Benedicion opened in late 2019 and delivers superb pupusa in the authentic Salvadoran style. Lightly oiled, perfectly grilled. Served with the traditional, home-made curtido (a pickled salad made from cabbage, onions, chopped up jalapenos, and cilantro), and salsa roja (mildly spiced, tomato based sauce).
Until now, we’ve never found a local Puerto Rican restaurant we could get excited about. Frankly, the cuisine is tough to prepare well. Unlike Mexican which depends on spiciness, PR cuisine depends on subtle textures and flavors (usually including a lot of garlic). Subtle is hard. Take Mofongo, a classic PR dish. It’s a ball … Continue reading Subtle Intensity
Every semester, Princeton University opens a bunch of its classes to local auditors. Princeton residents get first dibs, but the program is open to anyone committed enough to jump through the hoops and register.
About 20 minutes up Rt. 1, the Institute for Advanced Study sponsors an exceptional series of events, mostly free to the public (though some require registration), typically 8-10 each month.
La Taqueria (located on a decidedly suburban site in Lawrence) is better than most Mexican/Guatemalan joints in the area, slightly more expensive than similar places in Trenton (but still a bargain), and much more nicely appointed. If you find yourself in Lawrence looking for a quick, inexpensive bite, it’s a good place to stop.
Every Christmas season, the Trenton Downtown Association sponsors a week-long celebration called “Patriot’s Week”, culminating in a day-long re-enactment of the two battles of Trenton. It’s a wild scene. Dozens of men dressed in authentic uniforms, carrying muzzle loading, black powder muskets (and cannon) descend on downtown Trenton. They march, they fire, they pretend to die.
Well conceived small museum provides an introduction to the Roebling family and Trenton’s industrial history. Located within a town that was built to house workers for the mill which manufactured steel used in the Roebling Wire Rope operations in Trenton.
Mostly a take-out joint, Guate Rico Deli’s food is all home made, absolutely fresh, and expertly prepared. Compared to other Guatemalan restaurants in town, the cooking uses fat and salt with a lighter touch, making it a place where you can eat often.
One of the few restaurants in this area that takes the trouble to spice each dish individually. Offers a range of Indian cuisine hard to find elsewhere. Strongly recommended.
(Covid Update Dec 2021 – in business) Lady and the Shallot serves a limited but well-conceived menu of exclusively vegan, gluten-free, and tree-nut-free food. Execution is great, but not transcendent. Vegetarian or vegetarian-leaning eaters will be completely happy here, especially if they are gluten-sensitive or nut-allergic or lactose intolerant. Non-vegetarians will enjoy the fresh-made food … Continue reading Plant Power
What do two guys from NJ know about Philly cheesesteaks? Quite a lot, apparently. Their 100% rib-eye steaks provide the perfect balance of flavor and grease.
Trenton Circus Squad is a truly remarkable organization located in the historic (and extremely photogenic) Roebling Machine Shop, adjoining Roebling Market. Kids aged 6-18 are eligible to take free classes in circus arts: riding a unicycle, walking on stilts, juggling, wire walking, acrobatics, trapeze, slapstick comedy, human pyramids, German wheel and mini-trampoline. [sphere 9296 long=”180″] … Continue reading Bread and Circus Training
Superb home-cooked fried chicken and many other soul specialties. Less greasy and salty than most. Pleasant place to grab a lunch or fast dinner downtown. Take-out and catering as well.
128 West State Street Café is an elegant, little, post-modern eatery that serves freshly-made espresso drinks, and a limited menu of impeccably prepared breakfast and lunch foods. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, from 7 AM to 4 PM, targeting the downtown and statehouse crowd.
Trentini’s Restaurant has been quietly serving decent Italian fare at its storefront in the Roebling Market ever since its founding in 2002. Trentini’s looks like a standard pizza joint (and the pizza’s OK). But walk past the pizza parlor into the back room, and you find yourself in a quiet, immaculately clean, and intimate dining room with waitress service. With most of the old-line Chambersburg restaurants gone, it’s one of the few options for good Italian within the city limits. And it’s a real bargain.
Fat Jacks delivers excellent BBQ, particularly if you like it charred, as we do. The food uses premium ingredients and is cooked to order, so call ahead.
Surprisingly ambitious food in Ewing, delivered at a fair price. Great desserts. Bargain for lunch. Reservations recommended
If you’re looking for a bar with food (as opposed to food) you may fall in love with Casa Blanca. It’s one of the most Anglo-friendly bars in town, newly renovated, with a diverse crowd and good, reasonably priced food.
La Cabaña is a Costa Rican restaurant offering food that, at its best, is utterly sublime, rivaling in both quality and presentation much, much more expensive restaurants. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and one of the best places in town for Sunday brunch.
Right around the corner from the ballpark: great pizza by the slice or by the pie. Superb Latin fusion cooking. A great place for a quick meal before a Thunder game.
Cafe Un, Deux, Trois is one of our “go to” places in New York City for a meal before a Broadway show. Cargot — an updated, Princeton-take on a similar dining concept — may assume a similar role for when we take in a show at McCarter (which is literally across the street). Cargot opened … Continue reading French-ish
Ever heard of an Arepa? Or a Cachapa? Neither had I. But Trenton’s only Venezuelan restaurant serves up these national specialties, along with a superb Latino-fusion menu.
Once a year, the sometimes somnolent ArtWorks organization wakes up and throws one of the great parties on the planet (and certainly one of the most exciting events in central New Jersey). Art All Night runs for 24 straight hours — 3 PM to 3 PM.
Tikal offers an American fusion menu: center of gravity is Guatemalan, but look for other Latino cuisines as well as Italian American standards. Full bar. Gorgeous new renovation. Friendly service.
Updated 2017 In an era where a single, regular-season ticket at Yankee stadium can set you back more than $500, there’s something refreshing about minor league baseball. Tickets can be had for a little about $13/seat (and less if you book with a group or are over 60), and even the worst seat in the … Continue reading Take me out to the…
Trenton is strategically located between two of the top jazz centers in the US: New York and Philly. Performers can pick up a few bucks in Trenton, and still make their regular Saturday gig in the big city. The result is an amazing series of jazz performances at the perfect price: free! That’s right, there’s no cover and only a $10 minimum. You could see the same folks at Chris’ in Philly, or Smoke! in NYC, and drop $50-100.
One of our favorite Indian restaurants shut its doors a couple of months ago. But fear not, it’s reappeared at 5 Points. Is it still as good? The original chef has returned to his paying job, but his cousin cooks most of the same menu adequately (if not quite as expertly). Still one of the better Indian restaurants in Mercer County, and quite reasonably priced.
The Dinky is a tiny, sophisticated, but still casual spot for cocktails and a light meal. The menu is limited, but expertly prepared. Cocktails are superb. A bit pricey, but not crazily so.
Superb tomato pie in town, with a crisp, flavorful crust that’s not at all dry.
Aldi is a German retailer which operates some 1,500 stores in the US (who knew? I certainly didn’t). Stores provide limited selections of carefully tested merchandise at rock-bottom prices: private labeled or off-brand staples, plus an ever-changing range of close-out items. Many target a low-income consumer, but sprinkled in are some exceptional quality items at fabulous prices.
Located on Main St (206) in Lawrenceville, mid-way between Princeton and Trenton, Fedora delivers reliably good breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (its “hat trick”) at prices that will seem like a bargain once you experience its quality.
El Negro de Oro (“Black Gold”) is the only Trenton restaurant we know that specializes in Ecuadorian cuisine, including such traditional dishes as: Hornado (roast pork) — at El Negro it’s served with hominy corn, Maiz Tostado (toasted corn nuts), potato cake, and salad (see header image). Seco de Chiuo — a rich, slow-braised goat … Continue reading Ecuadorian Dream
If you’re looking for a casual meal of the highest quality, and are willing to pay a fair price for it, Comfortfood is the place to go. The menu is eclectic and surprising with food for all including vegans and carnivores.
(Covid Update Dec 2021 – in business) Antojitos y Helados (literally: Snacks and Ice Cream) is a tiny Guatemalan restaurant in the heart of Chambersburg. As a restaurant, it’s fine… the meals are authentic, fresh, and home-cooked. However, because of its tiny size (only 3 small tables) the menu is extremely limited, and you have … Continue reading Fire & Ice
There must be a dozen decent Guatemalan restaurants in town, yet somehow RL manages to be among the best. Maybe it’s the friendly, family atmosphere. Or maybe its the food: presentation is just OK, but the portions are huge, prices are low, and the flavor is outstanding.
Exit 7a provides high-quality sound recording, sound engineering, PA services, and videography.
The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus has been coming to Trenton for decades. It’s the biggest circus in the world, long promoted as “The Greatest Show on Earth”. No longer politically correct, the circus has announced it’s phasing out the elephants by 2018. So this year may be one of the last to … Continue reading Run Away to
The Trenton Transit Center, newly renovated in 2008 or so, is an extraordinary resource we Trentonians often take for granted. It’s the only place in the world where you can catch a commuter train direct to either NYC or Philly from the same station. Not to mention AMTRAK’s NE Corridor Regional Service that will take … Continue reading All Aboard!
Paradise specializes in Hyderbadi cuisine, though the menu encompasses dishes from across the sub-continent including Mughlai and southern specialties. All meat served is Halal. If you’re in the right mood, it’s biryanis are subtle and expertly prepared.
Non Solo describes itself as serving “southern italian cuisine”: the menu provides most of the red-sauce “Italian” classics boomers will remember from their childhood: plus about a dozen veal or chicken dishes ranging from the omnipresent Francese to more exotic preparations like Saltimbocca or Romano. There’s also a fair selection of sea food, salads, and a nice selection of specials (15 on the day we visited).
