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Café Josie
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Caribbean American (New), Seafood, Caribbean [Edit]
1200 W 6th StSte B
Austin, TX 78703
Neighborhood: Clarksville
(512) 322-9226
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Thu 6 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
92 reviews for Café Josie
Review Highlights
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"The Grilled Lobster Cakes is an excellent starter." In 8 reviews -
"And the Venezuelan Chocolate Pot was divine." In 4 reviews -
"6/10) Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa." In 3 reviews
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92 reviews in English
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Review from Jimmy L.
San Jose, CA
2/18/2012
Once again, I'm visiting from CA - and staying in Clarksville this time; family was visitng from East TX, and I wanted to find something in the neighborhood, though I also wanted to shy away from typical Texan fare and wanted something fairly light. Looked on Yelp, and this seemed like the best bet...
Interestingly enough, you go to the address that is indicated here, and a sign on the door directs you around the building and to the back. The restaurant is located in this look nook that you don't immediately see from the street, which kind of adds to the mystery...
The restaurant itself, on both the interior and exterior, were painted vibrant Carribean-type colors. Decor is contemporary, though in the cold weather that we have been having, made it seem a little bit more cold than normal in there. They either don't have a heater, or it wasn't turned on.
The host seated us, and not more than a coupla minutes later, the waiter Nathan came by, recited the specials, and took our drink order. He was super attentive.
We ordered -
1. Crispy Gulf Oysters w/lime cilantro aioli, honey chipotle chile at $12
My companion wanted them; I usually don't like *cooked* oysters, so I took a risk here! The oysters were laid out on a plate with lettuce, tortilla chips, and everything combined with the aioli, made for a great combination.
The oysters were crispy, good, and didn't have the usual sluggish rough texture that cooked oysters have; they were also fresh since they didn't have any of the fishy seafood tasted that you sometimes get with oysters.
2. Calamari w/chipotle aioli at $10
The calamari were also crispy and light - not heavy like you sometimes get in other restaurants.
3. Baby Spinach w/cajeta walnuts, manchego, passion fruit vinaigrette at $5
My companion ordered this with no bad reviews.
4. Crispy Artichoke w/field greens, chipotle aioli, tomatoes, feta, toasted almonds, choice of dressing at $10
Again, everything tastes fresh here. For the price, I got quite a full plate of greens, and a few really decent-sized pieces of artichoke hearts that were lightly fried.
The service from Nathan was exceptional, and so was the food. Most certainly a hidden jewel. -
Review from Jenna M.
Austin, TX
1/22/2012
I must be crazy to be the only one with such a negative experience here. Really, I don't understand why everyone likes it! My friends and I are huge foodies and when we got our meals, we thought there was some joke being played on us. 2 of us got the honey chipotle shrimp, 1 got the tenderloin and the last got the the redfish.
Shrimp: tough, served with a ketchupy bbq sauce (aka not honey chipotle)
Tenderloin: bland, bad cut of meat
Redfish: not cooked enough, fish should be flaky but this was chewy!
All meals come with the SAME sides even though the menu claims otherwise. Also, the "honey chipotle" sauce came on all 4 meals. I mean this had to be a joke, I've had better food at Applebee's.
Also the ambiance was terrible and the waitress had no knowledge of wine. Like not even to the level of "should I have red with red meat?" -
Review from Mike K.
Austin, TX
1/10/2012
Great Date Place!
The place is basically a restored barn with original brick floors, wood beams, and an overall warm ambiance.
Went there with the family and tried a bunch of the menu with nothing lacking.
The crusted Tilapia, Crab Cake and Venezuela Chocolate pot being the highlights.
Decent wine menu and Excellent service round out what turned into a great night! -
Review from Gerald K.
Austin, TX
5/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Party of 6 everyone raved about their food. Service was attentive and non-intrusive. House wine was very good. Appropriately priced. Quiet enough to have good conversation.
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Review from Lynn M.
Austin, TX
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place never disappoints, everything is wonderful. I am surprised it is not more busy.
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Review from Kerry B.
Austin, TX
5/1/2012
Came here for lunch today and was impressed yet again. My wife and I come here often, but today it was just me and my father. I appreciate that Cafe Josie has it's own parking lot so there is usually a spot when we arrive. The bread is served with a sort of butter/garlic/oil mix. My dad ordered the oysters and calamari off the appetizer menu and both were very delicious. The oysters come with a bed of salad greens and crispy tortilla chips. The calamari were good too, served with a sort of aioli. I ordered the redfish with habanero butter. It was not spicy and I did not taste any habanero, but the fish was delicious. Lightly breaded with two sauces. One is a sort of spicy chili sauce, the other is a tomatillo sauce. They go great with the fish and great together. I also tried a side of polenta which came with the same chili sauce, very delicious. Topped with jalapenos and cheese, and inside the polenta is green chilis. We had excellent service and everyone was very friendly. We enjoyed coming here for lunch and would come back again.
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Review from Tyler R.
Austin, TX
2/10/2012
This was my first visit to Cafe Josie. Lunch was excellent. I had the fried artichoke salad alongside the mac and cheese. I'm a fan of ooey-gooey goodness, and an even bigger fan of truffle, so the mac and cheese was perfect for my taste. And when it comes to salad, it had better be a damn good salad for me to want to return. Well, I'll be back over and over again for the fried artichoke salad. Possibly the best salad in town.
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Review from T H.
Austin, TX
4/18/2012
nice quiet atmosphere, authentic carribean flare, above-avg eats.
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Review from Nicole S.
Austin, TX
Updated - 11/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Oh my gosh. The melt-in-your-mouth goodness of this cuisine...
We came here on a Saturday night and made reservations through OpenTable, I just love the location of Cafe Josie it's tucked behind Portabla on 6th, and right next to an art gallery. It's almost like you're going to someone's home for dinner, too cool.
Our waitress greeted us and brought us bread and butter mixed with olive oil, garlic, and sea salt. This was of course delicious, who could deny the awesomeness of bread and butter with garlic?!
The special was a red snapper with a key lime "burre blanc ish" sauce I'll call it, super rich and definitely coronary worthy. The pineapple "pico de gallo" on top of the cripsy snapper was delicious. The fish was cooked perfectly, and served over a bed of rice that had fresh herbs. The entire dish was amazing.
My fiance got the pulled pork and absolutely loved it. Came with sweet potato fries and a habanero mango sort of salsa. It was sweet with a tiny hint of spicy, very good.
I love the cuisine/culinary talent these guys bring to the Austin scene, there's nothing exactly like it. We have interior Mexican, we have Cuban, but now we have Cafe Josie, a sort of fusion between the Caribbean & Mexican cooking styles.
Everyone is super nice here, I like the laid back atmosphere, and the food is incredible.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/24/2010
Wow! I have never been here before but have seen the sign a million times when passing or going to Z… Read more »
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Review from Cyrus T.
10/14/2011
Top notch lunch. Great menu. Excellent service. Can't ask for more. Went for a lunch meeting and this spot really impressed.
I had the salmon lunch special. The fish was cooked a perfect medium with a medallion of herb-butter on a bed of cheesy grits. Superb coffee as well. I'd also recommend the goat cheese appetizer.
Overall a great restaurant. -
Review from Laura B.
Austin, TX
2/23/2012
I love this place!! I went last Saturday for dinner with my family. We always try a new restaurant when they come to town and this time we went to Cafe Josie. It was wonderful. We started off with the herb crusted goat cheese, which was different but very good. I had the beef tenderloin and it was the best I have ever had!! It was so tender and flavorful. My step dad ordered some kind of red fish that he said was great as well. We could not decide what we wanted for dessert so we picked 2. The chocolate pot and the creme brulee. I have only one word to explain how good these both were.....mouthwatering!!!
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Review from Leigh M.
Austin, TX
2/7/2012
Divine. I recommend salmon salad and venezuelan chocolate pot!
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Review from Alexandra K.
Austin, TX
6/5/2011
So I'm doing a restaurant tour based on doggy-eared pages in my Fearless Critic edition from like 2004 or something, and I enjoyed this doggy-ear muchly.
The atmosphere was quaint and tropical and fresh-feeling (whatever that means). Our server was ready to play and said he really had a great time serving people that enjoy themselves. Thank you, Justin, you were awesome too! (p.s. we are kind of really playful)
I had some sort of lobster bisque-type-thing (it was a special) that was quite yummy. I also had a house salad and it was perfect. Their dressings are awesome and creative. My boyfriend had calamari, and because he's lactose intolerant, they brought him out like 3 pairings of homemade sauces for him to dip them in. That was super fun, trying out all the sauces. I then shared an order of the jerk pork with my boyfriend and my friend enjoyed the salmon with pico de gallo. These dishes were really great.
My friend got a glass of red wine, which came in a white wine glass. That was her only complaint. I, of course, learned all about how bigger glasses that allow for more surface area make red wines taste better, as my eyes widened. That's so cool.
Anyway, this was a great place! Why 4 stars? Well, I'm reserving that for places that make me have foodgasm upon foodgasm. Nothing to complain about here, but it just wasn't as good as it gets. So, yay! I'm a fan. -
Review from Thomas L.
7/15/2011
I've been wanting to come here for years. So it's safe to say that when I finally took the time to come here for a special evening, I had high expectations. Most of them were met throughout the night, except for one BIG problem: running out of food.
First off, I get that when you have a "Special of the Night," that does tend to run out. That's okay with me... even on a Saturday. But to run out of your primary menu dish? I wanted to get the beef tenderloin which was easily their most expensive and top dish on the menu. I was living it up. And I was salivating the thought of tasting a medium rare tenderloin with pinot noir. The waitress comes back to tell me they are OUT of beef tenderloin. Is it me or is Saturday night a pretty busy night? Granted it IS the end of the week, but don't most restaurants treat Friday - Sunday as their start of the week? Well, I was saddened by the news and ordered Jerk Pork instead. I didn't make a hissy fit because that's just not classy in a public (just on yelp). In the end, I was still satisfied and I will return to try the tenderloin.
To start off, we had the tuna tar tare, which I thought was very good. The tuna was fresh and there was a great lemon zing to it. As for the Jerk Pork, it was average. A little dry, but not too dry. The flavor was great, but after awhile, the sweetness got to me. However, I did try my gf's Redfish w/ Habernero Butter and I was so angry I didn't order fish! Perfectly cooked and lightly toasted with crumbs, the ancho chile sauce it came with went perfectly with the well-seasoned fish.
Maybe I set the standard too high or maybe I was just let down by the lack of beef tenderloin, but I do give this place 3 stars... I want to come back and hopefully I will be more impressed than I was the first time. -
Review from Gabriel H.
Austin, TX
11/3/2010
Art gallery opening + free Dionysus amounts of wine + free catering from Cafe Josie = awesome.
Why an art opening?
Two reasons
1) I am a closet art nerd
2) I love (good) free shit
Since both of those requirements were so beautifully met at the Russell art gallery opening that I decided to crash, it all worked out beautifully.
The highlights of the catered affair included:
brie cheese with cranberry jam on top
herb rubbed pork tenderloin
roasted salmon fillets
croquettes with a homemade cream cheese
It was damn good, and all of this divine food being paired with ungodly amounts of red wine meant for a jolly affair, to say the least.
I couldn't have been more thrilled with the whole fancy shindig if Elizabeth Hurley decided to perform a reach around on my manhood while feeding me grapples.
Okay maybe it could have been better.
Gabriel -
Review from John S.
Austin, TX
3/4/2011
Ate here a few years ago and thought it was pretty good, so we decided to go back yesterday for lunch.
Food - Good, not great. But, for the price, you'd expect it to dance into your mouth with splendiferous aplomb!
Appetizer - Crab Cakes were really good! It's just that they were the size of a slightly chubby York Peppermint Patty, and much too expensive for being so eensy-weensy.
Main Course - I had the Redfish Taco...Good, but not all that great considering the price involved. Taco was stuffed mostly with lettuce, and the side consisted of a spoon of black beans and boxed variety instant rice. My darling companion had the chalkboard items which were the Tomato and Artichoke soup (way over-salted, canned tomato paste flavor) and Mesquite Grilled Shrimp Salad. Neither were noteworthy in flavor and her salad was MEH.
Bread was pretty good, as was the hibiscus tea.
Service was prompt and actually very very good! Our compliments to our waiter!!! He was very pleasant and well-timed in his delivery of different courses.
I'm not a miser by any stretch, but it just wasn't worth 50 bucks.
Can't say we'll be rushing back to try other menu itemsListed in: Diddle in the Middle
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Review from Lauren W.
Austin, TX
12/6/2010
I absolutely love everything about this place. The food, the atmosphere, the service, the art - everything.
This is a fantastic date-restaurant. The atmosphere is very romantic and intimate. This is definitely a place to take a girl if you want to impress her. This is also a place to go if you want to enjoy some phenomenal seafood, because boy do they know how to cook some fish!
The food is based off cuisine from the "American Topics", so expect lots of flavor and fruity salsas. The Grilled Lobster Cakes is an excellent starter. The Aiolis that accompany it are very good and compliment the lobster cakes, they do not overpower them. The Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa and the Pepita Redfish with Mango Habanero Butter are some of the best seafood dishes I have ever had. Simply outstanding. If you are not a fan of seafood, 1- shame on you, 2- they have some tasty "land" selections to choose from. I've sampled the Jerk Chicken and it was quite good, but if your taste buds allow, go for the fish.
Crap, now that I've written this review, all I want to do is go back to Cafe Josie. Ahem, *hint* boyfriend *hint*!Listed in: Want to Impress the Ladies?…
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Review from Jennifer N.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/19/2011
Cute, intimate restaurant with great food.
The fried artichokes are good. The dipping sauces that come with it are really good. For my entree, I ordered the redfish with mango butter. I highly recommend it.
Good wine list, too. I had the Elk Cove Pinot Gris from Oregon. -
Review from Tony C.
Austin, TX
5/24/2011
We walked in to Cafe Josie after checking Yelp on a whim to see what was nearby. We were pleasantly surprised - the flavors in all of the dishes were fantastic. The garlic/chili/butter/olive oil bread dip was super tasty; habanero hummus was nice and spicy, but not too spicy; and the redfish veracruzano had a good smoky flavor and was well cooked.
The beer selection was good - you should be able to find some of the staples as well as something different to try. Didn't recognize anything on the wine list, so can't comment on the quality. It wasn't a huge selection though.
We were there on a Tuesday night and there were very few people, so service was attentive and prompt.
All in all, a good dining experience and we would definitely go back. -
Review from Katherine T.
Austin, TX
3/3/2011
I can't beleive this was our first trip to Cafe Josie! We had lunch last week. The food was excellent! One of the best crab cakes I've ever had!
Go! -
Review from Sarah M.
Austin, TX
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
*Crab cakes. Grilled crab cakes. Grilled crab cakes with lime cilantro and chipotle aioli. If you're still dreaming of crab cakes (I am) 4 days later, it's time to go back to Café Josie.
We had the Mesquite Grilled Meatloaf - flavorful and dense, it tasted more like a richly marinated Salisbury steak than grandmother's meatloaf. Served over mashed potatoes; snow peas on the side, it was good. But seriously... I could have made a dinner just from the [back to *top].
Café Josie is part of Pecan Square, so any spots labeled Pecan Square are okay to park your car. Ethnically colorful painted walls, island-style grilled seafood, and acoustics that help keep quiet conversations quiet, all play nicely into the café's simple, romantic ambiance.
Enjoy. -
Review from Maggie S.
Austin, TX
11/21/2010
I just love this place. I have been going here on average once a year since the early 90s and it has never let me down. When out of town friends ask for a romantic place with fab food I recommend this place and they all have loved it.
Until my recent September 2010 visit I hadn't been here in a year or two, then in September 2010 a date told me he was going to surprise me and take me some where special for dinner and you can imagine my thrill & delight when he escorted me to the door of my dear old favorite Cafe Josie! It was like revisiting a beloved old friend you havent seen in ages and I was flooded with pleasant memories.
It was a Friday evening and the place was not crowded. The staff was so sweet to us but not intrusive and left us to our pleasures. The salmon and wine was fantastic, as was the salad. My date and I were laughing and in a silly mood and with the romantic setting we kept stealing kisses and in this atmosphere it just seemed right. This was one of the best evenings I have had in I cant remember how long. I always dress up in heels and a dress when coming here but nice jeans or Austin casual would fit in fine.
My date asked me to help him calculate the tip and so I got a peek at the bill which was more expensive than I remember this place being. -
Review from Errol M.
4/24/2010 ROTD 1/13/2011
(WARNING: The opening paragraph contains gender-bias and colloquialisms that are necessary for their effect. If you're easily offended or politically correct, just skip to paragraph two.)
Within the last couple of years or so, I just couldn't care less what people think when I enter a room. But there is one huge exception: I love, love, love, sauntering into an upscale restaurant with a smoking hot woman. Nine out of ten guys couldn't execute a discreet glance if you paid them, and there's absolutely nothing more Alpha-male satisfying than watching them wonder, "Why the fuck is she with him?" Incidentally, I'm pretty sure if you try this in certain bars, you'll get your ass kicked.
Café Josie is a charming and delightful venue for lunch--it's light, bright, colorful, fun, with a simple menu, superb presentation, and wickedly decadent desserts. I confess I was so enthralled by my lunch companion that I didn't pay much attention to our food, which was the pork, salmon, and the two Venezuelan chocolate devilries. The ambiance here plays a big part in helping you lose all track of time.
I did pay attention to why Café Jose is less than perfect for me: I knew parking was an issue coming in, and I had to park three blocks away. The lunch menu seems identical to dinner but at half the price, so there's not that much incentive to walk three blocks in the dark. But the faux pas I thought most interesting occurred after the main lunch crowd had left--with fifteen empty tables in the place, they seated a late-arriving party of three right next to our two-top, eight inches away, and no one else within twenty feet. Sure hoped those three nice people enjoyed our stories, because I know they were taken aback with our continual laughter. -
Review from Kevin N.
5/23/2007
Spare and distinguished, Cafe Josie is one of those rare spots that delivers as advertised on its reputation: home of the fine tropical dining outing in Austin.
In fact, this elegant, clandestine gem of the neighborhoods off west 6th promises a carefully orchestrated ambience nuanced with attentive service, promising wine selections and a noticable attention to detail. Last time in I devoured the Pork Tenderloin with rum glaze (yum) bolstered by a glass of Benton Lane Pinot Noir.
It can likely be a little spendy (but not outrageous) by the time you figure in wine and dessert, and the place has a keen eye on the local art scene (they're currently showing the work of local shutterbug Stephen Cone). Be aware also of the fact that they take a couple of full weeks off throughout the year, usually once in mid-summer (thereabouts) and once around Christmas. But somehow even the quirky (or perhaps logical) schedule adds to the charm.
Cafe Josie is a place that knows who it is, is who it wants to be, and is more than happy to take your dining party along for the ride. All the way to whatever island you imagine. And even if that vacation lasts but an hour or two.Listed in: Austin Downtown, Austin Eats, Austin!
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Review from Jens B.
7/26/2008 2 photos
It was a delayed Susie Birthday dinner, and I had been thinking about Cafe Josie. We had not been there in awhile and wanted to check it out again. So with little Yelp Notebook in hand, we arrived to the little house off of West 6th street.
We were promptly seated, right next to a table that had one patron seated and what looked like to me as evidence that there was a baby at the same table. Then I remembered there was a papa outside walking back and forth trying to calm a little one. We requested to sit at another table, since we wanted a cozy evening, without intermediate wailing. Actually we just got up and went to the other side of the dining room.
When we moved, our waiter Curtis arrived smiling. We apologized, and mentioned the reason why, and he was totally cool about it. As it happened the babino didn't yelp once! But we liked our bigger table anyway. We ordered a little split of champs to start off our celebration, and we were off to the races... First order of business, Calamari please. The squid and all it's tentacles arrived timely, and took over first place for Calamari from the Clay Pit. I like all the little leggy bits, and most places won't serve them that way, so I was happy as a clam...err... squid, well maybe not this particular squid.
At this point, we needed some vino, so we started asking about some of the wines. Here is where service really makes a difference. We were stuck between two whites, Curtis looked and said, let me bring a taste of each and you can make your decision. He returned with two generous tastings and we decided on the Limestone Hill Chardonnay. We ordered our entrees, Pepita Redfish with a Mango Habanero Butter and three chili sauces. We leaned back and enjoyed our wine, and the wonderful romantic atmosphere. Susie looked over to me, pouted her lips a little and drew closer to the center of the table. I took this as a definite signal, and moved closer to the center of the table, which at that point under the candle light, Susie reached over, and with one quick move, squashed a mosquito which happened to be parked and dining on my forehead.. so much for romance tonight...
We laughed, I wiped off my forehead, and the entrees arrived. The Redfish was wonderfully presented, a large portion of fish, with asparagus, poblano rice, black beans with cojita on top, and the three sauces artistically arranged on the plate. The was a large dollop of the Mango butter on my fish with sunflower seeds sprinkled around. The fish was really perfectly cooked to my taste, and the three sauces allowed me to try a bit of sauce with ever bite. I wasn't a big fan of the butter, so I just moved it to the side of my plate, and finished everything else.
Curtis was attentive, and curious about the little notebook I kept on referring too.. we finally told him we worked for a magazine and were reviewing the place for an article....Hey, it's fun to Yelp!
A really great evening, wonderful food, good service and within our budget. We will not forget about Cafe Josie, it's a nice little spot. -
Review from Tee D.
1/9/2009 ROTD 11/17/2009
For some reason, as I was thinking about Cafe Josie, that stupid "You are not the father" clip from Maury Povich came to mind. If you've never seen it, youtube it. The guy does a pretty kick ass dance when he finds out he is NOT the baby's father. Classy, I know.
So, how Cafe Josie and Maury Povich/baby daddies are related, I do not know. Maybe because Cafe Josie is good enough to induce uninhibited dancing? Or because this place's ambiance is the perfect backdrop for dropping the "you're not my baby's daddy" bomb?
Regardless, this place is very sweet and very good. I had the redfish with mango habenero butter, and it was delicious! I would love to come back again, either to try the pork tenderloin, or perhaps, maybe... to do a little dance or drop some terrible news on someone... :)
YOU ARE THE FATHER. Now, pay the GD bill!Listed in: Drop those panties
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Review from Bing C.
Austin, TX
9/17/2007
I like this place. It's solid and consistently good. My wife doesn't like it so much...so...what are you gonna do..
Maybe I'll just take my girlfriend there............ (that was a joke. )
*Update* - Wife says she does like this place. Either I'm a bad listener or she's exercising her womanly right (and tendency) to change her mind. Either way, looks like the girlfriend's out of luck. -
Review from Jack N.
7/15/2007
After reading all the glowing praise for this place, we were so excited to go. Maybe too excited.
In a word... "meh".
There was nothing wrong with the food we ate, it all was fine. Two of our party had the Chipotle Shrimp (not bad, not exciting), one had the redfish (excellent) and I had the grilled chicken (very good, lots of "kick"). The sides were good, asparagus and carrots, both cooked perfectly.
So why the lukewarm review you may ask? Well, let's start with the prices. VERY EXPENSIVE for what you get. Dinner for four with wine was well over $200. For that price, I want Eddie V's level of food quality and service. Our server was a bit odd, I got the feeling she was not happy to be there and was smiling through the mood.
One huge service no-no: one of our party does not like asparagus, so when we asked what the side vegetables were, and were told asparagus and carrots, he asked if they could replace his asparagus with more carrots. When the plate arrived, next to his entree were just 3 carrot slivers - the server said "I guess the kitchen is being mean tonight". Unbelievable for a place charging that much. When we spoke to the manager on our way out, she said "Its probably because they thought he was allergic to asparagus", meaning they didn't give him more carrots because they are cooked with the asparagus. We decided not to point out that they had put three carrot slivers on the plate, so it probably wasn't an "allergy" thing, and instead just left.
I thought the chairs were very uncomfortable, hard to sit and eat leisurely when your butt is hurting.
I was also a bit put off that they didn't offer espresso or cappuccino - just plain coffee. Its a small matter, but I prefer a small cup of strong espresso rather than a full cup of coffee at the end of a meal. Again, for a place charging 'four star" prices, they had some limitations I found significant.
In a nutshell, food was very good, but I doubt I'd go back unless someone else was paying. -
Review from Keri B.
4/24/2010
I was at Cafe Josie yesterday. No, I was not the smoking hot woman that lunched with Errol M, altho I do clean up well sometimes. I was there for dinner. But like Mr M, I was also there with a smoking hot lady that I'll refer to as Ms M and here's how it went down:
Ms M made me feel soo special, with a nice, slightly lingering kiss and hug upon arrival. She then immediately complimented me on my hair and said how gorgeous I looked that nite, giving me a warm glow inside. Josie made me feel special too. She had very attentive servers, a romantic, quaint patio, and a great wine list. We shared two bottles of Chateau Montelena of "Bottle Shock" fame, which also went straight to my uterus.
Ms M looked mighty sexy herself, with her hair slicked back, a nice off the shoulder peasant style shirt and some smokin heels that actually accessorized, somehow, the decor of the restaurant (I've learned that you can dress for every occasion out of her closet). Josie was lookin pretty hot too. A cozy little house, privately set back from the main street and the inside walls adorned in gorgeous floral art, somewhat reminiscent of Georgia O'Keefe. There was a layered, pink carnation I couldn't take my eyes off of!
Ms M charmed and intrigued me with witty, intelligent conversation. We mused over our "bucket list" of places we wanted to travel to in our lifetime. And I think my hubby had wife envy as she spoke knowledgeably on granite tile, T-squares and redecorating her home. I do, however, think her hubby had wife envy as well, since I'm pretty ignorant and complacent about such stuff and therefore not spending a lot of dollars on doorknobs ;)
And this is where my two girls diverged. Josie didn't intrigue me too much. I ordered the infamous red snapper, expecting some spice and also the much maligned asparagus and carrot side. Well now they have carrots (3 sticks) and baby sweet pea pods. Those pea pods were actually the best thing on my plate, followed by the black beans with cotija cheese. The snapper was dull, dull, dull. I liked the crunch of the pepitas, but the 2 sauces just blended together and I don't even remember getting habanero mango butter on mine. They had brought some seasoned salt I think for the garlic butter for the bread and I sprinkled that liberally on my entree, making it more palatable. Hubby loved his steak tho! For the price of the food ($27 just for the snapper), I was not sufficiently impressed.
So, in summary: Ms M 10+stars. Josie 3 stars***. Would I go out with them again?? Ms M anytime, anyplace! Cafe Josie, probably not. Not unless Errol wants to pick up the tab.
*** In all honesty, it's probably not fair to compare anyone with Ms M.Listed in: I'm OK, you're OK, West 6th St
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Review from Isabelle K.
Austin, TX
8/11/2007 ROTD 8/21/2007
Good location, not far away from Z-Tejas on 6th street. But it's not very easy to find a parking spot along the street. We walked in without any reservation and the restaurant wasn't that full on Sat night, so we got a table right away.
The waiter is a little bit slow. He always gave us too long to think about dishes. So I had to look for him twice.
Their menu is simple, opposite of cheesecake factory. The waiter highly recommended their oyster and redfish. So I ordered blue crab soup and crispy oyster as appetizer. The soup is good, but not enough crab and too much lentils. The oyster is breaded and fried. I won't recommend that to anyone. I don't like fried food. But the Lime Cilantro Aioli and Honey Chipotle Sauce is really good. I don't like the fried oyster, so paying $8 just for the sauce is not worth it.
We had redfish and shrimps as entrees. The redfish is tender and mango habanero butter is very smooth with fish in mouth. Only one problem is the flavor is not strong enough. The Honey Chipotle shrimp is good, very strong grilled smell. 8 shrimps are good enough for the entree and it's colorful too. Red, green, orange, black and white. $24 for each is a little bit pricey.
I don't know if the chef is lazy, they have the same vege for all entrees. Every entree dish comes with asparagus, carrots, black beans and rice. Not very creative. -
Review from Ben B.
Austin, TX
2/13/2011
Excellent. Got a nice bottle of Italian wine. I highly recommend the crab cakes. Wife got the jerk pork and I got the meat loaf. Very unique meat loaf and was fantastic.
Service was very very good. They're friendly as hell and very knowledgeable in regards to food and wine. You should go for sure. -
Review from Lisa A.
Austin, TX
7/17/2007
Cafe Josie is my speed. I've always found their waiters to be nice and attentive, their food to be delicious, and their atmosphere to be pleasant, relaxing, and far from pretentious.
Last time we were there I had the beef tenderloin and he had meatloaf. The tenderloin was prepared exactly to the wellness I asked for and both dishes came with "mashers" and vegetables. (I like a place where you do not have to order a side of vegetables along with your meal.) Their entrees are under $30 and I believe the meatloaf was under $20. It's not inexpensive but also do not think it's over priced for a nice dinner in Austin.
It seems like it's hard to find a quiet restaurant these days and with a husband, brother, and father who cannot hear well I appreciate any restaurant where you can go for a nice dinner and you don't have to yell to have a conversation (take note Jezebel and Shoreline Grill). With that in mind Cafe Josie really is a perfect place for a date or special occasion.
Cafe Josie is not infallible but it has held it's own for many years now and I'm always looking for an opportunity to go back for another peaceful and delicious meal.Listed in: First Date
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Review from Larry M.
Austin, TX
3/19/2007
The most PERFECT place in town for lunch, even if the restaurant (easier to access from the alley north of 6th) is next to impossible to find.
The pissy service from our waiter wasn't enough to dampen our incredible lunch here - our 'tropic' seafood was superb, light and flavorful.
The interior really seals the deal - bright, high, naturally lit ceilings with palms and well-chosen artwork. Despite the mood of our waiter, he was well dressed and the team worked the crowd efficiently and effortlessly.
Parents, out of towners, business lunches - perfect. Park behind the restaurant....or good luck.Listed in: Best Lunch, Rehearsal Dinner?
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Review from Jennifer E.
Austin, TX
11/22/2010
We've been here twice now and each time, as we walk out the door, I'm already trying to figure out when I can get back to Cafe Josie. The service was, hands down, the best I've seen in a very long time. I never felt rushed to make a decision. As a matter of fact.... The server (Jason, I think?) was so great at explaining the flavors and helping us with our choices, I just wanted him to keep going!
Let me start by saying, I am very particular about fish, but I can say, without hesitation... The REDFISH WAS TO DIE FOR! My husband had the jerk chicken and previously, the jerk pork.. Both were very delicious, but, I did see him eyeing my redfish with a glint of jealousy in his eyes after he had a taste.
Looking forward to a "wine me, dine me dinner" sometime very soon. I think/hope they do monthly!? -
Review from Aaron W.
Austin, TX
6/14/2008
Based on Yelp reviews, I decided on Cafe Josie to take a friend after I had lost a bet to her. Having never been before, and her not knowing where I was taking her, we drove down six street several times before realizing that the cafe entrance was actually on a side street, Blanco. After finding the place, we realized that the only parking available was street parking, which again presented a challenge to find.
The cafe itself is located in a house that reminds me of an art gallery. Ironically, they do display art in the restaurant, with my favorite being a surreal luchador fighting what looks to be a giant squid. We sat down and were promptly attended to.
I ordered the Mahi Mahi, which came in a spicy sauce that tasted similar to fruit and barbeque. My friend ordered the Red Fish in a garlic and panko crust. The fish was good, and the pairings of sweet fruit with barbeque sauce, along with the spices, were unique but not unpleasant. Like most restaurants in Austin, the atmosphere was causal-dressy. We were slightly dressed up, while others around us dressed in anything ranging from t-shirts to dresses.
The place has a unique laid-back atmosphere, while still maintaining an intimate feeling. Since it is located right next to a neighborhood, we strolled around for a little while in the evening weather after eating. I think the price range and slightly limited menu keep this place from being a much better restaurant, but otherwise, it was an enjoyable experience. -
Review from Brian B.
3/10/2010
Looks like I'm at odds with most of the reviews here. I was not blown away by the atmosphere or ambiance. In all honesty, I felt like I was sitting in an old outdoor garage or patio that had been converted into a dining area (I'm pretty sure I actually was). Call me crazy, but I don't find sloped floors (I almost fell over at one point in the evening and no, I wasn't drunk, yet...), bamboo mats and corrugated tin to be high end. In defense of Cafe Josie, they did have another room that was nicer. I'd request this room in the future if for nothing else to avoid sitting at an angle all night.
We went here for the wine me dine me dinner this month, which at $55 a person (all-in!) is an absolute smokin deal. We plowed through wine after wine (from a company called Bin 36) and six courses of food. The wine was flowing and refills were readily available for those who find that there just isn't enough wine to last through a course in each glass... Each course had a unique wine pairing that was a nice complement to the food. Food was all fantastic with the exception of the tuna sausage dish, which did not make me happy. Judging by the half full plates of those around us being returned to the kitchen, most agreed with me.
I'll definitely go back to try their regular dinner, but I will also be back for the next wine dinner. For the amount of wine, the quality of food, and the included gratuity, you just can't beat this. Prepaid, so you just show up, gorge yourself and then walk out. Nice! -
Review from Anh P.
6/15/2010
OK I've only been here once, but the time I went, it was so AMAZING.
I used to have lunch with a friend and we would pick a new spot once a month. (Now my friend is married with a kid and you know how that goes...) So one month, I picked Cafe Josie b/c according to my Fearless Critic book, this is a great place.
Well I got a redfish dish and crab bisque, drinks and goat cheese appetizer dish. First off all, this is the ONLY place that I have ever seen redfish served. I'm a fly fisher man and I spent my time on the coast stalking tailing reds and catching them. They are a protected species so you cannot harvest them for commercial consumption like other fish. I believe these fish come from Louisiana (well before oil spill :( ) or somewhere that allows commercial fishing. In any case, it was FANTASTIC. The bisque was to die for too. I could eat a gallon of it. The cheese was good too. So were the drinks. I was in food heaven. As with many places, prices are AMAZING for lunch.
Now WHY have I not been back to prob my favorite restaurant in Austin?? Who knows....I need to find a date and just have an excuse to go here. -
Review from Joey P.
Austin, TX
4/2/2007
There's not a lot that can be said wrong about Cafe Josie. The service is first-rate from the second you walk into the restaurant until the moment you leave. Our server was quite cordial, informative, and attentive. I drink a lot of water at dinner and I never found myself chomping on ice.
As far as the food goes, the pork tenderloin is amazing. The salmon with the jerk glaze was cooked perfectly. The portions here are just enough to leave room for dessert and not too heavy for health conscious folk. Try the cobbler.
The wine list was also very thorough and the low markup on bottles was definitely a refreshing change from other restaurants in the downtown area.
Not much more needs to be said about the ambiance that hasn't been mentioned in other reviews. Overall, this is top-notch Austin eating. -
Review from Tara M.
9/23/2007
I have dined here about 5 times with friends who like to share; so, I can say I have tasted most of the menu and all is yummy.
My favorites in order #1 Grilled Pork Tenderloin w/ Spiced Rum Glaze, 2 Honey Chipotle Shrimp w/ green chile Polenta, 3 Mahi Mahi w/ Mango Salsa, 4 Meatloaf...
I have a weakness for their garlic mashers I always order a double serving in place of another offered vegetable - serve me up a plate of their mashers and I will be your slave for the day.... -
Review from Meridith H.
Dallas, TX
12/14/2006
Thanks, Manny, for reminding me of this jewel downtown...but I almost wanted to keep it a little secret. This charming restaurant is tucked away in a building that can be difficult to find unless you know where you are going. The food is super fresh with a focus on seafood. Both the ahi tuna and chipolte shrimp are fantastic.
One of my favorite things about Cafe Josie is the service. Although it is a "nice" restaurant, it is one of those Austinish places that probably would not flinch if you came in wearing casual gear. The waitstaff is excellent and are eager to offer recommendations. You can have also have a conversation without yelling, which is a huge plus...well, depending on who you have to talk to, I suppose.
