More than likely like most wandering visitors of Venice Beach, we dropped in here on mostly a whim. A friend recommended it, and I ignored the prices & Douchebag references. I wanted a cabana-type bar near a beach, and we got it. No wait, kind veteran service staff who seemed like they'd been in LA improv for 15 years and have held down this same job, and this restaurant has benefited from it.
Cozy booths along the wall tuck you away from the semi-crowded bar. Yes the food is standard, a-ok and priced high, but I don't think it's overpriced: it's a nice restaurant in a prime location in a tourist area. To keep it absurd, they had New Brunswick oysters on deck, and that fit right in with my Canadian Maritimes better-looking better half.
If I could recommend one thing here, I'd say it's to nurse whatever you're having in a corner booth & just enjoy the cabana area for as long as you can. If there were men smoking cigars, and gorgeous 1940s cars out front, it'd be Havana.
Randomly came across this place while visiting Venice for the first time two years ago, and I recognized the outside entrance from I Love You, Man. Now that I live in Marina Del Rey, a friend invited me there for drinks and I was all for it.
It's not huge but its not small. Dinner tables get taken away around 10 to open up the standing room for the bar.
Not a crazy beer list, if you're into craft beers, but I would say it would be a great place to start off a night of drinking. I'll have to come back for the fish tacos!
It's crazy to me that this place even serves food. I went close to midnight on a Saturday night and it was packed, so much so that it was impossible to even get a drink, so I can't imagine even trying to eat. It could definitely be a fun stop if you're out with a group of crazy friends. I could tell the crowd was pretty loyal to this spot. It's decorated in a really fun and festive beachy way, with outdoor lights around the patio.
I would definitely come back with a big group, and if I was already drunk enough to deal with a crowd like that.
What a MESS!!! If you are hungry do not plan on coming to this BEACH. This place is understaffed and service is terrible. My partner and I came here to have their tacos and burgers which were subpar. We started off with their Mac n Cheese which was very tasty and had a couple of brews to wash it down (which is always nice). We  had the Mahi Mahi fish tacos and the portobello mushroom burger. The Mahi Mahi tacos were not what everyone have been raving about. The tacos were dry, and had no significant flavor. My partner had the portobello mushroom burger and it was a mess. The bun crumbled when you touched it since it was over toasted and the veggie patty was decent and also had no significant flavor. The meals are over priced for what they serve and I do not recommend this place.
The decor fits Venice well and makes sense. The decor is all over the place though. The light bulbs are missing from the light fixtures and you sit chairs from your grandmas bowling alley. Cheers!
The tacos were very tasty, sushi very fresh and good however I downloaded the 10% off coupon right at 3:00 PM and the waitress would not accept it. "It's after 3" She told us. That started us off wrong and then the warm white wine...and it was $100 for two  appetizers, one entree and wine. I had been there previously when I visited Venice and enjoyed it, but after this experience I do not think I would try it again.
Review Source:made last minute dinner reservations at 10pm on a FRIDAY NIGHT. despite the herd of thirsty patrons already gathered around this watering hole, we were promptly greeted by the hostess and escorted to our table in the dimly lit dining section away from the mass.
crispy rice - GOOD
mac n cheese - GREAT
drinks - waiter kept em comin' allllllllll night long
service - (^see above) FANTASTIC
twas a bitchin time. however, minus 1 star for the ladies restroom.
This will end up being the lowest-starred review I have ever given on Yelp. Â Why? Â Because I walked out.
James' Beach is a nice-looking restaurant, wonderfully placed half a block from the beach in Venice. Â The menu looks good, the people look good, everything looks good. Â But the service is the worst I've experienced anywhere in the world at any time of my life.
We had a reservation, and arrived right on time. Â There was a couple ahead of us checking in, so we figured we'd be seated right away. Â Remarkably, I think (since the task required to deal with the couple ahead of us is to do one of two things: either seat them, or take their name and seat them later), it took ten minutes. Â This was a sign of things to come.
We were seated in a charming booth on the patio. Â The night was lovely, and the patio was nowhere near full. Â We were given menus, and began to look them over. Â I chose the fish tacos, while my wife chose the filet sliders. Â We chose to share an appetizer.
That's what we chose. Â Not that anyone employed at James' Beach ever got to hear that.
After selecting our proposed dinner, my wife and I had the chance to talk. Â We talked about the nice weather that evening. Â We talked about the kids. Â We talked about whether we preferred to stay in Venice next time we were in LA, versus Santa Monica. Â We planned out the next day. Â We discussed current events. Â
My wife being delightful and a sparkling conversationalist, it was turning into a pleasant evening. Â After a while we noticed, though, that a table near us was on their third round of drinks since we had arrived. Â We had not spoken to a waiter. Â We had not been brought so much as a glass of water. Â We were ghosts, apparently.
We had been seated for thirty-five minutes when an employee of a DIFFERENT restaurant, across the street and owned by the same company, came up and said, "I see the look in your eyes, and I thought I'd come take your order. Â I don't know the menu, but I'll pass your order along to staff." Â A very nice gesture, for which this employee of the company should be commended.
Our order went back to the kitchen. Â Aaaaand...nothing. Â Fifteen minutes later, apparently seeing the look on my face that said, "If I don't get some service I'm going to tear this restaurant apart board by board," the man from the restaurant across the street brought me the Diet Coke I'd ordered. Â No one brought water. Â No one brought my wife's wine order. Â Our appetizer was in no-man's land. Â The table next to us continued to get service. Â I hated those people with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns, though it was not their fault. Â (To be fair to myself, though, they really were incredibly annoying.)
And so we left James' Beach, an hour of our lives entirely wasted (apart from my wife's excellent company, of course). Â We left hungrier. Â We left thirstier. Â We left angrier than when we came. Â And yes, we left wiser.
Which wisdom I now pass along to you, dear reader. Â Do not go to James' Beach.
(And no: we did not smell bad or look terrible, either of which might explain -- but not excuse -- the service. Â I totally checked.)
This a non-food related review..
Came in here so that my pregnant friend could satisfy her craving for their truffle fries. Â We ordered to-go at the bar while another friend had a drink.
The decor was cute, nautilus-like, but I could see that the furniture was chipped here and there.. definitely worn out. Â There were plenty of flies around the bar (yet none in the dining patio??), and the service was meh. Â The bartenders seemed more interested in talking to their friends than actually providing service. Â I was tempted to just leave without paying.
Thanks a lot, "I Love You Man" film.
Admittedly, I did not get the fish tacos contrary to the film's MO. I came here for brunch with my bestie. We got the eggs benedict. It was honestly equal to one at a diner, but on a white table cloth and a nice plate. Not horribly impressed for the prices but hey, its steps from the boardwalk. My bloody mary was super gross. Tried to tomato it up more but no..it kicked me in the teeth with the liqour they used.
Won't come back though. But they were nice.
James' Beach has become a local institution of sorts. Whether the reputation it has gained is deserved or not is open to debate, but regardless, it's there.
My first problem with James' Beach is the pretentiousness, this is Venice, not Hollywood! It's a restaurant near the Venice Boardwalk, not the Sunset Strip!
My second problem is the prices. The food isn't bad, but it's beyond overpriced. Nineteen dollars for chicken tacos, $23 for grilled chicken, or $7 for French fries is a bit extreme.
My third problem is that the restaurant tries to double as a hot night spot on the weekends and puts on a major attitude. They'll have people who wouldn't normally have to wait, wait just so that James' Beach can pretend to be a lot more than it really is. At the same time, they try to pack as many people in as possible. There's a real meat market vibe which isn't even fun. It's just packed with a lot of posers with attitudes because they think getting in means something. But face it, they let anyone in eventually because it's all about the bottom line for places like this.
I guess that James' Beach is milking it's moment in the limelight for all it's worth, and in a way I don't blame them. But this is no way to create a lasting legacy. Well, not a good one anyways.
After walking the CicLAvia route from DTLA to Venice I was parched. Â I came here for a ice cold margarita and ended up ordering their Mahi Mahi fish taco platter.
The tacos are not tacos because you get a nice size grilled fillet of the Mahi Mahi with tortillas and all of the trimmings then you make them as you wish. Â It ends up being about 3 good sized tacos. Â I didn't want to eat that much but it was soooo good and I deserved it after that 15 mile walk. Â
I will definitely go there again for those tacos!
Bar/Restaurant just down the block from the Venice Beach. It was a cute small spot, semi casual yet semi fancy with a bar and stringed short lanterns adorning it with a separate dine in area. The bartender was good and really nice. Me and my boyfriend ordered drinks there which were good, just a few beers. It had a good vibe and the heaters were a nice touch.
As far as the food, we will have to be back since we didn't get a chance to eat but it did look and smell delicious. :)
The fish tacos are a must have! When you are in California, fish tacos are one of those things that you just have to get somewhere. At first the idea of fish in a tack seemed strange but I soon learned that its a combination of flavors your mouth will never forget.
I was in town visiting my brother and he told me that James Beach is a must. It's a block away from the Venice Beach Boardwalk in Venice. I'd first heard of it in the movie 'I Love You Man.' It was claimed to be the best fish tacos and I had to see I there was any truth to the on screen claim.
There is a beautiful outdoor patio area with a bar that has plenty of seating. If going on the weekend then I'd recommend reservations.
The tacos were pretty darn amazing! They come with fresh salsa, black beans, guacamole and your choice of flour or corn tortillas. The service here is a great as the tacos are. The server was very patient and helpful in answering all of our questions.
The downside would have to be that the prices seems to be a little higher than necessary. It's $19 for a plate of the fish tacos and $12 for a mojito. Some locals seems to think that the prices were inflated due to the popularity it gained from the movie. I guess I can't blame them for that.
I am a resident of Venice and this is *the* place I bring my friends, family and out of town guests... and my holiday eating destination. Always great food, very fun atmosphere and great service. Living in a tourist town it is easy to have an average restaurant because you will automatically get a certain amount of traffic. James Beach is AWESOME all the time and the menu is great, interesting, classy and fun. Guaranteed great time. There is a giant parking lot one block to the east operated by the City, and another at the end of the street for the beach... and one next door so there is always parking in the evening!
Review Source:I loved this place!!!! I took a star off simply because the parking is a NIGHTMARE unless there is room next to it in their garage - whenever I go to a place I usually try to find street parking first. Â Anyway that's sort of the deal with Venice but since out of towners look at reviews too, I wanted to include that point.
I had a seafood/lobster risotto that I have to say was absolutely DELICIOUS! We sat at the bar and were very comfortable there, and our bartender Sasha took excellent care of us. Â Getting the food was slightly slow but neither of us were in a rush so it was no big deal. The Zinfandel I had (Sardo) was wonderful too and oddly I'd had it a few weeks ago when a friend brought it over so I knew already I'd like it :)
The cookies were great for dessert as well and they gave us a lot of them, nice generous portion.
I am a west sider so I absolutely will go back.
I Love You Man can suck it! I shouldve known better than to trust Paul Rudd and Jason Siegel (2 white boys) with judging tacos. But bluewater has proven that my white brethren do indeed get down with fish tacos. Yeah, not the case here. The tacos sucked and the beans were bland. If you can't cook beans then get them out of my face!
Review Source:What a bunch of whiners! Â Yeah, I am talking about the other reviewers here. Â Get a life! This place rocks! Â I have had nothing here but great food at modest prices, an awesome vibe, great drinks, and have met fun people. Â I see the "whiners" are complaining about spending $20 for fish tacos. Â James Beach has a cool vibe and atmosphere, white linen table cloths, and Eames Chairs, and good food. Â You want to pay $6 for a taco, smell the grease, sit in plastic broken chairs, and eat with people who don't take baths, go to Taco Bell. Â Danny and his partner have created 3 fun restaurants at the beach: James Beach, The Canal Club, and Dannys. Â Okay, I am notching one star because sometimes the service is challenged..... but that indicates busy..... which means it's good!
Review Source:Good food, on the higher priced side, great beach location, outdoor and indoor seating available.
I recommend:
The Yellow and Red Beet Salad (with Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Arugula, Pickled Shallot Vinaigrette)
The Sand Dabs- served with Garlic Spinach, Smashed Yukon Potatoes, Lemon Caper Brown Butter
and be sure to check out the dessert tray!
It's the infamous "I Love You Man" restaurant  just off of Venice Beach!
Good food, on the pricey side, but worth comin' if you're a fan of the movie and wanna take a few clicks to say you've been there! That's why we went ... clearly worked on us tourists! As for the claim to have THE best fish tacos, ehhh, they were decent.
It's nice, I'll give it that. Natural sunlight shone throughout this casual beachside restaurant while we sat at our table on a Friday afternoon. We shared the James' Beach Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos and had a few drinks each before our walk along Venice. Â
Our server/bartender was fantastic and made us some custom drinks while we waited for our food, but the kitchen was very slow. We waited a good 45 minutes before we were served.
It's eh-okay, but with LA's awesome food scene, I'd throw out the challenge to find better fish tacos and seafood at this price point!
Amazing food, TERRIBLE service.
Came here with my boyfriend on Sunday night (9/23). We were seated at a very wobbly table, which a food runner fixed for us. Our server arrived and asked if we would like anything to drink? I asked for a glass of water and my boyfriend wasn't sure. As he was going to the bathroom, the server went up to him and asked him if he had decided on his drink. Weird.....
The entire time my boyfriend was waiting in line for the bathroom, our menus were shut and I was ready to order. I did not see our server once. It must have taken 10 minutes before he came up to us and popped out his checkbook. He didn't look at us, he didn't even say a word. He just stood in front of us with his pen in his hand, staring at his checkbook. Again, weird. And rude. So we ordered and all he said was "Ok, I'll get that for you."
Our calamari (appetizer) arrives. It was delicious. Best calamari I have ever had. Then our food arrives. Two minutes after our food arrives, our server says "Food's good?" We say "yes." I ordered their Sunday rib special & he got the fish tacos (as seen on I Love You Man). Both delicious!!
When my boyfriend is finished, he puts his napkin & silverware on his plate (meaning take it away). However, we wait another 5-10 minutes with our dirty dishes in front of us. We have to find our server & ask him for a box for me. He grabs my food to box it up, and STILL leaves my boyfriend's dirty dishes in front of him. It took another 5-7 minutes for him to return with my box. We ask for the check. He doesn't say a word, returns with the check, and drops it. All without saying a word. Our server said a whole 10 words to us, if even that. I myself am a server and this is a prime example of POOR customer service. This is also the first time that I did not leave a tip. Somehow I didn't feel bad either. Too bad the terrible service will keep us from coming again. The food was amazing.
***UPDATE*** I have to add, since the co-owner so kindly apologized for our experience, we will be giving this place another chance next time we are in town and I will update my review accordingly.
James Beach.
Came here because everyone wouldn't shut up about it. Didn't eat - only drank.
There was a big group of us and we were hitting it up as a pre-game spot.
PROS: Cheap beers!
-Food, food, food.
-Cool, beachy atmosphere
-Nice decor. No garbage all around.
-Just nice vibes and good attitudes.
CONS: No real bar area to relax at.
-Lots of people just kind of standing around.
-Restaurant area of place seemed stuffy.
-Crappy area.
I actually didn't try the "I Love You, Man fish tacos" but we did have a good time here.
Best,
Sean
I was at James' Beach last night. The place was packed yet our reservation was honored. Our server was wonderful and had a great personality. The dip served with jicama, radishes, and celery was nothing special, but then again, it was free.
The wine list is very good. I had a glass of Acacia which was reasonably priced. For a starter we shared calamari which was crispy and flavorful. The bread was nothing special, but not really needed since I ordered a burger. I added Maytag Bleu and bacon. The burger was perfectly cooked and the bacon was super thick and juicy. I have a hard time believing that the fries are rated so highly; they were just okay. My guest had rotisserie chicken that was outstanding!
For dessert we ordered the homemade fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookie (no nuts in them!) they were delicious! Parking is valet and costs $6. For Venice on a Saturday night, this is cheap.
I would definitely go back.
I ate here with a buddy a few weeks ago to try the tacos. Â Yes I saw I love you man, and yes they print that on the menu. Â It was Tuesday which put the Taco's on special, so both he and I tried them. Â
The fish tacos are fantastic, you get a large fillet of fish which you then break up on your own to create your three tacos. Â Decent portion, excellent flavor and I would recommend them to anyone.
The service was good, waitress was friendly and timely.
So why the 3 stars? Â Fairly I would give it 3.5 stars if I could.
Everything else on the menu was very pricey, and the vibe of this place is that trying to be a fancy restaurant. Â Instead of bread, you are served raw vegetables, and our appetizers were good but far from anything memorable ie would I come here again and order a $17 hamburger? No. Â
In my opinion I think they would do better by offering a larger selection of tacos, that is what made them famous, and stop trying to be a fancy place.
Heard of this place through the movie I Love You, Man, and came here because of it. Kind of a silly reason, but we wanted to see the hype about the fish tacos. And what did we find? They were great! These, although pricey, are definitely not your typical fish tacos! First of all you assemble it yourself (which is great), and they come in generous well-cooked portions, which is also great. Unexpectedly, their truffle fries, which apparently are also famous, ended up being the star of the show. No joke, these are the BEST fries ever.
Anyway, that aside, we really enjoyed the ambiance: dimly lit but cheerful setting with that beach-side vibe. The place also doubles as a pretty poppin' bar.
Appetizers -- I recommend the clam chowder, but not the pita bread trio with the hummus/tapenade/tzatziki. Pita bread wasn't fresh at all, and the tapenade was too salty!
Waiter was lively (maybe overly so), but, overall, it was an extremely pleasant dining experience.
Wow really??? I would like to know where people get the kool aid that makes them think this a decent restaurant. This place is overhyped, overpriced, overwhack! A local directed me to this restaurant, his exciting references on food quality and whatever ancient movie filmed at this location convinced me to try this place. I must say I had one of the most disappointing meals of my life.
First of all, what I was given for appetizer was these radish and jicama with blue cheese. Really? How cheap! Plus those vegetables were old and dry; I think the stuff at the taco truck is fresher. Anyways, I went along and ordered a turkey sandwich, which was about $14, so I was expecting something extraordinary for such ridiculously price. But their turkey sandwich was ridiculously bad. I mean really is it that hard to mess up a simple sandwich??? FatDonalds makes way better quality than this outdated joint. The turkey was dry, bland, and did I mention burned! Oh and those claimed fries, as "the best in LA" is the biggest BS! Once again FatDonalds beats this mediocre restaurant on that one too. By the way if you were wondering how's the customer service here...? Well it is the best in LA to "sarcasm".
In conclusion, if you wanna go to some crappy pricey overhyped joint to brag on the rights of dining in the filming location of once again...what's that old fart movie called? You can come here! Or then again don't ...
This place needs some QUALITY ASSURANCE.
If you are going to this place because of the movie, I Love You, Man. Stop yourself and read ahead.
1.) I ordered medium-RARE not medium-RAW.
For a burger that's advertised on the menu as $14, you only get a burger, caramelized onions, and thousand island. I wanted to add cheese, smoked bacon, and egg for a total of $17. For that price, I expected an over-the-top quality burger. The burger was pretty thick so the outside was cooked medium and inside was RAW meat. I've had a lot of medium rare burgers before and they were not raw in the middle.
2.) If you want the best fries, it ain't here.
As advertised as "Rated Best of L.A. by L.A. Times & Today in L.A.", I expected good seasoned fries. My definition of good fries are crispy on the outside and moist inside. These are not top-notch at all.
3.) Hollywood Fame.
Fish tacos for $19????! Come on! If they can't even do my $17 burger right, I wonder how the Fish tacos will be. I say if you're eating this just to eat where "I Love You, Man" was filmed, hahahahahaha, then splurge away.
But If you love good quality food that is definitely worth your bucks, then stay away from this place, and go somewhere else.
I'm so disappointed in this place. There was definitely NO extraordinary quality in the food for that price. I bet the food stands along the ocean front were better.
Terrible drinks, terrible food, and just average customer service. We tried most if not all their star dishes: fish tacos, oysters, tuna tartare, Fontina mac and cheese, and crispy calamari, but nothing stood out. Taste wise, food lacked flavor. I was shocked when the bartender said he could make me a caipirinha. However, the waiter delivered me something that tasted more like a margarita. I gave the bartender the benefit of doubt and returned it, but he sent me the same drink again!!
The restaurant is overpriced and parking is unbelievably challenging! If you come during the weekend, prepare to pay $20 for parking.
Never will I be dining at this restaurant again!
So where were we? Oh yeah we were talking about hybrid animals. All kidding aside I have visited James Beach twice solely because I needed to try their famous fish tacos to see if they lived up to the hype.
I like most people who have dined here came because it was in the movie I love you man. Being new to California and loving fish tacos this was a marriage made in heaven. My first visit was on a Tuesday to take advantage of their fish taco special. I was surprisingly very empty around 8.
My friend and I ordered a pair of taco platters and some sangria. The tacos came within 10 minutes and we both ate them bite by bite to get a full sense of the flavors and complexity. The irony with the plate is that it follows a philosophy that I agree with when it comes to this dish, simple is better. Each component is served separately so that you can make them the way you want.
The fish is seasoned well, the salsa verde is spot on, the pico and guacamole are also great which made it an overall fantastic dish. But is it the best? I can't say because my sample size is a little under 20 different restaurants so it is not fair for me to proclaim this restaurant as having the best in Southern California but there are pretty good.
I intend to come again with my friend Pistol Pete and munch on some solid tacos. Service was great and the prices were what I expected, a bit on the pricy side but not enough to break the bank.
A friend and I came here for Taco Tuesday. He had heard about the fish taco special, and since we have a tradition of Taco Tuesday to catch up, he suggested something different. Street parking was easy to find.
There are 2 dining rooms (indoor/outdoor), with an open, airy feel, and a bar serving each side. Very nice lighting and ambiance, and they manage to pull off the cool-beach-restaurant-but-fancy vibe. We sat in the covered outdoor patio, which still felt like a nice restaurant. I could see it being a cool first date spot.
On Tuesdays, you can get their "famous" fish tacos, or brisket tacos, for $15. You get a place of warm tortillas, salsa, black beans, guacamole, limes, and a slab of grilled mahi mahi. Different food specials for every day of the week. Unfortunately, no happy hour or drink specials.
For $15, I was expecting more. It was good, but nothing really special about it, or nothing to make me want to come back and get them. Sure, the fish was good, but I felt like I was paying more for the atmosphere and beach location than for anything spectacular.
Our waitress was awesome, came by often, and made good margarita recommendations. Two thumbs up for the service.
I'd probably only come back if someone else suggested it, or if they got a happy hour.
This is based on my recent (1 hour ago) visit to celebrate mothers day...so...
S L O W S E R V I C E ........"can we get a refill on the coffee", "sure".....wait 15 mins ..."you want a refill on your ice tea" HUH.....we never got the coffee.
I did like the fish tacos but I think they really focus on doing one thing really well.
This place is a typical "beach shack" rip-off. I wouldn't reccomend
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