Absolute GEM! Incredible food, incredible service and super cool ambience. If you live in the Sacramento or Auburn area, you gotta give it a try. Just make sure to make a reservation ahead of time, they get booked up! read more

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Fantastic restaurant. We picked this as a dinner for our anniversary. Turned out to be a great choice. Cozy and intimate, with a farm-fresh, seasonal menu, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The restaurant is in an old building and has a slightly rustic charm. We definitely opted for a couple of starters, fresh oysters and a savory mushroom toast. We enjoyed these with an excellent French wine, a Rhone blend. Entrees were steak and frites and a vegetarian dish, potato-leek variniki. Both were great. Since we were celebrating an anniversary, we finished up with a fantastic apple cake a'la mode and glasses of ruby port. Great food and service, reasonably priced, warm atmosphere, nearby parking. We'll be back. read more

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We recently tried Josephine's for the first-time. Our friend, who joined us, recommended this restaurant and I am glad she did. Overall .... It was a marvelous experience. Casual, yet classy atmosphere with absolutely delicious food. The waitstaff were knowledgeable and attentive. Our server's name was Jaime and she was the best. I started with a WhistlePig Bourbon and ordered a bottle of St Supery - Elu 2016 Red for all of us. One of my favorites. So many things on the menu tempted us, we decided to order multiple small plates. The bread was fantastic - Baker & The Cakemaker with cultured Vermont Butter (2 orders). The Oysters were so very fresh tasting and flavorful. We had a selection of both East and West Coast. I also enjoyed the Escargot (shaved radish, celery leaf, potato rosti), always a treat and I made good use of the butter sauce. Finally, my Steak Tartare was phenomenal - I will order again. My company enjoyed a Little Gem Caesar, Salt-Roasted Beets and French Onion Soup Gratinee. Everyone was happy !! For dessert we shared a Tarte au Citron. With mine came Espresso and Cognac. Great way to end the evening. I highly recommend - with a small caveat - it is a little crowded when busy. . read more

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This is by far one of the best French restaurants in California. It has become a regular for us. The service is as great as the food. read more

Restaurant Josephine - Steak Frites - French Near Me - Auburn, California

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Came here the other evening with my wife and another couple of friends. Small place with very upscale food. Our server was very nice and interactive and made several suggestions on appetizers and entrée items. Part.of.what we ordered was caviar. I was skeptical about it, only having it years before and not liking it at all. I was shocked how good it was. What a delicacy indeed. I ordered the black sea bass. Amazingly crisp exterior and soft and flavorful center. It was on a cream sauce with mushrooms. Delicious. Paired our meal with a good bottle of red wine, and finished with an espresso martini. Fantastic meal. Highly recommend read more

Great service, food and ambiance. Perfect for an anniversary celebration or any celebration for that matter. Loved it.

We have been trying to have dinner here for a couple if years, our perseverance finally came trough. We loved most everything about our experience. The food is incredibly delicious. I would come back in a heart beat for that alone. We also enjoyed the customer service and the decor. If I was to be critical about it, I would say the ambiance is a little loud, making hard to hear your dining companions (we had a table of 4). This is specially true during happy hour when the bar area comes alive. Both my FIL and Husband are low speakers and FIL is hard of hearing. this made conversation a little challenging. But none-the-less, we all left dreaming of coming back to keep trying their other dishes. read more

Good food. Great service. Very nice restaurant Small restaurant in town get recommended by a lot of people. Wow very good. Thank you Their cocktails are beautiful. read more

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The staff was attentive and professional. I stopped in for a quick bite ( Went with the duck liver mousse) I asked the bartender for whatever wine she recommended. I honestly expected a sauv blanc was a little surprised by the offering of a Beajouila. It was well chilled and went perfect. The mousse was on point. All in all, Great experience. read more

My husband and I love it here. It's small but that makes it special. Great idea to get a reservation but you can usually get a seat at the bar as soon as they open if you don't have one. Outstanding food! read more

$40 dollar steak I want to taste the steak, to much smoke and the sauce cover the flavor of the steak Had the sea bass it was ok The beans and the tomatoes that came with the fish was excellent. This could Be a dish all by it self. Had the beet salad excellent Bread was $5 that was ok Someone had the 1/2 chicken enjoyed that Carmel chocolate was for dessert Decadent Service was excellent read more

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Everything we order was flavorful and delicious ! What surprise both of us was the pork chop ! It's the best chop we had so far! Staff was knowledgable and attentive ! The restaurant was vibrant and love the full table vibe! Great local gem in Auburn that's worth the drive ! read more

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My wife and I recently moved to Roseville from the Bay Area. Our 42nd wedding anniversary was coming up and by some stroke of luck I found Restaurant Josephine and booked. We arrived on a Wednesday evening to a bustling, warm and inviting restaurant. Robert was so amazing, friendly and attentive as well as knowledgeable and personable. We enjoyed an incredible evening- cocktails, champagne, snails, duck liver pate, steak frites, moules frites, delicious dessert and coffee. We can't wait to return. We have recommended to friends and family. Thanks for a memorable evening! read more

Josephine's review (Auburn, CA). Here's why Josephines is amazing: The Food -- first and foremost, the FOOD and the technique they have in the kitchen. Everything is seasoned perfectly. If you are getting a pork chop, the sear is perfect. The salads are not overdressed or underdressed, the textures and flavors are artfully balanced. The SAUCES in the main dishes cause you to pause your chewing, lock eyes with the person across from you, and involuntarily release soft moans of ecstasy. The Place -- Josephine's is a tiny place in an unexpected spot. Very easy to drive by it and never notice it there, except for the white lace curtains you glimpse from the window or the subtle gold lettering on the glass. It's discrete from the road, hiding the transformative world that you step into upon entering. When you cross the threshold it's dark, tight, and hustling with movement from the waitstaff weaving back and forth through the skinny footprint. The bar is a striking centerpiece - feelings of an old, established bourbon bar, or speakeasy. The sounds of collective conversations, laughs, silverware clanking, and cocktails shaking fill the space with life. It's dimly lit, romantic and warm, with small candles on the tables. The ambiance is French, with busy wall paper, swanky quaint decor, dark greens, wood and leather. Hard to describe, but it totally works and it's unlike anywhere else. When I think about a date night at Josephine's, I think about the place just as much as the food - both equally alluring. The Service -- the waitstaff is awesome. Last night we had Robert, but other times we've had Tatiana. They spend time with you, discussing the food, talking off the cuff - not just a scripted rundown of specials. They steer you right, listen to your preferences, and are a delight to interact with. Funny story - Robert predicted the dishes we wanted to order and even called out that I would get the porkchop and my wife would want to "share a few bites" - which is exactly the conversation we had driving to the restaurant! Another story, I told him that my favorite dish was the duck liver mousse and I'd pay and arm and a leg to get the recipe. He said - "wait there..." then returned with a recent book that featured that very recipe! He let me take a picture. By the end of the night you feel like you made another friend. A brief rundown of what we ordered: Satsuma Sour cocktail - bourbon, mandarin juice and egg white foam. They have some of the best cocktails we've had at any restaurant. Love this one! Oysters - they had 4 varieties from west and east coasts, so we did two of each. My wife and I tend to order oysters when they are available, and Josephine's is our favorite. They are always cleanly shucked with no grit or shells and the accoutrement that they serve it with and the way they are displayed is gorgeous. They also have a housemade hot sauce that is so good, I always save it for subsequent dishes. Duck liver mousse - siberian pine cone caramel, pickled turnip, toast. It is hard to put into words how good this is. I know some people would be hesitant to try this, but I promise this would blow your mind. It is arguably my favorite dish at any restaurant in my entire life. Please have an open mind and try this one. You would regret it if you missed the opportunity. Chicory salad - omg! The waiter recommended this and I'm so glad we tried it. Generous portion. Loved the texture of the shaved chicory, apple, and the ribbons of some French cheese that looked like carnations. It was dressed with some kind of maple champagne vinaigrette. Butternut squash vareniki - they always have a version of vareniki with seasonal ingredients. In the spring it had mushrooms and spring peas, but this time with butternut squash, mushrooms, sage brown butter. It was light but still creamy, balanced and delicious. Pork chop - holy hell. You will NEVER eat a better chop, EVER. This pork chop tops even the best steak I've ever had...and I'm a steak guy. The hard sear makes a gorgeous crust, the sauce underneath is spot on perfect, and the creamed cabbage soaks the flavors and adds an acidity balance to every bite. It's a huge portion, and just spectacular in every way. They don't always have it, but when they do, you MUST get it. Whey sorbet - not sure what they actually call this or if was on the menu. Ask for it. They make burrata cheese in house to go under their beet salad. During the cheesemaking process the whey separates - so they skim that off and make a sorbet with it. It takes like salted caramel cheesecake with cardamom. So complex and delicious. Velvety, lingering on your palate long after you eat it. Our total bill was just over $200 before tip...and it is worth every. single. penny. read more

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Four of us went to dinner there last night. Two of us ordered the sea bass. The bass was as tough as shoe leather, which means it was extremely overcooked or it had been sitting under a heat lamp, waiting for the other dishes to be finished. Husband's steak was tough and he wasn't provided a steak knife. After I complained about the fish, our waiter disappeared. Our dining partner was served a cold coffee after dinner. So we probably won't be going back. We had been there before and had a lovely experience. This evening was very disappointing. read more

A small gem in Auburn with consistently innovative menu options, personable staff and a welcoming yet distinctive ambience.

My go to for amazing top quality dishes, service and cocktails. Been here so many times and never a bad experience. read more

Restaurant Josephine - Sea bass perfectly pan fried. Absolutely delicious. - French Near Me - Auburn, California

There are no words. This is my favorite restaurant of all time. The food is creative, thoughtful, and damn delicious. Everyone who works here is so kind & friendly. The drinks are amazing. The interior decorating is stunning. I could die here and be at peace. I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't love it here. I wish I could have every meal here. I'm absolutely obsessed with this restaurant and I think about them at least once a week. True artistry. read more

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We came here on a Thursday without a reservation at opening and got a table right away! The atmosphere was amazing! Loved the dark interior and kitschy antique plates. The drinks were amazing, and the French onion soup was to die for! I had the steak frites and it was phenomenal; perfectly cooked and the accompanying sauce was just as great. Our server, Robert, was incredibly knowledgeable and very attentive. Even when his section got busy, he always made the point to check on us and made sure we were taken care of! This is now easily one of our go-to restaurants for dinner! read more

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I've been to Josephine's so many times and tried so many different things and I have NEVER had something that wasn't delicious and amazing. It's never disappointed me and it is just absolutely phenomenal, a MUST try for anyone who loves good food. read more

Restaurant Josephine - Chickpea Gnocchi with Lamb and goat cheese - French Near Me - Auburn, California

I have dined here probably 10 times in the last year, the food is absolutely exquisite, the service is fantastic, the bar and the drinks are top notch. Hands down the best restaurant in Auburn. We tend to squeeze in at the bar, the reservations do fill up fast, so sometimes you need to make them a week out, but Josephine is absolutely worth it, there is nothing on the menu I wouldn't recommend. After moving from Napa a few years ago, this was a pleasant surprise once they opened back up after Covid, by far the best restaurant in the area. read more

This was one of the most disappointing experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. It started off really well with cocktails at the bar where I had one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had. However, they sat us down to have dinner and within 45 minutes they told us we were at our drink limit. I was not disappointed in the food however, the lack of respect for our dinner party and my birthday was extremely disappointing so we left before dinner was served. read more

I've been trying to come here for ages, and finally, we made it happen for our anniversary. Service is top-notch. Our server knew the menu well, recommended a secret special burger, and kept things flowing without being cloying. The space itself is unbearably loud, IMO. It would be great if there could be an outdoor dining option. We had a beet salad, the soup special, which was a cold melon cream soup, one of the best summer soups I've ever eaten. It was delicate and rich at once, lightly sweet, perfect in every way. My favorite food is hamburgers. I order one anywhere I find them, keeping a Best Of list in my head. I was super stoked for Josephine's. The server told me about the secret special burger, prepared as the chef prepares his own burgers. I was ready to have my mind blown. Unfortunately, my burger arrived overcooked- well done to the medium rare that I ordered. Luckily, my wife's came out beautifully, and she really enjoyed it. Fries were addictive, and plentiful. The desserts were amazing. Warm almond cake w cherry ice cream was the standout, but I have no quarrel with the lemon tarte either. I'll give it another shot. It's definitely the one of the only higher end restaurants in Auburn worth a second meal. read more

I would give this place 10 stars if I could. The food is outstanding every single time. I drive 30 min each way to eat here. The service is always wonderful, but our favorite server is Robert. The menu is creative without being snooty. This place can do no wrong! Definitely get whatever rotating dip with the homemade pita they have. It's always incredible read more

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Absolutely amazing, cannot wait to go back! Oysters, pork chop, the chicken liver mousse, everything was just perfect. Thank you!

The service at Restaurant Josephine was top notch and the food was fantastic. Will definitely be back soon.

Hands down the best restaurant in Auburn. This was our second time eating here, celebrating our anniversary and again the food was absolutely amazing. Nothing bad to say about anything. My husband hates cake and he absolutely loved that peach cake. And, my husband makes fun of me because I want to lick the plates clean that's how good their food is. Lol We will definitely come back a lot sooner next time! read more

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We love this restaurant. Went here for one of our first dates, and since today was our anniversary we decided to go back. I mean, oysters... who would say no to perfectly iced oysters with mignonette... yum! We tried the French onion soup today which was perfectly gratin with yummy Gruyère. And the steak and frites.. wow. The poivre vert sauce was to die for and the steak was perfectly cooked to our request, and soft and tender. Frank, our server, was attentive and amazing. He asked us if we wanted dessert, and we were too full so we said no. Well a minute later I see another server coming towards us with a candle, and they gave us a scoop of delicious plum sorbet and wrote happy anniversary on there. That was the sweetest thing! I definitely recommend to leave space for dessert, the other time we went we had their profiteroles which were very authentic with ice cream and ganache. The ambiance is really cute, in the old fellows building in Auburn with matching plates and cups with IOOF inscriptions. The bar is really world class, and the bartenders are also very competent, friendly and helpful. If you've never tried it, you should! read more

Restaurant Josephine - French Near Me - Auburn, California

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Gem in Auburn! If you are arriving at opening time, please note that there are 2 lines, one for reservations, and one without reservations. There are maybe 15 spots for those without reservations, in the bar area. Server was very courteous, helpful, and friendly. Food was excellent. Drink cocktails were very creative, but expensive as the appetizers! I am vegetarian, there were about 5 items on the menu that were vegetarian, most being appetizer items (soup, salad). We did not have dessert. read more

Incredible ingredients and talented chefs. The menu changes often, order everything on the left side :) Small place so make sure you get there early or reserve a spot, it gets busy. read more

The food was absolutely delicious! Completely worth the price point. Way to go Auburn! The service was also exceptional. Helpful feedback for soft spoken server: When customers are leaning toward you to hear you, this is a nonverbal cue to speak louder. It's quite loud in the restaurant and the tables are close together. Again, the food is beyond outstanding!! We'll be back! read more

Love this place... the food, the vibe, the people. Great selected of unique cocktails.

Delicious food, good ambience despite being crowned. Service was excellent with exceptional recommendations. You have to try their drinks, best bartenders around!! read more

Well we have an amazing experience here at Josephine, our friends recommend this restaurant and we loved it... My wife ordered sea bass, I'm not a fish guy but that fish was so good, next time I come here in ordering that sea bass... Also we had some oysters, really good quality, Anyways we loved all the food here, Service was amazing, great atmosphere. Easy location.... I personally recommend this restaurant.... read more

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It has been a long 18 months. Yep, it's been that long since we've actually eaten inside a restaurant. But on a recent trip to California, with a very different and more relaxed atmosphere in the state of California when compared to Oregon regarding COVID protocols, we decided to eat out. I must admit - I was nervous. Josephine's was our first stop. They did a great job helping us fell relaxed and acknowledged the dissonance. Blending the best of the French bistro fare, with interesting flavors from the Balkans, and an amazing customer service and staff friendly atmosphere, and you have one of the top places to eat in all of Northern California. Add to the mix, a curated rotation of great wine and local farm fresh produce - and there is not an item on the menu that doesn't hit top marks. I had one of the best terrines I've ever had. The melding of rabbit and duck created the perfect savory balance - and paired with sautéed cherries and house made mustard, it was a plate-lick-worthy dish for sure! One considerations for diners - Josephine's is busy; eat early or book a late reservation. We made an 8 pm reservation - and although the restaurant was full when we were seated, by the time we picked up the desert menu - we were one of the last tables and the atmosphere was much more relaxed. This is such a great place. Do yourself a favor - make it a go-to place whenever you're in the area. You will not be disappointed! read more

I recently took my wife to Restaurant Josephine for our 25th wedding anniversary. I've heard it was the absolute best restaurant in the area, so I was excited to surprise her. The food was a ten! but here is where it disappointed us. It was so loud you couldn't have a conversation unless you leaned across the table and almost yelled. The tables were very small and set extremely close together. Since it was so loud, the waiter had to squeeze in between the tables just to speak with the dinners on the other side of the table, which meant his butt would almost knock over my wine glass everytime he tried to speak with a dinner next to my wife. When we go out we want to be Wowed! Like I said the food was a ten, but the experience was a two. Bummer! we will not be going back read more

I've been waiting for this restaurant to open ever since I saw their menu several months ago. I was surprised to see Eastern European items on the menu. Apparently one of the owners grandmother, Josephine, was from Lithuania. The food did not disappoint. The tomato salad with tvorog (farmers cheese) and sunflowers was just perfect. Vareniki were great, although I'd prefer them with potatoes, the farmers cheese was soft and pleasant and the veggies on top gave it a nice fancier touch. The piroshikis were perfect. The custard dessert was phenomenal!!! Overall, highly recommended. Im glad that Auburn has a great new restaurant!! read more

Restaurant Josephine - Vareniki with farmers cheese - French Near Me - Auburn, California

The decor is beautiful, the service is top notch and the food is delicious. Visited Josephines tonight and was pleasantly surprised to how beautifully decorated this little place is. The food was fresh and delicious. French/ European inspired, the dishes reminded me of a small French restaurants we used to visit in Europe before Covid. Vareniki and piroshki were unique, flavorful and delicious. The drinks form the bar were amazingly good. Pork chop that my husband had was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. New favorite place in Auburn? Possibly! Check them out! read more

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The food that was served was very tasty. However, the size of the piece with if halibut was 1 inch by 3 inches. It has a small sauce below it. Aid s vegetables served with it $45 for it. I asked for some butter for won't bread I had. Server said she bring some bread with it. Additional $5 charge. The chef made escargots for me. Very nice. Service was very good. Ambiance is very loud bar scene. Won't go again read more

A friend and I ate here and enjoyed it immensely. The food is lovely and the atmosphere is charming. The wine selection also fabulous!