What a way to ring in Year of the Horse 2026! Happy New Year! Elements...ingredients found in nature and brought to the table. Buckle up because you will be in for a wild ride. The chef knows what he is doing. Combining unusual ingredients together and flavors to tickle our tastebuds. Each dish presented was truly a work of art. We chose the NYE's 5-course tasting menu. Believe me when I say you will be very full because they also give a few items that were served in between courses, like the incredible savory Everything Squash Donut, Chawanmushi, homemade breads, etc. Everything we had blew us away. I was not prepared for the delightful surprise when they served the tuna tartare, hamachi and duck dish in 4 different ways on one plate. The work it must've taken. I can't even pick a favorite dish because I loved each one. For dessert, a rich creamy vanilla scoop of ice cream came with a huge piece of warm scone, apple compote and the chef's own homegrown honey. Some jelly candies and cheesecake balls coated in nuts were given with the check. What a way to end the meal. This meal took a total of about 3 hours. The chef has to pace everything with all the patrons in the entire restaurant, so be aware of that. You know it's find dining when they change up all your utensils for each course. Service was outstanding from start to finish. Limited metered parking in the lot. read more

Elements - This came with the check...candied jellies & cheesecake balls coated in nut shavings - New American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came here with friends of ours on a Friday night for their 15-course tasting menu at Element, and it was a great experience. Every course was thoughtfully put together, showcasing incredible flavors and techniques that made for one of the best tasting menu meal I had. A standout for me was the prawn preparation, the chefs cleverly tempura-fried the vegetable and shrimp head, while the body was transformed into a delicate and flavorful ceviche. The caviar was another highlight, adding a luxurious touch to the meal. The Maine sea scallops were outstanding, perfectly cooked and bursting with freshness in a dill sauce. Another remarkable dish was the tuna prepared three ways--as a tartare, wrapped in cabbage, and nori. Each preparation showcased the tuna to its highest potential, highlighting its versatility and depth of flavor. To finish, the Hawaiian dessert with the biscuit was one of the best single-bite desserts I've ever had. I took left over home for breakfast the next morning. Yummmm. The service was also nice and friendly, each course was carefully explained by the server, adding to the appreciation behind each dish. Empty plates were promptly cleared to maintain a clean and seamless dining experience. Beyond the food, the ambience was elegant yet welcoming, making for the perfect complement to an already good meal. I highly recommend their tasting (we had the 15 course, they also have a 5 course as well) menu for anyone looking for good food with variety in Princeton. Please note the last seating for the 15 courses is at 5:15 because it takes time to go through the menu. I'll definitely be back! read more

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What a disappointment, after bringing my wife for her 60th birthday celebration. Had reservations for the 5 course tasting price fix on a Saturday night. Staff was friendly and professional but service was greatly lacking as there were long periods of time between courses. We arrived for our 5:15 and didn't finish until 7:45 and that was after we told the server that we were going to be late for a show; which we were. They seemed to acknowledge the long wait in between courses by offering their house made bread to hold us over. One of the breads was this dense grainy type that tasted like dry particle board. I don't think that's a good look for a pricey fine dining establishment. Also not part of the courses was a small cup of shrimp custard?...,yes think custard with bits of shrimp not exactly a textural delight. We finally were served our first course of a small sampling of raw fish in different forms. Each creation of fish was presented on small separate ceramic plates or bowls which seemed to give the appearance of more than they actually served as well as emphasizing the specialness of each offering, except nothing was special. The second course more raw fish dishes(?), the 3rd was choice of scallops or oxtail bolognese. The scallops were 2 very small bay scallops artfully placed on a plate of swirled sauce, hardly a bite; the oxtail pasta was ok but nothing special. Then another sushi, Kanpachi, cooked rare which was fishy tasting and not sushi grade in my opinion. We never finished it. The dessert, a creamy vanilla scoop of ice cream served with biscuits was the only dish worth the price of admission. They were nice enough to put a lit birthday candle on it. After the candle was blown out and dessert finished the tab which included additional 3 drinks and 6 oysters appetizer with a mandatory gratuity baked in was $436. Not the special experience I was hoping for to bring my wife for her 60th birthday. It unfortunately was a big downer and it kinda felt like a money grab. read more

I was hosting a large internal dinner for my team of 43 people. A big dinner I know! I searched for a few places in princeton and stumbled upon elements. I made a reservation about a month in advance and communicated to their head of events about any changes that needed to be made. Upon arrival we were taken upstairs to one of their private areas. Our area had a front row view of the kitchen which I thought was super cool! Reminded me of Hell's Kitchen hahaha! We were seated and were immediately asked about drinks. Because we had a large group, everyone trickled in at different times. We honestly waited until about an hour to make orders. What I do wish happened during this time is that they'd pass the bread or some sort of sharable snack to eat. We then each ordered our 4 course meals ($89 each). Each course had a vegetarian/vegan option. I choose the Tuna Tartare to start, then the Rutabega, Kinpachi (fish), and I asked for fruit since I gave up sugar for lent. However, regardless of what you choose everyone started off with a sort of dumpling. Not sure what was in it, but it was delicious and a nice way to start us off on this food journey together. The food: 1. Tuna Tartare: This was delicious. Maybe my favorite thing in the menu. The staff recommended you eat it like a taco kinda, which I highly recommend! This had the right amount of flavors and kept me wanting more! Really started on a high note!! 2. Rutabaga: This was good. Kinda reminded me of a squash. Wasn't bad, but I kinda wish I got the squid. It's a little soupy, but delicious!! 3. Kanpachi: Now this was delicious! I wish it was a much bigger portion! I was so shocked how small it was. I was like this is it? For my entree? As I'm writing this i'm still hungry lol! But it was good, just not nearly enough! 4. Fruit: I gave up added sugar for lent, so I asked if there was anything else they could give me. They surprised me with fruit, which was delicious! You can't go wrong with fruit! Overall a really great find and a beautiful restaurant. Great service, but way too small of portions! Like give me a meal! I don't need to be stuffed, but I want to feel fed. read more

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We have eaten at Mistral downstairs since it's more difficult to get a reservation at Elements. But it was my wife's birthday so I made a reservation two weeks in advance this time for Elements. We each ordered the 5 course chef tasting which was really more like 9 courses because there were two extras (a seafood dumpling with clam foam and a seafood egg custard plus the bread course with amazing homemade butter that tasted like cheese and then some petit fours after dessert). We also ordered the $5 extra "supplement" of the oysters which was definitely a good choice. I ordered the linguine and my wife has the scallops which was also another $10 extra but was it worth it to mix up that course. We also shared a wine pairing and a cocktail. The wine pairing was done well and was very informative. I don't know how anyone can manage to eat the 15-course dinner as the 5-course was quite a lot of food. The portions were also surprisingly larger than I had assumed they would be. This was an amazing meal and since I had indicated that we were celebrating my wife's birthday in the reservation, she received a handwritten card signed by the staff. Each course had amazing flavors, presentation, and explanation from the staff. However, the only negative was that most hot courses were lukewarm. The only course that was hot was the egg custard that came covered and opened at the table. I don't understand why everything else was such a tepid temperature since the restaurant only has 9 tables and a greater than 1:1 ratio of staff members to tables. Even my coffee wasn't very warm. But the taste of the food made up for the lack of what I would consider appropriate temperature. All together, the meal for two people came to $485 including the mandatory 20% "customer experience" aka gratuity. So this is definitely not the type of restaurant you most people would visit regularly. But for a special occasion it is worth it. This would have been a five star rating if the food was hotter. read more

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I came here for a work team dinner, so we had a private room and three course meal. Do not be fooled by the small portions, because it seems like they structured their menu perfectly to allow for a satiating and satisfying meal experience. Each plate was meticulously placed and presented to nicely. The beet salad seemed so small, but only because it was so delicious that i wanted more! My main was the wild salmon; the crust was perfectly crunchy, it was so good. And for dessert, I felt like it could not get any better, but alas it did. The vanilla ice cream and the biscuit was absolutely amazing. I know it sounds so simple, but the biscuit tasted like it was made in heaven and paired with this rich vanilla ice cream; it was perfect! All these dishes sound so simple, but they somehow were able to make each plate so unique and unlike any version of the food you have ever tried before. With each meal, we were turning towards each other going "oh my gosh, this is sooooo good." By the end of our dinner, we were all very satisfied and decently full! The portion sizes were perfect; the chef truly knew what he/she was doing! This is such an elegant establishment and i was very impressed by their meals. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone! read more

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A restaurant within a restaurant. Elements is on the second floor of Mistral. It has an open kitchen with a rustic charm. We were a party of six and went for the 15 course tasting menu. We figured the portions were going to be really small like most of these types of menus are. On the most part they were but there were some larger, not by much, items. Everything was really good apart for one item that no one on the table could finish as it was very heavy. By the 10th course we were all pretty full. This is probably the only tasting menu I have ever felt like I ate too much. We did have several bottles of wine as we did not do the wine pairing as I am usually wanting more than most places offer. All in all it was an excellent meal, kudos to the chef and staff. Not bad for Princeton. read more

Wow...not sure where to even start. Had the utmost best experience I could've ever had here. Favorite tasting menu I've ever had hands down. What would have been a 5-course tasting menu turned into a 10-course meal because of how generous the service was the night we went. Came with a girlfriend for a Fri night 5pm seating and surprisingly, we were the only ones seated. We ate for fully 3 hours. The service was amazing, thorough explanation of not only the courses, but how the chef came up with Elements as a concept and name (using different inspirations from different seasons and sourcing ingredients based off that). The food was spectacular as well. We really enjoyed the Tuna 4 Ways course. The multigrain/multiseed bread and the dessert, the Blueberry Hawaiian Vanilla with Biscuits, absolutely blew me away. I'm still thinking about those two courses, even a good almost 2 months later that I'm writing this. The tasting menu price is well worth it. Definitely will come back whenever I'm in Princeton again. Absolutely loved it and couldn't be happier with my experience. read more

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Elements was the first experience I had with fine dining tasting menus nearly 10 years ago, and having gone back the other night, I can confidently say that they have managed to set the bar even higher. From the moment we walked in, we were absolutely floored by the hospitality, ambiance, and service (extra thanks to Caroline!). We did the 15 course chef's tasting menu, and Chef Anderson's care and craft was evident in every single course. I will be dreaming about the dessert course for years to come. 11/10, go eat here as soon as you can. read more

Elements - A5 Wagyu ribeye, beautifully presented - New American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came here recently for a special (anniversary!) dinner and was generally satisfied with my meal. We arrived a little early and had to wait until our exact reservation time to be seated, which was fine. We were led upstairs to our table and I was a bit surprised at the lack of intimacy in the dining room. Our table for two was long so we felt far away from each other, and we were seated very close to another table. The lights were also quite bright so it didn't really feel like a romantic dinner. Of course, the other tables may not have wanted a romantic vibe, so I guess it's fine, but I just wanted to warn other people who may expect that kind of experience :) Speaking of which, when I called to confirm my reservation, the person on the phone mentioned that they would prepare something special for the table (a card) since it was our anniversary and they took my name and my wife's name down. I think it's a really nice gesture when a restaurant does this sort of thing, but unfortunately we never received the card or anything else specifically catered to our anniversary. Not sure if there was a miscommunication or what, but it was disappointing for sure. OK, onto the food! My wife and I decided to spring for the chef's tasting menu, which was listed as 15 courses but ended up being more like 20 due to some courses containing a bunch of separate components (e.g., madai prepared four ways). If I can emphasize one lesson in this review, it's the following: do not feel like you need to clear your plate for every course. At the beginning, because the courses are very small, it was tempting to eat everything, but I was getting very full by course 8 or 9, and I was pretty hungry when I sat down. Yes, the food was special, but we should have paced ourselves! By the time we got to the Wagyu beef, which was probably my favorite dish, I was so stuffed that it was very challenging to properly enjoy it. Some of the courses were absolutely amazing while others were a little more underwhelming. I really loved the smoked brassicas, the madai, and the aforementioned Wagyu beef. Overall, Elements was a fun experience, so I'm glad we went. I don't think we'll ever spend the cash to go again, but I would recommend that people try it at least once to see what you think. read more

Elements is an upscale New American restaurant that consistently is rated one of the top restaurants in New Jersey, and they serve tasting menus with seasonal, local products and some global influences. I tried the Chef's tasting menu once several years ago and was honestly disappointed, but I chalked it up to bad luck and wanted to give them another try before leaving Princeton, especially since they started offering takeout during the pandemic. Their current takeout menu is pared down from a few months ago, as indoor and outdoor dining have expanded, and almost everything I tried is no longer available since it's no longer in season. I will say that the John Dory was extremely fishy and hard to eat, which was especially disappointing since it was a supplement, but I liked the bread (their seeded spelt is always a highlight) and the dessert of local fruits, which included pawpaw. I also wanted to note that there was a hair in my salad and cobwebs in my grapes, but when I emailed about this I did get a very nice apology and assurance that they would be more careful in the future. From my first visit, my main impressions were that the food was very pretty and wonderfully plated, but the bread and desserts were the only standouts. Service was attentive during the meal, but I remember the staff essentially ignoring us once we finished eating. Some friends who have dined in more recently have also been underwhelmed by the food: in particular they said it was too salty and heavy, with lots of cream and not enough acid, and also that some of the global flavors weren't executed well. Based on their experiences together with my own, unfortunately I can't say that I'll be back or that I would recommend it to others, and I'd suggest Peacock Inn as an alternative in Princeton. read more

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We loved the food and found the staff very attentive. The reason for the 3 stars was we were seated in the back "private party" room and felt like we were about to have breakfast in a Holiday Inn. The room has no ambiance and we were there for a very special occasion and felt the tv monitor hanging on the wall was about to show CNN. The website needs to be far more descriptive about the seating choices as it impacts an otherwise great dining experience. read more

Came here for a wedding so it might be different service and food if it was for just dining in or takeout service. The service was great and I was impressed with the food. Except for the portion size of certain dishes like the scallops which was a bit ridiculous. They gave us one itsy bisty one which so tiny that it wouldn't even feed a kid. But all in all still good because if you combine all the food items and courses it was all still filling. read more

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What an experience! My boyfriend is from New Jersey and wanted to make some reservations while we were up visiting family and friends. He highly recommended Elements. The food was A+ the quality and the freshness of each dish it was like artwork! Every dish had a certain flavor but all of the tasting menu dishes worked so well with one another. The service hands down was perfect they paid attention to every detail! Ambiance and interior was very modern. Loved how you could see the kitchen from our table and the chefs working hard to plate and cook. I really enjoyed my experience here can't wait to come back again and try something new there. read more

We opted to celebrate our 6-year wedding anniversary at Elements in Princeton, and were incredibly amazed and satisfied with the journey that the culinary team and staff took us on. Yes, that is correct, journey is how we would describe our experience with Elements. For starters, Elements is located in the same building (uses same entryway) as Mistral. It took us a bit to figure that part out, but once we did the check-in was hassle free. We were able to sit and have a couple of starter drinks at the bar downstairs until we were seated at our reserved time. Located on the second floor, the venue emanated with a speakeasy-vibe as you ascend into a totally different arena of what would have been the same restaurant. You are immediately greeted with quite a busy open-kitchen before being promptly seated at one of the 9 distinct tables. We were seated at one of the two tables located on the far end of the venue (furthest from the kitchen) in a glass bubble of sorts that overlooked Witherspoon street. It was not what we expected in regards to the layout, but it turned out to be very enjoyable. The entire staff was engaging from start to finish. Once seated, we were greeted at different times by an entourage of specialists. From utensil change outs to course presentation, the entire service was immaculate. A key highlight and note - the sommelier provided an experience in-itself with the wine pairing add-on. Our sommelier was very knowledgeable and passionate about the wines that were curated for the experience, providing rich details and history about each pairing. Additionally, our sommelier had a very enjoyable personality and attitude which added to our unique dining experience. It was a thrill to converse with the sommelier throughout. The reservation required that we select one of two prix fixe tastings. We opted for the 5-course tasting which turned out to be quite filling. Additionally, the prix fixed menu offered add-ons and "upgrades" at additional costs that serve to amplify the tasting. As oyster-lovers, we naturally added those for ours starters. The delivery of the oysters was interesting with the ponzu sauce and roe. They weren't the best oysters we had, but they played ultimately into of the culinary plan that was expertly masterminded by the creative passion of the chef. Thereafter, we were treated to the amazing courses that were rewarding both to the taste and visual senses. The plating and presentation of each course built upon each other until we arrived at the main course. As stated before, the add-on oysters prepared our taste buds for the ensuing fusion of the various flavors that were expertly crafted to give our appetites the fullest enjoyment. Accompanying each course were generous portions of the wine pairing that helped further bring out these flavors. The last dining experience we had with a prix fixe menu prior to Elements was at Picasso in Las Vegas, Nevada. Elements wins hands-down with no contest in regards to experience, tastes, and pricing. It was a dining experience we would not forget. 10/10 would recommend to anyone seeking to make memories with loved ones. read more

I had one of my best date nights at Elements in Princeton! Of course this restaurant can be enjoyed outside of dates, such as family outings or a nice meal with friends, but with price range of some items such as the tasting menu, it's something I'd rather save to enjoy with a significant other. So for us, we got the 5 course tasting menu which was $129 per person with the option to add wine pairing for $79. Now I've been to Elements a few times and their menu turn over is very frequent. Their menus are usually based off what the chef finds that day, so be flexible with change. The five courses have a good mix between the different kinds of proteins such as seafood and red meat. They also have a vegetarian option available upon request, but they do need a heads up! Parking can be a pain as we ended up street parking few blocks away. The customer service by their team was top notch. Facilities as very clean and the ambiance isn't too noisy or quiet. Most my visits, it was relatively quiet. I had a visit once where there was a large party for a birthday event so it was expected to be little louder than then norm. Overall a beautiful restaurant where the food matches both in taste and aesthetics. If you're in NJ and looking for a fine dining establishment, especially that does tasting menus, I highly recommend elements. Great job and always to the staff and I'll definitely be back again if I'm in town! read more

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we did the chefs tasting menu for $199 pp. overall a pleasant experience: FOOD: -the portion sizes are pretty good, i left feeling pretty full but not overly stuffed -everything was great! the courses focus on simple dishes that aren't over the top. however i was a bit disappointed by the steak since it really lacked salt (which could've been intentional on the chefs part) which made the steak pretty bland. especially since we payed extra for a slice of wagyu, it didn't quite reach my expectations despite the beautiful presentation -winners of the course: the tuna platter was AMAZING! otoro bites were best if the night -creamiest vanila icecream for desert, so good SERVICE: -the waiters are super attentive and change your utensils for every new dish -i didn't know what non-alcoholic drink to get on the menu so the waiter had the bartender make me something based on what i wanted, which i liked AMBIANCE: -very nice art on the walls and open kitchen so you can see the chefs cook -there's usually a fully booked room so there weren't any moments where we felt overly attended on or there was too much silence definitely very pricey but would go again for a nice family occasion! read more

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Where can I even begin. 18 courses and 4.5 hours later, and my mind was totally blown. My very generous boyfriend made us a Valentines reservation at Elements. We did the 18 course tasting (which actually featured more like 20+ dishes. Some standouts were the quail egg, fried chicken skin, clams, and my favorite of the whole night was the woodear mushroom. The desserts were also delicious - one of my favorites was the fresh ice cream inside a freshly carved mandarin orange shell. Elements is totally over the top, inspiring, genius food. Probably the best fine dining restaurant in New Jersey. If you have the opportunity to come here, you absolutely should! read more

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We purchased a Thanksgiving dinner to go. Worst Thanksgiving meal I've ever had. I had asked that no extra black or white pepper be added to our food. OM G! SOOOO spicy! Even mashed potatoes had big black dots in it (pepper, duh). Maybe it was marjoram or SOMETHING but we threw most of it out. I can only imagine what the regular menu must tase like. read more

I tried the chef's tasting menu. The first few courses were excellent. However, everything got salty, even the dessert ice cream. I was looking forward to the experience, but the food started to be inedible because it was over-seasoned with salt. Staff were attentive though. read more

Amazing dinner as always. We had the 5 course tasting menu which ended up more like 7 courses (two extra amuse-bouche). There are also options to upgrade (extra oyster, from pasta to prawn, from ribeye to Wagyu, etc). Dinner lasted 2.5 hours. Service was personable and courteous. Open kitchen view is a plus! read more

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Michelin star-level dining in NJ - a MUST-visit fine dining restaurant. Words simply do not do this meal justice. The five-course tasting menu of Madai, housemade linguine, black cod, wagyu delmonico (supplemental charge), and Tahitian vanilla ice cream was further augmented by the chefs' selection of additional courses, which included a seafood dumpling, a cauliflower custard, and housemade spelt/sourdough bread. This was a singular dining experience and one I'd highly recommend to all gourmands near and far. Though costly, the freshness and innovation of the food was unparalleled and service was exceptional. My partner and I were left with only regret: That we don't live closer to this culinary bastion! read more

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Great tasting food. Impeccable service. Beautifully presented.Tasteful decor. Chef Scott is creative and only uses the best ingredients. Always left satisfied. A destination place. read more

What a great experience this was! We came out to celebrate our anniversary and it was so nice and intimate. We did the chef menu with the wine pairings. The staff was great & hospitable. We also added some oysters which weren't apart of the chef experience & they were PERFECT. They were some of the juiciest oysters we've ever had. A few of the dishes we had were; a dumpling, it was good but the herb used in it was a bit too strong for our taste. We had a Japanese fish that was served 4 different ways. This was our favorite and so so good and fresh. Each one was made differently to taste as well as 1 or 2 were cooked rather than raw. The fish was buttery and so memorable. They also served Wagyu which was tender and juicy. A few other dishes that are hard to explain but had such great flavors. The wines that were paired were perfect and they explained what and where each was from. This place is a great place to try new things and be surprised. If you are a picky eater this is not a place to go. The only thing I would say that was surprising is the price. While we expected things to be pricey with this experience, we did feel that it was almost a bit too much for the experience and the food. Be prepared to spend here, but also be prepared for a very intimate & yummy experience. read more

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Very elegant.good for a date night. Its set up and interior ambiance is pretty upscale so would be amazing for formal dress up dinners. Loved the fish and the appetizers. read more

With all the mixed reviews, we were a little nervous as what to expect. I can now see why the vast differences in opinions. All of the staff could not have been nicer or more professional. The room itself is very open and uncluttered. We dined on a Tuesday night and other than one table of about 8, we were the only ones there - talk about open & uncluttered! Downstairs at Mistral on the other hand was packed. I hate to give our experience a 3 star rating but it really fell short of a 4. Although everything we had was Good to Very Good, I couldn't help but feel it was way overpriced at $85 pp for the 4 course menu. If you go a la cart, you could hit very close to that $85 threshold but only have 3 courses. Most items on the menu (1st, 2nd & 4th courses) hover around $18 to $20. The Main (3rd) course goes from about $40 (average price) to $59 (the highest for the Rib Eye) That said, our favorites were the Smoked Quall Eggs, the Madai Sashimi, the Beef Tartare and the Blackfish. The presentation for all the dishes was beautiful. For the above, with 2 drinks, dessert and 2 cappuccinos, the bill came to around $260. That includes the 20% tip that they automatically place on the bill. We have been to numerous restaurants in the above price range (although it's not a habit) and don't mind spending these prices if the food lives up to expectations. In this case, I don't think we will be rushing back. read more

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Elements is consistantly voted one of the 30.... 20.... 10.... 5.... best restaurants in New Jersey and consequently swims in a sea of five star reviews. So, my expectations were as elevated as their price point. Everything was fine, as a matter of fact much better than fine but as far as the out of body experience I was waiting for, I regret to report that my body and soul are still very much intact. Every farm to table and fusion trend is on vivid display tethered to elegant presentation and immaculate service. But sometimes despite the best efforts at culinary artistry, Kale is just Kale and Scallops are just Scallops - wonderfully prepared for sure but transcendent, not today. If you're looking for a word class experience you'll definitely get it here just not the nonpareil one I was expecting. read more

(Live worm in food) I went here two weeks ago for a graduation dinner. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. However, my appetite was ruined after the tuna course. We had raw tuna five ways and it was very tasty but I was 70% finished when a clear worm wriggled out of the tartar. It was disgusting. We told one of the servers subtly and showed him the worm crawling around my plate and he apologized and just offered me more of the same tartar. They did not offer us any discount or anything and I'm not sure our maitre d even knew as he didn't bring it up, just told us tip was pre-included. Overall it was a weird experience and we didn't want to make a scene as it was a large party but it was quite disturbing to see a worm in the raw tuna -- luckily I didn't get sick but I won't eat here again. read more

New Jersey's shining star. A celebration of the highest of haute cuisine by a culinary team who are masters of their craft. Whether in Philadelphia, New York City, D.C., Boston, or beyond, get on a train, plane or automobile and find your way to Elements. Michelin: they're ready for you! DINING ROOM Unassuming and simply elegant, Elements dining room is open, inviting, and easy. Careful touches of microcosmic zen throughout, from the beautifully rolled napkins to the topiary micro-gardens adorning the window shelves. Having gone through changes over the past year, Elements has found their feet in just the right balance of staffing, and front of house's graceful ballet of movement in service matches the perfection in cuisine offered by Chef Anderson and his crew. Chef's open kitchen gives you up front and close view of these masters at work, and the openness reflects Chef's care and intimacy with his guests. WINES Constantly changing wine list, this is one for the adventurer, for finding the jewels off the beaten path. My favorites are sparkling, and there are always new and exciting choices. SASHIMI NIGHT (THURSDAYS) Served in the bar downstairs, a wonderful offering of carefully chosen seafood in delectable and flavor compositions. Come early for best selection! PRIX FIX Constantly changing, often featuring exotic and luxurious ingredients from afar (like Wagyu beef) with scrumptious down-to-earth (literally) choices. * The smoky eggs in bird nest is a signature, as is * The mushrooms served on a "bed of forest" So very many favorites over years. * chicken skin amuse * wagyu beef sashimi with enoki mushroom * sorrel and oat ADVANCED TIP The ambience is quietly formal and elegant. As is possible, keep voices low and respectful. read more

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I really wish I could give this five stars, and someways. The experience was like that, but it just wasn't as over-the-top as I had hoped. Still, completely worth it, and a really lovely time with my dad for their Christmas Eve tasting menu. The food overall was really great, a little fish-heavy for my liking, but still fresh and well cooked. It was kind of a bummer to be stuck in the back room when I knew that there was a beautiful open kitchen concept in another space that people, who were paying the same amount of money as we were, were getting to experience. The waitstaff were lovely and warm, but there were some wait times between courses that were overlong. Again, though, I am super glad we went and had a proper tasting menu fancy dinner. Just as a note, parking was a little bit of a struggle for us, even though it was Christmas Eve. We drove around for a while and found a place on the street. So just know that it might not be completely easy to get a spot as soon as you arrive - you might want to build a little bit of time into your arrival for that. read more

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I was expecting our dinner to be more like a testing experience, not a full course dinner, but it was both! Everyone was happy with quality, deliciousness and amount of portions ( we had 5-course menu). Every meal was served at a perfect time; we were not rushed, and, at the same time - we didn't wait for the next meal, so it was great 3 hours dinner. There was no music in the dining room ( it's a big plus for me, so we were able to talk and enjoy our food without any distraction). We did not order wine paring. But the drinks from the bar were not good ( full glasses of ice cubes with almost non-existing alcohol); I was not expecting such a low quality cocktails from their bar. read more

Elements was easily the best meal I've had all 2022. Every course was carefully crafted and presented in a way that elevated the taste. The service was top notch and the ambiance left very little to be desired. The fish dishes were fresh and each one was different in its own way, the ribeye and presentation was amazing and looked more like art than a meal! The lamb course may just be the best bite I've had of all the 60+ restaurants I visited during 2022. I highly recommend Elements full tasting menu if you are looking for a quality dining experience in The NJ area! read more

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First time back since Covid hit. They just restarted indoor dining and we couldn't wait to try it. They still had outdoor dining and all the tables were full. Social distancing in place plus masks and gloves. The inside had less tables and we felt perfectly safe. The menu was a 5 course dinner, I think due to Covid. We did the wine pairing. Everything was fabulous including the wine. We were happy to support the restaurant and can't wait to go back. Best restaurant in NJ in my opinion. read more

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We had the pleasure of dining at a local favorite called #elements in #princeton. To have this level of meal and attentive service was as close to haute cuisine in central NJ was a delight! Elements is upstairs from #scottandersons other jewel, #Mistral Sadly, I didn't take many pics as the lighting wasn't conducive from my seat. From our seat we had the perfect view of the open kitchen. The 15 course tasting menu we chose $189 plus 20% tip was so incredibly delicious and the plating was perfection and quite creative. We both felt it was worth the price. I think a meal like this in NYC would have been much more expensive. Each course was curated to highlight the impeccable quality of the ingredients. Claudia and our server presented each course and were really so kind and personable it felt like we were honored guests in someone's home. Elements is the perfect special occasion spot. They book up quickly so we chose to go on a Wednesday. Usually a quieter day. Leave time to enjoy each course completely! Unfortunately, it seems that NJ is pretty much passed over by #michelin and central NJ completely ignored save for a select few in New Brunswick. So gems such as Elements or Mistral are not in the radar. Scott Anderson also has monthly events in summer and fall at the Farm that are also worth attending. read more

Elements - New American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I sent the note below to Elements and to several of their senior staff after my recent disappointing visit to their new "Sashimi Night", and have delayed posting this to give them an opportunity to respond. I have not received any response so here's my report: My wife and I had a great dinner last night at the new Sashimi Night. The food was great - excellent sashimi variations and fabulous wagyu. But unfortunately the experience was seriously compromised by inadequate service. Some examples: - once seated, no-one offered us a cocktail or other options, and the first approach was from a waiter who seemed to think we would be ready to order our entire meal - the table was never cleared or cleaned, and food scraps remained on the table until the bill was presented - service was generally inattentive - for example, I would certainly have had another glass of (somewhat overpriced) wine if anyone had noticed that my glass was empty! - when I made the reservation I indicated online that it was a special occasion, my birthday, and when the restaurant called to confirm I also discussed this with their front desk and was assured that some special action would be taken. Evidently this was not communicated with the staff because no special offering was forthcoming. SO this was disappointing, and not typical of my experiences in the past. There was a party in one of the rear private rooms and it did appear that they were the first priority, so the tables on the main floor of the restaurant were neglected. But the food was great (as always) and overall we enjoyed the visit. We are experienced high-end diners and know that we should expect impeccable service to match the food. I hope that you can correct these problems before our next visit. Thanks for your consideration. read more

Outstanding is a simple yet complex word. Outstanding is what Elements is at every level. Chef/owner Scott Anderson, Chef Mike Ryan and the entire team deliver sophisticated, Michelin Star worthy fare at their elegantly beautiful restaurant in downtown Princeton. An establishment of this caliber would be right at home with the great restaurants of New York City, San Francisco and Chicago but fortunately for us New Jersey people no need to cross a river or hop on a plane to dine here. Every plate is more beautiful and tasty then the next and they have been accomplishing this consistently since they opened in their original location. For a special occasion or just to feel special, I highly recommend treating yourself to a magical night here at this pinnacle of fine dining in New Jersey read more

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With us fully vaccinated and wanting to do something special for a birthday, we ventured to Elements for a tasting menu. We had done it once before prepandemic and as then, we were not disappointed. With a menu which changes seasonally, we elected to do the wine pairing. The staff endeavored to explain each dish and the sommelier spent a great deal of time explaining each wine and how it was appropriate for each dish. In the end, it was a very enjoyable evening and in a sense a piece of performance art. Though expensive, it is well worth the price. read more

Went for husbands birthday celebration. The place is small and I really enjoy the open-kitchen where you can see the chefs .

Love this place in Princeton, the tasting menu eliminates any decisions and focus on eating, you will be pleasantly surprised by all the dishes. read more

When can we return? We've eaten at Mistral several times and celebrated a birthday upstairs at Elements. The food is creative and tasty. We ordered the five course menu. Each plate, including the plates between courses, were delicious and attractively presented. The smoked quail eggs arrived in a birds nest. The chicken skin was served on chicken wire over a bowl. The burning hickory bed for the beef was memorable. The service was outstanding. read more

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