When looking for a good Irish Pub, James Joyce checks all the boxes. A cozy pub feel with a good variety of beers on tap, events on the patio, sports to watch, but a hidden gem when it comes to the food! I am on a mission to find who makes the best burger in Durham, and have to say the James Joyce burger does not disappoint. The best? We shall see, but I'd have another! The pretzel bites were soft and good with every bite. It certainly satisfied the craving for a good freshly-baked pretzel. Service was very friendly! They really do meet the mark read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - James Joyce Burger - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Loved the idea .wished they had shirts. But the food was only so so. Our frien ordered the corned beef and cabbage special for 21.00 and he got 4 slices of corned beef and a mall portion of cabbage. Not really worth 21.00 and he had to wait until we were almost finished to get it. The Brussels sprouts were great. The fish and chips were not really like Ireland. The menu makes them sound much better. The beer was great but we had hot toddies and they were not that good. So it was ok but for 250.00 it should have been wow read more

My favorite pub in Durham! Absolutely the best wings you can find!!! The sandwiches are great, the specials change regularly and there's A LOT of them. Guinness is on draft and the Nora's punch is a must! Shawn is an amazing bartender/waitress, she knows us well and has a way of bringing a smile to EVERYONES face. It's your usual pub vibe, always comfortable, with great music. 10/10 read more

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I thought that this Irish Pub was just okay. We dined in for dinner and thought that the music was an interesting choice. It was a Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA and the fish and chips for me and a Guinness and the steak and cheese sandwich for my husband. The portions were plentiful and the food was decent. We sat at the bar so the service was fine. It's a neat spot so worth checking out. read more

James Joyce is a VERY cool little Irish bar near the Duke campus. Dark on the inside (long, like a Chicago Irish bar) with a back patio that's open, colorful, well decorated, and (feels) PRIVATE. We were able to enjoy the sunshine, drinks, food, and even make small talk with some employees and locals. Even though JJ was slow in the afternoon, you can easily envision them handling a large outdoor crowd. Porsche (bartender) warmed up to us and even ran some drinks and food outside. We were most impressed by JJ's wings...big, meaty, perfectly fried and sauced. Beware: The hot is REALLY hot. But hey, who're we to back down from a spicy wing challenge? Just keep the drinks coming, Porsche. Yes, the fries were also good and BEYOND what you're expect at a small little Irish bar. We were pleasantly surprised by the food, presentation, and flavors. Our main menu feedback would be to (also) offer marinara with the cheese sticks/curds. After trying the wings and fries, we have zero doubt that the fried mozz would have also been dynamite. We look forward to our next JJ run, cold brews, and a plate of (this time) medium wings. read more

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Wow! At a loss for words with how amazing and authentic this pub feels. Cozy and dim lighting with all wood furniture gives it that wonderful feeling like you're stepping into a pub in Ireland. The food is fantastic! Best Irish pub food I have had from anywhere in the US. The service is great! And let me tell you, you will not find a Guinness poured as beautifully as they do it unless you're sitting in Dublin Ireland. I 10/10 recommend and I will for sure be back, time and time again! read more

We are in St Patrick's celebration month mode and visiting Irish Pubs! This is a gem that if in the area is a must-stop! We sat at the bar and had our drinks and food. The food was delicious and I wished I'd have gotten other items! It all looked so good! The service and our waitress were professional and friendly! The menu was well made and not busy. The inside made me feel as if I was in Ireland again the wood bar and decor the feel I got was warm and welcoming! There is outdoor seating and no worries there are patio heaters out there. If you are in the area or for Saint Patrick's Day I do recommend coming here and showing some good old Irish love! Here's to a long life and a merry one! Slainte! read more

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Amazing food, atmosphere and fun wait staff! It's a cozy pub that really makes you feel like you are in the UK. You might question the sizeable Snoopdog statue that is pushing Mexican Corona in an Irish Pub...but this is perfect example of hilarious British humor. We ordered food for takeout and enjoyed it in our hotel room. The GARLIC THYME "MAIN STREET FRIES" are stupendous! Tons of garlic so maybe not date night material, but certain good for food bliss. You can order as appetizer but also same fries that comes with the entrees. The FISH AND CHIPS was perfection. The breaded cod was tender, but oh man, the tartar sauce is best I've ever tasted!!! It suspect it had a little malt vinegar in it, which is brilliant for this notorious UK dish. The wife ordered the AVOCADO BLT which she said was delightful. It comes with the obvious bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado. But the secret sauce is the GOAT CHEESE PESTO. Drool Even the COLESLAW side that came with the Fish and Chips was amazing. It wasn't sour like many but creamy and ever so slightly sweet. read more

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Excellent pub food and great service. We had the fish and chips as well as a Rachel (turkey reuben) with a side salad. The only part we disliked was the citrus vinegarette (very bitter). Fish, fries, and the turkey reuben all came out piping hot. Salad was fresh. Our waitress was super friendly. We would definitely come back. No pictures because we slammed it all immediately. read more

I used to be a regular at this establishment, but after today's experience, I will not be returning. I ordered lunch for six people, and the fries for everyone were cold and hard. I had the club sandwich, which was good, but that hardly made up for the rest of the meal. When I asked for a refund, I was told it was my fault because the food had allegedly sat in the pickup window for 15 minutes. That was an outright lie. I watched the lady in the window put the food up and prepare several different orders. It wasn't until she called me that I even knew which food was mine. I spend over $100 a week at this place, taking clients to lunch regularly. I've always been pleased with the service, especially when Ms. Bernadine (Lady B) is working. She's always been on top of things and ensures a great experience. But today, the guy who was there was rude, unprofessional, and dismissive. His poor attitude and the state of the food have lost me as a customer. Because of him, I will be taking my business elsewhere. read more

Pleasantly surprised with this place! Did have any expectations one way or the other but the food, atmosphere, and staff were all great! The apps and entrees (Mac & cheese bites, queso spring rolls, fish & chips, po boy & Gaelic burger) were all delicious! And it the bill didn't break the bank for all that + drinks! Will definitely be back when we're in the mood for pub food! read more

So my friends and I found ourselves in downtown Durham Saturday night and chose this fine establishment as our dining choice. So glad we did. Authentic appearing Irish pub on inside but it was a gorgeous night so we decided to sit outside and enjoyed the old tobacco renovated buildings Durham offers. We split a bottle of Pinot Noir and made our selections! I chose fish & chips. Lightly battered & fried...flaky white cod. Not always a fan of fries but always a fan of mashed potatoes...easy swap. Fabulous! One pal ordered the bone in pork chop with Guinness gravy. She was delighted! I tasted it...tender, juicy and cooked to perfection. Our other friend chose the cheeseburger with Rosemary garlic fries and added a salad. It arrived perfectly cooked and those fries...even a fry not lover thought they were amazing. Service was great, menu had plenty of choices for all tastes, great prices! I will return and happy to recommend this little gem!! read more

Nice lunch with coworkers today! We came here because neighboring Federal doesn't open until 5 on Mondays, but we were happy to try James Joyce. Now we're looking forward to a return visit! We each ordered different dishes, but the biggest hit at the table was the huge plate of crispy Brussel sprouts! read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - Reuben Sandwich - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great little pub, perfect spot to watch soccer. The staff couldn't be nicer, bangers and mash are spot on. The true gem is their French toast. Y'all. It was the most balanced blend of sweet and spices, toast and syrup, wow! If I lived here, I'd want to be a regular here. read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - Hot drinks on a rainy morning. - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Good beer and good food. Good service too. Would come again. Fun vibe. Not sure why I need to keep writing more. Just go

THE BEST bar in durham !! bar tender stella SLAYS. trivia on tuesdays is the highlight of my week- every week! great drink deals and good food ! i would recommend this place to EVERYONE looking for a good time. read more

As warm and accommodating an Irish pub as you will find on either side of the Atlantic. Friendly staff, excellent menu consisting of tasty Irish staples and creative bar food, convivial atmosphere, and a most welcoming community of regulars. Outdoor seating is available in the back patio or on the front deck facing the street for people-watching. If you're looking for a casual, inviting place with a real neighborhood vibe, look no further; James Joyce is everything an Irish bar should be. read more

The James Joyce will be hosting some of the funniest comedians in North Carolina! Come enjoy great drinks, amazing food and a night of comedy. Sit under the stars in a beautiful and secluded outdoor patio. Wednesday September 1, 2021 @ 8pm. 912 W Main St. Durham, NC 27701 featuring: Khari Reid Khrissy Yeah She Funny Jordan Scott-Huggins EJ Nonstop Dusty Cagle hosted by Leslie Kirk tickets available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-night-at-the-james-joyce-tickets-168105858147 Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door read more

Joyce is truly a great local's bar. But they make it so easy for newcomers to become local's. Stormy loves the beer garden out back. I love the food., Especially the Irish Eggrolls. Great drinks. read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - Stormy on the back deck of James Joyce. If you're looking for a break from the NC summer heat check out the beer garden at James Joyce. - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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1st time in, visiting the area from out of state & was told by a colleague to check it out. Irish Pub decor - dark wood - and welcoming. The food - bangor's & mash & dessert was some fried pastry from heaven the bartender recommended - were freaking fabulous!! I will definitely be back if I'm in the area again! read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - Dessert - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I went here during St Patrick's Day, so I'll give James Joyce some slack. I would not recommend coming here during St Patrick's day. If I had come any other day, this could have easily been rated a 2 experience. First we had to order everything at the bar. Food, booze, anything we needed, we needed to get at the bar. So you could imagine the large groups around the bar itself. The service was rather quick considering the massive traffic jams. Second was the food. The food was served rather quickly and I knew why once I saw the presentation. It was a bunch of slop put on a paper plate with plastic utensils. The mac and cheese tasted like wet noodles and a hint of liquid smoke, nothing else. I think it was $9 for the plate. It was extremely disappointing. We got the fish and chips ($13/14), which was mediocre at best. The tater sauce was too pungent to really enjoy. The last thing we bought was the corned beef which was the best thing we had received because it had SOME flavor. Of course we also had Guinness and the other beers which tastes the same at other bars. The last redeeming trait was the patio concert. The guy was talented. I loved the sound of his voice and the audience was loving him too. Everyone was dancing in the front, even the elderly were getting it on! One thing I disliked about it was the cigarettes. I understand we are at a bar, but for being 2018, I'm shocked it's still allowed in public settings. But you know, that's expected at a bar. read more

First time I ordered through Uber Eats was tonight. We got pretzel bites, the Reuben and fish & chips. It was all high quality food. The Reuben had great flavor and a generous cut of corned beef. This fish was breaded perfectly, but I thought 3 pieces were a little lean and small for $15. The pretzels were OMG amazing. I'm not a huge pretzel fan but thought I'd try them. They were a welcomed surprise. Will definitely order again! read more

Location was great near downtown. Staff was very friendly. We only had beer and fried cheese but both was fine. I would go back when in town. read more

We ordered takeout from here and it was the delicious! We got the James Joyce burgers with fries and they were cooked to perfection. The burgers were big and juicy. Will definitely order again! read more

First time visiting this place and it was a great experience. The food is really good. Every week their specials change so that's a cool thing. I will definitely be back. Can't believe it took me this long to eat here! My husband had the pub fish and chips and I had the jerk chicken sandwich. Flavorful and cooked perfectly. The only thing is that there should've been an additional piece or two of fish added to the plate. You only get three small pieces . read more

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We visited on a Thursday afternoon and there were a handful of guests at the bar, and a couple of the booths. Wide selection of Taps, and it was "International IPA Day." Might just as well start early! Ordered the James Joyce Burger, and it came well equipped. Tina suggested a side of Fries, when the plate arrived...WOW. Business activity on Main Street in Durham has apparently created a relatively safe area for walking to the restaurants, and bars. If I get back to Durham, I'd try the "Joyce" again! Very comfortable. Note on area Parking: The Automated On-Street "meter" wouldn't accept my card, OR my cash. So, we moved to a vacant lot rather than risk a ticket. read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - "James Joyce Burger" with a "small"side of fries. - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Being the good Irish girl that I am, St. Paddy's Day was a 'must' in my celebration books. In Toronto, there are heaps of Irish pubs around. Perhaps this has affected my review. It's great that there were a lot of people coming out, but JJ should anticipate this and perhaps renovate. Going from the bar area to the seating area, there is a hidden step. I don't know how many people I saw ready to drop their glasses because of this unexpected step. In addition, there has to be more washrooms (bathrooms for you Americans). I was in line for a good 25 minutes before I could use the ONE washroom (sorry bladder!). There were portal-potties in the back, but it was so dark outside. For me, JJ was a 'meh, I've experienced better' place. :) read more

Just did not have a good experience here. I went on a Saturday afternoon while my car was being washed at Bull City Car Wash (thumbs up for them) and the place was not busy, but it was difficult to get any attention. The bartender seemed much more interested in talking to the two college girls at the bar than in acknowledging my existence. I can sort of see his point, since they were much more attractive than me, but still. The beer selection is meh and my fish and chips made me a little queasy. I also kind of got the feeling that if you're not a regular, you're treated a little as an outsider. (That was just my impression, which I can't quantify but can only report my senses.) I'll take Bull McCabe's as my Irish pub any day. read more

Being half Irish, having lived in Ireland for about a month, and having sampled all manner of true Irish pubs, James Joyce both nails and misses the mark on several criteria. Nails it: Decor: thick wooden tables separated by carved wooden dividers with books on the shelf Guinness: the black stuff. Yup. Food: basic, not amazing Irish-esque fare Misses it: Dirtiness: most Irish pubs take pride in keeping things relatively neat and tidy. Not JJIP. My shoes always come out sounding like peeling Velcro and everything is sticky and grimy. Food quality: While they do serve Irish style pub food, the quality is so-so at best Summary: a cute little pub that, on non-crowded evenings, can be a relaxing hang out. Would I plan to spend an entire evening and paycheck there? Probably not. Slainte! read more

Just a quick update to say their menu has changed since my last review. Usually menu changes mean places remove whatever things I like, but thankfully they've mostly added here. More apps, and a tasty tasty looking latenite menu that's served every day (starting at 10:30). The beef & Guinness pie is gone (rest its soul) but the Shepherd's pie is a highly suitable substitute. They frequently are out of random menu items, so approach with caution: i.e., try not to fall into a serious depression if they're out of whatever you had your heart set on. Like, say, bread pudding or half their draft beer offerings. Keep calm and carry on, and thank the heavens there are other tasty things to choose from. read more

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Excellent customer service and excellent food. The amount of care for the customer and our satisfaction is of the highest level. Great vibe and atmosphere as well. read more

Worst Grubhub meal ever! Ordered hamburgers rare and med rare - both were far past the well-done stage and literally burned black (as was the bun). About 80% of the fries were no more than an inch long - see pic. Everything was cold likely because the restaurant moved our Grubhub delivery 27 minutes later than originally stated. Hubs took one bite to see if the burned flavor was tolerable - it wasn't and we threw both orders in the trash. On-site dining might have been better but we won't patronize a restaurant that would let this horrible quality food go out their door. read more

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We used to go to The Federal, then they changed their menu and we were thoroughly disappointed. Started going to James Joyce and this place has amazing food, we had no idea. Beer cheese queso pretzels should be a permanent appetizer... Then I can talk my husband into coming here more often. That special was probably the best beer cheese queso in Durham, keep it around!! Regular bartender here is awesome, you can tell he is super busy but he does not neglect at all, he is on it. read more

Hey, Durham isn't exactly crawling with pubs, so when a good Irish pub comes along, you gotta appreciate it. The Joyce has the right feel, and they (usually) know how to pour a proper Guinness, which gives them a star right there. If you're just too lazy to go down the 15-501 to Chapel Hill, then this place'll do ya. read more

I think the problem with my visit to James Joyce in Durham was that I wasn't drunk enough to appreciate it in a 5 stars kind of way. In fact, I wasn't drunk at all and had an iced tea for God's sake. That said, the interior would have made it's namesake proud. Dark mahogany paneling and booths, a cloud of smoke nestled against the ceiling, and a row of interesting-looking characters aligned on barstools toasting the early afternoon with draft Guinness, and about 20 other decent beers. I had a phenomenal time and recommend it highly. JJ would have have plenty to say about the scene. He most definitely would have said something about the woman in back with the computer and the iced tea utterly detracting from the literary ethos. The portabello sandwich was really good, but next time I come back I'll be in better form. If you are are in need of a beer and interesting conversation near Duke, this is the place. read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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No thanks. Rude bartender. Or whatever she is. Tried to stop in twice but she was just as awful both times. We didn't even have a drink here at all bc of her attitude. read more

Lovely local bar! We love the staff, service and quirky, cool atmosphere. You'll find the locals hanging out here.

Just no on this whole place. We were there after Pride Durham. Um you would have thought they'd have more than 1 person who was waiting the tables and tending the bar. This obviously makes the service slow but not the server/bartenders fault. Let's get to the food. If you think you're hungry, go somewhere else. If you just need good to bite and could care less what it taste like, then this is your place. Otherwise, go to the diner next door. We should have, but there was a lady planted outside attesting to the tasty food. Liar. I like garlic as much as the next person and always add more to my food and recipes since the fall of Sunnydale in 2003, but this place just gives you garlic. They call them fries, but no it's a trick. Kind of like the good food affirmation from tricksters sitting out front. Have you ever had baked wings? Disgust. The kitchen claimed they were fried but see trickster information as previously mentioned. I just did what the Army taught me, poured hot sauce and ate my meal. Except the wings. No thanks. A frequent later told us this place was for drinking only. I'll listen next time. read more

Good service and food. I had no complaints aside from there was not much light at table. It was a little dark and hard to see menu.

I have gone to this Pub so many times before. I love this place. Every time I come to Durham, I always make sure to stop here. I would come here when Tina is working. She's the best bar tender and worker around! I love her. However, my experience with a bar tender named Cookie was not very well. It was a small smudge on a perfect place. She was rude and refused to give table service. She my friend and I wait. When I went up to the bar to get my drinks and food to put in the kitchen, she just looked at me and said 'What?'. read more

James Joyce Irish Pub - This is what's left of our chocolate chip bread pudding. Does that tell you how good it was? - Irish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina