farm-to-table
Central jersey is a farm-to-table mecca! The rich agricultural tradition and the discerning palates of central NJ are the perfect recipe for amazing farm-to-table dining experiences. We’ve got everything from fine European and American-style dining to burgers and ice cream made from local beef and dairy cows. Thrill your palate with healthy, locally grown meals!
12 Farms Restaurant
12 Farms Restaurant acquires the highest quality products including grass-fed and grass-finished beef, the freshest seafood, and local ingredients from local, family-run farms. They offer diverse and creative menus that cater to every palate including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. They are open for a midday meal on Thursday through Sunday brunch.
Agricola Community Eatery
Agricola means “farmer,” which embodies the farm-to-table spirit at Agricola Community Eatery. They use fresh ingredients from local farms to bring people together to laugh, share and celebrate. Menus are based on taste inspired by farmers, fishermen and artisan food producers, and Agricola sources only seasonal, sustainable, antibiotic-free ingredients, while working with local farms and purveyors. Come for brunch, lunch or dinner, or order from the catering service.
Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette
A staple for breakfast and lunch for over 30 years, the name has changed a few times. After Chubby’s passing, her nieces decided to remodel and reopen the place that’s been the heart of Hopewell for so long. They proudly use local and organic ingredients, hormone free and pasture raised meat and chicken. They work to make everyone at Chubby’s welcome and special, while enjoying delicious homemade meals. In fact, they host a food pantry for folks in need of support.
Aunt Mary’s Dispensary
100 Reaville Ave #211, Flemington
Aunt Mary is your cool aunt, the one that gave you a little something from her personal stash. Now she’s a Central Jersey pioneer, operating an independent dispensary, with unrivaled selection and customer experience. Her team began this endeavor in 2018 and opened in February, 2023 as the first dispensary in Hunterdon County. All the products on her shelves are sourced in New Jersey including some of her own – grown right here in Somerset under the brand “Red Eye”.
The Bent Spoon
35 Palmer Square W., Princeton
This internationally recognized, award-winning farm-to-spoon ice cream shop has been delighting customers since 2004. The Bent Spoon crafts seasonal ice cream using local and organic ingredients. It’s known for its ice cream — and hot chocolate — but don’t forget to try the amazing chocolate or yellow-cake buttercream-topped cupcakes, made with real butter, free-range eggs, Madagascar vanilla and fair-trade chocolate.
Bread & Culture
Bread & Culture started with humble beginnings at farmers markets across New Jersey, and since then, their love for baking has only grown stronger. With a focus on local ingredients and their own sourdough culture, they have always sourced from nearby suppliers to support the community and bring the best tasting products to the table. Their passion for baking is only rivaled by a commitment to giving back and being an active part of the community.
Brick Farm Tavern
Brick Farm Tavern creates pasture-to-table fine dining in a way few have experienced before. Whether you’re coming for cocktails or a special dinner, you will appreciate the importance they place on the local farming and artisan community. On-premises Troon Brewing and Sourland Mountain Spirits round out the experience. With the restaurant perfectly positioned amidst its own pastures, Brick Farm Tavern is one of the county’s truest farm-to-table experiences.
Elements
66 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
This downtown Princeton gem seamlessly blends progressive modernist cooking techniques with a superlative focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The chef’s “interpretive-American” cuisine draws out each ingredient’s purest flavor. The elements’ staff works daily with local farms and butchers in farming, foraging, curing and fermenting ingredients to transform classic dishes into something completely new. With just nine tables and 28 seats, all within view of the open kitchen, elements’ guests enjoy an inviting, intimate dining experience.
Halo Pub (Hamilton, Princeton)
4617 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square
Hulfish St., Princeton
Located in downtown Princeton’s Palmer Square, Halo Pub proudly serves scoops of your favorite Halo Farm ice cream flavors, as well as La Colombe coffee and espresso drinks. Halo Farm opened a retail dairy store in 1975, allowing customers to buy direct and ensuring freshness quality. Nearly 50 years later, its principles are the same. The 48 flavors of Halo Farm ice cream rarely contain more than five ingredients, and the hormone-free milk is pasteurized on site.
Jammin’ Crepes
Jammin’ Crepes is a celebration of regional farms wrapped in a crêpe. With an ever-changing seasonal menu highlighting local ingredients at their peak of freshness, many of the restaurant’s crêpes feature homemade micro-batch jams, pickles, and condiments, crafted from regional orchard fruit, berries and herbs. Jammin’ Crêpes offers a daily selection of seasonal soups and salads, and home-baked delicacies. There is an assortment of regional, all-natural juices and drinks, specialty coffee and tea drinks. You’ll also find them in the Princeton Public Library.
LiLLiPiES Bakery
LiLLiPiES Bakery celebrates New Jersey flavors, one small batch at a time. The bakery specializes in single-serving pies, artisan breads and sweets, baked from scratch throughout the day. The staff is proud to bake with organic flour and locally sourced ingredients, and serves breakfast all day. From eggs to fruit to honey to coffee, LiLLiPiES believes in sourcing from trusted partners in our area to produce the best quality product for our customers.
Matt’s Red Rooster
Matt’s Red Rooster Grill is a contemporary American BYOB recently selected by Open Table as a “Best Overall” top ten restaurant, ranking it with New York’s most notable eateries. Chef and owner Matt McPherson has stayed true to his New Jersey roots, integrating the freshest local ingredients into unique dishes. He pays homage to a wood fired grill that brings out the best flavors of his dry aged steak, Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon, Griggstown Marinated Chicken, and wood fired Romaine Heart.
Mediterra
Mediterra taps into the extraordinary cuisine of the nearly two dozen cultures surrounding the Mediterranean, with extra emphasis on Italian and Spanish dishes. The menu pairs locally sourced ingredients with an ever-changing, but always superb, collection of fine and affordable wine. Mediterra is dedicated to making every visit as satisfying as possible with what’s most important: your comfort, enjoyment and pleasure. Combine your visit to Mediterra with downtown shopping and culture.
The Meeting House
277 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
The Meeting House opened in 2019 with the simple idea of bringing people together. The Meeting House believes that where our food comes from matters and offers simple American cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The bar offers a seasonal cocktail menu, locally brewed beers, and a well-curated list of wines. It’s currently taking reservations for dinner, lunch, and brunch on weekends, or just come by for some drinks and something delicious off the bar menu.
Mistral
66 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
Mistral brings a breath of fresh air to the Princeton dining scene, offering a stunning mix of taste, style, and atmosphere. Mistral is recognized for its superlative emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and artistically plated dishes. The culinary team has curated a progressive menu of culturally influenced and inventive small plates for guests to savor and share. Mistral encourages and empowers patrons to create their own tasting menus based on dishes from the ground, the farm, and the sea.
Nomad Pizza (Hopewell, Princeton)
10 E Broad St, Hopewell
301 N Harrison St, Princeton
In Princeton and Hopewell, Nomad Pizza proudly features locally grown organic produce and all natural meats when available to ensure our customers enjoy the freshest, most delectable wood-fired brick oven pizza. Nomad Pizza makes every effort to be environmentally conscientious and sources vegetables and cheese from local, organic farmers. Buying local ingredients saves fuel, supports the local economy, and helps preserve New Jersey open space. In season, the restaurant grows its own basil, herbs, and tomatoes.
Ottoburger
Ottoburger is located in a renovated 1930s art deco garage where owners Otto and Maria make their meals from what they raise and grow on their farm a couple of miles from the restaurant. They source some seafood and additional produce from local, fair, and sustainable sources. That’s the approach for all components of every plate in house or on the farm, including the buns, the ketchup, the mustard, the pickles.
Teresa’s Pizza | Wine Bar
Teresa’s Pizza | Wine Bar is named for the owners’ mother, born Teresa Azario in Bergamo, Italy. She taught her sons to find harmony between tradition and innovation. Just as she savors fresh flavors and natural ingredients that speak for themselves, so does Teresa’s Pizza | Wine Bar. Every detail – from the olive oil to the wine, from the basil to the artwork – is in keeping with her sensibility. Located in the fashionable Palmer Square shopping district.
Sponsors and Places to Visit
Farms & Orchards
Historic Sites
- Black River & Western Railroad
- East Jersey Old Town Village & Cornelius Low House
- Howell Living History Farm
- Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse
- Princeton Battlefield State Park
- Morven Museum & Garden
- Old Barracks Museum
- Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
- Red Mill Museum Village
- Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage
- Washington Crossing State Park
- William Trent House
Farm-to-Table
Hiking, Biking, Kayaking
Beverage Makers
- Ashton Brewing
- Bellemara Distillery
- The Druery Brewery
- Federal Twist Vineyard
- Flounder Brewing
- Hopewell Valley Vineyards
- Lone Eagle Brewing
- Old Hights Brewing
- Old York Cellars
- River Horse Brewing
- Skunktown Distillery
- Sourland Mountain Spirits
- Sunken Silo Brew Works
- Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery
- Triumph Brewing
- Unionville Vineyards