St. James - Modern Caribbean

My girl just got her bachelors degree so I took her out here to this restaurant St. James. It had been on my list of new spots to try so I figured I’d surprise her an bring her here. The parking situation was terrible, had to ride around for about 15-20mins just to find a parking spot. We pulled up with no reservations & got lucky there was seating at the bar available. We had great time at the restaurant. The light skin gentleman with the glasses was out bartender, he did an excellent job & was professional/welcoming. We ordered the 4 Rum punches, Jerk wings & 2 orders of ox tails. The oxtail dish only come with 3 (huge) Ox tails & white coconut rice. The portion was just right. Ox tail were delicious. The jerk wings were amazing, smoky, chard, flavorful, not overly spicy but just enough heat. My only take is that I should have asked for rice & peas over the coconut rice. Rice was kind of bland. But overall food was amazing & we had a great time. Yes those rum punches creeped up on us. We could feel it lol. 10/10 would definitely recommend this place and book a reservation in advance & arrive a little early prior to find parking. We’ll definitely be back soon!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is 1/10. The drinks and music are good. How this is Trinidadian food is beyond me. Zero flavor.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

St James is one of the very few places that delivers incredibly flavorful food with remarkable consistency. It is fine dining infused with your grandmother’s treasured recipes, a true celebration of gastronomic culture.

The customer service is outstanding, and every staff member is professional, attentive, and makes you feel right at home. Whenever I’m in Washington, D.C., St. James is a must-visit for me. At this point, I’m happily declaring myself an unofficial ambassador!

As a meat lover, I highly recommend the oxtail and St. James Beef Ribs. The tenderness and depth of flavor show the level of care and hours of slow cooking that go into every dish — the meat practically melts in your mouth.

Even if you’re not a meat lover, there’s truly something for everyone, and dishes can be tailored to your taste. Some favorites include the Pepper Shrimp with black rice, plantains, coconut rice, Crab Accras, and Pork Pow. St. James has beautifully and creatively blended multiple cultures into a unique fusion experience — it really is culinary art.

If you’re in Washington, D.C. and want unforgettable food, this is the place to go. And be sure to try the Spiced Cranberry & Passion Fruit Rum Punch — a perfect mix of warm spices, tropical flavors, and rum. Absolutely heavenly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Macaroni Pie, Pork Pow, Duck \u0026 Dhal, Crab Accras, Cassava Fritters, Smoked Jerk Wings, Molten Chocolate Cake, Sweet Fried Plantains V, Mango Sorbet

The server gave exceptional service and was very knowledgeable about the menu and gave detailed recommendations. The ambiance was lovely and I sat on the second floor balcony area. It was a nice view. The food was alright but didn’t blow me away. Especially because it’s pricey. The only thing I really enjoyed was the snapper. It was butterflied which was nice and didn’t have bones. It was flavorful. Everything else I ordered was lackluster. I had the jerk wings. Crab fritters. And the pork ribs. I feel like the food doesn’t give authentic Caribbean. It’s seems like it’s more commercialized to appeal to all audiences. I also tried the black rice and as a Haitian person who eats Haitian rice regularly, it lacked seasoning and flavor. As for the cocktails I ordered rum punch and an espresso martini. Both were good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Went here for a birthday dinner and got a taste of home with their delicious food. The black rice and chicken were delicious! And the rum cake with ice cream was a nice treat for my birthday!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My favorite place to go for plantains!!!!

Food: 5

Recommended dishes: Sweet Fried Plantains V

Lovely ambience and excellent service. Their Jerk Chicken Wings and Duck & Dal are absolutely must-tries!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best jerk wings I've ever had in my life. That's what my husband says. I said the same. lol.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is BOMB. Cozy and warm atmosphere, service was great despite how busy our server was, great music. Oxtail was 10/10, seafood black rice was delicious and the leftovers hit!! The drinks were good and strong! Will definitely come back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The staff was Pleasant and the Food was delicious . Which triggered Noatalgia at the delightful delicate flavors

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Unfortunately, there was no happy hour available on the Friday I visited. However, the service was excellent, and the presentation of the food was exceptional. The drinks were well-crafted, and although the dishes could have used a bit more seasoning, the overall experience was enjoyable. I would certainly return, as it is a wonderful establishment for dining with family and friends.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Absolutely gem in the city!! Nestled right on 14th Street and all of its busyness! We were celebrating a 60th birthday & this establishment did not disappoint!! The hostess was very welcoming & greeted us with warmth!! The ambiance truly reflective Carribean culture & easy! Our server(Tatiana)was amazing & attentive!Depth of knowledge for the food was insightful!! The food.... EXQUISITE!! The appreciation flavors, spices & culture! Wonderfully prepared from beginning to end! Highly recommend!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

An anazj experience all around. The jerk wings are amazing and the interior is so nice and warm. The staff is also excellent and the bar has an excellent drinks list.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Smoked Jerk Wings

Amazing food, ambiance, and service by Michelle and the whole team to make our private corporate event a success!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I have a gluten allergy so I reached out to the restaurant before hand about possible accommodations. They were wonderful and sent me a whole list of what I could eat. Once there our waitress also knew what on the menu was gluten free as well as what had shell fish so we could avoid for the other person with allergies.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5