On a beautiful Sunday in Princeton, the family and I were looking g to have a nice lunch. Some places were booked up but Mistral was able to accommodate us. We were seated at a table below a tree in the bar area, which is very aesthetically pleasing with a natural wood bar and industrial touches. The menu was Sunday brunch however it had many pleasing options from breakfast standards to sandwiches and salads. We all ordered sandwiches and asked for additions or omissions which wasn't a problem at all. All of our choices came with generous portions and were delicious. Our server was efficient but not the friendliest, but he got the job done. Overall, I would return to Mistral if I visit Princeton again and would recommend it to others too. read more

Huge letdown. This used to be one of our favorite restaurants in Princeton, so we were really looking forward to coming back. Unfortunately, the food was mostly bad to just okay. The salmon with crispy rice was the only dish we enjoyed. The squash was terrible and smothered in mayo sauce, and even the steak was disappointing. The chicken was decent, but the multiple sauces made the flavors strange and muddled. Probably one of my most disappointing meals in recent months. Such a shame because I used to really love this place. read more

The evening didn't start off well, it picked up but ended flat. First, the hostess. We walked in from the bar entrance and heard a voice over our shoulder. There was a young lady sitting in the corner in the phone telling us that there were no seats if we didn't have a reservation. Not the most polite but whatever. We went back to the bar and got a table. Why are bar tables always so sticky?! Anyhoo, we just missed the Happy Jour menu but it was only a $1-2 discount (except for the burger: $4). Service was pleasant and attentive. The food was overpriced for sitting in a bar. $30 for a bowl of ramen! (I don't know how it tastes but it's $17 across the street.) $22 for a burger and fries! $10 for two little bao with a single shrimp in each! Ok, that's not too bad since Bao is generally overpriced for some reason but I could have gotten more than one shrimp. Unfortunately, the price did not reflect the quality. My friend who got the ramen said it was in the bottom 25% he's ever had. My burger was pretty good but the bun was toasted and brittle and made an unnecessary mess. The fries--personal preference--I don't like skinny fries. As for the bao, the shrimp was too salty. I liked the finishing salt but the flavoring salt was too heavy. Also, it was drizzled with aioli and I couldn't pick it up and eat it like the sandwich it was. Overall, a disappointment. Mediocre food and an elevated price for no reason. read more

Mistral - Shrimp bao - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

We came here on a Sunday morning and there was only one other party seated, so it was pretty quiet. That may have been due to it being MLK weekend, with many people out of town for the long weekend. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Wrap, which was excellent, packed with chicken and very filling. I ended up taking half home because it was both generous and delicious. The side salad was also surprisingly good. We ended up returning later for happy hour, which takes place in the room to the right of the hostess stand. I highly recommend stopping by for drinks and bites if you're in the mood for classic cocktails and solid food. Happy hour is first come, first served and limited to the bar only (around 15 seats total). We arrived right when it started, and when we left about 40 minutes later, the bar was about half full. I'd definitely come back to try their dinner or to enjoy their happy hour again. read more

Mistral - Grilled chicken Caesar Wrap - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Sat at the bar, little tight seating wise as to not hit the tables behind... again not worth taking away a star. Food is amazing. Unique flavors and textures. My father had a corn dessert with popcorn on top. We both agreed having the popcorn on top wasn't our preference, but was understandable on why it was there... something a little different, texture. Great for post-shift meet for dinner. Drinks and mocktails are amazing. First time trying mocktails, and for a mocktail maybe a bit pricey, but expectations wise I never understood people going to places like this and complaining about prices. This isn't mcdonalds. Value is there. Service was great upfront then spotty after dinner, not a huge issue. Will be back. read more

Mistral - Tuna Tostadas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

We had dinner there last Sunday evening. Food: We shared salmon bites for app, she had the eggplant dish and I had the shrimp and grits. All dishes were well prepared, tasted delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Service: Attentive without being obtrusive. Lots of cross service tending to water glasses, utensils, etc. Atmosphere/Vibe: LOUD! If you're sensitive to loud noise be advised, mixed ages of crowd tending to middle agers. AC blowing on our table was corrected immediately when we asked. Pricing: One cocktail, one iced tea, one app and two 'large plates' was $104 before cash tip. Overall: Maybe a quieter time would be mid-week evening or for lunch. Worth the trip IMHO. read more

Wow just wow. Had a business meeting here. I don't even know how to communicate how delicious it was. We got some starters. West Coast Oysters - filled with lime and pickled cucumbers. Tuna Sashimi - spicy fish over green melon. Such a great combination. Who thought of this?!? Crispy Salmon Bites - my second favorite thing tonight. I got the scallops over peas with bacon as my main meal and man was it amazing. Best scallops I've ever had. I am trying to decide if I want to leave my current spot and work for him. Taking me here was a major step in the right direction. He said we could meet here monthly since it is halfway between us. Uhhhh I guess I should say yes!! read more

Odd fusion attempts. Poutine: messy jumble. Shrimp and grits had inedible bacon rocks. salmon bites were really good, but the ramen was just ok and the noodles were still kinda stuck together and it was really mostly noodle I would have wanted more vegetables. Server spoke at 200 rpm. Asked me how my food was before I had taken a bite. read more

We used to frequent the KoP location and were sad when it closed. So, we were so happy to stumble upon it during a day trip to Princeton. We went for lunch and it was really good. The biscuits with honey/cinnamon butter are death-row meal worthy. Insanely good. Hubby had an Italian style panini served with homemade chips. I had the smoked salmon toast- artfully presented and delicious. Our server was sweet and the manager stopped by to check in. Headed back to Princeton in a few months for a girls weekend and definitely making dinner plans here. read more

Went here for friend's bridemaid reveals! Great food with great ambiance. Their seating areas were cute and food was overall delicious! Very well enjoyed :) read more

See all

This place came highly recommended to me by several people so I knew I had to give it a try. I'm happy to report that it's excellent! I started with the mandrake speciality cocktail and it was so good. I had the Szechuan wings and French toast to start , the wings in the sauce were incredible and the French toast was phenomenal. Then I ordered the pork memelas after reading some reviews of how good they are and yes indeed they are delicious . For entree I did the bavette steak and eggs and woahhhhh it was sooooo amazing . I loved it all! I definitely recommend coming here! read more

See all

Great menu, amazing food, wonderful service! We dine here a few times a year. It's like a more casual version of its big sister Elements. The food is very flavorful. A must try! read more

We got the oysters, crispy rice salmon, tuna tostada, salad, scallops, and corn beignets. My favorites were the tuna tostada and corn beignets. The oysters are always good too, they always add some flavor on top. The cocktails were tasty and service was decent. read more

See all

I came back and ordered the same peri peri chicken and this time it was under seasoned and the skin was soggy. Im giving 3 stars because the tempura mushrooms were crunchy and delicious. read more

best rubber bands new jersey has to offer!!! let me tell you, there was no better place to celebrate my anniversary, talk about memorable! nothing says romantic ambiance like chewing on rubber and pulling it out of your mouth. we're talking at least 20 rubber bands. i'm not even exaggerating. not only did i get a personal apology from the owner, but he was so kind to not make me pay for the rubber bands. everything else was full price tho! not only did i leave with an empty stomach, but also an empty wallet and heart. sometimes i can't sleep at night due to fear of the unknown- did i swallow a rubber band??? i may never know. people of princeton, beware. read more

Mistral - my delicious rubber bands - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Scallops were delicious, steak was outstanding. The atmosphere is cool if you pick the seat so you can see chefs cooking.

Loved the food but not the food timing. We arrived for brunch and were promptly seated. The waiter was ok but not a ball of fire. We both ordered salads and soft drinks. The decor is lovely and I didn't realize it's an open kitchen. Be advised, due to this fact, the room was quite warm and it's only May. The salads were delicious. Fresh, creative. My cousin and I both cook and can be critical. She loved the salmon and was surprised how good it was. I had grilled chicken on mine and it was memorable. The salad had those little touches of texture, surprise flavors and temperature differences that made it note worthy. However, they came out so quickly that our waiter didn't have time to bring our drinks. He seemed surprised they were out already. So were we. The timing of the food made me feel rushed when the restaurant itself doesn't give that impression. I also didn't like that they require a credit card for a reservation and have 48 hour cancellation policy (Due to the busy weekend a $50/person fee, which is steep). They texted and called to remind me of my reservation. But to have my salad entree come out within 5 minutes of ordering was off putting. read more

Mistral - Grilled Kale Salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

I came here for brunch and sat outside with my friend's dog, and it was great vibes! The inside is more upscale and the outside seating faces the street outside the Princeton library. For two people, two bites and one large plate was the perfect portion. We got the crispy salmon bites which were my favorite, and it came with 3. The szechuan wings came with spicy chili sauce, and they were not my favorite but my friends liked them! This was the most disappointing dish of the three. However, the french toast was to die for. I am normally not a french toast person, but these were very creamy with berries and not too eggy. It was not overly sweet or soaked in honey. The menu here changes seasonally but I really enjoyed what we ordered. I would come back here to try the country fried steak. But would not recommend the soba noodles. read more

See all

Came to Mistral with a party of 7 for a birthday dinner at 8PM. Tons of options for parking, either on the street or at the multiple parking decks surrounding the restaurant. Table wasn't ready on time due to the previous table not leaving yet, but not a big deal. Once we were sat, menus were available on a QR code on the table. I was a bit confused with the menu. As a restaurant that considers themselves "Contemporary Americana," there were dishes from Korea, Peru, Japan, and India. I didn't have high expectations of these international dishes. Everything was WAY too salty. All 7 of us agreed. The cripsy salmon bites, the smoked fish gourges, and the brussel sprout kimchi; really not tolerable. I ordered the crispy pork belly; 2 small pieces of pork for $32? I wouldn't do that again. Ordered a Godfather from the bar; way too sweet. The shrimp ceviche was prepared well, and was probably the best dish that night. I likely wouldn't come back. read more

Mistral - Two small pieces of pork belly for $32? No thanks. Brussel sprout kimchi was way too salty. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

Really enjoyed this place for brunch this weekend. The wait staff was lovely and offered up recommendations of the food, the atmosphere was relaxed and we never felt rushed and they impeccably timed all food. Now onto the food, we had the corn beignets, pork memelas, heirloom tomato salad and the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich to share for the table. The corn beignets were crispy and delicious sitting in a little (but not overwhelming) pool of syrup and came with a great butter. The pork memelas were the star dish of the brunch and so incredibly flavorful and unique. I could have even like 5 of these. The tomato salad was a unique combination of different ingredients and flavors with the ricotta bringing it all together, but the tomatoes were a bit on the soft side. The fried chicken sandwich was not super fried, I feel like half of it was or maybe the fried shelf came off of in the sandwich but the flavors were all there. The French fries that came with this dish were also awesome! I would definitely come back here again and devour the pork memales. Highly recommend for more elevated food in Princeton. read more

I have mixed emotions about this restaurant. Such a beautiful dining area and everything we ordered was excellent. The issues I have here is with the service. We started out for drinks at the bar and the bartender obviously did not want to be working - there were only a few people at the bar so he was definitely not overwhelmed. No smile, no hello, nothing. When my wife complimented him on her drink he said "oh cool" In the actual restaurant itself we felt rushed to order. When we wanted to taste the wine that we were not quite sure about we were made to feel like it was an inconvenience. Great food is not enough to make someone come back - you have to look at your service. Shame because food is top notch read more

Beautiful. Unique. Interesting. Small portions do we ordered a lot of food. The menu changes often. Server we had Wends 12/17/25 @6:00pm reservations for 3 under the tree in the open kitchen area ... was awesome. The duck salad we weren't a fan of. It was very tangy. Everything else was great. read more

See all

Exciting food and unexpected menu featuring creative applications of spice and unexpected pleasure.

Came back for my birthday and everything was great! I usually don't like going back to the same place to eat but I made an exception since I was blown away last time. We were given seasoned rice paper chips which was a nice twist to a childhood snack. We started with the yuka poutine and it was indulgent, cheesy, flavorful. I got the braised pork belly and it was amazing, melts in your mouth tender and loved the sauces that pairs with the dish. The red drum fish was crisp and delicious as well. Service was attentive and the interior was modern and sophisticated. Can't wait to return and try their future items. read more

See all

Great restaurant! Loved the atmosphere. I sat by the kitchen and was able to watch the chefs cook which was fun. The restaurant was a little cold but I think that's because it was floor to ceiling glass doors which was great for the fun ambiance and atmosphere. The staff was fantastic. My waitress was Stacey and she was very attentive and gave great recommendations. The meals are built to share-- snacks and small dishes are appetizer size and medium dishes are entree sized. I went with my fiance and we shared the mushroom tempura, ham and cheese beignets, tuna tostada, and Thai chili chicken wings to start. I honestly did not enjoy the ham and cheese beignets. I was expecting more substance to the filling. It really just tasted like flavorless fried dough. The bechamel sauce was tasty though. The other small dishes were fantastic with my favorite being the chicken wings which were spicy and flavorful! Would also recommend the mushrooms which were very unique. I've never had anything like that and enjoyed the pairing with the dill scallion sauce. The entree we got was the squid ink bucatini. It was so flavorful and I loved the texture of the pasta. Dirty martini was great and perfectly dirty. The oh my chai was basically an espresso martini. The menu makes it look fancier but it was still good! I would definitely come back! read more

Mistral - Squid ink bucatini - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

For a cold winter night, Mistral offers a cozy atmosphere with great flavors! Each dish was unique in its own way and a visual treat. The steak with coconut curry sauce was a nice touch. The pan seared salmon skin was super crispy. While the Fava Bean Toast was colorful and fresh, the toast was soggy. Also, the salmon bites were yum except for the crust - bit hard. Service was friendly & prompt. Overall a great experience read more

See all

Mistral is still my go-to when I need to show visitors that Princeton does, in fact, have a dining scene--but the bar remains low. Lately the kitchen feels stuck on CAPS LOCK: every plate blasts you with spice, smoke, and citrus at once, while the finesse that once set it apart keeps fading. Service is usually solid and the food is always decent--just a bit shouty. Some dishes are excellent, but they vanish from the menu without warning. Weeknights are enjoyable; weekends feel cramped and frenetic. The crispy salmon bites never disappoint, but sample widely because consistency varies. I wanted to give four stars, yet after eating in NYC every week I can't do it. A Princeton four is a New York 2.5, so let's call this a generous three. read more

Excellent service, great food. Menu is seasonal, which to me is always an indication of a restaurant that cares about what it puts out. Don't skip dessert! read more

Been here twice, once for brunch and the other time for dinner. Dinner was definitely the more quality experience in terms of food programming. An interesting selection of dishes, some Asian inspired fusion and also new American style. -oysters had a granita sauce in them. I didn't love it but I can appreciate the thought. -thai crab salad was probably the most disappointing because it sounded the most delicious. kinda soggy, not enough flavor, no pungency or spiciness lol. really gave nothing -falafel was CRAZY! have you ever seen a falafel presented like that? Beets and hazelnut were a fantastic trio for this. Must get -Szechuan wings were at the top of my list. Great flavor, perfect chicken crunch -dessert could have done without, too sweet Lastly I didn't love the service. I feel like we waited too long without menus and water, not enough waiters for amount of diners. Service needs to be more professional, would have gave this 5 stars otherwise read more

See all

Came here for Mother's Day dinner with my wife and had a really good time. We ended up parking in Spring Street garage since it's so close, but we actually noticed that there were empty spots in the dedicated lot as we walked in :) Darn! We were seated immediately and were pretty entertained by the decor inside. Giant tree branches jutting out this way and that way! The open kitchen was also a nice touch. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Crudo for my first course and it wasn't bad at all - some really vibrant flavors on the plate. For my second course, I chose the Grilled Bavette Steak, which once again was a winner. My wife got the Ramp Linguine and it definitely did not pack as much flavor as my choice. Usually I feel like I pick the wrong dish in these situations but I actually won out in this case :) For my third and final course, I chose the Peach Panna Cotta, and it was once again pretty solid. Basically, nothing was absolutely outstanding but we also didn't feel ripped off by the price tag of the meal. Service was decent throughout. I would consider coming back here for a special date night. read more

Best happy hour in town! Don't waste your time anywhere else. Get bar seating. Order some apps. Enjoy the beautiful drinks and food delivered while you people watch. Always recommend. Always coming back for more. read more

See all

Great work behind the bar by Gary. Nelson recommended the tempura mushrooms, which were awesome. Indirectly Gary talked me into the pan seared duck. Flavor and finish it up with one of Gary's good cocktails. read more

Surprisingly mediocre. Several dishes feel so inventive that they no longer resemble what their names suggest. For example, the "burrata" neither looks nor tastes like burrata. The restaurant claims a Mediterranean focus, yet the menu includes sashimi, ramen, and even a Szechuan crisp appetizer. The eclectic mix of spices and aromas ends up confusing the palate rather than complementing it. read more

Excellent service, excellent atmosphere, excellent everything! Food came out quick and just enough time between starters and main meals. Brunch is my favorite here. No complaints! read more

See all

Nice ambiance and a lively trendy vibe. The service is great and servers are knowledgeable about food and recommendations. The place will help with making alterations to the meal based on your dietary needs. The food was fresh and good. Enough to share and try multiple things. Am read more

See all

Im visiting from out of town and stopped by Mistral for dinner. I was alone so sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and made me a great martini. I asked for recommendations and ultimately ordered some oysters, a salad I cannot recall the same of and the spicy shrimp noodles. They were all amazing! The topping on the oysters was so unique and the salad was fresh and delicious. The spicy noodles were very spicy which I loved but may be too much for some people. The place was busy and everyone seemed happy and well taken care of. I will definitely recommend to others visiting! read more

Mistral - Oysters - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Different vibe w open kitchen! Great wine and beer selection, dinner menu was different, I got duck breast, which was excellent, my husband raved abt. the oysters and the Bavette steak, just to name a couple of things. Our waiter was friendly and very attentive. I will def. recommend Mistral. read more

Pretty great restaurant in the heart of Princeton, my family and I always enjoy a visit here when I'm back in town. It's an American fusion restaurant with some hints of Asian / Mediterranean flair sometimes (?) Ex - pork ramen + Asian style sea bass. We've enjoyed all of their dishes, especially the Szechuan wings, market salad, smoked fish dip and ceviche. I definitely prefer their apps over their entrees (the steak is decent.) read more

Mistral - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

We came here on a busy Sunday afternoon for brunch. We made reservations ahead of time so we didn't need to wait. Our table was right across the kitchen area. The brussel sprouts were really good and crispy. It was very flavorful and definitely glad we got this for the table. I had French toast which smelled really good and was sweet and yummy. One of my friends ordered potatoes as a side and falafel but the potatoes weren't a lot better than the falafel. The falafel looks pretty though. Another one of us got a burger which looked great and was more than enough that she had to take it home. Service was decent. It was quite busy so they did forgot our drinks in the beginning. We had to remind the waiter once our entrees arrived. Bathroom was clean. There's two by the way. We didn't try dessert but the options seem quite diverse. read more

Mistral - French toast - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

See all

Ordinarily any restaurant where you have to stare at a parking lot would normally annoy the sh_t out of me but Mistral enjoys a get out of jail free card just because they also happen to be one of the finest restaurants in a state well known for parking lots and concrete. As usual, the present but not intrusive service was impeccable followed by some simple fare that made our taste buds hate us for not coming here more often. Dinner featured a power trio of Brussel Sprouts, Szechuan Beef Noodle Soup and Buccatini so well prepared and tasty that taking any home would have been a sin. In other words, microscopic portion sizes courtesy of a stingy chef or a vengeful warden simply do not exist here. Simply put, I'm a fan of Mistral and parking lots. The easiest of five stars. read more