James
"Deep in the brownstones of Prospect Heights, away from the cafés of Flatbush and Vanderbilt Avenues, with their homelier crowds and everyday fare, James glows like a well-kept campfire, luring diners to an otherwise quiet residential block," writes Mike Peed for the New Yorker. "Husband-and-wife team Bryan Calvert and Deborah Williamson have created a resolutely New American eatery kitted out with white-brick walls, wide windows and a long wooden bar behind which barkeeps pour classic cocktails," says Citysearch's Joshua Bernstein.
New York Times food critic Frank Bruni recommends their roasted loin of lamb, "its powdery coat of pine nuts and rosemary enhancing the luscious meat without eclipsing it," and claims that "No bigger, brasher restaurant around town served me an heirloom tomato salad this summer that I enjoyed any more than one at James."
And Chowhound lambretta76 comments on a recent brunch at James: "I did the simple eggs with duck sausage; the duck sausage was outstanding. Dunno if it was made in-house or not, but it was gamey (in that good way that duck is) and perfectly seasoned. For $9, it was quite a tasty breakfast option." What are your thoughts on this place?
Reviews (10)
11217 wrote a review on January 6, 2009 12:04 PM
Had brunch here a few weeks ago and found it OUTSTANDING.
Loved the food, the service was great and the decor was clean and beautiful.
Will definitely be back.
cwbuecheler wrote a review on January 6, 2009 12:08 PM
My wife and I went to James for dinner a few months ago. It's a lovely little place on a gorgeous block of Prospect Heights. The service was very friendly and efficient, with our waiter giving recommendations on both cocktails and food, to both us and the couple next to us. When that same couple asked for a cheese plate (not on the menu), the chefs took it as a challenge and happily provided an awesome assortment. Our own food and drinks were delicious, the service was speedy, and the overall ambience is very nice. It's not even that expensive! We'll definitely be back the next time we're looking for an upscale dinner experience, and highly recommend it to those who haven't yet been.
Santa wrote a review on January 6, 2009 12:25 PM
went a few months ago and had the burger. It was worth it.
I need to check out their brunch now.
bktycoon wrote a review on January 6, 2009 12:31 PM
I live closeby and still havent visited yet bc I always walk by and the patrons look very aristocratic. maybe this is just my perception. Regardless, the place is always packed with people!
FortGfemme wrote a review on January 6, 2009 12:57 PM
My boyfriend and I went the first Friday after the write-up in the NYT. To our surprise, we were seated right away. The pleasantries ended there. The service was slow and lacked any sort of charm that might come with a small, neighborhood spot. The food wasn't memorable. And the drinks, which all sounded interesting and exciting, tasted anything but.
Wouldn't recommend James, especially considering the bill.
bklynrosie wrote a review on January 6, 2009 2:00 PM
James is right next door to our house and has become like our second kitchen. The vibe is chill, the crowd is good looking but unpretentious and the service is quick and attentive. My husband and I find ourselves there almost once a week. Our faves: the burger and the skate, which I like to order with a side of the creamed swiss chard. So tasty. They also have delicious cocktails. All in all a great addition to the neighborhood. Highly recommend.
i disagree wrote a review on January 6, 2009 2:38 PM
omg, i love the swiss chard too! i've been to james a bunch of times - from just drinks to only dessert and everything in between and haven't ever been disappointed. sometimes walk by it on my way home from the train and it is _always_ busy (except modays when it's closed)! the food is thoughtful and reliably delicious, even if it's not super-adventurous. combined with the cozy-but-upscale atmosphere and not-outrageous pricing, it definitely hits the sweet spot. some of their servers are kind of spacey, but to me that's a minor point.
tanner wrote a review on January 6, 2009 3:11 PM
I'm happy to have the place in my neighborhood, but it's certainly not somewhere I'd go to if I couldn't walk there. The food is above average, but I don't find that it lives up to the high marks it has gotten. They need to do way more tasters before the food leaves the kitchen... (way too much salt here, almost none there, beans way undercooked, salad over-dressed and over-tossed, etc.). The place is charming, but as for food, I'd maybe give it a 2.5 if I could. As for value, there ought to be a choice between "about right" and "very overpriced," imo...
latenight wrote a review on January 23, 2009 6:46 PM
I ate here 2 nights ago based on the brownstoner review. I thought the room is great, they got the vibe right. Drinks are ok... Food is not great. Nothing special is sometimes ok when you just want atmosphere. However, the bill was over $150 (tax&tip) for two. 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 drinks, 1 desert. That's $$$$$ for prospect heights. No entree is less than $20 except the burger.
Considering the price, I would never go back. There are plenty of restaurants in brooklyn AND manhattan that slam dunk for that money... This price range competes with Po, Blue Ribbon, locanda vini e olii, etc.
clintonhillbuyer wrote a review on September 9, 2009 1:39 PM
James is about as perfect a representative of "Brooklyn cuisine" as you can find, and I mean that in the most positive sense of what Brooklyn cuisine has come to represent. Awesome atmosphere & a nice, neighborly vibe. I've been a number of times and have never had a bad meal, the smallish menu seems to be pretty well executed. The cooking is sophisticated, adult New American that isn't pretentious or silly No cutesy names, molecular gastronomy or pointless information about where each ingredient came from. The lamb and skate are exceptional, and yes people, get real, leave Brooklyn once or twice and you'll discover that $24 for a (very) generous portion of top quality lamb loin is a freakin' steal. This place would be much more expensive across the river. The lamb, skate, burger, scallops and spinach salad are all very good. All in all, highly recommended.
Post a Review and Rating
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.