This is a follow-up to the post Princeton on the Cheap, which listed free things and good deals in Princeton. This post includes listings of community meals, food events, eateries, and fine dining that are free or offer good value for money. Not included are the abundant places that have menu items under $15, which includes sandwich shops, pizzerias, ice cream parlors, etc.
Community Meals
- Princeton United Methodist Church – Their Cornerstone Community Kitchen offers dinners Wednesdays 5 – 6:30 PM. This is free for all. Kids get a complimentary breakfast bag for the next morning.
- Trinity Church – One Table Café is offering monthly dinners, and lunches Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You pay what you can. (Closed in summer.)
Eateries
- Asian Bistro – Featured cuisines are Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. The specialty here is Korean. The Two-Halves is the perfect deal for dinner or a weekend lunch. While it states choice of eggroll or dumpling, a couple of other surprises are included, like two pieces of a California roll.
- Sushi Palace – They offer an all-you-can-eat menu. This is not a buffet. All food is made to order for the low price of $20 on weekdays and $22 on weekends. Kids under 10 only pay $11.
- Wegmans – Pick up a $6, $8, or $10 meal for lunch or dinner, which includes an entrée with two sides. You receive fresh food that you can mix and match, which comes in a microwavable container. This is especially great if you’re staying at a hotel, and have a microwave in your room, or just need time off from cooking a well-balanced meal.
Events
- Community Potluck Dinner – Princeton Family Dinner Week, PADA, and Corner House collaborated to bring the community the best potluck dinner in town at the Princeton Public Library this past April. The food was provided by local eateries. All you had to do was register, and bring a dessert. Unfortunately, there was limited seating. They’re planning on this being an annual event.
- McCaffrey’s Food Specialty Showcase – $5 each gets you into the tent where you get samplings from about 50 vendors who sell specialty foods at McCaffrey’s. This is also a benefit! Let’s hope after the sale of the shopping center, this will continue.
- Palmer Square’s Girls Night Out – A free sampling of eateries from Palmer Square if you register ahead. Sorry guys, this event is for females only. It’s a great way to taste what’s available on the Square.
- Princeton Public Library’s Food Series – The library started hosting Cooking with Local Ingredients (Princeton Eats) two summers ago thanks to the Terra Momo Restaurant Group, Executive Chef Christopher Albrecht of Eno Terra, and Master Baker Denis Granafolo of Terra Momo Bread Company. Then the library created Flavors of Princeton showcasing other merchants and eateries in Princeton. These are free cooking demos and food samples, so you should register to guarantee a spot. This is a fantastic opportunity to get acquainted with shops and restaurants in town.
Fine Dining
- Eno Terra – Their Pranzo a Presto is a set fixed three-course business lunch that changes daily for only $19, and $24 if you add wine.
- Peacock Inn Restaurant – You can order the three-course price fix bar menu for $29 in the evening, which is half the price of their three-course dinner menu in the main dining room. This menu is only available Sunday – Thursday.
- elements – The You Pick 2 lunch menu is $22. Choose any two courses from a starter, sandwich/main course, or dessert. Add extra courses for $11 each.