Reservations are recommended. Within walking distance of a lot of hotels. There were daily specials. Take note of smoker-friendly after 9pm and the bar is kid free zone. The French onion soup was tasty and NOT overly salted. French onion soup never has enough cheese. The shrimp and crab sandwich was good. I think I would have enjoyed it more over a spring greens salad. Service was prompt and friendly. Convenience dining not destination dining. read more

The James Restaurant - After 9 pm ok to smoke and bar is kid free zone - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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AHMAZING!!!!!!! This restaurant... what can I say? We stayed at the hotel and had a meal at the James . We were blown away! My husband had the ny strip and was in his glories!! I had salmon & it was beyond! We had plans to go to a fancy place the following night , we changed our plans to come to the JAMES! The James is fancy and the food is out of this world ! Our second night I had scallops that didn't need to be chewed, they were lightly seared with the slighted crunch on top buttery soft inside!! Heaven!! My husband again had the by strip!! Oh the waitstaff is so friendly & knowledgeable of the menu as well!! They are also open for breakfast with amazing coffee!!! read more

The James Restaurant - My husband enjoying his NY strip at the James - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

We were staying at HIE for work and my coworker said we've been out in the cold all day, let's just eat at the James. I wasn't overly excited to eat at the "hotel bar". I wasn't overly excited beyond pleasantly surprised. Easy walk downstairs, plenty of seating and friendly staff. I ordered the Reuben with a cup of bowl of soup as my side. What a deal. The sandwich was large and the French onion soup was great. $50 for dinner and 2 beers each. I'll be back! It was a long day, sorry I didn't take a pic of the food. read more

The James Restaurant - Triple Belgian. - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Good service, friendly and respectful server Good food too, quiet place will go back read more

We've been here a few times- the food and drinks are great. The service is a bit spotty but I think they do a good job overall. Best dirty martini in Williamsport! It's a hotel restaurant so I'm not sure if it's busy later at night but it's pretty slow during normal dinner hours. Lunch is busier. read more

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Peter is incredible. We stopped to see if they had Tanqueray. The didn't but Peter would make it part of his run. Best drink ever. Thank you for the extra effort. It made a huge difference read more

The past reviews for The James are all over the place, but when I learned who the current head chef was I knew I had to stop in for dinner. Three of us got a steak (2 strip and 1 Delmonico) and one got the mahi mahi. All enjoyed our meals. Our only negative was that the strip steaks came with potatoes and onions but we would have liked more veg than just the onions. We also got the roasted beets for a starter and they were AMAZING. Seriously, I could have just eaten a huge bowl of that for dinner. Desserts were also tasty and rounded out a wonderful meal. They were fairly busy but our waitress kept on top of our needs and had a great sense of humor while doing so. Another employee heard us ask those at our table what something was and he was quick to jump in and explain for us. We enjoyed the updated layout, as none of us had been in there since they remodeled. It feels much larger and brighter. There was live music when we got there, which we didn't expect. It was nice for a bit but was a little loud for conversation, so we weren't bummed when their set wrapped up. Overall, this is a nice setting for a night out when you're looking for some creative dishes and friendly staff. Also perfect if you're meeting up with friends or don't feel like dealing with downtown parking. read more

The hosts were very friendly so was the wait staff! Had Christie as our waitress and I have no complaints. The food was amazing especially the desert. The ambiance is perfectly cozy, I felt like I was sitting at a family members table. Low lighting and moderate music make the environment autistic friendly. Definitely coming back soon! read more

The James Restaurant - Sugar cookie dessert is to die for! The garnish is adorable. - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The service here was less than great. At the time I was on a special diet and couldn't have certain things and they still put those on the plate. The food was good though. It's a basic hotel restaurant environment. read more

Great breakfast. Regina saw to our every need. Portions tend to be generous. Nice place.

Don't be fooled by the fact this place is technically connected to the Holiday Inn Express. Such a delightful spot and the food is very high quality for the region. Good service too! read more

We needed a late night snack once we got in from a long day of work. There were three of us in our group. Our server did a good job of getting our meals ordered as quickly as possible. Our meals included a burger, salmon, and fish tacos. Each meal came out as requested with my wishes. This restaurant also has a bar so there were a few people enjoying a late night drink. There were no issues with the service no issues with our meal. read more

The James Restaurant - Was a burger - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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Every aspect of this place was incredibly poor. Terrible open floor plan that made it incredibly noisy, ugly furniture and decor, very poor wine selection. It seems like very little effort is put into the starters and entrees. Our mushroom starter was completely soaked in butter and had zero presentation. I ordered a masala chickpea and rice dish in which NOTHING was seasoned. My girlfriend's dish, a $33 crab dish, was at least edible, but the brussel sprouts were completely underdone. I ordered a caesar salad as a replacement, which was fine, and actually seasoned. It seems like the only effort by the chefs was into the meat. I imagine the entire menu other than burgers or steak is completely inedible. Would not go back ever. read more

I travel to Williamsport often. I decided to try the James for dinner. I ordered the Spanish mussels with chorizo to go because it was late. When I got to my room and opened the box it came in the smell was so bad I had throw the whole thing out. The fries were so over cooked it was like eating a pretzel. The French onion soup was pretty good but came in a very small cup for 8.50$. This was the second time I ordered from here and the first time was just as bad. The first time I ordered pizza and threw that out after one bite. I like to give Restaurants a couple of tries and both times were failures. It is also way over priced. The staff could not have been better I just wish the food would have been better. I will never order from here again. read more

Great Restaurant. Newly Renovated. Great Staff! Great outdoor Patio. Food was absolutely amazing! Highly Recommend! read more

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Today was a warm day but we were invited to eat here on the patio. Surprisingly, it was cool and comfortable. The service was very good. The beer was cold, the calamari was tender and the Mahi Mahi was delicious! My husband got the filet which he thought was delicious as well. Would definitely return! read more

Whenever we travel to Williamsport for family functions we always stay at the Holiday Inn because of the James Restaurant located inside the hotel. It's a great place to unwind and have a couple of cocktails at the end of the night. The staff is always friendly and the décor is very modern & cozy. The bartenders know how to make a good strong drink. They have a nice selection of beer on tap. Can't comment on the food because we haven't eaten there yet. Maybe on our next visit. read more

The James Restaurant - You couldn't get a shot of Grey Goose in NY for that price. And the drinks were super strong - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The James is okay. It's better than your standard "hotel restaurant", but not by much. I've been there twice and both times the place was completely empty except for the bar. The service is generally okay, once the bar filled up a little it got more spotty. I had the burger the last time I went there, it was fine though I'd recommend they just skip the iceberg lettuce on it. I think the food is a little on the pricier side for what you get. Also took a while to come out. I asked to put a football game on, they didn't have the NFL Network (they even gave me the remote to check) so I'd probably go elsewhere if you're looking to watch a game. Overall, I'd say a fine place for drinks but if you're looking for a nice dinner, there's definitely some better options downtown. read more

The James Restaurant - BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The service was impeccable and the meal was even better. The Smoked Pork Chop was delicious. I was skeptical before I ordered it, but I was not the slightest disappointed and would highly recommend it. read more

Had our holiday luncheon for work and the James provided the meal. The mashed potatoes were not creamy, but solid. Cauliflower and corn mixture had a weird taste. We were offered two meats, chicken and roast beef. Roast beef was tender and cooked perfectly. Gravy helped the potatoes improve if you mixed a lot in to make it creamier, but than all you tasted was gravy. Salad was good. Green bean were good. The chicken is a story in itself. I was eating it and talking to coworker, and not paying attention till I looked down and noticed my chicken was raw. Yep the end of my lunch. Everyone looked at their chicken, depending on which station you got it from , one of them was raw. Do they even own a meat thermometer, shouldn't commercial kitchen by law be using them? Really the only thing that was good were the rolls and the coffee. I will never eat there again after being served raw meat. This is the second time it happen at our holiday luncheon. There were a few of us not feeling so well later on that day or the next day. read more

We always have a great meal when we go to the James. Stopped in last night and tried some of the specials for the evening: fish tacos with goat milk sour cream and jalapeno slaw, grilled beef salad with bean sprouts, rice noodles and fresh herbs and red snapper with squid fried rice. So good! read more

We had a gift card hear so ventured in on a Saturday night. Ambiance was decent and the waitress was somewhat attentive. Food was very hit or miss. My husband had the filet which he enjoyed. His broccoli was undercooked. I ordered the French onion soup which was burnt on top therefore the entire cup tasted awful. Neither the waitress nor cook seemed to notice this. I also ordered the shrimp linguini Alfredo which consisted of unseasoned shrimp WITH tails on fully submerged and buried within the dish. I had to pick each one out and take the tails off (aka why weren't they seasoned and on top of the dish). I've worked in food service before and it seems like these would all be easy fixes if someone (anyone!) was paying attention. read more

We went here for an early New Year's Eve dinner as I wanted something a little more "special" than our regular dinners out. I was not thrilled. The service and food were okay, but we were seated in a small area with one other two person table and an 8 person table. After a bit, these tables were seated also, and I will say, my idea of a "more upscale" experience went right down the tubes. The other larger area seemed much nicer, but since we were seated in this area, I could not wait to finish and leave. The girl at the hotel desk even mentioned about us leaving so soon. There aren't many restaurants in this area that can be classified as "more upscale," and while I thought this would be, I was unpleasantly mistaken. read more

First try...really disappointed with my salad but I gave them another shot because I was staying at the Holiday Inn Express and they deliver to your room (my daughter was sleeping by the time it was dinner time and my husband was working so this was my only option) Second dinner Grilled chicken with brushetta mediocre at best...the next day I went to Wegmans and bought some prepared food to keep in the fridge and was very happy! I wasted 38 bucks on two dinners at the James and for 15 had 3 delish meals from Wegmans...you do the math. read more

If I have had a worse dining experience I don't remember it. Food was poorly put together (pizza is round guys). Speed of service was painfully slow especially if you have kids. Soup was served with a thumb inside the bowl?!? Also, when you don't have the wine someone chooses don't bring a substitute already poured and ask if it is OK....find out first. If this is a local favorite...then this town needs help. This James needs to tighten up it's game. read more

The waitress was AWESOME...food was HORRIBLE ..drinks were AWFUL how can you mess up a captain and diet...spinach dip was GROSS..Steak was mooing at me ..DATE NIGHT FAIL.Hubby tried:-( read more

Stopped for a late lunch while staying at the hotel, the restaurant was empty. I ordered a burger and sweet potato fries. The meal was excellent. My only complaint was that the sautéed onions were placed on the bottom bun, causing it to become soggy and tear apart in the middle. I would still recommend eating lunch here. They even have an express lunch selection in their menu for those short on time. read more

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Wait for food it isn't right wait almost as long for a refund and now get to wait an hour to have proper food delivered from another place. Would have been nice if the manager had at least showed their face, but the nice hostess took care of it. Stick to the bar they have to make that in front of you. read more

This was a poor experience. The presentation and food creativity were great at a conceptual level but the food and wine tasted awful. French Onion Soup Excellent, like any French onion soup. Bread and Oil: Good, but a chewy Italian or French bread would have taken it over the top. The bread was a little like toasted wonder-bread. Sczhewan Barbecued Ahi (My Date's dish) - Way to sweet and too much sauce. The rice was soaking in it. The tuna was fresh and high quality and would have been great in a good dish. Sweet Potato Gnocchi (My Dish) - The pasta was bland, the sauce tasted like cinnamon toast cream, and the pork was mediocre. For a dish around $20 bucks it should be amazing. I was there in a group of six. Three of us ordered this Gnocchi on the waiter's recommendation. Everyone thought it was awful and had it wrapped. It will be in the garbage in a day. We tried to order two different bottles of Wine from the wine list - Malbecs. They had neither. We settled for a California Pinot Noir, and we tried to choke it down as best we could to get to the next bottle. They didn't have the Chardonnay we wanted but provided a replacement for the same price that came "recomended by the manager" It was poor as well. I have had better from a box. I feel like this must have been an unusually bad experience for this place, but the experince deserves the one star that I gave it. read more

Ok. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in downtown Williamsport and were very tired. So we thought try it. Decent reviews. We opted not to sit on patio. Very dark place. Menu was a bit limited but a lot of different choices. Menu selections sounded nice. Basket of bread was great except for the attemp at cinnamon butter. Not good. A bit pricey. I had the pork chop. It was huge and good. The salad I choose was spinach salad. It had very little tasteless dressing, nice strawberries though nice nuts on it too but again needed more dressing. My husband had fish and chips. Nice portion. Son had crab bisque it needed to be sent back to be warmed. I wouldn't say oh yeah definitely go there to eat but in a pinch it's ok. Pricey. read more

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Ordered chicken and eggs with salsa for breakfast which was called low carb southwestern plate or something like that it took forever! I was in. A hurry to get to where i needed to be for work disnt have time to finish my food when it y arrived. Eggs and chicken had almost no seasoning, bland. Cheaper breakfast options not in hotels exist within walking distance read more

The James Restaurant - creme bruleé. wonderful!! - Bars Near Me - Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Would give NO stars, but not an option. Attached to the Holiday Inn, stay there yearly for business. Try to avoid, as consistently mediocre at best, but last experience INCREDIBLY bad Over 30 mins for SOUP to come out COLD. Seriously? Another 5 mins, crab and corn fritters finally come out....."chef was having trouble with batter". From the manager, no less. Every year, the service gets worse. Bartenders inattentive and spend more time talking to each other, or sneaking off for a cigarette. If business didn't require me to stay there, I'd never go back. read more

Follow up...dinner ordered. Not as good as first visit. Strike one! Ordered Chix Bruchetta Sandwich and Calamari app. Not great. Would not order again. read more

The bartenders where great. I ordered the ribeye. I ordered it medium. And it came out horrible. It had no flavor. I will definitely come back for drinks. But no more food orders. If it wasn't for the bartenders it would be half a star. read more

My daughter and son-in-law took me to The James for Mother's Day, and I was very pleased with the service and food. A little pricey for the dinners, but I got the crab bisque and calamari. VERY good. My daughter's salmon was a little overcooked, but she said it was good. My son-in-law got a huge smoked pork dinner, which was fantastic. Parking is horrible, though. We had to park a couple of blocks away. Of course, it was prom night and lots of weddings and parties going on (we went on a Saturday night instead of Sunday brunch). read more

The only thing I can comment on is the wings. They are an easy 9 point score on a ten point scale. Crispy, the right heat, buttery flavored buffalo wings. The blue cheese dressing was filled with chunks of cheese. The rest of the menu seemed to be high priced, out of my range for a hotel restaurant. How could the food be fresh and not frozen? If I pay 32 bucks for a steak it's gonna be from a serious steak house. read more

Absolulty love this place. !!! Great staff and an amazing patio!!! Servers and bartenders are very friendly and helpful. We love Corey Goode...she is amanzing!!! read more

Service seems to be the best part of the James. Sitting at the bar they are very attentive. Been here a couple times. Appetizers are okay. Main entrees are lacking. Suggest you stay away from the Tuscan Chicken sandwich. read more

The waitress was nice .... that's about it. Most food mediocre and overpriced ... " medium " steak burnt and bitter . Will not be back .

first and last time there not what i expected from what i saw on line spinach dip you couldve drank throigh a straw steaks were not as ordered wife wanted med well ... blood was runnin out of it i wanted medium ..was cooked almost all the way through wait staff was AWESOME food sucked will never go back and wouldnt tell my dog to go there read more