Alchemist and Barrister, Princeton, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
28 Witherspoon St
Princeton
609-924-5555
Website
Restaurant Highlights
Fare: American Tavern Style
Price: Expensive
Noise Level: Moderate -High
Dress: Casual
Food: Diversified, with average pub style offerings and quality.
Decor/Ambiance: Vibrant, mix of modern tavern/English Pub ambiance.
Overall Rating: 2 Stars
Note: Four star Rating System from no stars = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
A good place to meet up with friends for drinks, and a bite to eat.
Recommended For: Local diners who enjoy a place to meet up with friends for drinks, and a bite to eat.
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer a lower key restaurant with an eclectic menu with fine dining amenities.
Recommended dishes: When available,
The Ribeye Steak with roasted black peppered red potatoes, sautéed broccoli & smoked gouda and caramelized onion sauce; The Guinness Turkey Burger with Guinness marinated, bleu cheese spread & caramelized onions. served on a brioche roll with a housemade pickle spear & your choice of french fries or a garden salad; and The Pan Seared Salmon with bourbon brown sugar glaze, thanksgiving wild rice, baby carrots & green beans.
Liquor: Full service vibrant bar with twenty-eight domestic and imported beers on tap, whiskies, and scotches.
Restaurant Review
Alchemist and Barrister has been a landmark tavern for decades and is one of the popular local gathering places in Princeton. Centrally located in downtown Princeton, it's become a popular spot for locals and tourists for drinks and meals.
The tavern takes its name from its owners who are a chemist and an attorney.
The interior features two bars with dining seating. Recently undergone a renovation adding a modern bar in the front of the restaurant -- the side facing Witherspoon Street.
The new modern bar area features a large rectangular bar room, replacing the former dining room. The original bar has maintained it's cozy, English pub ambiance.
Executive Chef Nicole Biondini runs the kitchen.
Chef Biondini received her formal culinary training at Johnson & Wales and later honed her culinary skills at The Ryland Inn, Washington House, and other top NJ restaurants. Prior to joining Alchemist and Barrister, she was the Chef De Cuisine / General Manager of Central and Main American Eatery in Madison, NJ
While the menu is creative and diversified, the quality is average pub style, and a notch below the many other fine dining restaurants in the Princeton area.
In the summer, try the outside patio for a refreshing dining experience.
Alchemist and Barrister is open seven days/a week including Sunday Brunch
(updated November 2023)
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