A Peachy's Pick Since 2013 #PeachyPicks #ChezJosephine @ChezJosephineNY Honoring #JosephineBaker Since 1986 by Founder #JeanClaudeBaker Her Son and Today by Original Employee from Day One #ManuelUzhca and #ChrisUzhca Summer 2026 #French #414West42ndStreet between Ninth Avenue and Dyer #TimesSquare
Please say a prayer for our friend Jean Claude Baker, Founder and Original Owner of Chez Josephine and author of Josephine Baker The Hungry Heart: Read Our Book Review Here (our review brought tears to his eyes he says in his testimonial). It is essential reading before you visit Chez Josephine and worth the firsthand experience he had with her told to you in 500 pages based on his twenty years of research. Grok the Xai by Elon Musk has a published entry on Jean Claude Baker right now but not the restaurant as of today.
If your Lobster Salad doesn't smile at you like that, you're not at Chez Josephine.
The original Chez Josephine was in 1926 in Paris so although it is 40 years old in New York this year, its history is a century. (The menu said this in 2013.)
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we knew Jean Claude Baker.
We hit it off immediately.
If you really know Peachy, you know of her love for chandeliers.
We published on the chandeliers even before the food, which was also extraordinary.
His performance that night would put most other restaurant owners to shame because he was just that much better. Jean Claude greeted Peachy and her cousin Andy with Kir Royale. His genuine care for every last detail, his classy manner, his emotional and intellectual aptitude and the experience he was able to present make him truly one of a kind and we are confident he is reading us upstairs.
He left 100 percent of Chez Josephine to Manuel Uzhca, who opened Chez Josephine with Jean Claude on October 2, 1986 and began as a dishwasher and then bus boy, and Manuel was a devoted employee from 1986 to 1991. In 2011, he returned as General Manager and became owner when Jean Claude passed away. Though we are incredibly sad not to see Jean Claude there today, we are happy to see Manuel, left and his son, Chris, right!
We are convinced they are the right people to carry on this historic legacy of a century, and it is your privilege to experience dinner at Chez Josephine; we can tell you in our 17-year history they remain one-of-a-kind and dining here is like going to a classy museum with heartfelt meaning which nearly never happens at a restaurant. Everything you see here is original and was really Josephine's in real life.
You can't miss it on West 42nd Street.
Bien sur mes amis, the food is French.
The chandeliers said: "Peachy, where have you been for the last decade?" and they gave her a virtual kiss.
We began with Tuna Tartare, a classic especially great for a hot summer day. We turned down all alcohol because it was just that hot and Peachy was burning up, but we can assure you the selection is tops and on a cooler day we aspire to another Kir Royale, the precedent that Jean Claude set.
Normally the ginger and sesame oil is on top but we asked for it on the side, and they were happy to do that. Hospitality is revered here at Chez Josephine, and Chris went to school for hospitality. The tuna was refreshing and delicious and was just what we were looking for, accentuated with avocado.
Escargots a la Bourguignonne is another ravishing entry among appetizers, and a staple of fine French cuisine that is not to be ignored.
Of course you have French bread to enjoy the escargot with.
Chez Josephine knows what they are doing all around and naturally you also have the correct fork for snails.
A tribute to the city of Nice, France, Nicoise Salad boasts fresh Ahi Tuna which really does look this spectacular. We never edit pictures. You win like Manuel and Chris or we do not publish. Even though we love Jean Claude, you know we would not still be publishing on Chez Josephine if we didn't also love Manuel and Chris because they keep the legacy alive today with pride.
This tuna along with all other seafood is delivered fresh twice a week.
Anchovies, Egg, Haricot Verts (Peachy's favorite vegetable), Potato, Olives, Tomato and Red Pepper team up for this knockout salad. Lobster Salad is not always on the menu but if it is you should go for it. The triumphant lobster clearly is the star of the show and it has cucumbers, string beans and mesclun singing backup. In both cases they put the dressing on the side for Ms. Pretty Picky as requested.
The Grilled Atlantic Salmon is a competitive performance, and it's sourced from Norway or the Atlantic. It was a perfect medium rare as ordered and along with the Lobster Salad, it was Peachy's personal favorite part of this review.
It's joined by kale and tomato coulis, which are each lovely.
Three Pan-Seared Scallops are an elegant trio perched pleasantly on potato puree along with jumbo asparagus and champagne sauce. Similar to what we said recently for Lise Charmel along the lines of life is too short not to have rhinestones on your undergarments, life is also too short to have your scallops without champagne sauce. Note in both cases the origin is France and our recent studies show that the French do it better.
If you have experienced Peachy's towering height you know she has to love shrimp, and at Chez Josephine, she does. Black Tiger Shrimp are both fragrant and robust as they luxuriate upon an amazing original herb pesto risotto with inviting brussels sprouts. If you shun meat and fish, opt for the Fusilli pasta with black truffle: cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and black truffle team up with asparagus slices and Parmigiano Reggiano if your little heart desires. You know Peachy's heart did.
Finally, for the carnivorous among our readers, say enchante to the Berkshire Pork Chop. Joined by green asparagus and potatoes au grain, it also presents a perfect accentuation with cherry glaze.
Chez Josephine is a total must for your New York experience whether you reside here or are visiting.
72 seats are on the main floor and 40 more are upstairs.
Ten percent of the menu changes seasonally and most of it is original.
Lana Petersen, bartender and Manuel's daughter and Andy Uzhca, server and bartender and Manuel's son, also make this a family affair.
We continue to Highly Recommend Chez Josephine.
