Josephine's Italiano Ristorante

A word from Josephine Storenski:
They don't make Italian food the way they used to. That's why my husband, Johnny, and I started Josephine's back in 1988. For our friends and family, we wanted to create a comfortable, casual, warm and welcoming place to enjoy Italian food and wine – and we wanted to do it the way we saw it done growing up in an Italian family. It's just me, my husband, my parents and our kids – cooking and serving the foods everybody loves, just the way everybody loves them to be served. It's so simple, really.

I grew up in a household that was all about food and wine. With a mother who was part of the Mandola restaurant dynasty in Houston , I couldn't – and wouldn't – have had it any other way. We learned that there are no real tricks, no real shortcuts and no real mysteries in the Italian kitchen. You buy the best ingredients, treat them with respect so they become the best versions of themselves, and give them every second of cooking time they need. We bring all the patience, care and love we can muster to the preparation of each lunch or dinner. Eat here with us and join our dining family.

Over the past several years, we've re-invested the trust Houston has placed in us since 1988. We've spruced up our main dining areas, and we've expanded into another larger space with a banquet area that holds up to 80. All four rooms are fresh, bright and comfortable – like the comforts of home.

The heart of downtown Houston is where we live and work, like so many family members before us, like our children after us. You do enough good things, serve enough good food and meet enough good people and you'll realize that heart is what good cooking is really about.

Specifically, we are located downtown @ 1209 Caroline St. at Dallas . We are just blocks away from all the main venues downtown, i.e. Toyota Center , George R Brown, Minute Maid Park and all the theaters. We are open Monday thru Friday for lunch, cafeteria –style, with the option for full service for groups with advance notice. Dinner is served Monday thru Saturday with host seating and waiter service. Reservations are recommended but are not required.

We invite you to come and join us for a home-cooked Italian meal. For more information about our accommodations for private parties and group reservations, please click here.