Open For More Than A Century, The St. James Restaurant In Indiana Is Always A Timeless Dining Experience
By Tori Jane|Published February 14, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Did you know that there are more than a decently-sized handful of wonderful restaurants in Indiana that have been operating for literal decades, if not longer? Yep – some of the oldest restaurants in Indiana include ones like the historic Broadway Inn and Tavern, the Log Inn, and the place we’re checking out today: the ol’ St. James Restaurant. Originally built in 1878, this amazing old place has been going strong ever since, with the family currently running it having done so since the 1940s. Check it out and come have dinner – you won’t regret it.
The old St. James almost didn't make it, once upon a time.
Originally built in 1878, it was hanging on by a thread come 1948. Enter the Freeman family, who purchased the place, patched it up, and transformed it into what it's become today.
Interestingly, it's changed, evolved, ebbed, and flowed during its lifetime, but its classic menu has remained much the same.
It's an interesting way to travel back in time without the use of a time machine. It used to be a two-story hotel. Now, it's a bit different than it used to be... but it's still itself.
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The menu is diverse and delicious, offering up some truly wonderful steaks, chops, and more at remarkably affordable prices.
St. James Restaurant makes a great destination for a casual night out or a simple date night where neither party requires any bells and whistles. It's easy, tasty, and timeless, and it's perfect for anyone who prefers no muss and no fuss.
After all, if it's not broken, there's no need to fix it - and there's nothing broken about St. James Restaurant. Not now, not ever. It's casual dining without being fast food, and it's nice without requiring white-collar dress as many older steakhouses do.
There's nothing on the menu you won't like, though there are definitely some popular options that the regulars tend to go for every time.
The broasted chicken is amazing, and the steaks and chops are cooked perfectly every time. We like our steaks medium-rare, but we're fairly certain that St. James could do even medium-well perfectly.
Though its days as a hotel are long gone, the St. James is definitely still going strong as a dining establishment.
