Josephine was easily the highlight of our trip to Alexandria. We originally made a reservation for our first night in town and enjoyed it so much that, while we were still sitting at the table, we canceled our dinner reservation somewhere else for the following night so we could come back. Then we came back again for lunch the next day. Three visits pretty much says it all. The restaurant itself is beautiful and has such a great atmosphere, but what really stood out was the hospitality. Every person we interacted with was genuinely kind, welcoming, and attentive without being overbearing. My wife has celiac disease, and dining out while traveling can sometimes be stressful. The knowledge and care shown by the staff at Josephine immediately put us at ease. They understood cross-contamination, took it seriously, and never made her feel like an inconvenience. That alone means a lot to us. The food was excellent, the service was wonderful, and the atmosphere is hard to beat. We came to Alexandria expecting to explore a bunch of different restaurants and somehow ended up at Josephine three times. That probably says more than anything else I could write. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in Old Town. read more

Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I rarely give 5/5. This one was worth every penny. I wish I lived in DC to go back again over and over again. We went at 3 for drinks after work and waited till the kitchen opened to try the real menu Food: 5/5 the escargot with the pasteries were so delicious and buttery and salty that it made me want to try the real food. The Duck was cooked to perfection with a delicious puree and carrots. I wish I cood cook somthing like this. Service: 5/5 the waiter explained everything in the menu to perfection, made conversation with us and asked us why were in town and made us feel so welcomed. Ambiance: one half is the bar with a cozy atmosphere, the second half is full of light and more modern take to decore. read more

See all

I love the Old Town Alexandria dining scene and I also love French cuisine. Neither one of us had dined at Josephine, so this was the perfect impromptu date night spot. The architecture is amazing. Several dining room floors, an atrium and outdoor seating.. Whatever mood you're in, Josephine has you covered. We started off at the bar. We both love a good dirty martini, but this was the only hiccup of the evening. They were just ok. Not the worse but definitely missing something. The raw oysters made me forget about the subpar drinks as soon as the first one hit my mouth. They were outstanding! Our second round, her lemon drop and my old fashioned were perfect! We chose to dine in the sun filled atrium. Our server Susan was delightful. Given the theme of Josephine, which was named after the world renowned Josephine Baker, Susan's world travels mixed right in. Our food was delicious. We didn't know it was restaurant week, and although we're not big dessert fans, it's hard to pass up on the $55pp for three courses. She went with the Escargot for her appetizer and the grilled trout while I chose the beef tartare and the steak frites. This was my first time trying escargot and I loved it and this was her first time trying beef tartare and she tolerated it.. Lol Both of our entrées were slam dunks! We bagged our "Opera Cakes" to go for her granny.. Told you we weren't dessert people.. Lol! I absolutely loved everything about Josephine! I do wish they would add charbroiled oysters to their appetizer menu, which really would have put me in that Creole state of mind! :) read more

See all

I've been on a mission to find a good French onion soup, so when I saw Josephine had a $25 lunch special with a soup and your choice of a salad or sandwich, I was already sold. It ended up being one of the best random lunch decisions I've made in a while. I pulled up solo and wasn't expecting to walk into such a beautiful space. The high ceilings, all the greenery, the natural light...it honestly feels like you're tucked away in this little garden in the middle of the city. It was one of those places where you instantly relax. Whether you're grabbing lunch alone, catching up with a friend, or on a lunch date, the vibe just works. One thing I really liked was that the dining room where I had lunch feels completely different from the front of the restaurant. It's almost like two different experiences in one place, and I thought that was such a cool touch. Looking around, there were a lot of people on lunch dates, business lunches, and people just enjoying the afternoon. My server, I believe her name was Annie, was an absolute sweetheart. We got to chatting, and I mentioned I was celebrating one month at my new job. She was genuinely happy for me and made me feel like I wasn't just another table. Those little interactions always stick with me. Now for the food. I started with a gin cocktail that was smooth and refreshing, then had the house salad without the cranberries, which was fresh and simple. And of course, the reason I came...the French onion soup. The cheese pull? Exactly what I wanted. The broth had great flavor, and it definitely hit the spot. My only complaint is I wish the bowl was a little bigger, but I'm guessing that's because it's part of the lunch special. But I was so happy and the salad was also so fresh and tasty I was literally dancing in my seat. The bathrooms were spotless, and I have to shout out whoever decided to put a full length mirror outside of them because that's the kind of detail I appreciate. Perfect for a quick fit check before heading back to work. I love when I randomly pick a restaurant and it ends up exceeding my expectations. Great service, good food, beautiful atmosphere, and a lunch special that's actually worth the price. Josephine is definitely a place I'll be adding to my regular rotation, and next time I already know I'm coming back to explore more of the menu. read more

See all

I had the most special lunch with my mom here. When we lived in NoVA we used to come to this restaurant for special occasions. My grandmother used to love it. It's interior design is absolutely stunning. I adore all the art deco wallpaper and art that lines the walls. We were seated pretty quickly for lunch in their gorgeous inside patio. Our server was super sweet. We ordered the moule frites, endive beet salad, French dip, berry sorbet, pineapple passionfruit sorbet, and an opera. The fries and endive salad were my favorite. We didn't care for how salty the French dip sandwich was. I love that they surprised us with macarons at the end with our dessert orders. I am not a sorbet person, but at this place I am. The sorbets were so refreshing. The berry one was surprisingly creamy. We adored our time here and I would love to return when I'm in the area. read more

See all

I was hoping that my first visit to Josephine was going to be the first of many, but it ended up being the first and last visit. I dined at the bar during Happy Hour on a Saturday Afternoon. I ordered their Burger Josephine. When the burger came out, I noticed there was the slightest spread of burger sauce underneath the patties. I politely asked the bartender for a bit more burger sauce on the side and he said he would get that for me. I waited an additional 10 minutes for the bartender to get the sauce. He tended to everyone else at the bar before going to the back. He could have easily asked his assistant at the bar, or the many servers that were standing right next to the end of the bar talking, if he didn't have the time to get it for me. By the time the sauce came out, the burger wasn't hot anymore. The Burger was just okay. Nothing to write home to mama about. I didn't like the bun. Very crumbly and dry. The burger sauce was good though and that's what saved the burger. So glad I did ask for more of it. I'd give the burger a 6.5 out of 10. The fries were also nothing out of the ordinary. I'd give them a 6 out of 10. When I was finished with my food, my empty plate sat there for another 15 minutes and finally a runner noticed, asked if I was done, and took my plate. No acknowledgement from the bartender the whole time, even though I tried to make eye contact to let him know I was done. Even after all of that, I still was going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and tip him fairly well. I asked the bar assistant for my check, since the bartender seemed preoccupied with other patrons. The total was somewhere around 16 dollars and some change. I had a twenty that I could have easily just gave him for the food and the tip, but I was going to tip more than just 3 dollars and some change. So, I gave the bar assistant two 20 dollar bills, so that I could tip at least 20%. He looked at me confused and went to the bartender. He gave the bartender the two 20s to get change and the bar assistant came back with 6 dollars. When I asked the bartender why I only received 6 dollars when I gave his assistant two 20s, he took the 6 dollars, and then came back with my correct change. Very odd transaction. I sincerely hope that he wasn't trying to purposely take more money than what was owed to him. Overall, I won't be back. I usually give places at least three times to give me a poor experience, but when you are dealing with people not being right about the payment, I'd rather not chance it again. read more

Josephine - Main Bar at Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Went to Josephine's for my birthday dinner the other night and everything was fantastic from beginning to end. Our waiter was Schiek (I hope I spelled that right) because he was a gem and delightful conversationalist. Stellar service; gave us great recommendations: I had the duck confit and my date had the steak frites. I'm notorious for taking a to go box, but not a crumb was left on my plate. The place was packed so it's quite popular. I would love to go back. read more

Amazing food and service. My friend and I were served by Michelle and she made our evening so worth the trip. Her suggestions for appetizers and wine were helpful while not being overly pushy. Each course was delicious and flavorful. The restaurant is a great option for a girls night, date, birthdays, etc. I will return! read more

Josephine - Duck Confit - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Thanks to fantastic service from Michelle, we had a great dinner last night celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary and the upcoming birthday of our friend. Two of us had the scallops which were delicious, one had the Monday feature lobster risotto which looked and tasted amazing, and the 4th enjoyed the mushroom risotto which came with a big piece of chicken. Desserts were also great. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and size of the dishes. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! read more

Solid French bistro in the old Columbia firehouse space in old town. Cramped entry area, but great atrium area. Solid food, decent staff, reasonable prices and an overall good time. Worth a visit. read more

Josephine - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The name of this restaurant should be splendid!! Not only was everyone so nice, how restaurants use to be when I was a kid. Beautiful dinning rooms one by the bar, a bright scenic cheerful room, another quieter room upstairs and they have outside dining. This step into France will be a regular when I'm in the area. The escargot is special with a puff pastry on top, the tomato soup sparked every taste bud, the chicken I felt could have been cooked a little more but it was juicy and delicious the risotto was cooked perfectly!! We chose this place for my daughter's college graduation. I think we picked a diamond! I really want to thank the staff for making my daughter's special day so memorable! read more

See all

There's that feeling you get when you ask the waiter for the happy hour menu and you can tell he's not happy about it. That's how our service started with Sheik. Then he wouldn't let me switch the gin in one martini for another that had vodka. I just wanted a simple gin martini and that wasn't going to happen, so I ordered the bar tenters surprise which was basically tequila and pink lemonade. It was ok, nothing fantastic. We had a nice table in the front window for bar seating. There were some nice looking areas in the restaurant. My wife had two glasses of $25 rose champagne, which she really enjoyed, but didn't have any idea of what she was ordering. Our waiter was really trying to upsell us a lot. She had the trout which was splendid. My chicken with mushroom risotto was not great. The risotto's had the consistency of mushy oatmeal and little or no mushroom flavor. A fail. I did have a Chenin Blanc based sparkling wine that was very good. read more

I came for a birthday dinner on a Saturday. I was seated quickly with my boyfriend and we were able to order our food soon after we were seated. Since it was my birthday, my boyfriend and I were offered free sparkling wine. Sadly, my boyfriend's glass had a fruit fly in it so we had to send it back. We ordered the escargot, steak frites, and creme brulee on the Restaurant Week menu. Everything was delicious and my steak was cooked to my liking. We also ordered the duck dish. It was flavorful and we liked the brussel sprouts in the dish. Another small reason why the restaurant doesn't get 5 stars is because I had to ask for a steak knife after my main dish came out. With slightly better service, I would give it a 5 star rating since all of the food was good. I recommend this place for a slightly fancier dinner that won't break the budget. read more

See all

Really lovely meal at Josephine. Tried out the happy hour menu and everything was delish. Service was really great and the GM Stuart made a point of checking in with every table and was helpful in choosing a wonderful Bordeaux. Would highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

Josephine has my heart! - my partner and I came for their New Year's Eve 3 course, it was $150/pp and we have never tried something like this so we went in worried but left speechless! We had one of the managers (whose name I can't remember, sorry) greet us and explain the nights menu, he also provided recommendations and was very attentive. Our server Daniel was the BEST. Daniel was extremely welcoming, open to questions and also shared recommendations. Daniel really made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The food, perfect, every bite. Some of these dishes were new to us but we're so glad we branched out! The ratatouille was warm and paired great with the burrata/bread. We were lucky enough to get one of the last lobsters and thank God! The softest warmest experience truly. Next we went onto our main entrees and both meats were cooked to perfection. Dessert, filled us and was a mixture of cold (ice cream) plus soft (baked bread). The ambiance of Josephine transforms you to a fancy sophisticated dinner, you'd think you're in NYC. Definitely recommending to family and friends for their date nights. Thank you, Josephine! read more

See all

First time here. We went for happy hour and sat at the bar, got there around 5:15, and it was already fairly hopping. We still got seats without much trouble, and it kept filling up all night, which is impressive for a Monday. The happy hour dirty martini is very olive oil forward, which is unusual for a dirty martini and pretty nice. We watched the regular (non-happy hour) dirty martini service go out to another table: that one comes with a sidecar of extra martini plus a little test tube of extra olive brine, which is a cute idea I haven't seen anywhere before. We had Old Fashioneds to round out the night, and $8 for one a great value. The happy hour discount here is significant, especially on the drinks. The food was solid. We got the steak tartare, the escargot, and the Josephine salad, which comes with a breaded fried goat cheese disc on top. The tartare was good, though I've had better at other French places, and the escargot could have used more butter and (especially) more garlic. They did come with little puffed pastries on top of each one, which was fun for dipping in the sauce left behind. The bartenders thoughtfully split the salad for the two of us without us even asking. The service was incredible. Super nice, thoughtful, attentive, no complaints at all. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here. We were able to get a table for 8 with little notice on a weekday evening. It's a beautiful space inside. It's located in Old Town Alexandria and is an easy walk from area hotels. The manager checked on us a few times, which was nice. Service was decently friendly and attentive. The food courses were paced well. Everyone greatly enjoyed their dishes. I had the mussels and they were incredibly yum. I wanted to just straight up drink the broth they were in. Would absolutely dine here again. A great spot for a nice meal. read more

See all

Beef bourguignon was 10/10 I licked the plate clean, had cod croquettes as an app- it wasn't bad! Paired the main with a glass of beaujolais read more

Josephine - Cod croquettes - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

French restaurant inside of a large, regal, building with delicious food I came here for dinner on a Friday night with my fiance and we had a great experience. We started off with their complimentary bread & butter basket, which was large and delicious. I opted for their special cocktail, which although cost ~$25, was in my opinion worth it. It tasted like I was drinking a key lime pie and had a cool meringue on the top. They warned us that this drink would take a little while to come out, but I didn't realize that this also meant that it would take them a little while to take our food order as well, as they didn't do so until after my drink came. The menu is very large and has pretty much everything you could want, though some of it is in French so it can be hard to understand what everything is. I opted for the steak frites and my GF opted for the duck special. The portions were large and delicious. Since everything was so tasty, as we were getting close to finishing our entrees my fiance and I decided that we would take some of our food home as to save space for their dessert. There were a solid selection of desert options, and my fiance opted for the profiteroles while I went for their honey banana ice cream. Again, everything was delicious. It seemed like this place is very common for special occasions, as our waiter asked us multiple times if we were celebrating anything and then, even though we told him we were not, brought us each a glass of champagne and some macaroons. The people who were next to us were celebrating a birthday and had the same treats given to them + a very large sparking candle, so I think that we still got the "special occasion treatment". The tables are a little close together, but nothing terrible. read more

See all

We ate again at Josephine last night, and the food and the service lived up to our expectations. Our server, Bella, seemed to know everything about everything on the dinner and drink menus, and she was a lot of fun to talk to. That, coupled with the lovely atmosphere, made for a wonderful evening. Highlights of our dinners: the French onion soup, the trout amandine, the scallops, and the Pistou Provencal. read more

I was pretty surprised with the price which was very reasonable, for up scale (ish) French restaurant! Food was delicious, albeit a bit salty, mediocre service read more

Josephine - Mussels - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Everything I am about to share is no reflection on the staff who assisted our table. They were polite, kind, and attentive throughout the evening. My concern lies more with the overall dining experience, which unfortunately left me underwhelmed. The cheese course was extremely difficult to cut--so much so that even after a manager came over to help, they struggled as well. The duck, which is usually tender and easy to cut, was overcooked and tough this time. Given its condition, I should have been provided with a steak knife, as it was nearly impossible to manage with standard cutlery. The Brussels sprouts were also disappointing--completely under-seasoned and bland. I asked for salt and pepper to try to improve the dish, only to discover that the salt shaker was blocked and improperly assembled, so nothing came out. A staff member kindly brought a replacement, but the dish still lacked flavor and reminded me of a very plain, home-style protein and vegetable dinner rather than the vibrant restaurant quality I expected. On a brighter note, the restaurant ambience was amazing. The beautiful décor, mixed with old-world charm, created a wonderful setting that would be perfect for a romantic dinner, a family or group gathering, coworkers meeting after work, or even singles enjoying the lively bar area. Dessert was also a highlight--light, not overly sweet, and topped with a crunchy layer that gave it a nice texture. The coffee was an enjoyable finish. Overall, while the service was excellent and the atmosphere exceptional, the food execution fell short of expectations during this visit. That said, I may come back again, hopeful for an improved dining experience next time. read more

See all

Great service; our res was met with no wait time. We enjoyed the food entirely - steak was very good and the fries as well as the green beans. Really pretty design on the sunlit side of the restaurant. The pop of green was lovely. Go, enjoy! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I went for restaurant week and the food was amazing and the ambiance was beautiful. Reminded me of being in Paris. I believe we got good service but that being said I feel like A slight racial undertone though it was only a feeling. I'm black and my boyfriend Arabic. I got the duck and he got steak. We got a few of the non-alcoholic drinks and the restaurant week menu came with appetizers and desserts. I had absolutely no regrets when it came to the food. There was some confusion about being sat. The hostess said we couldn't be sat until 6 and we were there maybe 6. We said okay but then got sat immediately. I was confused by that but that's it. read more

See all

Classy feeling place. Amazing building which has been adapted to be a restaurant in this guise since around 2023. Feels like it should be steak restaurant Ala Morton's. Plenty of wait staff for Saturday brunch. Immaculately dressed and attentive. A bit odd that support staff wanted to remove used plates before everyone at our table was finished. Several floors and outside option. Paid parking outside or 2 hour free just down street. Food generous and good. Croque madam salty but lots of food. Duck confit looked good but not massive. Fries not French or American style and unappetizing. Selection of beers suitably served in small continental glasses and generous pour of mimosa with overflow supplied in separate iced glass. Attractive looking entrance and as I mentioned really smart looking interior. Pretty impressive bar also. read more

See all

Ambiance: love the old world charm with brick walls, mirrors and Parisian artwork. Main dining hall has tall ceiling that made the space feel really big. Love the outdoor dining area. The bar is small and moody. Service: we came on a Friday during restaurant week so it was super busy. I'm t took the waitstaff awhile to bring us water. Then we needed a refill and had to ask numerous times. Food: classic French dishes. I love the steak tartare which had great seasoning. The duck confit was good. Duck perfectly cooked and fall off the bones tender. The accompaniments to the dish were ok nothing stellar on the Brussels sprouts or the smear of potato puree. Crème brûlée was standard. Maybe if it was less busy we would have had more attention. Overall, I would say the hype was ok. Classic French in a beautiful charming building. It did not blow my mind but a very cute and good restaurant. read more

See all

I thought I would try Josephine's to do something than my normal weekend spot. I've walked past it for years. The interior dies remind me of French restaurants I went to in Paris but a lot bigger. The service was good but the food was just average. Food was fine but wasn't blown away. It was fine. read more

Josephine - Steak frites - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Beautiful brasserie with a ton of details to soak in during your meal. It's a little unassuming from the outside but the interior looks like something out of a stunning Parisian townhouse. Definitely recommend getting a table in the atrium section with the vaulted skylight overhead. (You can also see the stunning mural of roses in the courtyard.) If I lived nearby, I'd love to check out the different sections of the restaurant, from the champagne bar to a lounge tucked away on the third floor. We came on a busy pre-holiday weekday lunch and it took some time to get our food, put in orders, etc., but it was fine, we were catching up with a friend. For appetizers, we got the escargot with tiny puff pastries. Never had snails before; it tasted like a slightly meatier mushroom and was mostly a vehicle for soaking up all the garlic and butter sauce. For my main, I got the omelette with herbs and cheese - pretty standard and a decent size. My husband's burger was the better choice, honestly. We went a little overboard with dessert. Did we need the pudding cake and the profiteroles (as well as the free tray of macarons they brought out)? Yes and no. The profiteroles were the dark horse winner, with a beautiful crackly crust. Perfect size of a dessert. I liked the pudding cake less, I was envisioning something lighter and it was a little too dense for me. Definitely worth a repeat visit if we're ever in the area again. read more

The setup was so nice in here! We stopped by on a Sunday evening and indulged in a few of their signature cocktails. I really enjoyed the service, especially Ashley & Alex's. The couple next to us had the mussels and it smelled amazing! Looking forward to returning here for their dining experience. read more

Josephine - Food menu - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The food was excellent. Our server was brand new, but she worked incredibly hard to make sure we were well taken care of and happy throughout the meal. She was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. I had the steak and fries, which were both very good. The salad and salmon were excellent as well. Make sure you save room for dessert--it was fantastic. We had the cream puff ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, and it was worth every calorie. The atmosphere really stood out too. With the dark wood accents and beautiful bar area, the restaurant had a warm, classic French feel that made you feel like you were dining in France. read more

Amazing experience! The food was delicious, but the most spectacular part was the interior of the restaurant. The service was mostly great; everyone was very friendly. Only took one star off because there were a couple times we ordered something and it never came. Otherwise, everything was great! read more

See all

The lunch special was a great deal, highly recommend. The portions were large enough to bring home leftovers for a small lunch. Highly recommend the french onion soup. read more

See all

DECENT GESTURE, BUT STILL A DISAPPOINTING FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH Came here for Father's Day brunch at 2:30 PM (Josephine, Old Town Alexandria). We were a party of four, seated indoors. We arrived early at 1:20 but still waited over 30 minutes to be seated. Unfortunately, by the time we ordered, they were already out of the quiche -- and two minutes after placing my order, I was told they were also out of French toast. I ended up settling for the Florentine Benedict to avoid more back-and-forth. At our table, we had: * Florentine & Norwegian Benedicts * Duck confit * Latte The food was okay, though nothing special. Portion sizes were small, and it felt overpriced for what we got -- more like upscale diner fare than what I'd expect at a French restaurant. It's understandable they were busy on Father's Day, but being out of two brunch staples by mid-afternoon points to poor planning. Also a bit odd they don't offer a lunch menu on weekends. That said, the owner did issue a refund, which I appreciated -- a nice gesture that shows they care about customer feedback. Overall, the service was polite and the space was nice, but the food and experience didn't live up to the price. I'm bumping this to 3 stars out of fairness, but I likely won't return for another holiday meal. read more

See all

We visited from out of town and looked at the menu before making reservations. The food looked very upscale, which is what we were looking for. We were looking for a nice, relaxing dinner. The food was excellent. We were unpleasantly surprised that the ambiance was not upscale. It was like a loud, rowdy bar. Outside of a rock concert, it was the loudest place I've ever been in. Our waiter shouting over us didn't help at all. If you're looking for a nice elegant meal, this is not the place. read more

Josephine: Brunch so good, even the tables next to you get involved. Brunched at Josephine in Alexandria and it was fantastique. Patio vibes, sunshine, and mimosas served with personal refill bottles on ice--elegant and effortless. The escargot? Rich, buttery perfection with a golden puff pastry topper. Beet and goat cheese salad? Bright, citrusy, and easily the best I've ever had. The quiche was light, almost custardy, and came with fresh greens that didn't feel like an afterthought. Service was warm and attentive--just the right amount of friendly. Now for the sides: the patio is lovely, but the two-tops are packed in tight. Like, elbows-almost-touching tight. So tight, in fact, that our neighbors didn't just overhear us--they basically joined the meal. Every dish we received turned into a group commentary: "Oh, that's the quiche?" "Escargot? Do you want escargot? Eww." It felt less like a private brunch and more like a culinary Q&A session. To top it off, one table over, a diva-in-training slowly tortured her brunch date with long, dramatic sighs and wine-snob theatrics. Her friend looked like she was mentally door-dashing a sandwich. Despite the unsolicited commentary and reality show energy, the food and service were excellent. Josephine knows how to do brunch--just be ready for a little table-side entertainment. read more

See all

this place is amazing!!!!! i got the escargot, the scallops and the crème brûlée and all of it was to die for!! totally recommend this place. service is great, food and drinks are great, and the ambiance is beautiful read more

Josephine - scallops - French Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I keep starting this review, deleting, restarting... But I just need to do it. It's just that I rarely review anything, unless I am truly moved to an extreme. Positive or negative. My food + ambience + service at Josephine equals my favorite I have had in years. I really mean that- YEARS! When I walked in, I was concerned. It was beautiful, but so loud. Luckily my table was in a room next to the main one. Decor was reminiscent of my memories of a Parisienne bistro from decades back. Loved it. Our server, Nebbie, was simply outstanding. Warm, professional and without any falseness - truly genuine. I felt she cared about us (just two nobodies), the restaurant and just really wanted to show that. I know it's cliche to say this, but Nebbie absolutely went above and beyond. She asked if we were celebrating anything special and I told her it was just a vacation. To my delight she brought out two glasses of champagne! After we ate our entree, she brought us a sparkler and some macarons! Seriously, who does that for two "nobodies" just celebrating being on vacation at a place like this ??? Cannot praise her enough. I also appreciated her recommendation for our dinner. Hands down the best dinner in years, YEARS lol! We both wondered how the ingredients would work together (flat iron steak, scallops, orecchiette, ricotta truffle sauce, etc..) but it was amazing! I hummed while I ate - been so so long since I have done this. The pasta (tasted freshly prepared in house) , herbs and sauce blended perfectly. The scallops were expertly cooked . The steak was unexpectedly delicious! That simple cut of meat was seasoned exactly right, so tender and had this beautiful sear. A sincere thank you to the chef. This review may seem over the top, but that was my night at Josephine. Please know I do not consider myself an experienced foodie, more of a wannabe. I grew up in a restaurant family and was a server. I love good food , recognize excellent service as well as a certain je ne sais quoi ambience. For me, Josephinw encapsulates all the qualities of a perfect dinner. I am planning another trip to Oldtown Alexandria and a visit or two here is at the top of my list- and hope Nebbie will be there ! read more

See all

Josephine was able to accommodate our family of 13 for a 50th anniversary dinner. They were so friendly, attentive and went above and beyond to make my in-laws feel so special and celebrated. They started the evening with a champagne toast (ginger ale for the kids...it was nice they were included) and ended with a sparkler dessert. Everyone enjoyed their food and cocktails. We were seated on the lower level in a semi-private room. The Parisian inspired decor was perfect! I highly recommend Josephine for all social occasions! read more

I went here for the valentines special and the 2 best things about Josephine's is its ambiance and service. Josephine's has kind and attentive staff. They made sure we were always taken care of. We chose the atrium at 5pm so we could enjoy both the light and the sun going down. The atrium was beautifully decorated and when the sun set, the candles contributed to a cozy, romantic feel. We got lucky and got placed in one of the 3 booths which is typically a 4 seater. I recommend booking way ahead of time if it's for a special occasion (It was $125/person for the valentines event) and request the atrium. I really cannot say enough about the clear ceilings and floor to ceiling windows they have and how pretty it all looked. My favorite dishes were the scallops and steak tartare. My partner loved the salad. The food is decent but what makes Josephine's exemplary is its ambiance and service. read more

See all

Love, love this place! Great ambiance and vibe- made a reservation for 5p (highly recommend reservations) and right before the dinner rush. Everything was good. Foie Gras wasn't as rich as our preference but still very delicious. The cheeseburger had just the right amount of char. Steak frites had a garlic butter and cooked perfectly. Beef bourguignon was my daughter's favorite with mashed potatoes. Perfect place for celebrating - came for my daughter's birthday. Out of all the desserts we ordered, the creme brulee was our favorite. Super friendly staff and very accommodating. 10 out of 10 for me! read more

See all