Great bar to hang out, have a couple of (very well made) cocktails, and a very, very good lamb burger. Don't forget the truffle fries

Good menu selection but they don't seem to care about food quality. Looks like they sand bag their burgers and not cooked fresh. I hate that method some restaurants do it and feel like it takes the whole flavor away. If you order medium you get it medium well. read more

Food is great, I love the atmosphere, pricing is perfect, the bartenders are all very attentive and make phenomenal drinks. However, I keep getting the same horrible server every time I come in which is why I've begun to eat my food at the bar. She never seems to smile or looks like she's happy to be there and I'm sorry but whether servers like it or not they need to seem excited/happy to take someone's order. The tipping point for me was when she threw my bill down on the table and keep walking as if I was done when I actually wanted another drink. Pretty unacceptable behavior in my eyes. Hopefully management will keep a better eye on how their servers are treating customers because her service in particular is quite distasteful. read more

Fries: 5/5. Kale salad: 5/5. Quinoa cakes: meh. 2/5. There are very few vegetarian meal options at this restaurant, so they need to nail those. They did just that with the kale salad but those beautiful cakes were tasteless! The iron horse has terrible vegetarian food- get it right and steal their traffic. Great service, however! read more

James Bar - Bars Near Me - Missoula, Montana

Great bison burgers, good drinks and good vibe. Came in after a day of rafting. Hit the spot. Truffle fries are awesome also.

After driving across town last night and standing at the bar for 10 minutes while servers/tenders looked at me and continued on w/o asking if I needed anything, I finally asked if dinner was still being served.. "Kitchen closes at 11pm" This was at 11:08 and website states closing is at 2am (nothing specifically stated different about the kitchen's closing time). Lost a very interested patron and potential repeat customer. Congratulations. read more

Solid menu and I had a great elk burger. It was a nice place to hang at the bar when traveling alone for work.

My friends took me here for a very small, low key, bachelorette party (which I had asked for). James Bar was just a great fit! We had excellent drinks, delicious food and a great desert all while sitting for four hours or more just laughing and talking and playing a bachelorette game. The waitress was so nice to us and so accommodating! Just an excellent establishment. read more

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Rather than having a gossip fest with your fellow serving staff, maybe you should actually turn out tables so people can sit. Pretentious at its best. read more

This is a regular spot for my wife and I as we both love it. Friendly service, chill vibe, great drinks (good bartenders) and the food is good. Never a bad meal. I'd recommend the elk burger or sliders. Best truffle fries in the nearest day's drive, but don't sleep on the spicy garlic fries either! read more

The place is conveniently located downtown where other restaurants are located. They have a full bar selection and also a decent wine's list. I came to this place because they offer bison's meat: you have three choices for it: sliders, meatloaf, and burgers made with bison. I tried the meatloaf and it was delicious. read more

James Bar - Bars Near Me - Missoula, Montana

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Best service in town. Fast and they remember your what you drink. Food is good.. Love the dips!

One of the best bar restaurants I've been to in a long time. Staff genuinely friendly and helpful and engaged. Steak nicely cooked. Bartender was very accommodating letting me sample multiple beers. Patrons were generally friendly, intelligent and unpretentious. Prices were extremely reasonable. read more

This is one of my favorite places in Missoula to dine. Great ambience, servers all seem to be funny, interesting people, and the food/drinks are always good. Bison stew, burgers, sweet potato "tots", sliders of a variety of meat. All awesome. Try the Moscow Mules! They come in a wide variety, each carefully crafted to taste good and not skimp on the booze. Tip - Arrive a little early as the place is very popular and don't be afraid to sidle in to Al and Vics bar next door after you eat. Same drinks more room! read more

They only gave me half a pickle in my Bloody Mary. Food was bomb tho. Y'all losT a star cause the Bloody Mary was whack b put some salt and pepper on that mf. read more

I give this place 3 stars for their lack of good customer service. I went here a few times over my vacation and ended up leaving the server like $2 for how crappy she was. Great atmosphere, decent food....horrible service. Get better servers and you will get happier customers. read more

I got tots and sliders. The portion of tots is HUGE! (Not complaining) I liked that you could mix and match the sliders. And of course the beer selection was excellent! read more

So sad. Used to be a classy place for cocktails, conversation and appetizers. Now, with TVs flashing everywhere you look (extremely distracting with all the mirrors) it is just your average sports bar. read more

Found this great place on the Yelp while visiting Missoula. Excellent food/beverages and selection. Elk, bison, lobster, and lamb sliders rocked. Salad with lime-cumin dressing was very good. As noted by other reviewers, the sweet potato tots are a must have. Good atmosphere and service. Give it a try. read more

James Bar is a favorite "date night" destination with my husband. We love the sliders, the sweet potato "tots", the drink specials and the general atmosphere of the place. Good food. Good Service. Good prices = Yay! read more

When we stepped into James Bar, we were sure we were in for a treat. It's a hip-looking little spot downtown with a fantastic-sounding menu. The drinks were strong and the truffle fries were hot but a bit burnt. And the entrees we ordered (elk burger and steak salad) were underseasoned and left a bit to be desired. We'll go back to try something else because the service was good and fast for a Saturday night. Hoping that when we try the sliders we fall in love! read more

James bar is doing a lot of things right. The decor is rad, the drink list is the best downtown, the prices are just right, and the servers are friendly. went to lunch there recently however and was sorely disappointed with my lamb burger. The patty itself was luke warm, the bun was soggy and there were more sprouts than meat. I will def. go back again and try different menu items (my wife liked her sliders a lot). As of right now however I am impartial. *look for future updates read more

Heres what I like about James Bar... Its the closest thing to a lounge style we have in Missoula - leather bench seats, the upper deck, dim lights, the fireplace... Personally, I dig the Hunter S. Thompson and J. Buffett quotes on the outside of the building and the large photos of some of rock n rolls biggest icons on the inside walls - do the college kids even know who they are? I like that the owner is workin' it! They have a great red wine list and a generous pour in a nice, big glass. They make a mean Scottish mule and have beautiful copper mugs if you like it served in that. Their shepherds pie, and macaroni n cheese are delish, and nice portion size. Various sliders are a great deal at $1! I'm a fan of the halibut cheeks. But, my absolute favorite thing on the menu is their Caesar salad. That is, until they changed it. And they changed it cuz people don't get it, kept sending it back. It was a beautiful creation, the most unique Caesar I've ever eaten - and Caesar is my go to salad. I've had just about every restaurant's version in town and it was by far my favorite. They served the romaine heart leaves whole, stacked, and ladeled with their house made dressing all on an long plate. The first time I ordered it I tried, like any civilized person to cut it into pieces and stuff it in my mouth with a fork. On the second cut, the whole thing slid off the plate and smack onto the floor. This made me recall one time when I was walking down to the hip strip, lickin' on an ice cream cone just purchased from Big Dipper. Second lick, the whole scoop plopped onto the sidewalk before me. There is no 5 second rule with ice cream on a dirty sidewalk, or romaine hearts on a bar floor for that matter. I actually cried both times. So, at James then, I began to eat the salad with my hands. Just dig in, pick up a leaf and start chomping, throw on another crouton and take another bite. It's okay, who's gonna come over and tell you, ya can't eat it that way. Hey, if Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame can eat even her spaghetti like that, that's good enough for me. The other night when I was there, they brought me the Caesar and it was all hacked to shreds in a bowl with the dressing in a little cup. I almost sent it back. Shamus explained to me it was an experiment. Well, stop I say. Would you serve the classic iceberg wedge with bacon and blue cheese all chopped up in a bowl? Here's a simple fix. Its like when you go into a coffee place that really knows how to make a macchiato- NOT Starbucks (theirs is an abomination). And because of them, a bonafide barrista will ask you; 'do you understand how we make ours?' Shamus, just train the waitstaff to explain the Caesar, instead of change the unique work of art you present. Food should be art, not just a bowl of chopped romaine... read more

Mellow enough to bro' it up, but also romantic enough to get swanky. The sweet potato tots and sliders are fantastic. On the pricier side, the scallops are amazing. The place is packed weekend nights and while the service is never poor or rude, it's not above average. read more

Love this place usually ......came for dinner tonight and service was terrible, greyhound (easy drink) was watered down and tasted terrible. Falafel slider was boring. Not sure if I'll come back. Bummer read more

Seems to be a trendy place. To be honest my wife and friends like it. As for myself, the drinks and food have each left me wanting more flavor-wise and the atmosphere is to hipsterish. read more

Great atmosphere with good food and a nice selection of draft beer. Good place to go with friends on a late night and visit.

Fun atmosphere and great food. Friendly staff be it a busy weekend night or a more laid back weekday afternoon. Well priced for the quality of food. read more

Adam the bartender is the best part about the James Bar. His drinks are as bomb as his jokes. Sit at the bar if you can. The service on the floor is usually mediocre, but can be quite horrible if you happen upon the wrong gal. Sometimes the staff does dumb things such as placing plastic straws in hot water for tea. The mini Stan is the best treat on the menu, but don't let them shaft you on the onion ring (they try to do that sometimes). Everything else is average bar food, so if you're concerned about health, quality or taste stick to drinking or the hot cookie with ice cream in cast iron pan. read more

We had high hopes after two bartenders recommended the place, citing great burgers and awesome fries. It was the day of the marathon and the place was packed. Jame's appeared woefully understaffed. The server was doing her best to keep everyone happy, but it was a Sisyphusian labor. We waited way too long for terrible fries and mediocre burgers.... read more

Seat yourself and greasy truffle fries - minus the truffle for $9......... No Thanks. Skip this Missoula after work hangout and go somewhere else. read more

Strong drinks and good food. Get the lamb burger. Or the hot fries. Or the Buffalo burger. Cooler more elegant atmosphere if you're into that. read more

Had very good Sunday brunch here. Greek fries were a generous portion, well seasoned, and had an interesting cucumber/feta type dip. Had their brunch special: bison meatloaf over cheese grits and kale, with brown gravy. I'm visiting from the South, and eat grits once or twice per weak, so I was skeptical about how Montana grits would be, but they were very well prepared and delicious. The bison meatloaf was much more tender than I expected, and very flavorful. The kale had an interesting light dressing that tasted like it had a beer base perhaps, and was very good. Highly recommend. read more

Fantastic food, fun atmosphere and a very popular hotspot from the crowd on a Wednesday. I wish more places served sweet potato tater tots with some surprise bites of truffle oil in it like theirs. The burger and the kale caesar with steak were super good too! read more

One of the best places in Missoula for a classy and intimate drink. The food is delicious whether you're ordering appetizers or an entree. The drinks can be a little more expensive but the atmosphere is worth it. Patrons gather for a good time and I have yet to encounter a gaggle of just-turned-21 students looking to get drunk, which I find too often at the other bars. Yes bars are for drinking but sometimes its nice to have a drink in a setting with a more refined patron base. After grabbing dinner downtown I love to head over here for drink, usually a rum & coke. I really like that the staff makes an effort to use the exact brand of liquor you want in your drink, instead of charging you an arm and leg for something made with a cheap brand. read more

After years of getting into town late after a long day of fishing and looking for a casual, comfortable place for a light dinner and a few cocktails, we've found a new favorite. The James is fun, hip without being in your face trendy, and a great place to sit at the bar for a good local brew and some interesting menu items. The bartenders are friendly and the lamb and Stan's sliders are a good recommendation. Should have taken the bartender's advice on our order....the lamb and Stan's sliders are much better than the elk and next time we'll go with the Greek fries instead of the Cajun rings read more

Great dinning environment. The food is aesthetic which compliments the interior of the bar itself. Definitely a younger, trendy feel to the place but anyone can visit and enjoy. Order bison sliders and Greek fries for a relaxed small plate experience or jump to a bigger entree with sirloin salad. wash it down with one of their handcrafted cocktails from an exclusive menu specifically designed by James Bar. Great wine selection as well. My favorite bar in Missoula, we visit it weekly! read more

james bar has the best ambiance. sophisticated and a perfect date-night spot while still maintaining a college appropriate atmosphere. their beef bites and truffle fries are to die for. a must go for anyone visiting Missoula or from! read more

James Bar - james bar drinks are bomb - Bars Near Me - Missoula, Montana

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This is the BEST bar in Missoula, period. From their delicious food to classy environment, you will not get anything better in the area- hell, maybe even the whole damn state. read more

This is a great place to hang with friends, have a few drinks enjoy some amazing food. Pleasant staff, great drink specials and always something new on the menu to try. A must stop. read more