The James
21 Fire Island Ave, Babylon
(631) 975-2637
Recent Reviews
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Had a great dinner at The James. Our server Ramon took great care of us. We loved the raw bar, the crab cake, steak frites, and the beef Wellington. The éclair was the perfect finish. Manager Matthew and GM Frank were very accommodating. We'll definitely be back.
We came for our daughters birthday this was our first time here . They did not disappoint ! Service was excellent food was great , and the atmosphere was a vibe ! Unfortunately we did not take pictures of the food but we shared baked clams , wagyu tartare , and my daughter had shrimp cocktail ( they were jumbo shrimp) . Than I had steak frites , my husband had the pork chop ( he loved this dish ) our son had rib eye and our daughter had the pasta with ragu . DDessert was crème brûlée and the sticky toffee pudding all amazing ! We would definitely go back.
We arrived around 10:30 tonight hoping to enjoy a couple of drinks and some caviar bumps. We waited a long time to get greeted or acknowledged by the staff but this did not bother us. We ordered two caviar bumps from the start. The caviar was excellent, and the person who served it was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, it really set a great tone for the night. However, we ordered two mezcal drinks from the bartender: I got a mezcal margarita, and my boyfriend ordered a mezcal cocktail from the main menu. Mine was clearly well made, but his tasted like watered down nothing. I mentioned it to the bartender lightheartedly, and instead of offering a fix, he tasted it with a straw and told us that my drink “just has more citrus,” as if that explained anything. My boyfriend’s drink genuinely tasted like something that had been sitting out for an hour. The bartender didn’t offer to remake it and instead gave attitude. At that point, instead of ordering more, we just decided to leave and the tab was $100 for two caviar bumps and two drinks. It left a bad impression, which is disappointing because it’s such a beautiful place, but sometimes the service really does make or break the experience.
The space is gorgeous, but the experience fell a bit short for us. My fish was unfortunately overcooked, and the rest of the dishes were just okay for the price point. We also asked for a wine recommendation and didn't get much guidance beyond being shown options in our budget, which was disappointing given the restaurant's reputation and connection to Arlo, where they have a great som team. Overall, it's a beautiful place, but the food and service didn't quite meet expectations, and I'm not sure I'd return.
The James is professional persona! From the time the valet takes your car to when you pick it up! Young women dressed upscale welcoming you, takes you to your table & then you're served by another professional. The decor & lighting is perfect to our liking. Price is rather high, but we feel for special occasions it's ok. Weekly visits would be more ok for more $ than we have!😂 Try it! You won't be disappointed!
First time at The James and I will certainly be going back. The food is very good and the service was excellent. A little bit on the noisy side but it just adds to the atmosphere.
I was second time there. Fantastic bar Great bartenders. We had the chicken dish and it was absolutely perfectly prepared! Not crazy about their version of an egg Claire as it had lemon curd in it. But otherwise an absolutely wonderful dining experience!
I requested a table downstairs and it was confirmed only to find out when I arrived that they were not serving downstairs on Wednesday. There was an elevator to use for upstairs but the elevator could use some decorating/ Also, I ordered a blood orange martini --did not have ingredients Ordered then an apple martini only to be told shortly thereafter they didn't have ingredients. I was shocked. Had to settle for a margarita. However the service and food a dining upstairs was outstanding.
Absolutely one of my best dining experiences. Everything was top notch , including our server Anna. Will definitely go again. I highly recommend it!
Celebrated my birthday here with my family and holy crap was it expensive! There were 8 of us, and we go out to dinner very often to high end restaurants—but this place definitely took the crown for our highest bill yet. We all had drinks(not nearly as many drinks as we usually have at dinner) apps, sides, and a few of us split entrées. I will start off by saying this place is absolutely stunning. The hostesses were so friendly, and we were greeted by a lovely lady who opened the door for us. We were seated on the second floor, but the ambiance up there was a bit disappointing. The music was unreasonably loud we could barely hear each other across the table and while I usually love a dark, modern restaurant, it was way too dark in here and they kept putting the lights lower and lower. Service was okay. It took about 25 minutes to get our drinks, but we were given complimentary samples while we waited (twice actually), which was a nice touch though we were definitely ready for our actual drinks, lol. Our server was great when he was at the table and made sure everything was good, but we didn’t see him very often. Our drinks stayed empty for most of the meal, which was frustrating especially since we’re big drinkers but I guess that helped keep the bill slightly lower….
The food came out quickly, which I appreciated. It was good overall, but a few dishes missed the mark. The scallops were overly salty, my $160 porterhouse was a quite chewy, and the lobster mac had a strong fishy taste. Everything else, though, was pretty solid. Best creamed spinach we’ve ever had.
Overall, yes, I’ll be back just with a smaller party of two to give it another shot. I had really high hopes, and while it wasn’t bad, it just didn’t quite live up to the price tag or the hype for our most expensive dinner yet.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I can not even post pictures of what is going on at the bar right now. This place is ... Check the cameras and you'll understand what I am referring to.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
A great night , great food, great music , a little tough hearing with table of 8 . Still coming back
We had a wonderful time as we have on our previous visits. The food was amazing and the hostess was very agreeable finding just the right table. We were celebrating a friends birthday, and the birthday card is always a nice touch. Thank you for another excellent experience
I went to The James recently and I was honestly blown away. From the atmosphere to the service to the food—everything was chef's kiss. The salmon was perfectly cooked—flaky, flavorful, and seasoned just right. The pork chop was next-level juicy and tender, with a rich depth of flavor that tasted like it was crafted with real care. You can tell the kitchen knows what they're doing. And the drinks? Amazing. Thoughtfully made, balanced, and honestly just so good. It's rare when the cocktails feel like part of the dining experience instead of an afterthought—but here, they absolutely are. The James has officially become a new favorite. If you're looking for a place to treat yourself, celebrate, or just have a genuinely great meal—go here. You won't regret it.
I was so full! I chose the price fix menu but others in my party had other dishes and everything was well presented kudos to the staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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