The Meeting House — Restaurant in Princeton

I was apprehensive about booking for Valentine's Day as some of the reviews of this new restaurant were either extremely pleased with the experience or the opposite. A few had noted issues with service and attention to detail. Completely understanding they have only been open for a few weeks, my and wife I gave it a try. The positive, the food is very good. Although slow coming out of the kitchen, it is technically well cooked, ingredients seem quality and the food has good flavors. Personally, it would be nice to have the ability to season (sea salt + pepper) if you feel the dish needs a little more seasoning, but that isn't an option currently. The restaurant is beautiful and very nice. However, the issue is all in the service and attention to detail. The restaurant website mentions the owners were/are known for their parties and hospitality. Entering the Meeting House is like entering their home. I look forward to the restaurant adopting this philosophy completely. When you walk in, the hostess was less than welcoming (it is Valentine's Day, right?) and did not offer to take our coats or mention that you could place your coat on the rack. The server did not introduce himself which is rather impersonal for any meal especially a three course, "fine dining experience." The front of the house manager noted my wine glass was empty after a few minutes and suggested a great wine. The problem, my order wasn't communicated to our server so it was 15 minutes or more before my glass of wine arrived after I mentioned it to the server I had ordered it. When it did arrive, the manager just placed it down. No apology, no comment, and no "we will take care of this" for the complete miss on the restaurants part. It is clear by observing that some of the staff are new and learning which table number is which and the experience of being hospitable. The last part that left a bitter taste in the mouth is that the validation stickers given for the garage do not work. When we checked in for our reservation, another diner ahead of me let the host staff know the stickers did not work. When they validated my ticket, did they advise that I may have an issue? No mention. So there I am convincing the virtual parking attendant that I dined there to get out of the garage. Again, if you bill yourself as a restaurant that cares about its guests then you do so in actions. What could of been a memorable dining experience was tarnished by all of the misses. There are way too many amazing options and consistent quality restaurants in the Princeton dining scene to be less than perfect. I may return, but not until I see that others are having a much better experience than what currently seems to be common...

This is one of the best spots for brunch in my neighborhood! We absolutely adore this place—the ambiance, the service, and most importantly, the food. During the summer, it's even better because you can bask in the glorious sunshine while dining al fresco. Oh, and don't forget their refreshing, freshly squeezed orange juice! They have a fantastic selection for vegetarians, and the flavors are simply divine. The servers are incredibly friendly and always ready to recommend dishes that will satisfy your taste buds. If you want to avoid any potential delays, I highly recommend making a reservation. The Meeting House regularly updates their menu to reflect the season and the time of day, whether it's brunch, lunch, or dinner. While I personally think their brunch options are outstanding, I will admit that the choices for vegetarians can be a bit limited during dinner.

Edit:

During the Valentine's Day, we decided to go on a double date at this place with a prefixed menu. We were super pumped about it because we had recommended the spot to our friends for a special night out. However, we were quite let down by the Valentine's Day menu. We had high hopes for the food since we loved their brunch and breakfast offerings. The cocktails were tasty, but the prefixed menu had very few choices, especially for all three courses. To make matters worse, the service was incredibly slow. Our server seemed to be moving at a snail's pace, and it felt like they weren't too concerned about getting our food to us promptly. The oysters weren't as fresh as we had hoped, and we were craving another cocktail, but due to the sluggish service, we just settled for one. The dessert course turned out to be just a cupcake, which left us feeling that the prices were quite steep just because it was Valentine's Day. All in all, it was a bit of a disaster for our...

EDIT 12/16/2024 -------------

I've been here plenty of times now with friends and family. It has been a year since I've been here last but it's apparent things have changed for the worse. The food and cocktails for the most part still taste delicious but the food portions have clearly gotten smaller for some dishes.

You can see my latest photo update that the seafood linguini had a pathetic amount of pasta on it. It's like a child's portion. Few noodles, 3 littleneck clams, 1 squid ring, and 2 shrimps.

The braised short rib is also ridiculously small now. This is the first time I've ever needed to order an extra entree (mushroom lasagna) and side (french fries) so that my parents wouldn't leave hungry.

Also apparently they no longer serve bread and butter at the table anymore. I also asked the waiter how many scoops of ice cream we get for dessert, he said 3, they came out with 2. They fixed that after we mentioned it however I think that's more proof things are reducing in portion size here.

It was good while it lasted but don't think I'll be coming back now.

Original review-------------- Been here a few times now and definitely going to keep coming back. I honestly keep getting the same thing because the fried chicken is just THAT GOOD. Perfectly seasoned, super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The biscuits that come with it are to die for. Buttery, flaky, goodness. The spicy honey dipping sauce just compliments the chicken so well.

The artisanal mushroom flatbread is also delicious. Fresh, light, and savory. It comes drizzled with balsamic glaze but I ask for a bit more and would recommend you do as well. The desserts are also awesome.

The cocktails here are boozy and awesome. Not too sweet which is perfect. The staff are attentive and kind. Parking is also super easy with the garage being...