The James Pub, Needham

A Hidden Gem in Needham We experienced the pleasure of lunch at The James, an exquisite smaller Nouveau American restaurant in Needham Square, on November 26. I didn’t count the seating, but it can’t be more than about 40. The menu fits on one side of a page yet is satisfactorily varied. My wife had an exquisitely dressed burger with fries, cooked perfectly to her request. I had the “sausage sando” which is a medium sized sausage sub garnished with cooked onion and other condiments and which, to my surprise, didn’t leak or fall apart. I would order this again. The fries were perfectly cooked, as good as any I’ve ever had. We didn’t order drinks but they had a comprehensive cocktail menu. The staff was great: intelligent, courteous and pleasant, and service is prompt. Reservations are recommended. Our lunch bill was $38 plus a generous tip. The dinner menu is more expensive but still not unreasonable. The photo shows the interior taken near the entrance. On the right are high seats in a row along the wall. We ate in a dining area with standard height seating off to the left, not visible in the photo. The kitchen, bar area, and restrooms are to the left toward the back. For those not familiar with Needham, The James is not directly on Great Plain Avenue as the address might indicate – it’s hidden directly behind the storefronts on its block, in a nicely renovated old stone building next to the railroad tracks, easily accessible via an alley off Great Plain, and there are no stairs required for entry or transit. There is ample parking in a large municipal lot off Chapel Street near Lewandos Cleaners, with two handicapped spaces about 50 meters from the restaurant. The James is a treat for anyone who wants a relaxing meal prepared with quality food. Highly recommended!

Excellent food and service! We were looking for a new place to try and chanced upon this little gem on their first day of service for weekday lunch. Highly recommend the roasted carrot- the sauce is out of this world. The fish and chips, sausage roll, garlic hummus, and cheesecake were all quite tasty. It felt much elevated versus a local greasy pub.

Cute little place. Drink menu is impressive only if you knew what 1/2 the ingredients are in some of the drinks. Ordered a standard margarita it was delicious, not too sweet. Ordered chicken wings, marinated olives & lamb lollipops. Chicken wings standard. Crispy. Dipping sauce was a nice add. Marinated olives would be better if they were pitted. The lamb lollipops were the show stopper! Delicious! Cooked perfectly. Great taste! They should just up the price to $27.00 and offer 4. Instead of unchanging additional $7.00 for one more for 2 people. Would go back for more lamb lollipops!!!

One of the best restaurants I’ve ever visited and it’s only 5 mins walk from my house, can’t believe I waited so long to visit. I stopped by with my family for a quick lunch and had no expectations, but everything blew my mind. Awesome salad, whiskey ribs, giant fish and fries, even the kid’s Mac n cheese was extraordinary! It will be my go-to place!

The Sunday roast is amazing. I get the sirloin. One of the best meals, I have ever had. The fish and chips is perfect. The bread pudding is so good, and enough for two. The burger is done right, and the fries are awesome. They have something called peri peri shrimp. It's very unique and i think it's seasonal, and if it's on the menu, get it. The bartenders make great signature drinks, and a great pour on the Guinness. I couldn't recommend this place more.

Visiting from Chicago for a family event — it’s a cold May Friday evening and we were looking for a place to have a quick, but good bite to eat. We were reserved for a patio table but called to me make a change. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. There was only 3 high top tables in the bar, but that was just perfect for us. We had a couple of classic cocktails (made perfectly) and ordered the arugula salad (an absolute must!). The fried sausage bites looked great but were a bit too spicy for our taste. We ordered the burger with hand cut fries and the Statler chicken. They were both delicious!! Finally, the chocolate chip bread putting was the best ever. It was their only dessert, and it’s so good you don’t need any other options. This is a great place for a family or a date night out.

Wonderful Needham pub! Atmosphere and service are great. I love the cheeseburger and fries. Cocktails and beer are terrific. Try the house gin and tonic! Update Nov 2023: Another great meal at the James! The pork chop was delicious! My friend had fish and chips-fantastic! As always, the burger and fries is great. I loved my gin and tonic! And great live music!Already looking forward to my next visit!

Visiting from out of town and came by. This was without a doubt the best pub food I’ve ever had. Very nice people and amazing environment. Pictured is the Halibut, Pork Chop, Soda Bread, Bread Pudding, and Irish Cream.

To others, I describe The James as "a cozy, friendly, smallish, Irish-inspired restaurant *with* great food. In downtown Needham, walking distance from the commuter rail in/out of Boston, The James has long been one of my favorite spots. While the menu is limited, I have found everything on it is delicious. That staff is super friendly. And they have a great selection of Irish Whiskey! The only thing I don't like about The James is that it's a small place. I can be tough to get a table or a seat at the bar. (The COVID-era addition of outdoor seating helps in nicer weather.) But that's just me being sad that I can't get always get a table here. If you haven't tried it yet, you should.

The James is a cozy gastropub in downtown needham that serves reliably tasty cocktails and food (lunch and dinner). It's a great place for cold winter nights and for beautiful summer evenings (they have a "patio" area... with heaters for cooler evenings). Never had a bad meal and the service is always warm and inviting.

Cozy pub with excellent food and interesting cocktails. I like the cocktails, they are not ordinary and they are made with care. Service is warm and efficient. The food here is really good and the locals are lucky to have such a great place for diner. When we visited they had a Sunday roast dinner which was proper with roasties, Yorkshire pudding and nice serving size of gravy. The beef was excellent with a hint of the rosemary and served at the perfect temperature I requested. Great place overall

**Go to Cappella instead!** The James restaurant absolutely blew it. After giving this place several chances I've found it to be mediocre at best and the staff to be lackluster but when I was the only patron in the restaurant and there were 6 staff standing around when I said my chicken was cold, you'd think there would be some level of action. The chef (also just sitting around) said well, the salad is suppose to be cold (duh!) so I kindly replied, is the chicken suppose to be cold too? He of course said no it wasn't suppose to be and offered to do absolutely nothing... At this point I asked for the check, paid the full price for the meal and walked out. No one lifted a finger to correct anything despite being asked to. Just steps down the street at Cappella restaurant, everything is flawless, MUCH better food, MUCH better staff, MUCH better atmosphere and MUCH better service. Don't waste your time or money at The James.

Cozy, yummy food. Try the soda bread! Staff are very friendly. The gin and tonic is excellent.

Gin martini was 2 of 5 at best. I had the lamb which was more than 1/2 gristle. Wait staff was great, I'd give them a 5/5. Food was very lacking... Come maybe for drinks.

One of our favorite restaurants in Needham! It gets busy, so always recommend making a reservation. The ambiance and service are great, and all the menu items we've tried are delicious. Recommend selecting several items to share. We especially love the soda bread, chicken wings, shishito peppers and burger.

So far so good. Olives shocking amazing. Like. I love olives but these were so so good. Garlic hummus was blah Was all lemon. No garlic. Good texture and excellent pita. But advertised as garlic. None. Wine was good. On point. Totally packed in a Good way. Really fun vibe.

This place is tucked away right by the commuter rail. It's pretty small and cozy. We went on a walk in Needham to check the neighborhood out and came in right when they opened. I had their Savage drink which was not bad at all. They have plenty of neat drinks I'd love to come back and try them all.

Strange evening at the James. We were outside under a propane heater. First, the heater melted the electric cord to the decorative lights, which left us partly in the dark. The service was astonishingly slow and inattentive, unlike our prior dinner at the James. Our friend's Manhattan didn't arrive, so after 10 minutes, we asked if they'd forgotten his order and were told that they didn't have Bulleit Rye and would have to substitute something else. It took another 10 minutes for the drink to arrive. We ordered food and waited a very long time for it to arrive. My wife's burger was delicious. I got the salmon and was disappointed. It was slightly fishy-tasting, dry, and without any sauce or seasoning. It was served on top of cold quinoa that was devoid of flavor (I often mix in sauteed onions, veggies, etc, to make it more palatable). Even after we finished our meals, it took a very long time to get the check.

Really, really great in every way! A little piece of Ireland in Needham. Warm and friendly atmosphere with a creative menu of delectable appetizers and mains to go with a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits.

The staff is so gracious, from greeter to waitstaff. Two of my party was unable to come but they welcomed us anyway. Our server was friendly and left time between visits so we didn't feel rushed. I had the burger, perfectly cooked, although the grilled onions were barely detectable. Delicious all the same. My companion had the portabello mushrooms (which i tried, yum) and the ribs which she declared a success. A merlot for her and sauvignon blanc for me rounded out the meal. Great ambiance, just getting noisy when we left so not a problem. Will be back! We reserved a table inside but next time if weather permits and they are available I will sit outside--very pleasant and charming.

I've gone 3 times and have loved every aspect of this place. A hidden gem. I'd definitely recommend. Summer live music and seating outside.

A truly wonderful place. A remake of a Needham train station, this place has plenty of atmosphere. No reservations, just drop in and hope it's not a long wait. The menu is full of dishes that sound good and actually are good. We have loved the pork chops grilled to perfection on a bed of well seasoned mashed potatoes with a stripe of broccoli rob edging the plate. Along with Jacks Abby on draft you are in a very good pl

Last night my husband and I went out for a date night and wanted to sit at the bar, knowing that James always has a great vibe. From the moment we walked in Mary, the hostess, took care of us, as well as the awesome bartenders, and their amazing Mezcal margarita and service. The music was great. The food was incredible. I highly recommend the short rib. It was an unexpected, super fun night, and really appreciate Mary and her welcoming spirit. Cheers!

WOW, 11/10 for everything - came here with some co-workers and enjoyed a wonderful night with great appetizers (we got them all to share, I tried all and they were DELICIOUS). Also got the salmon as my entree which was amazing, best brussels sprouts, farro and salmon ever - so perfectly well cooked. For drinks I got a mocktail which was the "fojito" and it was perfect as well, suuuper refreshing and not too sweet! Our waiter (Seamus) had so much charm and was so accommodating from the start til the end. The restaurant was also really clean (especially the bathrooms), and was a cozy spot for date night, coworkers gathering or whatever occasion! Would definitely come back and recommend this restaurant to anyone!

Good food and service but the last two times the order of short ribs was smaller than previously, not enough meat. The Irish bread is AMAZING, and the burgers the best around.

Sorry Folks This place is completely overrated. The food the, cocktails are meh.. and criminally overpriced. It does not feel like an Irish Pub at all. It attracts older pretentious people and younger completely self involved rude 20/30 somethings who block the small spaces without a care. The only positive is the staff (: minus the snobby talentless (bald) male bartender that would rather look through you than say "hello"

Small and mighty! Love to sit at the bar for drinks and those mussels! The size means it is always packed and lively.

They stepped up during the pandemic - and seemd to have made a small fortune too - but since then they seem to have lost interest in customer service or quality food. Such a shame.

Bartender july 2nd.. awful experience.. poor service.. poor quality drink.. watched her may an abomination of clients drinks for dinner... used to love this bar for its bartenders.. she is a disaster

This is a cute venue without any bells and whistles, comfortable and quaint. The service was acceptable, nothing over the top. The food is generally outstanding. The street corn was out of this world (pictured), covered with a ton of sauce; an absolute finger-licking delight! We also got the sausage bites which were good but a bit heavy for my taste. The fish and chips (pictured) were delicious. Stellar execution on the crunch while maintaining the flakiness of the fish. My only criticism was with the fries (or "chips"), because we seemed to receive mostly small bits and pieces of crunchy ends. What blew me away the most were the mussels and the coconut Guinness cake. The coconut broth for the mussels was on point, a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. The coconut cake reminded me a bit of a scrumptious carrot cake in its texture. A must try!

Good and drinks are wonderful. Ambience is comfortable and inclusive. Love the live music nights.

Great food. Great drinks. Friendly and accommodating staff. Really enjoyed their cod dish and soda bread. Every time I come here there's something new.

Be sure to visit on a Sunday night for the live Irish music. I ordered the burger and fries and a glass of Pinot Grigio. I regret not ordering the mixed drink I had the last time I was in. Nothing wrong with the wine but they have some great signature drinks. The fries are just how I like them-sorry no photo. Hand cut and thin...but not shoestring. Crispy and that salt we all crave. Even the pickles were delightfully unusual -a sweetness with the vinegar. I ate them all & I don't usually traffic in pickles. They had a GF bun option FYI and accommodated my dairy allergy without batting an eye. Great service, great music, free parking. Major cuteness. Hidden gem!

This past Sunday-- Easter Sunday-- was my first time here and it won't be the last. The James did an amazing job at handling my multiple food allergies, preferences and sensitivities. (yes I am rather high maintenance) They even went above and beyond helping me find food that was safe for me-- even modifying an existing dessert to make it safe for me to eat-- which they offered to do without me asking. Regarding, COVID precautions, the owners have clearly put time, effort and money into making sure that people can feel safe both inside and out. We sat out as it was lovely Sunday and our first visit. Each table has info on the QR code menu and each table has their own hand sanitizer and from what I saw each table is partitioning off from another with a decorative divider ie not the standard plexiglass. Myself along with my nearly 80 year old mother felt very safe. She is even planning a visit with her card group (all in their 70-90's) as she felt very safe. My family is looking forward to our next visit.

Stopped by The James in Needham this past weekend and had such a blast! We asked for outdoor seating because they have a beautiful set up and I hope they are able to keep it past COVID times! It rained for 20 minutes and even with that everyone stayed outside because we were mostly covered and the staff was nice enough to be walking in and out of the rain. Drinks were amazing! We ordered "that tequila drink" and Violet Femmes which were equally beautiful as delicious. For food we started with the fresh baked soda bread which was amazing. Then ordered the burrata with heirloom tomatoes, pesto and arugula, the cider brined pork chop, fish and chips and burger and fries. All the food was phenomenal. We brought a cake and they were nice enough to cut it up and serve it for us. Seating space is beautiful, staff was attentive and friendly and overall vibes were great! Will be back!

Our favorite place in Needham. The owners treat all customers like their family and the food is always consistently good. Their signature cocktails are delicious and while some times the live music is too loud, it doesn't negate the quality ambiance.

Usually stellar, however we went on a Thursday evening when it wasn't that busy. Our waitress forgot to put our order in and didn't even figure it out until we asked her to check on our food (despite other people around us getting theirs first even though they sat down after us). The food came and the bacon on both burgers was way under cooked and the salad was WAY over dressed; like someone spilled the whole bottle on it. Then it was long periods of waiting for the waitress to come back to the table followed by a comped dessert we didn't really want. That was their only concession. We'll definitely think twice before coming back again.

I wish I could give this restaurant 6 *! Everything was tip top! Best fried oysters ever! Light, soft, and not at all greasy. The brioche bun was perfectly toasted and flavorful. Loved the buttermilk dressing that lightly coated the lettuce leaves on my salad, and the crunchy croutons were scrumptious. The fries were also not greasy and very good. The pumpkin cheese cake tasted homemade and was beautifully plated. The coffee came in a French press. Every detail of this dinner was expertly done. I hope to come back and try more dishes on the menu. Our waitress was efficient and friendly. I very much like the charming decor. It feels like you're in Ireland. So very happy that Needham has this wonderful addition and sorry I didn't discover it sooner. I notice that when I search for restaurants in Needham, The James does not appear on the list, because it is considered a pub.

The following represents my experience with The James in Needham. Your experience may differ but I doubt it will. Food = 5 Stars Drinks = 5 Stars Service = 5 Stars Staff = 5 stars Overall = 5 Stars The James is such an amazing place to dine it has quickly become one of my families top choices to dine at. The ambiance here is fabulous to go with the amazing food and service. This is definitely a place to come after work for drinks and dinner and you will soon find yourself totally relaxed and not wanting to ever leave. I have never had a bad meal or experience here and the staff is all super friendly and wonderful. You will quickly feel like family at The James. I would say everyone should try The James at least once. I'm confident if you do you will add this place on your regular list of places you go to.

Fantastic in every way except SMALL and limited seating. The server was very nice and put together a small table for me and two friends when there was no other seating. I would have given them 5 stars because everything else was great!

Can't believe I live the next town over and have never been here before. Stopped by for a quick bite & drink after work while staying at a friends for the weekend. The flatbread special with Gruyere, Goat Cheese and Italian Sausage over Arugula was delicious. There Kettle one cosmo was one of the best I've ever had. The Atmosphere is very cozy and the staff is super friendly. I only wish I had Found this hidden gem sooner. I will definitely be returning soon.

I had not been to The James since before the pandemic. I went recently and sat in their outdoor seating and was impressed with what they had done to manage a crowd outdoors. The seats were lovely, spread apart and as cozy as you can get considering it was on asphalt/parking lot. The food and drink was just was I remembered, upscale pub food with really great touches to make the food special. We had several of their cocktails, Trainspotting and I carried a Watermelon, both were solid, although the Trainspotting was not to my husband's taste. We sampled a variety of bits and bobs including salt and pepper chicken wings, whiskey barbecue ribs, and the fresh baked soda break. The soda bread was not as good as I remembered (it was a long pandemic) but still very tasty. My husband got the fishermans pie and really loved it. Service was very quick and always very friendly. I appreciate how the service is always a group effort, rather than one just individual server. I am glad to be back eating at The James!

My 12 year old said it best: "the arancini is like heaven, wrapped in a blanket and deep fried". Delicious food, great drinks, lovely atmosphere. A gem!

One of my favorite restaurants EVER! And that is not an exaggeration. The service is so genuine and even on a night lIke last night when they're slammed they still kill it. We tried the gin cocktails and loved them, but we especially loved that $2 from every cocktail was donated to the food pantry. Now THE FOOD. Order the soda bread and dates with blue cheese to start, the steak & ale pie and the salmon with couscous and cucumber salad for entrees and literally anything for dessert and you can thank me later!! Can't wait to come back :)

Had high hopes since the reviews were all good. Overall flavor was great. Fried brussel sprouts were too charred and tasted burned which can't be that healthy and a waste of a vegetable.

This review is for their take out. I've eaten at the restaurant which was a good experience. Gotten take out 3-4 times and every time it's gotten worse and worse. Short rib pie is soooo stingy on the meat and so small for $25. If your gonna charge that much then make it actually worth the money or charge less. Literally a few strands of meat. Partner got the burger which he said was burnt.

Went here tonight for the first time and it was busy, which it has had a lot of press lately. It was a disappointment. The leek soup was good. The beer selection was great. The main meal was bad. I ordered the flank steak special and it was served stone cold, which they didn't seem to have enough staff and it probably sat a while. Secondly, it was chewy--just a nasty ligament laden cut. And lastly, it wasn't even a "flank cut" but some cheap cut they sliced at an angle and spread out to pretend to be flank! I told them this and they sent it back but they just re-heated my med-rare to well done and gave me a free beer to wash down my hot chewy over-cooked steak. Bar food at luxury prices.

The best drinks and such beautiful food with amazing flavor. Love the vibe at this place and the awesome staff.

I absolutely adore this local Gastro pub, and their servers always help me choose something that is delicious. Whether it's cocktails or something interesting from the menu, I always leave here very, very happy. Meeting friends here is always the right idea! Highly recommend.

We had a great night out at the James! Cocktails are creative and food was excellent. We sat outside in the patio area - felt safe, warm and it was beautifully decorated! Will definitely be back.

Ordered take out - pretty dissatisfied. The muscles and coconut milk broth do not go together at all. The pork is over seasoned with too many herbs, it's overwhelming and it's over saturated in olive oil to a disturbing degree. The soda bread and butter was not worth it, the only good thing was the fries.

Cocktails and food are phenomenal! I could watch the bartender make drinks all day! Love the environment inside and out, has a sweet speakeasy vibe being tucked off the main road. A gem!

Had a fabulous first time experience at The James. Service, food, beverages and atmosphere were all top notch. The live music was an added bonus and made for a very fun evening with friends. Love love the decor. I will definitely be returning.

The outdoor patio is so nice! The staff are super kind and accommodating. The service: excellent. The atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. It is the perfect little oasis for drinks and snacks. I will definitely be back!

Outstanding! Father's Day dinner for our first visit, and we will definitely be back! We had the Irish Soda bread to start, which was great, then beef tartare, fries, and the burrata salad with tarragon pesto and picked white asparagus... sooooo good!! My better half had the 12 oz sirloin special, which was cooked to perfection. We honestly haven't had a better dinner in a very long time. Drinks were fabulous too! So glad we came, and we'll be regulars!! Note: It was busy and loud... not an atmosphere everyone would enjoy. I also wish their menu was updated and accurate online; their website has a sample menu, but it's not 100% correct 100% of the time. It would also be nice to see their specials posted to their website. But the food was so mouthwateringly good, it really doesn't matter!! Definitely saving room for dessert next time :)

Excellent service. The food was amazing and the music was a added bonus to our night out. Beautiful clean cozy spot.Staff were amazing and we will definitely be returning.

The schnitzel was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The scotch egg had the same crispy outside and tender inside. The soda bread too dry. The atmosphere is cozy , and the staff are very pleasant. I would definitely recommend a meal there with friends.