Very nice food and environment. Comfortable setting and the waiter was great! Will come again

Do not recommend. Walked in on a Friday night around 6:30. Decent crowd but the entire outdoor section was vacant. My girlfriend and I figured we would stop and get a few drinks outside before heading to another restaurant for dinner. However, when we walked in the host (a middle age gentleman) greeted us strangely when we said we didn't have a reservation. When i told him we just wanted to get a few drinks outside, he told us that they only take people who will order food and didn't want to use a table for people to get drinks. Very very strange and was pretty rude about it. There was no one outside, why wouldn't you want to make some good money off a couple of drinks? Definitely won't be returning when there are so many other great spots in Princeton. read more

I want to not comment on the food as I didn't get the chance to eat there, but I want to discuss the horrendous service of its staff. I thought I made a reservation for last Saturday night on Open Table, however, when my friends arrived early it was confirmed I had made a mistake. Instead of trying to accommodate us Whitney the hostess, told us it would be difficult to accommodate us. (We did ask for a table outside.) The restaurant was empty so not sure why Whitney chose to have the attitude instead of trying to find a solution. (1) Outside was completely empty (2) Open Table allowed to make a reservation at the exact time we thought we had a reservation (6:15) (3) Whitney continued to state it would be difficult to accommodate us. So what did we do? We left and ate at Blue Point Grill. Had a lovely meal with our wine and will NEVER eat at Metro North. The food may be delicious, but service of the 1st person you encounter in a restaurant need to have manners and respect for patrons. The worst part she didn't even care when we told her we were leaving to go to another establishment. She didn't try to then accommodate us. Yes, we may have been snooty at the end, but treat patrons with respect or else people will go elsewhere. read more

Skip it unless manager knows you! Waitress and wait staff were good, but manager has a nasty attitude! Interesting food and good tasting, but manager's attitude made it a bad experience when it was supposed to be a treat. read more

Great food and nice relaxing upscale atmosphere! We've been often and we keep coming back for more. Never disappoints!

Menu is diverse and the burgers are great. They do seem to have a fruit fly problem, which is never appetizing. Portion sizes are not even across the board. On our recent visit we ordered two appetizers the bang bang shrimp and the eggplant tower. The eggplant tower was as expected but the bang bang shrimp was pitiful. Entree portions seemed fair except when it came to the vegetables one had about a tablespoon of peas and the other 3 asparagus. Two people in our group also mentioned that they felt the mashed potatoes had a slight instant potatoes taste. The menu had some issues as well. The drink menu has a header for craft beer then the page ends without a single beer mentioned. On the dessert menu we noticed that they don't give you all the details for each item (like the molten lava cake comes with ice cream but it doesn't have it listed). Be aware that happy hour is only in the bar and lounge which is not mentioned on their website but the two signs they have hanging do have a little asterisk that mentions it. read more

Average, not so tasty food..but very nice ambiance!!!!service just ok. Other than the beard and oil which was served at the beginning, nothing else was outstanding...unfortunately it is also very pricey place and "not worth one's salt" read more

I've been to this restaurant numerous times and I can't get enough of it! I love the atmosphere, the staff is always friendly and accommodating, the price to portion ratio is very reasonable, and most importantly, the food is fabulous! I most recently went here with for dinner for my sister's birthday and our group ordered 4 appetizers. We got Crispy Eggplant Towers and Crab Stuffed Portabella off of the regular menu and Bacon Calamari and Bang Bang Shrimp off of the seasonal menu. All of them were a good choice! I've gotten the Crab Stuffed Portabella before and knew right away we must get it again! The garlic butter is to die for. The Bacon Calamari and Bang Bang Shrimp were also an easy choice for us to make. Let's be real, it's really hard to say no to anything bacon. I was personally drawn to the Bang Bang Shrimp because I wanted to get one relatively spicy appetizer and it definitely hit the spot! The one that really surprised me was the Crispy Eggplant Towers. Wow, just wow. First off, kuddos to Metro North for the awesome presentation! Aside from that, the taste was top notch. I especially loved the creamy goat cheese! For my entree I got the Scallops Fra Diavolo, which I believe was also on the seasonal menu. The entree came with squid ink linguini which I loved. I've never had squid ink linguini so I was excited to try something new and even more excited to find out how much I loved it! Now onto the sauce, the menu indicated that the red sauce that came with the linguini was "spicy", but I personally didn't find it spicy at all which was a little disappointing. Still, it was decent. Lastly, the jumbo lump scallops were perfectly cooked. I would highly recommend Metro North to anyone in the Princeton area. The food is really phenomenal and the atmosphere is fun and lively. It is a great spot for any occasion. The added bonus is that they have their own parking lot making it easy to get to! Not having to worry about street parking is always a plus to me! ;) read more

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I came here to eat on a Saturday and enjoyed it overall. I had the rigatoni bolognese, which was good but I would have liked the pasta a bit more al dente. I don't recall what my friend ordered (perhaps the chicken sorrentino) but it was a huge portion. We both had decent-sized leftovers after we finished our meals, which is always a win in my book. There was a decent-sized crowd there on a Saturday night, mostly middle-aged folks with their families. It would be a nice place to grab drinks and a bite to eat if you like Italian food as much as I do. read more

the most delicious thing i ordered was the water. went here with friends during happy hour and had a horrible experience from the service to the food. the waitress made the most rude, passive-aggressive comments the entire time, we were left speechless after every one of her visits to the table. on top of the hair found on one of the plates, the food quality was so poor i wouldn't even bring it home to give my dog. the waitress also gave us a hard time for not wanting to take anything left over home with us. we split the check on 2 cards and asked for a certain dollar amount on each, the waitress repeated it back to us incorrectly, we reiterated the correct division, she confirmed and proceeded to incorrectly charge the cards. we left and went to mcdonald's where we spent a fraction of the money, had better food & were treated with common decency. read more

Ideally, I would give this place 2.5 stars because it has potential, BUT, there are things that need work... Firstly, mad props on the decor. The interior design of Metro North is outstanding. I didn't get a chance to see the rooms beyond the bar and first room, but what I saw was extremely impressive. They have done a spectacular job of making the restaurant suitable as a lounge, an upscale restaurant for a date, and a great place to chill with a group of friends. The host and bartender couldn't have been nicer, which certainly started the night off right. Downsides to the bar were the lack of options for beer (only 4 on tap and nothing out of the ordinary), and the price of each beer ($6+ for a Brooklyn? Ouch). House wine was also pricey and the pour was anything but generous. With regards to the food, alternative side dishes weren't readily accommodated, which is always a disappointment. I had a chicken sandwich with broccoli rabe and provolone cheese and fries. Granted, broccoli rabe is naturally bitter, but when done right, it can be quite tasty. Unfortunately, this rabe was on the bitter side. The sandwich bread was WAY overwhelming, and I really don't appreciate when additional condiments appear on sandwiches that weren't listed on a menu (don't lather on the mayo or weird brown condiment without telling me, ok?). The chicken was cooked well, not overdone nor dry, which impressed me. I've had better fries, but these weren't bad. Dinner friends ordered two pasta dishes and a chicken dish. The overall sentiment of the table was that the meal was fine, but nothing to ride home about. The major downfall for Metro North at this point is the service. While the individuals we first encountered were great, our waitress wasn't the best. She was very nice, but when we asked for a few more minutes to peruse the menu, she ended up leaving us there for ~ 15 minutes before returning to take our order. Also, when we ordered more drinks, we had to wait a long time to actually get them to the table (we were within eyesight of the bar, and we could see our drink sitting there...waiting to make it to the table read more

I've been going to this place since I was a kid, back when it was the Rusty Scupper, and then during it's brief stint as J.L. Ivy. There is no doubt that this is the best restaurant this building has ever contained. My girlfriend loves the burgers, which are decadant and consistently cooked to temp. We always order the broccoli rabe with white beans and sausage and it's a consistent winner. They also do a butterfish francaise with jumbo lump crab that's to die for. We had brunch there this weekend, and the only thing holding me back from slapping on an extra star was the fact that the hollandaise sauce on my eggs Benedict was from a packet, and tasted like it. I know this is a sauce that's a pain in the ass to make and keep fresh, but if it's on the menu, it should rise to the high standard of their other offerings. The decor inside is warm, eclectic and inviting. The staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating. Overall, hollandaise aside, we love this place. read more

I went there for dinner on May 23rd. I got an eggplant parm dish which was good. Bill was $19 dollars - left a $5 tip. Thought that was the end of it. I notice when doing my expense report that my corporate card was charged $89 dollars. I checked the receipts I had which explicitly say $19 with $5 tip and my cardholder name on it. Not an $89 dollar bill. Called Monday and Tuesday - received call back Wednesday and they said the waiter/bartender must have typed in the wrong tip (what person gets a $70 tip on $19 bill)? Anyways - seems to be resolved... will wait for credit to go through but will probably not be back as it has been a big hassle with expensing the wrong amount on a corporate card. read more

The Mediterranean platter was the only thing on the menu that looked veganizable, but it turned out that the physical menu description of "hummus, olives, flatbread" was not as precise as what is listed online. So, imagine my surprise when I was served garlicky red pepper hummus coated with oily olive tapenade and FETA CHEESE, served with slimy carrot sticks and past-its-prime cucumber. This, after I'd already confirmed with the waiter that the bread and olive oil served with our drinks did not contain cheese. Did he think I just don't mix my cheese with alcohol? When will people in the restaurant industry realize that allergy awareness is an important component of their business? At least they have Blue Moon on tap. read more

Outstanding family owned resteraunt. As has been previously described..... A secluded Gem! Been going for almost 6 years. Usually once a week (on average). Love all the staff, the ambiance and MOST OF ALL, the Italian Wings!!!!!! How is it that no-one's mentioned these? My wife and I are wing enthusiasts, and there's simply NO other wing offered anywhere in our travels that even comes close! However, we've never had a disappointing item on the menu. They also offer big parties upstairs for special functions. Whitney handles them. She's a true professional. Dad, (Tony the owner) should be proud! One last thing.....not too many restraunts where the staff has been there for years and years. Speaks volumes of the ownership and their caring for them. Break from your routine one night and drop by......you'll want to go back again and again. ;-) read more

I came to this place with my family after my sister's graduation and found this place to be close to campus, have a large menu selection, serve great food, and had overall amazing service. The waitress made sure to check up on us in a comfortable manner (where we were able to get asked about our food while still not feeling burdened) and even gave us input on the wine menu. The interior is very old fashioned but still managed to pull off a modern flair. I definitely recommend to go with family or friends! Check out the photos I included to see what we ordered! Pros: Comfortable service Large menu selection Cons: Hard to find (secluded find!) Place was dimly lit (hard to even read the menu) read more

A nice Italian restaurant in Princeton. The restaurant is off the main roads tucked away in Alexander rd. There is ample table space and easy to get a table. The menu is good Italian fair with some choices for sandwich and pizzas. The service is fast. A good place for a casual evening. read more

I did not sit down for a meal here, just met a friend for drinks, so my review reflects only that experience. Metro North is a revamped train station with full service dining and a second floor for private parties. Our bartender was nice, we went on a weeknight. I did notice it was a little "meet-market"-y, and as soon as I sat down, I was cooed into convo by an older regular who was nursing something strong and brown on the rocks. The bartender saw this and finessed the guy back into a conversation with him about baseball (totally pro move, bartender!) My friend met up with me shortly thereafter for chit chat. We had ourselves two very professionally mixed drinks, though neither were menu items. I had a perfect Negroni, and she had a dirty martini. I thought the drink menu was boring. I would like to see them break out of the passé "flirtini/appletini/I'm too girly for a real martini" trend and get some real cocktails on their menu :-) Would def go back for dinner, what we saw whirring past us looked yummy! read more

"Delicious... Delicious," -Robert DeNiro Goodfellas. I really enjoyed Metro North. Our meal started with fried calamari- it was fresh, crispy, hot and delicious. The bonus is, they serve their calamari with fried Kalamata olives and fried mini cherry peppers. I'm not an olive person, but they were like pure flavor bites- I think it was my favorite plate of fried calamari ever. For dinner I ordered the butterfish with lump crabmeat, artichokes, and sundried tomatoes. It was phenomenal- I think I ate it all. My only complaint about this meal was that it was supposed to come with cavatelli but it was served over linguini. They could've told me they were out - but the meal was still delicious. My friend's meals were delicious, too, as they cleaned their plates: one ordered the scallops with mushroom risotto and and the other ordered a steak dish. My only issues were- a tiny bit over priced. Also- we arrived and were told 20 minutes to be seated and it was more like 30 or 40; it was a Friday night- I suggest making a reservation. read more

We are regulars here, can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Every dish is great ( from appetizers to desert and the service is the best. Caution: they are working on the bridges on Alexander Road so you have to come in through downtown Princeton off of Nassau St (Rte 27) NO BIG DEAL. A MUST read more

My wonderful coworkers threw me a surprise shower here last week. We've been here for two other work-related meals and the verdict? Eh. I ordered the filet (it's my shower and I'll filet if I want to!) medium rare. It was medium well at the very least. I didn't want to ruin the festive mood and send it back so I sucked it up. Luckily it was filet so it was still tender and juicy but could have been much better. There was only a touch of seasoning, could have used a lot more salt and pepper and it would have been greatly improved. The mashed potatoes were good and real, not from flakes. I had a little brownie sundae for dessert which was served warm and was delish. Not too sweet, just right. For Princeton, I guess this is the best you're going to do since it's a culinary wasteland. It wouldn't last five days in Philly with so many other options. read more

This is a little hidden gem slightly outside the main Princeton area. They have their own parking lot for your ease and convince. It's a very cute place that is a very nice restaurant with a large bar area to watch sports. We had a reservation which was great as without one on a Saturday night the wait would have been close to an hour. We were seated fairly promptly. Our service was great, they were always on top of making sure our glasses were full and our needs taken care of. I ordered the chicken Milano and it was delicious!! The chef did a fantastic job I would definitely order it again. My boyfriend ordered another chicken dish which came on a skillet with potatoes and he was a little disappointed as it was plain and the bones made it harder to eat. He was able to enjoy some of mine and was very impressed (for once my order trumpeted his!) read more

Great restaurant! Went there with family and friends. Was a little cold, definitely need a jacket. Great choices on the menu. Love the italian restaurant. Recommended read more

Metro North - Florentine Tilapia with spinach, mushroom and butter sauce with linguini. - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Went to celebrate my college graduation, and turned out to be a lovely meal. My only major qualm was prices - but since I wasn't paying I was okay with that! Got a few appetizers to start the table off, including my fave, calamari! This is when I had the biggest price shock... the plate was not that full, and certainly didn't merit the price even with the special flavorings. Odd, as I'm seeing a rather full plate in the sample photo here on Yelp. However, had the veal and gnocchi dish with mushrooms and wine sauce, and that was WONDERFUL. Large portions on the entrees, it seemed, for everyone's meals, including salads. Desserts were mediocre, had some cheesecake but once again failed to impress for the price. Overall, I'd suggest one come here for the main courses and skip the rest. Might go again, but not on my dime. read more

Came here for our anniversary dinner. We had the bang bang shrimp (special) for an appetizer it was amazing. For our entrees I had the lamb and my fiance had the wasabi crusted ahi. Both were outstanding. We will most definitely be back. read more

The place is nice: however, the staff are beyond awful. I do deliveries for Doordash, and today I had the first and hopefully last experience dealing with these pompous individuals that mess up and they act like it is your fault. One of the younger waitresses messed up the charge and had an attitude as if it was my fault. Furthermore, the male worker who I believe is the manager did not do anything and just stood there. The management there is awful. Do yourself a favor, go to Winberries, Triumph, any place but here. read more

Metro North is a great place if you would like slightly more upscale dining. It isn't the fanciest place in town but a step up from the many chains in the Princeton area. I've visited twice during lunch and enjoyed my visit each time. The first time, we were a group of about 10 people, and the service was great! We were served promptly and our food was delicious. The most recent time I've been, it was just my fiancé and me. Again, we had great service and my food was delicious. I ordered the vodka rigatoni and was very happy with it. It was a tad on the salty side but not unbearable. My fiancé ordered the crab cake sandwich and loved it! I sampled the fries and they were quite good. The dessert menu looked delicious and I love that they have seasonal and freshly made desserts; we were too full to actually try anything, though! Overall, this is a great place whether you are a big group or just 2 people. read more

Metro North - Crab Cake Sandwich - American Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I've known this place under its many incarnations, and it is at its best as Metro North. My mother, a family friend, and I went for an early dinner last night and had a perfect dinner. Joanne was our server and was attentive and patient, even though we can be a bit high-maintenance. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list! I started with the French Onion soup, and it was so good that I can taste it now just thinking of it. I notice that a lot of other reviewers have said the same thing, so they're consistent! My mother's friend and I both had the Chicken Marsala, and not only did I love it, but my mother's friend said that it was the best Marsala sauce she'd had in 20 years! Joanne topped the evening off by keenly recognizing my martini needs and addressing the issue by recommending the delicious Chocolate Martini. Everything was lovely! The only criticism I have for the restaurant is that while the appearance is cozy and intimate, the acoustics are oddly balanced, so communication was a little difficult, especially with an 85-year-old at the table. Otherwise, a new favorite! Thank you, Metro North and Joanne! read more

I typically do not complain about poor service, however I am making an exception in this instance and signed up for Yelp to do so. I had an extremely unfortunate experience at one of my favorite restaurants on 12/22/2017 that will preclude me from going there in the future. AI have enjoyed frequenting Metro North socially and with my client. NEVER AGAIN... I was scheduled to meet some friends there that evening. I showed up with my 10yr daughter who is with me this week from Texas. She was excited to meet up with my fiance' and some of our friends. The minute I walked in, the manager/owner made it abundantly clear that she was not welcome in the bar area. The place was mostly empty as it was around 5pm. I asked for a high top and he stated those were reserved for "dinner guests". I informed him that we would be eating and drinking, but he again stated that they were all reserved even though the place was mostly empty. My fiance checked later and according to Open Table, they were FAR from booked tonight; especially early. I told him I was meeting friends and he told me to be seated at the bar. Once we sat down, he told the bartender to tell me that my daughter could not sit at the bar, even though 75% of the stools were empty. (there is no law in NJ that applies, FYI) The bartender knows that I am part of a large social network and I let him know that I was moving our gathering elsewhere. He was caught in the middle, but he made my daughter stand behind my chair at the bar. I immediately sent a group text asking for the venue to be moved and everyone agreed... we took our money elsewhere. Once my fiance' joined us, we left. My social group has agreed to no longer meet there and my client is also supportive of my decision. Enjoy your 10yr old free bar area, sir. read more

I have lived in Princeton for 30 years. Metro North is our go to restaurant. Very reliable food, good choices with periodic new menu ideas, terrific prices very nice atmosphere. Drinks are great and priced right. read more

Went there for a private business function, open bar was great as were appetizers. Dinner choices were copious, I had butter fish with crab meat and it was excellent. It's hard to serve 50+ people delicious hot meals but they did so with ease, and all liked their choices. If it were close to home we'd go there often. read more

What a pleasant surprise. Ate in the bar area on an unseasonably warm Sunday in February, where Princeton was at full buzz. Thought the place was charming, the bartender who served us was professional and friendly (sorry I cannot remember the name). Had the burratini and oven roasted tomatoes to start. Excellent, and it was nice to have delicious heirloom tomatoes in the middle of winter. The homemade raviolis were colossal and cooked perfectly, with a wonderful sauce. Can't wait to return to try other dishes. Cheers!!! read more

I really enjoyed my dinner here. My boyfriend's father started out with the cesar salad, while my boyfriend and I enjoyed the calamari. For entrees, my boyfriend's dad had one of the pasta entrees, my boyfriend the burger, and I had a special of truffle mushroom risotto with scallops. Everything was delicious, but my risotto was truly out of this world. I ate every last bite, even though I was probably full about halfway through. While I can't speak to the bar, our dinner was very good from beginning to end. The service wasn't great, but it didn't detract from our overall experience. And yes the prices are a bit steep, but I don't think they are as crazy as other people are suggesting, especially when compared to many restaurants in Palmer Square. read more

I have been here once before in the upstairs area for a small fundraising gathering, but I didn't want to comment since we only had appetizers. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of the first floor. It was like being in aspen with beautiful eclectic chandeliers and wood and brick interior and exterior. Further, each area had a unique seating setting and I liked that. Some had full sun and near a nature sight, or with a round-about brown leather sofa sectionals. The food was also great. I had no complaint on any item except for my choice of tomato pie.. since I made the mistake of having non-tomato tomato pie with ricotta, mozz, asparagus.. I needed to add salt and pepper for some flavor but that's my only down note-- But Metro has a wonderfullllly seasoned salmon burger, not fishy tasting at all, and it's a healthy option served on a flat bread pita and you can't go wrong. They also had a great ravioli dish that they made spicy on request and it was great. Hummus and bruscetta were uniquely done and also tasty. Our tartufo was delicious but the creme brulee could have bit a BIT sweeter but I think that's just preference I will be back to try some salmon or fish dishes in the future. read more

I'm here twice and I already forgot the first time what did I order or when did I come. I remember going with a large group and this place serves fast which is good for business lunch. The second time I'm here, I had to say they have a pretty good salad!!! I came from San Fran and we had salads everywhere but I absolutely love their arugula salad. I asked them to switch to goat cheese and they have it!!! I had a perfect salad at this place. Thanks Metro North. read more

A friend surprised her husband with a 40th bday party here, so this review is based on that! Pros: - You can rent out the second floor which includes, bar, spacious dancing area, and tv/food area if you have guess that want to watch the football game - Bartenders are hella nice - Lamb chops were pretty much amaziness Cons: - Closes at 2am read more

Had a great steak last night with super yummy truffle fries. Service was a little slow, but the staff was very nice.

Had fish tacos. So tastey. Was chewing in slow motion while trying to identify all the different flavors. Fresh, complex flavor, overall very delicious. Iced tea was good too. Have to ding one star for the sweet potato fries. They were cooked perfectly and I would highly recommend them, IF you like them. I don't like sweets and there didn't appear to be an alternative. Sweet Potato fries are like the cilantro thing... It's hip to put it on everything, but not everyone likes it. read more

Cozy intimate setting, a nice date spot. The food was good but not insane, I got the homemade ravioli. It was super cheesy, which made it difficult to finish. The penne vodka was delicious, cooked to perfection, noodles were el dente and the sauce wasn't extremely heavy. I would say if you go here order the penne vodka with shrimp. That was delicious. Good thing about this place is it offers bread with dipping oil when you sit which I think is necessary when you go to an Italian restaurant. A bit pricy for the quality, but I would go here again. read more

Whatta dump. Perhaps I'm biased. I worked here when it was JL Ivy (note: anything decent about the decor of this place was passed on from JL's- they've since gotten rid of the fireplace (why?), sushi bar, and allowed everything else to fall to sh**- check out the booths) . We went for New Year's, for old times sake. Never again. I got a champagne sangria, which far as I could tell, had no actual booze in it. We just ordered salad and apps- the machengo salad was actually good, nothing else is even worth mentioning. The bartender chiefed us. If you're trying to be a fine dining establishment- I'd go with 'sir.' Server was friendly an knew the menu, hence the extra star. read more