St James - Modern Caribbean

Food was wonderful and everything was very flavorful. Aloo and Chanda Pies and Crab Accras ( not pictured)was so good we ended getting a second order of both. I just want to say that macaroni pie was the outstanding. Nothing we had was disappointing and i will be back when im in town again. Service was great we didn't have reservations and they were busy for a Sunday night. so we had to sit at the bar. The Bartender I believe his name was Tom he was very informative and helpful when trying to decide on what to eat. Also he made tasty drinks if you go on a Sunday night ask for him. The vibe was nice and trendy had so great places to take a photos. We will be back

Sometimes I really wish that Yelp would allow for half stars, because this restaurant is much closer to a 4.5 than it is to a 4.0.I was a little late joining my party at the restaurant (parking and what not), and the host staff could not have been nicer or more helpful in getting me caught up with my party.We started with the; cassava fritters, and the pork pow. Both were really good and very well seasoned. Not too much heat and spices, which was a relief as one of our party of four was very sensitive to spice of all kinds (borderline allergic reaction but not quite).As we were finishing that first course, I got the Smokin' Mirror drink I had ordered. And if you like truly smoky drinks, then this is the one for you. I LOVE a good smoky cocktail, and this truly delivered. When describing the drink to my co-diners, I described it as being very similar to the sensation of sitting near a roaring fire and having that same type of olfactory sensation. Not quite the same as a scotch drink, but the mezcal really picks up the smoke in the preparation in a lovely way.Our group shared; the brisket platter, the duck & dhal, the maitake masala, and the oxtails. All of the dishes were very good with the oxtails being the least special amongst those four.I thought that both; the duck & dhal, and the maitake masala showed a particularly skillful and light flavoring touch. They were both so flavorful, but not heavy-handed at all. They both had really full flavors, and both were really light going down. I cant' recommend these two dishes highly enough.I'd give the brisket a similarly high rating, but personally I'm not a huge fan of plantains (I know, and I don't need your opinions on that matter of personal taste). For this reason alone, I couldn't rate the brisket as highly as either; the duck or the maitake (both of which being dishes where I could enjoy the ENTIRE dish). Other than the plantain, it was easily as good or better than the duck and the maitake dishes.The oxtail left a little to be desired. There was nothing "wrong" with it at all, but it had moments of just a little "too" much fat. Which made the flavors of the dish a little more overall muddled than the other dishes we tried. The oxtails were good but not great. The restaurant overall was definitely closer to great than good however.And the service at our table was also outstanding. A great choice which I'd be happy to revisit at any time.

I had a lovely birthday dinner at this restaurant! Thanks so much to our server Randell and the manager Chris for great service and kindness! St. James has been on my bucket restaurant list for a while and I am so glad I had a chance to finally try it out. I was able to easily get a reservation online, but please note, that I went on a Wednesday evening. I'm sure the restaurant gets more crowded on the weekend, so I would consider planning ahead. The vibes, food, and service were lovely! And they have a happy hour menu. I definitely plan to return!

If you haven't had St. James, run there now!The pepper shrimp is divine! Everything is cooked perfectly and pairs well with the seafood sauce. Now, the black rice is a node to Haitian Djon Djon. It's not entirely authentic, but still delicious. My husband enjoyed the smoked brisket. This also packs a kick. This comes with their macaroni pie and sweet plantains. Both were amazing. The plantains were perfectly charred and served with a drizzle of caramel. Their most popular appetizer is the aloo and chana pies. It's a fried, chewy dough stuffed with potatoes and chickpeas. Don't be be dismayed, my meat-loving husband loved it! It's just that good. I should warn you it's pretty spicy! I had the spiced cranberry & passion fruit rum punch. This tropical drink has notes of citrus and grenadine. I'm obsessed with anything rum based making this the perfect drink for me. Lastly, our waiter Joshua and the hostess were so pleasant! I will definitely return!

The moment I stepped in the door the host Michelle was so warming & polite it instantly gave me good vibes. The food was delicious I had the Crab Fritters & The Duck with a side of greens, the coconut milk is their secret ingredient. Tom the bartender made the drinks, nothing but the truth !!! Definitely will come back to try more dishes .

This was a great time for a date night. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. Each staff member we interacted with was very kind and friendly. We will 100 percent return. Food 10/10!!Our order:Apps: Jerk Wings Entrees:Brisket Platter Pressed Chicken Our entrees came with coconut rice, plantains, and Mac and cheese pieDessert:Rum Cake - not pictured

delicious caribbean food with atmosphere that fits the vibe!! loved coming here for a birthday dinner. Service was quick & personable which I enjoyed. They made great recommendations and made sure we were good all night. Highly recommend if you're looking for something new to try in the dc area!Duck & Dhal entree was so good. Flavorful but not overbearing Crab Accras appetizer was probably my favorite thing. It was light but also so so goodZurena Highball Mocktail

This restaurant is on my list of places I must go back to. Went here for dinner. The front staff were extremely efficient and communicated well with each other and patrons. A party of 4 turned into a party of 10 while we waited for our table for 2. The front staff politely told them they could no longer seat them and they would have to leave. Professional and to the point. The food was incredible too! Every we had was amazing. The ambiance was nice as well. I would consider putting live plants throughout to add to the vibe. The server was okay, lacked enthusiasm that we witnessed him have with other tables. He also needed cued by us when we needed service instead of close attention. Overall I told everyone I know to check this place out.

OH MY GOD!!!!!unintentionally came here after not feeling the vibe at another restaurant. walked into a nice cozy intimate vibe..was immediately seated, ordered the callalo soup, crab accras, curried crab and cassava dumpling, pepper shrimp, seafood black rice, fried snapper and the rum cake!!! oh and the spiked sorrell drink (i forgot the name)!WHEN I TELL YOU EVERYTHING WAS LITERALLY PERFECT/AMAZING !!!! I DONT EVEN EAT CLAMS AND I ATE HALF OF THEM !!!!Theres no need to even write individually about everything bc again EVERYTHING WAS A 10/10 including customer service!!!!so if youre ever in the area and you want FRESH CLEAN APPETIZING FOOD PLEASE TRY THIS PLACE! i left the restaurant one happy girl ^.^**and we all knw finding parking in DC can be very frustrating but there is a parking garage right around the corner!**

I was very curious about the definition of modern Caribbean cuisine so a visit to St James was needed to find my answer. The restaurant has a contemporary decor and moderately sized for this area of DC. The servers were friendly and did an incredible job of managing the crowded restaurant without an extended wait. Craft cocktails are not my usual experience at Caribbean restaurants but St. James has extensive menu of drinks. However, the food was the real hit with me. I had the Duck and Dhal which was absolutely delicious, the leg is tender and full of flavor. We shared a side sampler of coconut rice, greens and plantains each was great. I was also lucky enough to try the Garlic Pork which is a must try if you visit. I didn't try anything that wasn't impressive. Of course, the city has so many dining options to try but this one I will repeat upon my next visit.