What a treat. Have been meaning to try this place out since they opened and finally did. At first we were being a bit bratty, our initial table was quite wobbly and hey, I wanted a martini, couldn’t have the thing rocking like the pirate ship at the fair. They were very accommodating and sat us at a new table (shout out to our server Chanelle) But more importantly THE FOOD. The food was amazing. Not one thing was mediocre. This is the first place in the greater Boston area where I want to come back and try everything on the menu. We had the cupids arrow cocktails as a Valentine’s Day special which was balanced and still had a nice still rye whisky taste. Next we had their “crispy rice suppli” tomato, basil, smoked pecorino, which is pretty much an arancini ball that was fried to perfection. After that we took the carbonara for a turn and that was our favorite. The sauce was delicious, the pasta perfectly al dente and the prosciutto was thick cut and very well fried. To wrap up we had the “that’s a spicy meatball” deep dish pizza and it was amazing. The outer crust has a crispy burnt cheese end, it was spicy but not in an outrageous way, the cherry pepper flavor really came through and the taste of meatball on the top made me realize I need to come back just to have their classic spaghetti and meatballs. So good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Crispy Rice Suppli
The food is really good: we had Cesar salad, mushroom pizza and mozzarella sticks and all of them were super delicious. The cocktails are awesome - I had Patralla Soprano and loved it. The ingredients used in making the food were fresh and of high quality. There were many options for vegetarians, which I love. For a second it felt like I was eating in at a restaurant in Europe. Loved the place. I went there with 2 of my previous colleagues who we were meeting after a decade. As you can imagine, we had a lot to talk and were there for over 4 hours and they did not rush us.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
My wife and I decided to switch things up a bit and head to Josephine for our date night, lured by good reviews and the promise of a great ambiance. Our first impression was pretty positive, despite the tricky parking situation. Thankfully, the valet service, tucked beside the hotel the restaurant is attached to, came to our rescue, though at a small fee of $15.
As we strolled through the hotel lobby into Josephine, we were met with friendly smiles and quickly shown to our table. We chose to sit outside, enjoying the cozy vibe under the warm heaters. Just a heads up, a jacket might be your best friend if the wind decides to pick up.
Our adventure began with a pair of mocktails. Though the names slipped our minds, the flavors sure didn’t, especially the slightly sour kick of the third one which we thoroughly enjoyed. We started off with mozzarella sticks and oven-roasted wings. The wings were the star with a sweet and smoky taste topped off with a crispy skin. However, two of them were a bit undercooked, a small glitch in an otherwise tasty beginning.
Moving onto the mains, I went for the La Frieda Dry Aged New York Strip. It arrived warm, not hot, and was a tad too salty for my taste. It was cooked medium rare, not medium as I’d requested. A squeeze of lemon helped cut through the saltiness, but for the price, it fell a bit short of expectations. My wife, on the other hand, tried the deep dish Jo’s classic. The 45-minute wait was a bit of a drag, and when it finally arrived, the crust was soggy and overflowing, though the mozzarella was a hit.
To pass the time, we nibbled on some roasted olives with orange peel and chilis, which were a zesty delight.
Dessert came in the form of Zeppole, but sadly, most of them were undercooked, hinting at perhaps too hot of an oil bath. The few that were cooked right were delicious, with a crispy crust that hinted at what could have been.
We wrapped up the night with a cappuccino and a latte, both hitting the right notes, ending our culinary expedition on a warm and comforting note.
All in all, Josephine offered a comfy setting with mostly yummy eats. Though there were a few misses in the kitchen, the flavors were on point and the service was friendly. The ambiance is definitely a big draw, and despite the hiccups, we’re looking forward to giving it another shot, hoping next time the food hits the table hot and fully cooked to enjoy the full palate of flavors Josephine has to offer.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
The drinks were VERY good. But the garlic knots had a weird taste to them. They tasted like they were just left underneath a heating light. We went to also try the mozzarella sticks but they only have them for brunch. We got the the crispy rice suppli which were okay. We shared the chopped clams, parsley garlic pasta that was way over cooked and had no flavor.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 2
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Food was decent. The rice balls were too small . The pizza was good enough but the crust was a bit soggy . The menu is just also weirdly organized. It takes some effort to figure out what is an appetizer and what is a meal.
But what this place excels at is as a wine bar. Lots of good wines and a beautiful atmosphere. For the same price ( or maybe less) than Bow Street you can hang out in an adult sophisticated environment.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Crispy Rice Suppli
I’ve always wanted to try this new place after it opened and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed. Delicious food, great cocktail drinks, attentive servers, and lovely ambiance. The deep dish pizza was great but I couldn’t finish it, so I took it home to finish for breakfast lol.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
So excited for this new addition to Somerville! Great atmosphere and menu. Drinks were delicious and while we liked all of our dishes, the favorite was the "I think we're alone now" thin crust pizza. We can't wait to come back to try the pasta and small plates!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
My wife brought me here for my birthday to try the deep dish pizza. The food was decent, service was OK, but cleanliness was lacking. There were red spiders on my wife's plate when her food was served. I contacted the restaurant to let them know and I did not receive any sort of follow up. I then contacted the owner and all he said to me was "Wow thanks we will look into!" . I guess they aren't very concerned about this.
Will not be going back or recommending to anyone.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1
I think this place was awesome! I came with some friends and we all loved the pizza !! The drinks are delicious, and the spaghetti clam def recommend ! The Porto Napoli is def tasty my Fav drink so far , it’s more on the sweet side which i love! Super cute and my waiter was super attentive and nice.
Beyond a neighborhood gem - this is such a great addition to the greater Boston food scene. You might think $35 for a deep dish pizza is insane, but one bite and you will be convinced. The sauce is rich and the ingredients come together like an orchestra, with each part being gloriously delicious on its own, and increasing the gustatory delight as the flavors blend and enhance each other with each bite.
For starters, it's a gorgeous, modern restaurant with lots of windows. Not a bad seat in the house, but we really did enjoy the outdoor patio. We weren't impacted by the passing showers, and when it cooled a bit to be a typical New England night, the staff offered to turn on heaters above which took away the nip.
Speaking of service - it felt like the staff had 360 eyes. They really paid attention to details and not in an annoying, overzealous kind of way. Just really great customer service.
And the food...beyond the pizza, we had appetizers, cocktails, a bottle of wine, a deep dish pie, a thin pie, dessert, and after dinner drinks, so we experienced "it all." The asparagus was so incredibly flavorful. Such a simple dish, you wonder how it could be so amazing, but it was! We preferred the deep dish pizza, but could not have eaten 2 of them with 4 of us at the meal. I don't even like crust on pizza, but I ate every bite of my slice.
We finished the meal with the torched rice dessert, the beignet-style pastries and some Amaro and vowed to go back soon. The best part: we can walk to it!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
