Initially, I really liked Teresa (4 stars) but after dining here about 8-10 times...I've knocked it down a star. Service is always good and it's BYOB but the pasta quality and dishes aren't consistent home runs and the pizza has become the most reliable dish. Though I would rather prefer pizza at Nomads in Hopewell, Osteria in Kingston or Delorenzo's in Robbinsville.
Review Source:I have a love hate relationship with Teresa Cafe. Â I love the atmosphere and the food. Â The service is pretty good and the open kitchen is a nice touch. Â I hate the fact that they don't accept reservations and the wait is always so long. Â That being said, as long as you arrive before you're too hungry, you will enjoy yourself and enjoy the food.
Review Source:I had good memories of Teresa's Caffe, so had a meal there on a recent trip.
I'm afraid both food and service are absolutely terrible, and when you take price into account it is stupefying that they are still in business.
First off, they had run out of the core ingredient for the dish, so offered a substitute that made no real sense. I agreed to a modification. However, the final dish had only 3 of the advertised 5 items on the menu. In place of eggplants, they had chopped up small dark olives (umm...not sure why that is a reasonable substitute other than that they both *look* dark and soft), and no ricotta cheese at all. Of the asparagus, there were just a few morose-looking tips.
I might expect this from an establishment that charges a third of the price, but for what I paid, what I got--a tasteless, over-salted, mess of red sauce and soggy pasta--it's just not acceptable.
I like the atmosphere of this place. Â I've been here several times now and tried their pizza and pasta dishes. Â They were all good but falls short of 5 stars.
The fresh ingredients they use are quite evident in the dishes, and the presentation is quite good and appetizing.
My wife and I shared a salad special with figs and goat cheese. Â It was delicious, but the dressing was lacking a bit of taste.
I had pizza special ($16) which had spicy sausage and fresh vegetables. Â The crust was nice and thin and crunchy. Â It was not a large pie - about 10". Â Again, it was good, but the amount of sausage was lacking a little, and bits and pieces of fennel did not really go together, though it was an interesting combination.
I guess the dishes were lacking wow factors.
None the less, this is a nice place to take your family and friends who are foodies.
A bit pricey. I got one of their pastas and it was good but it was small and it wasn't phenomenal. If you want pasta, go to Massimo's instead. Better quality and cheaper if we calculate on a per volume sort of basis. But then again you are paying for the environment and having a "nice meal" so I still give it four stars. it is a solid place though a little pricy for the quality. (I would give it a 3.5 stars if I could.)
Review Source:I really wanted to like this place after reading all the reviews. Decided to try it with a few friends. Ordered an appetizer, 2 pasta dishes and 2 pizzas (margherita & melanzane). The pizzas are extremely small and WAY over priced. Like i dont understand why a bland-tasteless personal pie is $16 . Pasta was OKAY. Had Conchiglie Balsamico. Tasted fishy. Anyway bill came out to about $90 which is ridiculous. Ill probably never come back. Eat here if you feel like splurging on mediocre food otherwise find something else.
Review Source:The best part of this restaurant is the wait staff. Â They know their stuff- all of the dishes, wines, beers and desserts. Â They make the dining a true experience. Â I have had the pizza, cocheglie balsamic, gazpacho and the salmon. Â Out of those- I would order the Insalata Pizzette and the gazpacho again. Â The negative of this restaurant are the limited options. Â I understand that they are one of a group of restaurants (Eno Terra, Mediterra, Terra Momo) but it would be great if this restaurant could stand more on its own in the food selection. Â I certainly would choose other restaurants in Princeton if I am with a large group of people for fear that all group members may not find a dish which will fit their tastes.
Review Source:Teresa falls in that 3.5 star category that doesn't officially exist on Yelp.
I've been going to Teresa since the 90s, but only recently have made trips there. Teresa Caffe is good. They make very simple Italian dishes and pizzas without any fuss or fanciness. Their use of really fresh ingredients helps them stand out from other similar restaurants.
My 3-star review is simply to reflect value for the price. Teresa Caffe can get expensive, especially if you're having drinks and you want to go home full. I think it's overpriced for what it is. And while the pizzas and pastas are certainly good, none are memorable. You'll never find yourself saying "I really have to go back to Teresa soon and get that amazing dish again."
All the food in Princeton is generally average, and generally on the higher end of the cost spectrum. It's a fun and adorable little town to get lunch or dinner in, but you won't be scratching your culinary itch there any time soon. That said, of all the places I typically come back to when I'm in town, it's usually Teresa.
TIP: Buy a bottle of their focaccia seasoning to take home and season your olive oil with. It's the bomb.
I came here for a birthday party twice. It was a group of about 6 of us both times. We had reservations, and yet still had trouble getting seated on both occasions. I can't imagine coming here on a Friday or Saturday night without reservations. The waiting time is ridiculous and there is no room to even stand; you will become claustrophobic. Waiters seat some people before us, from connections.
The service was fairly slow.It took a long time to get food and even the bill came 20 minutes after requested. The menu was not really diverse. Come on serving pizza as an entree...this is not some scrumptious dish straight from Sicily. Either way, the portion size was small for the high prices. Never coming here again, if I can avoid it.
Our party of 6 was seated quickly but the server was not interested in answering questions or being helpful at all. Perhaps because like it or not, the gratuity is tacked on the bill.
The portions (all) were small, pizza toppings (even) were scant. 3 in our party said their meals were bland (1 pizza, a chicken dish and a main course salad).
Years ago, I used to meet friends for lunch here and remember the same indifference from the host and servers but many fun, delicious meals and a decent atmosphere - which made it okay.
Recently however, the value just wasn't there. Â
Winberies, around the corner, would have been a better choice.
Probably the best food and service in a Bistro/ Cafe style restaurant in Princeton, Teresa never disappoints. They have a great wine selection and always use local and fresh ingredients; you can taste the freshness in the food and the bread. Really good for casual and occasion dining. Their daily specials are always interesting and you are lucky if Teresa is your server because her recommendations are great!
Review Source:Came for lunch with a couple of co-workers on a weekday. Service was friendly and attentive, and our waters stayed full. The bread in the bread basket is quite great -- I love the Terra Momo bread. I had an Insalata di Pizza -- mesclun, chicken, onions, tomatoes and balsamic over a cheese flatbread. Coworkers had pizza and salad. Everything was tasty, served promptly, but not in a rushed way. Â Not sure that it was worth $21 after tax and tip, but I guess that's Princeton for you, and they are high-quality ingredients... if it had been a couple bucks less expensive, i'd probably bump it up a star.
Review Source:Let me first start by saying that the bartender was very friendly. The waiter was very nice and did a great job. The food was good but a little over priced.
Here is why I gave this place 1 star.
They don't take reservations during the week fine no problem. My wife and I show up at 8:00PM. We are told a 30 minute wait great that's very do able we get a drink at the bar area. There is little to no standing room so we go back to the hostess station so we don't get missed. We finish our drinks and I check our time and we are still at 30 minutes. Â How is it possible to wait for 20 minutes of a 30 minute wait and still have 30 minutes to go? Â The hostess did not apologize or say anything about misleading me on the wait time. The most aggravating part was watching 2 people who were obviously her friends be seated immediately.
I like coming here for the Conchiglie Balsamico, one of my favorite dishes ever. It is a creamy balsamic shell pasta with generous pieces of chicken and sliced asparagus. I have tried making it at home, but it didn't even come close. So, back to Teresa's I'll go!
I also have tried their Monday night pizza tastings. It's good to go with a large group (6 or 8 people) and you get to have about 5 different pizza courses + a salad for $30(?) per person (add more for wine pairings).
I wish their menu was a little bit more expansive, so that I could try a different dish to like, or that my date could have more options for dinner. It seems he goes between the few pasta dishes each time we go, with me always ordering the balsamic shells.
The first thing I'll say about this place is I've been coming here for many, many years; really, as long as I can remember (I was raised in Princeton). Â The food is always of good quality. Â I always trust the Momo's to seek out the best quality ingredients. Â
My most recent experience, however, revealed a couple of soft spots that have been developing as of late. Â The menu, at least from what I can tell, has not changed much in the last 15 years. Â Same chicken dish, same pasta dishes, same old pizzas, same old salads. Â This menu is in need of a revamp, stat! Â While I greatly enjoyed their Conchiglie Balsamico (for the zillionth time), I would have loved to try some fresh new combination! Â Their Pollo Rosmarino suffers the same staleness. Â The furnishings and decor have changed little (if at all) since the restaurant opened. Â The specials looked appetizing, but nothing I hadn't seen before (not very "special", in a regular's opinion).
I suppose part of the charm of this place is the modest size, but I think their formula would carry over well into a new or enlarged space. Â I have to wonder if this is something that they have ever explored as a possibility, especially as the restaurant has only become more and more popular over the years.
All in all, if you're looking for good quality, somewhat-reasonably priced Italian fare in Princeton, and you don't mind waiting 30-60 minutes for a table during peak dining times, then Teresa's is for you! Â However, I wonder if they will continue to succeed in the next 5-10 years without some change and innovation.
My husband and I came here on one of our earlier dates after a show at the McCarter Theater. We were seated by the window and it's was perfect for conversation. We ordered an appetizer that included olives, tappanade, etc. which went really well with our wine.
The pizzas are the big winner here however. They have creative toppings and I really enjoy that smoky, crisp, straight from the wood burning oven flavor. You're paying a bit for the atmosphere, which I believe is worth it.
This place gets an extra star just because I'm a bit sentimental. My now husband pointed to the brick archway in the center of the restaurant and went on an on about the importance of a keystone in an archway...how the integrity of the structure depended on it...how everything would collapse without it...only to tell me that he wanted me to be his keystone...this where you all go "awwww".
Good atmosphere and ok food however could seem a bit pricey when your personal pizza is more expensive than a regular large pie at a local pizzeria.Started with meatballs...which was pretty good in taste and in portion however; without the basket of bread assisting you, it tends to be a bit salty.
Also had the margarita and the Uova pizza.
Margarita isnt worth ordering this bc its just you ordinary cheese pie with minimal blotches of cheese..nothing special for $14? Negatory
The Uova was much better due to the egg within the pizza but felt a little heavy after eating couple slices. Just ok...
I wouldn't mind trying this place again for their other dishes however; the pizza was just 'meh'
3 stars as of now
My finance and I have been here twice so far. We really like their ingredients as its pretty fresh. The minestrone soup is delicious and both times we've been here, we've gotten that appetizer. They make it fresh and it doesn't come out of a can which is awesome.
The first time we had gotten the Penne Pecorino and the Conchiglie Balsamico. They are both very good dishes of pasta - both very flavorful. The second time we went, I got the Braised Short Ribs for appetizers which was delicious. It was very tender and the meat just falls off the bone. We ended up getting the Penne Pecorino again but this time we also tried the Cavatelli Salsiccia. The Cavatelli was too salty in my opinion with the olives and sausage. Otherwise the dish itself was good.
The wait is pretty long on a Friday evening so I would suggest you get there early. Next time, I think we will give the pizza a try.
Really disappointed....had the insalata di pizza and the penne pecorino. There was 1 lonely scallop and 2 shrimp. Are you kidding me? $19 for a pile of poorly-cooked pasta containing 2 shrimp and 1 little scallop? Yeesh, talk about overrated. In typical Princeton fashion, this place has rave reviews for mediocre food. Really unfortunate experience and definitely not returning here.
Review Source:MAYBE I'm a little biased because I worked here for a few years, but this has got to be one of my FAVORITE restaurants. Actually, that probably says even more because I've never grown sick of the food, and I keep coming back. No reservations, so be prepared to stand around a little, but it's totally worth it. A lot of the ingredients are from local farms, and the bread and desserts are made right down the street at Witherspoon Bread Company. Go for the conchiglie balsamico- YUM! Pizzas are fab- Insalate di pizza is my favorite. And pretty much any of their specials are worth trying. You can't really go wrong with any of the desserts- esp the peach bread pudding. And they have a great wine list... if you're a red-drinker, try the Montes Cabernet-Carmonere. It's my all-time favorite wine.
I should go back and work for the company's marketing team, I swear.
This place, along with Ajihei is the best eatery in downtown Princeton. But this place isn't that great either. This was the place I took my girlfriend on our first date. Sentimental feelings? Perhaps. That's why I give it a 4 instead of the 3.5. But besides that one special moment, I have visited here a few other times as well. Therefore, I can give you a pretty good idea of what this restaurant offers
Food in general are reasonably priced compared to the other restaurants neighboring it. Taste wise is fine too.
The pasta is decent. Antipastis are okay too. Pizza is nice. Can't really go wrong here. The free bread though is lacking. In addition, the portions are on the smaller size here, but that is to your benefit. Eat less you fat Americans (I am preaching to myself as well).
But one highlight I want to share for the owners:
They once had this squash paste pizza with cranberry raisins... It was a seasonal thing a few years back and I thought they decided to keep it in the menu when I saw something like it described in their regular menu. Unfortunately for me, it was not the same one as I hoped. I wish they bring that back. If you owners are reading this, I am talking about the Fall '10 menu!! Please contact me if it is back in your menu, and I will be more than happy to come again then!
What a fun brunch spot in the town of Princeton, NJ! Â We visited Teresa Caffe on a Sunday afternoon and it was quite packed - we ran across a 30-minute wait and ended up walking around the town of Princeton a bit (visit the Nassau Inn and the Yankee Doodle Tap Room if you're in Princeton!) Â Â
The service was decent, though our waitress seemed a little off that day and spilled water on my leg as she was pouring it into my cup.
I ordered the fusili pasta (looks like stretched out telephone wires!) with shrimp, salmon, tomatoes, and capers (???). Â The pasta was delicious, though it was a smaller portion than I was hoping for, given the price I paid for it (~$15). Â My friends got pizza and they came in decent-sized portions.
I definitely recommend Teresa Caffe - though it's pricey, that is to be expected of any of the restaurants in Princeton. Â It's cute, trendy, and a fantastic place to eat brunch with friends.
Teresa's has a very special place in my heart (hence the 5 stars). The first time I went there was on my first date almost 6 years ago with my now fiance. Have since shared many good times with many good people there.
Best items on the menu: (1) Cavatelli Salsiccia (2) Conchiglie Balsamico.
Atmosphere: Anything goes here -- casual or classy. The seats located further in the restaurant against the mirror or overlooking the alley way are the best for a date.
Service: Servers are always friendly and generally know a good amount about the wine
Items from the menu that have been taken off which I loved: Misto d'Olive, Finnochio
Wow, what a shockingly good meal. We had no idea walking in, we'd get to experience some good home style food. We walked in and were seated right away.
We chose to start with a caprese salad (amazing!!). My bf chose the pasta special while I had my usual linguine Vongole. Everything was great. However, I am not used to having chili flakes in my vongole. It wasn't bad but it was just different. It got a bit spicy towards the end too. So I was unable to finish. But that was OK.
Service was great, wine was outstanding and food was great. Highly recommend.
I swear my seating location is based on how I am dressed that day. When I dont shave (as is oft the case) and am in casual clothing I am way in the back. When I bring my really attractive female friend and am personally well dressed, we are seated in a more obvious spot.
But I dont really care about that.
Service: Very good. Every time.
Food: Its great for what it is. Not the most creative Italian menu I've seen but solid trattoria food. The fig pizza is great and I can (and have) eaten the fig marmalade by itself. The pastas are satisfying but rely on the old standby treatment, ie. use cream and cheese. The charcuterie is uneventful.
Value: $20-25 is what I usually spend (incl tip + shared app, no booze). Or somewhere thereabouts.
I go in the off hours cause I cant stand the close quarters and I see no reason to wait there when there are other good restaurants in the neighborhood.
Went for brunch. Â No reservation but they take phone call for you to request a table. Â My friend called at noon and we got our table at 1.15, so shortened our wait by about 15mins.
I love the open kitchen in the middle of the dining floor. Â Space is tight so be ready to sit close to your neighbors. Â
Got the Uovo pizza - personal size with jalapeño tomatoes and over easy eggs on top.  It is my brunch combo dream.  Thin crust and super crispy as if it is deep fried.
A few people on my table got the lasagna Bolognese and they all wiped their plates clean. Â They use OGBF... took us a while to figure out what it means... org beef grass fed. Â Ha!
Service is prompt and friendly. Â Be ready to pay Manhattan price. Â But I think it's worthed.
Negatives: They serve only wine. Â Princeton street parking can be a nightmare at times.
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