Harden's says
On the former site of Boulestin and L'Oranger, a new French restaurant from Richard Weiss, who worked at Brasserie St Jacques locally, before it became Cafe Murano.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Wow!” – “a hidden gem” in St James’s, next door to venerable wine merchant Berry Bros (on the former site of Boulestin and L’Oranger) – a “great, genuine French restaurant” serving “proper French food, beautifully prepared and presented”. Founder Richard Weiss, who ran Brasserie St Jacques just up the road, is a sommelier so there’s a “good wine list, very well priced for the area”. Top Tips – “it’s worth coming just for the steak tartare and crepes suzettes, prepared in front of you on the trolley”.
Summary
This “very trad’ French” operation in St James’s – on the former site of Boulestin and L’Oranger – is led by sommelier Richard Weiss and features a superior (if perhaps rather “safe”) “bistro-style menu”. “Equally good for business and social gatherings”, it’s “particularly pleasant when the courtyard is open”.
Summary
This “delightful” and “very trad (in a good way) French resto” in St James’s thrives on its “unpretentious, classic cooking delivered by efficient and accommodating waiting staff” under an “entertaining boss who seems to know everyone”. “There have been several very good restaurants on this site (Boulestin and L’Oranger inter alia) and Saint Jacques is up there with any of them”. Top Menu Tip – “the theatre of crêpes Suzette cooked by the table is highly recommended”.
Summary
“This beautiful and impressive dining room and outside terrace has a rich restaurant history” (most recently as Boulestin and L’Oranger), and its latest “pricey-but-good” incarnation is proving “a useful addition to St James’s”. “Solid and traditional” in style, it provides “accomplished French cooking and helpful service” in a luxurious interior that’s “very stylish and relaxed”. And come summer, “the courtyard is a destination” in itself.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Saint Jacques?
5 St James’s St, London, SW1A 1EF
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £29.00 | £35.00 |  |
|
 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £21.00 | £30.00 | £9.50 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 15.00% |
5 St James’s St, London, SW1A 1EF
Opening hours
| Monday | 8 am‑22.00 |
| Tuesday | 8 am‑22.00 |
| Wednesday | 8 am‑22.00 |
| Thursday | 8 am‑22.00 |
| Friday | 8 am‑22.00 |
| Saturday | 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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