I simply don't get the rating. Soda bread was just not good. The chicken curry was terrible: chicken was so tough, flavor lacking. I just don't get it. Wife had a simple salad and compared to the salad she had last night at Tavern on the Square, this was a 1/10. Service slow. Best thing was they gladly took back a drink my wife didn't like - not their fault, just too sweet for her. Maybe an off night. People were nice. Nice place tucked away - had to look carefully for it. read more

Fish and chips were disappointing. I forget to ask if the fish was haddock. It was pollard which I dont like as well. My fault. Iced tea was good. Husband had wings which were good and octopus which was not good. It was tough and off tasting. Won't go back read more

My husband and I along with our two boys dined at the James Pub in Needham for our wedding anniversary lunch. We specifically picked it for the Sunday roast they offer in the fall and winter. The food was delicious! Our appetizers (sausage rolls and chips with curry sauce) were tasty and our mains - Sunday roast with chicken for me, Roast beef for my husband and older son, and a burger for the younger son were cooked to perfection! Portions are very generous and we were quite stuffed! We were also surprised with two complimentary desserts - really very kind and thoughtful of them. From the moment we sat down at our table to the time we walked out the door, the service was friendly and kind. We will definitely be back and highly recommend the James pub for a wonderful dining experience. read more

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To others, I describe The James as "a cozy, friendly, smallish, Irish-inspired restaurant *with* great food. In downtown Needham, walking distance from the commuter rail in/out of Boston, The James has long been one of my favorite spots. While the menu is limited, I have found everything on it is delicious. That staff is super friendly. And they have a great selection of Irish Whiskey! The only thing I don't like about The James is that it's a small place. I can be tough to get a table or a seat at the bar. (The COVID-era addition of outdoor seating helps in nicer weather.) But that's just me being sad that I can't get always get a table here. If you haven't tried it yet, you should. read more

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Great food, live music an amazing staff. On Thursdays they have an amazing band. I own a business., when we throw a function, we always have them cater. read more

Hidden gem! The food, service, and cocktails were all excellent. It's a lively restaurant/pub with a cozy vibe. We had the walnut and mushroom pâté, beet salad, Salmon Goddess salad, and the lamb small plate...everything was delicious. We'll definitely be back! read more

Cozy pub with excellent food and interesting cocktails. I like the cocktails, they are not ordinary and they are made with care. Service is warm and efficient. The food here is really good and the locals are lucky to have such a great place for diner. When we visited they had a Sunday roast dinner which was proper with roasties, Yorkshire pudding and nice serving size of gravy. The beef was excellent with a hint of the rosemary and served at the perfect temperature I requested. Great place overall read more

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The James is a cozy gastropub in downtown needham that serves reliably tasty cocktails and food (lunch and dinner). It's a great place for cold winter nights and for beautiful summer evenings (they have a "patio" area... with heaters for cooler evenings). Never had a bad meal and the service is always warm and inviting. read more

Cutest little hidden gem of a pub in Needham! Very close to one of the commuter rail stations so plenty of parking. Limited menu but everything is amazing. Service is great and the indoor and outside seating is comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

Drinks are good though they don't have standard labels such as Tanqueray & Hendricks. Server was friendly. Only criticism is bar snack was not good & certainly not worth $6 in quantity or quality read more

Don't expect them to say they're open to the posted hours. I would suggest calling first, but even then don't expect them to honor it.

The vibe was old times Ireland and was so real. The service was fast and they knew exactly what I wanted. The food was great and filling, everyone at my table finished their food and was hungry for more! read more

I am so happy I selected this pub to meet a friend for dinner. I came once in the summer for their jazz music. It was a perfect summer evening, outside! Quite crowded. This visit was a Saturday early evening. My house designed gin and tonic was special! Nothing like a little cocktail twist to make it memorable. The pot pie and side salad was perfect for the cold rainy evening. Friendly hospitality. I will return. read more

**Go to Cappella instead!** The James restaurant absolutely blew it. After giving this place several chances I've found it to be mediocre at best and the staff to be lackluster but when I was the only patron in the restaurant and there were 6 staff standing around when I said my chicken was cold, you'd think there would be some level of action. The chef (also just sitting around) said well, the salad is suppose to be cold (duh!) so I kindly replied, is the chicken suppose to be cold too? He of course said no it wasn't suppose to be and offered to do absolutely nothing... At this point I asked for the check, paid the full price for the meal and walked out. No one lifted a finger to correct anything despite being asked to. Just steps down the street at Cappella restaurant, everything is flawless, MUCH better food, MUCH better staff, MUCH better atmosphere and MUCH better service. Don't waste your time or money at The James. read more

Cozy, yummy food. Try the soda bread! Staff are very friendly. The gin and tonic is excellent.

WOW, 11/10 for everything - came here with some co-workers and enjoyed a wonderful night with great appetizers (we got them all to share, I tried all and they were DELICIOUS). Also got the salmon as my entree which was amazing, best brussels sprouts, farro and salmon ever - so perfectly well cooked. For drinks I got a mocktail which was the "fojito" and it was perfect as well, suuuper refreshing and not too sweet! Our waiter (Seamus) had so much charm and was so accommodating from the start til the end. The restaurant was also really clean (especially the bathrooms), and was a cozy spot for date night, coworkers gathering or whatever occasion! Would definitely come back and recommend this restaurant to anyone! read more

So far so good. Olives shocking amazing. Like. I love olives but these were so so good. Garlic hummus was blah Was all lemon. No garlic. Good texture and excellent pita. But advertised as garlic. None. Wine was good. On point. Totally packed in a Good way. Really fun vibe. read more

Had lunch there yesterday. The fried chicken sandwich with maple hot sauce was excellent. The chicken Caesar Salad was the best. The Irish soda bread & butter was hot out of the oven. The Lamb Lollipops were spectacular! Excellent Bloody Mary as well. The waitress couldn't have been better. We'll be back! read more

small bar with a great atmosphere. tried the kiss of fire which was tasty. pretty good cocktail selection

This place is tucked away right by the commuter rail. It's pretty small and cozy. We went on a walk in Needham to check the neighborhood out and came in right when they opened. I had their Savage drink which was not bad at all. They have plenty of neat drinks I'd love to come back and try them all. read more

The staff is so gracious, from greeter to waitstaff. Two of my party was unable to come but they welcomed us anyway. Our server was friendly and left time between visits so we didn't feel rushed. I had the burger, perfectly cooked, although the grilled onions were barely detectable. Delicious all the same. My companion had the portabello mushrooms (which i tried, yum) and the ribs which she declared a success. A merlot for her and sauvignon blanc for me rounded out the meal. Great ambiance, just getting noisy when we left so not a problem. Will be back! We reserved a table inside but next time if weather permits and they are available I will sit outside--very pleasant and charming. read more

Gin martini was 2 of 5 at best. I had the lamb which was more than 1/2 gristle. Wait staff was great, I'd give them a 5/5. Food was very lacking... Come maybe for drinks. read more

I've gone 3 times and have loved every aspect of this place. A hidden gem. I'd definitely recommend. Summer live music and seating outside. read more

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Really, really great in every way! A little piece of Ireland in Needham. Warm and friendly atmosphere with a creative menu of delectable appetizers and mains to go with a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits. read more

One of our favorite restaurants in Needham! It gets busy, so always recommend making a reservation. The ambiance and service are great, and all the menu items we've tried are delicious. Recommend selecting several items to share. We especially love the soda bread, chicken wings, shishito peppers and burger. read more

The burger was not good. Even the bun was not good. The fries were mediocre at best. 20 dollars, waste of money. Service was good.

Strange evening at the James. We were outside under a propane heater. First, the heater melted the electric cord to the decorative lights, which left us partly in the dark. The service was astonishingly slow and inattentive, unlike our prior dinner at the James. Our friend's Manhattan didn't arrive, so after 10 minutes, we asked if they'd forgotten his order and were told that they didn't have Bulleit Rye and would have to substitute something else. It took another 10 minutes for the drink to arrive. We ordered food and waited a very long time for it to arrive. My wife's burger was delicious. I got the salmon and was disappointed. It was slightly fishy-tasting, dry, and without any sauce or seasoning. It was served on top of cold quinoa that was devoid of flavor (I often mix in sauteed onions, veggies, etc, to make it more palatable). Even after we finished our meals, it took a very long time to get the check. read more

This is a cute venue without any bells and whistles, comfortable and quaint. The service was acceptable, nothing over the top. The food is generally outstanding. The street corn was out of this world (pictured), covered with a ton of sauce; an absolute finger-licking delight! We also got the sausage bites which were good but a bit heavy for my taste. The fish and chips (pictured) were delicious. Stellar execution on the crunch while maintaining the flakiness of the fish. My only criticism was with the fries (or "chips"), because we seemed to receive mostly small bits and pieces of crunchy ends. What blew me away the most were the mussels and the coconut Guinness cake. The coconut broth for the mussels was on point, a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. The coconut cake reminded me a bit of a scrumptious carrot cake in its texture. A must try! read more

The James - Street corn - Irish Pub Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Last night my husband and I went out for a date night and wanted to sit at the bar, knowing that James always has a great vibe. From the moment we walked in Mary, the hostess, took care of us, as well as the awesome bartenders, and their amazing Mezcal margarita and service. The music was great. The food was incredible. I highly recommend the short rib. It was an unexpected, super fun night, and really appreciate Mary and her welcoming spirit. Cheers! read more

Good food and service but the last two times the order of short ribs was smaller than previously, not enough meat. The Irish bread is AMAZING, and the burgers the best around. read more

Be sure to visit on a Sunday night for the live Irish music. I ordered the burger and fries and a glass of Pinot Grigio. I regret not ordering the mixed drink I had the last time I was in. Nothing wrong with the wine but they have some great signature drinks. The fries are just how I like them-sorry no photo. Hand cut and thin...but not shoestring. Crispy and that salt we all crave. Even the pickles were delightfully unusual -a sweetness with the vinegar. I ate them all & I don't usually traffic in pickles. They had a GF bun option FYI and accommodated my dairy allergy without batting an eye. Great service, great music, free parking. Major cuteness. Hidden gem! read more

The James - The cozy bar from my perch as a two-top next to some lovely stonework - Irish Pub Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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A truly wonderful place. A remake of a Needham train station, this place has plenty of atmosphere. No reservations, just drop in and hope it's not a long wait. The menu is full of dishes that sound good and actually are good. We have loved the pork chops grilled to perfection on a bed of well seasoned mashed potatoes with a stripe of broccoli rob edging the plate. Along with Jacks Abby on draft you are in a very good pl read more

This past Sunday-- Easter Sunday-- was my first time here and it won't be the last. The James did an amazing job at handling my multiple food allergies, preferences and sensitivities. (yes I am rather high maintenance) They even went above and beyond helping me find food that was safe for me-- even modifying an existing dessert to make it safe for me to eat-- which they offered to do without me asking. Regarding, COVID precautions, the owners have clearly put time, effort and money into making sure that people can feel safe both inside and out. We sat out as it was lovely Sunday and our first visit. Each table has info on the QR code menu and each table has their own hand sanitizer and from what I saw each table is partitioning off from another with a decorative divider ie not the standard plexiglass. Myself along with my nearly 80 year old mother felt very safe. She is even planning a visit with her card group (all in their 70-90's) as she felt very safe. My family is looking forward to our next visit. read more

The James - Pea Soup which tastes like spring in a bowl-- bonus it was gluten free and vegetarian. - Irish Pub Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Sorry Folks This place is completely overrated. The food the, cocktails are meh.. and criminally overpriced. It does not feel like an Irish Pub at all. It attracts older pretentious people and younger completely self involved rude 20/30 somethings who block the small spaces without a care. The only positive is the staff (: minus the snobby talentless (bald) male bartender that would rather look through you than say "hello" read more

Bartender july 2nd.. awful experience.. poor service.. poor quality drink.. watched her may an abomination of clients drinks for dinner... used to love this bar for its bartenders.. she is a disaster read more

Stopped by The James in Needham this past weekend and had such a blast! We asked for outdoor seating because they have a beautiful set up and I hope they are able to keep it past COVID times! It rained for 20 minutes and even with that everyone stayed outside because we were mostly covered and the staff was nice enough to be walking in and out of the rain. Drinks were amazing! We ordered "that tequila drink" and Violet Femmes which were equally beautiful as delicious. For food we started with the fresh baked soda bread which was amazing. Then ordered the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, pesto and arugula, the cider brined pork chop, fish and chips and burger and fries. All the food was phenomenal. We brought a cake and they were nice enough to cut it up and serve it for us. Seating space is beautiful, staff was attentive and friendly and overall vibes were great! Will be back! read more

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They stepped up during the pandemic - and seemd to have made a small fortune too - but since then they seem to have lost interest in customer service or quality food. Such a shame. read more

Great food. Great drinks. Friendly and accommodating staff. Really enjoyed their cod dish and soda bread. Every time I come here there's something new. read more

I wish I could give this restaurant 6 *! Everything was tip top! Best fried oysters ever! Light, soft, and not at all greasy. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted and flavorful. Loved the buttermilk dressing that lightly coated the lettuce leaves on my salad, and the crunchy croutons were scrumptious. The fries were also not greasy and very good. The pumpkin cheese cake tasted homemade and was beautifully plated. The coffee came in a French press. Every detail of this dinner was expertly done. I hope to come back and try more dishes on the menu. Our waitress was efficient and friendly. I very much like the charming decor. It feels like you're in Ireland. So very happy that Needham has this wonderful addition and sorry I didn't discover it sooner. I notice that when I search for restaurants in Needham, The James does not appear on the list, because it is considered a pub. read more

The James - Great food at The James.   Needham is becoming a foodie destination. - Irish Pub Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

Small and mighty! Love to sit at the bar for drinks and those mussels! The size means it is always packed and lively.