Princeton

Many moons ago when I worked there, we used to go to Scanticon for the lunch buffet.  It was a great pig-out, but not cheap.
				dave

carolyn S. wrote:

>Hoagie Haven is definitely one of my favorite places in Princeton.

Indeed.  Cheapest AND best sandwiches in town.  Also the best egg salad anywhere (honest).

>  Another is the Annex on Nassau St.

Ugh.  A shadow of its former self.  Prices still low, some of the daily specials OK, but the staff get older and slower every year, it doesn't look or smell any nicer, and after 15 years (20 in my wife's case) we've just given up.

>  North China on Witherspoon has the best Chinese in town

Except for every place else!!!!  N. China is a disaster area; all the food tastes the same, I think; I can't really taste it.  The soups are more properly called brines.

Try Hunan for takeout, or Good Friends at P. Jct. (excellent, informal service; and if you let the owner order for you, you'll get some real treats.  Superb orange-flavor chicken; good bitter-melon dishes; lots of squid.  Try it with black bean sauce.

Best of all, but a little more expensive: Lee's Castle II at the P. Shopping Center on Harrison.  Elegant Hong-Kong style.  Haven't had a bad dish there yet, in at least 15 tries.  Dim Sum on Fri-Sun.

>[Athenian for pizza]

I guess.  Victor's for NY-style, though; even better is Rodolfo's in the Montgomery Mall (the one with the foreign-film theatre, on 206 at 518).

> Of course, Thomas Sweet's has exceptional ice cream.

Indeed; alas, the original burned down (arson of the diner 2 doors down); it's now on Palmer Sq.

>Chuck's
>Spring Street Cafe is good, too, but watch out for their Texas chili -
>enough to set your ears on fire.  Not quite in Princeton, but a few miles
>down the road (on rte. 130, I think) is Mastoris'.  Mastoris' is basically
>a huge, slightly upscale diner.  Meals are a little more expensive, but
>portions are huge and I usually end up bringing enough home for another
>meal.  The food is great.

I like the Town and Country, on 206 just S. of where I-295 leaves off. Fried eggplant sticks to die for.  They just melt away.

Princeton has its problems, food-wise.  The big expansion of the 80's did not bring a lot of good eateries to the area.  We have a Winberie and a TGIF, the usual mall food, lots of Chinese (try the Hunan place in the Grand Union mall just this side of Montgomery, and Mrs. Chow across 206 in yet ANOTHER mall in that area), some American bar/restaurants (the Charley restaurants, in Kingston and elsewhere, incl. Max's 1893 in Hopewell--these have music on the wkend, too), and not a whole lot else. For a real selection, drive 45 minutes to Lambertville/New Hope. Terrific Thai place in L'ville.

Trenton has good Italian of all kinds.  We like Francesco's.  Pete Lorenzo's Cafe, at the Amtrak station in Trenton, is, well, unique. Enormous hunks of beef, good wine list.  It's where the legislature eats.

Roger

Anne H. wrote:
>There's no such thing as a GOOD restaurant in Princeton.  However,
>there's a very good, carry-out gourmet place called Chez Alice-- right
>near Hoagie Haven.
>

Actually, I'd like to amend my previous rant.

Downtown Deluxe, near the hospital, is a Southern restaurant: fried chicken, catfish, ribs, and a special (always bbq chicken), with excellent side orders.  Best okra for miles and miles.  Sometimes you just gotta.  Mexican Village, across the street, is OK too, but pricey for Mex.

>Bon Apetit elsewhere (not Princeton.)

Nonsense!  Bon Appetit is at the Princeton Shopping Center!  8-)

[for out-of-towners: this is a pricey gourmet shop that has some good stuff.  Terrific scones...]

Roger

carolyn S. wrote:
>
>  Not quite in Princeton, but a few miles
>down the road (on rte. 130, I think) is Mastoris'.  Mastoris' is basically
>a huge, slightly upscale diner.  Meals are a little more expensive, but
>portions are huge and I usually end up bringing enough home for another
>meal.  The food is great.

I grew up in that area and want to reinforce Mastori's a bit.  It's the diner that really is almost a restaurant (like a soup that eats like a meal). It is on Rt 206 I believe, not 130 but they're almost the same for that stretch of road so who gives.  Be warned, I haven't been to Mastori's in a long time mostly because when I go the line is too formidable.  They bus in the seniors and you cannot get a table for like 40 min.  But, the snapper soup's the best and you get the good ol cheap healthy portions o' diner food.  For our more cultured readers, try to get a seat in the back room - it's less dinery, more restauranty (restaurantesque??).  It used to be my favorite night out with my family when I was a kid. Man, it's weird to be so far from home and see this blast from the past on the net!

Tim Paglione