St. James - Modern Caribbean
Caribbean restaurant · U Street ·
Caribbean dishes like callaloo, jerk brisket, rum cocktails
Caribbean dishes like callaloo, jerk brisket, rum cocktails
"Founded by Trinidadian designer Abby Charles, this conscious fashion label embodies ethical consumption, with many pieces incorporating batik fabric made using traditional wax-resist dyeing techniques. The brand emphasizes producing vibrant, comfortable statement pieces with attention to craft and ethics: "With an ethos of 'Good for the Caribbean,' we produce colorful and comfortable statement pieces with quality, love, and ethics," the brand explains on its site. "We hope to highlight the work of Caribbean people in the diaspora who reflect our values of giving back and contributing to excellence in the Caribbean and across the globe." - Nicole Grimes
"Jeanine Prime’s culinary ode to her native Trinidad comes to life at St. James, her lively restaurant named after the bustling district in Port of Spain, the country’s capital. Prime’s small and large-format dishes pay homage to the melting pot port city, including West Africa’s callaloo, a stew full of leafy greens, Trini-style Chinese steamed buns stuffed with spicy pork, and curry crab. A vast collection of imported rums lined along the soaring mirrored bar help build fragrant and floral cocktails like a hibiscus highball. Also worth checking out: Prime’s Bib Gourmand-designated sibling Cane, which focuses on Caribbean street foods." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky
"Sharing the callaloo soup was a highlight — vibrant pureed greens dotted with generous crab meat and a favorite dish of the night; the menu also shines with whole fried snapper, aloo and chana pies, garlic pork, and trini‑Chinese chicken." - Eater Staff
"With Eater DC’s 2019 Chef of the Year Peter Prime no longer involved, his sister Jeanine Prime pushed the long-awaited culinary ode to their native Trinidad past the finish line in spring 2022. St. James, named after the bustling district in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, breathes life into brick-lined Quarter + Glory’s former home. At 2,800 square feet, the remodeled space is almost three times larger than its Bib Gourmand-designated sibling Cane, which focuses on Caribbean street foods. Small and large-format dishes that pay homage to the melting pot port city include West Africa’s callaloo, a stew full of leafy greens, Trini-style Chinese steamed buns stuffed with spicy pork, and curry crab. A vast collection of imported rums lined along the soaring mirrored bar help build fragrant and floral cocktails like a hibiscus highball." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff
"Owner Jeanine Prime has done it again—now with this modern Caribbean concept named for the district within Trinidad’s Port of Spain. The contemporary space with industrial touches is enlivened with vivid pops of color, while the shared plates-style menu evokes a convivial spirit. Influences hail from all over the globe, all paired with Trinidadian rum-focused cocktails. Begin with a bowl of Callaloo soup, a deep green blend of puréed spinach, chilies and coconut milk topped with lump crab meat with a great depth of flavor. Don't miss the jerk brisket, which marinates for 12 hours before it's smoked. Follow that up with the Trini-style taro dumplings in a curry sauce, but be sure to get a side of sweet plantains finished with candied ginger." - Michelin Inspector