James – Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Went to  James  in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (605 Carlton Avenue) for brunch last Sunday.  Love this place!  While it can get a little pricey for dinner, brunch is very reasonable.  They also just started serving  lunch from 11:30 AM – 3 PM Tuesday through Friday, which I look forward to trying.  Some other great deals are their happy hour from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM, which includes 1/2 price burgers, burger night from 5:30 PM – 11 PM on Mondays, and Sunday Suppers, which includes a three-course meal for $30.

This was my fourth visit to James, and once again it was scrumptious.   Since it was Easter Sunday, we got there a little before they opened at 11 AM to make sure we got a table (they don’t take reservations except for parties of six or more).  Generally speaking, you can get a table or a place at the bar with a minimal wait.

One of my favorite things about James is the cocktails – they are always exceptional.  Pictured above is their Classic Bloody Mary, which is made to perfection.  It is spicy enough, but if you want something more lethal, they also have a Spicy Bloody Maria!  The Classic Bloody Mary comes with tasty pickled vegetables instead of the typical stalk of celery, and is further garnished with fresh dill and basil, as you can see.

We ordered the special – Salmon Cake with a poached duck egg, remoulade, arugula salad, and avocado mousse (missing from the first picture as it was forgotten and later brought out).

The dish was very good and the cake was prepared beautifully – not too greasy or eggy, as is often the case in other shops.

The other dish we tried was the Pulled Pork with celery slaw and a cheddar scone.

The pork was delicious and well-balanced by the cheddar scone.  The slaw was very creamy and had a nice bite of flavor from the cilantro.  Yum.

I would definitely recommend stopping by James for a meal or even just a cocktail – the atmosphere is fantastic and the waitstaff is always pleasant and attentive.