Josephine's Filipino

Went there for my birthday last Thursday, had a really enjoyable and relaxing time with my fiance. I had some really tasty barbeque pork that went lovely with the rice. Sauce really soaked into it, I can taste it now just thinking about it!

My girl had the chicken in the "south sea sauce". She liked it, she finished her plate and went after the steamed fish we were sharing!
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Johnathan Ellis
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 11, 2007

I went to Josephine's with my fiance for an impromptu dinner after some late night shopping in the West End. We decided on the restaurant as we hadn't tried filipino food before.

We ordered drinks and decided on the set menu @ £18pp. Our starter was two pieces of chicken satay with peanut sauce and 2 vegetable spring rolls. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm of the staff was not matched by the quality of the food. The chicken satay was tough and rubbery, I suspect the victim of a 'reheating in a microwave' job. The spring roll pastry was equally leathery and almost tasteless.

For the first time ever in a restaurant, we've asked for the bill (for drinks only) and left immediately.

I couldn't recommend this restaurant less!

I c
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Sam A.
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Friday, December 01, 2006

I must have been in my teens when I first stepped foot into Josephine's. I have to admit that since that must have been more than seven years ago with a long forgotten first love, the memory of the restaurant and the food went with him too. However, I definitely do remember the garlic rice as it has somewhat become a part of my own culinary adventure.

For old time's sake (and perhaps convenience now that I live round the corner) I decided to dine at Josephine's again after all those years. What an incredible disappointment - another dining establishment on Charlotte St that is definitely struck off my list, making that four along a 10m stretch within a month. The sauces of both dishes that we somehow picked from the menu - stuffed calamari and south sea chicken - tasted as if they were right out of a packet or jar. My trusted dining partner and I left thinking that perhaps we should quit our day jobs and start a restaurant. With our combined abilities in the kitchen, it is plausible that we give these places a run for their money. Either it must have been a bad end to an even worst day, or the reviewers of this restaurant don't know what good food is all about. No more Josephine's for me, I am shopping at Joseph's instead.
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Rather Disappointed
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Being half-filipina, I wanted to show my friends what Filipino cuisine is like. So last night I went to Jospehine's to celebrate my 22nd birthday with 18 of my friends. We were made to feel very welcome and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.

The restaurant, although fairly small, is nicely decorated with beautiful filipino scenes painted on the walls.

There were mixed opinions on the food. I had the tilapia in cocounut milk with rice. This was delicious and just the right amount. Some of my friends felt that the menu did not accurately desribe what they would be getting, for example, mixed vegetables comsisted mainly of lots of green beans and some aubergine. The crispy pork and the bangus were quite dry so were not entirely enjoyable. The adobo went down well as did the stuffed crab and chicken with cashew nuts. We had to wait quite a while for the main meals to arrive but I guess that is to be expected when a large group orders in one go.

There was quite a large range of cocktails to choose from and these kept us busy while waiting for the meals to arrive.

For dessert, I had Halo-Halo. My friend from Bristol had tried Halo-halo before but she said this Halo-halo was worth coming to London for and it made her evening. The casava went down well. It was disappointing that there was no leche flan.

The house wine was resonable and tasted fairly good.

Although most of the food was lovely and the service was great, I felt that some of the dishes were a bit expensive for what you actually got.

Overall, we had a really good time in Josephine's and would recommend it. It seems very popular with the Filipino community, so it must be good.
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Janette
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Sunday, February 19, 2006

Reading the other revies I think we must have been very unlucky! Josephines was the worst restaurent I have eaten at for a long while. The service to be fair was ok, however the food quite frankly was awful. For starters we had the spring rolls and tempura prawns, the batter on the prawns was so dark and greasy that you just know that it was cooked in oil that has been reused more than acceptable. I ordered a tradional south sea sauce chicken dish whilst my girlfriend ordered a chicken in coconut sauce, my dish came with about half the amount of chicken than my partners, the chcken in both dishes was over cooked. The sauce in both was so bland that we sent them back after just a bite. The punchline is they still tried to charge us for the dishes we sent back. All in all avoid!!!!!
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Theo
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 10, 2006

i've never been there but my mums filipino and so i know alot of the food there talking about and as i only go to the phillipines every 5 years and to find out there is a restraut with filipino food makes me happy and thinking mabey pinoys work there too makes me even happier i think its exquizit
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laurian
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, February 06, 2006

I have been to Josephine's a few times when I miss my mother's cooking. It is a very mixed bag - there are a lot of things on the menu that taste like the cheap end of the chinese takeaway repertoire (it is difficult to provide an offering truly representative of pinoy food as seafood is so expensive here.) HOWEVER, the lechon kawali is superb as is the escabeche fish and crispy pata. And it is great to have a chubby bottle of San Mig - Nag beer muna tayo! The staff there are very charming too.
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JD
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Tried this place last night with the Times offer, with friends. It's a cosy enough venue, but totally empty until 8.30 when people started to come in. The Times menu a little bland compared to their full price menu so they might be helping by putting more starters so people are inclined to try a larger variety. I had a soup with chicken which was ok, but the chicken didnt really add much to it. As a main I had marinated 'Manila Stek' which was very tasty. All mains are served with a large plate of white rice, very well cooked, and a generous helping of mixed salad. I tried the Pork which had a bright red colour, and it was a good flavour but not a great cut of meat. My husband had Adobo chicken and enjoyed it. We didnt try desserts but they do sound interesting, although mostly with coconut. Interesting, but I wouldnt really rush back.
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Fried Egg Fred
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 24, 2005

Being a filipina married to an English, I want to show my English Husband what Filipino food is all about. We start with a big fresh spring roll and sinigang soup with lapu lapu fish. Very good size starters. For main course we had Escabetse Tilapia fish, very nice, sweet and sour and very big! We also had chicken adobo, our Philippine National dish, very very tasty as well as lechon kawali. Charles very much enjoy the crispy pork on outside and tender pork on inside. With these dishes we have garlic and egg fried rice. He very happy with his meal and I very happy to show him filipino food is very good and very tasty. We both very happy.

I am very proud this restaurant represent Phililppine Food and will come back again with my friends for christmas and my birthday. We enjoy ourselves very much.

Best Regards

Emelda
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Emelda Carrington
Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Was passing through Charlotte Street when I came accross this yellow restaurant. The food is not what I expected when I tried it. Like oriental, but less more tasty, like a cross between spanish and chinese, really really different to other oriental foods, but in a good way. Definatley coming back again!
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Chris Morris
Monday, November 07, 2005