Tucked in a quiet area off the busy Route 1. Ample parking and a nice setup on the porch and classic ambience inside. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was ok. Few dishes like the Vodka Rigatoni and Ravioli were very good. The rest - meatballs, bang bang shrimp (well one shouldn't order this in an Italian restaurant!!) and Chicken Piccata were average. We couldn't wait to take pictures of the dessert!! But both the brownie and lava cake were sweeter than they should have been. Overall a good place to go with friends / family. Maybe for drinks/ appetizers. read more

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Came here for dinner after work. I didn't know this place though it's so close to work. I love the food here. The place is huge too. So excited work is holding Christmas party here in a couple of months! I can't wait to try more food from here! read more

Metro North - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

I come here every so often and always enjoy my food. The eggplant parm is delicious and classic, the ravioli is HUGE but the best around! I also do love the sizzling italian chicken as well. The mixed drinks are always tasty and I love the seasonal flair. Dessert wise I had the seasonal bread pudding which was chocolate chip banana bread and that was absolutely FANTASTIC! I have had the tartufo in the past as well and it is hard to go wrong with that! I definitely reccomend this resturaunt for a family friendly, classic place! read more

Food was quite good. The porkchop was really moist and well cooked. This was also helped by the sauce on top. The mash was very nice and smooth. Seafood was also really really good. MAYbe a touch on the salty side. Service was nice, attentive but not overbearing. Ambiance - have been coming here for a number of years (10+). Have not been in here though for the last 3 or 4 - the place hasn't changed. Might be time for a refresh but overall has been pretty clean, and well maintained. Will be back. read more

Metro North - Lobster Seafood Special - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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It has been about a decade since I have been here. When our children were school aged, we would take them here often on a Friday night for burgers. Was always consistent, even when busy. Fortunately nothing has changed. Last night a few of us met here for a 5:30 reservation while the wives were home for "book club". I call it drink club, but that's another story. When we arrived the place was not too busy. We were seated immediately in a nice quiet corner in the back. Joanne, our server, promptly greeted us. We enjoyed our old fashions and manhattans while we were shooting the breeze and perusing the menu. Cocktails were on the mark. The bang bang shrimp and calamari appetizers were delivered in the timely manner as the restaurant was filling up. The shrimp had a nice little zip but not too hot. The calamari was lightly breaded and perfectly cooked. By the time we placed our entree orders, the place was packed. Regardless, Joanne was attentive but not over bearing. Pace was perfect. It took a while for the entrees to come out, but the tuna was cooked a perfect rare and while the veal dish came out a few minutes later due to an error in the kitchen, it was also on the mark. The bread pudding my friend got looked very nice. Generous portion with fresh berries. Coffee was hot. Cappuccino perfect. By the time we left, there were several parties waiting and the bar was full. I would strongly recommend a reservation. We had a great time. Ambiance, great service, great food with great friends. Doesnt get better than that. I wont wait a decade to bring the Admiral back here. What was I thinking? read more

It's not every day that you stumble across a restaurant that feels like it belongs in a different culinary league--yet sits humbly in your own backyard. That's exactly how I felt after visiting Metro North in Princeton. First, let's talk about the burger, because it deserves the spotlight. I've had my fair share of burgers, from overhyped city joints to gourmet bistros, and Metro North's burger easily ranks among the best I've ever had. Perfectly cooked (medium rare, as requested), the patty was juicy, flavorful, and had that satisfying char that only comes from a well-seasoned grill. The brioche bun was soft but held together like a champ. Add in crispy bacon, melted cheddar, and a smear of house-made aioli, and I was in burger heaven. Oh, and don't skip the fries--they're golden, crisp, and not overly salted. Basically everything you want when you're craving a burger done right. But a great meal isn't just about the food--it's about the experience. The service at Metro North was exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted and seated quickly. Our server was attentive without hovering, genuinely enthusiastic about the menu, and had thoughtful recommendations. It's rare these days to find staff that seem to enjoy what they're doing, but that was absolutely the vibe here. read more

Food and service were both very good. It was a little loud but otherwise the ambiance was nice. Went for Valentine's Day and enjoyed it. Would definitely go back, just a little pricey for basic Italian. read more

Good food Large Martinis Good Service Convenient Parking which is so rare in Princeton read more

Overall This restaurant is a warm and comfortable environment with a very safe menu. Safe as far as there are solid dishes that don't get too adventurous but are true to classics that everyone knows and loves. The appetizers were average but they do come out quickly which is a plus. Main courses were of expected portions and very well prepared. I highly recommend the Pork Chop Scarpiello (it can be a tad salty) but the pork is cooked so so well. Finishing with the Pumpkin cheesecake was delightful as it was an extremely light dessert as opposed to the normal heavy bodied staple. Service was excellent and attentive and our server was a pleasure to chat with as well. Overall an excellent choice for a night out but reservations are recommended especially on the weekends. read more

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I came here originally because there was a parking lot, as many places in Princeton don't. It's tucked away just outside of the campus. Food and service were great read more

Sharing a big thank you to Jesse and Mariano for the all around excellent service at Metro North. I set up a team happy hour and everyone had a really great time. We enjoyed the Italian spring rolls, ahi tuna wontons, calamari and flatbread apps. Jesse was very nice and helpful with coordinating the accommodations for our larger group. Mariano's service was stellar, very attentive and timely and we felt very supported. Thank you again! read more

We had a good time here. It's got a casual and cozy vibe. The food was surprisingly good since I was expecting bar food. The calamari was my favorite of the apps though all were good. The ahi tuna entree was good as well. I was wondering about the name of the restaurant when I saw a train go by next door and it all made sense. read more

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To summarize the experience, for the price, it's not worth at all. The best thing was definitely the calamari (not pictured) or the truffle fries, but the rest was underwhelming to say the least. The pasta sauce tasted oddly fake, the short rib pasta was weirdly sweet but also flavorless, and the chicken was dry. That being said, the service was okay overall. We did have to wait a bit despite the reservation, but it wasn't awful. Overall, wouldn't come again honestly. read more

Metro North - Bread - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Food was excellent, staff attentive, prices fair! I was hoping for some less sweet/girly/sugary cocktails on the menu, and maybe some warmer old man cocktails on the menu (and they can make you about 2 different mocktails, which isn't great for those who don't like to drink.) Otherwise, we will be back again! read more

Excellent meal all around. All of our food was top notch and our server, Nicole, was cheerful and attentive. Ambiance in the dining room is nice and the bar had a nice vibe to it. My standout dish was honey mustard salmon. It was cooked perfectly and had a nice sublime sauce to accent its flavor. Highly recommend. And. being in Princeton, it even has parking! read more

wonderful food, and staff! it's just a nice place and always accommodating. It is a great place for large groups with upstairs private to reserve. read more

I felt like some of the other reviews - for the price the place is average. If you are going for drinks - the bar is a nice place to hang out. For the food - really nothing special. Service was very good - food ok. Overall, If I didn't want to go into Princeton I would probably go to Tommy's instead of Metro North. read more

Good food, friendly warm ambience, courteous service, and a great wine and cocktails selection...

The last time we were here the pandemic was still science fiction and generally speaking, restaurants could keep a staff together longer than a nanosecond without charging $19 for a Caesar salad to break even. Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio... or even Anthony Fauci for that matter? Back in those halcyon germ-free days I really dinged Metro North the restaurant for being as loud as Metro North, the railroad and serving a mediocre pasta dish for what I thought at the time was a king's ransom. In hindsight they were just ahead of the curve. Now noise and hyper inflation are the twin pillars of hospitality with no real end in sight. The place is still packed, the vegetable lasagna quite tasty and four stars seems an appropriate act of contrition for a much too hasty opinion. Is that Anthony Fauci hiding in the corner? read more

So we were headed to the McCarter Theater to see A Christmas Carol (which was fabulous!) and decided to stop for a quick dinner...definitely a hidden gem! I have to say we were pleasantly surprised, the restaurant is beautiful, staff very friendly, specialty drinks FUN & TASTY! Pic is the Sugar Cookie Martini & Christmas Margarita!! As for food...Menu isn't too extensive, but they have some nice options plus specials. We had Bang Bang Shrimp app, great taste & not too spicy. I had the Beet & Goat cheese salad, tasted very good but couldn't finish it...was huge! My husband had Chicken Francaise, his fave and he ate the entire entree, he loved it! We've already went back again we loved this place so much. Highly recommend... BTW, they have an outside dining deck, can't wait to try that out too when the weather warms up! read more

Metro North - Sugar Cookie Martini & Christmas Margarita w/ cranberry ice cubes! - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Came on busy Saturday night. Service was very slow. But once food came, was good. However, server never checked on us, if needed anything, etc. read more

Best ever! Love this place for martinis and the food is amazing!!! Will definitely be back

We are what you call regulars, the staff are friendly and personable. Most importantly they care that you have a good time. The best thing I can say is that the food is excellent and consistent - very important. read more

Pleasantly surprised how good this Italian restaurant is. We started with bang bang shrimp and calamari. Shrimp were excellent and the Calamari could have been a little better with less batter. I had the spinach ricotta ravioli in vodka sauce, delicious. My wife had chicken parmigiana which was a healthy size, she definitely took 1/2 of it home over angel hair pasta. Everyone enjoyed the Caymus wine and dinner. Definitely worth going to when you're in Princeton. read more

Nice place with a good atmosphere. Service was very nice and accommodating. They served bread and oil, but provided good butter when asked. Drinks were standard and some below average. For appetizer we got the eggplant tower which was very tasty. For entree I got the pasta and risotto dishes which was pretty good. The menu didn't really wow me. Solid food. Entree prices $35-$55. The quality of the food is definitely noticed. If you don't mind paying for good food, this is your place! If you're looking for quantity over quality- it is not. I wouldn't recommend it as an Italian place since there are a lot better ones in the Princeton area. They're little further away from Nassau st but they do have their own parking lot if that makes any difference while you are picking a place to dine during your next Princeton visit. read more

Great food and service! Wonderful ambiance. I had a veal and shrimp dish in a Cognac cream sauce over a capellini pasta. It was amazing. I also had an amazing warm chocolate lava cake drenched in a warm chocolate, paired with a vanilla ice cream scoop. It was excellent. read more

Metro North - Veal and 3 Jumbo shrimp in a Cognac cream sauce over a Capellini pasta. It was excellent! - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

We had a bizarre experience with the service. Before trying the restaurant, we looked up their reviews to see if they had gluten-free options and we were relieved so to see it mentioned. We walked in and was seated right away. I mentioned to our waitress about the gluten-free option mentioned online and she said she would check as she didn't know what that meant. Fair enough, it was understandable as not a lot of people have gluten allergy or Celiac's disease. The service throughout was just off and we didn't get a check up until the end of our meals. I ended up ordering the beef stew for myself and a salad for my husband that was made gluten-free. The food was great and it was a delicious beef stew. Maybe it was an off-day for the staff and I will probably try to visit again and try other dishes. read more

Metro North - Beef Stew - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Our African American family showed up for our daughter's 40th birthday 10 deep. Two children ages 6 and 4. Our 4 year old granddaughter is non-verbal and autistic. She can get VERY loud when she stems. We do our best to help regulate her but stemming is part of autism. While a couple of guests asked to be moved (I get it), our server and the manager never blinked twice. They were very gracious throughout. The food and drinks were excellent, as was the service. Unfortunately, I'm getting old and can't remember our servers name Our reserved table was roomy and the restaurant is really nice. Parking was plentiful and a great memory was created. Thank you Metro North. read more

A very pleasant experience. The menu was heavily slanted toward Italian American but still delightful. Service was good, atmosphere was spacious and enjoyable. The thing that keeps it from being five stars is the goat cheese and beat salad. The goat cheese was perfect, the greens were fresh but the beets were from a can. There's literally fresh beats being sold at farmstands within 10 minutes of the restaurant, it really wouldn't take much to upgrade this one small item on the plate. I hope all of you enjoy your opportunity to go to this place read more

Metro North - A perfect wedge salad with shrimp cooked to perfection - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Obsessed with this spot. Good for date night and has a great room upstairs for events. Highly recommend the chicken franchise. Service is always accommodating. read more

Went on a Saturday night for dinner. Had fried calamari toscano one of the best with hot peppers and olives as an appetizer. Also had tomato, avocado , and buratta salad very good. For entrees had a veal chop that was so tender and delicious. Another entree was ahi tuna very good and farfalla pasta with sausage beans and broccoli rabe very good. The best was the pork chop scarapiello. Service was excellent. Our server was very attentive. Ambience a very nice and comfortable restaurant and nice bar. read more

Metro North is an ambiance full dining establishment tucked away right on Alexander Road prior to entering the Princeton University campus area. It has a rustic feel with plenty of dining space. There is also an upstairs for private parties and events. I've eaten here a few times and the food has been good. The goat cheese salad was as expected and the Margherita pizza tasted good. Although, the crust was very thin and slightly burnt. On a recent Saturday we took a seat in the bar area. The place was quite packed and it was hard to order drinks and took a while for us to get our final check. Perhaps, another bartender would be a good idea. Overall, a place I would definitely return to. Food: 3 Service: 4 Price: 3 Ambiance: 4 read more

Metro North - Margherita Pizza - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Food is excellent. But, we probably will not return for the food because the service was not great. The server told my husband she would have sung happy bday if had ordered a dessert. Very tacky!!! No class!! read more

Their special Pumpkin Ravioli was so incredibly delicious. I will be thinking about this meal for a long time!

We came here with my and two teenage kids. This was our first time and we enjoyed our meal. The food was good and the portions were more than enough. I would recommend the veal piccata or chicken piccata. My kids enjoyed the short rib ravioli and rigatoni with chicken. They also have a good selection of drinks and desserts. They have an outdoor seating area. Our server was very attentive and friendly. I would definitely come back and would recommend that you try this place. read more

Super close to Princeton University! Cute area! We really enjoyed the main dishes we ordered for dinner and the salad/wings. The prosciutto appetizer was fried nicely but had a really strange after taste. Bread pudding was disappointing. Was a literal slice of toast instead of cubed up, with bland flavor. I even had some left overs which reheated well at home. Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. Really heavy handed (slamming ) with the dishes when bringing them to the table though. Definitely great for date nights. Not sure how child (especially younger) friendly this place would be though. read more

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Have been many times- but VERY disappointed now & won't be returning. I ordered scallops & risotto. I don't Mind paying $39 if quality is offered. However a few scallops with (no exaggeration) less that 2 tablespoons of risotto. A circle of "creamy rice" no larger than a quarter) I order this same dish in several restaurants. It's quality & less pricey. Metro North is not lacking in customers. Was very crowded, maybe to feed so many they cut on servings? read more

I am being generous with the 3 stars! If you want to believe in the 4 or 5 star ratings, go for it! But this was a "one and done" for me..... Atmosphere: - Beautiful building on the outside......but you can tell that it is past its' prime (once you step foot in the place); this place has changed ownership so many times, and my sense is that the next owner buys it, thinking "no brainer".....and yeah, good luck! - "Owner" (IDK- just guessing) leaning at the host/hostess table to seat you (dressed in a flannel shirt with sneakers- nice first impression!) Crowd: - I'm not young, but OMG- no young crowd here! Come 9pm, all tables in the dining room were empty on a Friday night. The bus from the retirement community must have pulled in at 8:45pm Service: - Waiter was a nice guy, but think NJ diner, not a "nice" restaurant Food: - Ehhhh.....I wouldn't want to see the kitchen; I went burger (as I wouldn't trust to order anything else), and ate 1/2 Bottom line- this place would be a perfect restaurant for the since (cancelled) Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares! read more

Metro North was truly the best dining experience I had in months! The food was hands down, amazing! Yummy on top of yummy! The server was nice and attentive, the tables are socially distanced and they provide hand sanitizer. I am looking forward to going back and adding Metro North to one of my fav restaurant list. read more

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Metro North is a solid and (I think), wildly underrated Princeton restaurant. We have been dining here for years for various special occasions... Mother's Day... birthdays... even my rehearsal dinner 5.5 years ago was at metro north, and they always provide an enjoyable meal with great service. Drinks are always top notch and there's something on the menu for everyone. They have a beautiful outdoor seating area which is great in the summertime, and their private room upstairs is great for parties (we used it for our rehearsal dinner). Conveniently located right near the Princeton train station and close to route 1, they have their own parking lot so you don't have to worry about the nightmare of finding metered parking in town. Definitely check them out! read more