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Saint James French Diner, San Diego, CA

Saint James French Diner

4.6
4.6
237 Reviews
$31 to $50
French American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 12 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for happy hour
This American diner meets elegant French bistro is open Monday–Friday for Breakfast and Lunch, every day for Dinner and Happy Hour, and on the weekends for Brunch. With a full bar and an approachable menu, locals and travelers can indulge in a variety of French-inspired classics, from shared mussels to ratatouille and burgers.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French American
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 07:00–11:00 Sat, Sun 07:00–10:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00–15:00 Happy Hour Daily 15:00–18:00 Dinner Daily 17:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    (323) 327-9702
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Catering
    For catered events please contact us at <br /><br />BONJOUR@SAINTJAMESFRENCHDINER.COM<br /><br />619.678.1007
  • Private party facilities
    For private events please contact us at BONJOUR@SAINTJAMESFRENCHDINER.COM619.678.1007
  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Bonjour 2025! A Saint James French Diner New Years

    US$45.00 - US$95.00 per person

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Ring in the new year at Saint James French Diner! Join us for a French-inspired 4-course dinner complete with wine pairings. $95 per person + optional wine pairings ($45). Midnight bubbles included to toast to 2025! Santé!
    Bonjour 2025! A Saint James French Diner New Years photo

Offers

  • Daily Happy Hour!

    Multiple dates available
    Tue - Wed - 15:00 - 18:00
    Daily from 3pm - 6pm. $4 Beers, $6 select wines by the glass $8 cocktails, and $10 burgers all night long! Served 3pm-6pm.

    Daily Happy Hour! photo
  • Society Brunch Club!

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - 10:00 - 14:45,Sat - 10:00 - 14:45
    Join us for Society Brunch Club Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm. Make your brunch sparkle with Bottomless Mimosas or a Saint James Combo! Cheers to you, San Diego!

    Society Brunch Club! photo
  • Tuesdays All Night Happy Hour!

    Multiple dates available
    Tue - 15:00 - 20:30
    Make Tuesday's your spot! $4 Beers, $6 select wines by the glass $8 cocktails, and $10 burgers all night long! Served 3pm-10pm.

    Tuesdays All Night Happy Hour! photo

What 237 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

  • San Diego

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Saint James French Diner, nestled in San Diego's historic St. James building, offers a delightful blend of French-inspired cuisine and warm hospitality. Guests rave about the "fantastic happy hour" and "excellent food," particularly the Parisienne burger and steak frites. The charming ambiance and attentive service make it a must-visit.

237 Reviews
  1. Jay

    VIP

    San Diego

    44 reviews

    5.0

    44 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Been several times and always enjoy it, from burger to more elaborate dishes

    Is this helpful?

  2. Veronica

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food here is one of the best. We got the Caesar, ratatouille, fries, and chicken with cocktails. Truly if you just want good vibes and even better food, this is the spot. Right in gaslamp, so you can have a lovely dinner and then walk to the bars.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Carla

    VIP

    Sacramento

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a charming bistro! The cozy, inviting atmosphere is complemented by the green walls, which create a vintage feel. The staff provided exceptional service with upbeat, happy attitudes—you can tell they genuinely enjoy working together. The food and cocktails were outstanding. My steak and frites were cooked to perfection, and the clams and oysters, praised by our guests, were incredibly fresh with no hint of smell. The bibb salad was perfectly dressed, with subtle notes of Dijon and anise, making it ideal for sharing. While we ordered too many dishes to name, highlights included a perfectly balanced crème brûlée and a decadent chocolate soufflé that was well worth the wait. As a fan of Pali Hotels, I’m always impressed by their in-house restaurants, and this one is no exception. Can’t wait to return the next time I’m in San Diego!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Carrie

    VIP

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    While the food is always terrific, this is the second time we have eaten here, both times our service was very bad. They rush the ordering process, only to get orders wrong. We ordered the chocolate souffle as soon as we sat down as it takes 30 minutes to prepare, only to find out an hour later that they hadn't put in the order. We weren't able to wait and so left frustrated. While the food is good, I won't go back. This clearly was not just an off night / server, rather a problem with their management and process.

    Is this helpful?

  5. scott

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service was terrific. Onion soup and Steak Frites were a big hit as was the Bouillabaisse. For dessert, the creme brulee is a must.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Brenda

    VIP

    Milwaukee

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 10 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The meal was once again great!! Perfectly prepared.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Mounzer

    Pittsburgh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 9 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great restaurant, friendly staff, cozy environment. The best French onion soup ever!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Neha

    New Orleans

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great wine and ambiance! Would like to go back

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    Tahoe

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Arrived early and were seated immediately. Drinks and food served timely. Good experience. Would return.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Joanna

    VIP

    Minneapolis

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was fantastic and the staff were awesome! Very quaint and cozy dining!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Saint James French Diner is rated 4.6 stars by 237 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 12 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Saint James French Diner

830 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-6307

Additional information

  • Area
    Downtown / Gaslamp
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 07:00–11:00 Sat, Sun 07:00–10:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00–15:00 Happy Hour Daily 15:00–18:00 Dinner Daily 17:00–21:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (323) 327-9702
  • Catering
    For catered events please contact us at <br /><br />BONJOUR@SAINTJAMESFRENCHDINER.COM<br /><br />619.678.1007
  • Private party facilities
    For private events please contact us at BONJOUR@SAINTJAMESFRENCHDINER.COM619.678.1007
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