Restaurant Saint James

Saint James Restaurant was absolutely spectacular. From the first bite to the last view of the sunset, everything felt truly special. The food was outstanding. We started with the beef tartare and the fried scallops—both perfectly prepared and full of flavor. For the main course, the chicken with mashed potatoes was comforting yet elevated, and we finished with the grain mariner for dessert, which was simply delicious and beautifully balanced. The service was exceptional. Lily took wonderful care of us, and the sommelier’s recommendations were spot-on, elevating the entire dining experience with thoughtful pairings and genuine attention. What truly sets Saint James apart, though, is the atmosphere. Watching the sun set over the water while fish and stingrays swim gracefully below creates a magical, almost surreal setting. The view is breathtaking, and the ambiance is incredibly romantic. An amazing experience in every sense—perfect for a special evening or a romantic dinner you won’t forget.

I came here with my partner for my birthday dinner, and it was a genuine treat. The food was rich and well presented. The suggested wine pairings worked very well. The atmosphere was lovely and the staff was delightful. Our host even placed a candle in the crème brûlée!

After 20 unforgettable days wandering through French Polynesia, we chose St. James for the final dinner of our trip—and it could not have been a better choice. We arrived at 6:00 pm, the perfect timing, as sunset unfolded around 6:30 pm. By then, we were already enjoying a delicious glass of French Pinot Noir recommended by Jean, the restaurant’s manager—an absolutely perfect pairing for the sunset. We began with a beef tartare appetizer, followed by scallops and chicken as our main dishes, and finished with a Grand Marnier mousse for dessert. Every single element was flawless: the food, the service, the setting, and the atmosphere. Lily, in particular, made the evening even more special with her warmth and professionalism. It was the most beautiful way to close out a truly wonderful journey. If you’re visiting Bora Bora, I cannot recommend enough stopping here for a sunset dinner—it’s an experience you won’t forget.

Beautiful patio right on the water with a gorgeous view. The food was really good, but unfortunately the service was terrible. It felt like the hostess who seated us wasn’t listening to anything we said. When we arrived shortly before noon, there was only one other table (a solo diner). We placed our order well before anyone else arrived: coconut-crusted scallops, mahi mahi, a fruit and vegetable salad, and a side of seared foie gras. I mentioned when we sat down that we were in a bit of a time crunch (we were only in town for a few hours from our resort), and when we ordered I specifically said that it was fine to bring all the dishes out at once. The salad arrived in a reasonable amount of time, and by then many of the other tables had filled. We finished the salad and then waited… and waited. I noticed that every other table received their food before us, even those who had arrived much later. I was just about to cancel our order when the rest of the dishes finally came—except for the foie gras, which had been forgotten. I mentioned it to the (very polite) waiter and it was brought out quickly after that. The food itself was excellent overall—the salad was the best we had on our whole trip. The one big disappointment was the foie gras: it was extremely greasy, which is surprising and we’ve eaten a lot of seared foie gras elsewhere. If we ever go back to Vaitape, we would probably eat here again, mainly because it seems to be the only true sit-down restaurant option. The view is great, the menu interesting and the food is mostly awesome. The service really does need to improve however (and it was definitely not a language issue, as I speak both English and French). Everyone else on our shuttle who ate there also reported poor or forgotten service, so it doesn’t seem to be an isolated experience.

What an amazing restaurant. It was so good we had to go back for lunch two days in a row. You can’t beat the atmosphere. Having your toes in the sand while you look out to the ocean with I have to say the best margarita I have ever had and the food was so delicious. First day I had the focaccia sandwich and today I had the fish and chips. Both were amazing!! The service from Regis was spot on. Thanks.

Misleading Pricing & Poor Transparency As someone who travels extensively and understands international dining standards, I was stunned by the lack of clarity here. The menu is confusing, the pricing structure is opaque, and we were charged USD $680 for a bottle of wine with zero clear indication. For an establishment operating at this price point, transparency is non-negotiable. My birthday dinner was overshadowed by this avoidable issue, and that alone speaks volumes. I hope management takes immediate action to ensure pricing is communicated clearly to future guests. What is the retail price for this bottle of wine in Bora Bora?

Salad with passion fruit dressing was delicious. Had the flambeed shrimp for main course with a side of fois gras. All great. A bonus was the view of fish swimming in the blue light under the piers - even caught a glance of a shark swimming by.

The most perfect views for sunset! We came for drinks and then stayed for dinner after the sun went down. The view is stunning, everyone was super friendly, and the food was delicious. Highly recommend for either drinks or a meal. We reserved in advance for both a table for drinks and dinner. Would advise doing this so you can get a spot! Thanks for a wonderful evening!