50 Best American Restaurants near Monmouth Junction

“Very good breakfast and deserts, especially for people with a sweet-tooth like myself. The waitresses were friendly, even though it was a holiday. As for atmosphere, I always enjoy diners with that classic 50s/60s feeling, even if I was not alive during those times lmao. Altogether, this is a lovely eatery that I will definitely come back to in the near future.“

“Me and my best friend love coming to get half apps to have chats and catch up! We have an absolute wonderful time! We especially had an amazing time thanks to our wonderful server Mani! He was absolutely amazing at his job, really helpful, great personality, has wonderful hospitality! Would 10/10 recommend going and having him as your waiter! I think the best waiter I’ve ever had!!“

“We loved our Team dinner! 6 team members attended...5 of the 6 had never eaten at S52 and everyone was impressed! The food, drinks and service were perfect! We enjoyed Salmon, Scallops and Lamb as entrees...delicious desserts, perfectly portioned, and sharable appetizers! Thank you for a great experience!“

“Fantastic place! Quality food, consistently great. I need to explore more of the menu, but the Nashville hot chicken sandwich keeps ending up winning out so far. I’ll get there.Loaded fries are amazing too. Don’t get soggy even when you get them to go.Totally recommend if you have a taste for the spice!“

“I absolutely love this place. Everything is fresh and delicious. These dogs are creative, are made in house, and the options are endless. I am consistently going back to try them all.Vegetarian options: Can switch out any hot dog with a soy dog“

“We were greeted quickly, they had our rez listed, so we were escorted to our table right away. There were several tables with guests, but our waiter came over right away with water & menus. The service was great, the food was delicious (especially the short ribs and the Josh wine) and by the time we were ready to go, we were the only ones left. Definitely will return for another memorable dinner.“

“Bovine is the place to be in Jamesburg. We love their events nights like family feud, trivia, and live music because it's the kind of place you can sit down and feel welcome by the staff and people around you, especially at the bar and ESPECIALLY when the manager Kyle is on. I recommend this place wholeheartedly to everyone, whether they live near or far. If I had to recommend anything (I've been here a bunch) I'd say try out the Jamesburger and Oreodough milkshake. And if you're feeling wild, get an alcoholic Nutter Udder Shake or Diablo margarita (spicy!).“

“Wonderful experience tonight at Jojo's! The white cosmo and extensive beer list were the perfect start to an evening after a very rough day. My wife had one of the best BLTs of her life and my vodka rigatoni was top notch, a bellwether for any good Italian restaurant. All recommended and served with a smile by our waitress Devon. She was super helpful, very friendly, and made sure our evening was enjoyable. A long, difficult day was made great and relaxing with good food and exceptional service. Can't wait to go back!“

“If you want to be treated worse than the dirt on the bottom of the owners shoes, well this is your place. My girlfriend and I were recently gifted a 25$ gift card to Brookwood Cafe. We had never been, so we were excited to try somewhere new. It started off just fine, they were full capacity(it’s a small diner) but we were pleased to of been seated relatively quickly. Our server was very friendly(not sure her name).We both ordered a pumpkin coffee(4$ each). The coffee was very good, and we placed an order for a roast beef wrap and fish and chips. Well this is where it goes south quickly. My girlfriend ate almost half her wrap (they are very small), when she noticed a hair on her plate. We quietly told our server so other guests wouldn’t hear, she felt terrible and said she’d get a new plate. The server proceeded to bring the plate to the owner(male), who must of stood there for 3 minutes looking at it in customers eye view. Our server then brought back the same wrap including the almost eaten half, and the same cup of cole slaw( that was right next to the hair)on a new plate. They were only going to get fresh fries. Well this didn’t quite sit right with our stomaches, so we pulled the owner over(male) and asked for a new sandwich. “ Oh…… a new sandwich……..sure”. He ran to the back visibly annoyed and we heard him put in a order for a new sandwich. My girlfriend was so uncomfortable with his behavior, that as soon as he came back out she caught him and told him to cancel it and not to worry about it. Again, visibly annoyed, he ran to the back as we heard him shout to cancel it. As he came out again, he came over to the table and downplayed the hair we had found. “ It must of been an eyelash or something”, laughed at us, and walked away. Well let me tell you I had done lost my appetite as well. My fish and chips had three tenders(small), and I had only eaten one at the time she had found the hair on her plate. We then saw both owners( pretty sure their married) talking amongst each other, and the female came over to the table and visibly annoyed like her husband, told us “the sandwich is discounted on me, do you need a box.” My girlfriend said no and explained that both of us lost our appetite do to the hair. She responded” well the hair was only in your meal, not his.”, and she rudely walked away. Ok, that’s fine, we were completely done with this place at this point in time with no intention to return so we looked at the bill and she literally only “discounted” half of the sandwich off the bill. I went to the front booth where she was standing and asked her to explain why she only took off half the sandwich cost. She spoke to me very poorly. My girlfriend joined me at the front and said “ mam neither of us ate our meals, we will pay for the coffees( which were unfinished as well) and be on our way. She took our 25$ gift card, ripped it in half and threw it in the garbage and said “ you can leave now.” I asked where the change was from the gift card. This is where it gets ridiculous. The male owner starts puffing his chest acting like he wanted to fight me. He screams “ WHAT DO YOU WANT, A FREE MEAL TOO!?.” First of all sir, neither meal was comped, and neither of us ate our meal. We stood there in disbelief. The female owner kept pushing back the male owner, my guess is he’s had an attitude before with guests. My girlfriend again tried explaining we didn’t eat our meals, and the female owner said “ well you ordered it, this is the food industry and you find hairs.”……. Let me break down what she said, YES you do find hairs from time to time in meals, HOWEVER it’s how Management handles the situation to correct it. They didn’t even want to give my girlfriend a new plate of food after finding the hair. We left gift card-less and hungry. We also would like to mention that the gift card purchased for us had an added 25% tip as well to it ( gift card total came to $31.25)and we really hope if our server is reading this she received that.“

“Not sure why I waited so long to try this place but glad I finally got around to it. Warning: make reservations or be prepared to wait on the weekends. We arrived an hour before our reservation and enjoyed some drinks at the bar. Speaking of, be prepared to stand in a rather small, crowded space. But drinks help you forget about that. I tried the grapefruit cocktail and they certainly didn't water that drink down. Next up, the main event! We started with the pork belly fries which were tasty and perfect for sharing. I got the burger with short rib which was delicious. The service was fairly quick and friendly; honestly I was shocked they didn't rush us out considering it was nearing closing time. I'd return to try more burgers but I'd prefer lunch or a weekday since parking here is very limited with barely any street parking in sight.“

“Dinner was lovely! Our server, Abby?, was excellent. Appetizers were outstanding (mushroom soup, creamy mushrooms on brioche, and the long hots with mushrooms). My cauliflower steak was fantastic, and my husband's sablefish was very tender. Dessert was a delicious chocolate bread pudding. Cocktails were very good as well. Sauvignon Blanc was ok. Overall a wonderful dinner!“

“Their signature culinary culture is an exceptional customer service with an esoteric culinary experience. If you want to try a cross between Deep South Soul, Asian and American dining, Jagray's is a gem in the Princeton dining area. Located right on the Princeton Country Club Golf Course property itself, Jagrah's is the best culinary experience at this golf course since 1999. Why? The ownership cares! They serve dishes that have had several TV and local new reviews that make this hidden gem one of the best eateries for a private romantic experience after hours. Full bar and table service by experienced waiters and waitresses, Jagray's aims to please. Their fusion menu of Soul, Asian and American is very unique. You will be very impressed and surprised of the flavors and quality of the offerings on their dinner menu. Well worth checking out.“

“The first time we've been there for Sunday brunch. Very pleased with the service and the presentation of food was tremendous. We were given time in between the courses and not rushed and they were packed. Lots of choices on menu, which I was surprised at a brunch. I highly recommend!!!“

“Although seemingly plain on the outside with stucco plastered on its walls, it has a certain charm once you walk in. With a few counter stools, old fashion booths, upbeat workers and great service, this really is a great place to visit just for the environment. As for the food, I would recommend a specialty burger since you can't go wrong with the burger of your choice and fries. However, I wouldn't recommend the American cheese on it. And if you don't particularly like sautéed vegetables, I would shy away from the Italian hot dog. As for the drink, as long as you like ice cream, a milk shake is the right choice for you. However, don't get the orange juice, as my sister described it as tasting like dirty dish water. With some great meal options and stellar service, this place is definitely worth the visit. No one, except for the community, would know it's a hidden gem.“

“The food was very good and we had a toddler with us and the staff was very good with her.l and couldn't be nicer. The atmosphere is happy and not too loud but enough noise that the baby did not bother anybody. It is a go-to place for us and it is a byob (bonus).“

“Service was impeccable. Presentation superb. Pacing terrific. We really enjoyed the wine pairing which gave us the opportunity to try some new wines and sake. The various amuse bouche were delightful. One quibble is that the courses that should have been hot were not.“

“I love the food from this place, is tasty and always hot. The owner is friendly, he listens to what you want and make it for you. He definitely makes you want to come back to the place!! I ordered ribs, fried chicken, french fries and the cole slaw, everything was delicious. If you come to this place, you must try the ribs!!!“

“I have been going to Confect's for many years and can honestly say I have never been disappointed in my meals there, just have a difficult time deciding what I want to order because I enjoy so many different meals on their menu. Two of my children brought my mother and I there for Mother's Day and the appetizers and meals were delicious! If you have never eaten there I highly recommend giving them a try. I also want to extend kudos to our server, Melissa! She was awesome, very attentive (we didn't even have to ask for refills on our drinks) and very friendly. Thank you to the owners and staff for helping to make Mother's Day a little more special!“

“In Princeton for a weekend visit with friends who moved here recently and they took us to their favorite spot! It did NOT disappoint! We ate so much food!! We had lychee martinis which were ok (too limey and not enough lychee) but the food was amazing so it made up for it! They had a little bit of everything! So whatever you feel like eating, they probably have it! Or if your in a group and you all can't agree on what type of food to get, this is a good compromise: pizza, nachos, wings, sushi, burgers, salads, they literally had everything!!“

“I ordered lunch from Dootsie's today (via UberEats) and I'm STILL FULL! The food was amazing, full of flavor and tasted like it was made with care. The baked chicken was SOOO GOOD, collards & cabbage well cooked! And I don't know what is in the Mac and cheese but I could probably eat a whole tray of it in one sitting. ?“

“I've past this place countless times and always meant to check it out, well I finally did today. I had my baby son with me and they accommodated us, which the staff said they don't get many little ones in here. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly and on point. The food was reasonably priced and they were able to make adjustments. Just felt I had to write this review as I don't leave many reviews all the time, but if your hesitant about stopping in and on the fence I would definetely recommend giving them a try. The fish and chips is what I've been searching for in the general area that no other place, least that I've been to compares. My wife had the salad and fish and chips which she couldn't finish, my son had chicken fingers and hot dog, I got a burger which I didn't get to since I finished my wife's fish and chips, and had a calamari appetizer. I'm not much of a hot dog guy, but testing my son's hot dog to see if it was still too hot it was really good I would have ate it, if he didn't finish it.Kid-friendliness: They had highchairs and were very friendly and stated they don't get many kids, but they made it work great.“

“I have been here a total of 3 times in the last month & they have messed up my order every time… either the wrong order completely or missing items… add that to the usual lunch hour wait & yes… they need to improve the customer experience..“

“Came here to meet up with my friend for lunch! Super cute vibes, amazing service. Me & my friend are so clumsy she spilled her entire drink all over, they were super quick with the pick up and even brought her back out the drink she ordered. Would definitely come back. Calamari was yum!!!“

“Had the salmon. Was tasty. Excellent presentation of shrimp cocktail, looked delicious. My friend ordered and said it was very good. Maybe I should have ordered a steak, I wasn't overly impressed with the salmon, especially with the prices. Brussel sprouts were very tasty.“

“Witherspoon Grill was amazing. We were greeted by our server within seconds of sitting down. He took excellent care of us, from talking about the daily specials to ensuring our drinks were topped off. The food was simply amazing. I had the fresh caught cod with a lemon beurre blanc sauce and the house salad. 10/10 will hopefully be back soon!“

“Garden State Omelet - w a small salad and diced potatoes! The side dip of a homemade hot sauce so good you want this to jazz up everything you eat. So much on this plate that I had to take half home for dinner! Oh and the lemon and lavender scone that I had as a morning appetizer was the last one. He baked two more for me to take home to the family Service and knowledge 5 Food was 5 BYOB“

“Alexa and and Austin are amazing they make me come back they’re customer service and attentiveness is hard to find especially in a chain restaurant. I hope they get the recognition they deserve. KEEEP THEEEM FOREVEEEERR, the day they leave I leave and everyone I always bring with me lol.“

“Never ever disappointed the food is delicious service is top tier. If you have time someday since COVID is over come visit ask about the specials and they will always cater to your appetite you'll be satisfied and thank me for the recommendation best restaurant overall in the area!!!“

“This is my second visit to The Dinky Bar and Grill in Princeton which offers great views of the campus. We were going to see a play at McCarter and it is so convenient being across the street. The Dinky has an intimate vibe. Being the original Train Depot the feel of the place is still a train depot which I love. The menu is limited but certainly enough to choose from. There are shareable plates as well full entrees. Very good food and drinks. Our server Kayla was amazing. She needs to be recognized because she was extraordinary. A very busy place pre theater but Kayla never stopped smiling Great experience all around. Will definitely be going again.“

“Good food here, most diners have good food and reasonable prices . Breakfast is really good here and burgers i love getting them from here cause they're fat and tasty.Parking: Plenty of parking across the street, it's a small street.“

“I met up with a couple of my friends that I haven't seen for a while here last night. We ordered from the prix fixe menu and the food was good. The place was quaint, ambiance was great and the staff were attentive. Great place to meet up and chat with friends and not feel rushed.“

“This place is amazing every time! Don’t miss having a Negroni. The seafood is great & the alligator sausage over sweet cornbread is excellent. The manager, Alejandro -,along with the entire staff know what they’re doing. Go treat yourself!“

“It's hard to make a great chicken sandwich, but they've done it at Mistral. The buttermilk jalapeno fried chicken sandwich is a very tasty and well-balanced mix of flavors. Somehow the sandwich, loaded with various toppings, holds together well (no falling apart when you grab it) with a perfectly textured bun and gives you a little bit of each flavor in each bite. I polished off every last morsel of that & the fries. My wife thought the French toast was also delicious. The cocktail menu has some interesting drinks, and The Wanderer (I think) was very well-made. We'd definitely eat here again.“

“I love this restaurant so much! I went last night with some family and we had an excellent time. Our server was fantastic and the food was incredible. I got the house salad and their delicious fries which are my favorite. I also was able to get a nonalcoholic margarita which was tasty and made my dinning experience much better. Overall this is one of my favorite places to eat, I'll definitely be back.“

“5 star tacos, but it seems they gave up on the inside 20 years ago so -1 star.Accompanying Pepper: small roasted pepper (serrano maybe?), damn that little thing is hot, very hot. One small bite was a painfully wonderful way to start the meal.Tacos: 3 corn tortilla pork tacos with with diced onions and an obscene amount of cilantro and they were legit great. Also accompanied were salsa and lime wedge. Another bite of that pepper to keep you honest. Delicious!More research required“

“Fantastic local pub with an extraordinary staff. The food is delicious and the selection is greater than your basic bar food. The chef always offers something unique. Richie and Jocelyn always brighten your day and make you feel like your at home.Vegetarian options: Delicious veggie wraps and burgers.Kid-friendliness: There is plenty of seating away from the bar that makes it a family friendly restaurant as well.“

“This is my town diner and every time we go there, the experience is great.2024.01: I just came here for an omelet, but decided to get the Jersey eggs Benedict. Essentially the Canadian bacon is swapped out for Pork roll.It was fantastic: salty, tangy and creamy. It was cooked perfectly, and at my table less than 5 minutes.I was impressed.“

“This was our first time here. When we arrived there was only one other occupied table, however by the end of our meal the place was full. Delicious cocktails started our night. We got calamari and a whipped ricotta cheese dish for appetizers. These were delicious! For dinner we had the pork chop and the short rib. These were outstanding with very generous portion sizes. We finished our meal with a double espresso. Our server was pristine, lovely, knowledgeable and even offered to hold my leftovers until after a show that we were headed to after dinner. Clydzs can be romantic, celebratory or just a great meal out. We will DEFINITELY be back, and this is now one of favorite places in New Brunswick!“

“The very best in pizza, subs, the only place i trust to make me a good meatball without that nasty under taste you get from most restaurant meatballs.Family owned and operated, been coming here since I was a kid. I moved away some 10 years ago and somehow the brothers remember me when I stop by which is whenever i'm in town. I love th“

“I'm not writing this in favor of a friend.. but I really loved this place.. very pleased with service . Food at its best.. I loved the drinks, though.. good to enjoy your drink outdoors when the weather is supports. Fun to hang aroudn with friends.“

“From soup to dessert there’s no place better than Teddy’s! Everyone that works there makes it feel like home! Absolutely nothing I wouldn’t recommend. From breakfast to dinner, it’s all delicious! Teddy’s is our go to place to eat ?“

“Took my elderly mother to Perkins on a Sunday morning. Her favorite place to go. Breakfast was good you can never really beat Perkins pancakes. The waitress was very nice, the service was fast, and the food. Pricing was also with an average range. My mother goes to this Perkins I believe on Wednesday nights because they have two entrees for $30, you can't beat that.“

“Had brunch here with friends. Very cute place, and the food and drinks were tasty. The server was nice as well. Main reason for not 5 stars is that the tables are small (so takes some shuffling of plates if in a group) and are so close you overhear the conversations of every table around you, and they hear yours. Not ideal for a gossipy girl brunch or flirty dates, but otherwise we really enjoyed the experience. Would eat here again for sure - I had the scallops and they were perfectly seasoned and cooked just right.“

“What a gem of a place in the Plainsboro area (which doesn’t have many bars to begin with). Good food, great prices, amazing service, clean. No super loud music means you can actually talk with the people at your table. Great place to chill out after a long day or work.“

“I decided to stop in for breakfast and use a gift card that was given to me. It turned out there was nothing on the card. I was quite surprised and Michael, who, I believe was the manager said that in that case breakfast was on them! I thought this was such a nice gesture. Noel was my waitress and she couldn’t be nicer. What a nice way to start the day! Thank you, Michael and Noel for your kindness,“

“No-frills pub with a menu of classic American food & drinks + both bar and table sections I had a great experience when I came here with my GF and my friend. All of our food was delicious and the service was great. The portions were very large as well.“

“As a Texan I'm always skeptical about going to steakhouses because no one does steaks like we do. But this place actually took me by surprise. The food was excellent. Could've used more black pepper but not a big thing. Jack and Coke was nicely made. The T-Bone steak was nicely seared with perfect diamonds. The meat was nice and juicy. I couldn't had done it better myself. I definitely recommend this place if you're ever out here. This restaurant is Texas approved.“

“All of their restaurants are 4 star, with the exception of the dress requirements. And that's a compliment, folks! Enjoy your meal and be comfortable. Whatever that means to you! Dress up for a special occasion, or take it down a notch and grab a quick burger or sandwich. Whatever the case, Old Man Rafferty's is the perfect fit.“

“Great hotel with an amazing service, the staff was very polite and the room very spacious.The breakfast was a delightful surprise with fruits, pastry and a good coffeeI'm convinced that's is the best service I've got in USA.“

“In over 25 years, I've never had a single thing from Olives that wasn't delicious. Not one thing. My favs are the spicy gyro and spicy chicken souvlaki. The triple salad combo is unbeatable for the health conscious foodie. The spanakopita is right on the mark. Hummus. Stuffed grape leaves. Their baked goods... the BAKLAVA- crunchy, buttery sweetness. says best in town on the menu... it's the best, period. You can't go wrong with ANY of the lunch or dinner specials. I could go on- but I need to put in my order before the lunch rush.“