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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ken M.
We met at Binky's for lunch as it was most convenient to the McCarter Theatre and the menu looked creative and reasonably priced. The room wasn't crowded but it still suffers from its acoustical limitations. Formerly a train station with a curved ceiling, voices are amplified and broadcast throughout the room, so expect to speak loudly to each other. Then there was the food. Mostly all of the dishes are tapas-sized and that's fine. However, the pricing seemed high for what you get...or don't. The lobster roll was the smallest I've ever seen looking more like a petite mini cupcake. The southern fried chicken sliders were served at room temperature on almost wet mini wraps. That certainly could have been done better. The hamburger was also very small and also served on that wet "roll" but Cobb salad was plentiful. The service was very good. The chef and kitchen have some work to do to bring things up to the standards they should be for the town and clientele.
shaun miller
Food is not good. My wife liked her spicy tuna roll but the Flatbread and bao buns were absolutely terrible. Service was almost nonexistent. I will never return to this place and doubt it lasts the year without some major improvement.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Stephanie M.
It would be awesome if the "vegan" sushi veggie rolls, could be made completely vegan so there wouldn't be cross contamination with fish. Last year around March I was visiting with a friend who decided to order food, and wanted to share. The sushi chef said it wouldn't be possible to make the veggie rolls for someone avoiding fish, (I'm allergic to tuna) as fish cross contamination would be in the rice. (pieces of fish in the rice container!! and they couldn't make fresh rice). This is too bad! Vegan choices are limited! The artisanal cocktails are super delicious and mixologists are always super nice! Will be back for the drinks!
Ashley R.
Delicious drinks! Their cocktails are great! Pretzels are really good. 10/10 recommend the fries with garlic aioli and the lobster roll.
M Pergola
Second attempt dining here. I walked into a half empty restaurant at 5pm and was told a table for 2 wouldn't be available until 8pm. Went to my car to search for nearby restaurants with reservation availability, and low and behold.......I booked a table at Dinkys for 545. Magic! When seated, the hostess stated that our table wasn't ready, but they could sit us at another table that would need to be available by 7 for another reservation. I don't get...either way, we were sat at a table in the middle of the dining room about 8inches from the tables on either side of us.Wait staff was friendly and prompt. Ordered the sushi- great, boa buns- good flavors, burger slider- flavorless and more like tartar on the inside. The Onion Soup Dumplings- too mushy in the inside. Steak taco- meh.Overall, I am glad we were able to get a reasonable seating. Most of our selections I would not order again. However, I would order the sushi roll and try a Flatbread.I love apps and small plates, but I expect an impressive bite.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kaitlynn Ely
Absolutely love the Dinky Bar - always my go to bar to go to with my friends and family. Their cocktails are amazing and high quality but they also have so many non alcoholic options as well. Sometimes I go and get a mocktail because they’re just so good! When the weather is nice it’s always great to sit outside but the ambience inside is so unique and quaint.
MiMi
This was my 2nd time here. Although prices are very high I was excited to return. The staff is wonderful. The food not so much( the second time around) ordered hot dogs, chicken bao buns and fig flat bread. The hot dogs were skimpy and drowned in a plate of mustard. The flatbread was practically raw, the prosciutto was rubbery and hard to chew. Drinks were skimpy and WAY too expensive. For 2 people 2 drinks hot dogs 3 chicken buns and flatbread it was over $100!Never again! Definitely not like the 1st time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Brandon K.
Loved the food there and I love how it used to be a train station I love trains and I hope they can preserve a train on the outside of the restaurant when the dinky retires if it will ever
Everything is way too spicy. Lobster rolls are very very small and have tiny amounts of lobster.
Thaddeus K.
Had a show to go across the street and didn't feel like walking up on to Nassau. Had the Short Ribs taco which were serviceable, and the mini lobster roll ( a poor value), Nice place inside and I sat at the bar. There's so much better in town, but it was a Saturday, and a nice one at that even though it was February. Well, at least I didn't have hunger pangs while inside the theater. That's the best I can say for this place.
Dom E.
Awesome place to hang out with friends after a long week of meetings. We sat at the bar where Jeremy poured our dicks and served our food. Great guy. He made some wonderful recommendations for drinks that were on point. Sam, the manager helped with a pleasant smile. They made this visit a spectacular experience! We'll definitely visit next time we're in town!
Paul Sarris
I went here with friends, after reading reviews you would think it was decent establishment but it wasn’t. Service was horrible, the guy at the bar took 20 minutes to make 2 drinks. And my food was cold and disgusting. When I spoke to management they did nothing. I wouldn’t give my dog the food that they serve here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sam Shields
Great place to catch up with colleagues after work and enjoy some cocktails and small plates.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Bean Hummus, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Flatbread Pizza
Where do I begin!! I love DINKYs❤️❤️❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We met at Binky's for lunch as it was most convenient to the McCarter Theatre and the menu looked creative and reasonably priced. The room wasn't crowded but it still suffers from its acoustical limitations. Formerly a train station with a curved ceiling, voices are amplified and broadcast throughout the room, so expect to speak loudly to each other. Then there was the food. Mostly all of the dishes are tapas-sized and that's fine. However, the pricing seemed high for what you get...or don't. The lobster roll was the smallest I've ever seen looking more like a petite mini cupcake. The southern fried chicken sliders were served at room temperature on almost wet mini wraps. That certainly could have been done better. The hamburger was also very small and also served on that wet "roll" but Cobb salad was plentiful. The service was very good. The chef and kitchen have some work to do to bring things up to the standards they should be for the town and clientele.
Food is not good. My wife liked her spicy tuna roll but the Flatbread and bao buns were absolutely terrible. Service was almost nonexistent. I will never return to this place and doubt it lasts the year without some major improvement.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
It would be awesome if the "vegan" sushi veggie rolls, could be made completely vegan so there wouldn't be cross contamination with fish. Last year around March I was visiting with a friend who decided to order food, and wanted to share. The sushi chef said it wouldn't be possible to make the veggie rolls for someone avoiding fish, (I'm allergic to tuna) as fish cross contamination would be in the rice. (pieces of fish in the rice container!! and they couldn't make fresh rice). This is too bad! Vegan choices are limited! The artisanal cocktails are super delicious and mixologists are always super nice! Will be back for the drinks!
Delicious drinks! Their cocktails are great! Pretzels are really good. 10/10 recommend the fries with garlic aioli and the lobster roll.
Second attempt dining here. I walked into a half empty restaurant at 5pm and was told a table for 2 wouldn't be available until 8pm. Went to my car to search for nearby restaurants with reservation availability, and low and behold.......I booked a table at Dinkys for 545. Magic! When seated, the hostess stated that our table wasn't ready, but they could sit us at another table that would need to be available by 7 for another reservation. I don't get...either way, we were sat at a table in the middle of the dining room about 8inches from the tables on either side of us.Wait staff was friendly and prompt. Ordered the sushi- great, boa buns- good flavors, burger slider- flavorless and more like tartar on the inside. The Onion Soup Dumplings- too mushy in the inside. Steak taco- meh.Overall, I am glad we were able to get a reasonable seating. Most of our selections I would not order again. However, I would order the sushi roll and try a Flatbread.I love apps and small plates, but I expect an impressive bite.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Absolutely love the Dinky Bar - always my go to bar to go to with my friends and family. Their cocktails are amazing and high quality but they also have so many non alcoholic options as well. Sometimes I go and get a mocktail because they’re just so good! When the weather is nice it’s always great to sit outside but the ambience inside is so unique and quaint.
This was my 2nd time here. Although prices are very high I was excited to return. The staff is wonderful. The food not so much( the second time around) ordered hot dogs, chicken bao buns and fig flat bread. The hot dogs were skimpy and drowned in a plate of mustard. The flatbread was practically raw, the prosciutto was rubbery and hard to chew. Drinks were skimpy and WAY too expensive. For 2 people 2 drinks hot dogs 3 chicken buns and flatbread it was over $100!Never again! Definitely not like the 1st time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Loved the food there and I love how it used to be a train station I love trains and I hope they can preserve a train on the outside of the restaurant when the dinky retires if it will ever
Restaurantji Recommends
Everything is way too spicy. Lobster rolls are very very small and have tiny amounts of lobster.
Had a show to go across the street and didn't feel like walking up on to Nassau. Had the Short Ribs taco which were serviceable, and the mini lobster roll ( a poor value), Nice place inside and I sat at the bar. There's so much better in town, but it was a Saturday, and a nice one at that even though it was February. Well, at least I didn't have hunger pangs while inside the theater. That's the best I can say for this place.
Awesome place to hang out with friends after a long week of meetings. We sat at the bar where Jeremy poured our dicks and served our food. Great guy. He made some wonderful recommendations for drinks that were on point. Sam, the manager helped with a pleasant smile. They made this visit a spectacular experience! We'll definitely visit next time we're in town!
I went here with friends, after reading reviews you would think it was decent establishment but it wasn’t. Service was horrible, the guy at the bar took 20 minutes to make 2 drinks. And my food was cold and disgusting. When I spoke to management they did nothing. I wouldn’t give my dog the food that they serve here.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great place to catch up with colleagues after work and enjoy some cocktails and small plates.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Bean Hummus, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bao Buns, Flatbread Pizza