During my recent visit to Belfast, I found a Josper Grill, so I pretty much ran to this restaurant, James St. I was immediately drawn in by the vibrant and buzzing atmosphere. They had an excellent bar set up. I started with the leek soup, which was incredibly flavorful and light. The seafood salad that followed was equally impressive. It was citrusy which I liked. Both dishes were delicious and showcased the restaurant's dedication to creativity. To complement my meal, I tried their Manhattan. While it had a unique twist compared to the classic, I liked it. read more

James S - Modern European Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Trust me when I say I don't take pleasure in writing bad reviews or thinking negatively of restaurants - hence why attempting to visit only restaurants recommended in the Michelin Guide has normally proved to be valuable in avoiding having to write bad reviews. That is why we were so shocked when we visited James St. From start to finish, here were all the issues with our meal: 1) First off, after we sat down for our meal it took an eternity for anyone to take our drinks order. 2) Once we ordered our foods and drinks, it (again) took far too long for our drinks to arrive. And better yet, our food arrived before our drinks. Now, you might be thinking, 'perhaps they ordered some elaborate cocktail' - no. We ordered two diet cokes, and our starters still arrived after our drinks came to us. 3) Our side order of fries simply did not arrive. 4) The main dish I had was simply bizarre, and the salmon did not go well with the assortment of vegetables it was placed underneath. 5) The acoustics in this restaurant are awful, so please do not visit if you are even slightly hard of hearing. Frankly, this was the worst experience I have ever had in a Michelin Recommended restaurant and dare I say it, in perhaps any restaurant in recent memory. read more

James S - Modern European Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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James St was wonderful! If you have ever thought about coming- just do it. You won't be disappointed. From their perfectly curated cocktails to entree, it's all fabulous! I started the evening off with an espresso martini & finished with an Aperol Spritz. Both were great. As my entree I got the Cod with the potato to & leek soup & it just melted in my mouth. The bartender was quick to serve up the drinks & the waitress was great, attentive & answered any questions we had. James st was a louder restaurant, great for larger groups or small intimate dates. The noise level did get pretty loud but there were a lot of large groups. 10/10 recommend. read more

James S - Espresso Martini - Modern European Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Ah goodbye to lockdown and do stay away - enough already. It's wonderful to get back to darn good food, great service and a pleasant ambiance, and that's why we set our sights here. We were welcomed on arrival and served by the delightful Phillippa. She served us very well indeed. Our next nearest diners were several feet away, most wore face coverings as they moved around the restaurant and there was ample hand sanitizer available. I had the langoustines to start (£11.5 + 10% service) followed by a main of crab & chilli linguine (£17.65 including 10%). My main wasn't on the main choices but as a starter that I opted to be main. My crab main was simply delicious, it was fishy, creamy, with perfectly cooked pasta and a good portion. The chilli was hard to detect but it didn't bother me at all. I could eat this dish every day. My starter fish was a bit over cooked, and the langoustines weren't as plump as I prefer, but I'm not to precious as long as they weren't cooked to yeuch. My wife opted for the two course Sunday lunch (£23.65 including 10% for two courses) with a large white wine (£10.5 + 10%) and chose the spatchcock chicken main with Eton mess dessert. I think the chicken had hispi cabbage as well as roasted carrot, tasty mash and a roast style potato. Although it came with gravy, she instead opted for an excellent pepper sauce. The cabbage was maybe blowtorched or pan fried, either way it looked lovely and enhanced the great flavour. She isn't that fond of fish and was pleased with her choice. The only downside (not really a downside) was the blunt knife; when serving spatchcock provide a steak knife. Had I opted for the set lunch here I'd have had the roast beef, but with fish this good there's about no chance of me choosing beef. We ended with a cappuccino and a flat white, both were bloody good too. (£3.3 incl 10%). Total £78. read more

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James St is on the Michelin guide so, I made a reservation for dinner a month in advance. Interestingly enough, I was going to change my reservation but they were completely booked. On their website, it says "James St. is the coming together of two of Belfast's best restaurants, James Street South Restaurant and The Bar and Grill at James St." - TWO OF BELFAST'S BEST. That's a bold statement but sadly under delivered. Sometimes the coming together of two of the best doesn't always mean the end product would be good. It's like when two very attractive people have babies, their offspring disappointingly don't look anything like them...like, what happened? I haven't quite made up my mind as to what to eat. I just didn't want to have steak again as I've been eating beef for days in a row. So, I asked the server's recommendation and narrowed it down to chicken or fish to which the server said "they're different. One is fish, one is chicken"...no shit, Sherlock! Grilled Spatchcock Chicken: My taste buds and arteries were asSAuLTed by the brininess of this chicken. I couldn't even finish it. And the server never checked on me so I can have it sent back to the kitchen. 1/5 Truffle Fries: These fries were basic. But it served as my consolation for my salty entree. 3/5 Sticky Toffee Sundae: This is the only thing that redeemed them. You mean they have something other than salt in the kitchen?! What a novel concept! The sticky Toffee Pudding layers were warm that kind of melts the vanilla ice cream. I wanted more 4/5 The people that just got seated next to me asked the same server "what's Spatchcock Chicken?" To which he replied "its grilled chicken"...that's not what Spatchcock means, sir! He's as useful as a painting to a blind man. What an annoying experience...I just had to leave as quickly as possible. There's plenty of better restaurants in this area, go there! read more

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Brasserie type with European choices of delicious food, well situated, highly recommend! Thank God we were stirred toward them after an evening of restaurant snafus! Be careful when in British ireland: most restaurants close Sundays! read more

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Came to James S with a very large group during a family trip to Belfast and I can't speak more highly of this restaurant. Food was great, cocktail and drink selection were excellent and the service was exemplary. Given that we were a large group of excitable Americans I can only describe our server's patience with us as saintly. Restaurant was also incredibly helpful in booking the reservation. Highly recommend. read more

I wanted to eat Lough Neagh Eels and this restaurant was able to serve them hence booked a reservation to eat here. The Eel came in a ginger-sesame sauce, hazelnuts and spring onions and honestly for me, the hazelnuts were the star of the dish. I like the eel but I would have preferred just having the simple smoked version. As such, the eels I had in Voldendam still are top of my list. My brother got a lovely appetizer, Scallops two ways (Carpaccio and Grilled) plus lovely Watercress sauce that was freshly poured at the table. For mains, I got the Wild Mushrooms, Rathlin Island kelp and roasted pine nuts. The king island mushroom was a standout - it was like eating meat. There was a lovely airy sauce which I found out later was deeply whipped potato - I didn't taste potato at all and thought it was cream! The kelp added a lovely salty briny flavour - I loved it! Plus this meal mean many that I knocked off Kelp and Eel, which was on my list of Northern Ireland local foods to try :-) I also tried a bite of the monkfish, capers and parsley. The monkfish was so meaty and I swear tasted so much like a langoustine. Beautifully cooked although the capers made it a we bit too salty for me. The Champ and the Kale + Rainbow Chard w/ Honey and lemon were both awesome. But the dish that truly stole my heart was dessert. Smoked chocolate, pistachio meringue and lemon sorbet made for satisfyingly complex and complimentary flavors. The smoked chocolate was a revelation - notes of coffee, caramel and cocoa came together beautifully. I am not a fan of marzipan, but these guys can serve it to me anytime. The lemon sorbet had a freshness and lightness that made my tongue dance. I will absolutely return back to eat this dessert when next in Belfast! Note: #239 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016 read more

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I was recently given a voucher for James Street South as a present and was pleased to see that it could be used against the restaurant's cookery school. I wanted to improve my dessert-making skills (something I openly admit I'm not very good at!) and so booked myself into the 'Sweet Treats' class. I booked back in January and the next available class wasn't until April so places are snapped up quickly. The cookery school is based just above the Bar and Grill and hosts a couple of classes a week- everything from bread classes, Italian classes, curry classes, cocktail classes, BBQ classes and the one I had booked, baking and desserts. I went on Wednesday evening, quite nervous because I'd come on my own, thinking that it might go disastrously wrong! I was one of ten participants and we had time for a quick tea/coffee and introductions before we met our chef for the evening- David Gilmore, James Street South Head Chef. (And recently named the best chef in Ireland, might I add!) So, then it was time to make our way over to the kitchen area where we each had our own work station and hob, apron and towel. David talked us through the evening's plans which consisted of making 4 sweet treats- Raspberry ruffles, honeycomb, Peanut Butter fudge and Pate de fruit. (The type of treats you would find in a petit four dessert.) We had an recipe book which gave how much of each ingredient we need to make the dessert again ourselves, but for handiness on the night, our ingredients were already weighed out for us - so it was just a matter of following David's instructions. We started with the raspberry ruffles, followed by the pate de fruit, then the honeycomb and ended with the peanut butter fudge. I'm not a huge fan of peanut butter so David was happy for me to try my hand at chocolate fudge. I even drizzled some melted chocolate over the honeycomb to make a Crunchie-like treat. (Don't worry, David said we could- I wasn't being greedy!) Normally for the classes which involve making meals, you sit down and eat each course after it's made, but because we were making the treats to take home, we were treated to a nice snack of breads, prosciutto and cheeses, served with wine, during a break in between baking. Lovely! After 2.5 hours or so, all was revealed. Our treats had set/cooled down and we sampled our creations! Gorgeous! I have to say I was pretty impressed with myself (and so is my husband who cannot stop eating the chocolate fudge!) I had a fantastic night and never felt like I didn't know what I was doing. David stood in the middle of us all and kept us right. He was attentive and helpful and I can honestly say I loved every minute! The class costs £65 mid-week (which includes your three course meal) and lasts three hours. Groups are never more than 12 people so the chef can really keep a watchful eye on everyone. Can't wait to try out some of the other classes! read more

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In town for a concert, we wanted to find a good pre-theatre spot for an early dinner and, thanks to Yelp, settled on James S. Centrally located, the restaurant was very easy to find and when we rocked up for our 6.30 appointment there were only a few tables occupied. By the time we left, the place was packed with happy diners. Anyway, for starter, I had a very meaty and delicious terrine which could easily have been the basis of a main course. I requested bread to go with it and was a little surprised to be charged extra which I thought was a bit penny-pinching. The bread was excellent though, so I wasn't too put out. I ordered steak frites for main which turned out to be tough to the point of inedible. On complaining, it was whisked away to be swiftly replaced by a much better example. The frites were excellent however. We consumed an excellent Pinot Noir on the side dulling my disappointment about the steak. An apology from management would have helped. The four stars are generous but I like to think it is probably deserved overall. read more

My meal was easily 5 star but unfortunately can't say the same for my wife. I started with a very nice steak tartar. My main was exceptional, the venison daily special, beautiful and substantial portion of venison cooked medium rare and still nice and red. Perfect. Unfortunately, was with two vegetarians whose food was disappointing. They both had courgette flowers, which sounded great, but was almost all breading with large sections where you couldn't find courgette. Did not look like they put much effort into it. read more

Wow wow wow. What a restaurant. It is a real treat to come to this fancy little place located... erm... on James Street South. Looks amazing on the inside and outside. The staff are really polite, not at all snobby which usually you find in classy establishments like this. We got the pre-theatre menu which was 3 courses for £18.50. This would be the price of a main course normally so I'd advise you to come for this instead because the food is great but for a large party it could end up quite expensive. I got trout which had fennel, something I'd never had before and perhaps it was because of the atmosphere, or the "ambience" as it is called in a posh place, but it was really really good. The selection of cheeses for dessert were lovely because I'm a bit of a cheese fanatic. But for anyone who has not heard about this, or anyone who has heard of it but are concerned about whether they'd like it or not, I promise you you'll come here. It is fantastic and well worth it. I will come back definitely. read more

Cookery School - is a fantastic experience. Learnt how to make a 3 course meal in a fun atmosphere. Will definitely be back for more classes. Really enjoyed the evening. read more

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Slow service. 20 min for water. Out of first and second choice scotch. Out of first and second choice wine. Waiter did not know what a "sommelier" is. Good food, but very below par service. read more

3 strikes: 20 minutes for the drinks to come. Ran out of one if the local "menu"menu whisky. Ran out of one of the menu wines.

One of Belfast's slightly more affluent restaurants, James Street South is in stiff competition with neighbouring restaurant Deanes (which already boasts Northern Ireland's only Michelin star) At the helm is up and coming celebrity chef Niall McKenna, recently serving his dessert at the Great British Menu banquet for the Prince of Wales. As far as I remember it was strawberry jelly with lavender ice cream, rolled in yellow man and served in a sugar twill.... impressive. My visit to this chique business restaurant was at Christmas. Myself and girlfriend went for the full three courses. Now, one thing I will say about this place is it does have an essence of stuffiness to some extent. It' operates an almost 'silver service', White table cloths, every glass imaginable on your table and slightly over the top service. If I have managed to get up, dress myself, make a reservation, walk to the venue, sit down, order, start a conversation and not severely injure myself, then I am able to fill my own glass when it is depleted. Anyways, the food. Despite overly keen staff the food is certainly striving for that coveted Michelin star. My first course was a dainty little pigeon breast, served blue with a fois gras foam and pomme puree. It was superb, rich port and gamey iron from the duck, surrounding in buttery rich fois gras. Minuscule but awe inspiring. Main was a little disappointing. At this point in my life I can say I can judge a piece of beef with a reasonable level of proficiency. The square chunk of over cooked sirloin was not of the highest quality, tasteless and bland. The bone marrow 'gratin' was simply the most confusing addition to a plate I have seen to date. Having only had bone marrow once previously I was keen to sample the rich and fatty gem once again. This was essentially bone marrow flavoured breadcrumbs shoved back into the marrow bone. It was bland on a new level, no texture, akin to cheap bags of sage and onion stuffing. Not good. Reparations were made however with the frankly sublime tarte tatin. Served in a dainty copper pan it was soaked in rich butter and cognac, lots of cream and cinnamon... fantastic. For one drink each and the three courses it worked out at around £65. Certainly at the upper end of the spectrum and a bit of a disappointment it's still something worth trying. If you did follow the Great British Menu show you can head chef Niall McKenna's set four course for £55. read more

James S - Modern European Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Went to James Street South on Saturday with my girlfriend and had a lovely time. Lots of couples around and tables for two (the tables were spacious and had ample room on either side, so you weren't knocking elbows with your neighbors). On arrival, we immediately appreciated the restaurant's upmarket, urban feel. After some unadventurous but yummy cocktails, we moved on to wine which I thought was reasonably priced. For food, we shared a starter of smoked tuna which was unusual but tasty. For mains, we ordered squid and a fillet steak, with a side of haricots vert to share. All was delicious, and we both felt nicely full after the meal. Beyond the meal, we enjoyed the service and sophisticated atmosphere. read more

I have always enjoyed the food at James Street South although it can be very expensive - especially when dining with my boyfriend who insists on the Foie Gras and the fillet steak every time! The decor is clean and modern. The service is friendly although can be a little over bearing. One complaint would be the proximity of the tables - it is very easy to eavesdrop. All in all I would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion and leave the kids at home. read more

I've eaten here twice. I won't eat here again. The first time I was very impressed with the seductive surroundings and fancy interior, and the food made a good impression too. Although I did feel the portions were a little on the small side for the price. It's got that designer-vibe to it, and there is a very pretentious air about the place, unlike some other, superior restaurants I've been to. The second time I ate at James Street South was for a special occasion, and it certainly left a bad taste in all our mouths - the whole dining experience ruined the night from start to finish. The food was late coming, and when it did it was cold and bland and nowhere near the quality suggested by the price. My brother's meal was inedible and when we tried to send it back we got a very unhelpful response from the wait staff. It put us all in a bad mood and we all vowed never to eat there again. But don't take my word for it, go yourself, it will be a good waste of a couple of hundred quid... read more

Unfortunately, this was a big disappointment. The bread was something one might expect from a cafeteria. The fish was a bit over cooked and bathed in salt.The desert was pre-made and microwaved. They couldn't even deliver the coffee with the desert. The presentation was haphazard. The atmosphere is stark, cold and too bright. When my date's napkin dropped on the floor, the waitress walked by, picked it up and handed it back to her. I couldn't believe my eyes! The bottom line is that everything was rather "ordinary." With so many fine restaurants in Belfast, this is one you could afford to skip. By the way, if you like sweetener instead of sugar, you'll be out of luck. read more

There are two parts to the this place: the "restaurant" and the "bar and grill". This review is for the "bar and grill". I really wanted to like this place. It looks warm and inviting from the outside, and once inside it's lively without being overwhelming. But it was all downhill from there. My dirty-olive martini was weak: a splash of gin, little-to-no no olive juice, and (the killer) full of crushed ice. This is pretty poor for a place that fancies itself an upmarket bar and grill, not to mention for an £8 drink. Food: I had seafood chowder to start... tasty, if perhaps a bit thick. My main was pasta with crab and chives. This was OK - lots of full-flavoured crab, but extremely thick and creamy. I ordered a starter size and struggled to finish this too-rich dish. My wife had "fish pie." In fact, this was the same seafood chowder tossed into a small casserole dish with a "crust" of mashed potato on top. Admittedly, there was a nice cheese added to the potatoes. I won't go into every gory detail of the poor service. It's enough to say that our server was inattentive, forgetful, and obviously didn't take any pride in her work. We may have just had a bad apple, as one of the other servers that night seemed to really know what she was doing. This is a great room, with lots of potential. The managers should really step in and kick some ass with kitchen quality-control, teach the bartenders to think beyond the cocktail menu, and instil some sense of pride in good service. WIth the location and good style, they'd have a real winner. As it is now, I probably won't be back. read more

This review refers to the bistro. Two of us had booked in the Saturday evening before Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed it! The decor is clean but warm and not gimmicky like so many places currently are. The staff were just a nice level of chatty and attentive without being overbearing. There was a lovely buzz about the place and all seemed in hand, despite it obviously being such a busy night. Food-wise, I would say the menu favours people who like their fish. We, on the other hand, opted for the macaroni cheese and one of the burgers. We finished off with a really lovely dessert and a couple of Xmas cocktails. There's a vey good cocktail menu. I can't find anything to fault so I'm not going to! Next time, we might splurge on trying the restaurant itself:) read more

Really great restaurant. Myself and my girlfriend came to the Bar and Grill late-ish on a Friday but there was no problem finding us a table. The staff were particularly good I thought, helpful but not asking you every two minutes if everything was ok. Now on to the good stuff - the food! The food was fantastic. I had fish which sometimes for me can be a bit hit or miss but this was cooked to perfection. My girlfriend had the beef and we were really impressed. Looking for ward to our next trip up! read more

High quality cuisine in the centre of Belfast is what James Street south is all about. Situated close to the Grand Opera House the restaurant hosts a pre show lunch from 5.45pm to 6.45pm which is a bargain for the quality of food you get. There is also a good lunch menu which is rather moderately priced. The chef in James Street South actually made it on to the Great British Menu, a BBC TV show that pits all the best chefs around the British Isles against each other and he did rather well. So with accolades a plenty you can be sure that you will enjoy any meal you decide to have here. read more

I took my husband here for his35th birthday. He is an excellent chief himself so I always try to take him somewhere special. Unfortunately this meal was not special, it was uninspired and below average for what is supposedly one of the better restaurants in Belfast. The staff had the air of a fine dinning experience, as had the surroundings but the food did not measure up. The whole meal had a lack of creativity, flavour and flair, and as there was nothing enticing on the dessert menu we had the Petit fours, which were particularly disappointing, although we had a beautiful dessert wine with them . Having hoped to have a fabulous night of celebration we were both left feeling disappointed and robbed after getting the bill. We will never go again. read more

Agree with Heatherbear, slighly expensive but I haven't had a bad meal. The first time we went there I was dressed rather casually and although most of the other diners were smartly dressed (shirts and most with ties) nobody commented and the staff were very attentive. read more