This is our go-to restaurant before the theater. It's a delightful experience made special by the piano playing. The staff is very friendly and the French cuisine includes many favorites such as coq au vin.
Michael Vaccari
A wonderful, cozy, experience all around. The Piano Bar makes it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Natasha C
Lovely French restaurant in the heart of midtown with delicious high quality food and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anita Andrade
I have come here twice before once on my 18th birthday and now at 21. I ordered the escargot and the fusili pasta from the menu, then a creme brulee. It was my birthday and I was in a group of 5. The food was sub-par, but the fusili was the worst of the experiences I had with pasta, definitely not what I was expecting at all for a restaurant with that high of a history caliber. My friends and I all enjoyed our time, but when paying we asked if we can al pay our own plates that we fé and the waiter said no because that’ll take too much time and it’s easier to divide the money. Which that would make no sense because some totaled $40 while others over $80 but we all had to divide equally into 5. He didn’t have patience with us which was sad after we spent $300 on the restaurant. I figured it out with my friends later but that put stress on my guests and myself too with a simple correction could’ve fixed with absolutely no headache. Another point is that my reservation was for 7:30, but we all left close to 11. Each of us ordered about two plates each so leaving at that is outrageous. Overall, the ambience and the piano player made the night a night to to remember. Unfortunately, due to this occurrence I will no longer bring a large group of people to attend with me as they do not let us pay separately which is unfair. If looking for a place for two this is perfect for you, but unfortunately as it was my birthday this was not the experience I wanted. Good luck to you guys, please find a better waiter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
Cekiel Danielson
Great restaurant with great food and vibe. Only issue is that the live piano music is violently loud making it difficult to have a good conversation. Piano music was good ... Just way too loud for normal human ears.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dieter
Excellent food at a reasonable price in a pleasant atmosphere—for me, it's a little-known gem in New York!
Laura
It was our first time at this restaurant. It's a lovely space with a nice intimate ambience. There was a piano player in the back. It was lovely. We sat in front to be able to talk, but enjoyed the background music. The menu was not extensive, but had brought choices, French-tinged but also just typical continental dishes. Our salmon, trout, and pork chops were tasty. The service was attentive and hospitable. Pricey, but not for this type of restaurant in NYC.
Donna
Food was delicious and service was spot on. Only complaint was that I asked for my lamb chops to be cooked medium and they were very rare. I never send food back as the cooks work very hard to get everything perfect. I just ate around the too rare parts and enjoyed my meal.
Jeremy Smith
An old world vintage French restaurant in the heart of 42nd St & 9th Ave, boasting superb food and live entertainment of classic Broadway show tunes!
It's a special place .. love the piano entertainment...very small .. but definitely a NYC blast from the past
Sydney Cichon
I had reservations at Chez Josephine and ended up running a little late, but they had no problem accommodating me and still seated us promptly, which I really appreciated. This was my fourth time dining here while visiting New York, and I’ve always found it to be a convenient option for grabbing a meal before a Broadway show due to its close proximity to the theaters.
The main reason I continue to choose this restaurant is the atmosphere. I absolutely love the interior décor and the intimate, swanky feel of the space. The restaurant is themed after Josephine Baker, which adds so much character, and there is plenty to look at on the walls and throughout the dining room. I also really enjoy that they have a singer and piano player, which adds to the Broadway vibe and makes the experience feel special.
Unfortunately, this visit had a few drawbacks. We were seated right by the kitchen entrance, which was very uncomfortable. We were tucked behind a divider with little view of the restaurant, and I was constantly being bumped into by servers and other guests walking by. For a party of three, it felt like a particularly poor table location.
The restaurant is very dark, which does add to the mood, but just be prepared, if you have difficulty seeing, reading the menu will be a challenge. Our server was very friendly and attentive (I regret not catching her name), and service overall was good.
As for the food, I’ll be honest: I mainly come here for the atmosphere and location, not the cuisine. The food is fine, but I’ve never found it to be anything special. My sister enjoyed her duck, and my stepmom was happy with her lamb… I tried both and thought they were good, but again, nothing standout. Unfortunately, I really did not enjoy my own meal. I ordered the tiger shrimp over pesto risotto with Brussels sprouts, and it was extremely bland. The risotto tasted like plain risotto with little to no pesto, the shrimp were large but fairly tough and lacking flavor, and the Brussels sprouts didn’t seem to be seasoned at all.
The cocktail we ordered was okay, but fairly small for the price. Having dined here several times now and consistently feeling underwhelmed by the food, I think this may finally be my last visit.
Chez Josephine is a great choice for atmosphere and convenience if you’re catching a show, but otherwise, it would not be my first choice for dinner in New York.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Adey A
Awesome food,one of the best French restaurants in NYC.
Agnieszka Mrozik
Chez Josephine is an absolutely fantastic place and a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was outstanding — professional, attentive, and genuinely warm, making us feel very welcome throughout the evening.
The food was excellent: beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with great care and quality ingredients. Every dish was a pleasure, both to the eye and the palate.
What truly sets Chez Josephine apart, however, is the live music. The pianist was simply wonderful, and together with the elegant interior décor, created an incredible, magical atmosphere. The combination of live piano music, cozy Parisian-style ambiance, and refined surroundings made the entire evening feel special and memorable.
Overall, this is a truly exceptional place — perfect for a romantic dinner, a celebration, or simply a night out filled with great food, music, and atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Aga Mrozik
Chez Josephine is an absolutely fantastic place and a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was outstanding — professional, attentive, and genuinely warm, making us feel very welcome throughout the evening.
The food was excellent: beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with great care and quality ingredients. Every dish was a pleasure, both to the eye and the palate.
What truly sets Chez Josephine apart, however, is the live music. The pianist was simply wonderful, and together with the elegant interior décor, created an incredible, magical atmosphere. The combination of live piano music, cozy Parisian-style ambiance, and refined surroundings made the entire evening feel special and memorable.
Overall, this is a truly exceptional place — perfect for a romantic dinner, a celebration, or simply a night out filled with great food, music, and atmosphere. Highly recommended!
This is our go-to restaurant before the theater. It's a delightful experience made special by the piano playing. The staff is very friendly and the French cuisine includes many favorites such as coq au vin.
A wonderful, cozy, experience all around. The Piano Bar makes it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely French restaurant in the heart of midtown with delicious high quality food and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have come here twice before once on my 18th birthday and now at 21. I ordered the escargot and the fusili pasta from the menu, then a creme brulee. It was my birthday and I was in a group of 5. The food was sub-par, but the fusili was the worst of the experiences I had with pasta, definitely not what I was expecting at all for a restaurant with that high of a history caliber. My friends and I all enjoyed our time, but when paying we asked if we can al pay our own plates that we fé and the waiter said no because that’ll take too much time and it’s easier to divide the money. Which that would make no sense because some totaled $40 while others over $80 but we all had to divide equally into 5. He didn’t have patience with us which was sad after we spent $300 on the restaurant. I figured it out with my friends later but that put stress on my guests and myself too with a simple correction could’ve fixed with absolutely no headache. Another point is that my reservation was for 7:30, but we all left close to 11. Each of us ordered about two plates each so leaving at that is outrageous. Overall, the ambience and the piano player made the night a night to to remember. Unfortunately, due to this occurrence I will no longer bring a large group of people to attend with me as they do not let us pay separately which is unfair. If looking for a place for two this is perfect for you, but unfortunately as it was my birthday this was not the experience I wanted. Good luck to you guys, please find a better waiter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 2
Great restaurant with great food and vibe. Only issue is that the live piano music is violently loud making it difficult to have a good conversation. Piano music was good ... Just way too loud for normal human ears.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food at a reasonable price in a pleasant atmosphere—for me, it's a little-known gem in New York!
It was our first time at this restaurant. It's a lovely space with a nice intimate ambience. There was a piano player in the back. It was lovely. We sat in front to be able to talk, but enjoyed the background music. The menu was not extensive, but had brought choices, French-tinged but also just typical continental dishes. Our salmon, trout, and pork chops were tasty. The service was attentive and hospitable. Pricey, but not for this type of restaurant in NYC.
Food was delicious and service was spot on. Only complaint was that I asked for my lamb chops to be cooked medium and they were very rare. I never send food back as the cooks work very hard to get everything perfect. I just ate around the too rare parts and enjoyed my meal.
An old world vintage French restaurant in the heart of 42nd St & 9th Ave, boasting superb food and live entertainment of classic Broadway show tunes!
Live music is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
It's a special place .. love the piano entertainment...very small .. but definitely a NYC blast from the past
I had reservations at Chez Josephine and ended up running a little late, but they had no problem accommodating me and still seated us promptly, which I really appreciated. This was my fourth time dining here while visiting New York, and I’ve always found it to be a convenient option for grabbing a meal before a Broadway show due to its close proximity to the theaters.
The main reason I continue to choose this restaurant is the atmosphere. I absolutely love the interior décor and the intimate, swanky feel of the space. The restaurant is themed after Josephine Baker, which adds so much character, and there is plenty to look at on the walls and throughout the dining room. I also really enjoy that they have a singer and piano player, which adds to the Broadway vibe and makes the experience feel special.
Unfortunately, this visit had a few drawbacks. We were seated right by the kitchen entrance, which was very uncomfortable. We were tucked behind a divider with little view of the restaurant, and I was constantly being bumped into by servers and other guests walking by. For a party of three, it felt like a particularly poor table location.
The restaurant is very dark, which does add to the mood, but just be prepared, if you have difficulty seeing, reading the menu will be a challenge. Our server was very friendly and attentive (I regret not catching her name), and service overall was good.
As for the food, I’ll be honest: I mainly come here for the atmosphere and location, not the cuisine. The food is fine, but I’ve never found it to be anything special. My sister enjoyed her duck, and my stepmom was happy with her lamb… I tried both and thought they were good, but again, nothing standout. Unfortunately, I really did not enjoy my own meal. I ordered the tiger shrimp over pesto risotto with Brussels sprouts, and it was extremely bland. The risotto tasted like plain risotto with little to no pesto, the shrimp were large but fairly tough and lacking flavor, and the Brussels sprouts didn’t seem to be seasoned at all.
The cocktail we ordered was okay, but fairly small for the price. Having dined here several times now and consistently feeling underwhelmed by the food, I think this may finally be my last visit.
Chez Josephine is a great choice for atmosphere and convenience if you’re catching a show, but otherwise, it would not be my first choice for dinner in New York.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Awesome food,one of the best French restaurants in NYC.
Chez Josephine is an absolutely fantastic place and a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was outstanding — professional, attentive, and genuinely warm, making us feel very welcome throughout the evening. The food was excellent: beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with great care and quality ingredients. Every dish was a pleasure, both to the eye and the palate. What truly sets Chez Josephine apart, however, is the live music. The pianist was simply wonderful, and together with the elegant interior décor, created an incredible, magical atmosphere. The combination of live piano music, cozy Parisian-style ambiance, and refined surroundings made the entire evening feel special and memorable. Overall, this is a truly exceptional place — perfect for a romantic dinner, a celebration, or simply a night out filled with great food, music, and atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Chez Josephine is an absolutely fantastic place and a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was outstanding — professional, attentive, and genuinely warm, making us feel very welcome throughout the evening.
The food was excellent: beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with great care and quality ingredients. Every dish was a pleasure, both to the eye and the palate.
What truly sets Chez Josephine apart, however, is the live music. The pianist was simply wonderful, and together with the elegant interior décor, created an incredible, magical atmosphere. The combination of live piano music, cozy Parisian-style ambiance, and refined surroundings made the entire evening feel special and memorable.
Overall, this is a truly exceptional place — perfect for a romantic dinner, a celebration, or simply a night out filled with great food, music, and atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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