Being a Thomasville native, I often find myself going to the same restaurants, ordering the same coffee drinks and doing the same activities over and over again. I want to get out of my small town rut, so this summer, I’m challenging myself to go try new things at the same places I’ve been going to for nearly twenty years.

Whether it’s a seasonal coffee, a new exercise class or a staff favorite I’ve never tried off the menu, I’ll be reviewing it. This is the fourth entry of “Trying Thomasville.”

Once a week, I’ll be trying different foods, beverages and activities in town. If you have any suggestions or know about any hidden gems, let me know!

St. James Restaurant

St. James is a fairly new restaurant in town that opened while I was at college. I see it everywhere on Instagram stories and hear rave reviews from everyone who’s eaten there.

The restaurant is owned by Thomasville natives who often sit among the guests and ensure everyone’s dining experience is pleasant. When I went for the first time, I was met with faces I recognized and had multiple conversations with old friends before being seated. It’s a local family-oriented spot.

The building itself is newly-constructed and has a beachy and almost 30A-like environment. Palm trees and clean white decor are pleasing to look at while eating, accompanied with their beautifully backlit, fully-stocked bar. Beyond the ambience, the service is great. The waiters are kind and talkative, and gave us suggestions we ordered and loved.

Appetizers and Small Plates

The first time I went, I only ordered an entree and dessert, but the second time I went, my dad went a little wild with the apps. We ordered the milk rolls and the meatballs to start.

The meatballs were tender, flavorful and generous in their portion size. They were accompanied by two pieces of cheese bread, which was broiled to a perfect brown and had a faint taste of garlic. Hands down, amazing. No other comment. You have to get these if you like Italian.

The milk rolls were delicious and fluffy, and approved by my dad, who is a yeast roll connoisseur. They came with the most delicious honey butter and—while the comparison may be a bit crude—if you like Chick-Fil-A’s chicken minis, you’d absolutely love these rolls. The honey butter was perfectly sweet and salty, and paired perfectly with the warm bread.

I wasn’t too full before my meal came, because they were the perfect sharing size for two to three people. I’m not always an appetizer person, but if you’re going to St. James, do yourself a favor and at least try one of these.

Both were in the $7-13 price range, and I believe that it was a major deal for the portion size and amazing quality.

The St. James Burger

This is the reason why I came to St. James. Since the restaurant opened, I have been eyeing their cheeseburger on their social media. Looking around the restaurant, it was a popular dish. I spotted many plates piled high with wagyu patties and glistening brioche buns.

The burger comes with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions. It comes with a side of perfect fries.

You may be asking, what are perfect fries? I’ll tell you: perfect fries are soft inside, but crisp and crunchy outside. They are golden yellow and come in all sizes, ranging from the size of your pinkie to the size of your face. They pair amazingly with ketchup, but are sprinkled with a heavy serving of garlic, herb and grated parmesan. They’re completely gourmet, but still reminiscent of the fries everyone secretly craves: fast food fries. This is the St. James French fry.

If you want to know how good this burger is, I ordered it twice within one week. The quality is outstanding—between the wagyu, which was perfectly cooked medium, and the freshness of its toppings and bun. I have eaten burgers all over the country, from California, to Texas, to all the way up the East Coast. When I say this is the best burger I have ever eaten, I mean the best.

I take my burgers seriously—as I previously mentioned, I have weekly burger dates. It’s easier than you’d think to mess one up and much harder than you think to perfect the classic American sandwich. After ordering it twice, I can say that 1. It is consistently this good every time and 2. That it is, in fact, a pIt was $21 and I think that’s completely reasonable for this dish.

They had other appetizing menu options, like wood oven pizzas, ribeye for two and various pastas, but I recommend the St. James Burger. It seems the menu also changes from day-to-day, since new menu options were available and some were missing when I returned days later.

Last, but not least: dessert. If you’ve read my column or know me, you know I have a sweet tooth that can only be satisfied by pastries and chocolate. Let me just say, St. James had me covered.

Both times I went, there were different chocolate cakes on the menu. The first time, there was a flourless chocolate cake, which was served with blueberries, blackberries and a dollop of fresh whipped cream. This nearly filled us up.

The second time, there was a cake that resembled a petit four, with chocolate ganache, mousse and cake inside. It was garnished in a sweet cream-like custard and strawberries. There were hints of espresso throughout the dish, which was perfectly shareable between two people.

I could go into detail about how dense and rich the flourless cake was, and how perfectly it paired with the ripe, tart berries. I could also tell you how the slight pinch of salt brought the dark chocolate out magnificently. Or, I could tell you to just go order this so you can experience this chocolatey goodness for yourself.

The second cake, which was mousse-filled, was to die for. It melted off the spoon in your mouth with every bite. The combination of silky and cakey texture under the chocolate shell was everything I wanted in a dessert. I honestly recommend this more so than the flourless, and you know how I feel about that one.

I didn’t even check the prices on these—they’re priceless and absolutely worth it. Dessert is a must. Period.

Finally, with all three courses considered, do you even need me to say it?

St. James Restaurant is a 10/10

and has the best quality food and ambience Thomasville has seen in years. The price is more than reasonable for what and where you’re being served. You are getting a consistent, top quality and local experience.

I recommend making a reservation on Resy right now. You deserve it.