St. James - Modern Caribbean

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

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crab Accras

EVERYTHING was phenomenal!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This has become a new staple restaurant in DC for me & my friends. Everything is delicious. Literally. Entire menu has no misses. The bake & fish sandwich is only served on the weekends so I always make a stop if I’m in the city on a Saturday or Sunday.
The manager Chris and our server Joshua were so accommodating and amazing.
I absolutely would recommend. 10 outta 10 .

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Collard greens was way too spicy it was burning your mouth. Oxtails was BLAND.uggh

Food: 2

This restaurant was AMAZING! Ive heard amazing things about this spot and it lived up to the hype. I came for drinks and Tom the bartender hooked us up with the Sorrel Margs and the passion fruit + ray & nephew drink. So good! I only tried appetizers: jerk wings and the crab puff and everything hit the spot. I cant wait to return for a real meal soon.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Everything was fine until the end. One of my orders dealt with oxtail. As I started to box my food, I noticed that there was a hair on my last oxtail. I showed the writer the hair abd they took it away. The greeter cane to the table and stated by DC law that I needed a picture if the hair which was not possible. No one assisted with the issue. I would have been happy if they just replaced the oxtail tail, or gave it to me free. I spent over $300 and not even an apology. I keep getting an error message everytime I attempt to send an email to the email address provided.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: Crab Accras, Smoked Jerk Wings, Pineapple Chow

I checked out St. James during Washington DC’s Winter Restaurant Week. There were 3 options for the Restaurant Week menu (at $55/person) and we chose options 2 & 3. Luckily, we arrived in time to enjoy their happy hour menu to try some of the appetizers that were not featured on the menu options we chose.

Happy Hour Menu:
Jerk Wings ($9) - 3/5
Pork Pow ($8) - 5/5
Passion Me Up ($10) - 5/5

Option 2:
(Starter) Crab Accras - 5/5
(Main) Fried Snapper - 4/5
(Dessert) Molten Chocolate Cake - 4/5

Option 3:
(Starter) Aloo and Channa Pies - 5/5
(Main) Maitake Masala - 5/5
(Dessert) Mango Sorbet - 5/5

JERK WINGS: The jerk wings are not your traditional Jamaican jerk, they are Trini style. The wings are 12-hr marinated, pimento-smoked and had a slight bitterness to them at the end. The wood they chose to smoke them in tastes a lot like too much liquid smoke but just a bit too much of it. They weren’t bad, I’ve just had better.

PORK POW: The pork pow was absolutely delicious. They are a Trini-style Chinese steamed buns, stuffed with spicy ground pork. They come in 2 and had just the right of amount of bun to filling ratio. They were so good we ordered another serving after quickly finishing the first. If I wasn’t excited to try the other food, I would have ordered at least 2 more orders of these. Get them! As a matter of fact, you might as well place 2 orders upfront. I will be going back just for these.

PASSION ME UP (Alcoholic Beverage): The passion me up beverage was delicious! It contains Wray & nephew overproof rum, lemon, triple sec, passionfruit syrup. We had 2 drinks each and they were delicious! (Video included this review)

FRIED SNAPPER: I am a fish lover and if snapper is on the menu, I’m getting it. It was good but not the best I’ve ever had but the tamarind curry and black rice made this dish interesting and flavorful.

ALOO AND CHANNA PIES: The cumin-spiced potatoes and curried channa were excellent. The fried bread was light and the bread to filling ratio was perfect.

MAITAKE MASALA: This dish was the highlight of the night. It’s Maitake mushrooms in a masala sauce served with cauliflower couscous and a side of coconut rice, greens, and plantain.

Overall, I will go back to St. James. Our server was Tym H and he was absolutely fabulous and engaging. The service was fast and the food/atmosphere was inviting.

Highly recommended dishes: Pork Pow and Maitake Masala.

Parking: This location adds a 20% Fair Wage Fee to the bill. This fee is not a tip.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crab Accras, Large Whole Fried Snapper, Aloo and Channa Pies V

We had the pleasure of celebrating Valentine's Day at The St. James, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. The culinary experience was top-notch, with each dish expertly prepared and presented. What truly stood out, however, was the exceptional service. From the warm welcome at the door to the attentive care throughout our meal, the staff went above and beyond to ensure our evening was special. A particularly impressive moment was when my wife accidentally dropped her knife - our waiter was swift to respond, retrieving it before she could even react. The combination of outstanding food and impeccable service has won us over, and we can't wait to return and explore the rest of the menu.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pineapple Chow, Macaroni Pie, Sample Platter with Goat Beef Yams and Chickpeas, Aloo Pies, Aloo and Channa Pies V, Roti

I like the atmosphere, that's as far as it goes. I'm from Brooklyn where carribean restaurants are plentyful. However service I felt like it was decent but slow. We went around brunch time although they don't have a brunch menu. I had the medium size snapper (lacked any seasoning) that was $55 for a tastless snapper and not sure what sauce they used. Would not recommend it at all it was disgusting. Now down the gem of the carribean Oxtail extremely bland and fully with fat (they left the fat because they only give you 3 pieces to make it look bigger) literally the most tastless Oxtail I've ever had. Had their signature old fashioned made with rum (I would pass on that as well)
Overall I totally think this place has potential. They need a new chef who has experience with cooking carribean food. As of right now don't think I would go back which sucks as a person from the carribean I really wanted this place to be great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 2

The worst macaroni pie I’ve ever had in my life!!! It tasted like old cheese and I got sick from it. The aloo pies were decent. I ordered no pepper, but it was still spicy. If you’re a real Trini, don’t eat here cause you’ll get disappointed.

Food: 2

An elevated Caribbean restaurant, with Trinidadian 🇹🇹 roots. Good food, service and ambience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

As someone from Trinidad, let me just say—when I hear “modern Caribbean cuisine,” I approach it with a mix of curiosity and side-eye. I mean, you’re telling me you’re going to take the flavors I grew up with and remix them? Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.

We ended up at St. James after some downtown plans fell through, and I’d been hearing about this place for a while, so we finally gave it a try. First impressions: it’s definitely Trinidadian inspired. The flavors? They’re there, but it’s clear this is a modern twist, not the “down-home Trini cook-up” you’d get at your auntie’s house. And you know what? That’s okay. It’s got its own thing going, and I respect that.

The atmosphere? Loved it. Definitely had a vibe—great music (big up to the soca and Caribbean tunes in the background), beautiful people, and a setting that felt elevated but still warm and inviting. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger, sip your drink, and just soak it all in.

Now, about the food. I started with the West Indian Old Fashioned, which was solid. Then I tried the jerk wings. Look, they were good, no doubt—but personally, I don’t love seeing Trinidadian and Jamaican cuisines getting swapped around like they’re interchangeable. I prefer my Jamaican to stay Jamaican and my Trini to stay Trini, you know? But hey, I let it slide because the wings were tasty.

The oxtail was solid too—tender and flavorful—but it also made me feel like my own oxtail game at home is strong, so thanks for that little ego boost, St. James. (I swear there was a hint of red wine or something in the sauce—chef, if you’re reading this, confirm or deny.)

My wife had the crab curry, and you could definitely taste the Trini inspiration there. It had that familiar essence but with a modern twist that reminded me this isn’t your typical curry crab and dumplings. It’s refined, elevated—but it still gives a nod to the roots.

Price-wise? It’s not cheap. But honestly, at this stage in life, I’m convinced everything feels pricey, so maybe that’s just me. For a special occasion, a treat, or something to shake up your regular routine, I’d say it’s worth it. Not an every-week thing, but definitely worth the experience.

Overall, I’m glad we came. It’s not a substitute for the authentic Trini food I grew up with, but it doesn’t pretend to be, either. It’s bringing something new to the table, and I can respect that. Plus, it’s refreshing to see a place celebrating Caribbean culture in this way—DC could definitely use more of it.

Would I come back? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Without a doubt. If you’re looking for a vibe, a little taste of the islands with a modern twist, and a place to feel connected to Caribbean culture (even if it’s not exactly like home), St. James is worth a visit.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Smoked Jerk Wings

This place is a solid 5-star experience from start to finish. Everything exceeded our expectations. The service was top-notch, with everyone from the host to the servers being friendly and attentive. We were really excited because we love exploring new foods, cultural experiences, and luxury dining—and this spot didn’t disappoint. It had the perfect balance of an amazing atmosphere, exceptional service, and a true taste of the cuisine. As fans of Caribbean food, we were impressed by how authentic the dishes were, even in such a modern setting. The vibes were fantastic, the music set the perfect tone, and every dish we tried was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to go back. Whether you’re dining solo, with friends, or on a date, it’s a great choice. Pro tip: definitely make a reservation!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

St James was 5 stars all around! The food was amazing, our server was phenomenal and the atmosphere was warm & welcoming. I already have plans to return!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Smoked Jerk Wings, Garlic Pork Ribs

The food and service were amazing! The staff are so welcoming and the drinks were top tier. Definitely a place you want to visit

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5