Josie's Restaurant

Eating in this restaurant is a challenge if you want to have a conversation. Like many "hip" restaurants on the upper west side, they seem to pride themselves on how loudly they can make the decibel level. The food is good, especially if you want organic or alternative cuisine. However, if you are ordering in and you want it fast, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. They take FOREVER to deliver and as we speak, I am having to heat up my food from their slow delivery service. Always the same. Expect at least 40 minutes wait. Not necessarily worth it.

Based on some of the bad reviews we didn't have high expectations but were VERY pleasantly surprised to receive a great meal at Josie's. All of our meals were tasty. I would go back tomorrow just to have another plate of the black bean dumplings and desserts.

I had heard that Josie's had an amazing brunch. Sunday brunch can be a crush - accepted, however there is NEVER a need for rudeness or even curtness which is what we had from the hostess who was overworked (and probably underpaid). Their policy of not seating a group until all the party have arrived is not unusual. However, when, as the restaurant became busier and busier I pointed out that my friends were just outside waiting to cross the street. This was not well-received and the reply was, quite frankly, rude. We were seated at a perfectly fine table and ordered from a perfectly nice waiter. My pals ordered from the Brunch Special menu which included appetizers, a drink and a main course. I ordered a drink and just a main course and was quite happy to wait for my friends. Apparently the soup was good, the salads were fine. The drinks were fine too, even though the waiter looked stunned when we requested grapefruit juice (not) and Latte (not). We waited a pretty long time for the main courses and when they arrived, mine (Eggs Benedict without the "benedict") arrived WITH the "benedict". I sent it back and waited 15 mins for the order to be corrected. Cold eggs and English muffin. Pal's had b'fast burritos (huge and fine) and "unfried rice" (yuk). The noise was ridiculous (very loud music, bad accoustics and many loud kids). Bill was not enormous, but frankly for what it bought, a ripoff. Sorry, wanted to love this "healthy" place but NOT!

We went for brunch and were completely disappointed. The scrambled eggs were cafeteria style, the potatoes cold, toast tasteless. The chicken breast salad was good, but nothing special. I was excited to find a healthy place where I could get a salad and my boyfriend could still have his breakfast. There is not a chance we'll be going back.

I have been coming to Josie's since it first opened (1993 I think? I must have been around 13). I have seen many iterations of this restaurant and I have tried to hold on, but it's gone way, way , way down .. I used to LOVE the waiters and bartender. Now the service is among the worst I have ever experienced. The menu has become so uninventive, and so mainstream. Where's the vegetarian exploration? Maybe the service is purposefuly awful so that when your food arrives you're so relieved it's there you don't care that all their interesting dishes have been taken off the ever-shrinking menu. I miss josies. My parents, who introduced my back in the day, won't even eat there. I do mostly because of convenience and the shred of hope that the old Josie's lingers beneath the run-of-the-mill new american restaurant it has become.

Dear Josie's, I write this email to beg and plead that you to change your ways. Yes, this is an intervention. Oh Josie's you lured me in with your promise of a healthier option. You promised a place where vegetarians like me could relax and order more than signature appeasement meal. For these things I loved you with all my heart. I have given myself to you time and time again, ordering take out multiple times per week and dredging the cold to see you in person. But Josie's, you've changed your ways. Sigh...tear. No longer can I order take out and expect you to show up with the same thing every time. Long ago are the days when my Josie's salad had every thing it promised and more, like bread and napkins. And Josie's...your servers...the service...you've let me down. Once so friendly they now strike with hate. Once kind and patient I'm now rushed. My orders are forgotten, I'm left lacking beverage and dreaming the bread guys will stop by, even to deliver just a crumb. Oh Josie's come back to me my love. I await your return. Until then I'll keep ordering but at some point I must draw the line. I can let you continue to disappoint.

Since I only eat healthy and keep it organic, I love this place. The shrimp appetizer is great as a meal in itself. I love the potato/spinach dumplings and the capellini was tasty. The best of all is the pineapple/ginger martini (thanks Terry!). My husband who doesn't care usually for healthy eateries loves the steak. I don't understand why the last review was poor, but it's a shame that they had a bad dining experience because I am always so thrilled with the food and have always had a great time there.