After hearing such rave reviews, Â we finally decided to go to the Peacock Inn. We both had the 6 course tasting menu with Grand Wine pairings. Overall the food was okay. However it lacked depth, was pretentious, Â and not satisfying. Definitely the most overrated and overpriced experience in a long time. The wine pairings were especially poor.
Review Source:This has got to be my favorite restaurant so far. It's a great feeling when you go to an upscale restaurant, drop a good amount of money, but know that every bite was worth it. Every single server, host, or wait staff go out of their way to be professional and well mannered. "Can you show me the bathroom?" "Absolutely."
Appetizers: Tuna Tar Tar, Fois Gras, and soft shell crab.
-I know fois gras is unethical, but the dish accompanied with toast was soo delicious. The tuna was fresh and enjoyable. The crab was good too, but maybe I'd skip that one next time since it was just literally one crab.
Entree: Halibut, Lobster
The fish was quite tasty. The lobster, deshelled, had corn chowder and smoked bacon. Both meals were excellent.
Next time I have saved money, I will definitely come back for a special occasion.
I'm disappointed that I waited 6 months to try this place now. It's a beautiful place with excellent decor and atmosphere. The service was excellent - only one slip and they rectified it immediately.
The food was very good. It is a seasonal menu so best to check it out on line. We had the four course menu and the food was perfectly executed. The food clearly had thought put into it from a flavor profile also.
Unlike other high priced restaurants in Princeton (yes Elements I'm talking about you), this one actually delivers with excellent service, perfect presentation, thoughtful flavor and perfect execution.
Wine pairing was good but I did think a tad over priced for the wine pairing (two levels a regular and grande for different quality of wine).
Technically probably only 4 stars compared to other places I've eaten like Le Bernardin however for Princeton no doubt this is a 5.
Figure $300 for 2 people with wine tasting (that was 4 courses plus a cheese course plus tea plus champagne at the beginning).
Had an amazing meal here this past weekend!
The space is small and intimate, but my date and I never felt crowded with the other diners in the room. The noise level was also not too loud so we could easily hold a conversation. I loved the starry ceiling; this place would be great for a small party rehearsal dinner.
Now onto the food...
We opted for the 4 course menu (1 cold appetizer, 1 warm appetizer, entree, dessert). We were served a complimentary potato, leek, and lobster soup amuse bouche, very tasty and creamy.
I ordered the local greens with feta, pickled shallots and vinaigrette. He had bacon-wrapped raw yellowfin tuna, which he enjoyed.
For the warm appetizer, I ordered the onion soup. It was the same color/consistency as the amuse bouche, so it was not that memorable. My date got the grilled ricotta gnocchi. He said it was the best gnocchi he's ever had!
Our main courses were the duck breast and filet mignon. The duck fat/skin was a bit too thick to my liking, so I cut it off. The duck meat was very tender (cooked medium). My date enjoyed his filet mignon.
Dessert was creme brulee and toffee date cake. I expected the traditional vanilla creme brulee. What came out was a 2 inch round custard with a burnt top, some ginger ice cream, some pineapple, and something that resembled a mini muffin. A very interesting interpretation of creme brulee, but I enjoyed every bite (especially creating different bites of every possible combination on my plate). The toffee cake was also complete gone, although I did not get a bite :(
We also received 2 little salted caramel macarons. They were a bit tough to chew (harder than other macarons I've had before), but still a nice touch since they were complimentary.
Overall, it was a great meal and I would definitely be coming back! The portions were a bit on the small side for the price, but we left feeling comfortably full (4 courses + 2 free courses). This is a perfect restaurant for a nice date or celebrating a special occasion!
The food and drinks are exceptional as are the people that work here! I just wish they had bigger portions and happy hour specials (I know, I'm cheap!) but I guess that's not conducive to the frou frou image that they have going on.
Even though its kinda pricy, I definitely will be coming back because the Rocotta Gnocchi itself makes it worth it!! Each drink on the cocktail menu is inspired by different types of peacocks, the bartender told us which is pretty interesting. Â The Spicy Cucumber martini is my new favorite drink!!
Definitely a must if you feel like treating yourself :)
Tremendous wedding reception! Â I was here for a Sunday afternoon affair and loved it. Â I loved every appetizer that came out (too much i think). Â The bar is small but what it lacks in size it makes up for in selection. Â Dogfish Head 60 min IPA? Â I think so. Â Scotchs were top notch as well.
Dinner opened with a pear soup that didn't last long, plowed right through it. Â I chose parpadelle pasta with mushroom as an entree and was pleasantly rewarded with an A+ dish. Â I would have eaten dessert but I stuffed myself with the aforementioned appetizers.
I'm eager to come back for standard dinner fare. Â Peacock Inn certainly earned it. Â
BTW, we had valet parking available. Â Not sure if that is par for the course though.
My husband and I have dined in some of the BEST restaurants in the world and the Peacock Inn is in our TOP 3 places to eat. I don't understand how ANYONE can give this fine restaurant a bad review. The ones who have, either mistakenly reviewed this restaurant thinking it was another place or just have NO CLUE what gourmet cuisine is!
The portions are appropriately sized and we always leave feeling plenty FULL. The dishes are all very creative and delicious. You eat with your eyes first, and every dish is mouth watering beautifully presented. The Salmon En Croute, is a MUST. The desserts are all delectable!
The staff are all very attentive without "hovering" and are extremely friendly, especially the manager Chris who is always a delight.
We celebrated my husband's 40th birthday in the private room downstairs, Peacock Alley, and everything was AMAZING! Â First and foremost the food was outstanding! The ricotta gnocchi is TOO DIE FOR! The service was also perfection. Â We got super rowdy towards the end and our party antics were totally accepted with grace. Â It was so easy planning the party with Michelle and I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Review Source:I invited my husband to the Peacock Inn for his birthday dinner. We were quite disappointed. First the setting. Our table was pushed up against a glass door that led to the foyer. Although the glass had thin curtains so we could not see the activity there we could hear everything including loud noise from the bar. Then a large party was seated next to us. All wearing sloppy sweaters ripped jeans and dirty sneakers. I thought this was an elegant place but I guess not. Now the food. It was barely OK. We are small eaters but the portions were minute even for our tastes. My salad was passable but nothing special, the potato soup was just pretty good. I ordered the salmon entree and it was served practically raw. I sent it back. The second try was cooked a bit more but it was just OK. ( the Arctic char  I had a few nights before at Big Fish was much tastier).  The portion size was extremely skimpy. Four small bites. That was it. My husband's experience mirrored mine although he ordered different selections. He too sent his minute filet mignon back to be cooked again. The desserts were the highlight. Both excellent. Despite good desserts this dinner was definite not worth the $200.00 plus tip that it cost. If you want to spend an exorbitant amount of money for mediocre food and sit next to a bunch of slobs then this is the place for you.
Review Source:Took the love of my lifetime here for Sunday Brunch to celebrate our one year anniversary. The setting is beautiful, the inn is nicely designed, the seating was well situated which included wide comfortable velvet chairs. Oh, and before I forget; the restaurateurs used real crystal glassware and name brand cutlery. It's just nice when a restaurant pays attention to detail. Bravo.
The prix fix brunch deal is, one appetizer and one entree for $30.
The basket of small pieces of bakery classics like corn muffins, vanilla berry cake (you could see the pieces of vanilla beans), and banana walnut bread were exceptional. The vanilla cake... I could have went home at this point it was so good, seriously.
I will speak to what I ordered. I created my own appetizer based on some of the things they had on the menu. I had potato pancakes, gravlax and one poached egg. Where shall I start? The lox, which is house cured, was phenomenal. The potato pancakes were good, maybe not as good as my girlfriend's, but, petite and excellent. The poached egg was the BEST poached egg I have ever had, stunning. It's refreshing when a restaurant can deliver on the basics, which, so few do.
For my main course I had the ricotta Gnocchi with asparagus, tomato confit, wild mushroom in a parmesan butter sauce. I can confidently say this is the best pasta dish I have had in a year. The tiny gnocchi were pan seared, so one side was lightly fried and the mushroom parmesan butter sauce was outstanding, absolutely OUTSTANDING. Â On top of the dish were tiny little asparagus. In a word, "perfection."
The service was great, the setting was beautiful, the food was outstanding.
The only thing better was my date. :)
Excellent service and beautiful setting. The food is a little bit tried and true. The first time I came here, everything blew me away minus my halibut. Which is a problem considering it's the entree. The second time I came here, I was less than satisfied. This was a while ago but I just remember the flavors not gelling on my plates and everyone overall being dissatisfied with their meal. But my family tends to have a curse that wherever we revisit ends up going south. It's not the most expensive prix fixe, but I don't think its food justifies its cost.
Review Source:Dinner here was amazing, very much worth the trip from Philadelphia. Â In the main dining room, they have a 4 or 6 course menu option, with or without wine pairings. Â We opted for the 4 courses.
First is a choice of cold appetizers.  Backing up a bit, I was impressed that there were so many selections for each of the courses.  For the cold course, I finally decided on the red snapper crudo in a parsley pesto sauce with lemon and other flavors in the mix.  It was delicious, as was my husband's choice of the curried crab salad.  I almost wish  I had ordered his, since we eat sashimi fairly often but the curried crab was a bit more unique.
For second course, there was a choice of warm appetizers.  I ordered the  pork belly and scallop with udon noodles.  The seared scallop and the salty tender pork were amazing.
For entree, I had the halibut with garganelli in a vegetable coulis. Â Delicious, and presentation was also beautiful. Â I really enjoyed the mix of flavors on the plate, and while this falls under "fancy restaurant with smaller portions on big plates" we were all more than full when we finished our last course. Â I don't think I could have handled the full 6 course option. Â
Final course was dessert - this was a dense chocolate brownie (although "brownie" really doesn't do it justice) with a chocolate espresso mousse layer on top. Â Also really tasty, especially with so many flavors mixed on the plate with the complimenting creams, sauce, and chocolatey wafer thing.
Service is impeccable. Â The dining room is classic and classy in decoration - the plush velvety dinner chairs are perfect for lingering between courses. Â Highly recommended for a special occasion meal.
I'm not sure if the word I want is disappointed or inconsistent. It's not just that I can make better breakfast at home. It's that I can get better breakfast at Denny's.
The setting is beautiful. A very quaint old inn with comfortable chairs, understated design, and quiet dining rooms. The staff was great with our 14-mo old, too, which is always nice.
The price fix brunch is $30, and comes with one appetizer and one main course.The appetizers were outstanding. I started with potato pancakes, which are actually hash brown balls (I expected more of a latke) perfectly crisp and well-seasoned. The caramelized apple dipping sauce was incredible. My wife's salmon with creme fresh, apple, and fennel was delicious in presentation and flavor. And our daughter's kid's menu pancakes were excellent when dipped in the warm maple butter.
But the actual breakfast portion of the brunch was very disappointing. For mains, I ordered the seasonal vegetable scramble. It came with a light and crisp salad, but the eggs were a runny glop with some baby mushrooms and asparagus laying in a small pool of grease. There was no seasoning on either the eggs or the vegetables. The main flavor was oil.
Her frittata was better on the flavor but also very greasy. And like the "potato pancakes" I doubt the naming--this was a thin pancake, not a light and fluffy mixture of eggs and ingredients like a good frittata. Both of our dishes included home fried potatoes that were entirely unseasoned. No salt, no pepper. Step two when making potatoes (step one is washing): season with salt & pepper.
Then there are all those little things, like having to ask for more coffee every time. Based on other reviews, the general ambiance, and of course the price, we'd hoped for a better experience.
I enjoyed a five star meal at the Peacock Inn. Â We decided to go last minute, therefore we couldn't get a dining room reservation. Â We were told to come and try to get a seat in the bar area, as it's first come first served. Â We did and we secured a nice, intimate table. Â For starters, we had the Ricotta Gnocchi and the Puree of Sweet Corn soup. Â The soup was very good, but the gnocchi was phenomonal. Â It wasn't the lightest gnocchi I've had, but it was somewhere in between, not heavy and combined with asparagus, wild mushrooms, and tomato confit in a delicious olive oil parmesan sautee. Â I think it's usually sauteed with butter, but I always request olive oil. Â For our entrees, we ordered the Organic Scottish Salmon "En Croute" and the English Pea and Mascarpone Raviolini. He said the salmon was perfect, and I can tell you the raviolini was spot on. Â Homemade pasta, mascarpone, ricotta, english peas, and balsamic = delish. Â It's a pricey meal, but it's well done. Â Recommended.
Review Source:This. This place. Is. Perfection.
I can only describe our dining experience as otherworldly. This quaint inn is tucked away on Bayard, unknown to most of the Princeton populace (which is a travesty since I think everybody and their mothers needs to go to this place asap). It's absolutely gorgeous, elegant, but still so quaint and cozy. Peacock motifs adorn the walls and the interior is deceptively spacious. You dine reclining on plush velvet armchairs and the servers are so SO incredibly kind and welcoming. As disheveled students stumbling in on a rainy Friday, we were expecting snooty condescension but what we got was the sheer opposite. Our lovely waitress good-naturedly humored our bug-eyed awe and convulsions of joy at every single dish placed in front of us, our compulsive asians-must-take-pictures-of-food-and-everything habits, as well as our somewhat rambunctious reunions/graduation weekend conversations about getting completely wasted. We didn't feel slighted or snubbed just because we were young and poor, which is always a great feeling in Ye Olde Princeton Townshipe.
But my god, the food. Simple dishes executed perfectly and presented exquisitely. The scallop and pork belly appetizers were religious experiences, and the gnocchi was like eating silk pillows stuffed with clouds and sunshine. All of our entrees induced long strings of multiple foodgasms and all conversation at our table was interrupted for a good 45 minutes while we were all reduced to helpless unintelligible wrecks. The duck breast was so rich and duck-y, the flavor almost as deep as liver. The filet mignon was so tender and just dissolved on your tongue in a meaty implosion of nirvana. And the portions are almost ridiculously large. Quality and quantity? Real life. This can't be it.
I always run out of steam before I talk about dessert in these reviews but I must gather together the last of my strength to gush emphatically about the sticky toffee date cake. As our waitress informed us, most of their desserts are rotated but this one is a constant and for good reason! This thing was so obscenely good, imagine the most perfect combination of melty caramel, sticky toffee, moist dense cake, warm from the oven and paired with vanilla ice cream. UGH. My life, real or otherwise, is complete.
We recently celebrated a birthday in the restaurant and we'll definitely be coming back. Â For starters, they gave us some of the best service we've had in New Jersey. Â It was obvious that they took pride in it. Â The meal was flawless from start to finish. Â I wish the table and seats were as elegant as the food, but that's a minor complaint. Â It's definitely up there with the Blue Bottle on our list of favorites. Â I couldn't help but love the ceiling too!
Review Source:Excellent, high quality food and service. I was shocked to get such great food in the suburbs, but it truly was a great nice. I think the decor can be worked on but the food makes up for it. The dessert was comparable to that at Daniel's a 3 Michelin star restaurant. I will definitely be back and tell everyone in the area to go!
Review Source:Went there for my anniversary, and my wife LOVED it (perhaps my opinion doesn't really matter if I scored points with the better half!). Â The food was nice, albeit smallish serving sizes (no surprise...we opted for a five course menu). Â Overall, I did enjoy it, but my only reservation is that it's pricey.
Review Source:My father goes to Peacock Inn religiously and finally persuaded my sister, her husband, and myself to go when we were visiting him. The restaurant is beautiful inside and the chairs are so comfortable (big plus for me). The bread arrived and I was disappointed that the multigrain was not warm or chewy, but cold and bleh. My sister had the sourdough and she said it was better. Supposedly, they had a different bread carrier and they switched. If you had awesome bread I would have given you 5 stars as the rest of the meal was delicious. I've never had such juicy, succulent chicken in my life. The scallops were delicious and my sister loved her gnocchi. My brother in law had the rabbit and short ribs, loved them as well. My father also had scallops and raved about the lobster. Desserts were fabulous except the macaroons that were given at the end of a meal as a "treat" were wayyy too salty. Great place overall tho!
Review Source:I was here for an event dinner. We had a private room. The plus side was the service, which was very good. The big minus was the smell. The room felt like we were in an old shed or something. It was bizarre. As for the food, it was fine, but it was certainly nothing special. I can think of much better places in Princeton. I don't quite see what makes this one so fancy, but it's not the food, I'm afraid.
Review Source:We've enjoyed a couple of excellent dinners at newly restored Peacock Inn. On both occasions, we're requested the smaller and more intimate front dining room and really enjoyed the ambiance.
I've said elsewhere that dining at the Peacock is more old world plush / traditional versus nearby elements which is more contemporary / avant guarde. Both offer an outstanding dining experience and are the best that Princeton has to offer.
So which would I pick? It'd be elements for the chef's table and multi course tasting menu preferably mid week and Peacock Inn for a comfortable dinner with friends on a Friday or Saturday evening.
This is a review for the hotel, not the restaurant.
This hotel is a nice upscale inn with about 20 rooms located very close to the Princeton campus just off Nassau Street (downtown Princeton). Â The staff is very friendly and warm. Â The rooms are very modern and comfortable. Â The bathroom is great -- stone tiles and a large shower with a great rain-showerhead. Â There is free wifi. Â A good flat screen TV. Â It is so much nicer than the Nassau Inn (which is run down and the staff are stuff)
I was here with a friend for dinner prix fixe on a weekday night. We forgot about the dress code and wore flip flops, but they were ok with it and made us comfortable. Much appreciated.
We shared a vegetarian harvest dinner, plus another appetizer and entree. All the dishes are simply amazing: charred octopus, duck breast, eggplant steak, corn soup, and dessert (hazelnut chocolate cake, espresso mousse cake, and dark chocolate gelato).
Service was impeccable, they are so attentive and actually try so hard to make your experience better. Once my friend finished her bread, the server walked and offered more fresh bread. When we paid the bill, they gave some delicious macrons, and that just made our meal perfect.
Only problem? Dishes are a bit overpriced, and I would be so much happier if the price is a bit more reasonable, especially for students, so maybe we can finally afford some wine with the food.
I have now been here 4 times. Tried dining in the bar, in the restaurant and lately also for brunch.
I must say that it each time has been with great anticipation. First time my friend and I were quite disappointed but I came back because everyone was raving. Then it was again disappointing. They say 3 is the charm but that also didn't work. The 4th time was again a disappointment.
Pros:
-decor is great
-bar is cool
-bartender is knowledgable
-very nice receptionist on a sunday morning (most friendly part of staff)
Minuses:
-Valet Parking left before we left and after waiting for them for 45 min we found my car left outside with open windows and key in car and lights on on a winter night! Could have been stolen, not started etc.
-Foods doesn't live up to descriptions
-portions in bar very reasonable but priced outrageously
-Restaurant service super snail speed
-Girls arrogant and un-knowledgable
-Once we were asked to sit in restaurant instead of bar due to function then we were forced to order food
they don't allow you to cork your bottle and take home, although they encourage you to order bottle in stead of glass saying you can always take it with you. I told them I could only drink one glass so when they suggested I buy a full bottle and take the rest home I thought great. Then they didn't allow me to take it with me!
- Acoustics terrible. we sat next to birthday party and couldn't hear a word each other said. The entertainment was provided but we had expected a nice quiet family brunch with our children not to be stormed out by a loud group. Why did they have to seat us next to them when half of the restaurant was empty?
- menu deceiving eg. certain items says homemade and when you ask for the ingredients they have to check the box because it comes premade from outside.....
- steak super chewy. Guess it made up for only 5 bits (not an entree in my point of view) because to chew these five bites it took for ever. Each bite needed minimum 5 minutes to be chewed.
-coffee is bitter and diner quality
- staff keeps forgetting and we have to remind over and over
Basically I think this is a Elements wannaBe. the one star is for the nice decor and the other star is for the nice young man in the reception, as well as the bartender.
I was here with my team for a convention at the Hyatt - passed this place on the way in and thought it looked interesting, so I made a reservation. Â I have to admit, when I saw some old folks in mink coats heading in, my confidence dropped.
We were greeted promptly and cheerfully, seated immediately. Â Service was great. Â Menu had some interesting flairs, although I am not that high on kumquats, but everyone found something enticing on the menu. Â I went with cauliflower soup (a first for me). - it was AWESOME - highly recommended and different from the norm. Â The house made cavatelli was scrumptious. Â Nice wine selection - no room for dessert - nothing screamed "eat me" so I guess it worked out for the best.
We had a lovely time - and I was well pleased with food and service. Â Not exactly a hip place, but the Young Princetonians probably can't afford it - it is clearly a place well heeled locals go. Â
Note: as a former NYer of 20 years, and one who has eaten at a million restaurants, I was stunned to see a $24 appetizer - don't believe I ever have, and a bit surprised to see it here- what's up with that?
What a wonderful addition to Princeton's restaurant scene! Â We went there a couple weeks ago on my husband's birthday. Â A lot of restaurants in this region are either trying to be slick and modern, or have that old, stodgy, colonial feel. Â Peacock Inn has found a really happy medium, in terms of food, service, and decor. Â The rooms are cozy, with comfy furniture but an updated feel. Â
The food is similarly cozy-but-updated. Â My husband the traditionalist wavered between choosing steak or lobster, and ended up choosing lobster which he really enjoyed. Â I had the short ribs which were really nicely done. Â The lamb carpaccio starter was also great---unique in flavor, with a slightly spicy sauce and salad on top. Â
When I made the reservation online, I simply wrote in the comment box that it would be my husband's birthday. Â That was enough that (without any further reminders) his dessert came out with a candle and "happy birthday" written on the plate. Â It was a great touch.
Overall, this was our nicest evening of dining in Princeton in quite some time. Â I think this will become our go-to spot for special meals.
I have eaten here twice with a large group and have been impressed with the food -- the salmon en croute was delicious and I was glad that It was on the menu for both of my visits. We dined in Peacock Alley - the refurbished room was a speakeasy during the Prohibition. Â The walls feature hand drawn/painted scenes from the Princeton area. Â The staff were friendly, gracious and helpful. Definitely worth a visit for a spectacular meal.
Review Source:The hubby and I went to the Peacock Inn tonight for dinner along with two friends and had a fantastic meal. I had the ricotta gnocchi and they were light little pillows of heaven. My other table mates all had the soft shell crab and those were crispy and wonderful. All our entrees were excellent and I had the vegetarian spaghetti squash and veggies. Very flavorful.
Being I wanted something light for desert, I asked if might just have some berries and they were happy to accommodate me. It was also my birthday and they were all so kind and even wrote happy birthday on my desert dish. The staff were very knowledgeable about the history of the building and it was fun to hear all about it. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone that wanted a flavorful, elegant meal.
Had a very yummy meal. I had the scallops to start, and then yellowfin tuna for the main course. The preparations were clean and simple (e.g. seared), but I was most impressed by the accompanying sauces and various morsels on the plate. Everything was so flavorful--just taking in the smells of the dish was wonderful and transporting.
For dessert we tried the berry pudding and the peanut-butter mousse. The pudding was juicy and refreshing. The mousse caught us by surprise, it might not sound like a dessert but it sure tastes like one.
Bookends to the meal were an amuse (a sip of English pea soup) and petit fours (chocolate macarons). There was butter, fresh ground pepper, and fleur de sel on the table; they came by a few times with a basket of whole wheat and sourdough bread.
The next time I come to Princeton, I will be staying at the Peacock Inn. Did you know that Albert Einstein used to live in this house quite a while ago? Well, I guess I could never prove that but it made me feel like I had more gray matter, and the owner of the place treated me to free drinks in exchange for some great travel stories. Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day? That's what this little place reminds me of. Quaint pillows on frilly little beds. My experience was very positive except for the fact that there was no wi-fi access or high speed internet. Maybe by now they have equipped it with that, but if you're traveling on business make certain you check into this before staying.
Four Stars for accomodations, cleanliness, uniqueness, and a great neighborhood to stroll around through.
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