James Street Cafe

While having a special event at James Street I had asked politely for assistance from the owner/manager, asking him for some help setting something up, he replied "why don't you people come prepared"... totally the wrong attitude and almost confrontational. His, all male staff have have also seemed to have adopted his rude demeanour as well... When a guest was hit accidentally by a waiter as he passed, the guest mentioned to the waiter what had happened, in response - the waiter remarked "well how about you move out of my way then". This alone, along with poor service and the waiters stacking tables and moving heavy items during speeches (which seemed almost intentionally distracting) was completely disrespectful and enough for me and my family to vow never to eat there again.

In a competitive world, this kind of poor business ethic, rudeness and unprofessionalism is bound to doom the restaurant. It is a rarity that I have been so upset after dining somewhere.

I was a bit confused (and extremely pleasantly surprised) after reading a bunch of negative reviews about this Cafe & Grill. The dining area was clean, and nicely decorated. Just to make things clear, there was no tacky disco ball hanging from the ceiling (as I had read about in a review)!

The food was outstanding! I shared a couple of vegetarian platters with two other vegetarian co-workers, and by the end of the meal, all three of us were STUFFED! The platter consisted of basmati rice, bread, and large ramkins of a lentil blend, a potato blend, a cauliflower blend, pickled carrots, and a lentil soup (ALL of which were superb!). Meals were prepared by the talented Chef Anand. We ended the meal with delicious Chai tea, and a frozen milk/cream dessert which complimented each other very well!

The bathroom, though a single stall, was quite clean (unlike other reviews had mentioned), and they had the paper towel dispenser close to the door, and close to the waste bin (I'm a stickler for sanitation!) which was great!

The staff was good, but I can imagine that if it got busier, and there were still only two staff members on shift (as I had read), there would be a lot more waiting around and stress on their part. But speaking from my experience tonight, they were prompt, polite, and professional!

Things must have changed pretty drastically around this place, because overall, our staff party went extremely well, and the food, ambiance, and experience in general was fantastic. I would definitely return to the James Street Cafe and Grill, as well as recommend it to others!

I hope this has helped!

I went to James Street recently after not being there for a couple of years. They have a new owner/cook (at the boundary location) and he is great!! You can tell he reallly takes pride in his work, came by our table and chatted with us for a bit about some of his 'standards' (i.e. he is really into fresh ingredients - no veggie kept over 2 days). Me and my 2 friends didn't say a word to each other as we just couldn't stop eating - it was sooo good. The eggs benny was great!! His hollandaise sauce was perfect..creamy, light with a hint of lemon....not the greasy oily heat lamped sauce you would see at ihop or denny's

This restaurant must have undergone some renovations. Everything looks more or less new. I go here from time to time when in the area. On Friday night they always have "Indian night" You need to plan on an early dinner, otherwise you will not be able to secure a table. The service is OK and friendly.
I would rate James Street Cafe as a perfect family restaurant and would recommend it without hesitation.

James Street Cafe has been at this location for some time - their original location was on Boundary Road. There are some standards here but the breakfast is not one of our favourites. They do have a good value mixed curry plate - it is a special item. Two of those were ordered at our table and when the platters came, they were the envy of everyone. I would have to say that the food quality is average, but there is a large variety of food to please everyone.