Guide
The Ultimate 2025 Dining Bucket List
03 Dec 2024
03 Dec 2024
A spotlight on Belfast's James St.
Nestled in the heart of Belfast, James St is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of modern Irish cuisine. Since 2003, the elegant (yet unpretentious) ambiance has allowed thousands of diners to have a comfortable and sophisticated encounter with some of Belfast’s best food. James St has carved a niche for itself in the bustling Belfast food scene, becoming a beloved destination for both locals and visitors seeking exceptional food and impeccable service.
The institution is inarguably one of Belfast’s favourite dining spot, perfect for celebrating special occasions, catching up with friends, or even hosting business lunches and dinners. The interior boasts classical style and grace, keeping their table settings and decor to a polished minimum to maintain full focus on the food.
Executive Head Chef Ryan Stringer, at the helm since 2021, has pushed the boundaries of taste, texture, and flavour, earning numerous accolades, including recognition in the 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland 2023 by the Sunday Times and McKenna’s Guides.
The menu offers a mix of a la carte and set options, as well as its own special Sunday menu for those looking for a great roast. We’d recommend starting with an aperitif such as their watermelon spritz or a gimlet, as well as James St’s champ bread & Guinness wheaten with seaweed butter.
Moving on to mains and sharing plates, standouts from recent seasonal menus have included their crab & chilli linguine, ham hock terrine with curried cauliflower and pickled onion, the sweet potato dip with fennel jam and fennel crisp, Co. Armagh confit chicken leg with sprouting broccoli and sauce Diane, and the smoked ham croquettes with a divine smoked onion mayo.
James St is known far and wide for their Sunday beef roast, but they also do amazing steaks any day of the week. Choose your favourite cut, or perhaps one of their steaks to share options, and your cooking preference, and you’ll be delivered an impressively cooked steak alongside chips and your choice of peppercorn, bearnaise, red wine jus, garlic butter, chimichurri. We also have to recommend a side of their grilled portobello mushrooms and roast carrots with lemon, feta, and sage for the perfect well-rounded meal.
For seafood enthusiasts, the grilled monkfish with a shellfish and green peppercorn sauce is a must-try, as well as the whipped cod roe and the crispy squid with romesco sauce. James St also caters to vegetarian palates with dishes like the charred courgette with whipped feta, basil, and dukkah and their decadent roasted tomato and red pepper soup.
The menu shouts out all of their local producers and suppliers, so you can see exactly where each ingredient hails from – a lovely touch for those who like to dine with sustainability and locality in mind.
Complementing its stellar food offerings, James St also boasts an impressive drinks menu that caters to a diverse range of drinkers. The comprehensive wine list features selections from around the world, perfectly matched to your food upon request. Notable mentions include the crisp and refreshing Chablis which pairs exquisitely with their seafood dishes, and the robust Malbec which perfectly complements their meat offerings.
For those who prefer spirits, the bar boasts an extensive cocktail menu, classic cocktails with weekly specials, and an impressive Irish whiskey collection, including the entire Bushmills range. A must-try is the James St Martini – a sophisticated blend of premium vodka and vermouth, finished with a twist of lemon. Beer aficionados are not left out either, with a selection of craft beers that showcase local brewing talents. And for the non-drinkers, a great selection of alcohol-free cocktails, sparkling wines, and beer, as well as the usual selection of soft drinks.
