What lovely place to have lunch, at least on a warm almost-summer day eating under an umbrella at an outdoor table! Friends picked us up at the Princeton Junction train station and drove into Princeton. We had lunch at Witherspoon, one of their favorites, before heading to the Princeton University Art Museum. My friend and I shared the grilled shrimp salad, and they kindly split it in the kitchen for us. Hardly any black beans, at least in mine, but two large shrimp (one of my favorite oxymorons!) and lots of shredded romaine, topped with about half a sliced avocado. Came with a creamy dressing on the side, no great shakes to me but my friend loved it. My husband had a whole grilled shrimp salad to himself, ignored the dressing, and really liked the salad. Our other friend had 2 appetizers as his meal - lobster bisque and a poke cup that was on the menu as a tuna martini, or something like that. Cute title. Two of us had unsweetened iced tea, one had a cup of hot water. My iced tea was good, our friend got a refill of his. I'm not sure if he was charged for it but I don't think so. We passed on dessert, went later for ice cream. Enjoy! read more

First visit to Princeton and took a chance on Witherspoon Grill. Very nice restaurant and bar which appears to be a local favorite. The place was packed on a Sunday and everyone was enjoying cocktails and food. We sat in the bar area and were served quickly. I went with the Braised Short Rib over backed Mac and Cheese. Absolutely delicious. My wife ordered Salmon and was very pleased. Prices are on the high side, but fitting the level of service and atmosphere. I give it two thumbs up. read more

Witherspoon Grill - Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Braised Short Rib - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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When we are in the area this is our go to date night spot. We typically order the same thing but last night my bf switched from the ribeye to the strip steak. We are bar people so we sit there if it's just the 2 of us. Jackie the bartender is absolutely amazing! She makes a delicious dirty martini (and all drinks) Over the winter I did dry January and she made me a fun mocktail which was very nice of her! The filet is perfectly tender and the bernaise sauce is the best I've had out. Has a nice lemon tone, which I love the brightness of the acidity. The fries are like McDonald's but a step up, and creamed spinach is also a favorite. It is heavier on the cream and cheese side which we enjoy! This time around we did not get dessert but the Witherspoon Sundae is a MUST I also love the oyster sampler app which is nice to try different varieties! read more

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Pros: We loved the open concept and the natural light pouring in through the windows--being on the corner really adds to the bright, inviting atmosphere. We started with cosmos, which were good (though not quite perfect). I ordered the turkey BLT, served with homemade potato chips that honestly stole the show. Our server, Noel, was attentive and thoughtful, even surprising us with complimentary glasses of champagne for our anniversary. Cons: The Witherspoon Burger was ordered medium to medium-well but came out fully well done. It still had good flavor, but the doneness was off. The fries were underwhelming and nothing particularly memorable. We also ordered the toasted pound cake with strawberries and cream--while the toasted outer layer was delicious, the rest of the cake didn't quite live up to it, and we ended up leaving much of it uneaten. Overall: Between the lovely ambiance, great service, and solid food, we'd still consider coming back--though there's a bit of room for improvement when it comes to consistency. read more

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Great choice for a chill lunch to catch up with a friend. Lots of space, easy to make a reservation, good service, tasty food, plenty of menu options, traditional decor. The desserts were especially delicious. read more

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Wow what an excellent dinner!! Not one complaint for tonight's dining experience. Our server, William, as always was phenomenal. Our water glasses filled every time they got low by other staff members. We were seated promptly. The temperature was perfect. Most of all the food was outstandingly delicious!! Three of us got the restaurant week menu Caesar salad, sea bass, and either the bread pudding or mini brownie sundae both of which were great. The sea bass was soooo good with the sweet Thai chili sauce and the vegetable toppings. We cleared our plates. The fourth person in our party got the strip steak cooked rare and he said it was cooked to perfection and so tender and delicious. All in all the most wonderful experience and we will be back again! read more

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Restaurant Week in Princeton brought a packed house and an excellent combo of filet mignon, a Caesar and a brownie sundae. Service was attentive and despite the crowd there was no rush which was greatly appreciated. Some attractive weather also brought out throngs of Sunday day trippers whose hive minded refusal to look for incoming traffic when crossing the street almost made this Restaurant Week their last. If you refuse to look, get a guide dog. Five stars for the filet. read more

This time was my second time coming to Witherspoon, and both times the food and service were excellent! I got the roast beef sandwich, which was extremely fresh and flavorful. Their fries are also really good if you like the thin, crispy ones. We also got a giant ice cream sundae to share, which absolutely hit the spot. It had multiple ice cream flavors, sauces, and toppings, all on top of a warm brownie. So, so good! I was with a big party during peak lunchtime, but we still found the service to be pretty speedy and accommodating. read more

This past weekend, 12/13/25 we decided to have a date night down in Princeton! We have been to Witherspoon Grill once before for Dinner & absolutely loved it! We had actually had dinner before coming so we went for a night cap! My husband & I each got 4 cocktails. We absolutely loved our seasonal beverages! The restaurant is very warm & cozy inside. The bar staff was super helpful & friendly! We would definitely go back! read more

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It was a beautiful day in Princeton, New Jersey. We walked around the Princeton & my niece made reservations for lunch at Witherspoons just a few steps from the hallowed halls of Princeton University. We sat outside & were enjoying a rare warm October day in the Northeast. I had the salmon, tasty & healthy. The Lobster roll was yummy & filling. The cocktails were amazing. Service was great & we did not have to wait long to be served. The vibe was lively & a lot of folks brought their pets. I highly recommend this restaurant. A great day, with great food & making memories with family. Just perfect. read more

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Food is mediocre & overpriced: I had a $28 salad for lunch & came home hungry. Enough said.

The food was delicious and the ambiance is amazing! Typical Princeton vibe and locals. My meal was bigger than I expected! The mojito was to die for. Service was attentive and professional!! I highly recommend!!! read more

Witherspoon Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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It was my daughter's Master Degree Graduation and the family and I were greeted very warm and friendly by the host, I'm sorry I didn't get her babe she had a pink/ peach blazer. They sat us within 5 minutes of our arrival. The server Noel was very personal and friendly. He took our order right away. The food was exceptionally delicious! The whole family was pleasantly impressed with the quality of the food. Noel checked up on us through our whole brunch experience. It may my daughters graduation extra special! We will be back soon read more

Witherspoon Grill - Starter dish was Nueske's bacon served in a sweet and spicy maple chipotle syrup! - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

We come for lunch once a year to meet up with friends halfway between our homes. Witherspoon never disappoints. They accomodate our food allergies and our messy toddlers. The food is very good, the service was great today and the ambiance is also very nice. read more

I ate here solo, looked for a bar / high top seat but they were all taken, on a Tuesday night mind you. Staff accommodated me at a nice two seater table that didn't have me in the middle of the action, so I felt comfortable dining alone. Started off with the best Blood Orange Martini I've ever had. Cold and tasty!! I honestly had the best Caesar Salad I may ever have had. So tasty and plentiful. Abundance of Parm & croutons and packed with flavor. Hadn't had a Filet in awhile and opted for that with some Bearnaise. Great choice - tender cut - tasty crust - perfectly prepared. A jazz band was playing which only added to the amazing ambience. My server was attentive and quite friendly. I'm sorry I missed her name. Thank you for a fantastic evening. I will return for sure. read more

Absolutely atrocious! Stale bread and the worst crab cakes I have ver had in my life. Literally undercooked slop called crab cakes. Service was terrible. Never again read more

I feel like I've had better steak from other places I've tried, but they had some exceptional dishes. The braised short rib entree I got was delicious! Super tender and flavorful. I enjoyed the combination of the mushroom sauce, short rib, mashed potatoes and shaved Brussel sprouts. We would go back for this dish. Fried Calamari was good, cooked perfectly. My boyfriend enjoyed his oyster sampler. The filet mignon he got was just average. Very tender but it wasn't seasoned enough and they seared the sides a bit too long. read more

Not really the most extensive menu. I've been here several times before and it's always pretty good. The cocktails are reasonably priced. I got the filet tips which were very good, but unfortunately, they only gave me four pieces that were rather small. Definitely wish there was more meat as my serving size is was not a lot.. The potatoes they came with were pretty good. The food overall was pretty good. Our waitress was fine, nothing special, unfortunately and she also seemed slightly irritated by us at times. I think my previous experiences may have been better. read more

A Princeton staple. Consistently great! The fried calamari was perfectly cooked with a delicious balsamic drizzle. Tried the warm goat cheese salad special, it was perfect. read more

Witherspoon Grill - Warm goat cheese salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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The oysters--perfection! Lots of good reliable American fare with nice ambiance and wonderful service! Def pricy!

Amazing food, appetizers, specials and entrees. The bread is another standout. The desserts are fantastic as well. read more

Witherspoon Grill - There used to be delicious bread here. - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

This is a solid choice in Princeton. It can get very busy and very loud inside, but the menu is solid, steaks are the highlights but there is a variety to be found. Appetizers, salads and desserts are solid, great bar, solid wine list. Service is generally pretty good. It is overpriced, even for Princeton, but that is the only flaw. read more

Thats a fig on my fork... I picked it from the salad on the other side of the table and it was really good! My burger was bomb. read more

Witherspoon Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

From the perfectly prepared steak to the flavorful short rib and crisp broccolini, the kitchen truly impressed us tonight. The short rib, in particular, was exceptional. Complemented by excellent service, it was a fantastic evening. Highly recommended! read more

Witherspoon Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Make reservations for busy peak dinning times. Noise level indoors is manageable, so this would be a good spot for a date or a family gathering, when you want to hear what your companions are saying. Drinks are strong and well composed. Food was served quickly. Efficient and friendly staff. Get the 4 oysters sampler, you won't regret it. Four very different oysters will titillate your palette and make you wonder how such seemingly simple, unassuming creatures can boast such uniquely different flavors. Steak and frites is not a big portion, but it will satisfy you. Fries are on the soft side, so ask them to be done extra crispy to get the most flavor out of them. Short ribs were underwhelming in flavor and tough in texture. The sauce was completely bland, which was surprising, because how can you mess a red wine reduction? Had to use a lot of table black pepper to try add taste to a dish that I was so excited to try, but which fell flat. Burgers and steaks at neighboring tables looked and smelled divine, so go for those options. read more

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Great food and service. This restaurant is loud when it's filled up so if that's a problem for you I would go off peak hours.

.Service and atmosphere were both good.I expected the food to be better. The filet mignon was not as tender as I've had else where.The ny strip a bit salty.Although not outrageous,,for the price of the dinner,it was underwhelming. read more

Food excellent. Service is first class. Noise is very off putting. Hard to enjoy a meal when your table mates cannot understand your conversation; nor their's. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped here for an impromptu lunch. We were seated right away and it was not busy. We tried and enjoyed a few different oysters and then shared the crab and artichoke dip which was spectacularly delicious. Definitely recommend read more

Been here numerous times over the years. Food always to perfection. Ambiance terrific especially when weather allows dining outdoors. Drinks and wine selection superb. Best of all is the entire staff in all positions; friendly, courteous and efficient. HIGHLY recommend read more

Went for a corporate dinner with work colleagues. Though a cute cosy establishment the food was very unassuming. We ordered a bunch of appetizers like shrimp cocktail and creamed spinach and drinks for the table. I ordered a sweet ice wine which was ok. My Griggstown chicken felt a bit overcooked and crispy than I had expected. Overall service was good and pretty fast but food wasn't something to die for in my opinion read more

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Went here for a business dinner while in Princeton and enjoyed the experience, so why not review it? Rhetorical answer, so no need to answer. Having an average/above average debate in my head, so I will give the bump to 4 and explain things in my comments. Let's start with a couple of negative, as they hit right up front. First was the Old Fashioned. In a higher end establishment, a cheap marachino cherry is a negative. Yes, I know they are versatile and used in other drinks, but an upscale bourbon deserves a bit more class. (Yes, a bit of a bourbon snob). In addition, having a better grasp of your brews and how they pair is key to the higher end experience (beers could have been better curated, but now I am being a beer snob). I would also say the menu is a wee bit misleading as it looks like the typical "no sides" kind of steakhouse, but the meals are not just the meat (this also turns into a positive, although I would not have added asparagus for the table knowing this). Food wise? Order the calamari. I have eaten calamari in plenty of the "best places for calamari" and they are not usually on point. Calamari has a very short window to be soft and buttery (chewy undercooked, rubbery on the other end). We ordered a few plates as people piled in and each one was absolutely on point. The tuna and avocado poke was also nicely done, but most places don't screw this up. My lamb was cooked to a nice medium rare and went very well with the sauce in the bowl (the chimichuri down the side was, honostly, more of a distraction, although it did help the plating). Asaparagus a bit overcooked, but not to the point it was annoying. The key lime pie did not disappoint. Very nicely done. Atmosphere is very nice and the service was great for the casual style of upscale dining they are going for. I would definitely consider a return when I am in Princeton again. read more

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Witherspoon Grill is a nicely designed and pleasant restaurant. Service was prompt and courteous, and the prices, for lunch at least, were reasonable. What was lousy was the main entrées. For an appetizer, calamari was excellent. Hot, well balanced and delicious. Followed by the entree of a crab cake with remoulade sauce with a side of salad. The crab looked pretty but was tasteless. You sort of tasted the sauce. The salad was mostly lettuce drowned in dressing. Huh? I wish everything was as good as the calamari. But the crab and salad were so substandard that I can't give it more than three stars. read more

In the heart of Princeton I felt happy the moment I walked in. I was warmly greeted by not only a friendly host, but the atmosphere. It's a beautiful restaurant, which looks very popular given there was not an empty seat at 1pm on a Saturday. The four of us were seated in booth. One thing to note, and I am not overweight, the seating is very tight. If you carry a few extra, get a table! The server was polite and friendly, but decided not to write anything down. I knew this was going to be an issue. And it was. He forgot to put in an order for the main dish, and brought the wrong drinks. After waiting long enough to get our food, we just went with it and decided to take what we got and do without what we didn't. The food was tasty and well presented, but nothing to write home about. It's not that it was bad, it wasn't, but it was simply eh. It's likely because expectations for an amazing meal are set to be much higher by the atmosphere of the place, but it doesn't live up to how it presents itself. read more

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Outstanding! We had a graduation dinner and it was great highly recommend. The staff was great as well as the bartender!

We came by a Friday at 11:30am which is opening hour and we were quickly seated and by the time we finished our meal the place was packed. The waiter was incredible, answering all of our questions. The food was ok. I got a burger and it was just ok. Friends were also pleased with their food but nothing amazing. Nice place in the area. read more

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Busy and difficult to get waitstaff attention when needing something, and also issue with them throwing half your food out when packing up leftovers. But still very good food in Princeton read more

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Oysters were PHENOMENAL! They also made me a mocktail that was really solid too. I got a chicken sandwich without bun and cheese that was pretty good. Not great, but good, and the fries were really good. My waiter was really great as well. It did take a while for me to both be acknowledged and seated, as well as for my waiter to come once I did sit down. Once he did, everything was fast and great. I am not sure if I would *definitely* come back since I am sure Blue Point Grill in the area also has great oysters, but it was a good meal and the oysters were *chefs kiss*. read more

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Textbook lunch. Professional service with great food. Any place that serves great short ribs three different ways tells you everything you need to know. read more

We had pork chops with spinach risotto and braised with mashed and Brussel sprouts. Both dishes were wonderful. We didn't have dessert but had the flourless cake in the past and it was delicious. Mike our server was great. The restaurant was decorated for the holidays. There are booths and tables. We will definitely go back. read more

Witherspoon Grill - Restaurant decorated - Steakhouses Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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