COME FROM COOKBOOKS. THEY COME FROM GRANDMOTHERS. SHE WAS THE MATRIARCH OF THEIR FAMILY AND THE SOLE INSPIRATION FOR THE WHOLE DESIGN OF THE RESTAURANT AT JOSEPHINE RESTAURANT IN SOMERVILLE. THAT INFLUENCE IS EVERYWHERE. NAMED AFTER OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHEF MICHAEL SHEFFIELD’S GRANDMA JOSEPHINE, THE SPACE FEELS LIKE YOU’RE WRAPPED IN A MEMORY. THE WALLS LINED WITH FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS, MOMENT FROZEN IN TIME, WATCHING OVER EVERY PLATE THAT LEAVES THE KITCHEN. A LOT OF THE INSPIRATIONS ARE FROM JOSEPHINE’S RECIPES THEMSELVES, AND ALSO MICHAEL’S CHILDHOOD FAVORITES. GROWING UP. THE MENU IS EXTENSIVE, BUT THE SANDWICHES STEAL THE SHOW. I THINK PEOPLE LOVE SANDWICHES BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A COMFORT FOOD. IT CAN BE MADE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THE MORTAZA, A SANDWICH STYLE CREATED OUT OF HOMEMADE PIZZA DOUGH COOKED IN JOSEPHINE’S WOOD FIRE OVEN. THE WARM CRUST LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE AN OPEN FACE CALZONE. BASICALLY, YOU ROLL IT OUT, WE ADD SOME OLIVE OIL IN THE MIDDLE AND YOU SANDWICH IT AND YOU PUT IT IN THE PIZZA OVEN AND IT BAKES UP NICE AND FLUFFY. THE FILLINGS STRAIGHT FROM ITALY. THE ITALIAN HERO PACKED WITH COPPA, MORTADELLA AND SALAMI. WE ALSO HAVE A PROVOLONE SPREAD IN THERE, ALONG WITH SOME ICEBERG SALAD AND A CHERRY PEPPER VINAIGRETTE. AND THE CHICKEN CUTLET CAESAR THAT HAS TURNED SOME CUSTOMERS, LIKE FRITZ, INTO REGULARS. I COME HERE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH AND I REALLY COME FOR THIS SANDWICH, AND IT’S AMAZING. BUT WHAT’S A SANDWICH SHOW WITHOUT A BREAKFAST SANDWICH? THIS ONE IS MESSY IN THE BEST WAY. THAT WAS KIND OF INSPIRED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S FAVORITE SANDWICH, THE BREAD IN THE SAINT ANTHONY’S MORTADELLA AND EGG SANDO IS FILLED WITH OOZING CHEESE AND DRIPPING YOLKS.
At Josephine in Somerville, every sandwich tells a family story
Executive Chef Michael Scelfo channels his grandmother’s legacy into shareable comfort food with a modern twist
Updated: 8:48 PM EST Feb 2, 2026
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Before it was gourmet or Instagram-famous, the sandwich was a solution—a way to turn a full plate into something you could eat with one hand. Today, that simple idea is still evolving, shaped by craft, care, and family legacy.At Josephine in Somerville, Mass., that legacy begins with a grandmother. The Italian restaurant is named for executive chef and owner Michael Scelfo’s grandmother, Josephine, whose influence is felt in everything from the shareable menu to the vintage family photos adorning the walls.The menu leans into comfort food, with oversized, family-style sandwiches that invite diners to slow down and share. One standout is the Italian Hero Mortazza, made with homemade pizza dough, baked in a wood-fired oven, and stuffed with Italian meats, provolone spread, and cherry pepper vinaigrette.
SOMERVILLE, Mass. —
Before it was gourmet or Instagram-famous, the sandwich was a solution—a way to turn a full plate into something you could eat with one hand. Today, that simple idea is still evolving, shaped by craft, care, and family legacy.
At Josephine in Somerville, Mass., that legacy begins with a grandmother. The Italian restaurant is named for executive chef and owner Michael Scelfo’s grandmother, Josephine, whose influence is felt in everything from the shareable menu to the vintage family photos adorning the walls.
The menu leans into comfort food, with oversized, family-style sandwiches that invite diners to slow down and share. One standout is the Italian Hero Mortazza, made with homemade pizza dough, baked in a wood-fired oven, and stuffed with Italian meats, provolone spread, and cherry pepper vinaigrette.
Dining and Cooking