Well, they've earned their rating with good reason!…read more A friend and I went on a bit of an unplanned adventure yesterday as the first place we were going to go to was closed for an event. After driving 30 minutes to that place in Plant City and realizing this, we decided, "why not drive some more?". Josephine's was on my radar due to their great reviews across multiple platforms, so we drove another 20-30 minutes to check it out. We arrived at the unsuspecting strip plaza, walked in to what was just one well lit, cozy strip in the plaza and were immediately greeted by Robby, the owner, who asked us if it was our first time in. We let him know that it was, and he proceeded to educate us on everything they have to offer, from their bar, their sandwiches, pizzas, salads, pastas, grocery and so on... the meatball sandwich was calling my name, along with their pizzas and their pastas - so many choices! I did land on the meatball sandwich and got a bag of chips and a glass of wine while my friend got the Italian salad and a coke. For note, this ran us about $45. It was well worth it. The meatball sandwich was 10" and was stuffed with fully ground beef meatballs, seasoned well and very cheesy - so good. I tasted the salad and it was great as well, with plenty of parmesan cheese to cover up the taste of leaves that I was consuming (I'm not a vegetables guy still). While we were dining at the bar, Robby took a bit more time to tell us how the store came to be, being named after his grandmother who, though she wasn't around to see what he had started, would no doubt be very proud as his/his employee service was excellent and the food was no different. At the end of our experience, Robby took our payment and we explored the store a bit. Robby was kind enough to offer me two of their mini cannolis and my friend a scoop of their salted caramel gelato on the house as a way of saying thank you for coming in; again, EXCELLENT service. Since leaving there yesterday, I have recommended the place to 7 people and will continue recommending it to more people due to their great value, service and delicious food. Huge thanks to Robby and the team at Josephine's for knowing how to do things the right way. I'll definitely be back.

After returning from our honeymoon in Italy, my husband and I were on a mission to find pizza,…read moreItalian subs, and authentic Italian foods that reminded us of our trip. We stumbled upon Josephine's Italian Market, less than 15 minutes from our home, and it has become one of our favorite special-occasion spots. The market itself is such a fun experience. They have a thoughtfully curated selection of imported Italian products, a refrigerated and freezer section with prepared foods to take home, shelves of authentic pantry staples, a small espresso and Italian beverage bar, and a fantastic deli with fresh meats like prosciutto, capicola, and everything you'd hope to find in a true Italian market. One thing that really stood out was how welcoming everyone was. I brought my toddler with me, and instead of feeling like I was trying to juggle shopping while keeping him entertained, the staff genuinely embraced him. They were so kind and engaging that it made the entire visit relaxed and enjoyable. Now for the food... absolutely incredible. Their Hot Honey Pizza is easily one of the best pizzas I've had outside of Italy, and their authentic Italian sub is unquestionably in my top five ever. The chicken cutlets, salads, and other prepared foods have all been consistently outstanding. I also love browsing their selection of authentic Italian wines to take home. Is it more expensive than grabbing pizza or subs from a chain? Absolutely. But the quality, authenticity, and overall experience make it worth it. We don't think of Josephine's as an everyday stop--we think of it as our go-to place for special occasions, family gatherings, or anytime we want to treat ourselves to food that genuinely reminds us of Italy. If you're looking for authentic Italian food, exceptional sandwiches, outstanding pizza, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Josephine's Italian Market is absolutely worth the visit. We're so grateful to have a place like this so close to home!