Princeton Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Avalon

Hi if you work at the Princeton on Sunday nights, my name might seem a little familiar. I came in at about 11:00 pm and sat at the bar and ordered a mixed drink. It was $10 and I gave a $2 tip. After a little while, I order a Surfside and my friend next to me orders a mixed drink. Even though we have been ordering drinks separately, the bartender decided to put our drinks on one check, making it $24. This was unexpected and I decided not to tip as I ordered a Surfside and my friend ordered a mixed drink. Since we requested separate checks, my friend was tipsy and was not paying attention or tip since the check was given to me. 10 minutes later, my two friends go into the bathroom and the bartender proceeds to take their full drink and throw it away as they’re not present at the bar. They come back and the full $10 mixed drink of my one friend is gone and the bartender comes over to us. The bartender, then picks up my check looks at it and says, “Was our service not good? A zero dollar tip.” Continues on and points his finger at all of my friends and says, “So why didn’t any of you tip us tonight?” Completely crazy and completely false because we all tipped for our mixed drinks. Not to mention, completely unprofessional. We all continue to stick up for ourselves because we all tipped on a drink when the bartender picks up my check and personally uses my name Cierra to interrogate and belittle me in leaving no tip on the $24 check. After making no headway and his satisfaction gone, the bartender then walks over to the other side of the bar and continues to glare as us and talk about us publicly to other customers and coworkers. After about 20 minutes of feeling severely uncomfortable, the bouncers surround us and try to move “everyone” out of the bar at 1am but their hours are until 2. Pro tip: if you’re a bartender don’t ask for tips rudely or you won’t get them.

PS. went to the Rocking Chair immediately after and tip $10 per drink for their...

4 star leaning into a 4.5, but I’m being generous because we did have excellent service out on the patio. It’s also dog friendly, for what it’s worth. And the large open sides of the restaurant mean you’ll be way more COVID safe even inside, if there isn’t enough space outside.

The food was hit and miss. A lot of food is fried in cheap oil and you should probably avoid the more classically “American” side of the menu that skews “bar”. The salads are uninspired and appetizers feel expensive based on the quality presented. It’s an extensive menu but doesn’t get interesting until the seafood section.

You’re right on the coast here in stone harbor so you should absolutely go with the seafood. It’s a quality step above everything else on their menu. If I could provide any feedback I’d say really examine pricing of the appetizers and salads and related, and look at raising the quality and sustainability of the vegetables and meats — the seafood is great by comparison, and really should be what you gravitate toward, as mentioned earlier.

Drinks are excellent and made well, would say they’re probably stronger than you’d expect so take note. Lots in our photos today.

With such an extensive menu it’s odd they only offer two deserts: chocolate peanut butter pie and crème brûlée cheesecake. Go cheesecake if you feel like it.

The glassware is good. Silverware and napkin quality are excellent. Good steel.

There are a couple better spots in the area but I think Princeton makes the top 20 pretty...

Let me start by the Primceton is an all around great place to go in Avalon!!!!! The servers at any of the restaurants work hard to get food out in a timely fashion and the food is good quality! The bartenders at all the bars are great and make their way around the bar as fast as possible and make great drinks! The bouncers are awesome no matter what room you go into! People are come on here and try to say they are aggressive or that I saw a message where someone mentioned Keith in the Princeton because why? You were asked to give up your chair or were asked to get off a stand or were thrown for doing something wrong and you feel entitled??! When did people become so sensitive and entitled that when something doesn't go their way they take it to the Internet to cry about it! My friends and I have 2 houses and have been coming here for 7 years and just noticed Keith the heavier white bouncer in the Princeton last year when he nicely pointed out our friend was drunk in a booth and just asked us to get him home. We come several times a week never see Keith anything, but professional when needing to remove people or squash situations. I'm tired of reading people trying to complain about a great place with great people when people make it tougher on that staff in all departments most days! Come on people, what did our parents do 30 years ago when they were kicked out or were told they can't do something and couldn't run to the...