Grain House Restaurant, Basking Ridge, NJ:
A Dining Review
Grain House Restaurant At the Olde Mill Inn
225 Route 202
Basking Ridge, NJ
866-243-3528
Website
Grain House Restaurant Highlights
Fare: American Traditional
Price: Expensive
Food Quality: Well-executed menu. Prepared with locally sourced, organic ingredients, and sustainable seafood directly from domestic fishermen.
Service: Attentive and friendly, without feeling rushed.
Ambiance/Decor: Historic with a cozy fireplace in the main dining room. Walls are adorned with historic pictures of George Washington
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Note: Four-star Rating System from no stars = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: Moderate - High
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy old style dining and traditional American food in a historic, rustic setting.
Not Recommended For: Diners who may prefer upscale, trendy ambiance with more complex or eclectic food preparations.
Recommended Dishes: When available, The Berkshire Pork Chop with spinach spaetzle, bacon braised red cabbage, whiskey pan jus: The center cut Petite Filet Mignon with grilled asparagus, Yukon potato gratin, port demi-glace; and The Sauteed Brook Trout with snow pea shoots, wild rice pilaf, peas and carrots, toasted almond sauce.
Liquor: Good selection of reasonably priced wines and specialty cocktails.
Restaurant Review
Located next to the Olde Mill Inn, this is fine dining in a historic, picturesque setting. Separated by a parking lot and a wooden bridge to the Olde Mill Inn, this historic building dates back to the 18th century and was used as storage for the Continental Army in the winter of 1779.
The ambiance is historic with a fireplace in the main dining room, and comfortably spaced tables. Walls are adorned with historic pictures of George Washington.
The menu created by Executive Chef John Benjamin, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He later honed his culinary skills collaborating with famed chefs Thomas Keller, Charles Palmer and John Halligan. and restaurants Aureole in New York, The French Laundry in California, and the Hyatt Regency in Connecticut.
The menu is well prepared and many of the selections have been created using with fresh local, organic ingredients, and sustainable agriculture. They also have gluten free items. Salad dressings are home made.
Located behind the restaurant, the large Grain House Organic Garden provides organic produce and herbs for our delicious recipes. We place a strong emphasis on using locally sourced, organic ingredients, and we have a Dock-to-Table program, meaning that we purchase sustainable seafood directly from domestic fishermen.
There is also an extensive kids menu. The restaurant is popular with family's celebrating special occasions.
Save room for desserts, they offer many selections of homemade desserts.
Service is attentive and friendly, without feeling rushed.
The Grain House Restaurant has outdoor patio dining during the warmer months and serves a particularly good Sunday Brunch from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
The Grain House restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner plus Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve.
(Updated November 2021)
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