I had read the review in NJ Monthly back in August and excitedly shared with the Boyfriend Chef.  We love Restaurant Nicholas (see two previous reviews) and at least two of the staff members are Nicholas alums.  Our experience on Sunday didn’t quite meet our expectations and after re-reading the review and realizing they’ve been operating for a year, I’m rather disappointed.  I had hoped that the lackluster service was just the staff working out some kinks but it appears to go much deeper.  More on that later.

We had decided to splurge and go with the 5 course tasting with the wine paring.  There are two choices per course and we’re easy: Bring the BF Chef the top choice, bring me the bottom.

At this point I’m used to the multi-level service at finer establishments.  So while our waiter went to put in our order we were offered a couple of options from the bread & water server.  The BF Chef sampled both the multi-grain and the sourdough while I chose just the latter.  Both were fresh & delicious.  Here’s what we ate:

First: Lamb Tartare with Cucumber Tzatziki & a Harissa Vinaigrette, and Spice Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Avocado, Edamame, & a Ginger-Lime Vinaigrette.  The lamb was good but the tuna was the much better choice.

Second: Crispy Pork with Jicama & Kimchi Salad, Pickled Pineapple, & a Sweet Soy Vinaigrette, and Pan Seared Sea Scallops, with Apple & Fennel Puree, & a Citrus Vinaigrette.

Third:  Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Cornbread Pain Perdu, Braised Swiss Chard, & Orange Scented Jus, and Organic Scottish Salmon “En Croute” with White Asparagus Puree, Pickled Red Onion, & Red Wine Reduction

Fourth:  Mojo Braised Suckling Pig, Crispy Yucca, Papaya-Cilantro Salad, & Guava Gastrique, and Seared Filet Mignon, Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding, Cipollini Onion Puree, & Bordelaise Sauce

Fifth: Dessert, which we were able to select from the regular dessert menu.  Neither one of us can recall what we chose and there’s no dessert menu on the site to jog our memories.

While the food was a solid good (not awful, not superb) the service was spotty at best.  Our waiter appeared to be spread too thin between rooms & disappeared quite a bit.  For one course we were served our food and had to wait for the wine pour, which the manager noticed & took care of.  For a later course our waiter decided to train the bread & water server on the wine pour.  The poor dear barely knew the difference between red & white, never mind why they paired well with the dishes.  We were left with a less than adequate pour that he made up for with the next round.  (Unfortunately the manager saw the generous pour & made mention of it within our earshot.)

We perused the dessert menu and asked about a wine paring.  It’s not common knowledge among the staff whether there is a wine paring with this course (there is).  Neither the food runner nor our Bread & Water server could tell us, and all looked rather confused at the question.

Probably the oddest observation was the appearance of the front desk gentleman, surveying the dining room, hands in pockets as if he was bored.

Princeton is a bit out of our normal stomping ground.  I might consider another try, perhaps sitting at the bar & eating around the menu as we like to do.

The Peacock Inn
20 Bayard Lane
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-924-1707