A Refreshing Atmosphere with Room for Culinary Growth Josephine Italian Restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with its open, modern, and airy ambiance. The spacious layout and abundant natural light create a welcoming environment that sets the stage for an enjoyable meal. They say timing is everything !! Dinner must be where it is at this restaurant. While the brunch menu at Josephine Italian Restaurant provided a satisfactory experience, I believe there is room for improvement. The food options were decent, but they didn't quite reach the same level of excellence as the restaurant's ambiance. I look forward to returning for dinner to savor their highly recommended dishes. With a few tweaks and additions, Josephine Italian Restaurant has the potential to become a cherished culinary destination. read more

Fresh, clean, bright environment. Love the decor. went for drinks! Strawberry Fields is to die for. Bartender had a nice vibe read more

I cannot stress this enough if you love pasta you will be blown away by the incredible flavor and quality of pasta at Josephine's! I have tried multiple versions of pasta and each time I am amazed at the quality of pasta perfection delivery time and time again! I absolutely love the vodka rigatoni and the bolognese is super delicious. This time I tried the pinwheel lasagna and it did not disappoint at all! The pasta is perfectly executed I've never had anything that compares! The focaccia is a wonderful texture and the meatballs are outstanding. The design of the restaurant is so chic! The vibe is moody and cozy at night! Service is great, fast but not rushed and the waiters and waitresses are always kind!Josephine's offers a variety of delicious cocktails, amazing wine, and tasty mocktails! There is truly something here for everyone! I recommend an earlier dinner time personally because it's a bit quieter and the kitchen is fresh and energized for the night. If you check this place out you surely won't be disappointed! read more

I love the vibe of this unique restaurant! It's stunning from the first step inside. The details are just so purposeful. Their marketing on their instagram is just adorable. I feel like they put so much thought into the smallest details. Okay let's talk food. This is always something they know how to do so well! I've always been happy with my order. By far my favorite is the mister crispy. Crunchy cheesey deliciousness. Their drinks are delicious. The service is kind and efficient. The bathroom are always clean. Such an upscale tasty restaurant. read more

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This place was just so cute! The ambiance is that of a 1920-50s restaurant with pink booths, wooden tables and warm, dark lighting. There is a beautiful wine wall lining the back of the restaurant as well. The drinks and food were beyond expectation! I had the Strawberry Fields martini and my partner had an aperol spritz--both of which were delicious. The strawberry fields was not very sweet and it was tart (lovely). we had the focaccia bread appetizer, which brings 4 slices of bread and a dish of Parmesan butter which was delightful. We also tried the pizza rolls, which were very fresh and flavorful--I recommend. For my main course, I had the Josephine rigatoni which was slightly spicy, due to the Calabrian peppers, but otherwise was outstanding. My partner had the bolognese which had rigatoni as the pasta--also outstanding. My other 2 guests had the white lasagna 1/2 portion (which was still hefty) and the ravioli--both of which were also outstanding. I highly recommend any of the dishes mentioned. Finally we finished our meal with the tiramisu, which was not like the traditional tiramisu. It was a slightly frozen dish, with the lady finger of a tiramisu sort of lining the bottom of a chocolate covered, slightly frozen slice of tiramisu cream. Honestly, the dish lasted 2 seconds! The service we received was amazing as well, as they were very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. I highly recommend going to Josephine's and I will be returning. read more

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Excellent dinner at Josephine's last night. We came in with a reservation at 7:30, it was a beautiful night. We had an amazing server, multiple other employees also came up to us to make sure everything was great. We ordered the pizza rolls and Caesar salad to start. Both were excellent, we split it between 3 people and it was the perfect size. We got the pinwheel lasagna, the bolognese, and the vodka pasta. We split it between 3 and ate it family style so we could all try it. The bolognese and pinwheels were my favorite, the vodka pasta has a slight kick to it but was delicious. The in house pasta was made delicious, perfect balance between soft pasta and not falling apart. Will definitely be back! Drinks were incredible as well and every staff member was so accommodating. read more

Josephine - Pinwheel lasagna, bolognese, vodka pasta - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Newly opened in December, but what a fun upbeat atmosphere! This place offered more than i expected from the street. Joe was our server and he knew the menu like the back of his hand. Was able to describe each item with ease. The bolognese was wonderful! Definitely enough to take home for leftovers. I was happy to see nonalcoholic mocktails on the menu, always gets me excited. Love letters was good! This place is a little pricey but the food was phenomenal and their menu rotates seasonally which makes coming back even better. read more

This place has received a lot of buzz and reservations are filled way in advance so we were really looking forward to finally trying out the latest restaurant in Avondale. Place looks great. Gave the previous Italian restaurant a makeover. The vibes are less Tuscany and more mid century. But I was not there for the decor, I was there for the food. I have had amazing food out of a push cart so ambiance is justa side perk. Drinks. Uncut Gems, delicious. Raspberry and thyme vodka is a new favorite. Strawberry Rhubarb Sprits was so damn bitter. Pass on that one if that's not a flavor profile you enjoy. Appetizer we had the Tartina. Supposed to be sourdough with mascarpone. Also showed up with anchovies on top which was not listed on the menu description. I was always taught that cheese and fish was a big faux pas and yeah, I think there's a reason for that. This was a strange flavor combination. Also, it was one very thin slice of bread. Not an appetizer to share. Main course I had the risotto. In the description it said it came with pickled candied beets. The risotto was a bright pinkish red so I guess they cook beets into it and not just a topping. Anyways, aside from the color the food was bland. Even the pickled beets were underwhelming. Need to be picked longer, I think. Carbonara di Mar. The spaghetti was black. They definitely did not shy away from the squid ink. But the pasta was so undercooked it was almost crunchy and sticking to our teeth. Was much better seasoned at least. Anyways, after going 0 for 3 on food, we didn't chance dessert and went across the street to the OG, Biscottis, for some of the best slices of cake anywhere. This place is new and people have been hyping it for us but after trying it for ourselves I think we'll wait a while until they nail down the menu before returning. Not sure how we picked all the worst foods on the menu but maybe that's just our luck. read more

We went on a chilly evening for a friend's bday, I say that bc they had the doors opened and it was freezing in the restaurant. I almost could not focus because I was so cold. The service was great, our waitress was very attentive. But I will say the food was very underwhelming. We ordered the fries for the table and they were the best part of the meal. I ordered the ravioli, which was ok. I did end up getting a stomach thing the next day, so not sure if it was the food or a bug I caught from my niece and nephew. But of course I have hesitation going again due to that issue. I personally would not make the trek to Avondale for Josephine's, since we have so many other Italian options in Jax that are better and you get more for the money. But if I had a friend who wanted to go again, I would consider it. read more

Josephine is a great addition to the tony Avondale dining scene. The menu isn't extensive, but what they offer they do well. I've had the cacio e pepe and bolognese, both of which were decadent and filling. The drinks are also inventive and delicious. Try the paper plane for a whimsical libation. Also, despite being a relatively new establishment, the wait staff is terrific. While the price point maybe a bit high for middle and lower income folks, if you're looking for consistently good updated Italian fare, perhaps for a special occasion, Josephine is hard to beat on this side of the river. read more

Josephine - Bowl of bolognese. - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I ead excited and had high expectations hearing about Josephine then started reading some reviews and got a little leary. I have to say I lucked out. I went with some girlfriends and we had a wonderful time. The foccacia is a little pricey, but so airey and delicious. The burrata also yummy. I was torn between the scallops and the ravioli, ultimately going with the ravioli, which I cleaned my plate. I also had a but of the pinwheel lasagna and risotto wich were both fantastic. For desert I got the Pavlova to try one, it wasn't my favorite but I have never had one. The tiramisu was different, but good. The restaurant is bright and open though was a little on the louder side to be able to talk, but perhaps that was due to it being a Saturday. The service was friendly and overall wonderful. I would definitely go back to try more items. read more

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Yum! Josephine is a wonderful new restaurant in Jacksonville. The decor is stunning and the ambience is on point - it's a beautiful space! The food is phenomenal. My party of two shared the whipped ricotta crostini, the crab arancini, sticky ribs, rigatoni, and lasagna. All fantastic dishes! We were very full after all that (and even took a little home) but we managed to save room for some tiramisu, which is their own elegant and delicious spin on the classic, and a very tasty olive oil cake. The service was friendly and welcoming from the host, to our server, and everyone else we encountered. I can't wait to come back next time I'm in town. read more

This is a super popular spot in Avondale & if you're young, have lots of disposable income and perceive "noisy" as "energetic" you'll probably love it. I was hoping for a quieter and more elegant fine dining experience based on the prices and lovely decor, but no. I realize I'm not the demographic they're serving. No worries, they do a great business, and I wish them well. They really have created a beautiful neighborhood restaurant. read more

This place is delicious!! This is my second time here and so far we have tried the sourdough focaccia, the sticky ribs, Josephine Rigatoni, Bolognese, and the pinwheel lasagna and when I tell you they're are perfection, it's because they are! You won't be disappointed! Their drink menu is also amazing. Very impressive bar!!! read more

We've now eaten here 5 times (3 dinners, 2 brunches) and I'm confident saying Josephine is consistently delicious! I am confident I could try anything on the menu and it is always a hit. The focaccia bread will change your life. I have also found the entire staff to be super friendly and on top if their game, regardless of if we went for dinner or brunch. The restaurant is so well designed and is gorgeous, doesn't feel overly crowded even when it's busy! Definitely recommend you check this one out! read more

My friends took me out for dinner for my birthday. The decoration was beautiful. The have some private rooms in the back of the restaurant for private parties. Our server was amazing. He recommended something's off the menu. He was always making sure we had everything we needed. I had the seafood carbonara and it was one of the best dishes I have ever had. I would recommend this place to everyone and I will for sure be going back soon!!!! read more

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Wonderful experience, I normally go for happy hour with my girlfriends but I recently went for dinner and I loved everything!

The place has potential, service was ok, not the best but not the worst. They've only been open for 3 weeks when we visited. The prices for the dishes were astronomical for the quality of food we received! Wife and I order 2 drinks, 2 apps, a salad and shared an entree, bill was $100+ (tip included). We'll probably give them another shot in a few months when they iron out all the kinks. We had to try the squid ink pasta but was super disappointed, we do like our pasta al dente, but this pasta was closer to being raw. Finished with dessert with ole faithful Biscotti's Bread Pudding across the street. read more

Josephine - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

I brought a group to dinner for my birthday after hearing a lot of buzz about Josephine. A very nice table had been set aside for us with plenty of elbow room, and our waiter was extremely pleasant and helpful. We got a few appetizers to share, which were very good. Though we were surprised there was no complimentary bread offering, the focaccia sourdough bread (at $10 for 4 slices) was delicious. The pizza rolls were wrapped in wonton wrappers, which was unexpected and creative, and came with a tasty dipping sauce. The burrata was delicious, but a few more crostini to pair with would have been nice. I included a picture of the veal Bolognese I ordered for my entrée... my tip to the chef: less is more. Bolognese is already a very saucy pasta dish, and absolutely did not need to have huge dollops of Crema and pesto dumped on top of it. It was incredibly rich and overly sauced, l which made it difficult to eat. Another guest also ordered the Bolognese and had the same impression. Two other guests ordered the cacio e Pepe (not pictured) and also had the same issue with excessive sauce. Drinks were good all around, though wine by the glass options were a little limited. read more

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Service was excellent, hostess and server were incredibly friendly and helpful. The pasta was on point and the flavors were fantastic. They are bread simply amazing. I highly recommend go and enjoy an amazing cocktail excellent date night restaurant. read more

Beautiful restaurant in all! Loved the rigatoni and lasagna - every appetizer I got was fantastic. It was so interesting having dates wrapped in prosciutto, I was surprisingly pleased with it. The service was 10/10, everyone was so nice. The absolute only critique would be the cocktails. I had four different ones and only liked one of them, sadly. They were just bland and the flavor wasn't as botanical and herbal as they appeared they were going to be, but presentation was stunning of them! I did love the espresso martini, one of the best ones I've ever had. I would absolutely return! read more

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The drinks are amazing and the bar is a big deal. I like how a lot of their menu items are made in-house. The water tastes like clouds and the restaurant is clean. It isn't traditional Italian food like Olive Garden. It's very delicious. I would recommend. read more

Josephine - Strawberry Margarita - Italian Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

Went here a few times for brunch and it never disappoints! Always great service and food. Highly recommend!!

Lovely staff, ambience and GREAT food! Loved the white pinwheel pasta. Still thinking about it!

Beautiful new addition to avondale. The place is absolutely gorgeous. The service was exceptional. My favorite dish were the Polpette (lamb meatballs). The rigatoni were also good but a bit too al dente for my taste. The cacio and pepe was ok, you couldn't really taste the pecorino cheese. Overall a great experience. read more

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The ambiance and service were amazing but it just wasn't what I was looking for tonight. I heard raved reviews of the new Italian place in Avondale, so my husband & I decided to check it out for our anniversary. It's Italian, with a twist. Great, if you like that, but we were looking for more "classic" Italian food. We tried the "pizza rolls" (like spring rolls with Italian themed filling): yummy but small for the price. Then for dinner my husband ordered the beef ravioli and I had the chicken cacciatore. Mine was definitely the better choice! The ravioli filling is a braised beef that reminded me of pot roast. It was tasty but I thought it a weird texture for a ravioli filling. The chicken cacciatore was the highlight of the night! Tender and flavorful, I would definitely get that again. Overall, we had fun but....we may not be the right customers for this restaurant read more

First time here. The place is loud, I mean loud!... our first table, we sat in between a big group and 2 friends that was shouting on top of each other because the room was so loud.... We almost left but the waitress was very accommodating and moved us to the back, where it's not as loud. One thing my wife and I noticed was the tables are so closed to each other that we can here the conversations from the couple next to us. If you're on a first time date, this might be not a place for you but then again, there's a lot of people on a date and also there are big groups also. Food is okay, I had the carbonara with squid ink. It's quite peculiar and wanted to try it di mare and it was okay but won't order it again if we go back. My wife had the caccii i Pepe, it's a white cream base, with linguini, she said she liked it. Both of us had the ceasar salad. It was a little bland but I like it for the freshness and I love that they actually have anchovies. Probably just needed some thorough tossing and mixing to get the taste just right. The coffee was freshly brewed and hot when we got it, I really enjoyed it, and I'll pass on the dessert. I didn't their tiramisu and the olive cake. The best part was the service, I forgot our waitress name but she was very impressive with the customer service. We might give it another try and hoping for the best. read more

We went to dinner for my birthday on a Monday. We had the best service from our waiter John. He was so friendly, professional and gave great suggestions. This is a beautiful new restaurant in Avondale. The food was incredible, the espresso martini is the best in all of Jacksonville so props to the bartenders as well! The owner came to our table several times to ensure everything was good o our satisfaction. 10/10 highly recommend read more

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Josephine is a wonderful new addition to the food scene in Jacksonville and fits into the Avondale theme perfectly! Wonderful Italian food you will not see on a regular basis, great happy hour and service. I've had a lot of the pastas and will definitely try the other protein dishes on the menu. Reservations recommended since this place get busy for dinner! read more

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Great food, freshest interior in Jax, great design. Josh has done a great job with this concept. Jax needs more places like this!

The food at Josephine was incredible. Somehow 10x better than any pasta I've ever made in my life. Our waiter was great as well! Recommendations and all around helpful. read more

FORGETTABLE. We did not make it past the cold "fresh" assorted donut/bread basket. Not to mention the prices are ridiculous.

So my mother was in the mood for some Italian food and she asked me if I ever heard of this place and I said no I haven't so we went during lunch definitely have to come back for dinner and we got the classic and the chicken Parmesan sandwiches with fries in it was definitely very good. My classic sandwich was filled with meat lol very filling it was definitely good on the second day, now my mom had the chicken Parmesan. She said it was good but when she received it, it was as if the food has been sitting out for a little bit. It wasn't really hot and wasn't really warm but she said it was still good when she got a chance to warm it up at home read more

Was a little disappointed in this place after seeing all of the great reviews. The restaurant is very loud and the tables are very close together, reminded me of a cafeteria. $10 for cold bread seems a bit high. The entrées were pretty good, but for the price I would expect much fresher better quality ingredients. read more

The apps were good and the pasta entrees were good but the atmosphere was great. Would definitely go back

Service and food are always 100%. Love the way the owners renovated the inside. A great spot for happy hour too.

Incredible food and amazing service. And a stellar variety of drinks. The squid ink pasta and the short rib ravioli were superb. And the espresso martinis here are better than the versions at the polo club lol. read more

Love this spot for date night. Great ambiance and espresso martini. Have not had a bad meal, love the beef carpaccio and order every time. Great service! read more

i was warned that this place was okay, but not great. That is exactly what I found. It was too loud to have a comfortable conversation at our table. The seating was uncomfortable. The drinks were stellar. The food, service, and dessert were just okay. The espresso was bad. read more

The best Squid Ink pasta and homemade breads I have ever eaten - must have that foccacia again! :) Highly recommend you book in advance as people are in the know on this little gem! read more

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