We started our Tried & Trusted series because there are times in life when you need a sure-fire thing.
For me, such times include business dinners, when I need the establishment to provide all of the following:
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A warm atmosphere: it needs to be welcoming, comfortable and inviting; nothing blingy; must accommodate tables of two
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Forgiving acoustics: neither hard-surfaces-deafening, nor empty-church silent
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Efficient service: professional, yet warm – not overly solicitous
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A central location: in London, it needs to be near a train or tube station that facilitates my guest’s journey home
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Bookability: I need to be able to make a reservation no more than ten days in advance
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Good food: classics done really well – ideally under a chef with good credentials
Imagine my delight, then, when in April this year acclaimed chef Claude Bosi opened the Parisian-inspired Joséphine Bistro in Marylebone Village, one of my favourite parts of town.
Having dined there three times now – the first time with my good friend Steve (whose judgement in all things culinary is above reproach) for a road test, and subsequently with a couple of my favourite people in the JMA network – here’s why Joséphine Bistro, Marylebone (it has a sister in Chelsea) is our Tried & Trusted Restaurant of the Year 2025:
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Parisian charm: as if magically transported from one of The City of Lights’ Grands Boulevards to Blandford Street, W1, it has a refined, classic – mirror-walled, lamplit, linen-clothed – yet unstuffy look, with real personality
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The right amount of bustle: once service gets going (usually by about 6:30 pm – my guests and I seem to eat earlier than we used to) there’s a pleasant hum; despite the proximity of the tables you won’t be overheard
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Menus for everyone: the uncomplicated, yet extensive menus (and drinks lists) offer something for everyone: this isn’t haute cuisine, but everyday, crowd-pleasing French fare done really well
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Service that gets it right: the waistcoated waiters and sommelier are chatty yet professional; service is perfectly judged
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Eat at your own pace: depending on the occasion, and who you go with, you can be done in under 90 minutes – or settle in for twice that
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Sensible pricing: you can live within an expense budget – or splurge
In a city awash with “concept dining”, Joséphine Marylebone reminds us that the French classics endure for a reason. For me, Claude Bosi’s creation is a benchmark in business-friendly dining.
If it happens to be booked, or you fancy something in a slightly different vein (or location), you might want to consider:
Bouchon Racine, Farringdon. The most intimate of restaurants with an intoxicating ambience whose raison d’être is to shamelessly indulge. Close friends or dates only – reserve ahead!
64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia. With influences from all over France, it’s a very good – and ever-so-slightly British – take on a French bistro. Good for a team lunch or dinner.
Camille, Borough Market. This gem of a restaurant with a creative menu is ideal for a weekend lunch – after you’ve stocked up in the market next door.