Courtney M.
Yelp
I absolutely LOVE The James Room on the Beltline, so of course I had to give this brand new location in Buckhead Village a shot!
Ambiance: TJR Buckhead is a beautiful cocktail bar. It's a vibe, but if you're familiar with the original, know that it's not the same vibe. This location, which is reservations-only, gives more date night or upscale. We got there around 7:45pm. For a while the music was mostly instrumental, but around 9, they turned on the R&B and turned it up a notch. There is a rooftop patio!
Food & Drinks: There are several interesting choices on the cocktail list. Breathless, one of their signature cocktails, was delish. The Paloma as well, but it didn't have the fizz I'm used to in Palomas. Still, it was good and refreshing. The food options are limited, but you could grab a bite if you want something to nibble on. The lamb chops were divine, but the salmon wontons.. OMG! I wish I could come back for these every day. The wontons were also the perfect light finger food for this atmosphere.
The only issue was the seating. I guess because I made a reservation I was expecting a table. The reservation was actually at the "bar banquette." It's a long couch with a few mini side tables. If you do plan to order food make sure you confirm it's a real table or at the actual bar when making a reservation. This section was facing the bar (basically viewing people's backs), and it's a tight, high traffic area (especially if ppl decide to stand or congregate). For instance, I had to move my drink a couple of times because a group of ladies were standing up in front of us almost the entire time, and one had long hair that was dang near in my drink! The seating layout on the other side seems to work well and the booths are pretty cool.
Service: Great! Madison was very attentive and made good recommendations. Orlando, who I believe was the manager, was kind and intentional about greeting people as well.
Parking: $5 for up to three hours in the Buckhead Village garage.
Overall: Check it out! I'll be back when the patio opens.