Josephine's Southern Cooking - Chicago

My friends and I decided to eat in the josephine’s soulfood buffet at lunchtime. the hospitable was great! most foods were good, however, when it came to the peach-cheese cup, bananenpudding, cornbread and Mac cheese, they cannot touch st. louis. there is no place like home!

This place was under another name and was renovated. I thought they would have upgraded. $30 for a meal that I ultimately threw in the trash. Everything was so bad. Horrible. The mac tasted like store bought generic with vinegar. Why did it taste like vinegar. The Collard greens were ok. Slightly burnt. Maybe cut with another cheaper green veggie. Ok, now for the main reason I went there, Short beef ribs. Um no. They were served on a bed of dressing with is cool because I love cornbread dressing with my short ribs. The dressing was overcooked and slightly burnt. With a weird flavor coming through that's not indicative of dressing. The ribs were indeed tender perfectly cooked, but with no flavor. Even with the gravy, it was extremely unpleasant and bland. I couldn't stomach it. I have a strong palate for umami, and short beef ribs are known for this. I will not be back ever. Great staff and quick service though. I do appreciate that. But the food is not for me.

I wish I could give a good review. I try to support black businesses. Went yesterday for lunch only one other diner was there. When we walked in there was a foul odor in the dining area then we saw a dirty mop bucket with a dirty mop across from our table. It was removed after about 10 minutes but the smell remained. Non customers literally ran in and out if the dining area for whatever reason which made me uncomfortable. Service was extremely slow and our waitress couldn't answer simple questions about menu items. The dressing with my chicken and dressing had an old, slightly sour taste to it I only had one bite. The greens were ok a little sweet but my husband enjoyed his meatloaf with mashed and gravy. I had to ask for coffee twice and the only drink available was a five dollar glass of lemonade. Pass on the 8 dollar peach cobbler, thanks but no thanks. Probably won't be back.

I wish I could give a good review. I try to support black businesses. Went yesterday for lunch only one other diner was there. When we walked in there was a foul odor in the dining area then we saw a dirty mop bucket with a dirty mop across from our table. It was removed after about 10 minutes but the smell remained. Non customers literally ran in and out if the dining area for whatever reason which made me uncomfortable. Service was extremely slow and our waitress couldn't answer simple questions about menu items. The dressing with my chicken and dressing had an old, slightly sour taste to it I only had one bite. The greens were ok a little sweet but my husband enjoyed his meatloaf with mashed and gravy. I had to ask for coffee twice and the only drink available was a five dollar glass of lemonade. Pass on the 8 dollar peach cobbler, thanks but no thanks. Probably won't be back.

Horrible service our first time to Chicago from St. Louis and waited almost an HR with just water and the wrong menu for the first ten minutes if your short staffed let your customers know not just sitting there until after being ignored we just get up and leave had a wonderful Chicago experience until we walked in here and to now know that the loud mouth lady in the restaurant was the owner and she seen us sitting there no service but just church gossiping and saying how many donations she could bring in for some upcoming events she's throwing but her party was waited on while we was ignored for bout and hour... She needs to do better but hey who am I'm just a tourist in your city