TL;DR: Friday dinner. Nice atmosphere. OK value. appetizers excellent. Mains way too salty. Service was good. I went into St. James hungry and left still slightly hungry. Let me explain. We went for Friday dinner expecting a bit of a wait, luckily, there were tables open and we were seated immediately. St. James is a very small intimate place and there's a quite limited amount of seating, with everyone seated quite close together (so don't talk about your bank pin or password). The space itself is brightly lit, very clean and tastefully decorated, with lots of nice little touches. We ordered two apps which came quite quickly in succession and these proved to be excellent. The calamari was fresh and crisply fried, with a perfect accompaniment of olive oil and sour cream to dip. The chicken wings came in a larger than expected portion and featured the right amount of zing and some delectable breading, the meat was tender and among the best we had. Service was friendly and quite quick and attentive. So far so good. For mains we had pork chop and fettuccine. These came beautifully plated. We dug in and found... They were way too salty. I'm talking potatoes chips for days kind of taste. The pork chop otherwise was juicy and moist (not dried out like at some places) and the fettuccine was creamy but not too rich. Unfortunately, the saltiness overwhelmed all other taste. We each only ate about half before leaving. I had the rest of my leftovers with copious amounts of water. I don't know if the kitchen was having an off day, unfortunately, St. James was not the 5 star experience I was expecting.

Tao's Google Restaurant Reviews I came for brunch over the weekend after a long overnight shift and was craving good brunch food. Thankfully, that is exactly what I found at Saint James. We had ordered the blueberry pancakes and the classic breakfast and both were top notch quality. The blueberry pancakes had a very nice sweetness and the sweet cream cheese topping just blew my mind. It was just so good. The classic breakfast sausages were also excellent, had the right amount of saltiness and savoury that hit the right spot. Highly recommend this place. Food: 5/5. ‍Service: 5/5. Atmosphere: 4.5/5. FINAL SCORE 5/5.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Buttermilk Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs, Pancakes, Home Fries

A Symphony of Flavors at Saint James! Saint James Cafe served up an excellent array of drinks and dishes. The vanilla latte and iced matcha latte were comforting and refreshing, while the mocha ice tea was a pleasant surprise. The mushroom toast, strawberry orange glaze pancakes, and falafel wrap were each flavorful and beautifully prepared. The café offered a delightful experience in a warm atmosphere. Eager for a return visit! Rating: 5/5 Stars.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Mushroom Toast, Pancakes, Falafel Wrap
Vegetarian options
You can have pancakes, falafel wrap, avocado toast, mushroom toast, and a lot more to choose from.
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Paid street parking

We came here for our first time as I had heard great things about their brunch. Unfortunately, our experience was tainted by our server. I don’t remember his name but he was not conversational or warm. At one point my husband had to ask twice in the same breath, for a fork and knife for his pancakes. He barely acknowledged us when we said thank you or asked for things. No ‘sure thing’ or ‘right away’. After waiting a while for him to return, I had to go inside and pay my bill because I was done waiting for him. He may have been having an off day but it threw us off. The food was good though. The drip coffee was quite bitter. I couldn’t even finish it. I still recommend this place for the atmosphere and food. There’s an option to sit outside, which we did, and it was so nice. I can’t wait to come back and try something different on the menu.

A nice set of brunch options and flavours. The stand outs are the featured shortstack for its inventiveness (as they rotate flavours and do a great job of not being too sweet so the flavour can be tasted in each bite). The in house baking is good, the eggs are extremely well done, made light and a joy to eat whether mixed with cheese or a collection of spices and peppers. Nice people, good food, and a place I recommend trying for a brunch if your in the mood. Atmosphere is what it is since it's just a chill cafe atmosphere and a nice street side patio but quite utilitarian (only a plant or two).
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Pancakes, On Sourdough Toast, Smoked Salmon and Egg Toast

The quality of the food here is delicious and wonderful. So if you’re looking for good breakfast food this is the place to go! (I have yet to try their lunch menu but I don’t doubt it’s also delicious). I was reluctant to not give 5/5 but I gave 4/5 stars because of how small the place is and chances are you’re going to have to wait for a bit to be seated especially weekends, parking is limited since it’s off a busy street, also it’s a bit on the pricey side for some of the portions you get, however the quality of the food makes up for it. Great place overall, hope they expand! Photographed is their signature pancake stack and Golden Oldie
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–30

St James Dîner was absolutely fantastic. Whilst away on a work trip, I noticed this highly rated place near my hotel and had to give it a go. On my first try, which was a weekend, it was absolutely full. I decided to try again on a weekday near opening hours, and it was quite empty. After walking in and self seating, I ordered the Golden Oldie and a cortado. The food was absolutely delicious - soft poached eggs, and the chillies added a nice but light kick. It was enough to fill but not too much to stuff. I would definitely recommend visiting this local restaurant to try their food!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3

We had pancakes and home fries and a coffee. Food was good, but the plating style made it harder to eat the food. Everything was served in a bowl and thr home fries were such large pieces that you had to cut them but the bowl it was served in made that hard. The staff seemed friendly. The place is smaller and we walked in at the right time to get a table but a line queued up for a little bit. I would definitely recommend getting here early or being prepared to wait for a table.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Pancakes, Home Fries

First off, the breakfast is one of the best i had in a long time, very few restaurants are on my list to eat in Hamilton. Had BBQ Bandits smokehouse yesterday and it was amazing, today me and the wife had breakfast here and were greeted with smiles and amazing food. Cant pick a favorite, but if i had to, it would be the buttrrmilk blueberry pancakes Good Lawd. Thank You as always for making amazing food. Another True Gem of Hamilton.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$70–80
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Buttermilk Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs, Pancakes, Home Fries

The food and the service was good. But something in my experience was off. I didn't feel comfortable. First about the menu on the wall, I didn't like it, maybe if they put a big board on the top was better to see it from anywhere. Second, options, I haven't seen anything that mixes salt and sweet, actually even pancakes is not on the menu, and I know they serve it. They served pancakes for a costumer and it was looking good. I really saw potential on the business, but I think they can do better to costumers experience.
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3

I WISH THERE IS A BONUS STAR OPTION FOR a place that got my heart. This is a small place with amazing food and great coffee. I had the Avocado toast which had the best pesto sauce topping . I absolutely enjoyed me experience here. Only thing is it’s a small cafe with limited seating available.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Avocado Toast, On Sourdough Toast
Vegetarian options
They have Avocado toast and Mushroom toast . You can opt out of eggs if you may.

I gotta admit! I had the time of my life sitting with my daughter and delightful falafel salad. The food is delicious, fresh and so yummy that it's nice when you find a spot that does it right. You can tell there is a love of good food shared by the staff of this small breakfast place on James St. in Hamilton! Raving reviews and I'll definitely be back, time and time again to try everything on the menu ❤️!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Falafel Salad

Came here for Saturday brunch and was worried that'd we'd have to wait long for a table since there were no reservations. We were told it'd be a half hour wait but a table was available not too long after we left our name. Boy, am I glad we went here. We tried the Mexican hash Benny special and their peach buttermilk pancake. Both coupled with some cortado/latte were amazing. The pancake was fluffy and cinnamon-y and the Benny was very flavourful, good if you like spicy food since there were some jalapeño slices. I'll definitely be back especially for the pancakes!

The food at Saint James is always good and the ingredients are always fresh. The menu has decent variety, including some vegetarian options. The price point is on the higher side for what is a typical breakfast/brunch item. The downside to the cafe is the customer service. The few employees I’ve interacted with/observed are curt and seem disinterested in their customers.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Avocado Toast, Home Fries

I've been to Saint James three times and it is perhaps my new favorite brunch restaurant in Hamilton. The food is exceptional and the espresso based coffee is top notch. The interior is great with high ceilings, plentiful natural light, and comfortable seating. With limited seating though you'll have a wait at peak times. On my recent visit I got a morning glory with a side of home fries. The glory was delicious and the home fries were out of this world amazing. Coffee was reliability well poured, though on the more acidic side for coffee.

Their croissants sandwich is definitely the best! I didn’t like their cooked oatmeal though. I was not worth what I paid for. Their drink menu is good and so their baked goodies. The servers and are friendly. The one thing I didn’t appreciate is that it didn’t have enough ventilation and the inside was so smoky.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 3
Parking space
Difficult to find parking
Parking options
Paid street parking

A cute and homey cafe to grab some brunch. They are pretty busy but luckily some tables had just left when we arrived. They are a bit understaffed, especially during peak brunch times, so the service was a bit slow (the food took a long time and the table wasn't cleaned from the previous diners). Despite this, the prices are very reasonable and I especially enjoyed the pancakes.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

We've been coming here quite a lot on the weekend for breakfast for about a year now. Its exciting to see what kind of delicious pancakes they'll have every time. The service is friendly and amazing, the quality of the food and coffee will leave you in a speechless bliss. I got the avocado toast and the combination of bursting flavours...? ....!!!!....honestly speechless. As seen in the picture. As well as the cinnamon butterscotch chocolate and nut pancakes and homefries - which are the best I've EVER had.

I got delivery from here, I got the short stack with berries and meringue crumble and a coffee, and paid extra to get real Canadian maple syrup. They gave me an extra thing of table syrup instead. My coffee was 1/3 full, not sure if it spilled on the way. The pancakes were stale and the berries were not washed (one blackberry was moldy). The meringue crumble is pictured. Overall very disappointing, I would not recommend this place, at least not for takeout. Might be better in person.

Snug spot for more refined versions of classic brunch food. I liked the addition of salsa verde to the avocado toast for a unique herbaceous component. I also enjoyed the smoked salmon and egg toast, but I feel like it could’ve also used a little something more to cut the richness of the scrambled eggs. There is limited indoor seating; likely would need to wait for large groups when it’s busy.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20

I returned to Hamilton after a couple of years away and it was great to find one of our favorite restaurants still serving up great food with great service. Couldn't eat on the patio but we were lucky enough to get a seat inside. This establishment has not only kept their great food quality but it also kept their great prices. I had the breakfast sandwich and my wife had the daily shortstack. Keep up the great work!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Tried this place due to high rating on google review. I like the place very modern and hip. Not a big place only seat 18 people in total. My friend and I shared avocado toast and blueberry pancake. Avocado toast was delicious. The pancake was good but the topping and maple syrup a bit too sweet for my taste. Next time I will ask for the maple syrup to be served in a separate bowl. Coffee was okay and price is reasonable. I'll be back and I will recommend this place.

I've heard positive reviews about this place from people I know in Hamilton. So why not give it a try since I was in town. I can say there are a lot of brunch spots in James Street, but this small cozy spot is worth a visit. There are limited seating, but lots of people are ordering items to go from my observation. We got The Malibu and featured short stack which was the banana & chocolate pancakes. Both are tasty items and would definitely come back for the burger

Awesome locally owned spot for a chill vibe and amazing espresso. Took my new wife along with mom for brunch on a Saturday. Always friendly service and quality food and coffee. The stacked feature was a peach yogurt on their delicious fluffy pancakes. Wife had the egg and bacon on a croissant with pickled red onions. Always a good visit or stop by. Great to see them doing well and don't mind waiting in line.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch

The vibes were nice and it smelled amazing in there, I ordered the smoked salmon dish and felt that the eggs were under seasoned as it tasted a bit bland. The bread was lovely, as were the pickled onions and the actual smoked salmon! I think if they replaced their sauce with a dill option, the dish would be elevated. The home fries were ridiculously good, probably the best I’ve ever had
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Amazing restaurant with incredible food. I watched one guy the kitchen alone put out dozens of plates consistently making some of the best looking breakfast I've ever seen. My food was incredible. The guy on the other side was alone making the best cappuccino I've ever had. The ladies up front serving were very nice and helpful. Do not leave Hamilton without eating breakfast here!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

SPEECHLESS!! The best brunch dish I have ever tried worldwide and in all Ontario. The food was SPECTACULAR! It’s hard to describe the texture and mix of flavours on this dish. I will call this dish nobody can’t miss to try! Well done Saint James team!
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Bacon & Eggs, Avocado Toast, On Sourdough Toast

Food and coffee is always fantastic, never had a server that wasn't patient and kind. Decor is cute but location is quite small -- two person tables are almost touching and larger ones are "family style" so you may be sat with strangers. Not enough for me to knock off a star as everything else is so great, but it would be nicer to have a bit more intimacy with the people you actually choose to dine with.

What a great little breakfast spot!!! My girlfriend and I were visiting friends in the city and hit that up while on our at out, we’re super happy we did. Great coffee, unreal bread and the eggs were perfectly done. I ordered the Golden oldie which is in the picture and my girlfriend ordered the Malibu which we didn’t get a pic of because we were too hungry, anywho I would absolutely recommend this spot!

Absolutely, hands down the best breakfast in Hamilton! Consistently fabulous. Should be 6 stars. No other place I have visited even comes close. I almost think thus place should be kept a secret by those who know.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Home Fries

Really cute spot to grab a quick breakfast, coffee and or pastries. The drive thru sandwhich was really good - perfect combo of all your favourite breakfast foods into one perfectly sized dish. They have a roadside patio set up for the summer. The inside dining set up is cute and cozy.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20

From when I walked in i was kindly greeted, my order was taken and i sat and waited for my sandwich. It could see behind the counter where fresh ingredients were being prepared. Anyways. I got the drive thru breakfast sandwich for 7 dollars. It was the best breakfast sandwich I've ever eaten and will make special note of the sausage used, it was amazing

This is such a quaint brunch spot with delicious food! I’ve been here a few times and have always really enjoyed what I ordered. The people are very nice and the vibes are great. I just wish it was larger and had more seating!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Bacon & Eggs, Home Fries

Absolutely love Saint James. The food here is incredible and never disappoints. Seating is first come first serve so be prepared to wait a little bit or find an open space to sit. Their big table is our favourite and a great spot to catch up with friends! Best breakfast food in Hamilton
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

This quaint little spot has some of the best breakfast I've had in a while. It's a little spot that's easy to miss. Though the inside is a bit small, it's well worth the wait. Great service with amazing food ensures that this is a must try if you find yourself in the Hamilton area.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

A very small and inconspicuous shop on the edge of the big street. Super nice service and the toast with avocado was lovingly prepared and delicious. The coffee was also very tasty (with a lot of acidity, if you like that). Very happy to come back when I am in Hamilton again.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Delicious breakfast and lattes here! Sad that we couldn’t sit inside to enjoy the food or the decor of the store due to Covid restrictions. The staff were really friendly, wait time wasn’t that bad for my order, approx. 10 minutes or so for a Saturday morning. Highly recommend the gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms.

We spent 50$ on a breakfast that was tiny.. we just left and looking for more food! Definitely not what we were expecting! Nothing special at all We tried to go to motel restaurant but they were fully booked. Tiny spot not worth money on food at all!
Food: 2
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

Breakfast here was phenomenal. We ordered quite a few items off the menu and enjoyed the eclectic tastes of each one of them! We also had the pleasure of meeting Rocky and his lovely wife. They both were great and we can't wait to come back here again for brunch with our other family and friends (:

Pocket size indoor space, also had outdoor street side seating. Place order, pick a table, then the staff brings it to you. Superb food and friendly service. Sorry I devoured my breakfast croissant, the ice ice baby was yum. They offer breakfast and dinner lunch items, mimosas and specialty drinks!

Quality brunch - I love The Malibu breakfast sandwich. Service is friendly and your food is ready quickly. The only thing I wish was different is that they had a bigger building - it’s always packed and hard to get a table. Thankfully during patio season there’s a few more tables to go around.

This just might be my new favourite restaurant. The decor, patio, service, prices, and food are ALL 5 stars! I got the Avocado toast, fries, and salted chocolate chip cookie. I want to go every single day! ❤️ The Homefries were okay. They're a little overcooked and underseasoned.

Can't believe I never wrote a review! I've been coming here since they first opened. Incredible breakfast food (and back when they had their dinners, omg it was insanely good!!!) and great coffee. My favorite cafe in Hamilton by far.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Got seated fairly quickly but the wait for food took about 45 minutes. We aren’t sure if this is typical but it definitely was a looong wait. Food was fresh and tasty but I wouldn’t go back if we need to wait that long again!
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4

The food is delicious, service is quick and friendly, and I really like the interior design of the place! The place was quite busy with limited seating, so I would recommend to come early to get a table if you are visiting.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch

There is limited seating here, I'm guessing there is often a wait for a table, but well worth it. Accepting card and cash payment Accessable entrance, washrooms downstairs. Street Parking. Dairy Free Coffee options.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Small but charming spot for lunch or brunch. No reservations so arrive early or with plenty of time to wait for a seat (brunch especially). You can literally see the entire kitchen / prep area! The sandwich I had was not merely thrown together. It was expertly made!

The place has a cute & bright atmosphere. I've been here several times and have really only ever ordered breakfast sandwich+coffee, but the people I've visited with have ordered a variety of other items and all enjoyed. All around good food and environment.

The breakfast menus is limited but all the items are quite unique and not the typical breakfast menu. The restaurant had limited seating area and it was tight in space. But besides the small space we really enjoyed the unique twist on breakfast.

What more can you ask for for what it’s going for. Quick stops with a menu that constantly changes. Bunch of different options to appeal to all those savvy diet folk. Tight knit seating and a smaller place. Would recommend for breakfast/brunch.

Exceptional breakfast spot with a nice patio out front that is nicely shaded in the morning. Service was warm and friendly and the breakfast fare was really good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–30

This place has a limited number of items on their menu to begin with and the day we went in, we had even lesser options to choose from because few items from the menu were not available for the day. The server will seat you at the table but

Saint James is aptly named, located right along James street in the heart of downtown. The interior has a smokey breakfast haze around it, with some limited seating in the front. We dined in, but could’ve easily had take out as there was a

Hands down the best breakfast spot in Hamilton . Black coffee and Avocado toast If there is a wait, it's worth it.
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Small spot with good food but you may have to wait to get in. Informal atmosphere with really nice coffee and a great breakfast sandwich. Seat mate had their short stack and he thoroughly enjoyed it too.
Service
Dine in

I had “The Gatsby” for lunch, it was surprisingly good. I was worried it would be salty but it was really tasty. Their home fries were crunchy and flavourful. Friendly staff and great location. Perfect place for brunch!

We had very good and Tasty breakfast ! Only thing we didnt like They didint bring all the food in once…. ‍♀️
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20

Outstanding brunch. Avocado toast was delicious and the steampunk coffee is the best you’ll find. My friend also raves about their dinner especially the burger. Really terrific hospitality and service too.

I had the mushroom toast and espresso it was great. The mushroom toast was lightly spicy and the egg was perfect. The cheese was delicious. The espresso is full bodied and bold. My friend had the Malibu.

The staff was friendly and warm. Best eggs ever! This hands down the best breakfast I have ever had out. To the chef, I sincerely hope that you plan on cooking forever because you are the best,

Top-notch breakfast so much passion with every bite, thank you so much, I cannot wait for the next time, definitely recommend5/5⭐️
Service
Delivery
Meal type
Breakfast

The best avocado toast ever! We had a great brunch on the patio and will be coming back. Can't wait to try the pancakes as they look amazing on IG. Keep up the good work and kudos to the chef!

Stopped in while in town from the states. Loved our breakfast! Such a cute little place with great food and drinks!
Service
Dine in
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Dream fluffy eggs and tasty toasts You gotta try @stjameseatery Good selection of light breakfast and assorted breads. Good drinks too! Perfect for brunch meetup for two or a family chitchat

The atmosphere is great, very blue, very low key. The food has its own design, they give avocado toast different depth in flavor, which was great. Will definitely come again.

We had the avocado and the malibu. Both was delicious with well chosen ingredients. The location is nice with a very friendly service. Highly recommended. More

I got the Malibu and my daughter got some pancakes with caramelized bananas. Everything was so tasty and staff was amazing! Will be back for sure. Thank you!

So nice fresh food, the people are very friendly and happy to serve you. I love the place
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Good presentation and food was delicious. A bit overpriced and very limited sitting area btw. Otherwise Friendly staff and quick service.

Ordered a smash burger, it wasn't smashed. One of the driest burgers I have ever eaten.