At Josephine’s Italian Restaurant, we’re cooking the way my grandmother taught me—slow, thoughtful, and full of love. From hand-stretched pizzas to housemade pasta, every dish is about comfort and quality.
Menu
Whether you’re sharing plates with the whole family or sipping a Negroni solo at the bar, Josephines's is a place to relax, be taken care of, and feel right at home in Fruita, Colorado.
Our menu items and prices are subject to change.
Appetizers
Beet Tartare — $12
Roasted beets with balsamic, topped with microgreens, goat cheese, balsamic reduction and pistachios. Served with toasted bread
Bruschetta — $11
Crostini topped with slow roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil & whipped ricotta
Meatballs — $14
Italian meatballs served in pomodoro sauce, topped with parmesan
Roasted Carrots — $8
With pine nuts, whipped ricotta, honey, mint, crushed red pepper and oregano
Mortadella & Burrata — $18
Thin slices of mortadella, burrata cheese, sliced Castelvetrano olives, chopped pistachios, drizzled with gremolata and served with toast points
Polenta Fries — $8
Served with pomodoro sauce
Salad
Panzanella & Burrata Salad — $16
Burrata, arugula, tomato, English cucumber, red onion, basil and focaccia with a lemon vinaigrette dressing
Caesar Salad — $13
Fresh romaine tossed in our traditional caesar dressing, grated parmesan, croutons, and anchovies
Fennel Salad — $12
Baby arugula, gem lettuce, shaved fennel, parmesan and crispy prosciutto tossed in lemon vinaigrette
Pizza
Margherita — $15
Tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil
Spicy Soppressata & Ricotta — $18
Spicy soppressata, tomato sauce, calabrian chile oil, mozzarella, ricotta, red onion, honey and oregano
Sausage & Fennel — $18
Italian sausage, stracciatella cheese, fennel, ricotta, red onion, garlic, olive oil and basil
Arugula — $16
Garlic, ricotta, mozzarella, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and romano cheese. Add Prosciutto — $4
Mushroom — $18
Tomato sauce, stracciatella and mozzarella cheese, fresh cremini mushrooms, spinach and fennel stems. Add Sausage or Soppresata - $4
Sides
Asparagus — $5
Sauteed with lemon, garlic and olive oil
Broccolini — $6
Sautéed in olive oil and garlic, topped with crushed red pepper
Bread Plate — $5
Served with olive oil, salt, and pepper
Single Meatball — $5
Served in pomodoro sauce
Pasta
Pasta Pomodoro — $15
Bucatini with tomato sauce, topped with parmesan cheese
Lasagna — $22
Layers of fresh pasta sheets, spicy Italian sausage ragu with ricotta and mozzarella cheese
Orecchiette with Castelvetrano Olives — $19
Orecchiette pasta with Castelvetrano olives, tossed in an olive oil and garlic sauce, sprinkled with breadcrumbs
Bolognese with pappardelle — $24
Jody's Bolognese sauce with veal, pork and beef, over fresh pappardelle pasta
creamy nduja — $22
Spicy pork salami melted down in cream and parmesan, tossed with fresh parsley
Shrimp fra Diavolo* — $33
Fettuccine tossed in a spicy tomato sauce and topped with sauteed wild caught, black tiger shrimp
*Gluten free pasta available upon request (except for Lasagna)
Mains
Braciole — $34
Top round sirloin rolled in parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning, topped with our Sunday sauce and served over Bucatini pasta
Corvina * — $32
Served with Romanesco sauce and topped with herb gremolata and microgreens
Chicken Milanese — $26
Organic fried chicken cutlet topped with lemon vinaigrette dressed arugula, baby gem and fennel salad topped with parmesan cheese
Polenta and wild mushrooms — $21
Creamy polenta with locally sourced wild mushrooms, topped with crushed red pepper
Chicken Marsala — $28
Brined, organic chicken breast in a marsala wine sauce with baby bella mushrooms, served over a bed of garlic confit mashed potatoes
Kids
spaghetti with Butter - 8
Spaghetti with pomodoro sauce - 15
Cheese pizza - 14
Pepperoni pizza - 17
Desserts
Tiramisu — $12
Espresso soaked lady fingers, layered with mascarpone and topped with cocoa powder
Gelato — $6
Choice of Vanilla, Hazelnut or Pistachio. Served with Biscotti.
Olive Oil Cake — $8
Panettone — $15
Cookie Plate — $6
A Celebration of Italian Cuisine
Some of my best memories while growing up in New York City revolved around family, food, and my grandmother Josephine “Josie.”
From Conti’s butcher shop in Maspeth to Fortunato’s Pasticceria in Brooklyn and a quick stop for Italian ices in Corona, I learned at a young age that the best ingredients matter.
Josie's home was an extension of who she was—generous, cheerful—and her door was always open. I can still see her at the stove stirring the Sunday red sauce with a giant wooden spoon, yelling out if anyone remembered the bread from Rosalee’s or the fresh ricotta from Iavarone’s.
Our wish is to transport Josephine’s kitchen to Fruita. “Nothing fancy,” she’d always say, before sitting down at the table in her housedress and slippers. Maybe not fancy to her, but to us, unforgettable.
I came. I saw. I loved.
Veni .Vidi. Amavi.
Fruita Foodies Rejoice! Jeff & Jody have brought us the pro hospitality and excellent food, cocktails, and service they’re known for at Fidel’s! The atmosphere is fun and boisterous, a place for family & friends to gather. I recommend ordering lots of dishes and enjoying family style.
Wow! After a great day riding we were excited to check out Josephine’s. Had some pretty high expectations but man did they deliver! Great food, vibe was awesome and service was spectacular!
THE restaurant Fruita has been waiting for! Beautiful, upscale, warm and welcoming owners, excellent knowledgeable staff, delicious food, and the cocktails are just wow! Do yourself a favor and order the bruschetta or tiramisu martini! Yum!! Thank you for bringing a slice of heaven to our small town.
Thank you for opening this amazing Italian restaurant in Fruita! This place is a step above. Step inside to a beautiful and cozy atmosphere and prepare your tastebuds to be wow’d! A night out is something special for our family and we can’t wait to go back for more at Josephine’s!
Amazing food, service and atmosphere! Will be our new go to in Fruita for date night.
If you’re looking for authentic Italian food made by people who truly know their craft, this is the place. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and we really enjoyed sitting at the bar — the bartenders were attentive and fun to chat with. You can tell the owners put a lot of heart into this restaurant. Whether you’re local or just visiting, Josephine’s is definitely worth a stop. Would give more stars if possible!
News & Specials
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Pssst. Have you heard?
Our story stretches beyond Fruita. In Palisade, Fidel’s Cocina & Bar brings bold Latin flavors and vibrant energy to the table, while Spoke & Vine Motel welcomes travelers with vintage charm, modern comfort, and a true taste of the Grand Valley. Same heart, different vibe—each place made for good food, good people, and good times.
