James' Cafe Bistro in Leicester

I held my 70th birthday party in James's Bistro and I highly recommend James and staff and the venue. They produced a lovely finger buffet at a very reasonable price and their service was brilliant. We were able to bring in a dj and have live music as sound system available - and space to dance. Its such a lovely cafe too - I will definitely be visiting again 😊

The food was lovely and I liked the atmosphere but the wait was so long for the food, well over 1 hour for food. We discussed afterward that you would have to chose another place to eat if you didn't have a completely free scheduled afterwards. We did ask for extra hollandaise sauce but it never came and after waiting and holding out to eat, we decided we just had to get going or it would be freezing cold. I actually said to my partner when i asked for it, i dont reckon theyre going to bother getting us that 😂 and the sauce didn't come. The amount of hollandaise on the eggs benedict was so little and I'm not a fan of it drowning. I know this review sounds negative but the food was nice quality and I would really like to give it a go again maybe just a little change to the openess or attentiveness of staff, as I really felt I was a big bother asking for anything.

Had food delivered a few times now and always impressed. Amazing quality, hope to go with family when chance arrives. Highly recommended

Absolute hidden gem. Beautiful food, desserts, cocktails, the setting, the staff, independent. Truly fantastic

Great service and food, it would have been 5 if they were open on time ;). We will 100% go again, the pancakes were the best I’ve had in years.

Amazing food, great atmosphere and music, friendly staff. We loved checking out the paintings and little shop featuring local artists.

Enjoyed a very pleasant lunch here yesterday. Varied menu with some specials. Home cooked. Veggie and vegan options. Reasonably priced. Relaxed ambience. Would recommend.

We had the wrap party for our show here and the food was out of this world. Very generous portions all prepared to perfection. Everyone had a fantastic time and we all left in a full & jolly mood. You must check this place out. Slightly off the beaten track but a hidden Leicester gem worth seeking out.

Why this place isn’t rammed to the rafters all day, I don’t know. Good value, mega portions and clearly cooked to order. I’m ashamed I’ve never been in before to be honest. As for the music??? Sold

So glad we decided to go out of our way to James' had the flash burger and mac n cheese to share it was very indulgent but excellent. Cocktails also very good, espresso martini and margarita! It was a Saturday night, wasn't too busy, which was nice the atmosphere was very cozy and chilled. Will return soon.

Possibly the best veggie Breakfast available in #leicester A warm welcome as you arrive.. cool and eclectic music playing and incorporating the wears of local artists. @jamescafebistro is as cool on the inside as it is on approach. The Vegetarian breakfast was sensational.. Hints of garlic in the mushrooms Home grown rosemary in the potatoes and vegan Black pudding with Beans in a container if you need it.. The flavours and quality of produce outstanding. A reasonable but not extended wait for the food in wonderful surroundings.. Great food wonderful service fabulous environment Joint First favourite breakfast spot #simoneats #vegetarianfood #Vegetarianjourney #brunch #leicestercoffeehouse #leicester #leicesterbrunch #leicestereating @coolasleicester recommendation thankyou

I happened to find this cafe/bistro by accident today, whilst shopping with my mum and 3 year old daughter. What a find, it was great! Really lovely vibe with great artwork inside, some available to buy too. They had a great soundtrack playing and I had the best Spanish omelette I've ever had! Great portion sizes and the food we all had was delicious - another lovely touch was that my daughter was given a free lolly for Halloween season. The lady who served us was lovely and we will certainly be back again, thanks :)

I’ve been meaning to write a review of this place for some time...tucked away behind the shopping centre, I and my family come back here every time we visit Leicester town centre. It’s a cosy and friendly little place where you can get a great cuppa (my mum can vouch) or a good coffee. We’ve had fabulous breakfasts, light lunches and delicious late afternoon meals (the carbonara is a particular favourite) all beautifully cooked with good ingredients. The service is very friendly, the chef is really good and although we have waited a little while for our food on one or two occasions, the wait has never been excessive and it’s because it is cooked to order and arrives piping hot. The decor is eclectic and they support local artists with art for purchase on the walls and other bits and pieces for sale, if you like a browse as you wait. Highly recommended.

I meet here often with my friends, we’ve never had a bad visit. The food is amazing, the staff are very friendly, and always helpful when dealing with allergies or picky eating. I visited recently for the first time since lockdown was lifted, and we were made to feel very safe, it was very airy with lots of space between tables, and table service to avoid having to walk round too much.

Such a lovely place. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. I went here with my family for my 18th and they even gave me a free brownie with a candle in it which was such a sweet touch. We all loved looking around at the artwork and jewellery for sale in the shop too. Will 100% come again if we’re in the area. Thank you!

Stubbled across james cafe bistro randomly. Wonderfully varied menu with great specials, the CBD turmeric latte was amazing. It's such a unique place. I Will definitely be returning.

We went to their port and cheeses tasting evenings and loved it and since then have dropped in when there is any excuse. It has a super ambience with 60s and 70s memorabilia decorating this atmospheric cafe. Food is excellent and the staff are lovely,...

Absolutey loved the Motown night last night..great vocalist..great food..and friendly staff..loved our Christmas meal notably the delicious homemade chocolate brownie..enjoyed our boogie too..thanks everyone for such a fab evening..look forward to seeing you again soon..

After hearing they won an award best full English breakfast I thought I’d give it a go..well I’m a little disappointed! Took over an hour for the food to arrive given no pre warning there was a wait on food. It wasn’t very busy on...

I had the vegan pancakes with blueberries and banana (not a vegan but wanted to try it), and I can’t stop thinking of it since. Truth be told, I saw a picture of it and couldn’t help myself from ordering it. Definitely did not fail...

Wow.... what can I say! Booked this venue back in May and I’m so glad I did, we got everything we asked for and more, This venue will do what ever you wish even down to choices of drinks you would like served. The food...

We booked this venue for our mums 70th birthday. What an absolute delight. From the decor the atmosphere the freindly staff. Everything was great. The catering was excellent too. No bland buffet here. Tasty and the right amount. Great fun was had . I'd recomend...

Had lunch today and it was lovely. We took our toddler and they were so friendly and helpful. Food was very tasty indeed. Will come again as it was a lovely atmosphere and the books went down a storm with my little man

Nipped in for lunch. Had pancakes with some extras! Absolutely banging food. Great service. Extremely quick considering it was a busy lunch service. Will definitely be returning.

This was s secind visit in as many days. The decor is quirky, giving character and warmth that most rivals lack. The reception from staff was pleasant and forethcoming. The menu is extensive and full of variety, inclusive of American style pancakes (winner).My first visit, I ordered and the food took 45 mins to arrive. Fortunately, it was a day off. The second visit, my food took over an hour. The couole next to me looked despondent, telling me they'd only ordered an omelette and was at 50 mins. I too ordered an omelette that was cooked perfectly, but by the time it had arrived i couldn't care less of its quality.My advice would be as follows; manage expectations! Don't allow a customer to order, without them fully aware that they'll have to wait an hour to eat. Perhaps i did have the time to spare, but at no point in my life, do i have an hour to wait for any food. Please change this!

Several years ago our favourite eating place closed down. We tried several others and then found James' Cafe Bistro and have stayed. We love it on several levels The ambience, the music, esp. Chuck Berry, the way Debs has a quiet efficiency about her,(her laugh...

This is an eclectic little place at the back of the Highcross. The staff are friendly if slow. The portions are large. But we waited for over 45 minutes for our lunch which isn't great when you only get an hour. The veggie breakfast was...

Hottest day of the year and created as always with a smile Freshly home mad cordials and s always the sandwiches home cooked and fresh Just lovely we needed with an iced coffee each and the bill less that £11 each for 2 drinks a...

On the evening we’d visited this excellent bistro, we’d set the management and staff a challenge - feed and water 50 hungry business people, all arriving at the same time and with few remembering what they’d pre-ordered. That they pulled it off with aplomb and...

Have visited many times and always a warm welcome. Imaginative, freshly made dishes with quality ingredients. You can’t beat this place for a delicious breakfast or lunch. Lovely little sun trap on the front as well to sit and have a drink. Far nicer than...

I have visited Jame's many times in the last year at the insistance of my wife and daughter who are regulars there. It some times seems a little dreery inside because of the decor but I think that it adds to the rustic charm of...

The food is lovely and the staff are genuine and friendly nothing too much trouble nice atmosphere good music clean relaxed would rather eat here than alot of more shout about places in Leicester chips were delish

I was intending to have a quiet night in when I came across a advertised night of reggae music. Been a sunny saturday afternoon it felt right to enjoy this. Digging a little deeper i came across many positive reviews. So rang and booked a table for the evening. I was told parking was free after 6pm or they were car parks around. I duly drove up there having rearranged the reservation due to traffic coming from Northampton. I was expecting a busy place as it sounded good reggae playing via vinyl. It wasnt hat full and intial apprehension walking in was eliminated after a warm welcome. They was a chilled vibe and the music playing and a few tables of couples and larger group here but no means full. Food menus were on blackboards and jerk chicken and a can of red stripe been the themed food. We opted for that but chose to try the starters. Mango and chicken salad was a little disappointing lacking flavour. The poached egg and black pudding was ok. The main of jerk chicken rice peas and coleslaw was saved by he spicy sauce which we asked for. That was a great sauce, though the jerk chicken was safe rather then a jerk rub chicken full of spice. We even tried a dessert mix on offer with the mascarpone cheesecake been the highlight. It doubles as a cafe during the day and the coffee we had was excellent. For us the food was a little under seasoned. But the quality of the music couldn't be faulted nor the friendly service. I would go again for the music. I'm in two minds about the food. So probably would try it again. But it is a worthwhile trip on a weekend if in Leicester.

Out the back of the Highgate shopping centre you'll find a ragged street with a 'gentleman's club', a few shops and James' Cafe Bistro. This is a very homely cafe. (As long as your home isn't immaculate or a stately home.) The diners were made up with mums with kids and groups of friends. This place deserves a gold star for it's attitude to children. Great to see.The home made food is fine, far tastier than the decor. It certainly leans towards Italian cooking for the mains and French for the puds - one day I'll return to indulge in a tarte tatin. The prices were also pretty fair. Front of house/owner? was spot on with service. She really was great. Unfortunately the girl who served us to start off with was, by her own admission, on work experience and didn't seem to know what's what. I guess we all have to start somewhere....I'll happily return when I'm next in town.

We usually come here to eat every month or every few months. The food is lovely and freshly made on the premises. Service also good. See my other reviews also.

I went to James' Cafe Bistro, today with a friend, while we were looking for a place to stop and have a coffee. The Cafe is a bit hidden in a little road behind highcross but is worth the detour. The decoration is cosy and the sofa is so comfortable I could have stayed there all afternoon. The waitress was extremely quick to take our orders and super friendly, we talked and laughed a bit and she was not just nice to us but to everybody in the cafe and that was great. They were playing jazz in the background, just nice and perfect, (not too loud) which made the atmosphere great too. We just ordered coffee and a smoothie as we were not hungry but both were good and arrived quickly. The desserts and food in general looked very good so I will definitely be returning to try that out as I got such a good first impression of that place.I will for sure be returning and encourage anyone looking for a nice cosy cafe in leicester to stop by.

We don't do the shopping day out too often but when we do one of our favourite places for lunch is this place. The staff are always friendly and as helpful as can be. The tea is really tasty and the surroundings clean and interesting. We had an omelet each both were as good as we had hoped for. Others on our table had cheeseburgers, these are homemade and really tasty. All meals and drinks were reasonably priced.

We popped in for lunch in the middle of Christmas Shopping. Great food. We enjoyed our pasta and risotto and the scrummy Pavlova.Friendly service and relaxed atmosphere.We'll be back for a Saturday night with live music.

Great food, very welcoming, staff brilliant . Went on Saturday with my daughter in law, 18 month old and 12 year old grand daughters. The atmosphere was lovely. There is a toy area and the toys are welcome at the table. The food was splendid, best carbonara I have ever had. We all had pasta and were all really impressed. Highly recommend

I can't praise this place enough - atmosphere is wonderful , so friendly and welcoming . Families and children are made extremely welcome . Food is faultless - interesting menu , especially the deserts ; which are gorgeous.

We returned to James having not visited for about a year. It appears they struggle to get enough evening visitors and now only open at night on Saturdays. Such a shame because its a great venue, wonderful food and really lovely staff. I can see why though as its situated on a road to nowhere and will suffer from the Highcross restaurant trade where there is better parking, plenty of choice of venues, higher visibility etc. The daytime trade however flourishes at James.We called in on spec and were the only eaters at about 6:30pm. There was a man playing the piano rather self indulgently as he wasn't very good!Although there was little atmosphere due to the emptiness, the staff were so friendly it made up for that. All our food choices were great and I appreciated the veggie options. The beer choices were splendid too. We promised to get a group together for the Motown evening on 29th Nov and have now booked for a party of 9. 3 courses for £19.95 plus live music and a chance to dance, looking forward to it!

The bistro is set in close proximity to Highcross, so it's easy to spot. The staff is friendly, polite and very clear. The choice of the menu is varied and shows the great creativity of the chef. We've been there with my partner on a summer day, so we opted for a simple menu: burgers and drinks. The wait was short and the food really fantastic: home-made fresh bread, fresh meat delicately seasoned with onions and tasty cheddar cheese to cover everything: a real triumph of flavors. The price, among other things, is very low in spite of the excellent quality of the products.I think it's easier to impress with simple meals rather than with refined meals and James' Cafe Bistro it's the clearest proof.

Booked this place for a supper to mark my son's birthday with his mum and a couple of her friends. I feel misled by other reviews on Tripadvisor - particularly about the music. They did say that there was live '60's music but other reviews mentioned music being gentle. In fact, it was the volume of a rock concert in a fairly small venue. What was worse is that the manageress promised that it would be turned down in the break but it was not. Also the band leader asked if the volume was right but seemed to ignore my complaint that it was too loud.They were a very average band playing '60's faves but admittedly some of the elderly clientele did get up and dance later in the evening.The manageress seemed nice and friendly but slightly short on staff. From other tripadvisor reviews I expected more interesting decor - it was fine but nothing special.I've giving a poor rating - in part to offset other ratings here. The redeeming features were the food and the price. I would describe the food as very good home-cooking - not gastro if you're a foodie but very nice and decent portions.It was also good value with a special 3-course set menu at £19.95 with very limited options but all were good.

I've been to this place twice now, and it's not very often at all that i visit an independant (non-chain) restaurant twice.The first time I only went as i couldnt find anywhere else nearby at that time on a saturday night accepting a tastecard (50% off) reservation. We were both genuinely blown away by the standard of the food - and it is all made fresh, in houseThe desserts were all homemade too, including homemade ice creams and sorbets in weird and wonderful flavours such as red stripe beer flavour! and they do a great little tasting platter for when you can't make your mind up!I was so impressed with this place last year that i felt compelled to take my girlfriend there this year. In all honesty i was expecting the same menu, but it had completely changed - and the current theme was very seafoody/risotto based. Now i'm not the biggest fan of risotto, so i opted for the quesadilla style dish, whilst Margaret ordered a seafood and chorizo risotto. Food wasnt as good as I had originally remembered - but maybe this was due to me not being a massive fan on the food on offer that night?Starters were brilliant though. I almost exclusively order pate for starters, so i'd like to think of myself as a bit of an expert in that field. The pate here was freshly made, and even had chunks of ham in the middle of it. Wasn't the best pate i've ever had, but most certainly the most interesting. I'd return just for the pate. That says something.Desserts - as ever we couldnt make our mind up so got the tasting plattereton mess, blueberry and vanilla cheesecake, chocolate brownie, cucumber ice cream, and a honey and ginger sorbet. All of that for around £6. Can't go wrongVenue has a strange vibe to it - tilted floors, odd furniture, and a live DJ playing music throughout dinner. And if you join him and play a musical instrument (well!) for everyone - theyll give you a drink of your choice on the house!Highly recommended.

The only thing I'm disappointed about is that I haven't been before! I've definitely missed out by going with the flow and eating at all the 'brand name' places in the Highcross and eating mediocre food. Glad I put my foot down this time by suggesting we give James Bistro a try. Basically I can't fault it. A lovely warm welcome from Debbie who, despite being busy, manages to make you feel as though you are the only customers in the place. Nothing is too much trouble - Don't like olives in your pasta? Then they won't put any in. It is all freshly made so it's not a problem. I had the chick pea & sweet potato cakes to start - wow, bursting with flavour! Followed by the fish stew - heaven. Was adamant I wouldn't have desert, and to be honest didn't have room, BUT I can't ignore a creme brulee - especially served on top of belgian chocolate melt. Throughout the evening a DJ played subtle background music. Even that was just right. There is a piano in the cafe and I would love to go when they have somebody playing that. I think I've found my favourite place to eat in Leicester.

Dropped in on this place....nice ambiance, very friendly, and delicious food!Eclectic decor, good music - we will return!

Being off the beaten track means James Bistro is a perfect spot for a quiet lunch or evening meal.The service is fantastic, I really can't sell the service enough, and the food is excellent.Recently they have added a piano and have an open music night on Saturday. Do take yourself along and see for yourself.

Been here a couple of times now in the evening and it's the best place I've been in Leicester. Friendly staff, not false or over friendly like most. Nice music and more importantly great fresh food at a good price. Not too busy and to loud which is a plus. Great place give it ago.

My husband and I had lunch here recently and cannot really add to all the other reviews. Delightful place. Must agree with portion size though, we have large appetites and there was more than enough. The one thing which I feel lets this place down badly and I am surprised it hasn't been mentioned previously, is what I would term lack of hygiene in the toilet, i.e. no decent paper towels, or preferably electric drier. They have a cloth hand towel and I would be hard pressed to think of any other establishment where this is the case. I really didn't fancy wiping my hands on this, and it didn't look particulary fresh anyway.

As always amazing food, I had mussels in tomato sauce (was really tasty-as we come often they asked me what I wanted when I booked the meal-thought that was quote a nice touch) and my husband had the sea food stew, which he throughly enjoyed.For dessert we had panckes and drank a jog of pimmes&lemonade. Bill was really reasonable, with a taste card came to £40.00.To top it all off there was great entertainment too-their was a live band. On that day they served a bbq menu, which looked amazing and would like to try. We are planning on returning soon

James cafe has become our meeting place . We are a group of new mums with Babies all under the age of 1. The cafe is perfect as it has lots of highchairs and space for pushchairs. The good is amazing! Home made sorbet especially! The staff are always so chatty & helpful, last time I visited they had the most helpful work experience lad, should defo employ him full time!I regularly have the chicken & avocado salad and it's delicious. Can't wait to go again!

My friend introduced me to this place one lunchtime about a month ago and I have returned at least four times since then, the menu is extensive and there is a really good vegetarian selection I particularly enjoyed the veggie breakfast last week and very reasonably priced.The same friendly welcoming lady always seems to be serving at lunchtime there is a lovely calm atmosphere about the place and I'm so glad my friend brought me here.

I dined here as part of a group from De Montfort. A nice welcome. Bit tight for space on the tables.70s Paris goblet wine glasses. Starter of tomato soup was nice, main course seemed to take a while coming and was somewhere between warm and not quite hot, although it tasted nice, could have done with some veg to go with the pork and mash though. The cheesecake was very good. I didn't use the toilet so cannot comment on that. The staff were VERY on the ball and attentive. Overall I would say it was good food and good service with only minor gripes.

I've only ever been to James' Cafe Bistro for the odd glass of wine, but my boyfriend who works at the tattoo shop down the road recommended having a bite there. I was not disappointed. Not knowing what to eat but wanting something light, the head chef, Jim recommended the fresh hake on a bed of pea and broccoli risotto. I've never had hake before, so was excited to try something new. The service and atmosphere is always so relaxed and friendly, and I had a glass of wine whilst waiting for my meal. The dish came out looking and smelling divine. The fish light and perfectly seasoned, really complementing the creamy risotto. The hake reminded me of a more delicious cod. I thought I'd struggle with the amount of food as risotto is quite filling, but finished feeling full but not bloated. A really wonderful meal, I will definitely eat here again.

We visited for a friends birthday and the choice and quality of food was excellent. Service was impeccable. Will definitely be returning.

We have been to James's a few times now and have never been disappointed, the food is always top quality and the staff are friendly and welcoming, the service is excellent and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere and is great value for the money. I would recommend James's to anyone so treat yourself and try it.

Went here based on reviews and because we have a gourmet society card which we could use here.We visited at lunchtime on a weekday, it was fairly quiet. We were served by a lovely friendly lady.The food was good quality and delicious but it did take a very long time, it was obviously cooked to order which is good but had we been in a hurry a 2 hour lunch would not have been appreciated!

This is probably the best little restaurant in Leicester. A top quality chef and friendly service in a happy and comfortable environment. Food is not only affordable but very good indeed. Top notch.

Great food, great service and a real happy atmosphere. You couldn't as for more really and real value for money.

Very good 2 course lunch for £12. No skimping in the ingredients. Lots of young parents with children do expect crying and screaming but wonderful service, food and value for money more than make up for it.

The food served here is excellent and the service makes you feel like you are a regular and valued customer even if it's your first visit. Whilst there is a nice comfy sofa corner to sit and chat in, the main body of the bistro is set up as a restaurant. The environment is well presented, and has excellent disabled facilities. The music is low enough to hear everyone in your group whilst chatting, but loud enough to provide a background ambiance. All in all, a great bistro where I intend to go many times in order to work my way through the extensive and delicious menu!

Went there with family once and again with my husband. First time was ok, second time wasn't to bad. Coke and water tasted nice.

Great, great, great. I have a shop locally so wanted somewhere to meet up with a business associate that was high quality but not overly busy. James' were a superb choice the food was excellent the pasta meal i had was quite frankly one of the best things i have ever eaten. I now use the Bistro most days instead of the usual high street stuff (costa, Mcdonalds etc) and have been very pleased with the service (we are so local they will even run a coffee down for us). Top, top place.

Popped in to James' for brunch on Saturday with a friend, having read a very positive review online. The welcome was warm, the environs are lovely and the food absolutely delicious - best Eggs Benedict I've had in a long time (probably ever!) and the buttermilk pancakes were really fluffy and looked amazing.We were so impressed we've decided to move our knitting group here!Recommended.

We just nipped in for dessert and a coffee after having dinner elsewhere. Really amazing homemade desserts, friendly service and a surprisingly quiet atmosphere, despite there being a large party there. We'll definitely be back for dinner soon!

Excellent food, excellent service, portions just right.3 of us visited at lunch, cannot fault anything about this café/bistro. its hidden away in a street just off the Highcross shopping centre and if you want a good meal /service in a proper neighbourhood restaurant come here.this was our first visit but wont be the last

Went for lunch between meetings and really enjoyed the food. Had a chickpea home made burger and it was really nice and light, which is great as I didn't feel bloated after lunch. Enjoyed so much that I managed to move my next meeting there and with free wifi it allowed me to carry on working afterwards.A hidden gem worth visiting!

I've eaten at James' before a few times and every time had the same fantastic experience.Service - you just don't get better - a genuine warm welcome, on it with drinks orders and polite if you need another 5 minutes to decide.Menu - delicate and select, but perfectly formed. Not the most extensive (but we all know that's when problems arise), each dish as appetising as the next. Love breakfast options - the omelette today (roasted veg and goats cheese) with home cut chunky chips and salad garnish was beaut! Tasty, not oily or over cooked - perfect.And the best bit - which I always recommend to friends and family for a darn good pud is the dessert menu. You HAVE to try the dessert taster - the sorbet's are to DIE for, cool refreshing and utterly mouthwatering! Blackberry and Almond Frangipan tart - never having a Bakewell again!A fab place for breakfast, mid-shopping coffee break, lunch and dinner (with the man or your mates) - I hope they can keep the business going in these testing times - don't bother with a crammed Highcross when you can have this - backstreet cafe bistro bliss. See you very soon I am sure.

Went here last Thursday evening after seeing the reviews on TripAdvisor.Venue: Lovely, clean, well spaced out restaurant. The restaurant wasn't full but if it was you wouldn't have had people all over your table as the tables were spaced out nicely. They even had some seating outside as it was a nice evening.Starters: Fairly tasty starters. Had fishcake and tiger prawn salad starters. Fishcake was nicely cooked (crispy, how I like it) and served with fresh salad. I felt the potato to fish ratio was slightly skewed in favour of the potato but then I'm just being greedy asking for more fish as my only other experience of fishcakes is from the local chippy. The combination of flavours was very nice though.The tiger prawn salad was light and tasty. Nicely cooked prawns on fresh salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.Mains: Had a Penne Arabiatta (which the waitress kindly added chicken and chorizo to). This was delicious. Had a subtle chilli kick after each bite. Sauce was full of flavour. Nice amount of pasta and chicken and chorizo.The other main was a spaghetti dish with sausage and chilli. Again was full of flavour, the ingredients combined brilliantly. This dish also had a lovely spicy kick.Also ordered a garlic bread with cheese side dish. Wow. This was one of the best garlic breads I've ever had. Sooooo tasty. Full of flavour and cooked just right.Desserts: Absolutely amazing. Probably the best chocolate brownie I've ever had. Amazing chocolate brownie with homemade orange and mint chocolate ice cream. Exhilarating combination. So scrumptious. Also had the homemade profiteroles with homemade icecream (orange and mint chocolate, Baileys and Banana), these were truly delicious.All in all, a very lovely evening with some fantastic food and really good friendly service. Will definitely come here again (and will probably have double portions of that homemade chocolate brownie).

Restaurant excellent with friendly relaxed service, felt right at home straight away. Menu limited but chef very accommodating and was happy to help with a member of our groups dietary needs. Very pleased overall, i had a spicy Pasta dish that still makes my mouth water now!! We will be back!

Had a lovely lunch with my son today.Just fabulous staff- felt nothing was too much trouble, waitress even provided us with scissors so my son could undo his new toy.liked it that much booked a table for Thursday evening

Love this place, have been several times and te service and food have been faultless every time. The mussels and seafood linguine dishes are stunning. Its a shame the restaurant is tucked away and maybe doesn't get as much business as it deserves to.

Spent a great Saturday evening having a supper while listening to a very cool jazz quartet. We chose from a fixed price menu which offered excellent food (mussels, sea bass risotto followed by a chocolate torte that was just about perfect) for about £20. The staff were great too. friendly, helpful and attentive. All in all, well worth a visit.

What a find! Round the back of Highcross but well worth a visit. A menu showing great choice and ingredients freshly prepared. Service is always superb with generous portions and real value for money. We have been here perhaps half a dozen times now, a different choice each time, and never been disappointed.

I visted during the school holidays with my 10 year old daughter for lunch and she has now stated that its her favourite restaurant!Its lovely to find a place in the city centre where the tables aren't pushed so close together you feel like you are dining with the people next to you.I chose the pasta with chicken, broccoli and cream which was delicious, I cant normally finish a full pasta meal but it was too nice to leave any.My daughter chose the cajun chicken which was huge and came with freshly cooked wedge like chips and salad. When the chef delivered the food he said that if she found it a little too spicy to just let them know which she was grateful for as it was slightly too hot for her so they took it away and returned with a whole new plate of food for her which we though was excellent seeing as there was nothing at all wrong with the dish it was just down to personal taste and she would have been happy to have eaten around the spicier bits if need be.We are looking forward to returning with my husband and our youngest daughter as they have a lovely area for little ones to play and a chalk board along one wall, and the special offers all look good too.Great place for lunch when shopping.

My husband and I had dinner here on a Thursday night. We both had a soup and a main dish. The food was fantastic. Very fresh and well prepared and presented. The women who was our server may have also been the owner. She was absolutely lovely. She was friendly and also gave us some great advice on sightseeing. We were traveling thru Leicester on our way to Norwich. I would definitely return here for dinner. They also have live music on certain weekends. It seems like the perfect place to enjoy a nice dinner or a night out.

My wife found this on here as we were looking for places to try for lunch as we have an 8 month old and dont like eating out late with him , this was just the ticket. Its hidden away where it is and so its nice and quiet. The staff are extremely friendly and it is very child friendly. The menus are quite varied with something for everyone , my wife can be quite picky but she found plenty on them to try.The food is delicious and you can tell the chefs take pride in it with there presentation and rightly so. We have been back since our first visit to try the breakfast and it was fantastic , and still the same friendly welcome. I would definatley recommend Jame's to anyone who likes good food.

Whilst some diners seem not to mind microwaved food even at the most frequently attended posh restaurants in Leicester, why not visit and spend an evening at James' Bistro, for fresh, yes freshly cooked imaginative, generously portioned delicious food.It is a rareity to find such an undestated venue, who's absolute objective is to provide a diner with an opportunity to experience top quality food at such a reasonable price and to boot, tailor make a dish for you if you wish.I am particular about what I eat and could not criticise the food, service, or price. I hope you take note of this review and visit James' the next time you want to eat some quality food, I know you will not be disappointed.

Went in January. Tastecard deal which gave me 2-4-1. Bit of a struggle to find, had to ring them for exact location as I don't know the area.The establishment trades as a cafe in the daytime and Bistro in the evenings. Simple plain decor, the occasional themed night with entertainment, some live music. Check the website.The menu changes regularly. Service was good. Went for a chicken main, a vegetarian main, a vegetable side dish and desserts.Food was served with plenty of love care and attention, waitress was attentive and we didn't have to wait too long between courses, plenty of time for choosing too. Although to be fair, it was January and not much going on. Nice and quiet.The food was quality and standard was very good. Interesting to look at and eat. Id recommend and return. Which is, exactly what I'm doing!A tiny charmer in a city sea full of Indian restaurants.

I went in morning and ordered veg eng breakfast and food was absolutely spot on. I was greeted by the lady with beautiful smile. She surely can bring smile on anyones face. Atomosphere calms you down and makes u feel relaxed. I love every bit of my time spent there while enjoyin my veg english breakfast with hot cup of tea.i am definately going back again and will recommend to my frns as well.. cheers to james cafe bistro

Used a 2for1 discount card. Went with kids on a half term weekday. Lovely starter and mains. No complaints. Great staff very welcoming.

We visited Leicester to watch the rugby and found this eatery from the internet, and what a find it was, the service was first class and the food was just fantastic. My party had 4 different starters, 3 different mains and 2 different puddings one of which was the mixed puddings all home made and simply delicious, all meals cooked to order. We went at 5:30 so there where only us and a couple of other tables even so the atmosphere was still good and I believe if it was full the atmosphere would be buzzing, definitely a "Hidden Gem" not to be missed.

Booked at last minute c/o reviews on here. Was absolutely delighted. As soon we ate each mouthful, like Bisto kids, we 'mmmed' out loud and couldn't stop. Unbelievable flavours. Lovely spacious restaurant. Needed a few more customers but don't let that put you off. Has stylish contemporary feel. Great music playing. Lovely friendly and attentive restaurant owner. Decent prices. Want to visit again for their family specials during the day and early evening. Absolutely wonderful experience, lots of home made puddings and delicious Mediterranean good sized main courses. We visited Friday night which was meant to be 'student special', no evidence of students and seemed bit upmarket for students. Nevertheless a stylish environment without being at all pretentious.

I went to James' recently for the first time with a friend and we were greeted by such a nice hostess who went through the menus with us. She was so diligent and friendly.The food was incredible, the portion sizes were generous and the prices, even before I usedmy Taste card, were very good!If we had had more time or more room in our stomachs we would've definitely sampled the tempting dessert menu!We will be going back for sure and have been telling all of our friends to return ever since!The location is just behind High Cross, near the back exit of Debenhams. It is easy to miss, but honestly, skip the chain restaurants that you see everywhere, and go to James'.Such a warm, lovely restaurant with delicious food, what more could you want?!

Food was thoughtfully put together and spared no expense for quality dishes. Excellent atmosphere, attentive service when needed, and privacy respected as well. Had the mussles for starter and risotto for main. Large portions. Recommend going several times to taste more of what they have to offer!

Have been to James' several times always a warm welcome and always good food. Even if just for a coffee this is a great place to go. The menu should see to anyone's tastes and desserts are great. Next time you are in HighCross and want somewhere different try it you won't be disappointed

This cafe is a great spot for a meal. Everything was absolutely delicious and a great value. When going back for business this will definitely be a stop for a meal again... or two.

Lovely setting, very friendly waitress (owner I think!) and superb food. Husband ate from the specials choice (mushroom and spinach frittata and steak with horseradish mash) and I had James' Mussels (tomato / onion / chili sauce) - gorgeous. Highly recommended - large choice of starters along with a good variety of pastas and risottos. Too full to consider dessert regretfully although what the other customers were served looked very good.

We popped in for a lunchtime bowl of pasta. The environment was lovely, the food really tasty and reasonably priced and the service pleasant. A range of choices on the menu - salads, pasta, sandwiches and jackets. Will be going back to try the breakfast menu.A great addition to eating in Leicester.

I've just returned from eating here with some work colleagues & was very impressed.Efficient, friendly service. Really tasty food with a good variety of dishes.I ate the garlic baguette, courgette carbonara and then a taster platter of desserts.The homemade icecream is a definate must try!Go & you won't be disappointed :-)

We went a few weeks ago and were really impressed. I went with my hubby, we were really impressed with the food, service and price.I ordered the a prawn starter,sea food platter and brule. My hubby ordered the pate, chicken breast and blonde brownie. All were really delicious. The service was unbeatable, the waitress/owner left us plenty of time between courses,was really helpful and gave an excellent service. We have a taster card (why we ended up trying there) so saved 50% on the bill. Without it it would have been about £90.00 for 3 courses and a bottle of wine for both of us which isn't too bad. There are a good selection of specials. We were the only people there, but as no point did we feel rushed to leave. They are trying to establish themselves for evening dining. I feel it is a great find and would recommend it 100%. In terms of location it is just at the back of the highcross near Gala bingo,it is worth ringing to see if there is any on street parking.We liked that it was quiet without loud music so we could actually talk without having to shout.

it is so nice to find a reasonably priced Bistro that is not part of a chain. The chef clearly has a passion for what he does and the waitress is very welcoming and friendly. It is worth hunting out James' Cafe Bistro it is tucked behind the Highcross. Food is pasta and panini type stuff during the day but they have a fuller menu in the evening

We visited on a Wednesday evening just before Christmas having been told by frineds that this restaurant would suit our assorted needs as similar to Jones bistro on Queens Rd and run by the same staff and chef who previously worked there. The menu was similar and included fresh and special dishes as well as pasta and muscles .The lady who took our order was the only person there apart from the chef but we neednt have worried as we were the only customers. She advised us that they had enjoyed a large lunch-time trade and had been busy previously in the evenings earlier in the week.The lack of other company was a shame as this meant the pleasant environment missed some ambience and we felt a little conspicious.Nontheless, the waitress couldnt have been more helpful and obliging. We all really enjoyed our main meals and could have happily chosen several things from the menu which is no mean achievement with 2 veggies, one fussy eater, one omnivore and one person who cannot eat salt!. We chose a sharing dessert platter which was great, full of flavours and plenty big enough.The bill was very reasonable and my partner was bought complimentary brandy for his birthday.We will definately return but hope for a little more company next time

- This is a nice quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the high street. - The service and atmosphere is very polite and welcoming.- The only downside is that the music kept skipping from the CD being overplayed me thinks. In addition they should play something a little more up-to-date e.g. Ed Sheeran's album would fit in perfectly.- The buschetta starter with goats cheese was simply delicious! Definitely gives Pizza Express and Prezzo a run for their money.- The mains were not bad, but could do with some work. First of all they were quite big. Too much food was left over. It would be better if there was smaller, better presented portions. I had the risotto with chicken, spinach, peas and mint. This was a tad too minty for what I was expecting, but overall not bad. The other main on the table included the Chicken cooked in a mushroom sauce. This could have been much smaller and better marinated / presented, as it just seemed like a slab of meat.- The dessert platter was simply amazing! Definitely their forte! The coffees are miles better than Starbucks as well!- Overall, the food was nice and service was by far the best received in years. I wish the team the very best of luck and will definitely come back for the seafood risotto and tiger prawns starter :D- Hope I wasn't too harsh, but I think honesty will help them tighten up the cooking and really make them stand out of the crowd, placing them firmly in the top few great restaurants in the Leicester City Centre.

If you only ever eat one dessert in your life, make sure it's the Belgian Chocolate nemesis at James Cafe Bistro Leicester!!! I'm not a big pudding person, but this cake/torte/mousse is just divine!!!The rest of the food was lovely too. The sticky coriander chilli chicken was delicious & my fella & his daughter loved the spaghetti meatballs.Strange back street location, but well worth the trip.Lovely!!

I've checked out this team several times recently - they'd moved on from being successful managers of a local, out of centre 'hot-spot' - to JAMES' a place of their own. Now in the city centre, a calm oasis just yards away from the busy, busy Highcross Centre. Delighted to find better than ever attentive, unfussy service and excellent freshly cooked food available from an interesting and varied menu. Most recently I tried the seafood risotto (a favourite of mine from the old place) - sublime! My colleague chose the 'Portuguese mussels', "absolutely gorgeous - I'll be coming back here with my friends and family" was her verdict. We both needed to be moving on, so no time for dessert - but I recommended the 'taster selection' for next time. My partner and I had had this a few days before - again freshly prepared - an absolute treat. Good luck to JAMES' - they deserve to do well.