50 Best American Restaurants near Pennington

“Used to be a regular here when I was a kid. My family loved their burgers and pizza so the other week I suggested we stopped in for some dinner with my husband and son. The pizza was alright, not as good as it used to be which was disappointing but the thing that really got me was them charging over 4 bucks for a kids apple juice. You can buy a whole bottle of apple juice at the store for less than that. The size of the apple juice wasn’t even big and there was ice in it so that was a huge turn off. Honestly wouldn’t go back there unless we were in the area and really hungry and would have to get a burger to see if they are as good as I remember them being.“

“What an incredible event for our niece Angelina on her 18th Birthday! The family Nick, Patty and Alex Mastoris, down to the amazing staff that helped work Angelina's 18th birthday dinner was on point. The food, the amazing service and overall experience of how organized the dinner went. The family made our nieces birthday extra special that she won't ever forget. All family and friends enjoyed their cocktails, mocktails, dessert stations and prefix meal that was ABSOLUTELY delicious. Thank you so much Mastoris family! We will be definitely planning on a future party with you folks again. We are very thankful to all of you. Allison J“

“Me and my best friend love coming to get half apps to have chats and catch up! We have an absolute wonderful time! We especially had an amazing time thanks to our wonderful server Mani! He was absolutely amazing at his job, really helpful, great personality, has wonderful hospitality! Would 10/10 recommend going and having him as your waiter! I think the best waiter I’ve ever had!!“

“Went Easter Sunday. Table was ready when we got there. Our server 'Alex' - she was the best. Kept an eye on us to see if we needed anything. Food absolutely out of this world Nicely spaced between appetizers and main meal. Gave us time to digest. Absolutely must come here.“

“As an expat Manhattanite who has been lucky enough to visit some of NYC's finest restaurants, I always tread carefully into what my friends have called a "great" suburban restaurant, as I have been disappointed too many times. Blue Bottle Cafe had the typical Hopewell-Princeton feel, an old home converted into a restaurant with several rooms, adored with a few interesting oil paintings. The first disappointment was a wait staff with no personality, no panache and no class. The hostess/wait person sat us, after some confusion as to where to put us, and then pulled out a pen and asked if we were ready to order or wanted more time, much the way a short order cook would. When we asked for tap water without ice (when will suburban restaurants start doing the smart thing, and simply put down a large carafe of water (NO ICE) on the table, so we don't have to keep asking for refills nor do we have to deal with freezing, too-cold-to sip water?) we were simply ignored. At this point, I was thinking, this is not going to be anything special. But then...the food arrived.My friend and I shared a stupendous Brussels sprouts starter, cold, crunchy and touched off by some white, cream-like sauce that was a slice of heaven. The bread, which I am told comes from a local bread company (also, the bread at a restaurant speaks volumes of both care and quality of owner/chef) was rustic, flavorful and served with already softened butter (a nice touch). My main, crispy scallops, were silky tender and mouth-wateringly tasty. And the chocolate profiteroles for dessert managed to taste decadent and light at the same time. To the owners, I say this: please take the ice out of your water, and find a way to re-train your staff. They do not measure up to the elegance and quality of your food.“

“Thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Charcoal. Menu is not big, but varied enough. Food was really delicious and our server was attentive and friendly. It's BYOB which some may find a negative. But, as long as you know, you can bring your own wine or beer and save a boatload of money. We liked it so much, we're going back again this week with friends.“

“This joint was jumping on a Friday at 6:30. We would have been turned away without a reservation. The pork chop scarpariello, short ribs and filet were excellent entrees. This was a birthday celebration, which is why we went a bit high-end. This venue at this time of night might be a bit noisy for some , but no complaints here - just an excellent meal!“

“Wonderful experience tonight at Jojo's! The white cosmo and extensive beer list were the perfect start to an evening after a very rough day. My wife had one of the best BLTs of her life and my vodka rigatoni was top notch, a bellwether for any good Italian restaurant. All recommended and served with a smile by our waitress Devon. She was super helpful, very friendly, and made sure our evening was enjoyable. A long, difficult day was made great and relaxing with good food and exceptional service. Can't wait to go back!“

“I love their fast service and delicious food. The coffee and tea station right inside the door is very convenient if you're in a hurry. The desserts are so good - I especially love the coconut rice pudding. The potato salad is my favorite around - fresh herbs and the perfect balance of ingredients! Stop here for a quick wholesome meal.Dietary restrictions: They have gluten free and vegan options.“

“If you want to be treated worse than the dirt on the bottom of the owners shoes, well this is your place. My girlfriend and I were recently gifted a 25$ gift card to Brookwood Cafe. We had never been, so we were excited to try somewhere new. It started off just fine, they were full capacity(it’s a small diner) but we were pleased to of been seated relatively quickly. Our server was very friendly(not sure her name).We both ordered a pumpkin coffee(4$ each). The coffee was very good, and we placed an order for a roast beef wrap and fish and chips. Well this is where it goes south quickly. My girlfriend ate almost half her wrap (they are very small), when she noticed a hair on her plate. We quietly told our server so other guests wouldn’t hear, she felt terrible and said she’d get a new plate. The server proceeded to bring the plate to the owner(male), who must of stood there for 3 minutes looking at it in customers eye view. Our server then brought back the same wrap including the almost eaten half, and the same cup of cole slaw( that was right next to the hair)on a new plate. They were only going to get fresh fries. Well this didn’t quite sit right with our stomaches, so we pulled the owner over(male) and asked for a new sandwich. “ Oh…… a new sandwich……..sure”. He ran to the back visibly annoyed and we heard him put in a order for a new sandwich. My girlfriend was so uncomfortable with his behavior, that as soon as he came back out she caught him and told him to cancel it and not to worry about it. Again, visibly annoyed, he ran to the back as we heard him shout to cancel it. As he came out again, he came over to the table and downplayed the hair we had found. “ It must of been an eyelash or something”, laughed at us, and walked away. Well let me tell you I had done lost my appetite as well. My fish and chips had three tenders(small), and I had only eaten one at the time she had found the hair on her plate. We then saw both owners( pretty sure their married) talking amongst each other, and the female came over to the table and visibly annoyed like her husband, told us “the sandwich is discounted on me, do you need a box.” My girlfriend said no and explained that both of us lost our appetite do to the hair. She responded” well the hair was only in your meal, not his.”, and she rudely walked away. Ok, that’s fine, we were completely done with this place at this point in time with no intention to return so we looked at the bill and she literally only “discounted” half of the sandwich off the bill. I went to the front booth where she was standing and asked her to explain why she only took off half the sandwich cost. She spoke to me very poorly. My girlfriend joined me at the front and said “ mam neither of us ate our meals, we will pay for the coffees( which were unfinished as well) and be on our way. She took our 25$ gift card, ripped it in half and threw it in the garbage and said “ you can leave now.” I asked where the change was from the gift card. This is where it gets ridiculous. The male owner starts puffing his chest acting like he wanted to fight me. He screams “ WHAT DO YOU WANT, A FREE MEAL TOO!?.” First of all sir, neither meal was comped, and neither of us ate our meal. We stood there in disbelief. The female owner kept pushing back the male owner, my guess is he’s had an attitude before with guests. My girlfriend again tried explaining we didn’t eat our meals, and the female owner said “ well you ordered it, this is the food industry and you find hairs.”……. Let me break down what she said, YES you do find hairs from time to time in meals, HOWEVER it’s how Management handles the situation to correct it. They didn’t even want to give my girlfriend a new plate of food after finding the hair. We left gift card-less and hungry. We also would like to mention that the gift card purchased for us had an added 25% tip as well to it ( gift card total came to $31.25)and we really hope if our server is reading this she received that.“

“We just had an amazing dinner!!! We started out with an amuse-bouche of Scallops that were out of this world. Then we had Octopus and it was so incredibly tender. For dinner we had the Red Snapper and it was cooked to perfection. We ended the evening with dessert and coffee. Well worth the hour drive in each direction. Can't wait to come back.“

“Had the chicken birra tacos, they were good. My daughter had the pretzel and beer cheese and that was really good. But omg the star of the show was the warm kale salad. It was amazing !!!! I find kale salads hard to get through but having it warm made it sooooooo much better.“

“Hadn't been there for years. We had a satisfactory experience but not as good as we had hoped. The menu choices were rather limited. My husband's entre was very nice but my salmon dish was lack luster and bland. Herbs and spices were missing. The service was very good and hopefully with the introduction of some more interesting entrees, we would be more enthusiastic about Acacia. We definitely will try them again.“

“The food was so good, I had the crab bisque soup, teriyaki salmon, mushroom risotto.. everything was perfect. The waitress was very nice and didn't bother us consistently through the meal but did check in on us enough to not feel neglected. Would recommend to anyone.“

“I was interested in trying a traditional Philadelphia Cheesesteak....they serve exactly what I was looking for. The meat was good the cheese to meat portion was good, and all melted in there..my only complaint was the serving size was way to big...a half of sandwich was all I could eat..being so large, the price like the sandwich was 2 x too high.. They serve bottled Birch Root beer, which is excellent.“

“This. Places. Is fabulous ! Really good. The food. And service is top notch ! I love hing thing. About or his gem hubby got filetop mignon wiith Gorgonzola cheese iii had the stuffed chicken breast. Own/...prosciutto d propped wwith tomato cream sauce Deli hb. Our newnfav place“

“Their signature culinary culture is an exceptional customer service with an esoteric culinary experience. If you want to try a cross between Deep South Soul, Asian and American dining, Jagray's is a gem in the Princeton dining area. Located right on the Princeton Country Club Golf Course property itself, Jagrah's is the best culinary experience at this golf course since 1999. Why? The ownership cares! They serve dishes that have had several TV and local new reviews that make this hidden gem one of the best eateries for a private romantic experience after hours. Full bar and table service by experienced waiters and waitresses, Jagray's aims to please. Their fusion menu of Soul, Asian and American is very unique. You will be very impressed and surprised of the flavors and quality of the offerings on their dinner menu. Well worth checking out.“

“First I would like to acknowledge our waiter, Joshua B. He was such a pleasure and so attentive and personable. The recommendations were great and his personality was an experience in itself. The manager was also amazing and my only regret was not getting his name. Now let’s get into the food…EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING prepared was delicious. The tuna tartare and lobster bites were my absolute favorite apps. The entrees were phenomenal. I have the surf and turf and my wife had the cowboy with the lobster and cherry pepper topping and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was lovely and the drinks ESPECIALLY THE POMEGRANATE SPRITZ and Pomegranate Sangria …AMAZING !“

“We were out of towners stuck during Thanksgiving and stopped in here for lunch and a drink. We sat out back on the patio enjoying the view of the river til we got too cold. First of all - this might have been the best chicken pot pie I’ve had, and I’ve had a few. Secondly, everyone who worked there was beyond hospitable and so great. I don’t know if I’ll ever be back in New Jersey but if I am I’m B-lining it here to eat another pot pie ?“

“Excellent experience. My wife and I went there as a belated Valentine's day treat for ourselves and did the 17 course tasting menu. We also sprung for the wine pairing. I think 16/17 dishes were excellent and there was only one that was "just ok". Wine pairing was excellent and pours were generous. My only advice would be to pace yourself, don't need to eat and drink everything! A little expensive but worth it for what you get.“

“I checked this place out after craving for some barbecue and a trip to see some friends.The staff was very friendly and was a smooth experience ordering the brisket sandwich and fries. Very tender brisket and the fries were tasty.Would recommend this spot if you're looking for a nice barbecue in the Oxford Valley PA area.“

“Bowman's Tavern has become one of my favorite lunch destinations! I'll have to come back in the evening for the live music.Parking: Lunchtime parking has never been an issue. I believe they often have valet parking in the evenings.“

“We held a birthday celebration for my Wife at the Vault in their private event room. We hosted over 50 guests and the room was perfect for a party of that size. Plenty of seating throughout, and the room was nice and comfortable. Everyone enjoyed themselves and raved about the food! Last, but not least, Sarah and the entire staff at the Vault that took care of us for the 3 hour event were awesome! Helpful and attentive and making sure the experience for everyone was great. Sarah was communicative and helpful in putting together the event as well. I would recommend using the Vault for a private event. We are very happy with how everything turned out!“

“In Princeton for a weekend visit with friends who moved here recently and they took us to their favorite spot! It did NOT disappoint! We ate so much food!! We had lychee martinis which were ok (too limey and not enough lychee) but the food was amazing so it made up for it! They had a little bit of everything! So whatever you feel like eating, they probably have it! Or if your in a group and you all can't agree on what type of food to get, this is a good compromise: pizza, nachos, wings, sushi, burgers, salads, they literally had everything!!“

“I drove past this place after delivering something for work next door. I never saw or heard of the place before, even though I lived in Ewing for school for 4 years and currently work right in Lawrenceville now. The outside atmosphere of the place looked very historical and warm. I decided to look up the menu and thought it looked good, so I brought my girlfriend here for her birthday. Neither of us knew what to expect. When we walked inside, we noticed the restaurant was cozy with a nice bar and a few tables to sit at. The music was playing faintly and was a calm and relaxing place to celebrate her birthday. The food was great too, french onion soup was one of the best I ever had, and our pasta dishes of penne vodka and seafood fra diablo were cooked very well. The waitstaff was great and the whole experience was worth the visit. Would definitely come back and recommend to others.“

“We were seated immediately while a world class piano player played lovely classical melodies. The restaurant was nearly full but didn't feel crowded. The bar was popular and was full. The energy level felt when walking in was positive but not overwhelming or rowdy. Suggest eating in the more formal dinning rooms if you don't want to be near the piano. We had a great meal/service with old friends. A+ for the dining and restaurant experience. Food was fresh and came out in a reasonable time. The server(s) were on point, warm, engaging, and sincere. They hustled but not in a way that was harried or pressed. The bussers kept our water glasses full and were lovely. If you are conscious of history and period architecture, the structure is impressive: built in 1811, the walls are thick stone, the large wood beams in the more formal dining rooms are impressive; the fire place made the dining room especially comfortable and accented the historic, warm tones in the room. We had the special soup (Tomato Bisque); vegetable spring rolls; and duck ravioli. Main courses: Fettuccini, Grilled Beef Tenderloin Medallions; and a Cheeseburger. For dessert, a delicious Warm Peanut Butter Brownie with vanilla ice cream.“

“Had a great dinner tonight with my family. Fish and chips were some of the best we’ve had in a while. Randall and Paul, or servers were very attentive, and we never had to wait for anything. Julie, the manager check to make sure everything was fine and, also got refills on our beverages. High recommend this establishment.“

“Adam Kabob and Grill is a modest space in a strip mall. You probably passed by it on route many times, but it's this type of "hidden treasure" place that has the best food. I spent more money on gas than I did for my Beef Seekh Kabob platter! The plate was covered with food. The beef kabobs were spiced just right (savory, not hot spicy) and tender. The host was very friendly and welcoming. He thanked every customer that picked up food for their patronage and was polite taking orders over the phone. He even generously brought me a side of hummus on the house out of kindness and the spirit of giving. They also have vegetarian options. I will definitely be back to try other dishes. The only question I have is: When are you opening a restaurant in NJ?“

“Nice bar, their vodka martini was perfect. They have a decent selection of specialty cocktails, and everyone enjoyed the drinks. The bar area is comfortable, the patio looks like a perfect place to hang when the weather turns nice. I heard the food was good, looking forward to going back. Service is good, easy parking in the back.“

“Food was great, we went here because it was close by an event venue and was open late on Sunday night. It is a tavern atmosphere, at least at dinner time, so be aware the music is somewhat loud and not 100% family friendly. But otherwise it's a good place with good “

“This is my second visit to The Dinky Bar and Grill in Princeton which offers great views of the campus. We were going to see a play at McCarter and it is so convenient being across the street. The Dinky has an intimate vibe. Being the original Train Depot the feel of the place is still a train depot which I love. The menu is limited but certainly enough to choose from. There are shareable plates as well full entrees. Very good food and drinks. Our server Kayla was amazing. She needs to be recognized because she was extraordinary. A very busy place pre theater but Kayla never stopped smiling Great experience all around. Will definitely be going again.“

“We had a long wait to get a server to come by. My wife went to look for someone to make sure we hadn't been forgotten. The manager came by and apologized for the wait, blaming himself for the delay. He offered us a free appetizer for waiting which was nice. The food is always good but atmosphere is just so-so. I don't think the place has been updated in 20 years, so it's due.“

“We both very much enjoyed our meal at the Roadhouse. Our steaks were perfectly cooked and our sides were delicious as well. The only issue was the Caesar salad because it was under dressed. It was practically dry. Other than that, we enjoyed our dinner.“

“We just had a retirement party last night and the food was amazing. Derek was always checking on us to make sure that we had everything we needed. I will definitely have another party there again. We had about 30-40 people there and definitely had enough food and drinks and the food was “

“If i could put 10 stars i would, me and my boyfriend stopped by because we were in the area and were looking for some food to munch on. We got greeted by the lady as soon as we walked in and the atmosphere was nice and cozy. And the food… AMAZING!!!! Its delicious and hot soooo flavorful!!! Definitely recommend the lobster mac, salmon fried rice, sweet chili tenders, fried chicken, mashed potatoes. I’ll definitely be back whenever im in the area again!!!!! Also if you have card dont worry they got cashapp/apple pay!“

“My husband and I have had breakfast here a few times, always good, so we tried dinner last night. We both ordered the 12oz. strip steak and I like mine rare and he likes his well done and they were both cooked perfectly! The meal also included a baked potato and green beans. I love the food! The prices are reasonable and I can't wait to try their lunch. So happy we discovered this place!!“

“It's great to see a local hotdog spot in general, but one with such dedication to our first responders and armed services is even better. The staff is warm and kind and the food is incredible. If you're looking for quality, this is the spot!“

“I dined here yesterday for the first timeand had shrimp tacos which were very tasty and full of shrimp. The other two people in my I party had french omlettes both said they were delicious as well. Service was quick, atmosphere welcoming, food priced just right. I will definitely frequent again. Thank you Aunt Chubby's!“

“Love it here! Service is friendly, great food that comes out in a timely manner - can’t go wrong with whatever you order. Love the classic diner look. Plenty of free parking in the lot. I especially love coming here around the holidays when a local woman makes gifts that have cute mugs and goodies inside - perfect and inexpensive! I still have my snowman mug from a couple years ago!Wheelchair accessibility: Ramp for convenience.“

“It wasn't too busy when I went. Actually, it was well after lunch. They seated me right away and brought my drink out immediately after taking my order. Service was good, and the food was even better. Didn't take long for them to serve me. Waitress kept checking in with me, as one should expect. I highly recommend this establishment for those of you looking for place of comfort as you dine with friends, family, or casual encounters with coworkers.“

“Witherspoon Grill was amazing. We were greeted by our server within seconds of sitting down. He took excellent care of us, from talking about the daily specials to ensuring our drinks were topped off. The food was simply amazing. I had the fresh caught cod with a lemon beurre blanc sauce and the house salad. 10/10 will hopefully be back soon!“

“One of our “go to” restaurants/bars. Mistral offers a unique blend of American cuisine infused with a touch of ethnic flavors. I also appreciate the changes in their menus based on seasonal abundance. My favorites are the chicken wings, salmon bites and grilled kale salad.The bar area is one of my favorite local hangouts.“

“As busy as a golf course gets, and rightfully so. This is probably one of the most fun yet challenging courses we have played so far, with hazards a plenty yet nothing that some thoughtful planning and good shot selection can’t get you though. As an added bonus- the carts are electric, and the ice cold water refill statins as every other hole are also much appreciated! Oh, and they have a driving range to boot“

“I grew up in Chambersburg section here in Trenton nj, Been to most of the Legendary and Best restaurants and mom n pop little Delis in South Trenton, Tatoni's , Cesars , Angelo Tamara's, Porfirio s, Amicis, La Gandola, Creccos, Blue Danube, Pete's, Delo's, Papa's and now Im adding on Pat's Diner South Broad Street ? New owner has the Place so Friggin clean! Noticebly Different!! Same old Pat's dont get it mixed up. I couldn't see a spec of dust in the place, counters sparkling, glass shining, floors you can eat off of, super clean kitchen from where my girl and I were sitting.Most Important, the food was "Mind Blowingly Fresh, homemade to order, pot roast special completew/ soup to salad 2 vegetables and desert included and The BestCorn beef Reuben Ive ever eaten in My Life !!!! Seriously, UnFriggin Believable. I got up from my table to introduce myself to the female owner and she was super nice soft spoken n seemed very humble. The thing I took notice to was her attention in overseeing the running of the Diner. There seemed to be a general level of respect between the staff and owner which is rather rare to witness and feel when youre in a business today. We didn't feel rushed at all to get the table " Turned Over" and thoroughly appreciated that. Im taking the time to explain this experience to those of you that are blessed to have taken your time to read it because I think its so very very crucial to our existence to know that there are people and places Still in Existence Today that show up and are of service to other still doing it with Dignity Respect and Honor. I wont do a comparison to the few surrounding diner's Because I dont need to. Visit Pat's Diner on South Broad Street and see for yourself precisely what I Described and I'm ? that you'll have yourself a "New Diner" you can Thank me when you see me there - One of them BurgerBits“

“Formerly the Brass Ring, Orlando's is a good wholesome breakfast and lunch eatery (haven't eaten dinner there yet). Their breakfasts are plentiful and their burgers are excellent. I especially like that it's one of the few "old school" eateries that focuses on good fresh food. Mostly basic American dinner-type food.“

“Had brunch here with friends. Very cute place, and the food and drinks were tasty. The server was nice as well. Main reason for not 5 stars is that the tables are small (so takes some shuffling of plates if in a group) and are so close you overhear the conversations of every table around you, and they hear yours. Not ideal for a gossipy girl brunch or flirty dates, but otherwise we really enjoyed the experience. Would eat here again for sure - I had the scallops and they were perfectly seasoned and cooked just right.“

“It's one lady cooking and taking care of all customers & she's amazing. The food is amazing especially the fried whiting & she works fast to get her busy day and orders out of the way in a timely manner. I love it! I just moved to morrisville from Virginia and I love it!“

“I went here for a dinner/holiday celebration with a large group, and we had a wonderful experience. They waited patiently for everyone to arrive and timed our food so each of our two tables received our food at the same time. The food was all delicious.“

“Excellent food. The roast beef dinner and the turkey dinners were fresh and plentiful. The desserts were also fresh and delicious, with a large selection. The rest rooms and dining rooms were spotless. Our server, was very friendly and efficient. I would highly recommend this place.“

“On Fridays they serve seafood. They have beautiful large steamed shrimp , served cold w cocktail sauce . It's delicious. They also have parmigiana tater tots. Mac and cheese and stewed tomatoes . On Saturdays they have steamed clams in a garlic butter sauce . It's really good and reasonably priced . Service can be a little slow when they are crowded . The ambiance is casual and a little noisy but fun . Enjoy“