St. James Social is a hotel and restaurant combination that offers a new and modern take on things in the restored original 1883 St. James hotel.  Annalisa and Cody Bermel bought the building in May 2022 and they manage, bartend and do whatever is needed along with their 2 daughters.  .  The first floor is a large space with a lounge area, curved bar counter with seats and tables for dining.   The two story room is filled with wood, brass, chandeliers and mirrors along with artwork to give it an urban yet comfortable feeling.  Upstairs they have a 8 rooms and on the roof is a small lounge area for hotel guests.  The kitchen uses local ingredients when available, which for this short growing season are amazingly abundant.   One of their specialties is pizza and Tuesday they dedicate the menu to their artisan Neapolitan style pizzas.  They have a sourdough crust with more on that later. Thursday through Saturday they offer the Chef’s menu with more plated options and a fewer number of pizza varieties.   Sunday is brunch only.  The service is great and the vibe is too.  We really enjoyed our evening there with some long time friends.  I would highly recommend a meal and maybe a stay here when you visit the lovely town of Bayfield. Continue reading →