Henry’s on James, a 1920s-inspired jazz supper club opens downtown
James Street North live music venue by The Other Bird will be open Thursday to Sunday, featuring twice daily performances, a simple dinner and light-night menu, a jazz brunch on Sunday, and classic cocktails with a twist.
It’s fair to say Hamilton hasn’t seen anything quite like Henry’s on James before – at least not in several generations.
The latest venture by the team at The Other Bird, Henry’s brings live jazz and a 1920s glam vibe to James Street North.
Presenting live music is a new venture for Hamilton natives Erin Dunham and Matthew Kershaw, who are well known in the city for Rapscallion & Co. and The Mule.
Kershaw, executive chef at The Other Bird, says he and Dunham, who is the company's CEO, had been pondering the idea for at least a decade.
“When this space came up, Erin brought me in and we were both immediately excited.”
The interior space features a gorgeous soaring rounded vaulted ceiling, wood accents, and a stunning light fixture that Dunham somewhat sheepishly admits was already in the space when they took over.
The walls are wrapped in a muted tropical motif, and there are large rounded banquettes in green upholstery, along with cabaret-style tables.
Henry’s is located in what was built to be a bank well over a century ago just south of Barton Street at 303 James St. N. Most recently, it was home to a real estate office and before that an illegal cannabis dispensary. A small safe remains in the restaurant’s foyer and a large walk-in vault will serve as a private room or a green room for musicians.
The space seats 50–60 guests for dinner, with expanded capacity during performances.
It truly feels like a hidden jazz haunt, a place you probably would have come in through a back door a century ago. When I say I feel like I'm transported to Havana in the roaring '20s, Dunham breaks into a smile. She's named this place after her one-year-old son.
“There’s something magnetic about this city,” she says in a press release about the opening. “It’s honest, it’s creative, and it’s full of people who show up for experiences that feel real. That’s exactly what we wanted Henry’s on James to be.”
At the front of the building, overlooking the intersection of James and Barton streets, a loft space will be used for members. A membership program will feature perks such as early access to ticketed events, waiving of musician appreciation fees, a point system to reward spending, and members-only special events.
Henry’s will serve dinner on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is keeping it simple.
There are only two mains on Kershaw’s menu: prime rib, carved table side and served with rich and rustic mashed potatoes, or a beet and goat cheese shepherd’s pie.
The butterknife-tender meat is brined and slow-roasted, served with a intensely flavoured glaze of confit meat drippings, au jus, and horseradish with a satisfying bite.
Starters include a garlicky and creamy Caesar salad. There’s also a wedge salad, crab and guyere dip, tuna or steak tartare, alongside a traditional shrimp cocktail or a shrimp Marie Catherine that Kershaw says was once a classic appetizer.
Kitchen facilities in the venue are limited, says Kershaw, so coming up with the menu was tricky.
“But I love working with restrictions. It’s easy to come up with the menu when you have a full kitchen and everything you need. I liked the challenge of this.”
There is a late-night bar menu (including a Henry’s Happy Meal of a Henry's martini, Caesar salad, and kettle chips) and a Sunday all-you-can-eat-and-drink jazz brunch that starts on Mother's Day. There will also be a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., offering $5 glasses of wine and cocktails.
The drink menu, developed by beverage manager Corina Fleet, features classic cocktails with a twist. The Henry’s martini comes with a slice of lemon and a sidecar of olives, gherkin, and pearl onion. The Fitzgerald Fizzy is a delicious riff on the gin fizz that features yuzu.
The gorgeous cocktail menu itself is worthy of a mention here. It features original art, including that by Dunham and Fleet, that is inspired by the history of the cocktails or the jazz musicians they are named for, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Oscar Peterson.
Henry’s will offer two musical performances each day Thursday through Sunday. A supper-time solo or duo performance will run 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then from 10 p.m .to midnight will be trios and larger groups. The stage is large enough for a quintet, including a piano.
“I’m shocked at the depth of jazz musicians in this city,” says venue general manager Paddy Townsend, who is handling the music bookings. “Many of them are from Mohawk’s music program (which shut down in 2023) and they are just happy not to have to drive to Toronto.”
Townsend, a longtime employee at The Other Bird and a former professional touring musician and a chef, expects that the venue will become a popular destination for musical acts. Check here for a calendar of performances.
Reservations are recommended but some walk-ins can be accommodated at cabaret tables.
After friends and family events, and invitation-only sneak peeks, the first dinner service to the public will take place on Friday, May 2 at 4 p.m.
