This spot has the best classic burger and grilled pound cake with ice cream dessert! Ambiance: - candle lit cozy vibes for dinner - plenty of seating - festively decorated for the winter holiday season Service: - waiter is so nice and attentive - we reserved a table for 7:45pm and stayed after closing till about 9:30pm. The staff never rushed us even though we were the last customers in the restaurant Food: - we were craving a burger along with our mains so we got the burger as an appetizer! The chef even split the burger in 2 without us asking. The burger was perfectly medium rare, fries are crispy and salad is lightly dressed - lemon chicken with broccolini and pan fried potatoes and olive oil tomatoes: the lemon sauce has the perfect strong lemon flavor, chicken is so moist and the potatoes were fluffy I love coming back here to see what's new on their menu! read more

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Random pick to celebrate my birthday. We made a reservation and arrived on time and found parking in the back of the restaurant . Greeted with a smile. We waked in to a classy and modern ambiance . Drinks were good . The mocktail was better than the cocktail! Appetizers came out quick initially but the entree took longer .Our server was very knowledgeable sharing the specials and made some great recommendations Grilled calamari with squid ink & Spicy shrimp in white wine garlic sauce with the house bread and Fries with truffle aioli made for a tasty start to a nice dinner Pappardelle with rabbit ragu & Lightly blackened salmon with couscous n parsnips puree were the entree picks and they were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the rabbit in the pasta though I got a bone in it , which the server mentioned should not have been there but it was a miss ! No regrets as it's apparently not a big deal!! We didn't have any dessert but they got us couple of ginger cookies on a plate with a piped chocolate wish ! Was a nice touch to wrap our evening on a high note read more

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Great local spot for dinner or drinks. Nicely decorated inside for an upscale feel. They offer valet parking so you can walk right in. There are a few seats at the bar and tables inside and out. The menu has a good mix of American food and they offer fresh fish and seasonal vegetables. There was a great wine and cocktail list and the bartender was helpful with recommendations. I was craving a burger and it really hit the spot. My friends went with the salmon and chicken Milanese and they were both very happy with their meals. Service was great too! read more

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Been here several times. Food is consistently good, but pricey. Nothing outstanding but always on the mark. The main dining room is very noisy. So much so that it is difficult to have a dinner conversation with everyone at the table. This last visit, we made a reservation downstairs in the "wine cellar". Much better. Space has a cool vibe too. The service was very attentive but not over bearing. Very extensive but pricey selection of wines by the glass. 5 & 10 ounce pours. Nice bottle selection. Typical 3X retail pricing on bottles. Last outing our table ordered the special salads, flat iron medium rare, duck risotto and char. All on the mark. Will return and definitely sit downstairs. read more

What a beautiful place to go to for celebrations! Be sure to rsvp ahead of time for Fridays and weekends as this place can easily get packed. Loved the chill and nice ambiance upon entering. Food and drinks were amazing! We just about loved everything we ate or drank. Had the cheese plate and grilled calamari to start. For mains, went with the recommended special... Sablefish with broccoli rabe - the fish was so lovely buttery and yet flakey. Drinks were so good. My favorite was the Rosemary Paloma. My friends had the grilled pork chop and char-grilled flat iron steak which were also sooo delicious! Great server, super friendly, in spite the busyness on a Friday night, he still managed to shower us with a little complimentary bday dessert! Only minor downside was the valet parking given the small parking lot. It did slow down the process of getting my car. However, this would not deter me from not going again. Will be back again soon!! read more

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Simply amazing. The food is fresh and creative, the ambience has a lively vibe and the wine list and cocktail options plentiful. Book early in the week if you want to eat here, though, as they are only are open for a few hours every night. read more

This was a good meal. Nothing exceptional but dishes were prepared well overall. French onion soup was the standout for me. Desserts were meh (and the cookies that came with the check were not good). Service was quite good for our large group and the wine cellar setting was really nice. A solid place for a predictable meal. read more

Food is great. There are often interesting menu additions too. Parking is easy. Bar tenders know their craft. One complaint, the seating is over-crowded and totally lacking in any modicum of privacy. read more

Great fresh food. Amazing service. Nice atmosphere. Good drink selection. Restaurant is consistently good.

Rounded up to five stars. Off the beaten path, this restaurant is located in what once was a home. The dining room is relatively small and the tables are close together. The menu is varied and there are dairy specials. We had the Salmon Tartare (appetizer) and Soft Shell Crab specials. Both were excellent. The Rabbit Loin and Pork Chop were also very good. The service is attentive. read more

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The food, ambience and wait staff are amazing!!!! It is close to home and will be added as a go to restaurant. Free Valet parking, just tip the valet! read more

Food here is good, but tonight we waited about an hour and 15 minutes for our food (didn't order apps- just entrees for 4 people). Our waitress Alexandra S was honestly horrible. The manager was apologetic, but Alexandra actively avoided our table (even avoiding eye contact multiple times) and was not apologetic about the wait- she seemed completely apathetic about the whole thing. Didn't check on us, refill waters, etc. Nobody offered to comp us anything after the incredibly long wait and then flipped around the screen to pay with tip options of 20%, 22%, and 25%... I used to waitress myself and I know how important tips are to your income when you wait tables, but it was the icing on the cake of a long and frustrating night to see those options. Historically have loved this place so was really disappointed. Kitchen delays happen, but how you respond to them is everything. Was supposed to be a special dinner and the whole family is annoyed and exhausted. read more

Amazing service for a large family dinner. Staff was attentive and accommodating of our 3 year old. Good was excellent. read more

ONE 53 - Escargots en Croute - New American Near Me - Rocky Hill, New Jersey

Great food and service. Tables can be a bit tight, but not as bad as NYC. The double cut pork chop is outstanding. One small issue - the flat iron steak (delicious!) was listed on the menu as $38. On the bill it was $41. Yes, it's only $3 but it makes you wonder if other menu prices are also incorrect. Just wondering. read more

The service was great and the ambiance was great! However, our sparkling water was flat , the shrimp appetizer was not spicy and my husband had the shrimp in angel hair ,and the shrimp was not fresh. If you're a restaurant with high prices,ALL your seafood should be fresh! My short rib pasta was great and the cheese plate was very good! My lavender martini was delicious and the cab with dinner delightful! The dessert was okay and the tart was not flavorful. But again, the service was awesome!!! read more

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Amazing meal and service last night at One 53. We made a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived. Our waiter, Colin, was attentive and took our cocktail orders within minutes and was great about refilling our water glasses throughout the night without us having to flag him down. In addition to the regular menu, they had Oktoberfest specials and several seafood specials. The corn & shrimp chowder was a big hit at our table and our entrees which included the lemon chicken and bucatini with jumbo lump crabmeat were delicious and such generous portions that we ended up taking home leftovers. The hand-cut fries are a must have and the truffle mayo is a terrific side. We were too full to order any desserts so the bite-sized complimentary molasses cookies presented with our check were the perfect ending to a great meal. We'll definitely be back at One 53 soon! read more

I was so upset and annoyed with this dining experience and it became stressful and felt unwelcoming. I planned for BYOB with corkage fee and called ahead and was told corkage is $25 per bottle, very fair corkage The lousy experience started when we walked through the door. We had an early reservation, and the house was empty when we arrived. Right off the bat, we were taken to the worst table, we asked to be moved and they stuck us at another table with a crack in the seat. We finally got a decent table but not without some sneers and disgust from the hostess. Very awkward! I told the waiter I brought my own wine. I opened a white and took out the red for our main course. I was now told they have a strict one bottle per table of two persons policy I was told when I called it was $25 per bottle. And no information about a one bottle policy. They would not bend. New ownership given as reason. I asked when they got new ownership...waiter told me 2 years ago---WTF! They should have made an exception for this visit. But they clearly told me on phone corkage was $25 per bottle, with no mention of a bottle limit. Food was good, but nothing special. We had been to One 53 several times in past, Started with mushroom soup that was good. Pork chop which was cooked nicely, but a sauce would make it better and a few leaves of lettuce was their idea of field greens? Would have preferred any other side over fries and ketchup. Also, stuffed shrimp and grilled Caesar salad and shared broccoli rabe and sausage side. The staff seems to extremely accommodating to regulars with preferential seating, ect... I can't see becoming a regular after this experience. To recap: The place was empty when we got there. They tried to seat us at the worst table in the house to start. After a couple of iterations, we finally got an acceptable table. I opened my Chardonnay, we ordered our meals and then we were told about the Wine policy. Had I known they would be so unbending, I would've opened the red that I had planned for the meat course. Waited to write this. I'm still upset! read more

I ate here last Friday for the first time. The ambiance and food was excellent. Everything was excellent and I will be back!

This is a really nice little spot with classy ambiance and excellent food. The service was wonderful and there is a full bar with many wine options as well. I had the Jersey corn ravioli and cheese plate. The ravioli tasted amazing and was in a nice light sauce. The flavors of fresh corn and bell pepper popped well with the fresh pasta and cheese. The cheese plate was great too, the quantity of cheese was smaller than what I was expecting but quality cheese gets expensive quickly so I'm assuming that's why. I also tried a bite of the mac n cheese which was nice and cheddar-y with crispy bread crumbs, though also quite a small portion. I didn't try the swordfish but the group I was with really liked that as well. read more

ONE 53 - corn ravioli - New American Near Me - Rocky Hill, New Jersey

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Food is fairly good albeit on the expensive side. The alcohol would recommend being careful with - everyone in our party got headaches after the cocktails (likely cheap liquor or something). Very popular place but given the poor quality of the cocktails not sure what to think about the food now read more

The food is absolutely excellent. The service is grade A++/very attentive & polite staff. Ambiance is very nice/great date night place. Very warm & inviting! Cocktails are great. read more

The steak was amazing!! The service was good only thing is I felt the food took a little bit to come out. Ambiance was nice but I would not go there if you just want to see the inside. Overall amazing place I will definitely be going back there again! read more

My server, Colin, was attentive, answered all of our annoying questions, and made sure we had every single thing we asked for. This place was incredible. The food was delicious and the dimly lit downstairs seating was the perfect atmosphere. Will be back. read more

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Food is excellent, with a grill biased variety of delicious market fresh foods. Been a customer since they opened and we always spend New Year's Eve there. They have their usual menu for New Year's Eve. Service is efficient and friendly but not over bearing. We were seated promptly and specified a table which was honored. The place is decorated NY trendy but not trying to be too hip. Our appetizers this time were a grilled salad and warm vichyssoise potato leek soup. Both were very good. Mains were a superb grilled pork chop and a 22 Oz Pat LaFrieda Rib Eye. Both were cooked to textbook perfection. We shared a grilled pound cake a la mode to die for. Offstreet easy valet parking is available. Our favorite place in the area. read more

Our favorite restaurant. Food is delicious and consistent. Our favorites are the swordfish, any pasta dish, the garlic shrimp, the Panzanella salad, chocolate chip cookie dessert. Service is always friendly and professional. read more

Cozy intimate dining experience for Valentine's Day. We started with ordering drinks, the elder and pomegranate margarita. The elder was satisfying drink for those who enjoy drinks that are sweet/tart. The pomegranate margarita was good but needed more tequila to counter the triple sec and POM juice. As an appetizer, I ordered the yellowfin tuna tartare which was apart of the Valentine's Day menu. Overall the tuna was under seasoned, yet the accompanying sauce was a great addition to add flavor to the dish. I just wish there was more of the roasted red pepper sauce on the plate. For entrees, we ordered the flat iron steak and linguine with clam sauce which was both delicious and filling. The staff were very attentive and warm. read more

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Not bad at all, nice cozy spot, top end service by Clara, good value and quality on the wine selection. Celebrated our son, move-in day to Princeton and had a fantastic meal. Bread was artisan, nice chew, texture, crusty outer layer, with some EVOO olive bone marrow/bean texture spread...forgot to ask them but looked like foie gras terrine. Oh yes we did get the Rossini burger with foie gras, truffle cheese, quality meat cooked perfectly rare, with the brioche bun it just melted in your mouth. Awesome char grilled meats, the chicken was perfectly cooked juicy, loved the airliner breast, old school. Gnocchi was pillowy soft and had a bit of a nage with it but my favorite are the ones that are dry and pan seared with a char butter, sage, the simple straight forward style. Ravioli was seasoned well inside and out, al dente yes! Seared foie, perfectly seared along with accoutrements all set. Flat iron steak perfect med rare and tasty tasty, good texture. Good quality local meats. Will be back. Thank you to our school arts board of director and friend Dave, who gave my wife a gift certificate here for her volunteer work and for our son getting into Princeton. read more

We were dressed nicely, asked politely for two seats, there were vacant seats for dinner, but we were turned down saying they were full. No other explanations or how long the wait would be, if any. Goodbye forever! read more

Had a most beautiful birthday dinner at this lovely place. Would not have known of it but for my foodie son. It's small and pretty inside, and the drinks and appetizers and entrees are wonderful. I am not an octopus eater, but my son said it was the best he'd had. I think this is a wonderful place to go for a special date or event. read more

Excellent and tasteful food. Beautiful ambience. Lovely part of town and good parking.

This was our first time at One 53 and it won't be our last. As soon as we arrived the valet came out and took care of the car (complimentary service). We entered and were immediately seated; the bar seats were all occupied and the restaurant was bustling. Our waitress immediately came over, reviewed the specials, and took our drink orders. I went with the one 53 Manhattan; it was very smooth. Escargot, grilled eggplant rollatine , and house salad for appetizers - delicious. Double-cut pork chop with mushrooms hot peppers and garlic as a main entree- again delicious. Looking forward to the next read more

ONE 53 - New American Near Me - Rocky Hill, New Jersey

So... I'm a big fan of this place. The food, the cocktails, the service, the vibe, even the customers! Seriously... I like to sit at the bar and have only met the nicest of people here. I contribute this to Craig, bartender extraordinaire, who has actually introduced me to fellow diners if I'm dining alone. Always an enjoyable and completely satisfying dining experience! read more

All I can say is why did I wait so long to check this place out! Loved the vibe and how it's situated in downtown Rocky Hill. Came here on a Thursday for dinner and was very impressed with everything I ate. The roasted mushroom and hot pepper crostini starter was delicious and I devoured it. The main course though was perfection! The char grilled flat iron steak was flavorful, cooked just where it was soft yet still the chewy texture you'd want in a steak. The fries! Wow I can't even. So good I couldn't help myself from eating them all! To top it off, the dessert of the grilled pound cake ice cream sandwich! Like I had to be rolled out of the restaurant. The service was excellent and there's no way I'm letting this be the only time I venture here! read more

ONE 53 - Flat Iron Steak with Hand - cut Fries - New American Near Me - Rocky Hill, New Jersey

The mussels appetizer is phenomenal! It answers the question: "What is the meaning of life?" Answer: To eat these mussels.

This place never disappoints. Amazing food, service and drinks. Always has great specials and utilizes locally grown food. My favorite drink is their One53 signature cocktail. I love to order their pasta and fish dishes for a main entree. Garlic shrimp appetizer is a must. Finish your meal with a yummy Irish coffee and leave happy read more

Parents night out success. My husband and I were looking for a fancy dinner we wouldn't normally take our two year old to and One 53 fits the bill. We enjoyed everything from the cheese plate and escargots starters to the spaghetti with meat ball special. You get what you pay for so expect a bit of a higher bill. Totally worth it. read more

ONE 53 - Cheese plate - New American Near Me - Rocky Hill, New Jersey

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We dine out quite often, having relocated from Manhattan, basically not a food group or type that we have not experienced, and have tried restaurants across the food type and price point spectrum from small suspect "holes in the wall" that ended up being spectacular finds" to some crazy price point restaurants that we'd never dine at again. Attention to detail from the moment the dining experience starts until leaving is key to us, and meal is just 50% of the dining equation. First time, made reservation via Open Table following an unsuccessful bid on the phone direct. Arrived on time, taken to our table, one among a wall of many open tables. However, this specific table was just outside the kitchen. Meaning, high traffic area and one of us would be facing the kitchen (swinging bar saloon type door). Asked to be moved to one of the other many empty tables for 2, and what should have been a quick hostess empowered decision became a lengthy wait as we stood. Told they needed to speak with the manager. Okay, what were we do other than possibly leave, which was our option of course. Finally the hostess came back, told us the he hardship making the change--- TMI, not interested. Was I supposed to be grateful???? After the story telling which had me still wondering our fate, she told us they'd accommodate the table change request. Now seated at a much better, more enjoyable location, the hostess came to the table and thanked her and engaged her with a question on the menu as it was our first time. Nery, our server for the evening came next, we started to ask both food and wine questions. We asked for a taste of a red (don't recall the wine), unfortunately the wine had separated and spoiled, so we sent that bottle away and asked if they'd open another which they did. While waiting for Nery to return I could see the head bartender pouring and smelling and looking at the bottle we just turned back, he was shaking his head to his colleagues "yes" and put poured the glass out... didn't even need to taste it and he knew. Not surprisingly the second bottle of the same wine was also spoiled..... so important that wines are stored in proper temperatures/conditions. Send that back and asked for the Querciolina Montecuco a Sangiovese, this was fresh, had the expected flavor and body. During this time a serving of fresh bread and humus was brought to the table, lovely presentation but the bread was cold. That humus was fantastic, would have been a better complement had the bread been warm. After some more Q&A with Nery we ordered the Roasted Squash Soup with Andouille which they split into two for us to share. We love squash soups, this was one if not the top tasting ones to date. The andouille gave the soup that much needed accent to complement the squash flavor. From an aesthetics perspective, was beautiful presentation as well. After some final pondering, I ordered the organic salmon with sautéed spinach, roasted squash & cippolini onions..... first off, again a beautifully plated presentation, the aroma was fantastic as was the meal itself. I've never had salmon complemented with squash prepared like this before. Their preparation was fabulous... my only (personal critique-- would have liked a bit more of the squash as I coupled it with each bite of fish; finished the squash before finishing the fish). The fish was plated atop steamed spinach which was so fresh. Again was a fabulous meal. (see photo of my dish) My wife ordered the beef bourguignon, she said the meet was extremely tender, the mix of ingredients as fresh as could be. She loved her dish all but one key aspect, the sauce that it was in. She felt the sauce fell flat, too light, didn't complement the short rib as she would have expected or liked. It is winter, the dish is a very heavy dish and you'd expect the sauce to dazzle the meat. (Dancing with a partner that doesn't have the suave moves) We passed on dessert as we were full. We discussed our experience on the way home and agreed we'd try One 53 again after another trip to the area. I rate it a 3 upon this trip for the reasons detailed. Should our next experience surpass this one, I will of course update with a follow up review at such time. read more

One 53 is always good. Nothing is poorly cooked or presented. The wine choices are excellent - and cover all prices. So what keeps me from saying "Great"? The restaurant's footprint makes the tables too close together - even a bit claustrophobic in the open area; and having a hamburger (yes, it is very tasty) on the dinner menu forces me to wonder who and why people go there. The rest of the menu is eclectic and more befitting of the wine menu. I'd eat here several times a month if there was more space! But that's just me. (And I eat here 6 - 12 times a year for the last few years.) read more

Great good and service although it's valet parking only on the weekends, otherwise you can park on the streets a couple blocks away.

Our family of 5 enjoyed dinner here. Anthony's service was excellent. The food came out hot and it was so fresh. We had appetizers, steak, pasta dish, pork chops and chicken. EVERYTHING WAS EXCELLENT. It's been a long time since I've been to a restaurant that had fresh food and great service. I can't wait to go back. We highly recommend. read more