so very warm and welcoming. The food and drinks were to die for! I got the martini service and it came out to elegantly on a silver platter! We started with escargot for the table and this was my first time having it, and I'm sure this was the right place for that. It was absolutely delicious! I had the mussels and fries for my entree and the flavors were so rich and delicious! There mussels will be my new baseline judgment for all others! You should definetly check it out if you are in the area and looking for a higher end place for dinner! read more

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Had brunch here on Saturday. Service was excellent and the food was great. The brioche French toast and mimosas were top notch. They also provided free champagne & macarons...bonus! Very nice place with decent prices. read more

If you love French food, this is the location to frequent. The place has to be yummy to deal with street parking, or have to pay for garage parking in old town, lol. Glen was an awesome bartender who was able to balance invested conversation while being attentive to a busy bar full of people. The food was delicious with smooth and comforting peek flavors. read more

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Stewart, Jay, and the rest of the team are phenomenal to work with, they do their best to make sure every guest is satisfied! Would highly recommend! read more

Had dinner here today. Beautiful restaurant, lovely atmosphere - dim and oaky. Oeufs Mayonnaise (deviled eggs, essentially) - not bad. I probably wouldn't order again, nothing special. Steak tartar - absolutely delicious. An extremely flavorful dish- moiist and tender. Josephine Old Fashioned - pretty much a standard Old Fashioned. Herb Mezcal drink (forgot the name) - tastes like a mezcal Old Fashioned. Tasty drink. Gregourre (cheese bread) - these are little balls of cheese bread. Tasty. Comfy and classic inside, with good service. I recommend a visit! read more

Josephine - Oeufs Mayonnaise - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The service was amazing! The environment and architecture was beautiful! The food was good. read more

Josephine - Crème Brûlée - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I didn't have the best experience here. The tartare was ok, nothing spectacular. The croque madame was very disappointing. I've never had a croque madame made with spongy sandwich bread. Moreover, there were barely any fillings in the sandwich; the ham was gone after 2 bites. For the steak and frites, we requested the steak to be cooked medium rare but received a virtually raw steak and almost heard it mooing. We appreciated that the server promptly apologized and brought out a perfectly cooked new steak. Dessert was better, however. The crème brulee and opera cake were pretty good, I can at least recommend that. Overall, not a great restaurant for brunch. read more

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Superb dining experience. Casual atmosphere coupled with impeccable service made for a great meal. Onion soup was the best I've ever enjoyed. Steak frites was perfectly prepared. Side dishes of mushrooms and garlic spinach were divine. Pappardella with truffle was amazing. Dessert menu was outrageous. Chose the bread pudding to share. All I can say is PERFECTION. prices were super reasonable for the quality, portion and service. A must! read more

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An outdoor table was accommodated, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was very delicious and seasoned well. Highly recommend! read more

Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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One day I was wondering if Columbia Firehouse was still around. With a little research, I discovered that the owners closed it down and came up with Brasserie Josephine to take its place. I took a look at their menu and saw the "trout amandine" and thought the place was worth a try. So...this past Saturday, we made a 5 p.m reservation. Upon arrival, I saw something that troubled me. Before going too far into the review, I'll say that the staff was nice and greeted, then seated us. However, the place isn't in any way ADA compliant. When we were taken to our table, we had to walk through the bar which involved stepping down one step. The bar has a dark, divey ambiance to it so it would have been easy to have missed that step. Then...we had to walk up a few steps to get to our table which was a small two top that was packed in with similar tables. I'll add that the dining room was well lighted and had some sunlight coming through. We were offered a four top but that involved more steps. My husband had a knee replacement and didn't want to deal with more steps. At the end of the meal, he wanted to use the bathroom...go down a few steps to the bar and then go up a half flight. He took it slowly and said a staff member offered help which my husband declined. For these reasons, we really don't think we will return. I write all this to let anyone with disabilities know what the layout is like. Well...now on to the food. Our server was very friendly and efficient. We chose tap water and he didn't try to upsell us. Some of the hors d'oeuvres looked interesting but the portions were too large for the two of us. So, we ordered our drinks. My husband had a glass of Chardonnay while I had a cocktail called "summer sundress". DH said his wine was good quality. My drink was on the bitter side. A small sprig of lavender was attached to the glass and it wasn't fresh at all. It added an unpleasant smell to the drink. For our main courses, I did order the "trout amandine" which was a very large portion. The trout was very well filleted which isn't easy to do with trout. It sat on a large portion of haricot verts. The fish was nicely browned although the skin could have been a bit more crisp. There was a generous amount of almonds on it. Also, it had nage sauce meuniere which added a nice flavor. The haricot verts were cooked just right---not too crisp, not too soft. My husband had scallops that were quite large and served on a bed of mashed potatoes with some tomatoes. He also ordered a side of haricot verts. We had room for dessert. I ordered "profiteroles" that had vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. This was a tasty dessert. My husband had a lemon tart. His tart had a meringue topping that was bruleed plus some bits of candied fruit in his tart. We left feeling full. As I mentioned above, it was a good meal. However, due to having to navigate all the stairs with some in a darkened bar, we doubt we'll be back. read more

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This place is exceptional and highly recommend. The old fire house has charm and decorated in class and style. Call out the exceptional staff: Kayla, Eli, Glenn, and Stephen. All took pleasure in chatting with us, serving us great food and giving us a tour of the 1860 building. The escargot, French onion soup and Lobster risotto was outstanding. I am a foodie and eat around the world and I give this place a 9.5 out of 10. read more

Service was a little slow, but just pretend you are in Paris. It happens! The French onion soup is worth trekking through the freezing rain and snow. I am not sure you can get any better from anywhere else. It is quaint and delightful. I highly recommend this place. read more

We went for a date and had an amazing time. Lelna was phenomenal, her recommendations were spot on and everything we had was delicious. She also had great wine recommendations. We will definitely be coming back for date nights in the future. read more

This place is amazing. Beautiful interior with amazing features. Really just a cool spot. The service both times I have been have been really good, attentive and generally on top of things! The food, mm mmm! So good. Prepared very well, presented very well, and followed up on to ensure everything is as it should be. Only complaint I currently have is the restaurant week was happening the second visit, therefore they did not have the normal daily special I was craving ( duck a'l'orange). The manager overheard me trying to order it though and gave me his card telling me to let him know when I come back I. And "they'll take care of me". Genuine offer and care that it wasn't available on my visit.. so just make sure if it's something you're craving that they do indeed offer it that day if there are any other promotions going on! Otherwise, amazing spot as I said! Great wine selection as well! read more

Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Cozy and charming and feels like it's been here forever. We came here on a hot and humid June evening and sat in the beautiful side dining room with the arched windows. The service was warm and friendly. Great wine by the glass. Bread and butter was a treat. And the food was great - I loved the mussels, and the shrimp and scallop fricassee was delicious! Definitely coming back! read more

Josephine - Rose - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The food was absolutely amazing. We had a small mix up with our reservation and the general manager was incredibly kind and considerate fixing it. They even comped us some things for the mistake. Everything was amazing but 10/10 recommend the French onion soup, the steak frites, and the pastry basket. Honorable mention to the cheese board and quiche read more

Josephine - Cheese board - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food is okay, service is iffy. As someone who has been to France, I've experienced laissez-faire service and whatever this is at Josephine. I entered this beautiful, cozy, antique restaurant and I couldn't see the host station at first. I entered on the right door and I looked towards the right, but the stand is tucked in on the left. Forgive me, my eyesight was impaired due to dilation but still. I sat upstairs near the Bar Josephine spot. Service was okay by the bartender but he eventually got overwhelmed. But this is a problem. In France, I've seen 1 or 2 servers work a room of 30 - 40 people, which isn't easy, but they move with purpose. This guy has maybe 20 at best, but got bogged down. Another lady came to help, but it just seemed like they forgot about us in general (there were other people in the alcove). I was tired of it so I ended up leaving after ordering my appetisers and a drink. In the past, I may have stayed longer due to a misplaced sense of wanting to be nice and polite. However, my money should go to restaurants who have good food and service, so I decided to go back home to dc. read more

Josephine - Une salade lyonnaise - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food was delicious and the ambience was golden. The bread was crusty and delicious. We had a salad as an appetizer, the salmon and crème brûlée as a dessert. A great night! read more

Josephine - Salmon with Asparagus, Mushrooms in a green onion cream sauce - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Came here for an anniversary dinner. The aesthetic in this place is amazing! The service was impeccable, so attentive and nice. We were there for restaurant week so we got to pick an appetizer, entree and dessert for $50!!! We got the onion soup and cod croquettes. The onion soup was delicious, the cheese is salty and the soup has a perfect balance. We also got the pasta and beef/potato plates which were so flavor and filling. And then the creme brulee, I am a creme brulee lover and this one did not disappoint!!! This place is in my Top 5 restaurants in the DMV for sure!!! read more

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I had the Duck à l'Orange and my wife had the Rockfish. She loved the Rockfish-tons of salt flavor bombs and wished we'd saved the bread to mop up the sauce. I had the duck. The duck, mushrooms, and potato purée with the sauce were great together. Only quibble was the duck was plated over sautéed spinach. The spinach was good but it overpowered the other ingredients a little too much. I put the extra spinach on the side and the collection of the rest of the dish was luscious. The service was excellent. Read a few reviews where the wait for the food was 45 minutes so a wee bit concerned about service. No issues- drinks in like 5 minutes and food in about 20 minutes - couldn't ask for better service. read more

A good French restaurant with good appetizers and first courses, good service, and amazing ambiance. I recently went here for a weekend event and got to try several appetizers, including wagyu steak tartare and macaroni gratin (fried mac and cheese balls). While the steak tartare was merely OK, the macaroni gratin were delicious. My favorite dish of the night was the salad Josephine-the blend of greens and vegetables was delicious, the sauce provided a great acid, and the goat cheese was plentiful, creamy, and funky. The French onion soup had plenty of cheese and bread which I appreciated; otherwise, there was nothing special about. The strip au poivre was perfectly cooked, however, there needed to be more sauce and flavor. The opera cake was disappointing-the cake and the sorbet tasted like they came out of a package. I would recommend Josephine if you are looking for an upscale evening in Alexandria. read more

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We had a great evening at Josephine's for a birthday party where we reserved the upper bar room for roughly 30 guests. The room was fabulously decorated and very cozy, though a bit on the warm side. We had an open bar all to ourselves along with several delicious appetizers that were served by waiters throughout the evening. The apps were delicious and the entire experience was amazing. It was great to have a room all to ourselves, though the rest of the restaurant looked amazing as well. There is ample street parking and also a parking garage just a block away. Josephines is located in a great spot in Alexandria with many establishments within walking distance. The staff were friendly and accommodating and our entire party had a fantastic time. Thank you, Josephines! read more

Josephine - Fireplace - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia