From Palm Beach Women Magazine
Josephine Tribunella: Josephine’s Italian Restaurant
May 16, 2011
If you’re looking for a restaurant that offers authentic Italian cooking in “smart casual” surroundings reminiscent of Old World Tuscany, you will not want to miss Josephine’s Italian Restaurant in Boca Raton. Signature dishes include Osso Bucco, Dover Sole and Prime Veal. Choose one and pair it with a vintage wine from Italy or California. Then, top everything off with a decadent Italian dessert.
The restaurant is the brainchild of owner Josephine Tribunella who was born in Sicily, graduated high school there, married young and moved to the United States while still a teenager. Fortuitously, her new husband owned a restaurant and Tribunella worked alongside him for many years.
“I always had a passion for cooking and food,” she says. “I was raised in a large family so we always cooked and gave parties.”
For the past 20 years, however, the restaurant where she works has been Tribunella’s own, a decision she has never regretted. “I wanted to be on my own. I had my own ideas,” she said. “I always had the passion to decorate my way, to come up with my own ideas for the food. I didn’t like anyone telling what to do or how to do it.”
That headstrong attitude helped her prevail when catastrophe struck shortly after her first restaurant opened. “There was a fire next door to me and my restaurant got wiped out. My insurance had been cancelled without notification and I had to start all over again,” she explained.
Yet just a year later, her business was back up and running, albeit across the street. She gives the credit to her loyal patrons – and just a smidge to herself. “I succeeded again because I had such a great reputation,” she says. “I’m dedicated to my clients. I really take care of them. They couldn’t wait ‘til I reopened.”
Josephine’s Italian Restaurant has now been making customers happy at mealtime for 10 straight years. It was voted Best Italian Restaurant in Boca Raton, awarded 3 1/2 stars by the Sun Sentinel, is Zagat-rated and, most recently, was featured on “Check, Please! South Florida,” where it received outstanding reviews.
For those hoping to open a restaurant of their own someday, Tribunella cautions that the restaurant business takes a lot of time. “You need to be dedicated. If you don’t spend enough time there, I don’t think you can make it,” she says. She stresses honesty and determination as two qualities that help define a great leader.
Being involved in her community is another reason for Tribunella’s success. “I donate a lot of gift certificates for auctions and raffles,” she says. “My clients who come in are involved in many charities — cancer research, children’s foundations, Alzheimer’s groups and Hospice. I support them all.”
Herself, she is looking to the future, hoping to open branches of Josephine’s Italian Restaurant in nearby cities. Enthusiastic customers have requested Boynton Beach and Delray Beach for starters. Yet she considers her family — children Roberto, Rosanna and Anthony and grandchild, Victoria — to be her greatest accomplishment. She also loves seeing other families enjoy themselves, and watches with interest as their children grow up to be “young ladies and young men.” Soon they are coming in with families of their own.
“For women, it’s a lot harder in the restaurant business,” she confides. “You don’t get the respect like the man does. You have to earn it — and demand it, too.”-Deborah Welky
Read full article at Palm Beach Women Magazine
AWARDED 3½ STARS BY THE SUN-SENTINEL
Review from the Sun-Sentinel Newspaper, April 18, 2008
By DONALD KIM | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
April 18, 2008Reviewing an Italian restaurant can be a challenge. Even hole-in-the-wall pizza joints manage to cover the basics, often quite well. The challenge is to define what makes one stand out.
With entrees priced from $20-$30, Josephine's is positioned toward the upper end of the Italian restaurant price scale.
The expectations for service, ambience and menu creativity are more demanding. Josephine's performs admirably in all aspects, which probably accounts for the longevity of this gem. The owners operate several other well-established restaurants, as well.
The restaurant's Tuscan billing is reflected in many of the signature dishes, such as osso buco braised in vegetable gravy ($34) and roasted pork loin with balsamic reduction ($26).However, the diverse menu covers a slightly wider range of regional Italian fare. The menu boasts quite a few seafood dishes and braised rabbit was offered as a daily special. One item you won't find on the menu at Josephine's is pizza.
From the appetizers, we sampled fried calamari ($9), escargot ($10) and clams Posillipo ($10). The ample portion of fried calamari is not too chewy with thick, rich and flavorful marinara sauce.
The fabulous escargot is served in a traditional platter, each tender morsel buried under thick slices of garlic clove and mushrooms with lots of butter and olive oil. The clams Posillipo is available in either white or red sauce. Although delicious, the perfectly cooked littleneck clams are overpowered by the hearty red sauce.
Although the menu lists several large plate salads, the entrees come with a choice of soup or salad. The dinner salads are basic salad mix served crisp and cold, with the usual garni of garden vegetables. The house balsamic vinaigrette is whipped, creamy and absolutely wonderful.
The seafood collage ($35) is a stunning combination of Chilean sea bass, seared scallops, littleneck clams, a colossal shrimp and broccoli rabe served in a splash of delicate saffron-seafood broth. The veal saltimbocca Romano ($29) cutlet is quite large, with a generous amount of prosciutto and spinach nestled under the fresh mozzarella.
Rabbit Bianca ($37) was one of the highest-priced items but proved to be absolutely sensational. The meat was as tender as rabbit could be. The flavor was delicate and exquisite. There was no gaminess, nor was the rabbit buried in a heavy sauce or stew. Simple root vegetables and some of the braising liquid were all that were on the plate, and really all that were needed.
The side order of Italian meatballs ($8) consisted of two unexceptional but tasty billiard ball-sized meatballs blanketed in lots of the same good marinara sauce we had received with the calamari.
The dessert menu, while adequate, was incongruent with the creativity and excellence found in the rest of the menu.
Serving Dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 7 days a week.
Reservations accepted for parties of four or more
Take Out Available
Complimentary Valet Parking
