I can't rate the food because we were seated after the hostess couldn't find our reservation. That's ok, it was settled just fine. Seated promptly and that was it. No water. No waiter/waitress. Not even eye contact from anyone walking around. Nothing. 35 mins passes. Wife and I figured this was our life now. We got up and just left. It was sad. Never had that before. Won't be back, why bother. read more

I went here last night for dinner with a group of coworkers. We had a nice table setup at the front of the restaurant facing the street. It's a beautiful restaurant! I love the ambiance. Our waiter was nice, seemed a bit new, but he was attentive. The appetizers, drinks and entrees were very good! The cheese puffs and focaccia were fantastic. I had the chicken cacciatore and it was delicious. Everyone else had a steak and really enjoyed it. The desserts are massive!! Really the issue we encountered was it took 45-60 mins to get our entrees and the staff tried delivering other people's food to us on two occasions. Very awkward. I hope they speed up their process and staff learn the table numbers. read more

Honestly, the steak that I got medium was practically well done. The cheese puffs were good, stuffed portabella mushrooms left some to be desired but 4/5. The lavender mocktail was amazing, along with the painless strawberry too. They ran out of a lot of stuff even though it's a Tuesday night and the place was maybe 1/3 full. Wanted to try the sticky bun bread pudding, but that was also out of stock. However what she ended up getting, was the gaslighting that the Bomboloni wasn't raw in the middle, but that it was the mascarpone filling without being fully sure if that was what it was. Even though we all touched it and it felt like batter; Saying that to a table of bakers is crazy. When we were trying to order drinks, one of the girls at the table is deathly allergic to pineapple, she asked for the Passion Mule, was promised that it could be made without pineapple, then leaves for 15 minutes, only to come back after 2/3 drinks ordered arrived to say that the other drink wasn't able to be adjusted and she'd have to get something else. Usually, after the dessert arrives, a wait staff would check to see if it was alright, and refill water or let the table know you'll drop off the tab, but no rush. Waited on water for 20 minutes too, left after drink from my friend's cup since she never filled it. I wasted $60 honestly, not sure what the other girl's tabs were but also wasted our time here. Someone please retrain Denise - Sincerely, a former server of 4 years. read more

Went to this establishment for New Year's Eve. Food was excellent. Waiter was very knowledgeable of the wine menu. Very nice ambience- loved the decor. Can't wait to come back. read more

My husband and I made reservations for a Saturday evening and arrived a bit early but we were still able to be seated promptly. Our first table we were seated at was crowded by a large table and kind of in an awkward spot so we requested to be moved and our waitress was amazing about the whole thing! After we apologized no less than 5 times; she totally understood and gave us nothing less than phenomenal service our entire meal. The ambiance of our new table was perfect; we sat next to the bar at a high top table in a cozy library-like room. We ordered the hot lobster and shrimp for appetizers and they did not disappoint! They were so good! For our entrees, we both had steaks and they were cooked perfectly to our order. For sides, we ordered mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts and they both were prepared perfectly. Our experience at the James was amazing, and we will undoubtedly return for another meal in the near future. The only thing I regret is not getting our waitresses name so we could personally thank her for the wonderful service she provided throughout our entire experience! read more

Stopped in for dinner on a Friday evening. Last minute, spontaneous decision. Found a nice spot in the bar - my favorite place to eat. Service was good; the place was hopping with staff. My dinner was outstanding. The pork chop was delicious. Cooked to perfection. I've never tried grits before, but thought it sounded good and it was. Creamy with a slight hint of cheddar. Overall, the restaurant is headed in the right direction- great food and great customer service. read more

The James - Outstanding dinner at The James. - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

I had a celebration of life dinner here tonight. I could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The food was outstanding. The room was ideal. we had Aaron as our server and he was extremely attentive. read more

We love this place for its outdoor dining and very tasty food. Today, I asked our waiter about an older menu item that I was trying to replicate at home. He sent out a manager who said, "the chef is going to make the steak sandwiches for you"! "Yes, we said, oh please!" Mind you, on a Sunday, there is no lunch menu (brunch) so this was above and beyond "above and beyond". See what a treasure The James is? read more

3rd time going to get James and again it is always a pleasure. They refresh their menu consistently while maintaining their iconic items - their cheese Puffs are incredible. I got the Coq au vin which came with pommes aligot (fancy mashed potatoes) & it was honestly some of the best chicken I've had in a while it was both perfectly seasoned and had a light smokiness, while remaining tender. Their pesto gnocchi side was also quite good and light .. which means it goes fast. I know wine "connoisseurs" will come for me ... but my hot take is that french Riesling, or really most Rieslings that are more tart than sweet pair well with fish, chicken, pork, turkey! So it paired nicely with the Coq au vin. We also had the buffalo creamed corn - a bit too spicy for my taste but some in the rest of the party enjoyed. Overall an enjoyable evening, great service, and an enjoyable outdoor patio atmosphere. One of the best patios in the tri-cities & one of the best restaurants in the tri-cities read more

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Pros-the patio is divine. Great location, noise was not noticeable, umbrellas to allow for plenty of shade. Service-Hi Fredy-was fantastic. He checked in, things came out at a great pace and he was on top of it! Cons-the food was just ok. Joan's rolls were dry and dense. Our entrees were on the bland side which was disappointing. read more

The James - Joan's Rolls - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Very good! In my culinary tour of Geneva, I'm trying out a bunch of places. Have tried the James twice and found it delightful. The inside appears to be an old home turned into a restaurant, decor is lovely and cozy. Has a fireplace which I would imagine is wonderful in the winter time. Has a patio as well for the summer months. Tried the pick two - the pear and prosciutto sandwich was very good - the one feedback I have is that it had too much oil and that took away from the taste. Otherwise very good, and the French baguette was lovely along with the pear and prosciutto combination. The French bisque was the soup that I picked and it was delicious - taste was just right. Have also tried the arancini which were excellent, as well as the cheese puffs which were ok. It comes with chips but not much of a chip person. The service was attentive. They also have wifi which is nice since I get some work done at lunch prior to heading back to work. Would definitely recommend a stop by the James and would definitely love to try out the patio in the summer! Parking is free on the street. read more

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I wanted to write this review as both a compliment to the service we received and also to share some feedback about the meal/ drinks. The hosts were super friendly and excited to introduce us to the new space. Our server Jay was amazing and very personable. The bussers/ expos were also great when I asked for their recommendations. Management checked to see how everything was, which is always nice. Food we loved: -The filets with the blue cheese butter were cooked perfectly (the 8oz filet came in two pieces which was a little odd since we both ordered it and they both came like that?) -the cheese puffs were soooo yummy -the crab tostadas very good (not a good shareable though since it's literally a whole fried crab and not a lot for two) Food that we didn't care for: The sides were pretty mediocre sadly... -the shoe string fries were cold and super crunchy. I think normal sized fries would be better enjoyed by most people. -save the elote for the Mexican restaurants, this one tasted like frozen corn and was super soggy. It seems very out of place on the menu too. -berries and cream dessert. Very flavorful but the lemon pound cake was soooo dry. Didn't taste very fresh. -summer house cocktail (this needs to be called fall house cocktail nothing summery about it) wasn't a bad drink, but we both ordered and thought it needs to be a fall seasonal cocktail. This is still early into the restaurant being open so I'm sure things will continue to get better and better, but I think feedback from Geneva restaurant regulars will hopefully be helpful. Definitely worth trying out and supporting a new business! read more

The James - Crab tostadas and cheese puffs - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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We sat outside on the patio. Music was way too loud, Bloody Mary was way too watery and foccaia with whipped eggplant was barely edible.

A group of 4 of us went for a birthday and sat in the patio. It was Happy Hour and they were sold out of the only beer they have listed and the white wine. We were offered another beer at the happy hour price but only for the 1st drink. The food was ok but we are not planning a return trip. read more

The James - Prime rib dinner - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

The service was OK considering the prices of the restaurant dinner for FOUR was $400. They expectations were definitely a lot higher. The lobster bisque was more like a fish soup. The steaks were super small as part of the $200 for two dinner. The lobster was extremely dry. The only highlight were the brussels sprouts and the Wego sushi. Everything else was definitely subpar. It was a late reservation so the restaurant definitely wasn't busy. The waiter was nice, but whoever was assisted the waitress. She was mixing plates and just dropping things on the table like she just didn't care like I said my expectations of this restaurant were a lot higher considering it was a birthday/Valentine's Day dinner at over $400 for four people definitely not going back. Definitely hard to recommend considering the quality and the food. read more

I hardly ever post a restaurant review but I felt compelled to give this restaurant a whole hearted thumbs up. We have now eaten there 3 times - twice for lunch (one of which was to celebrate my birthday) and another time for dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. All three times have been great. Now I know some reviews have knocked the staff's lack of punctuality. So if you are looking for a fast dinner - this is not your place. This is a very nice, warm, and inviting restaurant where you need to plan on dining leisurely and savoring all their good food and beverages. That said, all three times that we've been there, the wait staff have been wonderful and attentive; even fun to be around. Their lunch menu's half sandwich and salad options are reasonably priced and creative. Just the wedge salad alone is great. We had the Crispy Brie and the Rolls as appetizers and both drew raves from our guests. The prime rib is quite tender and at 16 oz, huge at least for me. But there are other interesting menu items to try. So try it out - at least for beverages and a few appetizers and see what you think. And if you do go, say hi to Mark the waiter, sometimes manager and/or Freddy our waiter for our birthday dinner. Nice when the wait staff is knowledgeable but also have a great attitude and sense of humor. Needless to say - we will be going back. read more

Phenomenal experience! From service to meal, everything was on point get the wagyu you will not regret it! The cheese puffs were amazing! read more

The James - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Had our first visit to The James during Restaurant Week in Geneva. The ambiance is very unique- it felt quite crowded with all of the tables and winter wear, but you could check your coat when you arrived. This restaurant is in an old house, so the floors are a bit uneven so be cautious if you have mobility concerns. We could tell the restaurant was relatively new because the staff was still fully learning the menu and they were out of a few items. However, overall we had a lovely experience and I would go back again in the future. I chose to eat from the restaurant week menu- I started with the potatoes and caviar amuse. I thought it was quite tasty, though I think I would pick something else if not on the Restaurant Week menu as it was quite pricey. I did the steak frites for my entree and I was very pleased. I would order it again- the fries were perfection and my steak was also very nicely done. For dessert, the included option was the maple bourbon banana cream pie which I thought was great also. Both of the cocktails I enjoyed were also lovely, though they were out of the syrups for the ones I originally wanted to try. I ended up getting the James Old Fashioned which was solid, and the Fruits of Winter Sangria which was large and a bit like a dessert. I do appreciate that they have several good 0-proof options as well. I will come back here again in the future- but might give them a bit of time to get everything sorted. read more

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I hosted a wedding shower in the Sunroom at The James, a restaurant that is quaint and full of charm in the heart of downtown Geneva. Everyone raved about the food & the portions were very generous. The ambience in the sunroom was bright and cheery with all the glass windows that overlook the patio and the service was superb. The bride to be and the 23 guests will always have fond memories of our afternoon at The James. I will definitely be back this summer to enjoy dining out on their patio. Chanelle, the assistant general manager, helped me plan the shower and I had complete confidence in her follow through with every detail and that's why the day went so smoothly. I truly appreciated all of her ideas, graciousness and professionalism. Thank you Chanelle! read more

Really cute place inside and the outdoor patio is lovely. Unfortunately the food portions/quality varies widely. The crab grilled cheese was a teaspoon of crab flakes with a thin slice of melted Brie. Some of these reviews are embarrassing. Clapping for the chef? Really? How drunk RU? read more

Very cute ambiance, service was great, our server made great suggestions on the menu, for some reason he knew what we would like and what we wouldn't. Food was amazing!! I had the duck confit and boy was that delicious!! My daughter had the Beef Wellington burger and all you could hear from her is just wow, this is so good with the brioche bun and their fries. I'm not a cumin person, but she is and she loved it! Will be coming back to try more dishes!! read more

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This place is so incredibly beautiful, the service is great, and the food is outstanding. It's a nice local take on a classic steakhouse, but with a romantic Victorian feel. You've got to try the banana cream pie-- it is out of this world. read more

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Terrible service, entrees came out one at a time, mildly warm, took 25 minutes to get a drink, 20 minutes to get coffee, 20 more minutes for our bill. Mediocre a best on all accounts. read more

I celebrated my mom's 80th something birthday over lunch. What a great choice to go to The James: a really nice ambiance and terrific food, but for me it was the great staff that made this an excellent experience! The general manager was very cordial who actually took the time to speak with us, and others at the tables, and really listened! The bus person was so polite and attentive with all the details: a summer job for her while attending college and her service was flawless. Most notably was Andrew the server who made the celebration 'perfect'!! Andrew provided exceptional service from the moment we arrived to the birthday cake dessert. His professionalism, attention to detail, impeccable timing, pacing the meal and warm hospitality made a lasting impression. His genuine enthusiasm radiated confidence that was so welcoming and appreciated. He made a great lunch, an excellent dining experience! Such a great staff, and certainly a place I will go to again and will recommend it to others. read more

Creative solution by Brent the mgr made the night lovely. Great food. Service incredible. Brent worthy of praise!

Went here for my wife's birthday, with a large group. We requested to be sat in the wine cellar, which was nice and private, but I also feel like I would've enjoyed the outdoor patio just as much. Our service was fantastic, and our server was amazing. She was very attentive through multiple rounds of drinks appetizers and our entrees. While our evening was great, the table next to us had a server who wasn't so great. This caused them to only get one drink, and were sat before we were. This ended in a very displeased family getting up and leaving after an hour or so of nothing. The manager was very apologetic and admitted the servers mistake and offered to pay for the meal and have them back again. They declined to stay, and probably won't be back. A bit awkward for us since it's a small room and we couldn't help be part of the scene. Despite that, we will definitely be back again! read more

Server/bartender was extremely charismatic and helpful. Apps and sides were good, the crab in specific we'd order again! While we almost always do filet over strip, the strip was recommended and it DID NOT disappoint. Cocktails are strong but flavorful. They also made us feel so special as we were celebrating our anniversary. Will be returning! read more

Our little dining group visited Fiona's, the previous tenant here, and had a grand time between dinner and the wonderful post-repast outdoor patio. Had to try the new place wot picked up the reins. The room has a nice ambiance, upscale, but not toffee-nosed. Perfect for a casual night out. Actually not too different from Fiona's. My pal has a good palate for wine, and I always drink what he suggests. (I do not drink a lot of wine, and don't pretend to know any more than the few things I DO know). My pal has never been wrong. He says the wine list here at the James is top-notch. The glass I had certainly was. "Joan's rolls" were tasty. The alarm bell usually rings when a resto attempts to personalize bread service. More than once, a "named" basket turned out to be expensive and not worth it. (I measure bread service by Chicago Greek Restaurants and Galatoire's in NOLA--it works for me.) Joanie must know what she's doing 'cos the rolls and butter were delicious-Every theory has a corollary, you know. I had "Tuna crudo" for Hors D'oeuvre, and it was great. If there's raw fish or flesh on the carte, I'm there. Far be it from my norm to order a burger at a posh joint like the James, but there was a glow around the "Lamb Smashburger" on the menu. It promised Greek highlights, and I had to obey. It was very very tasty! Yasou! Wife had a filet, which she reported to be just fine. My pal and I shared an order of elotes, which seemed foreign for the room and the remainder of the menu, but who am I to quibble in these days of expanded horizons. If you're going to make elotes, and charge what they do for it, you'd better show me something as good as the guy from the cart on the corner in Little Village makes it. That corner guy must have secured a spot in the James' kitchen, The elotes were perfect. Chocolate Peanut Butter Tres Lechés cake was my dessert choice, The same cook who did the elotes must have executed this Mexican treat. It was yummy! It wasn't cheap, and it didn't break the bank. Go there! James isn't a fool. The patio was just as pleasant as it was under the previous tenant. The band was great and so were the cocktails... read more

I ate breakfast at The James recently. My food was delicious. I had to ask to get refills on my coffee. I was mostly taken by the lack of upkeep of the outside especially, but also the inside of the restaurant. Its a cute house, but when you get up close, the paint is peeling and chipped. There are tons of cobwebs and dirty windows in the sunroom. The doors in the sunroom are beat up and chipping paint. They need to keep up the building better. Also, the womens bathroom was dirty. read more

First off, I absolutely love downtown Geneva. I so much wanted to love The James...... Went for lunch on a Friday with my girlfriends. The place was not at all crowded. We were seated right away. And then we sat. And sat. No one even even acknowledged us or brought menus for almost 15 minutes. The menu? Just weird. Very odd. Didn't like the selections at all. It took nearly a half hour for our server to finally come back and take our orders. We ordered the Joan's rolls....overdone. Dry. The chive butter was hard. I ordered a simple burger and all I could taste was the weird fig jam and didn't see a trace of Gouda. My friends just ordered a simple chicken salad, and a chicken sandwich. Edible. I would have expected much better from such a bougie place. So in summary...service was painfully slow and the food was mediocre at best. Very disappointing. Also, it smelled weird in there. read more

The James - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Amazing service, atmosphere, wine and food! Best steaks we've ever had!! Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant located in historic downtown Geneva, in a renovated mansion. With the Christmas lights and lovely setting, it was perfect for our family gathering. read more

The James - Cheesecake with berry glaze - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Lovely place to eat outdoors in downtown Geneva.Waitstaff was very solicitous. I ordered a fresh mixed green salad with pears and my friend had the Lamb hamburger. Both were spectacular . This location is stunning with a beautiful green lawn under a canopy of trees. I was catching up with an old friend and the staff let us linger while refilling our water glasses. Very hospitable. read more

Why I didn't know about this place before! It is a WOW! The food is high quality and the menu catches your attention right away. Very friendly service. Last but not least, a great patio area but PLEASE check out the inside. It has this antique fancy style that you would love to take a pic or have dinner there. I'm coming back for sure! read more

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We chose this location for a birthday celebration. We had a group of five. Thanks to the nice weather, we sat outdoors. We started with 2 appetizers. Scallop and crab cakes. The group preferred the crab cakes. We found the scallop dish to be lacking in flavor. We also ordered the dinner rolls, they were delicious. For dinner 3 people ordered steaks and sides, one ordered the salmon dish and one person had soup and salad. The salad had no flavor, the dressing was bland and boring. The steaks were not cooked as they were ordered. The salmon was the highlight. For the price of the meal- we were extremely disappointed with the level of food we were served. The service also lacked for an "upscale" dinner. Rarely checked on us or filled our drinks. Wine was served warm. We have wanted to try this place for a while and we were very let down. read more

Excellent food. Our party of 4 had a wide selection and everything was good or excellent. The other comments about slower then you might expect service are accurate. It's not obnoxiously long...but more than you might expect/want. Save room for the dessert. read more

Don't order the pastrami sandwich or smoke turkey club!!! Hardly any meat and totally not worth the price charged. Pastrami was cooked like bacon and couldn't even find it on the bread. The turkey was terrible. Wishing we would have sent them both back. Patio is nice but we will find another place to have lunch next time. Service staff are very nice and attentive. read more

My wife and I went here for our Saturday date night. The food was awesome! Our steaks were Cooked perfectly. The manager recommended an excellent wine to go with our meal. Our server was very attentive and was positive and engaging. read more

I'm not sure why this place has gotten such poor reviews. Our experience was exceptional... and I'm a very picky and particular eater in the sense of I notice details, presentation, textures etc. the service was great, the server was knowledgeable but didn't try to hard to stick around and over share or throw corny jokes. The food was approachable and well done. There was a lot of thought put into each dish we had. The ambiance was warm and romantic. Some areas felt a little cramped but their bar area was cozy feeling but not cozy in the sense that you were right up against the people next to you. read more

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Highly recommend the James. Good was amazing. I'm still thinking about it the next day. Server was wonderful helped with wine selection and she was spot on! Had the cheese puffs and whipped eggplant appetizers! Apple salad and green goddess cod! Ate every bite! read more

We went here for an early Sunday dinner, celebrating our Anniversary. This place is a comfy , pretty vintage space. Was not too crowded. Service Was quick, knowledgeable, friendly. Some things on the menu of the day we're not available. While our entrees and drinks were good, nothing was omg, we will be back. Alcohol was very pricey and wine was a small pour. It was lovely seating and a view. Wasn't impressed with the menu offerings or the food itself. We have been to at least five better restaurants in similar price range in the Geneva, St Charles area. read more