I won't kid you, if you're a show pony at heart and all that matters is flash, cash and being seen at the trendiest "it" eatery of the moment you'll probably pass on Hopewell's hidden gem, The Blue Bottle Cafe. If however, you're in the mood for one of the finest dining experiences in New Jersey, get off Instagram, unweave your eyebrows and move your tuchus over to Hopewell. I'm still salivating over the Duck Confit, Mushroom Oysters and Monkfish that were all perfectly prepared and served by pros. Yes, you're eating in a suburban tract home but anyone you truly want to impress will think you're brilliant. A continuing five stars. FYI, it's BYOB. read more

Had a great time here celebrating a birthday! The outside is totally unassuming; you wouldn't expect the most delicious food to be inside. I thought I read a review that said the apps were small...oh no. The gnocchi was a very good portion for an app, and so were all the others! My entree was the duo of beef. AMAZING. Everything perfectly done. Oh and I had to try my aunt's chicken dish with the truffle orzo...so good. Everyone at the table loved their entree, from the scallops to the duck, and the chicken. The dessert somehow almost trumped the dinner, that's how good it was. I got the caramel ice cream stuffed profiteroles and went to heaven. The chocolate pots de creme, also outstanding and the cobbler was a big hit. We loved that it was BYOB, and a small, inviting atmosphere inside. Everyone was so impressed and can't wait to come back for another special occasion! read more

The Blue Bottle Cafe - Profiteroles dessert - New American Near Me - Hopewell, New Jersey

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My husband and I had an incredible dinner last Friday night. The menu was filled with special choices from gnocchis with carmelized onions to venison Even though it was very busy our waitress gave us all the attention we needed. read more

The service was amazing. The food was splendid; the duo Beef dish was a home run. Remember that's a B YOW. If you forget, there's a wine store nearby. The ambiance is warm and welcoming. read more

The Blue Bottle Cafe - Carrot cake, caramel - New American Near Me - Hopewell, New Jersey

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Yummy! Our first visit. And on our 35th wedding anniversary. Enjoyed the mushroom soup and move.

Food - excellent. Service wonderful. Ambiance - calm, serene, relaxing, quiet. Small-town feel. Romantic. BYOB. Would like a wider menu or some interesting specials. Would have liked to see a few more interesting dishes / something with more acid. Lobster bisque had real lobster chunks, mahi mahi was cooked perfectly and made even more wonderfully flavorful with generous saucing on the plate. Scallops and shrimp were cooked to perfection and very tasty. The goat cheese tart was a lovely taste. Texture could have been lighter and crispier, but it was still a highlight, and mad love to the greens that came with it. We enjoyed the sunset and each other as we had a lovely dinner. I definitely recommend this place. As a bonus, it's BYOB. read more

The Blue Bottle Cafe - Menu at the Blue Bottle Cafe on June 1, 2023 - New American Near Me - Hopewell, New Jersey

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

Good Ambiance at night. I wish the place was bigger. The main dining area looks modern but if you're seating in the back room it looks dated and completely changes the mood. The service was great and food was excellent. You can tell the kitchen puts effort into each dish. read more

We requested no salt on the fish my husband ordered because he is on a low-sodium diet after his heart attack. Unfortunately, what we received was excessively salty, making it inedible. It was a disappointing experience. read more

Amazing owners who truly care about guests and guests love them too! Take time to slow down, relax and Enjoy a special day or evening here. Great creative food that they can customize per allergies. Indoor or outdoor seating. Blue Bottle serves the BEST tasting desserts and the presentation is superb! FATWS read more

The Blue Bottle Cafe - Amazing Octopus (sorry animal) - New American Near Me - Hopewell, New Jersey

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Great food! Always have a good dinner!!!! One of our favorite places to go to in Hopewell!!!

After having this place on my bookmark for quite some time now finally decided to give it a try. So glad we did. Went there with my boyfriend for a dinner date. Thought the place was cute. Service was on point. The food was cooked well, good portions, and reasonable prices. My boyfriend was also pleased with his dinner and might I add he is very hard to please. Definitely will be back. read more

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Perfect meal executed with friendly staff. Every dish was creatively prepared and exciting. Gnocchi...perfect, blue bottle salad...amazing (we spent 15 minutes trying to figure out the salad dressing which was silent and loud at the same time/ingredients perfeclty paired) wow, double pork dish was unique in the best possible way...desserts (banana foster, chocolate pot)... perfect Yup. We'll be back asap. Thank you Aaron and Rory. Please consider a satellite resturant in Stockton NJ ! read more

My go to spot for any special occasion. You must start with the gnocchi and/or the Lobster Bisque. Both are fantastic ways to start your meal! I had the Mahi Mahi and it was perfectly cooked and the Salsa verde paired perfectly with the delicate fish. For dessert -- you can't go wrong. I went with the Profiteroles the last time out -- and they were so delicous. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Wow!! I have to say that the chef here is truly gifted. I had no expectations when I went in to see an old high school friend for dinner and from the start I was shocked on how flavorful the dishes were. Not only that but the quality of ingredients. You could tell that the gnocchi was not out of a box but made fresh and I would bet it was made that day. The seared scallops were perfectly done and the sauce with a hint of cumin gave it a pleasantly surprising little extra something. read more

Everything was absolutely amazing! The sauce for the venison was absolutely incredible. The meat was cooked perfectly. I was concerned the tart would have too much Brie, but it was perfect. Gnocchi were perfect crispy little pillows in an amazing creamy sauce. I had the financier the last time I was here without the bananas and like it a lot better, but it was still an absolutely delicious dessert. read more

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Nice dinner great service. Absolute gem located in a beautiful setting. I adore blue bottle. Byo.

Parents should be advised beforehand that sometime after age 12, their cute little bundle of want and need will require only 2 things from you: money and transportation. This is KNOWN FACT! What has not been so well documented is what happens after your kid gets into graduate school, especially at some ivy league joint. Then they don't seem to need much from you after all, such that you're anxious to gain audience with them anytime they say "ok, dad". I use fine food and great wine as bait. So it was on this trip to Princeton that I looked around for something good within short driving distance, and found The Blue Bottle Cafe. Yelp categorizes The Blue Bottle as being in some way, degree or another "French" so with that in mind I quickly reserved a table. Having figured to do further research later, when I got to it at last minute I had second thoughts...about a few things. For one, the website menu doesn't appear "French" in any way. Certainly "New American" and a sort of upscale homespun countryfied version at that. Fits the Hopewell, exurban locale exactamundo. Then there's the name, Blue Bottle - this immediately brought to mind a type of annoying large fly, bluish looking, found probably on everyone's summer picnic table. Finally, there were some reviews from patrons reporting terrible service. This last gave me more concern than the others. I can enjoy eating just about anything. And flies can't be a problem...if in fact they ever were at all...during dead winter. But inattentive or presumptuous or pretentious service...well, that's not going to work. So more curious than concerned, I decided to go for it and at the least enjoy a drive in the Jersey countryside with my son to nearby Hopewell. Now that I've sucked you into reading my review by digging this hole of concern, let's clear up the issue of flies right away. Those Blue Bottles are literally empty blue bottles of various shapes and sizes arranged in neat rows along side shelves as decoration. Who'da thought that, I'm just a dazed and confused Californian. Only later did I see a bottle photo on the sign outside and the website. It's a nice touch, once you understand the connection, but as I said...dazed and confused. OK, about the food: very well done, clearly not French but so what ...delicious in its own style. My son and I had grilled octopus and salmon tartare appetizers, roast venison and grilled pork chops for mains, and a couple of desserts. Every dish was done as well as it can be, not exotic but basic local source, prepped and served in a way you'd have to look hard to find a fault. Both of us were very pleased. The byob aspect is a real plus. I know restaurants make an inordinate profit on alcohol, but few wine lists ever deliver value. I'd much rather pay them more for what they do best, decide what to cook and do it well. I'll bring the wine. Finally, there's the servers. For this person we had the most lovely, attentive creature one could wish for; and Elaine is her name. You really will need reservations I think, as The Blue Bottle was booked up even on Wednesday night by 7 pm. But we never waited long for anything, and there was no sense that we needed to move on afterward. Frankly I don't know what some of the lower ratings from earlier days at the Blue Bottle might be about, but I see that the restaurant now is consistently regarded highly and for good reason. I do think the Yelp description of The Blue Bottle Cafe as "French" is in some respects a disservice to the style it does so well. When George Washington marched his army through this Hopewell Valley almost 250 years ago, I'm sure he would have jumped at the chance to dine on "New American" at the Blue Bottle. I suggest, go. read more

We had an amazing meal. Everything was delicious and the flavor profiles were great. We had appetizers, scallops, duck, and steak. Everything was delicious and the service was great. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

We dined outside and the food and service were excellent. It is a little bit of a trip to get here but ii is worth it. The Octopus appetizer was prepared perfectly, it was tender and not rubbery, We had the chicken and steak for our main courses and both were both excellent. read more

This small venue off the beaten path near Princeton is a true gem. And the BYO is an nice plus. Came here with a small group of clients from as far north as Hoboken and as far south as Wynnewood PA - an hour away in each direction. Both said the drive was well worth the effort. The ambiance is warm and French country-ish and serves as a great backdrop to a terrific menu. Serve was spot on. Invisible except when needed and anticipating every need. Our group had lots of questions, and one member of our party changed several components of his dish - all handled with a "no problem" and a smile. The "truffled" cream of Porcini mushroom soup was outstanding and a great starter. I moved on to a wild boar duo - a perfectly grilled chop and two nice-sized house-made sausage links.The sides - spaetzle, gruyere and pilsner fondue, pretzel crumble, garlic spinach, and a sauce Charcutiere knocked it out of the park. I wiped my plate clean. Sadly, it's a solid 2 hours and 15 minutes from my home, but I plan to take an overnight with my wife so we can enjoy this wonderful spot together. read more

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A wonderful dining experience! The setting is casual and unique b/c of the whole blue vibe and decor. The majority of the restaurant is decorated in blue tones - mainly royal and cobalt. Gorgeous blue wine bottles adorn cubbies and atop a piece of furniture as well. If you bring in a bottle that they don't have yet, you trade it in for a free dessert! Yay! The 'loo' walls are blue and there are many other blue decorations throughout the restaurant as well. Enough on the blue! Onto the food! Our appetizers were beautiful and excellent (well, the one I could speak for). We had the house made ricotta, which was accompanied by fresh (cold) asparagus and tiny mushrooms. DELICIOUS! The other appetizer was duck but I'm not a fan so I passed. It was well liked by Vince and our friend though. Our main courses were simply amazing and delectable! I had scallops and fried oysters over black eyed peas. Probably THE best scallops I have EVER had! Vince had a halibut dish (over black rice) that he really enjoyed. (I tried it - pretty darn good!). Our friend had pan seared tuna, cooked raw, like I love it. It was really really good and I'd probably get it if I ever come here again. Our 'free' (b/c of turning in our beautiful bottle!) dessert was profiteroles. I'd somehow never had them before and enjoyed them a lot, although stuffed! Sea salt caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce - yummy! I'd highly recommend The Blue Bottle Cafe and will remember our night out here for quite some time to come. read more

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My husband surprised me with a Valentines dinner a few days after. The ambiance was cute, quaint and inviting. The staff were friendly and welcoming and seated us quickly. We ordered the baked clams and gnocchi to start, both were delicious. The seasoning was on point for both, and the gnocchi was light and pillowy. My husband had the flat iron steak med rare, it was perfection. I ordered the special, bucatini pasta. It was delicious, seasoned perfectly with right amount of garlic, salt, and pepper. I wasn't aware that asking for cheese on my pasta (it also had crab and lobster) wasn't appropriate, however the kitchen staff made it loud and clear. I was able to hear our server getting schooled that pasta with seafood doesn't get cheese. My sincere apologies for our server having to be told in such a loud tone. Other than that, our experience here was great. One suggestion to enhance the ambiance of this amazing restaurant, is to add some light music. If that had been playing I probably wouldn't have heard the kitchen complaining about my asking for cheese. read more

Went here tonight for a special occasion. We sat outside (in these days of Covid 19). The spacing and distance between tables was appreciated. However, the standout was the food. Everything was made with care and balanced. The gazpacho was cool, bright, and savory, and my blue bottle salad was outstanding. For main dishes my wife had the steak and fritz. Some of the best fries around for sure and the steak and sauce was deep and rich. I had the duck breast which included duck breast, and dark duck meat as well as a blueberry sauce....again, salty, tart, rich and just plain yummy. And for dessert the winner was the chocolate small pot. Just outstanding! Thank you for a great evening out. read more

Wonderful food and hospitality. The food is comparable to any high-end. New York restaurant and owners wife came to talk with us personally.

This place has been on my to-go list for a few years. I finally had a chance to try it out on Saturday. I was disappointed that we were sat in the front room, as it doesn't have the ambiance of the pictures I saw. We also could hear arguing and cursing In the kitchen during dinner. The food, however, was excellent. They have a great menu. We started with the mushroom and onion tart and the crispy pork belly. I got the mahi mahi. The selection of bread is great, too! I love that they have options. Our waiter even brought us some extra, which was appreciated! The courses were spaced out nicely so we had time to enjoy. There was not a shred of food left on any of our plates. Unfortunately that didn't leave room for dessert. I also like that it's BYOB. I definitely will be back, I just know next time to ask to not be seated in the front room. Definitely recommend for any foodie! read more

Great spot for a date or a group dinner. Make reservations ahead of time to avoid waiting. Their steak is great as well as any appetizer.

We absolutely love Blue Bottle! The food is amazing and the portions are very generous. We always leave very satisfied. They have been consistently awesome for the 15 yrs we've been going here. Our favorite local restaurant. read more

Heavenly food. A classic gourmet dining experience. Impeccable service. Perfect for date night or special occasion. Bring your best bottle, and you'll be in for a lovely evening. read more

All the accolades are well-earned. I live local and have been here plenty of times, lunch, dinner, weeknights, weekends. They are always consistently good. Not a bad dish on the menu and all are perfectly prepared and beautifully served. My only complaint is that the food is so good that I forget to leave room for Rory's delicious desserts. (I once had some kind of bread pudding with white chocolate and raspberry sauce that was so crazy good I was obsessed.) The icing on the cake, if you will, is that this local restaurant is also generous to the local community. Doesn't get any better than that. :) read more

Best meal we've had in quite some time. Three us had the Beef Duo: flat iron steak and braised short rib. This was incredible. Perfectly done short rib, tender and flavorful. The flat iron was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. The mushrooms, sauce and addition of blue cheese gave an extra zing to the whole dish. The lamb kefta and grilled octopus appetizers were delicious and just the right amount for us. Pleasant and courteous staff, and nice inviting space. Will definitely return. read more

Nice location with indoor and outdoor seating. This is a upscale priced menu. Rack of lamb was fair, not properly seasoned. Friends pork loin was tasteless. Service good. BYOB. Will visit again to see if improvements read more

Hits in all cylinders. Apps, mussels and gnocchi. Main course griggstown chicken and scallops(OMG) and all the desserts made with love. Oh, and excellent service as well. Bravo!! read more

Amidst its wealth of highly rated Yelp reviews, Blue Bottle Cafe seems to be getting sloppy and compromising its quality. Please bring the service and standards back up, Blue Bottle... Located in the heart of Hopewell, near other farm-to-table, foodie-friendly restaurants like Brick Farm Tavern (no more than 5 minutes away), Blue Bottle Cafe is a niche French restaurant with exotic offerings yet a subpar ambiance and service quality. After checking out countless strong reviews from fellow Yelpers, I decided to make a reservation at Blue Bottle for myself. I was somewhat disappointed at the quality of the service on an early Saturday night. Nor was my palate a perfect match with the restaurant, so can't say much there either for this restaurant. The ambiance was simply much too loud and noisy, not intimate at all, and the servers were quite standoffish, aloof, and seemed hesitant to engage, which made the meal that much the more awkward. My party of three ordered the Salmon Tartare and the Blue Bottle Salad to start. The salmon tartare was much too acidic, and left a burning sensation in my mouth that I couldn't seem to ditch for the rest of my time at dinner... not the best start. The Blue Bottle salad was much better, thank the heavens, and was your classic fresh garden salad with a very tasty, yet subtle red wine honey vinaigrette. For mains, we did the Griggstown chicken, the duo of beef with New York Strip and short rib, and finally the fillet of black bass. The Griggstown chicken was okay, and I know how easy it is to go wrong with this dish, but the chicken simply was too abrasive and rough. Something must have gone wrong with the preparation because it just lacked the tenderness (tasted like "sandpaper," as one of the other diners noted) which nearby restaurants like Eno Terra or Brick Farm Tavern can prepare it. The duo of beef was adequate, with the short rib and caramelized Brussels sprouts definitely being the highlights of this dish. The fillet of black bass was just average, nothing special with the black rice or broccolini which accompanied the dish--you could find the same thing, of similar quality, at Seasons 52. The service is truly what dampened the entire experience for me. I came in on a Saturday night with a reservation made long in advance, and the hostess simply brushed me off when I made my presence known. She spent nearly 15 minutes chit-chatting with a departing diner outside at his car, and then proceeded to push me aside as I was waiting near the door to be shown to my table after she came back in. The servers were better, but more aloof than any other waiters that I have encountered at a restaurant of ostensibly this caliber. Just not what I expected from a restaurant that I had read so much about from other Yelpers... The location, off the main road in Hopewell, is decent, although somewhat difficult to find. You can easily see the restaurant from the road, but the entrance is partially obscured, difficult to find in the darkness of night. There's very limited parking, fewer parking spots than there are tables in the entire restaurant, so book an early slot and get there early to wait on a parking spot. Its interior is unique, with blue bottles positioned everywhere, but the tables are a little cramped and the lighting is a little harsh in how bright it is. As for its location, Blue Bottle is situated outside the nearby locales of Princeton and Trenton, Blue Bottle is a remote, fine-dining establishment which simply didn't live up to expectations for a high-caliber restaurant. Try any of Princeton's other offerings if you're looking for French, and Brick Farm Tavern, just five minutes away, is a much better option as well. Cannot recommend due to its high price and subpar service, food, and ambiance. read more

Great food; the ambiance is casual and cozy and the service, warm and friendly. Would definitely go again.

Very limited menu options and prices are high. Was not impressed and couldn't substitute options for dinner.

We've been here before and wanted to come back for our anniversary dinner. The owner is always on hand, greeting everyone and making sure you're having a nice time. The waitstaff is very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. My wife began with the Green Goddess Salad, and I had the Blue Bottle house salad. Both were fresh and delicious. My wife had the NY Strip, which was thick and flavorful, and I had the Black Bass, which was cooked perfectly and flavorful, as well. The warm, fresh bread is delicious, and we love that it's a BYOB. No room for dessert for us, this time, but the Profiteroles and Bananas Foster (at the next table) looked wonderful. read more

I have taken my group here for most celebratory lunches (like holiday lunches).. I used to enjoy it a lot, however I am finding that the menu is not as exciting as it could be.. and the creativity is becoming more commercialized. Plus, the cost is (in my opinion) on a higher side compared to the offered experience.. I already moved my last two get togethers elsewhere.. Good ambiance though. read more

I don't know how else to describe our dinner other than perfect all around. We came here for our Anniversary expecting a really good meal but wound up with an exceptional experience that exceeded our expectations. The service was attentive and pleasant, the appetizers and main course (Tuna) were absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked and the dessert was so good and creative. The "icing on the cake" which made the night even more spectacular, was the guitar player who complemented the ambiance. Thank you for a great experience! read more

Came here for a family dinner during the holidays. Food was decent. Not sure if it was worth the price though.