They say there are no recipes for perfection.

But Jim and Kristina Burke, the husband-wife team behind new restaurant James, have managed to whip up more than a few.

For starters: the mushroom cappuccino, a thick soup with a frothy top and roasted chestnut shavings. For seconds: Creamy egg sauce adds an updated spin to classic gnocchi.

Enjoy it all in a space that’s pleasing to the eye without being stuffy or overly designy. Light blue walls accent shiny hardwood floors. The exposed whitewashed brick behind the bar complements industrial-style beer taps. Curved banquettes allow for inconspicuous people watching, so settle in with the Brown ale mousse.

A way to consume beer and dessert simultaneously?

If that’s not perfection, nothing is.

James, 824 South Eighth Street (215-629-4980 or jameson8th.com).