Josie's in Winchester

Really lovely food, first time today but and will not be the last. The potato tots were unreal! Everything was just amazing.

Working in the area, popped in for something to eat and a drink. Eggs Benedict and a coffee, very reasonably priced. Very friendly staff. Clean and smart venue.

Awful customer service Joined a vertical queue of which staff stated a '45-60 mins wait' I asked if I was running 5-10 mins late, could I inform them to hold the table? The response was no When I'd requested to be placed further down the list to accommodate for this, they'd also said no. The virtual queue stated time equidistant of 10 mins (in this instance it was 47-57 mins) I traveled to kill some time and was then texted after 40 mins to return and that the table would be held, which I was told earlier they would absolutely not do. Appalled by the lack of service to the customer having to accommodate for the business. The lack of communication was a strong reason to not go back The text sent by staff was... Hey, are you on your way back? We can only hold your table for another 5 mins 😭

The manager of the day with went with short brown hair was very rude and just pointed at a table and didn’t even take us over to be seated which was very unprofessional. Also I hadn’t received a text message with the 15 minutes and the manners used towards me when I came in were disgusting making us all feel on ease and unwelcome. However apart from the unprofessional manners the food was gorgeous as always

Josies has been my cafe of choice in Hampshire for over a decade. However in the last few years, I noticed a subtle down grade in freshness, pizazz and the edge on customer food experience has waned ! Today I visited with my two grandsons. They loved the breakfast pancakes. I didn’t like my choice of butter beans in a sauce on toast with two poached egg on top. I told the staff it was boring and bland and i ate the eggs but left the rest. In hindsight I should have refused to accept the dish and ordered something else. The chef seemed to have plopped a handful of cooked butter beans on toast then drizzled a tasteless made sauce into the beans. How creative is this? Why not make butter bean pate or mix with guacamole or something that excites the tastebuds ! When I was paying the bill the manager was aware of my unhappy experience, she uttered some less than empathetic words of consolation at my demise but at no time offered to reduce my bill …. Even a few quid off for the boringly bland breakfast butter beans would have motivated me to return. With food standards falling I also feel an arrogance has crept into the staff attitude at Josies. I guess there is a price to pay for being too popular . Maybe the cafe owners are resting on laurels, ah well, fair play to them for creating a real success story. Will I go back in a hurry? I’m sure I will take my grandsons back soon but there’s so many excellent cafes on par with Josies that are closer to my home near Southampton. Ten years ago Josies were really genuinely special . . Hope they make it back to being special again !! .

This was our first visit to Josie's, Bishops Waltham, in ages. We timed it well, so had a choice of tables, and the staff were very attentive. Having chosen from the specials menu, we had our drinks while waiting for the food. My dish was superb- tender chicken, peri peri sauce, 2 poached eggs on muffins, with hollandaise sauce -a taste treat, and a perfect combination. My husband had a meatball toastie, which he said was excellent. The only minus was that the premises are still very noisy, and there was quite a bit of queuing near the door- it seems they also do a roaring trade in Click and Collect. All in all, a great visit- the food is imaginative and well presented. Staff were lovely.

We popped in at 15.30 on a Sunday just wanting some coffee. The first thing we were told was “We shut in 30 minutes”. This was fine, we just wanted a drink. However we were then ignored until I asked to be served. Then, I wanted to use the toilet, I have IBS, which is my issue but the toilet was occupied for a very long time. When the person finally came out it was one of the staff, who had been cleaning the place, 10 minutes before it shut! Service was surly, slow and unapologetic. I would never go back.

This is the original branch. It is the best too. The location is a winner. The service was excellent The food wonderful. The coffee is strong. 😊 The tater tots and the mushrooms were hot and delicious !

The staff are friendly and efficient, sadly the food and general cleanliness are lacking. My food came quickly, toast cold and bacon cold along with overdone eggs. The counter area is grubby and the toilet is not very clean and there was no soap.

Nice friendly staff - understandable why they have their booking system as the place is small and busy. However, it is all a bit frantic, not a place to relax in with people milling around and queus. Had the big breakfast - decent enough and tasted very nice. Only issue is the food was served luke warm - the plates obviously not heated so was pretty cold by the time you finished the meal. Ideally they need to move to bigger premises so there is less pressure and a more relaxed atmosphere. To clarify - we went on weds morning not a weekend

Advertises as walk-ins only but arrived at about 10:00am, nobody waiting, three tables of two available in full view and told had to wait at least half an hour. So clearly reservations are permitted or does the Bishops Waltham shop discriminate against solo customers?

This is the original Josies. Bishops Waltham is a lovely, quaint little rural town. This review follows two visits. What is referred to herein reflects the consistent standards found after two visits to this location. Josies is a major draw in the town There is a waiting list much of the time - they DO NOT take prior bookings. We had to wait about 20 minutes. Like the other Josies locations I attended this one with my partner. When we arrived - after receiving the text saying the table was free - we were warmly welcomed and guided to our table. As for the other branches we have attended the staff all look to be very young. Drinks were provided very quickly - this seems to be a consistent element of the service routine within the franchise as a whole - which was a good thing given the cold weather outside. The mushrooms on toast are a joy. This not the cheapest option but the food is wonderful.

The food is great but the customer service poor and the staff are rude. The app queuing system doesn’t work for all. When you arrive and there are tables you are turned away even if no one of there waiting. You would have to wait 30 mins or more, and the food is not that good. Shame you cannot add you name via the app, and then arrive. It would not waste your time and may encourage locals to come back and eat there

I’ve visited many times and had a great experience but it feels like that was down to the ‘old’ staff that had a brilliant way with customers but are sadly no longer there. The turn up and wait system is very frustrating; a little bit of empathy goes a long way. Anything more than a party of 2 and be prepared to wait, even on a a Monday morning.

Its very rare that you go to a restaurant & find the quality of food consistently good. The service is always friendly & efficient. Highly recommend.

Poor service.Staff not interested.Luke warm cappuccino Fruit tea in pot with no handle.When we asked for a glass of water as it was a little too strong just ignored.Wont go again.

There is no booking system, so without fail you turn up and told there is a 50 min wait, complete waste of time, sort it out please

A great place to meet with friends in a bistro style restaurant. The prices are not outlandish, the food is prepared and presented well but above all the staff are a pleasure to communicate with. It was not an over and above service but much better than in most bistros. Added value of this being a licensed premises the house wines were very reasonably priced - note to other greedy restaunters. Parking is difficult in the High Street but parking in a small car park in Brook Street is free for the first hour.

That restaurant was such a disappointment! We waited for a whole hour and a half, and they still didn't bother to seat us, even though we were the first ones in line. And to make matters worse, they let other people in ahead of us. It was so frustrating! Definitely not going back there again.

First time visiting Josie's. Oreo and american breakfast pancakes were seriously good! Service was good and really liked being able to pay the bill via a QR code. Only downside was the coffee. Ordered an Americano which was horrible. Tasted like instant coffee and was bitter. It was undrinkable and had to get a costa after. Will return for the food but not the coffee!

Having heard rave reviews about Josie’s we made the half an hour drive at 9 o clock this morning to try it out. Completely understanding of the fact you cannot book we were expecting a short wait, which was fine. On arrival we were told very abruptly that there were no tables available for two for half an hour. This would have been fine, but we were standing next to an empty table for two, that was not in use, there were two seat also at the bar in the window, and nobody else was waiting. In pointing this out and asking why we could not use these seats, the waitress said “they haven’t arrived yet.” How this is possible at a non booking establishment I do not know, unless it’s a case of “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Either way, our greeting was curt and following communication rude and unprofessional, and we will not be visiting again based on this. Really disappointing.

Turned up free tables, people happily sat outside, told the spare tables were for people outside and a queue existed with a wait of 1.5 hours, crazy and poor organisation on a day when people could have been easily accommodated

Last week I placed an order at Josies Bishops Waltham, only to find when I got my food home it was the wrong order. I took it back to the shop where I got a bit of an apology and the correct bag of food. Once I got back home, the chips and Tata tots were soggy as clearly had been stood for a long time. No way to complain privately via the website. Very disappointing

I’ve have eaten more times a josies than any other restaurant/cafe. It’s does great brunch and has the best pancakes I have ever had. Better than ihop and Saks (in America).

First time visiting Josie’s today and had such a good experience! There’s a wide range of food and drinks available I felt spoilt for choice as there was so many great options. The prices are reasonable the service was really quick. It was quite busy when we got there but we was seated immediately. Defiantly will be back again!

Had a fantastic family brunch, everyone ordered different dishes and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. The cafe and ambience was very nice and the staff were very pleasant and professional. Would highly recommend and will be returning soon.

Spend most of my time in Spain - but grew up in the area. During July, August and September I have regularly visited Bishops Waltham and Romsey and consistently enjoy sampling the delights of Josies. The staff are always friendly and helpful and the food delicious.

Josie's was the first place I spotted when I entered the town. I was very pleased with my meal. Reasonable prices, friendly service, good fresh ingredients. It was very busy when I went at lunchtime but I think that is a good sign. If I lived in the town I would definitely eat here regularly.

Got a table without any trouble but the food service was extremely slow. I asked a couple beside me and they were waiting 40 mins already. Had to cancel the food I ordered as had to leave. During the 45 mins I was in there only saw about 2 food orders leave the kitchen. Reading a previous review this doesn’t seem to be a one off. Was there about 11.30 so was not during the lunch rush. There wasn’t any pastries on display to grab and go

The food was 10/10, cant fault it. The service needed some work - however everyone else looked like they were getting a good service & happy so maybe it was just a blip.Think they forgot our order but rather than addressing it just left it & was left waiting beyond 45 minutes for food, after waiting 40 minutes for a table. Fantastic food none the less but due to the reason above almost certainly wont go back. Hour and a half for brunch was just abit of a reach.

I really don't want to give away how wonderful the food and staff were here, would like to keep it to myself. However they deserve the credit, freshly cooked delicious food, fantastic pancakes, very tasty bacon. This is a new found favourite.

We have recently moved to Fair Oak and visited Josie’s for the first time last week for some breakfast and coffee. I can now understand the hype- it’s incredible! So even with all the covid stuff going on the staff are still attentive, happy, friendly and the restaurant was busy (as can be with the social distancing), and the click and collect queue was bustling- which is a good sign.

Excellent food Massive pancakes Gorgeous coffee Must do visit whilst in Waltham not cheap but highest quality

Had a breakfast wrap this morning, collected from Josie’s at Bishops Waltham. I’ve always found their food, drinks and service to be excellent, but this morning the wrap looked, smelled and tasted like raw dough. The English breakfast inside was tainted with the taste of curry, which spoilt it. I can’t email them to complain because they don’t provide an email address. I can’t phone because I’m deaf, so this is my only recourse. Bis

Been here countless times for brunch and never had a bad meal. I must have tried most of the menu by now and it has been delicious every time.

I have visited Josie's on many occasions. For both brunch and lunch. I have never been disappointed from the choices I have made from the menu. Food is consistently to a good standard and the staff are very attentive. You may have a slight delay in being seated but staff always accommodate you as quickly as they can. You won't be disappointed by the menu choice and the queues inside show you how good this place is.

Met friends for brunch and got seated straight away. Ordered at the till. Coffees arrived quickly and food not long after. Lovely hot breakfast and all our meals were served hot and were enjoyed by all. I especially love the cappuccino which is my fav of anywhere I’ve been before.

Enjoyed coffee and excellent scone. Obviously extremely popular local spot for food & more, & one can see why. May be difficult to find a table.

Went in for lunch, but was told we could not have a table the table we sat at as we like to keep it for 4 people! Then promptly seated a 3. Won't be coming back again.

Pancakes to Die For! - the Triple is HUGE - quite a challenge - especially on a Sunday afternoon when you've already had a big lunch! Fluffy, not flat like crepes, and laden with succulent fruit, ice cream and syrup.

Had a little bit of a wait, but so worth it! Best chicken burger I've ever had. Would definitely recommend.

service is polite and helpful. I undertand from others that the food is good, but there are no vegan options - neither savoury or sweet. Veganism is very popular now and it's a great shame that Josie's does not move with the times. The Deli at the top of the high street is great for vegan options - and very nice they are too.

Visited here a number of times and it’s defo the best place for a coffee and full English (Which is alway lush) The coffee here is the best I’ve ever had and that’s a fact! See you next weekend for some more lushness

.. only served here .. enjoy tasty breakfast or lunch menu items or just have cake and coffee .. the staff are very friendly however it does get very busy but don’t let that put you off ..

The food was divine! well worth the 20 minute wait to be seated. Lots of choice in savoury and a fair choice in sweet.

This was one of a number of visits and the staff were as usual very helpful I am not a fan of the current fad of Sourbread so always seek the alternative of brown bread o this occasion I had Crushed Avocado salsa and Pan Fried Garlic and thyme Mushrooms in a hurry quickly served presented well and tasty for an afternoon tea. recommend staff helpful include Liam and Olivia

After following on Instagram we took the drive over to sample this food and it did not disappoint! The service and staff are lovely and couldn’t do enough to make your meal perfect. However one small snag, the decor and the place is tired. Boxes of wine left stacked up and menus that would benefit a wipe over. We had to find our own cutlery from a free table and it felt like the place needed a tidy and clear out. When waiting for food your eye wanders around and it felt like the chalk boards were tired and in some places rubbed off.

Stopped here for toasties and tea on Saturday afternoon. Just brilliant. What a great place with lovely friendly staff. Just a great place to go.

We are regular customers to Josie’s and we love it there! The food is always very tasty and the service is always very friendly. My issues however are with the noise, although this doesn’t bother me it bothers other people in the family and the food is mostly very good quality however it can dip in quality every now and then.

Set in the busy centre of this village, Josie’s is a hub for locals, business people and passerby’s. Great variety of coffee, teas, juices and the occasional bottles of wine are accompanied by a varied menu of light meals, cakes or daily specials.

We popped in for breakfast this morning. Lovely place, great atmosphere, but No vegan option. My omni husband enjoyed his, but I struggled. I had avocado, dry toast (no alternative butter available) beans, one mushroom and 4 cherry tomatoes which cost almost £12! Luckily there was a co-op up the road so I could nip out and buy my own butter. Total spend for me, £14!

There isn’t specific parking for this delightful cafe but there are two pay and display car parks near by that are reasonably priced.

I come to Josie’s when visiting my parents. It serves good coffee (with beans to buy) and the brunch is fantastic. It is normally pretty busy but worth the wait, definitely give Josie’s a visit if you are in Bishop’s Waltham or the surrounding areas.

Amazing breakfasts, great coffee and busy! This is a small cafe, specialising it decent quality coffee which is not the cheapest, but is served hot. The breakfasts are enormous and of quality, but not cheap!

Went for Breakfast and was packed on at 0930 on a Sunday. Nice food and setting depends what your after. If your after a fry up then prob better at a greasy spoon but if you want more variety and don't mind a higher price which the food warrants is worth a visit. Parking on street is limited but car park only a couple of mins walk away.

Been here a few times now, and have to say the food is always great. The place is always packed during the day, especially weekends but food is always quick and with a varied menu selection.

It was my wife’s birthday and we enjoyed a lovely breakfast with 2 of today’s specials. As always the food was lovely and the staff are always very attentive. A regular haunt of ours

We called in just needing a snack in the afternoon and we were not disappointed by this excellent little cafe.

Spent a lovely morning in the village, then enjoyed a lovely meal at this popular venue.

It was recommended by a family friend and it did not disappoint. Perfect place if you want some american pancake and coffee or a chocolate drink there is a wide variety to choose from. Friendly staff and quick service. Will be coming back once again.

Have been going here for years and would normally give 5 stars, but on recent visits it’s deteriorated.

Please, please, please vegan savoury and sweet options - really it is not that difficult! It would make a difference to me and my family and friends

My Daughters birthday - So dropped in here for a late brekky... As always had to wait around 10 minutes before a free table came up.. But then we had time to review the menu!

Delicious food, great atmosphere and great service. Ordered the breakfast tacos, eggs benedict and a couple of stacks of oanckaes. All fantastic. Great coffee too

This place was already buzzing at 9.30 on a weekday, which shows it is popular locally! The coffee was excellent and there is a great range of food on the menu as well. Very friendly wecome too