Restaurant Reviews: Shore Leave and James Pub & Provisions - Eater Boston
"Devra First makes her way to Needham to review the James Pub & Provisions for the Boston Globe. Waiting until St. Patrick’s Day to eat here would be a mistake, she writes, that would leave a diner without “great food, drink, and hospitality” while reducing a genuine Irish pub to a caricature. Don’t skip out on the soda bread: Load it up with Irish butter sweetened with honey before tucking into what First dubs “one of the best Scotch eggs” she’s ever eaten. But the bar moves past a traditional conception of Irish pub fare, also featuring dishes such as an oyster roll with white kimchi, grilled jerk prawns, and “tender and mild” octopus atop lemony chickpea puree — all of which First labels “proper pub food circa 2019.” The desserts are simple satisfactions, the brunch is worth going out of your way for, and “there’s something for everyone, and friendliness for all.”" - Dana Hatic
