Josephine Bouchon

I’m left without any other choice to provide details of our experience. I did email them- but the first sign should have been picked up when we realized they don’t have a business line to the restaurant. They clearly don’t ever want to speak to any customers and rather hide behind a screen. This is a new restaurant in London and their business practices are just a bit too much. As a business owner, I respect having policies, but when your business deals with human beings, policies can’t be so B&W and stringent. Things happen and to provide a great experience they should listen, think and then respond. But by starting off without even the ability to have a conversation it is obvious that they have no interest in listening to a customer and send you very direct responses that come across heartless, non- caring, and candidly a bit vicious. We came for the weekend to visit our daughter in London. She made a reservation for a Saturday night for two. It is a 50 pound per person reservation requirement. She got her dates confused and didn’t realized we landed on a Saturday and not on Friday morning. She tried to change the reservation for Monday night and couldn’t and it was within the 24 hours of res time. She makes a second res for the following Monday for the four of us, not just her and I. As luck would have it, I woke up on Monday with aches, sore throat and light cough. I had a gut instinct about my symptoms being Covid by too early to test. We immediately emailed (remember you can’t call) and the response was that the if we couldn’t make it then that would be a 200 pound charge. No sensitivity at all. So I dragged myself there with my family. Ordered a soup and salad, barely had an appetite and my family felt so bad. Once our waiter realized that we didn’t order a bottle a wine, and had soup and salad, they were rushing us out to turn the table. Not nice!! You made us go! Trust me we spend money at restaurants!! We tried to tell them, but no they just couldn’t be sensitive. BTW- that waiter may have COVID, since I did get tested. But they probably don’t care about their employees either! So, they charged my daughter the first 100 pounds- even though we still showed up on that Monday. Let’s think about this- people get sick, get hospitalized, have accidents- but they simply don’t care! It’s like they have created a non speaking environment to not deal with customers a d charge away!!! Impossible that they will create a following because repeat business is key to any new business. We are all about trying and enjoying restaurants. We certainly enjoy those we have visited in London and we continue to go back. This was different and giving our consumer business to those that truly can be understanding is who we should support. Not this short sided and rigid practice that won’t even speak to you folks!! We DO NOT support them- they don’t deserve you as a customer!

Anticipation filled us as we looked forward to dining at Josephine’s, the latest venture by renowned chef Claude Bosi. Having enjoyed Bosi’s creations at Bibendum and Brooksland, we expected a memorable evening. However, our excitement turned to disappointment due to the rude demeanor of the General Manager.

Despite the elegant decor and promising menu, the GM’s behavior overshadowed our experience. While the food, particularly the pike fish starter, cheese soufflé, and onion soup, showcased culinary expertise, the pig trotters croquette fell short.

What soured our evening was the lack of communication regarding our time limit at the table. We were abruptly informed of this restriction just before 7 pm, without the opportunity to finish our wines or consider dessert. While the GM didn’t resist our request to move to the bar area to finish our wine, it was only offered after we inquired, leaving us feeling unwelcome.

The dismissive attitude of the GM was unexpected and disappointing, tarnishing an otherwise promising dining experience. While Josephine’s may offer delicious cuisine and an inviting ambiance, the lack of professionalism from management detracts from its appeal.

In conclusion, until issues of communication and courtesy are addressed, I would advise caution when considering dining at Josephine’s. Opting for establishments where both culinary excellence and customer service are valued may provide a more satisfying experience.

First of all, let me say that the food was good and the staff were really nice and I hope this place does well. And I know it has only recently opened, but the overall experience was pretty poor.  We had a reservation for 8.00pm. We stood there for 20 mins before we were even acknowledged (nowhere to sit because one of the staff was using up the only seats inside the door, sat there on her laptop). Eventually seated at 8.25. Have since been told that the reason was they'd had a lot of walk ups. Like that's meant to make me feel better about it...

Once seated, orders were taken quickly and starters delivered within moments - so fast in fact that we'd not yet been offered bread or anything to drink. All too rushed. 

Food was delicious - although the French Fries were a bit too close to McCains' finest. But the decent food and friendly staff wasn't enough to make it a memorable evening. 

The bill for two with a shared desert and one bottle of wine was £220. That's fine, but at that level you'd expect to feel a sense of occasion. We didn't - the tables for two are incedibly close together and we didn't particularly enjoy the experience. 

My advice for the management? Don't keep bookings waiting, ignored, for almost half an hour, don't prioritise walk-ups, don't cram the tables so close together, and if the kitchen didn't close at 9.30 you could stagger your bookings and give a much better experience. In short, don't be greedy. 

If they sort these things out, and I'm sure they will, it'll be a great local Bistro. I wish them luck, but I won't be going back until they've sorted these teething troubles....