. Dinner for four as a Christmas treat, and our first time at Josefina and it did not disappoint. Nestled right along one of the most scenic lakeshores in Minnesota, Wayzata brings a charm that's hard to beat. Between the lake views, walkable streets, and vibrant energy, the setting alone makes the evening feel special and Josefina fits right into that experience with a great atmosphere and inviting space. The food matched the setting. We started with appetizers, the Brussels sprouts and focaccia were excellent and then moved into a mix of pastas and pizza. The rigatoni and gnocchi were rich and flavorful, and the pizza was spot on. Paired with a good mix of wine and beer, it made for a really enjoyable night. We shared everything family-style, which made it even better, sampling each dish, lingering at the table, and finishing with a shared dessert. A great spot for a night out in Wayzata good food, great setting, and even better company. read more

See all

Cool place with a coffee shop attached to the restaurant and a cute vibe. I love a pistachio matcha so I did like this alot ! The only thing is it wasn't as creamy as I would have liked and the pistachio did overpower the matcha a little in my opinion but that is me being super picky. The bagel was so fresh and the cream cheese was so flavorful! I would absolutely go back and try another drink and get a bagel and would love to try the restaurant read more

Josefina - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

See all

Making an online reservation for a 6 person party has not been easy, unless it is for after 8:30pm. For my second time making a reservation for this party size, I called the restaurant 3 days in a row until I was able to reach someone to make a 6 person reservation. The phone call was easy and quick then. Most of the time the call drops after their menu options. The pizza and pasta are great quality, I always go for the cacio e Pepe and it's been a crowd favorite. It took about 40 minutes after ordering for everything to come out on this Tuesday night. They also gave a free birthday dessert, a salty cream gelato that was great to end with. read more

Swung by this morning to get a matcha with a friend and I had my dog with me. I asked when I came in with my dog in my arms if dogs were allowed and the barista said yes so we ordered and took a seat. I got the pistachio matcha latte which was okay, I had tried their strawberry rhubarb matcha and I recommend that one instead! About an hour later the manager comes up to us and says dogs are not allowed and that we have to leave. I mentioned I had asked if I could bring my dog and she said the barista had not been aware I had a dog although I asked and had my dog in my arms. It's just a bit annoying to get conflicting answers especially when you confirm when arriving, would have been nice to know from the beginning. So just fyi for everyone they are not dog friendly! read more

Josefina - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

See all

This was my first visit, had it bookmarked for a while and figured we would check it out for a birthday dinner. The atmosphere was nice, I liked the open view to the kitchen and being able to watch all the action. We had a great table toward the back with a booth, if you're reserving it's worth asking not to be at an aisle table, they looked tight. I was excited for a dirty martini, the little kit was cool and the flavor options to enhance your drink was a neat touch. They weren't all that exciting though, truffle does not go well with a dirty martini and knowing how much to put in was a challenge. For $20 I'd say it was ok. We had focaccia, Greek salad, lobster pasta, butternut squash pasta and halibut. It's smaller servings with more affordable price points and easily shareable. My fave was probably the halibut, the pasta were both a 4 out of 5. Worth a visit. read more

Josefina - Martini Kit - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

Upon walking in, the ambiance is the perfect amount of dimness and plant-focused vibes. We had higher expectations for the menu; there was not as wide of a variety as we would have wished (and they ran out of food for some meals on the menu). The food itself was flavorful and filling! We had at least 1 item of every course which totaled to $90 or so. The service was decent though we wish we would have been tended to more. Our dessert melted by the time we got our spoons to enjoy it. All in all, we used a gift card to enjoy this meal and likely will not go back though it was worth a try! read more

See all

The hostess was lovely. I was dining with my senior parents who are hard of hearing. She ensured we were seated in an area that we could hear each other over the loud music. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and helped us select a wonderful (family style) meal - Rosemary focaccia, pepperoni pizza, pork chops and Brussels sprouts. We were seated directly facing the kitchen. All was looking towards a great evening until my mother spotted the chef blowing his nose in the kitchen. We watched him throw out the Kleenex and move on with his work, not washing his hands. Next time the waitress was at the table my mom discreetly told her what we witnessed. She said she would speak to him but our appetite was gone. I'm sure this incident isn't common practice but it was enough to keep my mom talking for weeks. read more

My friend suggested this place to me on Day 1 of me touching down at MSP and I knew I wouldn't leave Minnesota without going at least once. We made an attempt on Saturday morning but that seems to be peak hours and the line was long. On Monday morning we successfully made our way to the order window. Also, I found it strange that Google Maps marked it as "closed" when it was clearly open (including the sit-down tables inside!) The menu is small but mighty and I wish I could've tried ALL their pastries. One of the matchas sounded good but I exceeded my matcha quota the whole trip so I felt it was time for a latte instead - and boy did I make the right gamble. My lavender vanilla latte definitely fits in the top 10 I've tried ever. Both croissants were delicious as well, but there could have been more chocolate in that one. My friend got "order jealous" and praised both of my items, and I said I'd learned it from somewhere (my mom). Aside from good taste, it's so lovely to walk on the Lakewalk and find a bench to share breakfast musings. read more

See all

I am glad we tried Josefina, the overall experience and the food were good! To me, the drink menu was not very diverse... lots of whiskey and gin and other historically masculine flavors. I got a basic margarita, which was good but doesn't pair with Italian food that well... someone in our party got the dirty martini but was disappointed because you had to add the oils yourself, which is a fun idea but when you pay $20 for 1 drink, you want someone to do the work for you and make it taste great! The brussel sprouts and the Cesar salad were great; I have a fish allergy and was happy that the Cesar didn't have anchovies so I could have some! My fave started was the arancini, very authentic and I loved the sauce and the shaved scallion with it. The cavatelli was good as a past but I wanted a little bit more cream or some other contrasting flavor with this pasta. Overall, we had a nice time and will be back! read more

See all

Amazing food!!! We started with the steak tartare which was very good. It was a little more citrusy than i expected, but still very good. I had the best pepperoni pizza I have ever had. The crust was the highlight. Toppings on that crust would be good. For drinks, I had the Hennessy Sazarec which was a spin on a Vieux Carre.. Very booze forward. Not sure I would get it again. read more

Josefina - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

There are certain places you eat at that just make you go "WOW" and this was one of them! First of all this is in downtown Wayzata, which is just such a stunning area! They have a new "Lakewalk" which is a boardwalk over Lake Minnetonka! Great after dinner activity! Parking: There is a free parking ramp right next to this restaurant! The service: I would recommend making reservations, however they are not required. No matter where you sit, you will have a beautiful experience! The staff was exceptional! Our server was spectacular and walked us through the menu! She was very prompt and an absolute delight! (She had red glasses and said she had worked there for 2 years) The food: SO TASTY! They make everything in house! The focaccia bread is an absolute must! Is was perfectly salty and soft! The espresso martini was very smooth and tasted fantastic! I don't think it was worth the price tag though. The FUSILLI NEGRI was so good! As a previous commenter wrote, "don't let the mint scare you away." It is subtle and adds a nice depth to the dish. I will absolutely be back! This was a fantastic experience! read more

See all

Pasta? Amazing. Drinks? Amazing. Pizza? Amazing. Focaccia? Amazing. Service? Amazing. Ambience? Amazing. Couldn't find a single critique of this place if I tried. It's just a lovely spot. Great for friends night out, first date, casual date, alone time. The space is versatile and inviting for really anything. read more

Food is great, and the drinks are so cute and yummy! Restaurant atmosphere is pleasant and vibe. read more

Josefina - Drinks - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

Wow wow wow! Loved the vibes here, the plants the skylights, it's moody yet warm. We had reservations so we were seated right away. The steak was cooked perfectly to our liking (we thought based on some photos it would've been served differently with broccolini but this could've been an old photo - didn't matter it was delicious) the pasta was fresh, light yet filling. Oh my gosh and don't get me started on the complimentary dessert for our anniversary the chocolate and caramel gelato was soooo good. I had a mocktail with dinner and our waitress was so thoughtful and brought us complimentary drinks as well but mine being NA, that was awesome. read more

See all

Visited for a weekend dinner and arrived a few minutes before our reservation, but was seated immediately. Our server greeted us right away and answered any questions we had on drinks and food items. We ordered the Born a star martini and the old-fashioned. The martini was the winner based on presentation alone. They bring it out deconstructed and combine your first drink for you and then leave the rest for you to enjoy on your own. So it easily felt like two drinks in one. Anytime there's steak tartare on the menu. I'm going to try it and I'm glad I tasted it here. Although it wasn't the best I've ever had. It was very good and had a slight citrus flavor to it which was unexpected. We both commented that it reminded us of a ceviche flavor vs. what we expected compared to other tartare a For meals, we selected the pasta and the pizza. Both were delicious, but I don't know if I would go for pizza alone. There are so many things on the menu. It was hard to choose, which is the perfect reason to return. The location, service, ambience, and food all combined to make this an enjoyable experience. I'm only glad that I hadn't tried out the spot earlier. Hoping to return again soon.! read more

See all

Our time at Josefina's was absolutely wonderful: food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. We were celebrating my husband's new job and decided to splurge a bit for dinner, and were very glad we chose Josefina's to do so. We had a few drinks (I got the deconstructed Martini to start-- which was fun to put together yourself). Appetizers: burrata with the extra bread-- delicious sweet and salty combination-- and for my main: spaghetti carbonara. Smaller portion sizes on the pasta but I kind of expected that since they are normally ordered in addition to a pizza or other main. For dessert: gelato (of course). Overall a wonderful dinner and we'll be back! read more

See all

That rigatoni sauce might be the best pasta sauce I've had. A+ Everything else was great! read more

Big fan of the environment although seats a bit uncomfortable. The pizza marinara I would recommend if you are averse to cheese. Went for a birthday and some complimentary gelato was just what the birthday boy ordered. Parking will be a bit challenging on a weekend but our server was intent and deliberate which I appreciated. Something is up with the acoustics though because you can barely hear others at your table. Brussel sprouts were too salty. You've been warned. read more

The location 5stars The food 5 stars The service 5 stars The ambiance 5 stars Even though pastas are described as meatless, you can add protein to them! Make your reservations- it gets packed. Cant wait to go back and maybe transition check out the bar, it was really bustling so have some FOMO read more

Wow!!! Josefina has immediately cemented itself as one of my new favorite girls night out or birthday spots. Service is quick and friendly, and they are more than generous with the birthday freebies (we got welcome bday bubbles and a free gelato of our choice)! The wine & drinks menu is great, but the standout of the night that we cannot stop talking out was the born to be a star martini. It came on a gold platter with flowers and was more than enough to split between the 3 of us for ~2 drinks each (& included a mini bottle of veuve)! For apps, the salmon belly was delicious but a smaller portion, the meatballs are a MUST, and the brussel sprouts were incredible and one of my favorites. Favorite mains were the rigatoni diavolo and zuccha pizza+prosciutto. We also tried the fusilli negra but it fell a little flat for us. Dessert here is a MUST! The salted caramel gelato is a large portion and delicious, as is the s'more's budino. read more

We had such a wonderful time tonight at Josefina. We started out with some fabulous drinks. We brought our own wine which they decanted for us and we enjoyed a few sips with our servers. Good wine should always be shared. The four of us enjoyed the grilled shrimp and spicy meatballs as an appetizer. One of us had the pork chop, Two of us had the Caesar salad which had a lot of fresh Parmesan. One of us had the carbonara and two of us the grilled burrata and duck. The duck was superb. Overall a fantastic night because of the food, atmosphere and excellent service. Thank you. read more

Amazing!!!! Highly, highly recommend. Perfectly curated menu. Fresh, flavorful ingredients. Been here 4 or 5 times now and every time it's wonderful. The service is always excellent. Lots of thought & detail goes into everything and it really shows. read more

See all

a great valentine's dinner spent with @josefinarestaurant - it's been around 2-3 years since our last visit, so we were stoked to get a last minute reservation in thanks to the MN snow! we started our night at the bar and finished our meals in their enclosed patio. despite being packed, the experience felt intimate & our service was speedy! what a great spot for celebrations and shareable plates. our orders (in order): mafaldini cacio e peppe // we were honestly expecting this to be a lot creamier and softer in taste, the back pepper was a bit much and overpowering. 6 east coast oysters // hunter loved, but not my favorite. would've loved to have cocktail sauce vs. hot sauce espresso martini // the perfect way to start the night! burrata // bread as always was delicious, the squash & pomegranate however could've used a bit more flavor. bucatini amatriciana // the winner of the night, such thick and yummy noodles and a slightly spicy sauce to die for. read more

See all

I pretty much always get the half chicken.. even after they changed it, it's still tied for my favorite of all time. I like the patio area a lot, especially in the winter when it's covered and closed up. Service had always been great. read more

I was very, very excited to try this hot spot in Wayzata and left a little disappointed. The drinks were great (I had a mocktail and he had a nice white wine). Our entrees were something left to be desired. My scallops had sand in them. I thought a small fluke at first and was hoping with each bite for it to be better but it wasn't (probably should have returned, I'm so Minnesotan)... His pasta, 4-5 small pieces of lobster - the taste was amazing but for the price; more lobster would be preferred. To be fair, their focaccia bread was something straight from the heavens! I have not been able to stop thinking about it. The staff were really friendly and I absolutely loved the interior but left feeling underwhelmed with the food. read more

Josefina - Seared Scallops - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

See all

Five stars for service from Anabelle and Natalie! My first time visiting Josefina for a coffee, and these two staff members had standout customer service. They made me feel so welcomed, so much so that I wanted to write a review acknowledging their kindness. I ordered an iced cappuccino, and the coffee flavor is very strong! It wasn't my favorite coffee I've had in Minnesota, but if you're looking for something to wake you up, I think this will do the trick. The space is GORGEOUS. The green painted doors and accent walls and plants make this place a dream to look at! read more

I spend most mornings sipping a cup of coffee from Josefina and it's always money well spent. The baristas are amazing, always friendly, giving advice about the newest seasonal beverages and including my 2 year old daughter in conversation. I particularly want to highlight Natalie, Maggie and Chloe- they make my day, often! read more

Josefina - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

Came here for takeout and I continue to be impressed! My fiance and I ordered a pizza & salad for takeout on a Saturday night to bring to a brewery - you pick up over in the gelato area. We came right when they opened and only waited about 5 minutes, very fast! We did the Pineapple Fra Diavolo & Caesar salad. Both were delicious and filling - it was the perfect size for the two of us, even when my fiance is a big eater. We will definitely be back for takeout again! read more

Servers: excellent. They know their stuff. They aren't annoyed when you ask them for recommendations. They served our large party of 12 without a hitch. Ambiance: inside - lovely and posh. outside - they created a four seasons porch - no view but they made it cute. Food: are. you. kidding. me. eating the brussel sprouts changed my life. they are so excellent. i don't even know the magic they put in these but how can that be a vegetable. amazing. foccacia - you need to try this. it's a smalllll portion (4 slices) like most of their items and that is sad -- but we just kept ordering more. problem solved. drinks: how fun are these. they have everything. i loved the non-alcoholic passionfruit. it was delicious. the guys enjoyed their drinks and lemonades. main courses: expensive but delicious. our group tried the salmon, the porkchop, pasta. everything was great. other courses: the pizza is EXCELLENT! a few of the guys ordered the beet salad and liked that a lot too. 100% would go back again. thank you Josefina!! read more

See all

Hands down one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. This is our go to for birthday celebrations and other special occasions. The vibe in here is top-notch, service is excellent and food is beyond! If you're in the mood for an excellent pizza pasta, or even fresh fish- this is the place for your group! They can handle small tables and groups alike. It is perfect for date night or a girls night out. Don't forget gelato to end your evening -- the salted caramel is the absolute best! read more

Josefina - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

See all

Such a solid place with a cool bar scene, nicely appointed main dining area, and unique back room (greenhouse type ceiling). The service is very good and the drink and food options satisfy adventurous and also plain eaters. Love the location right across from Lake Minnetonka read more

See all

I was there, without a reservation, with my 98 yr old friend who had worked there years ago as Schuetts (?). The food - incredible. The service -amazing. The kindness and generosity overwhelming. A month ago my friend was hospitalized with little hope for going home. She didn't say this was on her bucket list, but she was determined not to leave until a table opened up. I know she left energized for the beautiful experience. "I can't wait to tell my kids! And our friends!" She's alive and well. You were part of that. For me? Other reasons made it one of my most beautiful experiences ever. Thank you. Thank you! Becky (Rebekah) read more

I've heard a lot about this place for awhile and I finally was able to make my way over and try it! First, as you park and descend into the city of Wayzata and overlook the lake the vibe starts to set in. It's beautiful. Once you enter, the vibe is modern and vibrant. It's louder than I expected, but I like that. The food was delicious. We ordered the pork chop and the cavatelli. The pork chop was smoked and seared perfectly. It wasn't overcooked, and it was juicy through and through. The pasta was fantastic, al dente, toothy to the bite. The cocktails were especially good. Don't skimp. read more

See all

Love this place!! Came here to celebrate a birthday and try some new things. We made a reservation a few days in advance - would recommend as while you can walk in they're usually pretty busy. We got the focaccia to start which is our favorite. Salty, savory and just delicious. I tried the new brown butter ravioli (called mezzaluna or something like that). Big big fan - it was sweet, salty, citrusy... great flavor profile all around. I hadn't tried this before but would absolutely order again! Great winter dish that wasn't too heavy. Also got the pepperoni pizza which was great. Their pizzas are thin, but soft and flexible crust. If you want a cracker or crispy crust this isn't the place for you. Highly recommend this spot for any Italian cravings! read more

See all

Dined at Josefina for dinner and ordered pizza and pasta. While they were enjoyable, they did not 'hook' me to craving the dishes at that price point. Will update with photos soon. The gelato is what I keep coming back for! In the summertime, you can order through a cute window from the sidewalk! Staff are all friendly and the interior is beautiful! read more

Josefina - Gelato: Olive oil (bottom), peaches and cream (top) - Italian Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

Love Josefina! Very accommodating, we had some cancellations and they were able to get us a smaller table for myself and my husband. Super friendly and helpful staff and server. Food came out fast and was delicious. We started off with drinks and totally recommend the Josefina martini. 2 drinks for price of 1, yes please! You get a little tray with olives, lemon rind and a bottle with olive juice to make it as dirty as you want. For apps we got the burrata and chicken liver pate, good as expected, bluefin tuna and we ordered 3 different pastas to try: Spaghetti carbonara- fresh pasta was so good with classic flavors of what a carbonara should have. Malfaldini cacio de Pepe - my husband's fave of the night. I haven't had a cacio de Pepe with these types of noodle before but it was perfect amount of cheese and pepper Fusilli Negra- my fave dish of the night, squid ink rotini like pasta in a light tomato sauce and tender chunks of lobster. Do I need to say more?? Delish For dessert we for pistachio gelato and apple blueberry galette with vanilla bean gelato. Oh so good! read more

See all

First time at Josefina after it being very widely hyped up. The Brussel sprouts were to die for! I've never had sprouts like this before, sweet and sour like. We had the Cacio e Pepe and pizza. Loved the service and ambiance. Lesser version of Red Rabbit. Price was solid. Valet was nice to have although they took my $20 and didn't give any change. read more

See all

We went to Josefina for a birthday dinner recently and it was so. freaking. good. We split the chicken liver pate, mushroom pizza, and cavatelli, and everything was just super well balanced, delicious, and done with such care. Such a lovely space, too -- would be perfect for everything from date night to a business dinner. They really made our evening special; we can wait to come back! read more

See all

Went on a date here! We had a reservation for 5:30! Service was good. Not overly attentive which allowed us to have time to connect. We split an app, pasta dish, and pizza. The olive oil gelato was unbelievable! read more

Service truly makes or breaks the experience. Our server refused to split the bill for us (I dined with a group of 8 women, aged 40-70) despite us asking him twice. He then ignored us for close to 10 minutes until we "gave in" and charged the full meal for 8 women to 1 credit card. Josefina's unwillingness to split a bill should have been disclosed as soon as we made the reservation for 8 or sat down. The entire encounter with our server at the end of the meal left us with a bad taste in our mouths. Outside of the service, the food, drink and vibes of the dining room were lovely. The service left us feeling yucky. read more