Located in the historic Nassau Inn, The Yankee Doodle Tap Room has been a mainstay in Princeton's Palmer Square for over half a century. Menus of yesteryear and photos of noticeable Princeton University alumni adorn the walls, creating a unique Ivy League ambiance (5/5) you don't find elsewhere in town. Behind the bar, there is a Norman Rockwell mural (The Yankee Doodle Mural) that adds to the charm of the place. I went with the Caesar salad, Nassau burger, and truffle fries (all 3.5/5). They were all a slight notch above average, but also nothing memorable that jumped out at me to set the food apart from other similar Princeton eateries serving up pub fare. Service (4/5) was warm and friendly. Overall, this was a decent meal, but the unique ambiance is the star of the show here, as it's a place that I'd bring people visiting from out of town to get some college town vibes you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in Princeton. I really enjoyed perusing the alumni photos on the wall, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Yankee Doodle Tap Room to others visiting Princeton looking for an eatery with decent atmosphere. read more

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This was not my first visit to the Yankee Doodle Taproom, as I have been previously on other trips up to Princeton for various events. This time, I was in town for the graduation weekend, and visited the taproom on Memorial Day. The location, concept, and atmosphere of this bar is really cool. It is located on the first floor of the historic Nassau Inn. There is an entire wall of framed pictures of Princeton's notable alumni, which is neat to look through as you are walking in. It is a bar, but there is table seating for smaller or larger groups in addition to the bar seating. All of the times I have visited this place have been in the evening after or during a large event for the university. Specifically this time, I was there the Monday evening before the graduation ceremony took place. There was only one bartender working this evening, and he was fulfilling orders for both the bar and the tables. I came to the bar a few times during the night, and it was backed up each time. I do not understand how there was only one person scheduled, as this was during a very busy weekend for the university. I do not have an expectation to be immediately waited on, but having to wait 20+ minutes each time you want a drink is slightly outrageous. Also, they did not honor who was there first and would simply serve whoever they felt like serving. This is not the first time I have had this bar experience here, either. I know things happen and it could have been a one-off, but being that I have experienced this on multiple visits, I suspect this is how it always is. The staff here is not very friendly, either. In a past visit, we were told we could not have a table unless we were ordering food, when the restaurant was not even full. I have never been wowed or impressed with any kind of service I have received here. I want to like this place for the character and charm, but the service is severely lacking. If you are going to stop, I would do so during the day to avoid long, unnecessary waiting. read more

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1/4/25, We stopped in for a late lunch. There was a hostess who was just sitting at her station. She informed us that we'd have to order from the bar, but could sit at any place. This person looked totally disinterested. We waited 45 minutes after placing the order. My friend went over to the bar to inquire about the wait. (The restaurant wasn't crowded. In addition, there were only two people sitting at the bar). She said, " It'll be ready when it's ready!" Not even five minutes later, a male brought the food to the table. I had the chicken chopped salad with avocados. It was pretty good. My friends had burgers with sweet potato fries. The fries were somewhat flavorful, but lukewarm. Anyway, my friend went over to the bar to get the check. At that time, the female apologized. (Interesting, the timing of the apology). Other than the old fashion decor, I'd skip this place. read more

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Really cool place. Princeton's crew definitely hang out here. Love all the photos of Princeton Alums. Definitely will try the food when I come back. Nice service. Reminded me of a hofrau in Germany. Lots of good beers. read more

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I stayed at the Nassau Inn, which is connected to the Tap Room. I arrived late and thankfully, they were still serving food. There is plenty of space to sit or stand and there always seems to be a crowd. My martini was made perfectly and I even got extra olives (bonus points). I asked for the sliders and truffle fries to go so I could relax and wind down in the room (they accommodated). The sliders were enough for a single meal. The truffle fry portion could have fed a family! Both were great! I loved the local pub atmosphere and the menu has a ton on options to choose from. Definitely a stop to make when in town read more

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Decided to come here without checking Google or yelp reviews with our group of 9. I'll start with this... We had two large tables outside one with an umbrella and one without. We asked if we can move the tables together and they told us It might be against policy, that they will need to check with the manager. Which ultimately they told us we can moved them. And we moved it ourselves without the help of staff. Since it was very sunny and hot out we also asked if we can get an umbrella for our other table but told us we couldn't because there's no base for the umbrella. Mind you during our time there, there was a party of 2 and a party of 4 which both table had umbrellas and there were at least 3 other umbrellas not being used. We would have moved the base and the umbrella ourselves if given permission. Another thing is that we had 2 water pitchers, one was completely empty and the other could easily fill 3 cups and I had asked the waiter if we can get a refill on the water pitcher to which he responded, "there's one right there." And I said "if we can please have a refill on the empty one pls." After leaving our table we all looked at each other with the understanding of that sounded sarcastic right? Like kinda rude.. we mainly came for drinks and a few of us did order food. Cesar Salad, BLT sandwich, sliders, nachos, pasta, fries. All okay.. nothing to rave about. Now after checking Google and yelp reviews there are many that say that the staff is unprofessional. I can attest to that unfortunately. This place is nice inside and has a nice patio right in palmer square. With better staffing, this place could be rated as high as the surrounding restaurants and bars in the area instead of it's 3.8 on Google. read more

You ever go somewhere that feels haunted not by ghosts, but by bad decisions? Welcome to the Yankee Doodle Tap Room - where history and indigestion shake hands and declare eternal war. I walked in expecting rustic Princeton charm. You know: oak beams, scholarly energy, maybe a friendly ghost offering me a pint. Instead, I entered what can only be described as "The Revolutionary War but catered by Applebee's and with much shittier service." Pros: Historical significance. Cons: Everything that occurred after I sat down. Would I go back? Only if a time machine took me there before the menu was invented. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - How anyone (kitchen or wait staff) let this lukewarm monstrosity make it to a table is shocking. - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Servers we're very kind and helpful. I ordered hot tea and chicken n' dumplings . Everything was hot, fresh, delicious and so flavorful . While we were waiting, we looked around the room. there's a wonderful Norman Rockwell picture behind the bar (Norman Rockwell's oldest and largest mural, which was commissioned in the mid-1930's!), and photos of earlier times around the pub. There's also a wall of famous alumni ( photos) and some autographs. It really was a delightful experience to guess who some of these young faces belong to ! In some cases, you might not be able to guess who the person is but you were very familiar with the company ! CEO of Avon, President/CEO of EBay, a couple of SCOTUS.... And so much more! No room for dessert. I had a nice time. read more

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Food was great. Really enjoyed the burgers. The service was attentive and helpful. Would recommend if in Princeton area.

This review is solely based on the breakfast buffet. For $16, I got a cup of hot tea, a glass of orange juice, and the following buffet options: HOT: - scrambled eggs - bacon - sausage - home fries and - bread (toaster available) - small variety of pastries - fruit salad (though not the freshest looking) My breakfast wasn't awesome, but it was convenient (especially since it was rainy, and located in the hotel I was staying at). Service was very friendly and attentive. Seating area is impressive! read more

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Ordered a Yankee Doodle Ale on tap but it was kicked, so went for a pint of Maine Lunch, which was warm. I wasn't charged for it but I did drink the whole pint. Finished with a can of Jai Lai which was properly refrigerated behind the bar. Painting was cool. read more

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Restaurant not busy for a Sunday afternoon early dinner. Food was just ok, fries ice cold. Waitress never returned after dropping food off to check on us but to ask if we were ready for the check. Very disappointing experience. read more

The food is good for a bar from what I can tell. Staff is great. It's great for a drink or two. A ton locals hangout in hotel bars, I haven't seen anything like it before. read more

I ordered a steak sandwich. It was a giant piece of steak in between a burger bun. Nobody asked me how I wanted the steak cooked, so it came out on the wrong side of medium. How is one supposed to eat that?! read more

My friend and I decided to stop here and have a drink outdoors We were told we could sit anywhere but would have to get our drinks inside at the bar My friend went to get our drinks and I sat down at the nearest table I am disabled Suddenly , a woman came over with a couple and told me to move Because that table was reserved ( she picked up a flattened sign that said Reserved) The man said he wanted to sit in the shade She said you may sit here I was sitting there I was so embarrassed I asked to speak to the manager She replied in a snip voice " I am the manager" Terrible I once remember people who worked here had style and Grace . The other servers were very nice read more

We have been here before and I so wish the food was better. I love the location and ambiance, but the food was just not good. I ordered the steak sandwich, which on the menu was described as shaved steak, but got a full steak on a roll. The steak was chewy and I was not able to eat it as a sandwich. I even had difficultly cutting it with my knife. It's so disappointing that they just can't get the food right. read more

45 mins to get a burger on a late Saturday afternoon. One burger was supposed to be medium rare & came out well done. The other burger came out with stale bun. Manager had an attitude. Not waiter fault. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Bacon cheeseburger with stale bun - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Food is mediocre at best, service is the worst in downtown Princeton, incorrigible. Ambiance is nice for a pub. Would not seat us in the patio under a shaded table, because the table was for a "larger" group. We had a baby and the patio was completely empty. Too stupid for their own good. read more

Arrived 7pm. Very few tables eating. Waited a few minutes for a table to be cleaned. Under table, visible to walking up were large pieces of food, crayons & a fork. Already turned off. Waiter took our drink order. Still waiting for 20 mins. Then a mouse ran under our table. Told the hostess we were leaving & why. She just said Oh really. All 7 of us got up and walked out. ​ read more

Decided to stop in Princeton today to walk around and admire the beautiful atmosphere. Passed by this restaurant and decided to dine in with my boyfriend. Our server was Jason, he greeted us fairly quick and was friendly. Food was great, my boyfriend got the Korean chicken sandwich - very tasty and filling. I got the cod sandwich, wasn't necessarily my favorite but I still enjoyed. If you decide to come, get the nachos - those were our favorite. Would definitely come back soon to try other dishes! read more

We went there for dinner with friends last Friday. The service was awful, the waitress disappeared for 15+ minutes at a time and we ran out of drinks more than once. Then the bill came- $2 charge for ice in a drink! There was no mention of that anywhere, and frankly, it was the same ice that was in the pitcher of water so there's no justification for charging. $3 for asking for BBQ sauce, again with no warning. It was utterly ridiculous. And the food was mediocre. We definitely won't be going there again. read more

We came here because it's supposed to be somewhat historic.. it was cute but felt sort of like a standard pub? The beers were good, I liked the wooden interior and the fireplace too. It was hard to get the attention of the bartender even though it wasn't that busy but once we did we were able to get our beers quickly and grabbed a seat! Overall the tap room was cute and I thought it was worth the trip! read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Norman Rockwell painting - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Came for breakfast with Santa. The buffet was extremely limited. Not many options. Like 4 things. No one explained anything to us when we were seated so we sat there until I got up and asked about the process. No one ever came to get our drink order. It wasn't until I asked them to send someone over that we finally got drinks. This was my first time here and I expected better food, service and overall a better experience. I thought it would be fancy since it's in Palmer Square but I was wrong. Santa tried his best but was set up for less than an ideal showing. No one was there to take our picture or help with the process. We tried selfies and eventually had to ask another patron to take our pictures. This place has potential but requires management that actually manages, and staff that wants to be helpful. I probably will not be returning and would not recommend this place to friends or family. Two positive notes: the place has some decent Christmas decor, and there was no line to see Santa. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - This is the buffet. Eggs, beacon, potatoes, French toast. - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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We have been coming here for years and enjoy the bar and outdoor seating especially this time of year. Yesterday my girlfriend and I approached the outdoor area and found a table in the shade and my girlfriend sat down while I went to the bar to get drinks. I came back and she was sitting on a lone chair very upset. Apparently the table was "reserved" however we did not see any reserved sign. The alleged manager brought a party of about 6 to the table and sat them down with no notice or request to move to another table as it was allegedly reserved. then she quickly departed. We will have to think twice before coming back to this establishment unfortunately. read more

We were staying at the Nassau Inn, so figured, why not! Located just beyond the front desk, it feels like your back in the 1800s. Dark wood, high back booths and no windows. Though it has mixed reviews, we found it for what it was...a very casual pub. Decent libation list and good assortment of pub food. Didn't have a reservation, but were seated right away...the place was packed, as the men's team had a game that night. Server was right there for our drink order, returned promptly with our drinks and food order. Food came up in a short amount of time, didn't matter as we were lost in conversation. Went with the Nassau burger a mix of short rib, brisket and chuck with cheddar (other choices as well), lettuce, tomato and red onion on a brioche bun cooked medium rare. Also ordered the sweet potato fries. A really decent burger, cooked to my liking. Fries came out hot and crisp. Sorry, no picks...dug in too quickly!!! A fun place for a quick meal and a pint in the middle of Palmer Square. read more

Upon entering the Yankee Doodle Tap Room through the lobby of the Nassau Inn there's a photo wall of luminaries who have graduated from Princeton including the likes of Michelle Obama, Jeff Bezos, Ralph Nader and Jimmy Stewart. There's even a charming anecdote that Albert Einstein once carved his initials into one of the wood benches inside this nostalgia laden Publik House. If true, a very cool backstory and chamber of commerce worthy traffic driver. However, after countless meals here I can only conclude that these same luminaries are probably far too intelligent to eat here to say nothing of my own stupidity. The menu is completely average with tourista pricing that will have you carving your initials deep into your credit card receipt. If you want to soak in the atmosphere, grab a seat at the bar and have a beer. Otherwise, prepare to be disappointed. Two stars. read more

Great place to just hang in Princeton plenary of beers on tap games in their bar area . Very clean environment awesome bartender & hostess plus tvs all over for different sports. read more

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I only come here because of the cool interior and very traditional Princeton vibe. Otherwise, service is horrible and food is just not not not good (especially the nachos, just so weird with the cheese and pulled meat. Who invented this recipe??) I will at most get an overpriced beer here and that is about it. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

In the heart of Princeton, there was a place A restaurant named Tap Room But alas, its name was just a mirage For the Tap Room was a dirty mess Ruin your evening, yes they will The floors had ketchup The tables sticky, the chairs were slimy And in the midst of this sorry scene A waitress named Liz, was messy and slow She forgot my mayonnaise and our ketchup too Customers looked on in disbelief as they waited for Lizzy to notice As Liz brought them their meals with little relief They tried to eat, but the food was too late Even to get the check was a hassle and wait So if you find yourself in Yankee Doodle's place Remember Liz and her sloppy disgrace And if the Tap Room is still a mess Just turn around and find a place that's blessed. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - This was after we waited for the staff to "clean our table" The chairs had chunks of lettuce - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

The cheeseburger was a 4. But I am giving a lower rating because the Yankee Doodle Tap Room were supposed to validate parking tickets to the Hullfish and Chambers garages for $ 5 after 4 pm and I was told by the manager, the reservation desk and others that they were out of stickers. Actually everyone seemed confused where to get tickets validated in the first place because the bar told me to go to the reception desk and the desk had no idea. Two friends who did get the stickers told me to go to the reservation desk. They all blamed the situation on the parking garages but since this was Saturday night, then someone should hve gotten more stickers whether it be the garage and/or the restaurant, or else validate parking with a stamp like other towns do. Many people in my group were also upset because had we known, we would have parked (and ate) somewhere else. I also wonder if they were hoarding stickers for the other patrons in the restaurant, Finally I told them they should notify people before they started eating there so that they aren't equally disappointed when they can't get their stickers, read more

It's a gastro pub so expect only good drinks and burger. Just about average food. The server was having a bad day though, so pretty unattentive Won't go again read more

Visited for the first time on St. Patrick's Day. $5 Guinness pints and $5 Jameson shots! How can you go wrong? I had the fish sandwich - it was fresh and a large portion, well cooked with a tasty sauce. Friend had the corned beef and cabbage, she said it was delish and had extra to take home the portion was huge. Looks like a fun local place, I will be back despite the mixed reviews I see on Yelp. Loved the alumni pics on the wall. read more

Hats off to the chef that puts together one of the best nacho apps I've ever had without using melted shredded cheese at all. Great scene overall and the staff were genuinely kind and attentive. Nice variety of beers on tap so the name isn't just a gimmick. If we didn't have dinner reservations in a few hours would have tried more off the menu but the burgers coming out to the table next to us looked massive and delicious. Yes they looked delicious. Top 3 town in NJ to visit always. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Longview complements of Green Day - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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One of my favorite bars to go to in Princeton. Aside from a substantial beer selection, this bar also features to really amazing features. The first is the Normal Rockwell mural on the back wall of the bar. The other is the "Prof. Einstein" carved into one of the wall booths. Really cool stuff. Lots of local beers on tap. The menu is EXTREMELY varied and has something for every person in every mood. I had one of the most amazing salad I've had in a long time and my significant other had the Sesame Tofu Udon Noodles which were also spectacular. The atmosphere is very "Princeton" and is a must-see if you are visiting this area or the university. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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A fun place for pub fare. The entrees are huge so bring an appetite. Spend time looking at all the Princeton memorabilia and you can't help but smile when you see all the plaques commemorating what happened in the booths - engagements, fishing buddy lincheons and more. Worth it. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Booth commemorations - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Went with a group of eight for lunch and the service was so slow! I think we were our server's only table too. We were there for just over two hours! The food was good (whipped feta, chopped brisket panini, burgers), but the lack of service left a sour taste in our mouths. read more

I was expecting much worse after reading reviews but I honestly didn't have a terrible experience. Pretty average pub food in a cozy, relaxed interior. Service was slow and not so attentive but no big deal, I believe they may have been understaffed. I had a burger and upgraded my fries to truffle fries. The burger was nothing to write home about, but did the job. I'm glad I ended up choosing the truffle fries, I did enjoy those. You can find better food in Princeton but this is a casual setting to catch up with friends. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - Average burger and yummy truffle fries - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

Stopped in for the outdoor seating area to get some Wings and a margarita. They wings we're great but i wasn't happy with the margarita. Jill was my server and she was amazing and checked in often to make sure Everything was ok. read more

Yankee Doodle Tap Room - 1/2 Buffalo wings normal and 1/2 cajun style - Pubs Near Me - Princeton, New Jersey

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Waited 45 minutes for chicken salad Had to constantly seek out waiter even to pay check and get credit card back ! Mediocre food Very bad management Such a shame for this old wonderful institution! read more

Came here for a happy hour/dinner with my friends after work. The outdoor seating was filled up for the night but we were able to walk up to the high top tables facing the street on a first come first serve basis. We had to order our food and drinks at the bar inside and they brought them out for us. I had the falafel burger and it was okay. The accompaniments on the burger were good but the burger itself looked tasted like it was cooked from frozen not fresh. We got the the garlic fries to share as well and those were delicious! Overall, a good place for a happy hour or early dinner! read more