Had a fantastic dinner at Mistral's last night! (actually, it was a 3rd anniversary celebration). The food was absolutely delicious. The service was top-notch. The Manager diligently checked in with us 2-3 times. I love the tapas-like food where you get several plates (but much more exotic and higher quality than typical tapas). We had the Lamb Tortilla special (amazing), Carrot Chickpea Fritters (very good), the Spanish Chorizo Beignets with olive tapenade (excellent), the Dirty Arancini / rice balls (good), the Grilled Baby Carrots (good, but with anchovy paste atop whereas I don't like fish), Jerusalem Artichoke Bisque (superb - the highlight of my meal), and the Pork Belly (good but fatty - but that's what pork belly is all about). As if we weren't stuffed enough with the main meal, we had two desserts which were out of this world - the Brown Butter Cake with lemon poppy seed ice crème (a must try), and the Orange Creamsicle with shaved coconut water ice shavings on top. Incredible! Beverage wise, they have probably the best Coke I've ever drank (I'm guessing it's the syrup-to-water ratio). My partner had "The Element" specialty cocktail with gin and grapefruit liquor - very tasty. Our waiter, Christen, described the specials and selections on the menu perfectly and in an art-like form. The food started coming out right away and was timed perfectly with the various dishes. I'm glad we made a reservation because the place was practically full which is unusual for middle of the week (Wednesday) dining. Thank you. read more

Nice presentation. Needs more plant based options though. Luckily they had a vegan pasta and kale salad that was really good! Also the Moscow Mule was amazing. read more

Mistral - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Four of us stopped there for a drink. Bar seats were occupied. Waiter so rude told us we couldn't stand by bar, or sit in window chairs which had bar seats. Offered us outdoor seating in pouring rain. Went to Witherspoon Grill super accommodating and welcoming. read more

Excellent restaurant in downtown Princeton. In the wintertime they have an outdoor sitting area with heat lamps, giant gas fire place and blankets, it's pretty spectacular. Try and assortment of dishes as it's tapas. read more

We had lunch here. We got the soy egg, paella, dry aged brisket burger and grilled shrimp salad. Everything was amazing and exceeded my expectations. The service was excellent and I loved the open kitchen concept. read more

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Overall I had a wonderful experience at Mistral. I planned a date night with my fiancée, but unfortunately got swamped with last minute requests at work. Mistral was gracious enough to let me extend my reservation check-in time. Upon arrival, service was superb. We were directed to our table in thier outdoor terrace, and the atmosphere was great for a warm night. We had the Maryland Crab Toast, Brown Butter Poached Ocean Trout, Brussel Sprouts Okonomiyaki Pancake, and the Short Rib Wellington. All dishes were superb, although I'd skip the Crab Toast next time (not enough crab meat). The trout was so moist and the wellington just melted in our mouths. Also, a side dish comes with the wellington. These two dishes I definitely recommend. We skipped dessert and finished the night with Bent Spoon. If you're looking for a fancy, but not super formal dinner date in Princeton, check this place out. read more

Good food, terrible service. If you get a server named Adriana-good luck. I literally have no clue how she still works there, her attitude is honestly impressively terrible. Are you that mad at the world? Who hurt you? Why are you so bitter? I complained to the manager because she made me super uncomfortable and then I heard them talking about how I was crazy. I've been working in restaurants for 5 years now and I would never behave in such an unprofessional manner. Maybe I am crazy but at least I'm not an A-hole to my patrons. Also super overpriced. You'll have a better experience at literally any other restaurant read more

I was strolling through Princeton with a friend and we decided to try the Sunday happy hour at mistral. I had been there before to the restaurant and based on my review was not happy. However the bar experience was fantastic. We had a couple of drinks and ordered the hamburger and the grilled wings and shared everything. The food was amazing,the bartender was fantastic and the atmosphere is so lovely in the bar. Perfect for a date. The burger was probably one of the best I've ever had. Will definitely be back again. read more

Outdoor bartender/server was obscenely rude the entire evening and completely disinterested in serving us, which is a shame because I've never had a bad experience here before. The dishes have always been incredibly well thought out and executed to perfection. I spent four years in Scotland and the Chicken Tikka entree specifically rivals anything I've had from the UK's bustling Indian cuisine scene. read more

Full marks for creativity, lesser for pricing. Some of their fusion-creations are really worth it. Be ready to spend $75-90 for drinks+dinner for 2. Desert will be over and above! read more

A solid brunch choice. Great atmosphere inside. Food is great. Need I say more with the burger with bacon jam and aged cheddar. Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. Also tried the jukebox rancheros which was the perfect combination of salty savory. Scrambled eggs on sour dough with goat cheese is also bomb. Braised cabbage omelette with smoked turkey allows you to experience the layers of savory and sweet. Nothing disappointed and we finished it off with the pound cake placed on top on lemon curd with lavender ice cream and covered in a frozen torched marshmallow. AMAZING (pictured). There is a parking lot here but on the smaller side during a busy weekend. There is street parking and a garage nearby. read more

Mistral - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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The atmosphere is perfect especially on a beautiful day, there are tons of Windows, patio space and open skylights in the dining room. It's truly a great east coast vibe through and through. The Sunday menu is a bit sparse (bar bites only) but the Sunday happy hour is a nice touch and if you eat burgers and wings, well I suppose you'll be happy. I can't say the steak tartar was great though, I'm a purest when it comes to this particular dish and they tried to get crafty with it. Others really enjoyed it though!! read more

It's been two decades since I've dined in Princeton, and in my student days, Hoagie Haven was more my speed (and kinder to my wallet), with a special night out at Teresa (when the 'rents were paying), excepting a truly disastrous meal at Le Plumet Royal in my early 20s. The years have been kind to Princeton, especially real estate values, and definitely the dining scene. A foodie friend dined at Mistral, which put it on my radar, and when I made impromptu plans for a traipse around the Grounds for Sculpture, I thought a quick jaunt to Princeton for some nostalgia and delicious eats might be the perfect occasion to try out the restaurant. Mistral is in an enviable location across from the public library, with metered parking out front. Outside, the restaurant fits in nicely with the Nassau Square aesthetic, and, inside, the decor is a pleasant combination of organic and chic. Whoever did their graphic design work, particularly with the restaurant's logo, earned their paycheck. I liked the diner-style menu/placemat, particularly with the whitespace for the plate, slightly off-center. We were seated at a table for two near the open kitchen, which was pleasingly zen (especially given how busy the restaurant was). Our server was affable and kind, and we noshed on the strangely tasty (though nutritionally negligible) rice crackers that are served gratis at every table. There was a faint hint of anise in the paper-thin wisps, with a sort of abstract, communion-waferesque texture. Our cocktails were excellent, one a play on ginger, another the tweely-named "betwixt the sheets," which was boozy and delicious, with a giant ice cube. We decided to order a number of small plates, among which there was no paucity of avocado as a star ingredient (this was partly our fault, it's not that ubiquitous, just that we ordered all the dishes that seemed to have it). Gougères, split asunder and napped with Clothbound Cheddar and fig preserves were delightful. A play on chips and dip, with housemade chips and a dip of crème fraîche, pickled ramps, and trout roe, was addictive. Carrot and chickpea fritters arrived at the table, steaming hot, with a poetically diaphanous curried avocado spread (the first of many cameos). To recap, thus far: French cheese puffs with an English-style cheddar and Mediterranean figs; English crisps with French luxury cream, locally-sourced pickled ramps, and domestic trout roe. This could be a fusion-y disaster, and yet all of the worldly and seemingly disparate elements worked quite harmoniously together. Next up, the Tuna Bombe, which had a thin, carpaccio-style slice of tuna wrapped over and around a filling that included (of course) avocado, chili (possibly taberu rayu), wonton crisps, and some kind of an uncredited brown sauce, that took a beeline for that quadrant of the pleasure center in my brain that registers umami and sang it with bel canto savoir-faire. We had creamy burrata with a curried pea purée, pea shoots, dates, and papadam that just seemed a perfect distillation of this particular moment in late-spring. Maryland crab toasts on cornbread, the sort of appetizer you suspect Marjorie Rawlings might have cooked up one Sunday afternoon was enlivened with a jaunty sauce ravigote and... wait for it...avocado purée. Delicious. Finally, we finished with pretzel-crusted braised pork belly with dill spaetzle and roast pears. The saltiness of the pretzel crust carried through the pork, which was unctuous goodness, porksonified, with the remaining ingredients acting as suave supporting flavors. Again, one sees these combinations and worries that they might be a little too on-the-nose. Never fear, Mistral's cooks have a deft hand with the spices and there was no end to the nuance and subtlety in this food. I had the sense that the curried avocado and pea purées were spiced differently (please don't tell me if this isn't the case). Fusion often collapses when you have the sense that the cooks never understood the original dish upon which they are tweaking. Not so at Mistral, though - the gustatory trip around the world was fascinating and never precocious. We skipped dessert because we wanted to walk off the meal with a stroll around the University, followed by a visit to the Bent Spoon, for ice cream. Our waitress wisely didn't try to upsell us, and, instead, gave sage advice about which flavors to try. Kudos! That sort of elán is rare. I have to say, this was one of the best meals of the year, thus far, and as the Michelin folks might say, definitely worth a detour. I know we'll be back! read more

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A stellar dining experience last night! Went out for an early bite before a show at McCarter Theater, and are we ever glad we asked a friend to recommend some faves. Beautiful bar with adept mixologists and an impressive cocktail program. The small but well-curated selection of drafts and perfect French 75 made our first round a delightful intro to a thoroughly enjoyable meal. Loved the open kitchen setup and beautiful dining space. A lively Friday night-capacity crowd made it a bit of a noisy experience, but this in no way detracted from our good time and excellent service experience. Can't wait to return and try more delicious dishes, and this time we'll have dessert! (That brown butter cake, ya heard?) #jamesbeardnominee #chefscottanderson #chefjoemooney #beausoleiloysters #cucumberandyuzu #granita #blisteredshishitopeppers #crispyducksalad #everythingdeviledegg #smokedsalmon #creamcheese #pickledonion #salmontartare read more

Mistral - A frosty IPA and a perfect French 75 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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One of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. The place is really beautiful inside. But that's about the only positive thing I can say. Dress code is not followed. Fellow diners were wearing ripped shorts, t shirts and baseball caps. The food sounded so appetizing and the presentation was so pretty. But the food had no flavor and was very bland. Deviled eggs tasted like a plain deviled egg-no "pop" of flavor. My main entree - tandoori chicken was so chewy I only ate half of it. Normally I would have complained at the restaurant, but the attitudes of the staff appeared that they really didn't care so I felt my complaining would have fallen on deaf ears. Never again would I return. And I would never recommend this place. read more

One of our fav spots in Princeton, unique spices, great fresh oysters, love the Parker rolls! Craft cocktails are yummy but beware, they always short pour. Don't be surprised if your ice cube isn't even half way covered and they charge $14 per drink. read more

Came here for brunch on a Sunday and had a great meal. The menu featured complex flavors, reasonable prices, and the hospitality was excellent. Would definitely recommend this place for brunch & look forward to coming back for dinner sometime! read more

Mistral - Soft scrambled eggs w/ spinach & mushrooms - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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good food. good service. good ambiance. the go-to restaurant in princeton for me. other words.

Rule 1 - When you prepay gratuity you can rest assured that the experience will be a compromise, compromise it was and close to disappointing. We were a group of 6 for dinner and 1. Guests who arrived later were ignored and drink orders were not taken. 2. We were advised and urged to order 12 to 14 dishes as the portions are small - don't go by plates to share on the menu. 3. We were forced to place starter and entree orders together for the "convenience" of the kitchen - clearly the customer is not king..the kitchen is the king 4. A 20% gratuity was auto-added to the check - a total bill of $330 for the 6 of us...moderate ordering with 10 drinks totally..mainly beers. 5. Food was good, no doubt about it..but nothing extraordinary to justify the price or the attitude of the restaurant. The pushing to order may be due to the pre-added gratuity - bill more is the motto. I am not returning for sure. read more

This was probably the most expensive worst meal experience of my life. There was absolutely no consistency in the menu and the food was below mediocre. For all the hype this place gets, I was expecting the food to be excellent and beautifully presented, but it was disappointing. The quantity and quality was completely overpriced. The best part of this meal was the drinks. We went for restaurant week because we wanted a fancy meal at a reasonable price but I think we would've been better off going to McDonald's. read more

I loved the ambiance and decor of this place. Totally up my alley. We came for brunch and kept to the brunch menu. We ordered a mixed selection of the burger, lamb scramble, shrimp and grits and Benedict. ALL of it was delicious. The lamb scramble was just done right. My lamb scramble ---- The eggs were fluffy and not over done. We also ordered the bacon beignets and that came with a maple creme fraiche dipping that was tasty! The service is excellent and our server was really friendly and also very helpful. I would definitely come back to try the dinner menu! read more

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Food is lovely. Not a fan of their $2 dollar water charge per person that they don't inform in advance.

I downloaded the Yelp app just so I could write this review! I have been to Mistral 3 times and each meal has been an absolute pleasure. Recently, my husband and I came in, with no reservation, with an out of town guest. We had originally intended to have dinner at Agricola, but were treated so horribly by the hosting staff there, we left in a huff and went directly to Mistral. We were greeted welcomingly at the door and shown to a table by the cozy fireplace. Our server was even thoughtful enough to bring us blankets for our laps! Service was (as always) phenomenal. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, and gave several great suggestions for the table, even taking it upon himself to bring by a sample of wine he thought I might enjoy. Being adventurous eaters, we took every one of his suggestions (including the wine) and were very pleased. Two hours and several hundred dollars later, we walked out the doors very happy customers. Worth every penny. Beyond serving wonderful food, what prompted me to write this review (my first ever!) was the quality of service Mistral provides. All we wanted was to be treated kindly and eat a nice meal with a friend. Seems simple, but some restaurants just don't get it. Mistral gets it. Hats off to the staff there for turning what began as a pretty crappy evening for us into a pretty great one! We will definitely be coming back, as well as emphatically recommending Mistral to all of our friends and family in the area. read more

Cocktails are great, soon is mostly great. Desserts are not too well thought out in my opinion. The vibe is great I love coming here, staff is beyond friendly, the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is they hardly change the menu up read more

if you come to mistral and sit at the "bar" you'll feel like you're inside of hell's kitchen, but without gordon ramsay's yelling and slamming stuff around. ("bar" because it's byob... which is awesome!) coooooool! dude, the dining experience at mistral is on point. the menu is separated into 3 parts: veggies, meats, and seafood, and there are about 5 to 7 dishes in each category. they recommend ordering approximately 3 dishes per person and sharing everything... and they're on target. we averaged somewhere between 2 and 3 dishes/pp and left quite full. if you're an adventurous eater and are open to trying creative flavor combinations, you will LOVE it. I did. real LOVE. (don't tell boyfriend). the run-down: - cornbread with honey butter and jalapeño ($5) - falafel salad ($12) - charred broccolini with burrata and hazelnuts ($10) - chicken with pomegranate molasses ($17) - blue crab salad with green curry and coconut ($16) - tuna crudo with smoked egg yolk and cucumbers ($15) - snapper with peppers and fried okra ($17) - halibut with serrano ham 'skin' and rock shrimp ($16) - grilled cheddar cheese sandwich with hay ice cream and maple syrup ($12... I think) (yes, HAY ice cream. haaaayyyy.) it was all delish. the blue crab salad is my new favorite salad- perfect hint of green curry and coconut and crunch. the halibut was perfect. the broccolini with burrata and hazelnuts was a perfect combination. the only things I wouldn't order again are the cornbread (not fun enough) and the chicken dish (pomegranate molasses ain't my thing). the menu changes all the time and there are always daily specials, so I'm looking forward to going again for something new. the flavors and textures in all of the dishes are incredibly well thought-out. whiles the combinations are pretty creative, each dish has a great balance of richness, acidity, and crunch. if you sit at the "bar" you're totally in the kitchen with the chefs... so forget having deep conversations- you'll be too distracted. but you will notice how each component of a dish is deliberately placed, how consistent the presented dishes are, and how awesomely an organized kitchen runs. really a nifty experience. if you're looking for a more intimate dining experience, you can definitely eat at a table inside or in their covered outdoor area, but I'd recommend coming for dinner and a "show". byob is awesome since you can bring your favorite wine and not pay an arm and a leg for a drink. there are 2 wine/ liquor stores within a 1-block radius, so don't fret if you forget (points for corny rhymes, right?) this is my new favorite spot in princeton. we came at 6:30 and stayed until 10. we drank wine. we ate a little bit of a lot of dishes. we got to watch the process. the chef working in front of us slipped us a taste of lamb tartare. we left him some wine. they have us cookies with the check. I could've stayed there forever... but then I'd be broke (so it's a little on the pricey side... but it's Princeton, it's high-end dining, it's dinner and a show if you sit at the bar, it's byob, and it's SO WORTH IT). anyway, go try mistral. right now. and take me with you. please? ...pretty please? read more

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Fancy pants food for fancy pants people. Welcome to Mistral! This is a complicated review to write, because the food, the flavors, and the execution of everything coming out of the kitchen here is top notch. This was one of the most sophisticated dining experiences I've had in a long time, and it was, without a doubt, a lot of fun trying so many interesting dishes. But it is indeed fancy on a whole other level -- perhaps a little too fancy for my philistine palate. Luckily for me though, the lure of the Mistral experience is bigger than just the food. Nestled right in the heart of Princeton proper, Mistral may not seem like much from the outside. But once you step inside, you immediately know you're in for a treat. The restaurant is broken up into three large spaces -- a bar, a cozy indoor dining room that includes a chef's table, and a gorgeous, enclosed outdoor dining space. I recommend the latter, especially if it's a nice night. The wine selection is very good. Me and the boys made our way through three different bottles and appreciated how knowledgeable our waiter was in helping us make selections. And of course, no place like this would be complete without a pricey, fancy cocktail list -- one drink sounding more interesting than the next. The food menu is designed for sharing. I suppose you could describe it as tapas, but this is not your typical Spanish tapas. You won't find patatas bravas or any standard run-of-the-mill options here. Every one of the small and large plate offerings here are complex works of food art. And whether you'll like what you eat will depend on how much your palate appreciates bold and unique flavor combinations. We got off to a weak start initially, ordering the Shrimp Beignets, Beef Tendon Chicharrones, and Polenta Fries: too much "fried," and not enough variety for a first round starter. The accompanying sauces for the beignets and fries, however, were sublime. The former consisted of a sharp, yet creamy horseradish mustard. And the usually boring taste of polenta suddenly sprang to life when paired with a sauce made of black garlic, anchovy, and charred scallion. Can't say I've ever tasted anything quite like that. Things picked up in round two with the "Cruciferous Salad Many Ways." The menu says it's made with dates, feta, walnut soil, and a grilled lemon vinaigrette, but there was so much more going on in here vegetable-wise. It was fantastic. The dressing alone was off-the-charts in terms of flavor complexity and uniqueness. Plate #4 was the Mole de Pollo, served with chicken chorizo, pupusa, and epazote. I have no idea what those last two things are, but they sure were good. I love trying mole sauce wherever I see it. No two are ever the same. It's definitely not for everyone. There's a chocolately thing going on with mole that can turn some people off, but here the flavor was very well executed. Our final dishes consisted of the vegetarian Rye Dan Dan Noodles, Tuna Carpaccio, and the Tea Smoked Stuffed Quail. Like the previous dishes, each was artfully prepared with an incredible symphony of flavors and textures unlike most of the food I normally eat. Did I *love* every single dish? No, not really. But I was a good boy and ate everything put in front of me, thoroughly enjoying the experience of trying so many new and interesting things. That's the best way I can sum up. Great, high quality food for those with discerning palates, prepared and served by a talented, knowledgeable staff, all in a warm and cozy, only slightly-pretentious atmosphere. I'll be back. read more

This place is really great. Modern. Chic. Clean. Comfortable. And the food is absolutely perfect. High quality ingredients and amazing service. It was a fantastic experience - great for groups or dates. read more

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We've been to the restaurant three times now. We won't be going back until there are changes in the kitchen. The concept is a good, fresh concept for the area and it's nice to see inventiveness in a menu - something that in general is lacking in Princeton. On all three visits the wait staff have been very good and generally the meals were served a good pace. I like BYOB as if you're going to be ripped off by a wine price you might as well rip yourself off. The price of the food was very reasonable. On our last visit (10/26) we had: Vegetable Salad - good. Roasted Beets - Average - flavor profile didn't work for me. Fried olives (small bites) - outstanding Octopus - good but overcooked Scallop - average (nothing special, well cooked though) Gnocchi - way to heavy and greasy - killed the dish Duck - perfectly cooked duck, good flavor profile Unfortunately, however they have an open kitchen - which in general I love - but getting to observe the kitchen practices really turned me off both from a sanitary and seasoning point of view. I trained at the CIA for my culinary skills. I'm not a professional chef but I know right and wrong in the kitchen. Another reviewed mentioned this but the sanitary practices in the kitchen border on unacceptable and in other states would be repeated violations. The way the staff reuse tasting spoons (no, the .5 second dip in what [i hope was] a sanitizer) followed by it's reuse for plating is just gross. The open use of bare hands to plate dishes, followed by eat with (as they "taste" the food), followed by plate, followed by ... well you get the idea..is equally distressing - no evidence of hand washing - no gloves (not a requirement in this state but!). Surprisingly, I can probably get over the sanitation (I'm sure I've experienced worse, I just didn't get to see it) - I can't get over the seasoning practices. Great food is perfectly seasoned - not saved by salt. I watched the last two times we attended, the chef working the sauté station and the assistant working the salad and finishing stations use large containers of salt to finish the dishes with the equivalent of probably two-three days worth of dietary salt intake per individual dish. Just unacceptable. The restaurant works on the promise of inventive food, well paired to deliver flavor and punch - it delivers on the back of NaCl, which explains why you'll find the back of your tongue and mouth burning with salt burn within a couple of hours and wake up bloated and thirsty wondering what hit you - it wasn't the wine you bought with you. read more

IN SHORT: Home to true talent in the kitchen, Mistral serves up small plates with innovative and sophisticated flavor profiles that balance a host of Mediterranean delicacies. Each dish is best split between two people, making it a bit hard to accommodate larger groups, but every bite is deserving of exceptional praise. THE STORY: For the past 6 months, I had been dying to visit Mistral, having heard only wonderful things about Scott Anderson and his other notable restaurant, Elements, and after my very first visit, I was blown away. This is truly the one restaurant in downtown Princeton that deserves 5 stars. The food is intended to be enjoyed as tapas, though the price and portion size make it difficult for more than two people to enjoy a single dish. If going with a larger group, it is highly recommended to "pair up" and order as many items as possible to share with just one other person. I started with the Jerusalem Artichoke poached in shmaltz and served with buckwheat and chicken skin, which had a light, delicate root flavor that complemented the starchy texture of the dish. The Smoked Pappardelle is unusually brilliant, though, as the smokiness of the al dente pasta noodles themselves lent a hearty, carnivorous flavor to the brussels sprout pesto, chestnut, and parmesan sauce. The BBQ Korean Octopus was also a standout, with thick, perfectly cooked octopus that popped against a creamy, spicy sauce with scallions, the subtlest kimchi, and pickled shiitake mushrooms. A group favorite was the Aged Muscovy Duck, served with the ever trendy kohlrabi and jujubes, proving executive chef Anderson's and chef de cuisine Ben Nerenhausen's daring nature. The duck arrives flawlessly seared, making it the ideal central course to the meal. The Stilton Creme Brûlée completed my meal and left me with the best taste in my mouth, served light and earthy with figs and a pecan crust topped with microgreens that elevate the flavor of the dish to an expert balance of sweet and savory. Although the whole menu appeared expensive at first, the BYOB policy and sharing size scheme makes a meal here surprisingly affordable. The decor is also subtle in a way that restaurants like Agricola have aspired to achieve, with light woods and bleached branches evoking a clean, relaxing atmosphere. Reservations are a must for the weekends and are best made a week beforehand, but the cleverly creative, exotic food will have you desperate to return. Even after the first visit, there is no doubt that Mistral is the best restaurant in Princeton. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Princeton. The full menu is exquisite and if you're in the mood for a drink and a burger, this is the place! read more

Great atmosphere, very helpful staff and fair quality food. The prices are far too high for the actual amount of food though the food is good. We found the seating we were given really took away from any enjoyment of the meal. There was only one other couple seated inside when we arrived for an early dinner and were seated directly next to them and the tables had little distance between them. The strangest piece was quickly after we finished our food and were enjoying just chatting, the manager came over and in a rushed tone cleared our table and asked us if we were having desert. We hadn't even thought about it so we said no and he seemed to print the check out of thin air. We both felt rudely rushed out and that we had wasted a good sum of money. read more

Pros: Good service so far, nice atmosphere, byob (for now). Cons: Expensive, tiny portions, mostly meh food. Sashimi was kind of tasteless, 'kimchi pancakes' were bland, pork and chicken dishes were moist, but without much flavor. At the prices they're charging, I'd hope for either striking flavors or decent portions, but you get neither (except for the octopus, which was quite good). At Elements you forgive the portion size because of the creativity and flavors of the food, but here I have to say I was left feeling a bit empty, in stomach, in flavor, and in wallet all at the same time. Pretty disappointed overall, I have to say; price range and portion sizes are similar to Elements, but food quality is much lower, and less creative (i.e missing the 'spark' that makes money jump out of my wallet). Perhaps the kitchen is still working some things out, in which case they shouldn't be charging as much as they are, until they work those things out. Really a 2.5 star. Bumping to 3 just because it's new and the people seem nice (I'm routing for the food value to improve, though I can't say I'd go back without a noticeable change), despite someone there having seeded Yelp with a fake 5-star review. read more

The food is incredibly expensive for the portion size, and just not that great. It seems that they are trying just a little too hard to be creative with the food and the quality suffers from it. Turnip tofu? Cockscomb jus? Sounds great if you can pull it off, but sadly, they cannot. Granted, I only tried a few things, but I have definitely had similar, better quality dishes elsewhere. As for atmosphere, I did like the aspect of the open kitchen, but it is actually really difficult to see due to the surrounding bar and the position of the tables. You really have to sit at the bar to see anything. Service was mediocre at best. The waitress only came by the table once or twice and there were not that many people in the restaurant. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

I came here with mixed expectations. On one hand, the New York Times gave it a "very good" rating, on the other, my friend said everything was just too oily. The NYT reviewer agreed that the chef is definitely a fan of butter. I decided to give this place a try and braced my brave lactose-intolerant boyfriend for a buttery meal. What we got: For drinks, we ordered the Thai basil lemonade and the cider kombucha. The lemonade was refreshing and you could really taste the basil infused in the drink. The cider kombucha tasted like there was alcohol in it...not too sweet, but good. I'm not sure if I would get drinks again, because the glasses were small, had lots of ice, and for $4-$5, it wasn't worth it. Food: Chicken Breast Roulade: I rarely order chicken at restaurants because it can be too plain or dry. But this was my favorite dish of the night. The broth helped keep the chicken nice and moist, and bits of crunchy (what tasted like) seaweed seasoning gave the dish a very interesting flavor profile. Grilled Octopus: Very good, loved the sauce that went with it Fluke Sashimi: Refreshing! But can be a bit awkward to put in mouth all at once. *Not a good first date dish! While it looks nice plated, it would be easier to eat out of spoons. Aged Duck: Perfectly medium rare, but you only get 4 pieces. Grilled Scallop: tasty, but you get only one. It's a pretty big scallop though. Arepa with Duck: a little too buttery and sweet for my liking...the upside is the portion is pretty big and it wasn't bad..just tasted like flat cornbread with pieces of corn and duck. Carrot Cremeaux (Dessert)- rich "cheesecake-textured" carrot cake- it was ok. Service: Waiter was friendly...although he didn't come to our table much after taking our orders. We had self-serve sparkling water so refilling our glasses wasn't an issue. Hostess could have been a tad friendlier and more welcoming...seemed overwhelmed even though when we first got there, the tables were not filled yet. The restaurant was at capacity when we left and even though she was by the doorway, didn't greet us goodbye. Actually, come to think of it, no one said anything as we made our way out the door. read more

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Went here for lunch and it was busy. Despite that, service was friendly and fast. We split the flatbread and i ordered a falafel sandwich. The overall presentation of the food is very attractive. I wasn't too thrilled with the falafel because the sandwich overall seemed a bit dry without sauce. Likely wont order that again, but i will definitely be going back read more

Mistral - Flatbread appetizer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

This is my go-to place for dinner in Princeton! Dining in Princeton is not exactly a foodie mecca but this place does not disappoint. Online booking is super easy and they have always been ready to seat us when we arrive. This is the little sister restaurant of Elements, which is a super fancy fine dining restaurant on 206. I much prefer Mistral because of the atmosphere, price and small plates options. I've tried almost every dish on the menu and nothing has disappointed; however, my absolute favorites are the foie gras, Korean bar-b-q octopus and the pork belly salad. The combinations are different and very tasty. Desserts also are amazing. The brown butter cake is phenomenal! They usually switch it up a bit but this is one of the consistent dessert offerings I believe. It's BYOB which I love so bring a bottle of your favorite wine to enjoy. read more

From their website: "On weekends, Mistral is open from 11:30 am, till close at 10:00 pm, Saturdays and 9:00 pm, Sundays." I specifically checked the website for their hours of operation before I left my house. Drove a half hour to check this place out, arrived at 3pm on a Sunday only to be told the kitchen was closed from 3-4. 1 star for making me waste an hour of my life. read more

So good. So nice. Great vibe and venue. The cocktails are killer and the Sunday prixfixe was scrumptious. I had the pumpkin butter first and the pork roll Monte Cristo second ...OMG. Our bartender Jenny and server Cynthia were the best! read more

Mistral - Pumpkin butter w/ anchovies - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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I don't know what to write for this place, all I have is mixed feelings. We came here fairly early on a Sunday evening and it was us and another couple dining. The six of us sat in the outdoor section, which was very nice. The hostess was great and our waiter was awesome - the wine he recommended, from Portugal, was really nice. Here's where things go downhill. We ordered pretty much all the small bites as well as a couple of other menu items. The best way I can describe the food is that everything we ate either lacked in flavor or the sauce overpowered the main ingredient. For instance the buratta was served with this tomato slushie/ice concotion which tasted weird and was not needed at all. The oysters were served with some kind of mango chutney which took away from the taste of the oyster... Good oysters should never needed anything more than cocktail sauce and/or horseradish. The best thing about this place is the menu design which has a blank space where they put the plate, really cool. Also the location is good as there is abundant parking. Other than that it was just meh. read more

I can see some people really liking this restaurant. It's very trendy, stylish and creates an atmosphere of extreme busyness. They have a very interesting menu which is sort of a combination of popular Asian, bistro, East Asian and other dishes. Their portion sizes are good. They have an open kitchen, so I watched them cook for an hour while I had my meal. I think the problem here is the food is completely overdressed, oversalted, and over seasoned. The actual base food lacks any taste at all. Flavor comes from a multitude of goopy sauces spread over everything and tiny things sprinkled on top. My advice which they probably wouldn't want to take would be to very much simplify the food. Make it taste good, keep your elegant presentation and make it simple. read more