Welcome to Restaurant Josephine
At Restaurant Josephine, we celebrate the rich tapestry of French cuisine through a curated menu that combines the freshest local ingredients with classic techniques. Nestled in Auburn, CA, our vibrant establishment fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere where each dish tells a story. Highlights include the exquisite Vareniki and Steak Tartare, revered for their mastery of flavor and presentation. Our guests rave about the innovative use of herbs, the welcoming service, and the delightful desserts, such as the life-changing chocolat chaud. Whether for a special occasion or a casual meal, Restaurant Josephine ensures a memorable culinary experience that keeps diners returning for more.
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1226 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, United States Hotline: +1 530-820-3523
Welcome to Restaurant Josephine, an exquisite culinary destination located at 1226 Lincoln Way in the heart of Auburn, California. This gem of a restaurant invites you to embark on a gastronomic journey filled with seasonal ingredients and finely curated dishes. It has quickly made a name for itself, impressing both locals and visitors with its extraordinary offerings and inviting atmosphere.
The reviews speak volumes, with many patrons appreciating the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients that evoke the flavors of homegrown produce. This attention to detail is evident in every plate, from the elegantly presented starters to the sumptuous mains. Diners have raved about the Yukon Gold Potato Vareniki, which is often described as “life-changing.” The dish's perfect balance of flavors highlights the chef's skillful use of herbs, particularly fennel and bay leaves, which impart a unique touch to each bite.
As the renowned customer Cameron remarked, the menu at Restaurant Josephine leans towards a sweeter profile rather than overly acidic dishes. Signature items like the Steak Tartare and the decadent French Onion Soup have garnered exceptional praise, reinforcing the restaurant’s mastery in balancing tastes and textures. The depth of flavors in these dishes paints a portrait of comfort while maintaining an air of sophistication.
- Starting with Starters:
- Beet Salad - A vibrant offering that promises both freshness and finesse.
- Tsar Nicolai Osetra Caviar - A luxurious delicacy served with toast points and chives, perfect for indulging your senses.
- Steak Tartare - Praised for its refreshing notes and tender texture.
Moving on to the main courses, guests have enjoyed the Steak Frites, a perfect nod to French dining, and the various fish preparations that consistently impress. Coupled with a diverse cocktail list and carefully selected wine pairings, every meal feels like a special occasion. You might even want to try the house specialties, such as the Mac ‘N’ Mimolette, which showcases creativity through comfort food.
As for dessert, patrons can expect brilliance. The citron tart and almond cake come highly recommended, offering sweet endings that linger in your memory long after the last bite. As Patches_995 stated, the cocktails and exceptional service enhance every facet of your dining experience.
Restaurant Josephine isn’t just about delicious food; it’s about creating an inviting atmosphere where experiences are shared and memories are made. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or merely seeking a delightful meal, the warmth exuded by the staff combined with the restaurant's lively yet refined environment makes it a must-visit destination.
If you're in the Auburn area, gather your friends and family for an unforgettable dining adventure at Restaurant Josephine. Here, exceptional food, superb service, and an inviting atmosphere come together harmoniously, ensuring that every visit is a celebration of flavor.
My wife and I have gone 10 times so I though we would write a review. Here goes nothing. 4.7/5 overall compared to the best This is our honest opinion and is intended for the restaurant owners. The first thing you will is the quality ingredients. I raise my own meat and veggies, and this tastes homegrown, well sourced, and acutely seasonal. And despite what people say, it is well priced. You could go to Olive Garden and spend the same amount (please don’t). (Ever). The atmosphere is tasteful, fun, refined, classic—the kind where you’d say to yourself “I’d like to open a restaurant like this some day.” Crowded, a bit noisy, but in a familial way that makes you happy. The service is quick. Love that. The servers are good, some better than others. Some contribute to the warm atmosphere, others don’t as much. The food: There is a central theme you’ll start to notice among many dishes: The use of fennel, bay, and other fine herbs that stand out just enough to appreciate them, some times masterfully. Especially the fennel. Secondly, the dishes tend to be on a sweeter side rather than an acidic side (I tend to want more acidity), some utilizing a type of Russian dressing more perfectly than others. There is one dish we have gotten every single time without fail: the Vareniki. Some iterations are absolute perfection, others near perfection, and you will find yourself thinking about the dish often throughout your day. Almost life changing. And it’s cheap. Same goes for the tartare. It is my favorite dish, and will change how you think about life, let alone food. Of all the dishes, I would say it most masterfully utilizes the fennel, fine herbs, and that Russian dressing. It is refreshing, clean, tender, and absolutely perfect. It was best with the potato chips. The sourdough is good, but there is better sourdough out there. The desserts are also some of the best you’ll have. The chocolat chaud was life changing, as is the almond cake. if you ever see the wine ice cream, make sure to get it. Mind blowingly good. Citron tart, flawless. The profiteroles have a hint of bay and lemon in the ice cream that will make you want to sing. Try all of the desserts. There are a few things that i wouldn’t necessarily want again: the burger was wonderful quality, but conservative and forgettable. (The fries are always the best anywhere btw). The pork chop is an amazing pork chop, but there is only so much you can do with pork chops. The sauce on the plate is too sweet and it clashes with the sweetness of pork after a few bites. Some of the salads have a little too much going on and don’t have enough acidity (same goes for the burger and the pork chop). I was really excited to try the beet salad, but there wasn’t an acid to counter the sweetness (again). The moule frites were good, but not great. The mac ‘n mimolette was very good, but even better cool when you taste the bay leaf coming through the cheese. Fried Chicken sandwich: most tender chicken you’ll ever eat. Life changing. The French onion soup is good, but the broth tastes more minerally than unctuous and rich. Some broth from cuts of beef that have more connective tissue and collagen taste better. I’m the kind of person that never orders beef steaks at a restaurant because I can always make them better. Needless to say I was hesitant to get the steak frites. However, I couldn’t have been happier. It brought me back to France (was better then steak frites there) and the familiarity and simplicity of a perfect New York cut, perfectly cooked, perfect sauce with peppercorns, and perfect fries was heartwarming. I’m happy right now just thinking about it. Don’t forget to get the aioli. Overall, if you want a perfect meal, get the steak tartare, the vareniki, the steak frites and some desserts. I would choose that meal over anything in northern California right now.
Great anniversary dinner at Josephine’s. Service was exceptional and food was delicious. We started with warm asparagus salad and beef tartare, continued with moules frites and farmer’s cheese veraniki, lastly finished with tarte au citron. All the food was amazing, however, the warm asparagus salad and veraniki were standout dishes. The cocktails were great and the value for the quality of food and level of service is the best we’ve experienced in the past year. I can’t recommend Josephine’s enough, we’ll absolutely be returning.
Words can’t explain how much I love Restaurant Josephine. The food, the atmosphere, the service. . Superior, but also comfortable and inviting.
Had a reservation but decided to come in about 15 minutes early. The host had a table ready and was sat right away. The food was amazing, and Franks suggestions for food and specials were on point. Overall, it was a very pleasant dining experience with exceptional food and service. Can't wait to visit again.
Great experience at Josephine's! The food was excellent. We started with cesar salad, and French Onion soup, then had the salmon, and steak for the main course. Our wine and old fashion drinks were tasty. The service and atmosphere were excellent as well.
My wife and I went here for the first time, on our anniversary. The cocktails, appetizers, entrees and desserts we had were amazing. The service was great. Everything about our experience there was 10/10.
Great service (at the bar; edited 3/12/25 - everywhere). Busy spot. If you don't have a reservation, best to show up at opening and nab a spot at the bar. Otherwise, bar turns over about 1.5 hrs after opening as the first wave finishes up. Good (edited 3/12/25 - great) wine selection, big list of cocktails, nice menu variety. ... And the best (and best cooked) piece of fish I'd had in a long while! Sorry for the half eaten plates in the pics... Couldn't help it.
What an incredible place. You walk in and the ambiance greets. Josiah & Sophia served us at the bar. Robert took care of us for the evening. His expertise in recommending the dishes were spot on. We were all so impressed with food. It was incredible. By the way, you can also bring your own for a cork fee. Highly recommend Restaurant Josephine. The dinner was an experience and a journey about French food. Shout out to Josiah, Sophia and Robert for making great for my sister’s birthday. Thank you Courtney for working with me. They love your restaurant and we can see why!