Jersey Dispatch: Ice Cream at The Bent Spoon and Thomas Sweet in Princeton
Hoagie Haven is a must see when visiting Princeton.
Hoagie Haven is a must see when visiting Princeton.
Teuscher is simply the best. Although not on the UWS, worth the trip (25 E. 61 St.)
Eggs Benedict from Brasserie when it used to be open 24hrs and when they used to give you three poached eggs as opposed to the lousy two they give you now...
Jolivore wrote: "Princeton food in general is student food, cheap and dirty, not worth a detour." Agree, but also would quickly add, "...and at the other end of the continuum, it is Credit Card food, way over-priced for what you get, mediocre at best, and forgettable. Having lived in Princeton for over 20 years, we head out to New Brunswick, Philadelphia, Lambertville, etc., for dining. For simple eats, Blue Point Cafe is fine, Conte's works for pizza at a table (it turns to cardboard as takeout), and sadly, the best Chinese food is now out of town, as well."
Bent Spoon, Small World, and Hoagie Haven are all cheap eats (and not really restuarants), and far more memorable than any other establishment in town.
Hi Brian, great reporting. You mention soul food on route 27. I've tried all the other cuisines on that strech but was not aware of soul food. Could you please post the name and location so I can give it a try? Thanks.
There's also a Thomas Sweets in New Brunswick on the Rutgers U campus.... they have homemade chocoate as well there and those mix-ins....man, I remember those from years ago............. it's too bad I live in Texas now or I'd be running out to get one now!
Listen to your wife, man! Bent Spoon's good, but it's not gelato—which is semifreddo, made with ice milk, while American "gelato" is made with cream—and it's too sweet. Halo has terrific, honest ice cream, too: the coffee ice cream is superb. Princeton food in general is student food, cheap and dirty, not worth a detour.
I'm sorry to hear that about Able Bagel--the owners were so nice, and the bagels were the small, dense, flavorful kind that is now a dying breed.
My friends who were Pton students and some Pton professors used to go to PJ's--yes, it's more crowded when parents come to visit it, but when I went it was better than your average diner fare.
PJ's Pancake House burnt down well over 5 years ago but has been open for several years -- and not a bad option if you don't mind long lines and hefty prices for typical breakfast food. I don't know many locals who frequent PJ's -- usually the lines are of weekend visitors. Sorry HeartofGlass but Abel Bagel closed sometime this past winter. And Halo Pub is the best deal around for American style ice cream -- love their vanilla almond with tons of almonds. But the quality and flavors cannot compare to The Bent Spoon.
I think PJ's Pancake House burned down, didn't it? Agree that Hoagie Haven and Halo Pub are the best in Princeton...but when I was there, The Bent Spoon was not yet, alas.
I was just at Halo Pub a few weeks ago, so it's definitely still there, and I agree it's too bad it didn't get a mention in this post. I used to live off the milkshakes there. : ) Thanks for alerting me to the Bent Spoon, though. I'll look for it next time in Pton.
^I wanted to add the Halo Pub--because it is THE place to go and wasn't mentioned, I was afraid it was closed!
For Chinese food=Karen's Chinese Kitchen is good, btw. And Teresa's for trattoria Italian food, plus the JB Winberie for burgers and American food, Laherie's for expensive French.
The best ice cream in Princeton is at Halo Pub. They have so many good flavors, all homemade, and it's so cheap! Their chocolate with strawberries may be my favorite ice cream ever.
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