Hopewell Valley Bistro & Inn

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  I liked this place.  We didn't go in on Thursday because no one was outside eating.  We almost skipped it today after a party, but hey, they serve beer.
  
  It is not fine dining.  We were not looking for fine dining.  It is not superlative.  We were not looking for superlative.  It was sweet and dated.  We knew that stepping in, and did not expect more.
  
  The service was prompt and pleasant.  I mentioned allergies, and those were noted.
  
  There's Hungarian food on the menu--cool!
  
  Prior to seeing the Hungarian offerings, we scanned the kid's menu and asked Monka what she wanted. A hamburger!  Ok.  
  
  We ended up getting the Hungarian platter & a Schnitzel. With a burger.
  
  My daughter told us the burger was good; it was. Not great, but good.
  
  I'm used to breaded schnitzel, not battered, but it was okay.  My daughter and I liked the spatzle; my husband doesn't care for noodles.  The Kolbasz tasted like good breakfast sausage.  The stuffed cabbage reminded me of Chicago. The wine reminded me of college; the local beers were better.
  
  I'd love to see a chef come in and revamp the menu, keeping the Hungarian treats, but updating everything else so it wasn't so dated.  I just remembered that the server forgot to mention the specials, like the watermelon-feta salad, we saw on the chalkboard outside.  Oops.  The pregnant couple oohed and aahed over the desserts, made by the owner. The place is dated, but we really enjoyed ourselves.  
  
  $77 for lunch with the family

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  Posted on 06.08.13 C S.

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  Great real Hungarian food served with a smile and in a fun atmosphere - thoroughly enjoyed our meal and our server/bartender Evie was Great! We will return!

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  Posted on 04.27.13 Anne C.

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  I had been meaning to visit the Hopewell Valley Bistro & In for a long time.  My parents had visited in the past and had nice things to say about the place.  
  
  My boyfriend and I visited tonight for dinner.  It was early Saturday evening and the place was almost full.  
  
  We began the meal with the salad bar which was very good and had nice items like raw green peppers and broccoli,  tomatoes, potato salad, beets, bean salad and of course lettuce.  
  
  My boyfriend had the Manhattan Clam Chowder, Chicken Paprika and I had the vegetable plate with Spinach, Spaetzel and mixed veggies (green beans and carrots).  The food was very good, I thought it was cheap that the chicken was only dark meat but my boyfriend didn't mind and enjoyed the food.  My vegetable plate was tasty and the spinach had a lot of nice garlic.  
  
  It took a while to get our food but we didn't mind since we weren't in a hurry and had the salad bar and the soup did arrive quickly.  I would plan to visit again.

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  Posted on 04.13.13 Patty G.

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  Having a Hungarian background, I was eager to find a place that serves Hungarian food.
  The food was tasty, but had very little to do with Hungary. It just did not have the taste. For those who do not know Hungarian foo, it may be pleasing. The place, however have a Hungarian ambiance. The service was excellent. The wine list is minimal and pricey.
  It is not likely that I will return.

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  Posted on 04.10.13 Steven H.

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  We had gone to see John Henry, the rescued pig and and got lost on a hot sunny Saturday...we were ambling back home when we came upon this place and went in for relief from the heat, a cool drink and lunch.  While the place's decor is nothing to write home about we sat at the bar and the bartender was pleasant, the beer and soda were cold and we had the best BLT w/avocado sandwiches ever...the entire stop really was a pleasant surprise...the check being only $22 was a plus as well...we will definitely go back - I'd love to try some of the hungarian fare which was too heavy for lunch on a hot day.

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  Posted on 09.01.12 Mike R.

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  The place has tons of potential but the menu is very limited and dated. The interior is old and depressing. Really not a lot of imagination is put into the place. It's a shame because it's a great location, awesome front porch with tables and that all-important (and rare) liquor license in Hopewell Boro. With Hopewell becoming quite the dining destination, it's a shame that this place doesn't put more effort into capitalizing on its potential.

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  Posted on 09.01.12 Ken J.

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  I was performing with my band at the ice cream shop down the street, and my family and I wanted to eat dinner first. We had never been in the area before, so we weren't really sure where to go.
  
  The first place we went to was not seating yet, so we came here.
  
  Let me say I was incredibly excited when I saw they offered Hungarian food. I'm 50%, and you just don't see stuff like this anywhere near where I live, so I was literally giddy.
  
  The place itself is pretty dark, with pottery decorating the walls. To me, it reminded me of a lot of the places in Carteret-area that my parents used to take me when I was younger. It could probably use an update.
  
  They also have a salad bar, which was free with 3 meals, (we bought 4), but it was really nothing to shout about. I liked it because it had a hungarian flare-cold salads with cabbage, etc. We also had pierogi for an appetizer, and if you like them (or make them) the way I do, you'll love them, because they are not soggy and taste delicious. I would suggest that they don't serve the sour cream in the "to go" cup. Really a waste if you are seated there and eating. I think it would have been easier to share if it were in a dollop on the plate.
  
  Our food came out, and it was well portioned and delicious. I had the Chicken Paprikas, my husband had the Beef Stroganoff, my daughter had the Chicken Parm, and my son had a grilled cheese. The spaetzel was delicious and dead-on. Really great comfort food.
  
  Now for the bad! The prices were OUTRAGEOUS! Yes, the food was delicious, but it was over $100 for the four of us, with my one child ordering from the kids menu. We also had 2 drinks, but there was still no reason for the prices to be so high. I've gone to very high-end restaurants and not paid nearly that for the 4 of us. We were pretty taken back. Like I said, the food was good, but it wasn't worth almost $20 a plate.
  
  Also, while I felt our server was pretty stressed, she could have been a lot more pleasant. I was very nice and complimented the food and the drinks, and usually received nothing more than a grunt as a response.
  
  I would love to give this place more stars, but 3 is being nice.
  
  We might go back-but probably just for the pierogi and stuffed cabbage apps!

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  Posted on 08.12.12 Nicole I.

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  Oy, this place needs help. Hopewell is a growing town with lots of people actively seeking evening entertainment. This place falls short on almost every level.
  
  Let's go down the list:
  
  1: Bar is awkwardly shaped (rectangle with little room to maneuver).
  2: Import and Craft beers are overpriced. $8 for a pint of Dogfish Head? Really? That's absurd!! I can get a cheaper pint of the same beer in Philly.
  3: Food is awful and lacks imagination. No presence whatsoever. The staff seem like they are just phoning it in - you have to set yourself on fire to get the attention of the bar tender, who won't even give you the time of day unless you're one of the aged regulars.
  4: Decor hasn't been updated since the Reagan administration, or at least that's my impression.
  5: TOO MANY TV's in the bar!! Really, it's not a sports bar so why are there so many TVs?
  6: Did I mention the awful decor? The bar is FILLED with crappy beer company swag (jerseys, cardboard cutouts, etc) and other nonsense.
  
  Please, PLEASE, just try a little harder. This town is growing and business is lost because this place sucks so badly. I want to but this place only to gut it and turn it around as the landmark it should be.

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  Posted on 08.07.12 Jed K.

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  Awful.  Awful.  No really awful!!!   $6.75 for a rum and coke in a 6oz rocks glass. Really?  I wouldn't take a starving dehydrated poor homeless anyone to this place. I would personally buy this place just give it a good name because right now ....it is not going well for this dump.

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  Posted on 05.17.12 J I.

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  Go for the Hungarian food or don't go at all.  Draws an older crowd.  Wiener Schnitzel and Beef Stroganoff with spaetzle are my top picks. Good homemade desserts.  Try the cremesh (spelling?) - puff pastry with pastry cream.

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  Posted on 09.25.11 Debbie O.

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  Meh, meh, and meh. Went here for a Sunday lunch. The dining room was depressing looking, so we went over to the bar. The bartender was very friendly and we asked if we could eat at the bar. She said that wouldn't be a problem, and suggested that since it was nice outside, we could also eat outside too. We decided on that, since the bar area is somewhat clausterphobic- an oval style bar, where your bar is right up against the wall.
  
  We had our lunch outside. I ordered a burger and fries, and the SO had the turkey club. Along with our beers, I asked for a water since it was so warm out, and I was given the smallest glass of water in history. It was one of those larger shot glasses, filled to the top with ice and barely had any water.
  
  Our food came out, and our servers were very abrupt with us and almost acted as if we were an inconvenience since we were outside (despite the fact that there were two other parties outside). The table was a mess too, when we sat down, and she brushed all the crumbs onto us.
  
  SO's turkey club was pretty awful. My burger was ok. We got the bill and paid, and in the car realized that they overcharged us for the burger, unless the prices changed (we were charged 9.00, and the burger was advertised in the menu as 7.00).
  
  I won't be returning, there are nicer establishments to spend lunch or dinner at in Hopewell.

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  Posted on 07.25.11 Christine R.

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  I really like the Inn.  I can sit at the bar and have some great food while talking to the people around me or listening in on conversations that people have across the bar from each other.
  
  It's not my favorite place to get schnitzel but it's closer, or at least more convenient, than the Blue Danube and if I only want a pork roll than that's no problem either.
  
  I think that there used to be a more eclectic cast of characters here but, nevertheless when I go back to Hopewell, I always come here.

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  Posted on 01.21.11 Sean M.

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  one star.  worst service experience of our lives, bar none.  food taste like shiat too.   try hillbilly hall down the road, better food and MUCH better service

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  Posted on 08.06.10 T W.

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  the food here is pretty great!  i had a damn fine salad here.
  
  but, have you ever been in the bar area?!  it's the most awkward bar i've EVER been in!  it's like, this ultra well lit square bar, with about 6 different flatscreens positioned around the perimeter, none with volume.  and also, no music!  just a bunch of 50-something hopewell residents chatting too loud, under the bright lights.  weird city!  so if you just want to have a drink, unless you want to feel awkward, i'd go when it's nice out and sit on the porch!
  
  the inside looks like an old german grandmother's crib, and there were mad teapots.  i was into that!

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  Posted on 09.29.09 katie p.

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  First off, to explain my rating: the food, service, and atmosphere are all perfectly fine. The rating is based more on food preference. If you like Hungarian and American food, it'd be 5 stars. If you are neutral about lots of meat and the above cuisines, it'd be 4 stars. I give it 3 stars, but understand that it's just because the fare is meatier and heavier than I prefer. Actually, 3.5--half a star for the dessert.
  
  One waitress served our 14-people party. Kudos to her for managing our orders for lunch and dessert, plus the other smaller parties that came and went. The dining room is very homey and comfortable.
  
  The menu offers Hungarian food (which is authentic according to my Hungarian boss, who brought us all there) and American food (in the form of Ruby Tuesday-style sandwiches, burgers, and salads).
  
  I love trying new cuisines and food, so I opted for the Hungarian Platter at a considerable $13.95. An individual loaf with butter came first. Then the plate came, decked out with stuffed cabbage, sausage, a bit of green beans, and a scoop of mashed potatoes, all swimming in a tomato based sauce. It was /very/ filling. It tasted good; I would just never crave it because it's not my native cuisine. Also, the mozzarella sticks were a delicious appetizer.
  
  For dessert. Oh, dessert. I ordered the Esterhazy torte/cake just because it was the coolest (and most different) sounding. What it is: about 8-10 thin alternating layers of walnut sponge cake and buttercream topped with a sweet layer of fondant and whipped cream. So good. So sweet. So incredibly rich. A mistake and yet not one to finish the whole considerably sized slice. The Esterhazy cake is delightful with coffee. Actually, coffee is necessary to balance the sugar.
  
  I was full for the following 12 hours.
  
  A good experience overall. I recommend this restaurant to those who like the cuisine.

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  Posted on 07.30.09 Jen Y.

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  I'd give it more like 4.5 stars, but bumped it up a bit since someone below gave it 2 stars despite a pretty good review and I wanted to offset that rating.
  
  This is one of my favorite restaurants in the region.  Would it be so in a large metropolitan area with dozens of other options?  Maybe not five stars then, perhaps four. But for the area, it is a really great place.
  
  The Hungarian food is quite authentic. It may not be perfect, but pretty much as good as this stuff gets in the U.S. (unless my Mom is making it in which case it's truly authentic:).  
  
  I don't like liver, but the chicken liver with onions appetizer dish is irresistible. Watch out though as it's also so much that you won't be hungry for much else after. (Yikes, just writing about it makes me crave it and I just had dinner...)
  
  The entrees come with the all-you-can-eat salad bar, which is another hurdle in leaving room for the main dish. The salad bar has some authentic Hungarian components as well (e.g., the vinegar-based potato salad). I've had most of their Hungarian dishes and they're all very good.
  
  The desserts are also very yummy, although good luck having any room. Try the chestnut pure, very authentic Hungarian, you won't get it at many other places.  
  
  My trick is to leave part of the entree to take home (plenty enough for another meal) and that way I sometimes have room for dessert.:)
  
  The wait staff is permanent for the most part, very nice people. On occasion they also have a young visitor from Hungary.

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  Posted on 05.05.09 Eszter H.

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  This was a great random place to grab brunch.  I didn't have any plans on stopping here but sure am glad I did!  While looking through the menu, I realized they were an old-fashion Hungarian restaurant.  You would never know it by the name of the place.  I love me some eastern European food and this place would definitely fit the bill.
  
  They have a pretty big brunch menu that made everything sound delicious.  I ordered the creole poached eggs and my friend ordered the ham and cheese omelette (which was seriously PACKED full of meat and cheese).  Good lord are the portions huge!!  Everything was absolutely delicious but do you know what was the lasting impression?  Those unbelievably fantastic home fries!  They weren't the typical fried ones, but the perfectly baked wedges of seasoned potatoes.  Mmmm.  Just awesome.
  
  Service was flawless.  Our waitress never let our coffee run low and the food came out very quick.  She was the only waitress serving 4 tables and we never had to wait for anything.  She did lack personality but her efficiency overshadowed the witty banter that could have happened.
  
  I would come back here for sure just to try their Hungarian menu.  Chicken paprikash? Gulyas? Porkolt?  If it's Hungarian, consider me there!

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  Posted on 03.09.09 Jim D.

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  Based on past experiences for lunch and dinner, I would have given this place a three star.  Everything is good, but nothing out of this world.  But after my last visit, they get an extra star.  
  
  I finally tried one of the Hungarian dishes - stuffed cabbage with a light sweet and sour tomato sauce, served with a side of spaetzle (little dumplings).  WOW.  So, so good.  The portion was so enormous, it will be my dinner again tonight.  I have no idea if it's "authentic" Hungarian, or if a Hungarian would even think it was good.  Other Hungarian offerings include beef goulash, wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten.  In addition to the Hungarian dishes, they do offer fish, chicken, veal and beef dishes, as well as dinner salads and sandwiches.
  
  There is a large bar if you just want to grab a drink, in fact it's the only bar right in town, and outdoor seating on the porch in the warmer months.

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  Posted on 07.02.08 Heather L M.

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  Used to be dozens of Hungarian places in Central NJ; now few and far between.  Food here is good; we liked the wiener schnitzel. Good burgers; good onion rings. Dessert disappointed; the cakes look better than they taste - based on a limited sample.
  
  Service is good. Sit on the porch if weather permits.  The dining room is OK but very dated.

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  Posted on 05.20.08 Jim B.

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  The Hopewell Valley Bistro & Inn is a great place to go for authentic Hungarian dishes made just like Mom would make them (if she was Hungarian, of course)!
  
  Heaping portions and great prices add to the rustic charm of this downtown Hopewell restaurant.  You can choose to eat in the bar, regular dining room, or the Starlight Room (which features live jazz on Saturday nights).  Friendly service and a great selection of desserts make this a wonderful place to enjoy with friends and family.
  
  The only drawback is that the main menu has a limited number of choices (although, the "specials" list is usually rather large).
  
  Here's a link to their website: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hopewellvalleybistro.com%2F&s=2d0ac70f965264d72ab0eb8ea735918de72cc1cf078257777c913d249f084415" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.hopewellvalle…</a>

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  Posted on 03.01.06 Michael B.

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