Visiting Fruita and was looking for some good Italian. Josephine's popped up and the menu looked good and it was close to the hotel. I was a little interested about the comments on the service. For a Saturday evening on a holiday weekend I thought we may have to wait. Nope, got right in. The hostess was friendly and prompt. We sat down and the menu is simple and had a good variety. David was our server. I don't know what the other customers who complained about service are talking about. David is exactly what you want in a server friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, attentive but doesn't make you feel like you're being stalked. He was awesome. He needs a raise. We had the meatballs with bread late for an appetizer and it was fantastic. I had the Caesar salad and it authentic and delicious. We also had the chicken Marsala. It was ok. Not my favorite and why this review is a 4 not a five. It wasn't that it was cooked poorly it wasn't. It's just different from others I've had and not my preference. My one complaint that is a significant problem for me is instant potatoes. Instant potatoes have a distinct flavor and cheapen a plate. The cookies. AMAZING. OVERALL. I'd be back readily. I'd order something else as the main and I'd beat it would be fantastic. Say hi to David for me read more

I had high expectations for this restaurant, but unfortunately the experience fell well short. The martinis were disappointing--poorly balanced and lacking the quality you'd expect at this level. More concerning, however, was the service. After placing our order, we waited an unreasonable amount of time only to realize that our main course had never arrived. There was little acknowledgment or urgency from the staff to resolve the issue, which made the situation even more frustrating. We were not the only ones and other tables around were in the same situation although the place was not full. A restaurant can recover from a mistake, but how it handles it matters. In this case, both the food and service missed the mark. I hope they take this feedback seriously and improve. Certainly the relation between price and quality is no there right now and I would not recommend this place. read more

My wife and I chose Josephine's for our Valentine's Day dinner, and it was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The staff truly made the evening special. Toni, our waitress, was attentive, knowledgeable, and warm, and Emily, the front-of-house manager, went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. Their hospitality elevated an already fantastic meal into a memorable experience. We started with the Fennel Salad, which was fresh and delicious. The Valentine's Day specialty cocktails were spot on. The Old Fashioned was unique and perfectly crafted, and the Kahlúa-based drink my wife ordered was equally impressive. For our entrées, my wife had the Chicken Marsala, served over incredibly creamy potatoes. The portion size was perfect, and the flavors were rich and comforting without being heavy. I ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavolo, and it was outstanding. The spicy sauce had just the right amount of heat, the black tiger shrimp were excellent, and the pasta was clearly high quality. For dessert, we shared the Valentine's Day Pistachio Tiramisu and the Hazelnut Gelato. The gelato was probably the best hazelnut gelato I've ever had -- smooth, balanced, and absolutely perfect. The Pistachio Tiramisu was delicious, and the mascarpone cream was to die for. The only small note is that the ladyfingers had more of a graham cracker-like firmness rather than the traditional soft, coffee-and-rum-soaked sponge texture you typically expect in a classic tiramisu. As for pricing, it was on the higher end, exactly where we expected for a special occasion dinner -- and worth every penny. High-quality food in a beautifully designed dining room filled with natural light made for a perfect evening with my wife. We will 100% be back. It's great to have a high quality, real Italian restaurant in Fruita. Sorry for the lack of Dinner and Salad photos, I completely spaced out taking pictures. read more

Josephine's Italian Restaurant - Delicious desert. - Italian Near Me - Fruita, Colorado

Have been here about three times in the past few weeks. each time I think it is better than the last time. Bread plate. Aspargus. Carrots. Meatball. Yummy! Bring your friends. Bring a date. Go by yourself. Excellent service Cat. read more

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Overall, Josephine's was a miss. I came here for my birthday dinner on a Sunday. We got the roasted carrots appetizer. The carrots were pretty hard despite being cooked, they seemed parboiled. They had SO much lemon zest on them that between the texture and the taste they were inedible. (My friends said they were delicious on a previous visit so maybe a new chef?). I got the bolognese for my meal. It is pretty small portions that it barely filled the bowl. I could've used more pasta to go with all of the meat and sauce. The sauce was decent but nothing to write home about. I would expect more from a recipe that's been handed down in a family for generations. I make a better bolognese personally and I am not Italian. For desert I had the olive oil cake. It was topped with the zest of an entire lemon. Luckily I scraped that off. The cake was dry but had a good flavor. Server was very friendly and attentive. It's super echoey and trendy inside. It feels like you're at a hipster bar not an Italian spot. Decent espresso martini. However, I left hungry! I was so hungry that I went and got a pound of buffalo wings to eat immediately after. I'm not even kidding. This place is à la carte apparently. You should have an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert all to yourself to be full. It doesn't really fit the town vibe and the food isn't that great. read more

My wife and I live in Grand Junction and dined, for the first time, tonight at Josephine's. WHAT IT IS. A good neighborhood restaurant with good food and service. Reasonably priced. Overall, a very enjoyable meal and night out. WHAT IT IS NOT. A 5-Star, gourmet, lavishly decorated, Italian restaurant like the ones you would find in New York City. I say this not to bag on the restaurant. Just trying to be honest in my review. KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS REASONABLE, AND I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME AT JOSEPHINE'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN FRUITA, CO. I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! read more

In a land that food forgot, and after becoming thoroughly disenchanted with Grand Junction's other (2) Italian offerings, I naively, but still optimistically, ventured to Josephine's in Fruita tonight. What unfolded, tragically, was another, disappointing, Colorado restaurant experience. How I wish it weren't so. Starting with the Caesar salad: While they adorned it with 3 anchovies, what remained was a pile of lettuce. The cheese was missing. That delicate trifecta of cheese, dressing and lettuce? It was 2/3 represented, at best. Salad dressing was barely discernible and not flavorful, certainly not what you would expect or desire--to make the lettuce pile virtuous. Upon asking for the missing cheese, the server brought out a generous serving in a cup, which still didn't pack the depth and goodness of the Parmesano Reggiano cheese that I routinely buy at Whole Foods in making my own salads. It's not that expensive. Pasta: it was beyond disappointing. From store bought pasta, lower quality pasta that was undercooked, red sauce that was watery and lacked any substance, barely possessing traces of a tomato, this was worse than a good Rao's TV dinner. It was red colored vinegar. Conspicuously lacking was the presence of fresh tomatoes or the spices that make marinara sauce interesting. This was truly the most boring and run of the mill marinara sauce I think I've sampled in at least 5 years, maybe 10, maybe 15. Pricing was fair--if the food would have been of high quality. But paying $13 for the Caesar salad? It was basically a $1.35 mound of chopped romaine. The pasta? Any ordinary, store-bought sauce, from Trader Joe's to Ragu to Rao's would have proven more flavorful. If you're detecting a pattern here, you're not alone. The mountain of store-bought pasta with red colored vinegar sauce lacked the customary cheese or crushed peppers you'd need to try to rescue this dish. The bread sampler free plate was acceptable, but just as I was about to praise this a little, I suddenly experienced a salt explosion in my mouth. You see, the server dumped mammoth amounts of salt in the olive oil dish. They traded this out for untainted olive oil with pepper. I know that we are dealing with a 3 month old restaurant. But this was a $33 mistake. I keep harkening back to White House Pizza in Carbondale, where you can savor the marvelous Split Decision pasta, cheese, and yes, marinara sauce ensemble, replete with sausage, zesty marinara sauce and more, plus a vastly superior Caesar salad- all for $20. Some of us learn hard. Painfully so. As of today, however, the Grand Junction region lacks Italian food meeting my basic standards. read more

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I would describe my experience at Josephine's as deeply disappointing. The service was fine (for the most part), but the food itself was lacking in flavor, had extremely haphazard and seemingly thrown together presentation, and did not live up to its price point or my expectations (with the exception of the meatballs, which were excellent); my water glass was also full of fuzzies/dust which I did not notice until about my third glass, and that really grossed me out. Additionally, the music was a little disconcerting, switching suddenly between house beats and gentle piano tunes, and the restaurant itself had sort of a warehouse-full-of-human-cattle feel for reasons I cannot quite explain. Overall, this has re-confirmed my sincere belief that Italian cuisine is best left to the home cook. read more

We have been looking forward to visiting Josephine's since they opened. It was well worth the wait! The menu is concise, but varied. There is something for everyone (except perhaps those who aren't fans of Italian food). The atmosphere is comfortable and casual. Our server was very on the ball and helpful with the menu. Our meals were well prepared and delicious. Note: portions are generous! It's great to have a place in town that's open all week serving something besides bar food. We are making plans to return soon. read more

Our 8th or 9th visit for a birthday celebration. Again, outstanding service and fabulous food! Once again, mixologist crafted tasty cocktails. Parting birthday gift, a Josephine's beer glass and a box of delicious homemade Italian cookies. read more

Josephine's Italian Restaurant - Meatballs in marinara, delicious! - Italian Near Me - Fruita, Colorado

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Amazing restaurant! They aim high to please the Grand Valley with shareable and comforting dishes that come from their ancestry and authenticity. They also strive to improve on their menu, in leau of culinary mastery, while offering sustainability and affordability. My husband and I had the bread as the first thing I tried there, it was cold, which I was at first puzzled by, but it came out with a plate of pure olive oil with course salt and fresh cracked black pepper for dipping. I was blown away by the bread. It tasted like my grandma's homemade white bread, something I haven't had since 1997. I graduated from high school and moved out of state, and while I was living in a different country, my gma passed away. This bread was such an amazing and emotional experience for me as memories of my grandma's homemade bread filled my senses. It was so delicious! The stone oven pizza was also so delicious! That dough! They make it in house with precision and use a stone oven at high temps to create a more Italian experience. Their lasagna is very delicious too! and everything is made in house by the owner's vision. I read some of the bad reviews and thought, well, we each have different tastes. Someone complaining that their wife has acid reflux has probably been told, by a doctor not to eat pizza or anything from any restaurant in general, so she probably couldn't eat spicy meats from any restaurant. One person even sighted that they had a pound of chicken wings after their disappointing lemon zest experience. The restaurant is not a fast-food chain! Why would they be responsible for your chicken wing binge when they aren't serving a vinegar and butter-based Frank hot sauce wing with bleu cheese dressing? For the rest of us that would like to keep enjoying more variety in our food that is unique and homemade, your reviews reflect your lack of inclusion and diversity and that you are sheep who would spend more money on things you could comfortably make at home, but don't, therefore you insist that every restaurant have mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken wings, and perhaps you would pay 15 dollars for a bologna grilled sandwich and fries. Your lack of palate should not go against the restaurant, especially because you acknowledged that the service was good. They tried, but you weren't open-minded. That isn't the restaurant's fault and I am sorry and feel grateful for having a grandma that baked delicious bread so that I could appreciate the experience. read more

Amazing food and staff! went there for our anniversary and even walking in, the bar area, gorgeous! Wasn't overly busy and they accommodated us having a stroller/car seat for our baby. They didn't have the chicken but will be returning to get that next time! The carrots!! AMAZING we got some to go as well and LOVED the salad! 10/10 I will say I would love more variety of different pasta sauces; I know they're new so hopefully in the future! read more

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My mother wanted to take my husband and I to this restaurant, but I was hesitant because I had looked at their menu online and was not impressed. I should have followed my instincts because we paid $100 for an unimpressive dinner. Many of the dishes are made with spicy meats (she has acid reflux so that is a no-no). Many others we couldn't even decipher. The Ceasars salad came with quite a few anchovies on TOP of the lettuce. I know that authentic Ceasar salad dressing does use anchovies, but I was put off by them sitting on top of my salad. I ordered pepperoni pizza and it was SO GREASY! The lasagna was nothing to write home about. They didn't have iced tea. On and on, we were not impressed and would not return. The decor was ugly - I understand the building used to be a car shop. The floor was still cement and they had a large overhead garage door still intact. It was quite unbecoming for such an expensive restaurant. read more

Poor service. They do not return phone calls for reservations. Definitely experiencing growing pains of a novice restaurant. Once service improves, the food will be great. read more

Josephine's Italian Restaurant - Menu - Italian Near Me - Fruita, Colorado

Food was delicious, service was excellent. Loved the meatballs as an appetizer. Very flavorful all around. The only down side was the noise level. I'd recommend giving this a try. Compared to local Italian restaurants I'd say this one rules. read more

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The food was great! I recommend the pizza. They are still trying to figure out the service. We took a seat at the bar and was expecting the bartender to take care of us. When we needed a waitress at the bar, it was quite odd. We still enjoyed our meal. read more

I really wanted to like this place, and I will give it another go because they are new, but we were really disappointed. The drinks were good and the caprese martini in particular was inventive. However... we ordered an appetizer and 2 entrees and the portions were very small. The braciola was dry and super tiny. Hardly even appetizer sized, and it's a $30 entree. The flavor was really not great, and it was a chore to eat, but I was hungry. They were out of homemade pasta the night we were there and so they served my husband boxed pasta in a very mediocre sauce, all of which I could have replicated for $20 at home and had enough to serve my entire family. The bruschetta was ok, but the bread was a bit stale and the whole thing was cold, which was a surprise. At the end of the meal, we paid our $130 check and left hungry. The building is cute and the waitstaff was nice, but they have a lot to work on if they are going to stay in business. I'm in between 1 and 2 stars and went with 2 because they are new and I am trying to be nice. read more

Food is very good but the menu is limited for now as they just opened. Unfortunately the acoustics are terrible making conversation difficult for everyone so they speak louder making it worse. I will eat there again as it is nice addition to Fruita but I'll wear my noise canceling earbuds when it is crowded. read more

Had the braciole. Was looking forward to an authentic delicious meal but it came out very dry & not much flavor. The sauce was very bland & watery. Definitely needs some improvement and i will give it another try in a few months without writing them off forever. We need another good restaurant in the community. I wanted to give em 5 stars but not even close. read more

Second visit was just ok because the Neapolitan style pizza disappointed us. Not a fan, and all four of our party tried the two pizzas and all of us were unhappy with them. We will return but stay away from the pizza menu. Service was good and restaurant interior is exceptionally clean and nicely furnished. read more

We went during their first week of opening and it was great. Bolognese was perfect. The service was also wonderful, even with so many new employees at a new restaurant. They were courteous and professional even though they were slammed. A beautifully converted building, yes a little noisier than some restaurants. But it was packed so it's to be expected. Our go to Italian spot in the valley. read more

This restaurant is a great addition to the fine places to dine in Fruita. The food presentation was excellent, and very good. The service was excellent. We felt comfortable and would give a 5 star, except for the noise level. If the restaurant is busy the noise level is very uncomfortable to me, and difficult to enjoy your otherwise excellent experience. It seems noise panels would help with the noise level. read more

What started as a date night restaurant one night turned into one of our favorite places that we visit weekly. The staff are so welcoming and friendly. The service delivers every single time, and the food never disappoints. They have homemade pasta dishes, the pizza hits every time, and you must try their limoncello spritz with their homemade limoncello. read more

Outstanding Birthday Dinner! Fantastic Service, Food, and Atmosphere. Highly recommend the Mushroom Polenta.

Don't want to critique too harshly, but there some kinks to work out. Husband and I agreed our entrees were way too salty. I couldn't finish mine due to this. It's noisy! Hard to carry on a conversation without getting loud. Maybe adding some baffle panel would help. I was glad to see the portion size was normal as I hate throwing away food. And the service was prompt and courteous. read more

The best Italian restaurant in the grand valley. Fruita Colorado has a gem in the heart of down town. The home made pastas fills you with love, because it's made with love. The sauces are better than my Italian mother's, sorry mom. The desserts are from a world I only dream of. The staff are knowledgeable and ready for any questions. I will be returning. read more

Was excited to try our new local restaurant but it didn't live up to my expectations. The service was very good but the ambiance is not good, it's loud and hard to have a conversation. The menu is very small and the food was mediocre, without flavor and not in line with the prices. The bruschetta was cold like it just came out of the refrigerator, the lasagna and bolognese were ok but not as flavorful as we had hoped. The $6 tiny scoop of pistachio gelato could have been served aa a few different flavors but pistachio it was not. The tiramisu was adequate but not worth $12. Dinner for three without cocktails or wine was $138 before tip. I hope they can get through the growing pains and rise to the challenge of being a restaurant worthy of patronage. read more

Three of us went to dinner at Josephine restaurant in Fruita. Service was very good our waiter David was very accommodating and explained service menu. one person order the Corvina dish was ok nothing out of the ordinary the other two people ordered lasagna. We did not eat it was so overcooked bland no flavor. Italian food includes garlic and often times onions and always garlic. We ordered for the table meatballs they were ok. A basket with bread was not good cold bread and different slices of bread nothing like Italian bread warm and crusty. We were hopeful that this area finally will have a decent Italian food place that is not a national chain. So disappointed with the food. The prices for the quality are too high. We hope they make it and we are willing to wait and go later for a second trial.Meanwhile they need to do some improvements if they will charge such high prices with overcooked poorly seasoned dishes. read more

Not impressed. party of 4 for dinner-3 of our 4 dinner orders not appealing- overcooked dry chicken, inferior Caesar salad, oily & not fresh smelling fish. One ordered broccolini got asparagus. Room so noisy no one could have a conversation. Service was ok but not enough to make up for bad ambiance & inferior food. read more

Had a great evening at Josephine's with some friends from Fruita. The atmosphere was open and bright yet the booths offered an element of coziness. The menu made me feel as if back in Italy. Some pasta dishes but also main courses of fish and meat. The pizzas were delicious my favorite being the arugula- the crust has a great texture and taste. Our server took great care of us and everyone was super friendly. Look forward to another visit! read more

well, as they say, everyone has their own opinions. We tried the place. Not good at all. I realize they just opened and most likely may get better but... No bread at an Italian restaurant? In our experience, unheard of. No small Salad included with dinner? What? VERY small portions. My wife had the lasagna, ($22) very little mozzarella cheese, the pasta was a little burnt, as was the sauce. She seen a lady next to us had it and it looked good. NOT at all what my wife received on her plate. She said my homemade was much better and referenced that is tasted like Stouffer's frozen. I had the Braciole. ($29) Again, VERY small portion, the sauce tasted burnt, there were only 5 tiny pieces, very little sauce. Both entrees were very greasy as well. We each had a cocktail. Now those very good but not $14 worth. Service was just okay. Again, we realize the placed just opened but not impressed. If a restaurant is not ready to open their doors for the first time, they shouldn't open. $82. No appetizers or extras. Not likely we will go back. read more

Josephine's Italian Restaurant - Laz - Italian Near Me - Fruita, Colorado

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Four of us recently tried this place. We did 2 different appetizers and we each had a different main dish. Overall the food was just ok. In general things were over spiced. Pasta was over cooked. Chicken cutlets were kinda dry and not very tender. Venue surprised me. It looked like a converted garage on the outside but the inside was pleasant. Service was way too rushed. It really seemed that our waitress just wanted to get done asap. We wished we had tried the pizza. It looked great. We'll try it again but we'll wait a while. read more

Food was tremendous!! Lasagne to die for - service was great - drinks too! Ready to go back many times!!

We had a very nice time at Josephine's. The food was delicious and the service was amazing. We share both pasta dishes, both very good and very generous, and had desserts. My only critique is the Caesar salad, which was fine, but not quite there. It was a bit watery and thin. I am thinking it needed an egg yolk for a little more viscosity, something restaurants are reluctant to use raw, but nonetheless, an integral part to a great salad such as this. Otherwise...we will definitely be back! I am happy Fruita got such a nice restaurant! read more

Food and staff were great. We got in early their first day of opening. They are too pricey for our budget but we did enjoy the ambiance of the place. read more

Amazing! Fantastic date night or even just get together event. Foods great, Drinks are amazing!

I love this restaurant! The food is flavorful and evolving, the space and atmosphere cannot be beat. The vibe and top notch service always make for a fun night out at Josephine's! read more

The service, food & atmosphere were great. Most authentic Italian food we've had since our time in Italy. We'll be back to try the pizza next! read more

Just an update to my initial review I posted 9 days ago. I was just notified that my credit card was refunded $20 by Josephine's. Wow!! Thanks so much. I did not expect this since I had no proof of what I was charged vs what I ordered. What a class act!! read more

We had the beet tartar, carrots and pizza. All great. Service was outstanding and mixed drinks were wonderful. Very nice date night!