The cluster of restaurants on Witherspoon Street is where most of the better food in Princeton happens. Mistral is the dependable upmarket choice — modern American, small plates, a kitchen that knows what it is doing. Agricola a block away is owned by the same group and runs a more farm-to-table room with most produce coming from their own farm in nearby Cherry Grove.
For something simpler, Hoagie Haven on Nassau Street is the local sandwich institution — student-friendly, open late, and the place every Princeton alumnus brings their kids to one day. Triumph Brewing Company on Nassau Street does a respectable pub menu alongside their own beers. Elements is the place to go for high-end tasting menus when there is a reason to celebrate.
For Indian, Mehek does the best in the area. For ice cream, The Bent Spoon in Palmer Square has been making small-batch flavours from local ingredients for two decades and is invariably worth the queue.