Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Michelin-recognized Caribbean. Book two weeks out.
St. James brings Michelin Plate-recognised modern Caribbean cooking to 14th Street NW, built around the culinary traditions of Trinidad's Port of Spain. Owner Jeanine Prime's shared-plates menu — anchored by 12-hour jerk brisket, callaloo soup with lump crab, and Trinidadian rum cocktails — delivers sourcing discipline and flavour depth that is hard to find at the $$$ price point in Washington, D.C.
Yes — book it, and do so soon. St. James holds a 2024 Michelin Plate, earns a 4.5/5 from 554 Google reviewers, and occupies the kind of slot on 14th Street NW where demand consistently outpaces availability on weekends. If you are considering this for a Friday or Saturday night, treat the reservation window as you would a Michelin-starred room: plan at least two to three weeks out. Mid-week is more forgiving, but this is not a walk-in venue.
St. James is a modern Caribbean restaurant at 2017 14th St NW, named for the district within Trinidad's Port of Spain. Owner Jeanine Prime built a shared-plates format around ingredients and cooking techniques that travel well beyond any single island tradition — the menu draws from across the Caribbean basin and its global diaspora, with Trinidadian rum cocktails as the throughline. The room carries industrial touches softened by vivid colour, which produces an energy that is warm and social rather than quiet or intimate. Expect a lively atmosphere most evenings; this is not a hushed tasting-menu room. If conversation is the priority, arrive early in service.
The sourcing logic at St. James is what earns the Michelin recognition and justifies the $$$ price point. The jerk brisket , one of the kitchen's most discussed dishes , marinates for 12 hours before it goes into the smoker. That timeline is not incidental: it signals a kitchen that is building flavour from raw material rather than finishing with sauce. Callaloo soup uses puréed spinach and coconut milk as a base, finished with lump crab meat. The layering here , the bitterness of the greens, the fat of the coconut, the sweetness of the crab , reflects a sourcing philosophy where each component is chosen to do specific work. The Trini-style taro dumplings in curry sauce, served with sweet plantains finished with candied ginger, extend the same logic: these are ingredients selected for contrast and depth, not familiarity.
At $$$ per head, you are paying for that preparation discipline as much as for the dining room. Caribbean cuisine at this level of technical rigour is rare in Washington, D.C. For comparison, [Cane](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/cane-washington-dc-restaurant) offers a different take on the category with a broader Gulf Coast influence, while [Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster-washington-dc-restaurant) applies comparable sourcing discipline to a vegetable-forward New American format at the same price tier. St. James is the stronger choice if you want specifically Caribbean depth rather than regional American produce.
St. James rewards diners who want to eat across the menu rather than anchor to a single dish. The shared-plates format means a table of two or four will get a better read on the kitchen than a solo diner ordering two or three plates. Groups who come curious about Caribbean cooking traditions , not just looking for a familiar jerk chicken , will find the menu genuinely instructive. The rum cocktail program is designed to pair with the food, not compete with it, which makes it worth following the staff's guidance on pairings rather than ordering independently.
For food and travel enthusiasts who track how cuisines move and evolve through diaspora, St. James offers real depth. The Trinidad framing is specific enough to be meaningful: the kitchen is not presenting a generic pan-Caribbean menu, but one that has clear roots and clear points of departure from them. That specificity is what separates it from Caribbean restaurants that lean on broad tropical aesthetics rather than sourcing and technique.
If you are looking for comparables that reach similar depth through different culinary traditions, [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) does it through Middle Eastern cooking at the $$$$ tier, and [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant) applies the same rigour to Peruvian cuisine, also at $$$$. St. James sits a price tier below both and delivers a comparable quality of sourcing and kitchen discipline , that gap matters if budget is part of your calculus.
For broader context on where St. James sits within the D.C. dining scene, see [our full Washington, D.C. restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/washington-dc). If you are building a full trip around the city, [our Washington, D.C. hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/washington-dc), [bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/washington-dc), and [experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/washington-dc) cover the surrounding picture.
Reservations: Book two to three weeks ahead for weekends; mid-week has more availability but walk-ins carry risk. Booking difficulty is moderate. Price: $$$ per head , mid-range by D.C. standards, competitive for Michelin-recognised Caribbean dining. Address: 2017 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. Format: Shared plates , come with two or more for the leading experience. Drinks: Trinidadian rum-focused cocktail program; follow the staff's pairing guidance. Atmosphere: Industrial-meets-colourful room, energetic in the evening , arrive early if you want a quieter experience.
[Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster-washington-dc-restaurant) is the closest price-tier peer at $$$, but the two restaurants serve different instincts. Oyster Oyster applies sourcing rigour to a vegetable-forward, sustainable New American menu , it is the better call if your group skews vegetarian or if you want to explore D.C.'s farm-to-table credentials. St. James wins on flavour complexity and the rum cocktail program, and is the clearer choice if Caribbean cuisine is specifically what you are after.
[Rooster & Owl](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/rooster-owl) also sits at $$$ and offers a contemporary format with strong sourcing credentials, but the experience is more tasting-menu-adjacent and structured. St. James is a better fit for groups who want the freedom of shared plates and a louder, more social room. For a special-occasion dinner where the format and progression of the meal matter as much as the food, Rooster & Owl is worth considering instead.
[Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi), [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant), and [Rose's Luxury](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/roses-luxury) all operate at the $$$$ tier, which puts them a step above St. James on price. If budget is not the constraint, Albi is the most direct comparison in terms of how it handles diaspora cuisine , it does for Levantine cooking what St. James does for Trinidad's culinary tradition. St. James is the stronger value play: Michelin-recognised quality, a drinks program that holds its own, and a price point that leaves room to order across the menu without restraint.
Two to three weeks minimum for weekend evenings. St. James holds a 2024 Michelin Plate and a strong local following on 14th Street NW, which keeps weekend availability tight. Mid-week reservations open up more, but this is not a reliable walk-in option at any point in the week. If your dates are fixed, book as soon as they are confirmed.
St. James operates a shared-plates format rather than a structured tasting menu, so the question is really whether ordering across the menu is worth the $$$ spend per head. At that price point, with a Michelin Plate and 12-hour-marinated brisket as anchors, the answer is yes for a table of two or more who plan to eat broadly. Ordering two or three dishes solo will not give you the full picture of what the kitchen can do.
It works, but the shared-plates format means you will only cover two or three dishes rather than experiencing the full range of the menu. The energy of the room , lively, social, colour-driven , suits solo diners who are comfortable in an active environment. If you are eating alone and want to cover more of the menu, sitting at the bar (where available) may give you the most flexibility. For a quieter, more structured solo experience at a comparable price in D.C., Rooster & Owl is worth considering.
Come hungry and come with at least one other person. The shared-plates format rewards ordering widely, and the standout dishes , jerk brisket, callaloo soup, taro dumplings with sweet plantains , work leading as part of a sequence rather than as individual orders. The rum cocktail program is built to pair with the food, so follow the staff's guidance rather than ordering drinks independently. The room is energetic and colourful; this is not a quiet dinner venue.
Yes, with a caveat on format. St. James is a strong special-occasion choice if your group wants a vibrant, social room and a menu that generates conversation. It is less suited to occasions where a quiet, course-by-course progression matters more than energy and abundance. For the latter, [Jônt](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/jont) or Rooster & Owl are better fits. For a celebratory dinner with a group of four or more who want to eat and drink well in a lively room, St. James is a confident recommendation.
Yes. At $$$, St. James sits a tier below [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) and [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant), both of which charge $$$$ for a comparable level of sourcing discipline and culinary rigour. The 2024 Michelin Plate and a 4.5 Google rating across 554 reviews confirm that the kitchen is consistent. You are paying for preparation depth , a 12-hour marinade before smoking, lump crab on callaloo, taro dumplings with candied ginger , and a rum cocktail program designed to accompany the food. That package is good value at the $$$ price point.
For Caribbean cooking specifically, [Cane](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/cane-washington-dc-restaurant) is the most direct local alternative, with a different regional influence. For diaspora-cuisine restaurants that apply similar sourcing rigour to other traditions, [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) (Middle Eastern, $$$$) and [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant) (Peruvian, $$$$) are the closest peers in quality, both at a higher price tier. [Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster-washington-dc-restaurant) and [Rooster & Owl](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/rooster-owl) match St. James on price at $$$ but operate in different culinary registers.
Bar seating is worth asking about when you book, particularly for solo diners or pairs who want flexibility. The rum-focused cocktail program means bar dining at St. James offers a genuinely good drinks experience alongside the food, rather than being a fallback option. Confirm availability directly when making your reservation, as seat configuration details are not publicly listed.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. James | Caribbean | $$$ | Owner Jeanine Prime has done it again—now with this modern Caribbean concept named for the district within Trinidad’s Port of Spain. The contemporary space with industrial touches is enlivened with vivid pops of color, while the shared plates-style menu evokes a convivial spirit. Influences hail from all over the globe, all paired with Trinidadian rum-focused cocktails. Begin with a bowl of Callaloo soup, a deep green blend of puréed spinach, chilies and coconut milk topped with lump crab meat with a great depth of flavor. Don't miss the jerk brisket, which marinates for 12 hours before it's smoked. Follow that up with the Trini-style taro dumplings in a curry sauce, but be sure to get a side of sweet plantains finished with candied ginger.; Michelin Plate (2024) | Moderate | — |
| Oyster Oyster | New American, Vegetarian, Vegetarian (Sustainable) | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Albi | United States, Middle Eastern | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Causa | Peruvian | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Rooster & Owl | Contemporary | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Rose’s Luxury | New American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between St. James and alternatives.
Two to three weeks ahead for weekend tables. Mid-week slots open up more frequently, but walk-ins carry real risk given the Michelin Plate recognition and consistent demand on the 14th Street corridor. Book online as soon as your date is confirmed.
St. James runs a shared-plates format rather than a fixed tasting menu, so you build your own progression across the menu. That works in your favor at $$$: ordering three to four dishes between two people hits the kitchen's range without locking you into a set sequence. Start with the callaloo soup, add the jerk brisket, and the Trini-style taro dumplings.
Workable, but not the format's sweet spot. The shared-plates menu is designed for two or more to spread across dishes; solo diners can still order two or three plates, but you'll see less of the kitchen's range. Bar seating, if available, helps. For solo Caribbean dining in D.C., this is still a strong option at the $$$ tier.
Come ready to share. The menu is built around convivial, shared plates with Caribbean and global influences, anchored by Trinidadian rum cocktails. The jerk brisket marinates for 12 hours before smoking, so it's not something to skip. The space has industrial touches with vivid color — casual enough that there's no dress pressure, but the food is Michelin Plate-level serious.
Yes, particularly for a group of two to four who want a convivial dinner over multiple dishes rather than a formal tasting experience. The 2024 Michelin Plate gives it credibility, and the Trinidadian rum cocktail list adds a point of difference that most D.C. special-occasion spots lack. Don't expect white-tablecloth formality — this is celebratory, not ceremonial.
At $$$, yes — the Michelin Plate recognition backs the pricing, and the kitchen earns it through technique: 12-hour marinated jerk brisket, callaloo soup with lump crab, taro dumplings in curry sauce. You're paying for a level of sourcing and execution that justifies the tier. For a more budget-conscious Caribbean meal in D.C., you'll need to drop a price tier and accept less ambition on the plate.
Albi is the closest peer in terms of Michelin recognition and Middle Eastern shared plates at a similar price point — different cuisine, comparable format and seriousness. Rose's Luxury is worth considering if you want a looser, more eclectic shared-plates experience. Oyster Oyster is the pick if you want vegetable-forward cooking with similar D.C. buzz. None of them replicate St. James's Caribbean focus.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
