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    The James

    3.8 (123 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Ceasar salad and grilled octopus
    Mary Kate G.

    This place is absolutely stunning. The staff on point friendly and amazing service. Stopped in on a Thursday night. Got seated right away no reservation. The bar was pumping. The food came out quick and was delicious. I'll definitely be back The Ceasar salad was amazing. Lots of cheese. And steak cooked to perfection

    Party
    Juliana G.

    Truly love everything about The James! A great place for delicious drinks and an awesome spot to host a private party. I love the vibe and everyone that works there is super nice. The menu is lacking in shareables - but the entrees are great!

    Christina A.

    Visited The James for my birthday dinner with family and could not have been more pleased. This was my first visit. I was immediately impressed with the beautiful interior, and the meal continued to be fabulous. Cocktails were excellent, service was excellent, food was excellent. The ribeye steaks & beef wellington were out of this world, and it takes a lot for me to say that, because I don't love red meat! My entree was the lobster pasta which was also wonderful. They capped off the meal with a complimentary round of champagne and a card for my birthday; very classy. Just an awesome experience. I will say this certainly isn't a place to go if you wanna save a buck, but the ambiance, service, great food, and experience really made it worth the price. The whole fam agreed and was happy. My only complaints were that the temperature upstairs was HOT, we were all a little uncomfortable, and I would say this restaurant is on the louder side. It was a bit quieter upstairs.

    Cesar Salad
    Michael S.

    The old Carriage House in Babylon has a new look and a new name The James. You enter to a spacious lobby with the bar on your right and the Hostess to your left, well lit dining room. Service was good and the food was fresh. Had the James Salad was good but not for what they charge. The cod, shrimp pasta, pork chop, were delicious. Dessert Crème Brûlée was delicious, the bread pudding was ok would not order it again. Valet parking available if not a municipal lot is there also. CIAO FOR NOW

    Ragu
    Katelyn S.

    We started with appetizers, my fiancé and I shared the special, a braised short rib croquette topped with lobster tail. It was okay, but again, not a wow factor. The other couple we were with ordered the steak tartare, and he said it was good. For mains, two in our group ordered the lobster pasta and really enjoyed it. I had the ragu pasta, which was tasty but nothing memorable, and another in our party had the branzino...good, but not amazing. Overall, the food was decent but didn't stand out. The drinks were more disappointing. My fiancé liked his espresso martini, but the other cocktails missed the mark. My strawberry Aperol spritz was not enjoyable, and the dessert cocktail described as a "rainbow cookie" was overly heavy on amaretto and didn't taste as expected. One of our friends ordered a dessert whiskey that was supposed to have hints of banana, peanut butter, and bacon...it didn't have those that's as much as expected, and he didn't like it. I tried it myself (and I'm not usually a whiskey drinker), but thought it was okay only because it wasn't as strong as most whiskeys I've had. Service was another downside. It took a long time to place our order, our server rarely checked in, and overall the pace was slow. Larger parties nearby frequently interrupted staff while they were helping other tables, which made the atmosphere feel chaotic. Our seating also hurt the experience. Despite requesting not to be near the kitchen or bathrooms, we were placed in a corner right next to the kitchen and drink cart. Many guests mistook the area for the restroom, so there was constant foot traffic around our table. One other note the chairs are extremely uncomfortable our if felt like the chairs were too tiny for an average person to feel comfortable and one of our friends was pregnant and she was very uncomfortable the entire time. If I ever decided to go back I would specifically want a booth but not sure if I would return honestly. The space itself is very pretty, but between the drinks, service, and atmosphere, we left feeling disappointed. Unfortunately, I don't think we'd return.

    Martini
    Jessica B.

    Tonight I had the opportunity to check out The James for the first time. The James, formally the Carriage House, has been beautifully renovated for an upper scale dining experience. For a Wednesday night, it was pretty busy but we were seated right away. After arriving at our table, they offered coat service which was very appreciated considering the below freezing temperatures. During the week you have the option to order a three course prix fixe dinner, but we opted to offer off their standard menu which provides a great variety of options - truly something for everyone. We started off with drinks - a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a vodka martini. We opted to try the calamari, which was a bit on the saltier side and the duck cassoulet, which was excellent. For dinner we opted for the salmon and the Icelandic cod - both of which were fresh and cooked to perfection. We split the side of duck fat confit gratin potato which was recommended to us, and it was by far even better than what we expected. What really made the dining experience at The James great was the service. Our server, Katie, was welcoming and attentive. She stayed on top of making sure our drinks were full and checked in to make sure we were enjoying our meals. Upon finishing, our leftovers were boxed up and bought to a separate area. We were provided tickets to pick up our bags on our way out, which is a nice touch. It allowed us to not feel rushed to leave, and as someone who has accidentally left their leftovers behind on multiple occasions it ensured I'd get them when I grabbed my coat at the end of the meal. Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back!

    someone shared the calamari
    Jv Y.

    Thank goodness for valet parking. it was quite cold out, and the place is very popular. Upon entering, you'll notice the activity right away. Several hostesses were about, taking coats and seating people, and it was quite noisy on the main floor. We were seated upstairs where it was quieter. Waitstaff was hustling and our server milled around without being overbearing. Water glasses were filled regularly, and they came around to refresh our drinks as needed. We were here to celebrate a Friends' Christmas Dinner, and this place did not disappoint. They sat 11 of us in a large round table, and it was a little cramped, but not bad. Apps and food came out in a timely manner, no waiting. We had steaks, pork chops, salmon, duck, octopus, calamari, shrimp, and the variety was dizzying but it was all great. Rare steak was prepared perfectly, and the au poivre might have been a little past medium rare but very tasty nonetheless. The octopus was fantastic. I can't say much for the other dishes, but I had a taste of the duck and salmon because they were within arm's reach and they were equally as good. The duck was seasoned just right, and the temp was respected. The salmon was a nice chunk with that crisp sear, but moist inside. Desserts were also just right to cap off the experience.

    Martini
    Jasmine S.

    If I were only rating ambiance and service, I would rank the James much higher. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The main floor bar is expansive and stunning. Multi-level with an expansive staircase leading you to an elegant yet very on-trend (mood lighting, wall arches, dark walls) dining experience. My group was celebrating a birthday, so they started the table with a round of celebratory champagne; very nice touch. However the food, and overall menu options fell a bit flat for me. The cocktail menu seems to have more to choose from than the actual food menu. Mind you, if you're looking for steak and/or raw bar options, you'll likely feel the menu sufficient, but taking those off the table, the menu variety felt limited. I ordered the lobster tagliatelle, and it was solid. Great portion, decent amounts of lobster meat and the breadcrumbs helped add some dimension to the flavor profiles on the plate. However members of my party did not equally share a liking for what they ordered. The calamari for the table was okay, but there were more banana peppers and artichoke hearts on the plate than actual calamari. It was masked well however, bc it was all fried and you didn't know what you were biting into, until it was too late. Hamburger; under-seasoned and not the furthest thing from warm (cheese was not melted). Roasted chicken; ate dry, and again under-seasoned. Bronzino; the size of the fish for the price was a bad value. The filet was served skin side down which allowed the skin to become a soggy mess, and overall lacked flavor. With a tweak of the menu, the James could truly be a 5star dining experience

    Salmon
    Brigid C.

    Honestly, I was excited to try something new. The location is great and the place looks amazing. The food was fine but I was a bit blown away by the tiny portion sizes and high price. For example, I got the James salad for (I think $28.00). It was tiny! And to be real, it did not taste much better than a salad in a bag. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. And that's your signature salad?! My daughter got the Caesar salad and the chicken was super chewy/dry. The salad I had for 15.00 at Just Salad blows the door off this one. The salmon looked tiny, but it tasted pretty good. The NY strip was not good at all! My husband did not even eat half of it. My BIL had the Beef Wellington and he loved it. So, hit or miss. My big take away is if you're charging what they're charging - you better bring it. And, they did not bring it.

    Peppers
    Deli B.

    The decor and atmosphere were excellent, creating a great vibe throughout the evening. Service was attentive and friendly. The paccheri was a bit more al dente than some might prefer, but the flavor was spot on. I wouldn't order the peppers again--nothing particularly memorable about that dish. However, the baked clams were very enjoyable, and everything else we tried was delicious. The branzino was delicate and flavorful, and the steak was cooked perfectly to our liking. As a crème brûlée fan, I was happy to find this one lived up to expectations. Overall, a very positive dining experience.

    Dessert
    Elizabeth F.

    We went out grown-ups only! Finally! A restaurant with high quality ambiance, menu, and prices that also matches the food. I've always struggled in fancy restaurants that charge so much for average meals. The James is the first restaurant on Long Island where I don't mind paying the price for the meal because the quality matched. We had baked clams and raw oysters for appetizers and both were fantastic. The east coast oysters were small but tasted very fresh! My spicy margarita was made to perfection. I love that the garnish was only on part of the rim instead of the entire rim. For dinner, I ordered the skirt steak and spouts. The steak was not only cooked to perfection but also was the thickest cut of skirt I've ever seen. Everyone with me was very pleased with their meals. My girlfriend said the beef Wellington was exceptional! We ordered three desserts for a birthday celebration. The pudding was the best but the crème brûlée was also very good. The chocolate cake was massive! The bar cart was a cute addition. The ambiance was very enjoyable. I like the fact that when the wrap your leftovers they give you a ticket and pick it up on your way out. The service that evening could use some improvement. I would suggest more servers so that the wait staff could give their tables more attention. It was not the waitresses fault per se because I could see her constantly moving. We practically finished our meals before she returned with our bottle of wine that we ordered for dinner. We ate our meals without anyone returning to ask if we needed anything. I don't think this was due to lack of experience but maybe more so not enough staff? The waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for any fancy or important celebration.

    Rose & an espresso martini
    Lynn D.

    Loved this place! The espresso martinis were phenomenal & I could not get enough of the brussel sprouts! The steak was also made to perfection. Our waiter was very attentive & always made sure our glasses were filled. The bar would be a perfect date spot & has great happy hour deals. An absolute MUST in Babylon!

    Very nice bar area

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    The food was good and the service was spot on. The ambiance was beautiful. The prices are high -nice place to go for a special dinner.

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    Chat Noir

    Chat Noir

    (592 reviews)

    $$

    High snaps for Chat Noir coming in when everyone else seemed to have about an average wait of 30…read moreminutes or more. I was also able to secure us a last minute reservation at 1:45p which we may have waited a minute or two more? We chatted with the hostess as she complimented both of our purses and she was very friendly. So off Steph and I went with hungry stomachs as we had arrangements to hit YAAAS after lunch. We already agreed on splitting the following: - Cream Tea: which is a basket of scones (which we both took home two each and the accoutrements that go with said scones) and a pot of tea. - Burrata & Fried Eggplant Salad: the salad in our opinion could've used more dressing and the Burrata needed either more dressing or salt. As the waitress seemed to be rather busy we opted for the more salt option. Fried eggplant was definitely fried and nice and crispy. - Turkey & Goat Cheese Sandwich: an interesting sandwich to say the least. Some bites I felt like I tasted straight up cranberry compote other bites straight goat cheese. The side salad with the generous sprinkling of goat cheese and dressing was delicious. I think if we came back again I'd definitely be interested in high tea and their little cheese board we saw. The ambiance of Chat Noir is rather girly but I'm more than good with that. Definitely cute. We also spotted a few ladies with cute hats on which even though it wasn't my personal experience made it very cute. Will I be back? You betcha when I'm in the area with my girly.

    Came here for a rare lunch date with my husband. It was cute, food was delicious and service was…read moregreat. I'd love to come back eventually.

    Brasserie Memere - Hand-Crafted Cocktails

    Brasserie Memere

    (272 reviews)

    $$$

    Great food and happy hour French elegance…read more Great service We enjoyed sitting in the bar area , just great For a fast bite

    Had an early Valentine's Day dinner with the wife the day before Valentine's Day. Brasserie Memere…read moreis an upscale French restaurant located in the Target plaza of Closter. The lighting is dim, the ambiance is intimate, and it looks romantic. I had made reservations so we were seated immediately. It's funny to note that the place settings were placed next to each other instead of across from each other at a four person table. We usually prefer to face each other, but when it's Valentine's day why not be cute? We ordered a few drinks during our dinner, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Memere 75, Avion en papier. My favorite was definitely the Avion en papier which had a slightly sweet, slightly bitter, citrusy taste. They had a pre fixe menu for Valentine's Day which unfortunately did not have the steak tartare i was interested in trying. But for $88, you get 3 courses: an appetizer, entree, and dessert. For our appetizers, we got the TARTARE DE THON (tuna tartare) and COCKTAIL DE CREVETTES GEANTES (shirmp cocktail). Between the two, i preferred the tuna tartare. The shrimp cocktail was good, but the only thing really special about it was the massive size of the shrimp and the freshly grated horseradish in the cocktail sauce. For our entrees, we got the CASSOULET DE CANARD and FILET MIGNON. The extremely tender duck leg confit was served with pancetta, white beans, toulouse sausage, and foie gras breadcrumb. It was rich, savory, fatty, and filling. All great words to describe food. The duck leg confit reminded me a little bit of a smoked turkey leg with the red coloring and shreddable texture. The filet mignon was served with pomme purée, wild mushrooms, and a bordelaise sauce. The filet was cooked medium rare as requested, but a bit under salted. The pomme purée aka mashed potatoes tasted like it was 50% butter so it was obviously delicious. Dessert was good, but my least favorite part of the meal. We got the TAHITIAN VANILLA CRÈME BRÛLÉE and the VALRHONA CHOCOLAT POT AU CRÈME. Both were very sweet. The brûlée crust did not shatter well, but it otherwise had a nice creamy texture. The chocolate pot was covered in flaky feuilletine which gave a nice contrast to the creamy chocolate, but my wife found the brandied cherries overpowering. The cherries made me think of German chocolate cake. Service was excellent. Staff was quick to refill water and checked on us constantly. Pace of the meal was relaxed and I'd even say they were slow to bring us the check since we had been dining for over 2 hours. My wife wants me to bring her back for their bottomless brunch on a Sunday so I will eventually be back.

    Pascal & Sabine - Escargot - happy hour. 2nd order

    Pascal & Sabine

    (716 reviews)

    $$$

    Saw a 1 star review saying "one and done" , "dessert was good", "all atmosphere", "just okay"…read more As much as I disagree with that assessment and personally feel that Pascal and Sabine is way better than "just okay"... that review should not equal 1 star. You're only review, you've only been once and decide to go onto a public forum and give 1 star. Anyway off my soapbox. Pascal and Sabine not only has some of the best cocktails and bartenders in Asbury but possibly NJ. I have been countless times with my wife, my kids, large groups you name it. My favorite way to experience Pascal is to sit at the bar get a couple cocktails (The Jackal is a staple), the Madame Smith Burger (my wife gets the Mr Smith) the fries are amazing, and maybe the escargot and just enjoy. It's up there with some of the most perfect nights out in Asbury you can have. Hope this 5 star review balance out a ridiculous 1 star review. - YH

    This place is a standout…read more I came with my mom during happy hour and everything from beginning to end was excellent. Lovely hostess, great round bar seating with huge windows for people watching, and a genuinely charming and attentive bartender (Mike). We started with oysters from Newfoundland and cheese off the happy hour menu -- both great. My mom loved her lavender French 75 (a drink special), and my white wine was perfect (the name escapes me at the moment). The garlic soup deserves awards. I first had it two summers ago and still think about it -- I made my mom try it and she immediately understood my rave reviews. For entrées, her burger was cooked perfectly medium-rare, and my fish & chips absolutely hit the spot. Both came with generous portions of house-made fries and an unexpectedly addictive house honey-mustard. We had enough fries for leftovers, and I even asked for extra mustard to take home. Food, service, atmosphere, lighting, noise level -- all dialed in. A 10/10 experience!

    La Marchande - Wagyu boneless ribeye

    La Marchande

    (94 reviews)

    $$$

    Financial District

    3.5 stars La…read moreMarchande is an upscale brasserie in the lobby of the Wall Street Hotel. I did not realize that the restaurant had its own entrance from the street, and I walked into the building through the hotel and then accidentally into their lounge. I noticed that its sign had a different name, so I renavigated my way to the other end of the lobby to discover the back entrance of the restaurant. It was a bit of a weird way in, but I was able to locate my friend already sitting at our reserved table. We got settled and debated ordering from the Restaurant Week menu, though we were not as interested in the selected entree options with that special, so we just stuck with the standard list. We asked for the Parker House Rolls to start. Then, my companion ordered two appetizers for her main meal, while I ordered the salmon entree. Meanwhile, not long after, our bread appeared with both of her dishes, while we had to request my salmon specifically, since it still had not arrived over 20 minutes later. In addition, we had not ordered beverages and were sticking with water, but there were long stretches throughout the meal, where our glasses were completely empty. Also, my jacket had fallen off my chair several times, and I kept finding it on the floor, while staff members just walked around it. So, overall I would say the service was rather terrible. The food, however, was actually very good. The Parker House rolls were soft, gooey, and buttery. They were served in a skillet and topped with creamy Fromage Blanc and a sweet red onion jam that were incredibly addicting. It was a heavenly and decadent treat. Going back to the service for a second, I had not been asked how I would like my fish to be prepared, but it wound up being cooked to my perfect medium temperature. The presentation of the dish was pitiful, though. The filet was delicious, but was also miniscule for $38. In addition, it was served with a single maitake mushroom that had been overcooked to a crisp and had a burnt taste. There was also a warm, crunchy slaw composed of Caraflex cabbage and sea vegetables, which was very tasty. Meanwhile, my friend had enjoyed her Beef Tartare and French Onion Soup. I would return to La Marchande for its food and atmosphere, but the service really should be improved to be inline with its standing as a fine dining establishment.

    Some hits and some misses. HITS: The oysters and bread were lovely. My friend enjoyed the French…read moreonion soup and the shrimp cocktail. And the charcuterie looked fab. The staff were fantastic, very on the ball. MISSES: The fries at $22 were an entire rip off and should be avoided unless on happy hour. The mushroom pasta was dry, undercooked and had a very strange combo of raw and cooked mushrooms on top. And for the price, 4 pieces of pasta was really underwhelming. The bathrooms were dirty (one had liquid all over the floor) and missing essentials (the same bathroom had no hand towels). While the interior and atmosphere is nice, for the price it was too mixed of an experience for me to want return any time soon.

    The James - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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