Saint Jacques

Be prepared for an expensive dinner, but the food is very good & the staff works very hard. more

I can not even explain how good this place is, in every single way!! great food, great service, great atmosphera. Every body deserves to eat at this place :) it's a MUST more

My husband, mother, in-laws, and I decided to go to Saint-Jacques for my 22nd birthday. My mother and I, in particular, are self-proclaimed foodies. I had read all of these wonderful reviews and was concerned that perhaps it had been to hyped up and I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I was happily mistaken! We were seated at a very spacious table for five, especially considering how small the restaurant is! Our white napkins were exchanged for black ones so as not to leave any lint on our dark clothes . My father-in-law discussed the wine list briefly with the gentleman there (I wish I knew who he was! I feel so ignorant!), and ordered a fabulous bottle of red wine, the Margaux. We had a very diverse dinner, and it was great with everything. For starters, we ordered the sweetbreads, the goat cheese salad, and the french onion soup. The sweetbreads were out of this world. My mother and I shared it and it was entirely too much for two people considering how rich it is. My husband felt as though his french onion soup was a little on the sweet side, but I thought it was great. By the time we finished our starter, we needed another bottle of wine. Again, the gentleman was there to help us and steered us toward ordering another bottle of the Margaux. I ordered the pork tenderloin; my mother, the family-recipe veal; my husband ordered the duck a l'orange, his mother ordered the sea-bass, and his father got the beef Normandie. Of everything, I liked my pork the best but all the other dishes were great. The veal was served on creamy polenta and mixed with the reduction sauce, it was delicious. The pork was moist and stuffed with squash and bacon that melted into the pork. It had a nice, crisp skin and sat on wilted greens and potato blini. I loved it. Dessert was amazing. We had the clafoutis, the chocolate addiction, the cheese plate, their house made vanilla ice cream, and creme brulee bread pudding with biscotti, which was the special. Everything was, again, delicious. My mother in law had been to Saint-Jacques before and mentioned a poached pear with ginger ice cream to the gentleman. He said he didn't remember it but that it sounded good. A few minutes later, he brought her the dessert, having described it to the chef! We were so impressed. The waitstaff was very attentive and had just the right blend of personable-ness (if that's a word) and the ability to disappear. Obviously, we were having a great time and joking around, and the waitresses would laugh and joke with us occasionally. I love that they felt comfortable enough to do so (besides, we're funny people). We had a phenomenal time and I will always, always, always recommend Saint-Jacques. more

My fiance and I went here on a special occasion and felt like we hit a gold mine. It was just amazing, because the food was wonderful and the service was second to none.\r To be clear to those wanting to check the place out, do not be dissapointed by the location. They are actually located in a strip mall with what I remember being a Chinese takeout and cheap hair salon. We were extremely turned off to this when we realized this. We were very dressed up and feeling quite out of place.\r But once you get inside it is like you stepped into Paris. The beautiful lace curtains hide the less than charming view of the ATM machine outside. The tables are beautifully set and the wait staff (really one person that night) are so nice and our waitress was a native French speaker. \r I ordered the duck a la orange and it was made perfectly, which is quite a feat. The flavor was just right and it was not too greasy as duck can be if not cooked perfectly right. His food was very good as well, but he ate like half of mine anyway. The prices are not cheap, but you really get what you pay for her. We left a thirty something dollar tip, if that tells you how good our service was. more

Lil and Lori Lacassagne have created a most intimate and cozy space with some of the most memorable food in... more

Lil and Lori Lacassagne have created a most intimate and cozy space with some of the most memorable food in all the Triangle. The Blue Cheese Delicacy is amazing: Bleu cheese mousse served on a puff croquant in the middle of Port wine poached Bosc pear slices, finished with the reduction syrup. Our dinner for two was $190 including tip and a $20 corkage fee. Never disappointing. Pros: quiet, small space Cons: some would consider pricey more

Lil and Lori Lacassagne have created a most intimate and cozy space with some of the most memorable food in all the Triangle. The Blue Cheese De... more

I just want to say, I LOVE this place. It was my first time for my girlfriend and I trying French food and it was my birthday. First thing you notice is how quaint the place looks and feels. We were greeted and seated promptly when we came in and the matre'd was very nice. The service was very good. We never had an empty glass or unwanted plates/silverware just sitting on the table. Someone was always coming by filling up the water glasses or asking was everything OK especially the owner. He and his wife are from France and they take great pride in what they do. He was a sweet man. Our server was very cool and she made great recommendations. I choose this place because it sounded interesting and my girlfriend and I love to try new places/foods. I made a really good choice. One of the features we loved was the grapefruit sorbet they gave as a palate cleanser. If we could eaten more of that we would have. It was really good. The food portions are just the right size so you can save room for dessert. Glad we did. I had the lemon burlee tart and my girlfriend had the apple tatain. Excellent!!! It was a wonderful ending to a great meal and experience. We will be coming back!!\r \r Pros: The Food Was Fabulous!!! Cons: They spoil you rotten!! more

I ate at this restuarant tonight and was so excited to come home and write this review. I allowed them to pick their most recommended wines and meals to serve me and boy was I in for a treat! I was served a wonderful wine which married the meal and left my mouth completely and utterly satisfied. the Appetizers and Entrees were delicious. Please DO NOT make a mistake by ignoring this place because of its outer appearance once you come inside you will forget where you are at. The staff is wonderful and knowledgible. The owner personally greeted me and my date and I must admit the personal touch was well worth the price on the check! I look forward to eating here again Pros: atmosphere, flavor and service more

Jacques is a very small restaurant so make reservations. The food and service are excellent and very up... more

Jacques is a very small restaurant so make reservations. The food and service are excellent and very up scale. However, the portions are very smal... more

I recently visited Saint Jacques with friends and the experience was lovely. Amongst us, we ate 8 different dishes, all beautifully prepared. The wine list was lovely, all French, thank God. It is frustrating that so many ""French"" restaurants in the area don't even have a Chateauneuf-du-Pape on their wine list. Also impressive, the service. The server was polite, but never insinuated herself more than necessary at the table. She provided the mis-en-place quietly and without ever disturbing the guests. It was like everything you needed for the meal was simply there whenever you needed it. The owner, I assume, was always available. He touched the table several times throughout the evening to make sure everything was perfect, and he was very kind, never pretentious. I appreciated an evening well spent, and I will dine at Saint Jacques again in the future. Anyone who posts a negative review, in my opinion, is simply not someone meant to appreciate such a fine dining experience. Pros: Attentive owner, excellent service, and fantastic food Cons: This beautiful restaurant deserves a better location. more

Saint Jacques is truly a first class restaurant in every way. it is great for a special romantic dinner or an early evening weeknight dinner when ou just want great food and a great experience.\r They also have a wonderful lunch menu. The tomato salad is amazing as is the french onion soup.\r I just cannot say enough good things about Saint Jaques. Pros: Exceptional Food and Service more

I work with a gentleman from France and he told me St. Jacques has the best French food in the Raleigh area. We went there this past week-end for a special occasion dinner and were not disappointed. The food was outstanding and the service was great too. The only downsides are minor - the location and looking out on to a CashPoints machine is not ideal. The coffee was weak in my opinion (but I like strong coffee). Everything else was wonderful and, while it was somewhat expensive, it was well worth the price. We rate this as good as Fins (downtown) and Azure Grill (Chapel Hill) and maybe even better! Pros: Food and service Cons: View out the window of CashPoint machine and weak coffee more

We have lived in the triangle for 25 years and have tried to visit every good restaurant. We agree that Saint Jacques is number 1. We decided to go there last night for our 17th wedding anniversary. Everything was perfect. The service is superb. The food was outstanding. I got the onion soup and the Veal Piet Pacquets (my spelling is bad and worse in French). My wife got a special muscles appetizer and a special sea bass entree. Everything was wonderful, but we agreed the ""must have"" is the onion soup. It is better than we have had in France. Everyone there is friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is quiet so that it is easy to have a pleasant conversation. There are several good restaurants in the area that seem to have been designed as an echo chamber. \r \r It is a minor thing, but I applaud all the places that use something like OpenTable to do online reservations. Saint Jacques does and it makes getting it easy to lock in a reservation at any time of the day or night. Pros: Perfect service. Excellent food. Nice and quiet Cons: Can't think of any. more

Just had to write a review after visiting Saint-Jacques for the first time last night. What a lovely evening! Get over the fact that this gem is hidden in a strip mall. You'll soon forget once you step inside and experience the impeccable service and fantastic food. We immediately knew this would be something different from all the chains in town. As we were being seated, the waitress whisked my napkin off the table and walked away with it, which I thought was odd, until she quickly came back with a black one, explaining that she didn't want me to get any white lint on my black dress. Such a thoughtful touch! The food was all delicately prepared and not overdone with heavy sauces. The amuse bouche and little sorbet between courses was also a great surprise. I look forward to visiting Saint-Jacques again. Pros: Outstanding food, impeccable service Cons: stripmall location, limited seating (make a reservation!) more

Having eaten at the top 100 restaurants around the world, this place is world class. Cheesballs please stay away, lots of fast food places here in Raleigh for you indulge.\r \r When my wife and I need a good meal, this is where we go. When colleages visit, this is where they are taken (Angus Barn does not cut it) and they have all been stunned at how wonderful their experience.\r \r The wine list is perfect and also offers a reserve list where the bottles are extraordinary. I cannot point out a particular dish, as every dish has stood on its own merits and palet pleaseing experience. \r \r What is really expceptional is the attentiveness of our staff. They notice my wife is ambidexterous and rearranged her setting to accomadte her particular utensil utilization. The other event is when we took our 3 month old to dinner, the host cut up my entree so I could enjoy my meal while holding our baby, without asking. As they say, priceless!\r \r Great from a person with a refernce point.... Pros: Amazing food and service, nothing better in the area. more

After 10+ visits to St Jacques, I felt I had to let others know about it. This restaurant is an oasis where one is transformed from North Raleigh to the South of France. Owners Lil & Lori are the most accommodating restauranteurs I have seen anywhere, truly believing that their customer is their guest and that the guest's experience during the few hours in their restaurant is the most important thing there is. If anyone on this earth was born to be a Maitre d', it is Lil. Ask him to describe the evening's dinner selections and your mouth will be watering at each description! This is great but wouldn't be enough if the food didn't live up to the service. Luckily it does. Chef Aaron Whittington and his small kitchen staff have really mastered the intracacies of the finest French dining experience. Nothing is ever loaded with heavy sauces ( though many of the dishes are quite rich ) and many of the items have a simple elegance that needs to be tasted to be understood. At last night's Alsace wine dinner the 1st course of Salmon Souffle stole the show. Imagine having the guts to serve a souffle to 60 people all at once! The end result was a fabulously aromatic dish that was light yet rich and the star of the evening. The entire dining room seemed to be talking about it as they were enjoying it. Try the Ravioli Whittington when it's on the menu for a very rich but very sensually satisfying dish with deep and concentrated aromas and flavors. The onion soup has been mastered - no saltiness to hide the flavors of high quality ingredients cooked for what I imagine must be a very long time. And of course the St Jacques namesake, Scallops, are expertly prepared. We've had the opportunity to eat in fine restaurants in NY, Chicago, Paris and the French countryside and St Jacques can hold their own with the best of them. Everyone we've introduced to the restaurant from across the Triangle continue to talk about it and some drive from Chapel Hill somewhat regularly to go there. Pros: Service, Food, Ambience Cons: None! more

This restaurant is absolutely fabulous. I took my fiance there for his birthday, and we were welcomed warmly by a wonderful French waiter and by the owner himself. Lil is a treat, and you are guaranteed to meet him. His sense of humour and utter dedication to everything food is truly refreshing. He will even be happy to recommend the best wine for your dinner (whether you like red or white, he never forces you too far out of your comfort zone). Dessert was also fabulous. Our waiter, Luis, was fantastic. I wish I could visit St. Jacques every night! Unfortunately, it is a little pricey and I think I'd go bankrupt on roast duck and sweetbreads en duo!!! Pros: Wonderful food, wonderful people, wonderful service Cons: A little pricey, but worth it more

Absolutely delicious!! Most definitely the best French food we have eaten outside of France. Impeccable service. Intimate setting. A true gem. Whoever would have thought such a wonderful place existed tucked away in a strip mall. Raleigh is very fortunate to have Saint Jacques. We most certainly will go back. We ate there for the first time last night and have already told our friends what a wonderful experience we had. Worth every penny. Pros: Absolutely delicious food, impeccable service. Cons: None. more