Kristine's — Restaurant in Princeton

Kristine's is a charming French bistro located in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey. From the moment you step inside, you are transported to a cozy and intimate setting, reminiscent of the charming cafes that line the streets of Paris. The decor is simple yet elegant, with rustic wooden tables, vintage light fixtures, and soft, warm lighting that creates a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

The food at Kristine's is simply delicious. The chef uses only the freshest ingredients, sourced from local farmers and purveyors, to create an ever-changing menu that reflects the season and the region. Each dish is expertly prepared, with a focus on traditional French techniques and flavors, but with a modern twist that makes it unique and exciting.

I started my meal with the French onion soup, a classic bistro dish that is often the benchmark of a good French restaurant. The soup at Kristine's did not disappoint - it was rich and flavorful, with perfectly caramelized onions, a savory broth, and a generous layer of melted Gruyere cheese on top.

For my main course, I ordered the seared duck breast with a cherry-port reduction, served with a side of roasted root vegetables. The duck was cooked to perfection - tender and juicy on the inside, with a crispy skin on the outside. The cherry-port reduction added a sweet and tangy flavor that perfectly complemented the richness of the duck, and the root vegetables were perfectly roasted and seasoned.

To finish off the meal, I indulged in the classic French dessert, creme brulee. The custard was silky smooth, with a delicate vanilla flavor, and the crispy sugar crust on top was the perfect contrast. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

The service at Kristine's was impeccable - the staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The wine list itself was extensive, with a carefully curated selection of French and American wines, all of which were available by the glass or bottle.

Overall, my experience at Kristine's was truly delightful. The food, service, and atmosphere were all outstanding, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh take on traditional French cuisine. Whether you're in the mood for a cozy date night, a family dinner, or a night out with friends, Kristine's is the...

Kristine’s serves a multitude of delicious appetizers, entrees, and drinks. My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here last Saturday (4/2), and we were swooning over the savory and everlasting flavors. We still cannot stop talking about the food. The service was rocky, truth be told, but Kristine’s was quick to recover their mistakes-this did not go unnoticed. Our reservation was for 7:15, and we arrived 5 minutes ahead of time for check-in. Yet, we were seated after a 7:30 reservation instead-we waited well past our time for an open table. The manager quickly noticed and offered us our first round of drinks on them. Drinks were superb, whiskey cocktails and wine. We waited roughly a half-hour for the appetizer, which was well beyond worth it. The mussels were large and beyond flavorful, lord. The sauce resembled a creamy carbonara/ Alfredo but 10000% better! Paired with crispy salty fries-we were starstruck. Following the entree, our meal came out 2 hours after being seated, lol. Literally 2 hours, at 9:40. Because of this, our appetizer and another round of drinks were generously comped. The entrees were delicious and savory, mouthwatering- dismissing the 2-hour dreadful wait. Although the restaurant was generous enough to comp parts of our meal, it was still hard to move over the matter of 2 and half hour sit down dinner from the start (waiting to be seated) to finishing the check... We purposely came out to Princeton to go to Bent Spoon across the street, but by the time our entrees came out, we asked for the check as plates were placed on the table. By the time the check was brought back, it was 9:55, and it was too late to get our Bent Spoon as they closed at 10 pm. The experience was fantastic minus the hungry period, but in all honesty, we will be returning. We came from Marlboro to Princeton (45 minutes) to celebrate with a nice dinner and ice cream, in time before we needed to be somewhere. We were well behind our anticipated plans and sadly showed up late to our last destination. Fingers crossed our next venture to Kristine’s is...

Food OK look and feel Ok although a bit more like tea salon than bistro colors , and relatively quiet which I like . BUT much too pricey for service level and style. Mind you service had no excuse with affluence as it was only half full, either time I had a meal there be it a Friday lunch or a Tuesday evening . Tterrible service the 2nd time I was there hustling and bustling behind my chair . Waitress never thought of offering to take my coat despite the fact that her and each other waiter kept bumping in it at the back of my chair and me , and had it almost falling on the floor so I finally asked if they could hang it somewhere. Had no clue about dishes, or wines to match , merely repeating for the former what’s written on the menu , and taking time’ to come back with 1 option each for wines. Moreover was loud and rushed . Did offer us to taste wine before making our choice . Wine glasses were as thick as in a canteen ... not matching the price of this semi fancy restaurant ... Seems the chef knows about French dishes though, my friend enjoyed the tarragon sauce breaded chicken breast with “extra-fins” green beans , and creamy (potato) gratin but honestly not looked Ok only. I was only half pleased with my cassoulet , good quality of ingredients but flavors too blended and a bit dull , still decent if it had been less pricey. Servings size absolutely alright ! Wines were ok and not adding too much to the bill, to match my cassoulet I was finally suggested an Argentinian Malbec and for the chicken my friend was told of a Gamay but found it too dry (French wines ? ) and ordered a more American one. Good crème brûlée et good chocolate mousse Again no grace in service at the end just dropped the bill saying no rush....