The James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant

Happy Birthday to me! We stopped in for lunch and OMG! They have the best corn beef ever, the sandwich was thick with corn beef and the coleslaw was amazing. We sat on their deck which was very inviting awesome. Our server Karina was very attentive and informative. We truly enjoyed the atmosphere, service and food!
Absolutely a must!

This place is exactly what I’d want from a local Irish pub – Irish drinks (Guinness, Magners etc.), spacious, not-​too-​loud (can hear friends talk), live music (weekends), and good service!
My friends and I stopped by here on a Friday evening to grab some drinks and catch up. We found a nice table in the corner where we could chat but also see the TV screens. The waiters were on top of their game and kept checking up on us even though we were tucked away in the corner! Great place.

This pub was awesome! I loved the lamb stew and the authentic atmosphere!

When it comes to bars, I look for (1) good drinks, (2) the ability to talk to my friends without shouting, (3) the option to order decent food, and (4) television screens with easy visibility in case there’s a sporting event I want to watch. James Joyce, located near the higher-​end retail and restaurant hub of Harbor East, delivers on all four of these points without being overly expensive.
I went here after dinner at Fleet Street Kitchen (just a few blocks east) to hang out and grab drinks with friends on a Friday night. In addition to good fare and ambiance, the staff was nice and checked in the right number of times without being pushy. It was just what we were looking for and I’ll be looking forward to coming back.

Great atmosphere, amazing Irish food. I’ve had the corned beef and cabbage and beef stew, both out of this world good. Friendly staff, huge beer selection, even offer cigars.

We had an early lunch here on New Year’s Day just a little hungover and glad this place was close by on our weekend Inner Harbor trip. Atmosphere is very nice and the service was top notch. My girlfriend had bangers and mash and I had the shepard’s pie and a cup of crab and clam bisque. All of the food was excellent! My shepard’s pie was one of the best I’ve had. I would love to come back for dinner and cocktails and definitely will next time in town.

I was just here for a birthday party, so I can only speak to that specific experience. My friend’s wife had a nice sized section partitioned off for the party and there was a really functional setup. While there weren’t table and chair options for all those that actually showed up, it was just enough seating to keep people mingling and dancing every once in a while. We had one waitress for our entire party (of about 50people). She did an amazing job with staying on top of everyone’s drinks!
The food: We had a catered buffet: loaded sliced potatoes, spring rolls, buffalo chicken wings, cheeseburger sliders, chicken on a stick… I can’t remember everything else. Everything that I tasted was yummy. I usually expect buffets to offer food on the lower end of the menu, but things were actually really good. I heard several people comment on how well the buffalo wings were cooked and I couldn’t help but to echo those sentiments. We had cupcakes and an apple pie for dessert and both were outstanding.
I can always appreciate a place that has great food and service and James Joyce hit the nail on the head with this one!

This is a decent pub for quick fare on the way to a concert at Pier 6. I wouldn’t really go out of my way to dine here, but if you’re up for some drinks and in the Harbor East area it’s a good starting point.
We sat outside this past August and had our dinner. My husband got chicken tenders and I got a fish with rice dish. Aga was our server and did a great job.
Typical Irish fare with some other new American options, too.

Loved the atmosphere, and the alcohol. The food was good but I’ve had better. I ordered the fish and chips and asked that the fish was cooked extra crispy. I hate soggy fried fish. It was tasty but still soggy. Want to go back to try the corned beef and cabbage.

I had the fish and chips with a local seasonal beer. The service and atmosphere was what was expected in a pub like environment. Staff was fast and freindly. However there was a big disappointment in the fish and chips. Very bland batter and side sauce was too mayo like taste. I would expect more out of an Irish pub. The local beer, autumn pumpkin ale, lacked the flavor and taste of either pumpkin or a more mellow after flavor.

Great atmosphere! Great waitress! Guinness Beef Stew, James Joyce Golden Ale, and an Irish Coffee. I’m sitting here writing this review! Walk the harbor then come check it out!

This is our stop while in Baltimore.
Yes, it’s good bar food. Also has a good drink selection and atmosphere.
The staff is great.
We’ve been four times and it’s on our list as a regular stop in Baltimore.
We’ve had the burgers, soups, wings and other items. We’d order them all again.
To review: It’s a bar with food, and the bar food is very good.

Typical Irish pub in a great location. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten here, but I’ve had probably 100 beers. The Guinness is always tasty.

I’m just not sure if this is the place for me. I have been there 5 or 6 times. The mix drinks are ordinary. I know it is an Irish bar and I should just order beer or whiskey. But, they offer to mix a drink and I’m expecting something better then I get. The food is so so. Not memorable. It just feels dark and a little dated. I want this to be a great place. They have a great location. I will probably go there again.

I splurged on a poached pear salad at the James Joyce Pub after my friends and I finished watching the latest Pixar movie, «Inside Out».
Poached Pear Salad
PROS
–great quantity
–extremely generous with the candied walnuts
–good proportion of balsamic reduction dressing — my favorite actually
CONS
–could use a croûton
–definitely more poached pears given the amount of goat cheese on the salad.
I killed this salad, it was that good. I love candied walnuts, and it was great to see a salad that was this generous with this topping. For $ 9, it was worth it. I was totally filled up, I felt great, and it tasted wonderful. Picture here:
Definitely will be back to get more salad if not try the Shepherd’s Pie!

Next time I am here I am heading to one of the bars for an irish coffee. We came in as a work group on a trivia night, so it was a little loud. The service seemed a little slow, I am always amazed when it takes time for the wait crew to collect a credit card… I would think this is when the speed flames come shooting out of their heels! Great location if you are down by the harbor and need a «no-​frills, give me a hearty beer» type of place.

Sad to say, they put up a plastic tent over the back patio and no longer allow smoking. Service seems slower and less attentive than previous visits.
The live music is always great. Traditional Irish pub atmosphere with the usual selections of beer and then some. Very good pub food. Fish and chips were excellent. Service cheerful and (usually) prompt.

Tourist? You can do better than this place.
If you’re looking specifically for an Irish bar experience, walk over to Slainte in Fells Point, or cab it over to O’Donnell Square in Canton, maybe Life of Riley by the park. They all have better food.
If you’re just looking for a place in Harbor East, you can still do better. Try Talara, Bagby or venture over to Little Italy. James Joyce is simply average, I don’t know if it’s a chain but it does feel like what TGI-Friday’s would think an Irish Pub is.

I don’t like reviewing Irish pubs as a rule since I worked in one, owned by an Irishman and the bar is really high. Sadly, James Joyce didn’t measure all the way up.
The good — Great service and spacious dining room. It really has a nice ambiance and the dark wood Guinness taps add an Old World feel. I had the shepard’s pie and my friend had a beef sandwich, with some friend pickles to start. All the food was good.
Here are my issues — not a lot of authentic feel to the menu. And, again, the food was only OK. Prices are a bit steep but it is the Harbor East.
This is the place to go when you want to go to an Irish Bar without eating like the Irish.

The friendliest and most fun people — from bartenders to wait staff — if you value good customer service, try them.
Not convinced? Very good bar selection, outside patio and decent bar size. Happy hour items are good and include smaller portions of mussels, and other tasty items. If you’re.not in the mood for a drink or it’s too early in the day, try the Irish breakfast. Oh and a very good Irish coffee with their regular whiskey or anything you prefer.
Only downside may be parking but there’s street parking, a few garages and after 5 PM, you get discounted parking at the garage with the MAC in it (entrance is on Exeter St).