Chez Josephine — Restaurant in New York

Chez Josephine restaurant recently hosted my birthday party for thirty guests. It was a complete disaster, and despite my having been a frequent and loyal customer there for the past three decades, I will never patronize Chez Josephine's again.

Chez Josephine, which had been my favourite restaurant, is a French bistro formerly owned by Jean-Claude Baker, who passed away in 2015. I knew Jean-Claude well, and he introduced me several times to the current owner, Manuel.

I recently had a birthday and wished to make a reservation with Manuel. Unfortunately, he was never at the restaurant during my visits. His manager was evasive when I asked how I could contact Manuel, so in the interest of time I made the reservation through this manager. At first, he was reluctant to allow separate bills for the couples and families in my party. But I didn't want my guests forced into choosing a prix fixe menu, and after some discussion the manager agreed to separate bills, but only if they were subject to a 22% mandatory gratuity. I thought this demand was tacky and extortionate, but I reluctantly agreed. I also paid a $200 deposit, which I believed would be refunded to me once my reservation was fulfilled.

Only on the evening that my party arrived at the restaurant did the manager abruptly tell me that he would only issue one large bill, stating that 'the kitchen was slammed' and that 'I should be grateful I even got a reservation in the first place'. He denied ever agreeing to separate bills. I found the manager incredibly rude and hostile. What followed was a mad scramble to convince everyone in my party to order the prix fixe option to avoid the chaos of sorting out one bill amongst thirty diners. The meals took well over one hour to be served, and in my view, the food was dreadful. Single mixed drinks were an eye-watering $24 each. The deposit wasn't refunded to me, but rather taken off the overall bill despite my wishes.

I am infuriated that my party had to pay several hundred dollars for a mandatory 22% tip, only to receive appalling service.

When I visited the restaurant a few days later to discuss the above fiasco with Manuel, the manager demanded that I leave the premises. I later sent a detailed message to Manuel on his frequently-updated social media account, but to date I have not received a response.

I really miss Jean-Claude Baker. He would never have tolerated the above fiasco. Belligerent staff, bad food, and an unresponsive owner. Jean-Claude Baker must be rolling in his grave now.

UPDATE (February 2, 2024) - After I complained to the Better Business Bureau of New York, Chez Josephine's responded by claiming there was a prior written agreement outlining its position, which is patently false, and that I had requested separate bills only halfway through the dinner, which was also false. Its response then disengenuously offered a gift certificate to me, but provided no amount/details (I am seeking the mandatory 22% tip to be refunded).

I replied to Chez Josephine's BBB response upon the day of receipt. Nothing was ever heard back from Chez Josephine's, and the BBB has advised that it was forced to close out my enquiry as "unresolved by Chez...

First walking in I absolutely loved the warm vibe of this restaurant. Honestly with the comes and the dark wood it reminded me a bit of when I was in Paris. I didn't expect there to be live music but there was a lovely musician playing piano and singing very gently, just loud enough to add to the ambiance but still have conversation at the table.

The service was just right. They were attentive but not naggy and our waiter answered any questions with a pleasant, dare I say even happy, demeanor. He plauded our choices which whether true or false was nice to hear.

Now for the food. I heard this was a good spot for French food and I am happy to report that they did not disappoint. My friends have a tradition of eating it family style.

Appetizers French Onion Soup - I am not usually a fan of French onion soup because there onions are burnt resulting in a bitter taste. However, this is honestly the best French onion soup I've ever had because I actually really really liked it. Not only was there no bitterness, but the cheese they used was divine (I believe it was gruyere, one of my favorites).

Escargots à la Bourguignonne - My friends and I had it in Paris and like to get it as a treat to reminisce about studying abroad. Here it is served pre-shelled and sitting in garlic and herbs so no need to fear accidentally catapulting snails at other diners. (Pro tip: soak up the sauce with the bread they give to the table, you won't regret it!)

Tuna Tartare - I love tuna tartare and theirs was top tier. It is served over an avocado salad and features a ginger sesame oil sauce and it paired with toasted bread cut into triangles.

Main Course Roasted Breast of Long Island Duck with an orange glaze and wild rice - I chose this French restaurant specifically because they had a duck breast dish and they did not disappoint! I'm bias but if the 3 mains we got, this was my favorite. The duck was perfectly cooked, the orange glaze was a lovely compliment to the duck, and the wild rice gave it dinner great texture. Absolutely delicious. I would come back just for this dish

Veal special with truffle mash potatoes - My friend ordered this one and if you're a fan of veal or mash you'll be hoping they bring this special back

Pan-Seared Sea Scallops with green asparagus, potato purée, and champagne sauce - Admittedly, I'm not the biggest fan of scallops. I will say, they were made very well and I enjoyed it when the pastor puree and asparagus.

Dessert Crème Brûlée - We split this dessert and it was on par with the rest of our meal. I feel like the best way to describe it is that the custard seemed perfectly set. Not water, held it's shape but still melted in the mouth. The perfect end to a delicious meal!

I will definitely be coming...

My recent visit to Chez Josephine left a bitter taste in my mouth, and it wasn't due to the food or the ambiance. Instead, it was an unfortunate encounter with a patron who subjected my friend and I to harassment over our choice of grammar. What made matters worse was the restaurant's apparent reluctance to address the issue due to the patron's frequent visits and substantial spending.

Upon entering Chez Josephine, my friend and I were excited to enjoy a lovely evening. We were seated at our table, greeted by the staff, and everything seemed perfect. However, our evening took a sharp turn when we were targeted by a fellow patron, who seemed more interested in policing our grammar than in enjoying their meal.

The situation escalated quickly as this patron loudly criticized our grammar choices, making derogatory remarks and creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for everyone in the vicinity. As Black women dining at Chez Josephine, we already felt like we stood out, but this unwarranted harassment only exacerbated our discomfort and unease.

In our distress, we turned to our waiter for assistance, hoping that they would intervene and help diffuse the situation. Regrettably, the waiter seemed hesitant and unwilling to confront the harassing patron. It became evident that the reason behind this hesitation was the patron's status as a regular and their significant spending at the restaurant.

This unfortunate incident left us feeling unsafe, humiliated, and disheartened. The fact that Chez Josephine prioritized a patron's monetary contribution over our safety and comfort as paying customers is deeply concerning. It is crucial for any establishment, especially one as reputable as Chez Josephine, to prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of all its customers equally, regardless of their status or spending habits.

We understand that no establishment can control the behavior of every patron, but we do expect that Chez Josephine would take harassment and the safety of its customers more seriously. We hope that they will address this incident appropriately and take steps to ensure that all customers, regardless of their background, feel welcome and protected while dining at their establishment.

In conclusion, while Chez Josephine continues to offer an exquisite dining experience in terms of food and ambiance, it is disheartening to report an incident of harassment and a lack of intervention when it was most needed. It is our hope that this review serves as a catalyst for change, prompting the restaurant to revisit its policies and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all its customers...