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The Frog and The Peach
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
29 Dennis StNew Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 846-3216
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11:30 am - 11 pm
Wed-Thu 11:30 am - 11:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 4:30 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for The Frog and The Peach
Review Highlights
"I then had the gouda mac and cheese and that was equally..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...both had the 5 course spring tasting menu with wine pairing."
(in 5 reviews)
"I had a black truffle Gnocchi which was good, but had..."
(in 4 reviews)
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Alison H.
Great Happy Hour!...for food that is. Steakhouse 85 has been my go to happy hour spot but we wanted to switch it up a bit. Food menu at the bar is all half price and a great selection.
We had,.....
Calamari 3/5
Burger 5/5
3 Cheese Pizza 5/5
Pumpkin Gnocci 5/5
Grilled Chicken Sandwich 5/5
Drink options for happy hour are no different than regular but they do have some low priced options.
***No Beer on tap! Our bartender Phil (Great btw) says they are getting taps in Jan.
Plan to go back for dinner...the plates coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. -
Review from Mercy A.
10/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
**Only sat at bar and had appetizers off the regular menu.
I have not dined here for dinner, but if it's anything like what I experienced at the bar, I cannot wait to go back! Our bartender, Phil, was lovely and made me a Side Car that was refreshing and just tangy enough. I ordered the Pumpkin Gnocchi and I swear I went to food heaven. There were mushrooms and pumpkin seeds in the dish and it was simply delectable. I then had the gouda mac and cheese and that was equally tasty. The atmosphere is classy and relaxing. I loved the feel of the place. I am dying to try an entree here!! Will be back soon and will update my review. -
Review from Eric R.
Jenkintown, PA
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
afternoon theatre followed by food and drink at the frog and the peach...at the bar.
delightful and knowledgable bartender got us off to a good start with cocktails - loved the caramel vodka! she was attentive, but not overbearing...with accurate assessments of our food selections, making the decisions very easy.
oven fresh rolls with herbed butter - could actually taste the basil and mint!
could have easily ordered a glass of wine and made a meal of the bread, but why stop there?
started with the asian pear salad - yummy! - lightly marinated pear wedges complete with peppercress, sheep's milk blue cheese and toasted pecans. crispy calamari - that was fresh, not flash frozen accompanied by a jalapeno jelly.
the other standout was the mac and cheese with aged gouda!
my fork kept finding its way to this one and it wasn't my order. nice balance of pasta and cheese, so that with each fork and spoonful the food just danced in my mouth...
dessert - why not? the valrhona chocolate cake is a must with a dollop of ice cream drizzled with a cherry wine reduction sauce.
don't know when i will ever find an occasion to go back to new brunswick, but if i do, the frog and the peach will pull me in, -
Review from Chirayu D.
Highland Park, NJ
2/4/2012
The place is tooooo darn expensive..and I don't say this because I'm a cheap B#@$@$, but the fact is I've had much better...like much much better, whether its French cuisine or pre-fixe menu for the more elite...I think its too hyped because of the price, and because of the bar.
The bar is pretty good, good crowd and also the burger which is served on the bar is awesome...actually I'd go there only for the bar food, the people at the bar and the bar itself...nothing else. -
Review from Nuala M.
Cherry Hill, NJ
2/7/2012
I arranged a business dinner for a group of 12 people, including 6 important clients who were visiting my company from Israel. This group required vegetarian meals and 2 kosher meals which I notified the restaurant of in advance. The dinner was a disaster - substitutions were requested, the vegetarian menu was never shown to the table (as had been promised) and the kosher meals which I'd arranged for in advance were very poor and not up to standard at all. The guest had to forgo dinner altogether rather than eat this meal. (In fairness, the Frog and the Peach DID NOT prepare the kosher meal and is not responsible for it. They shoudl not use this purveyor though, and should have declined the business if it was too much of a stretch.)
Overall it was a great disappointment. I will say that the meat eaters, and those who could eat fish wrapped in bacon, etc. were pleased with their food, but the service was dreadful. The meal dragged on and on, and when asked for the check, the wait staff ignored the request from the CEO of my company, and instead INSISTED on distributing a coffee menu and desserts, etc. which further prolonged the dinner. The reality was that this could not be saved; the guests just wanted to go (sadly, to their hotel room to eat peanut and butter sandwiches!!). I'm SO disappointed in the level of service and was embarassed to have been the one to arrange it. -
Review from Yolanda H.
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
1/28/2012
Gorgeous ambiance, including a converted greenhouse that looks absolutely magical at night with fairylights twinkling. It can get a little warm though, with baseboard heat, so be forewarned!
Their menu has a good mix of meat and not, and the desserts are also fabulous. Definitely try their chocolate volcano cake! -
Review from asli e.
Highland Park, NJ
1/21/2012
I have been to this restaurant twice. Maybe because of the menu item choices I had, I found the food very uninspiring. The 30-45$ a plate I would expect to eat something delicious. The food was strictly ok. I am guessing they were trying some experimental dish however all the ingredients they have used did not come together at all. Also I was really surprised to find pieces of avocado on my plate with blackened parts on it. I find that unacceptable if I pay 30$ on a plate. I had the same problem with the dessert. I wanted to have a nice dessert to compensate for the uninspiring food experience I had, and molten chocolate cake just did not do it for me. Though my boyfriend liked the sticky toffee dessert.
So overall the food is totally not worth paying the amount you end up paying. I had much better in much cheaper restaurants. -
Review from Jim S.
Whitehouse Station, NJ
1/8/2012
On 1/6/12 we made our first and now last visit to the Frog and The Peach. If you like
slow and surly service, high prices, and medicore food this is the place to go.
Add to that the $9 to park a car makes this a poor dining experience. -
Review from Ashish T.
Jamaica, NY
12/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Great food. Side dishes are amazing. We had gone there on x,mas eve. The staff is friendly and nice. Desserts were awesome. Very pricy. Good for special occasions. Giving them 4 star because of the price range.
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Review from Scott S.
Hoboken, NJ
8/24/2011
Food = Excellent.
Can't complain at all. Chicken, Steak, bread, everything..
I have heard so much about the service being amazing, I guess the place had alot to live up to. The service was very good, I'll admit. But nothing over the top. Just normal/good/pleasant...
Decor - ehh, kinda have to give it a not so much...There was no music or anything, just kind of heard people talking and people working in the kitchen. i was seated in like a weird corner it wasn't very comfortable, felt like I was just stuck by a staircase. Reminds me of small NYC restaurants where they just shove anyone anywhere...
Valet service was awful...First of all, $8 is ridiculous. Especially in the beautiful city of New Brunswick. and it took forever..just waiting and waiting...
So would I come back...sure, but not sure of what occassion, given the decor and seating...although it's not cheap, the food really was excellent! -
Review from Les T.
East Brunswick, NJ
12/8/2011
We try to get here at least twice a year. Great food and wonderful wine list. Easy enough to spend a fortune but there are excellent, resonably priced alternatives on both the menu and in the wine selections. Servers are eager to share their knowledge (ok, sometimes a bit too much so, but when they over step they make it up to you with a taste of something special).
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Review from Ben C.
New Brunswick, NJ
11/29/2011
I've eaten here many times since I was an undergrad at Rutgers (and this was my first "fine dining" experience) in 1980. I've loved it and hated it - got thrown out one time for a cocktail driven bad behavior incident.
I go four times a year - some lunch, some dinner. Not as often as I'd like. The food is outstanding - service is wonderful. You are paying for an experience, if you're looking for a doggie bag, you're in the wrong place. Sometimes I question certain menu choices - fried calamari? Why? Fried calamari is available at every crappy restaurant in NJ. What kind of douche bag would order it in a fine restaurant? Someone who doesn't go out to fine restaurants much - thus some of the dopey reviews here.
The Frog and The Peach is where you go to transcend the day - to give in to the professionals who run the place - and to enjoy some of the finer things in life in an atmosphere of gentle civility.
The menu changes and evolves, but they keep a few old favorites on there so the old customers like me can reminisce and feel familiar.
So I'll go back and order the tuna appetizer for the broth and the tiny crunches of the caviar and truly enjoy the little things like the herbed butter. I'll order a bottle of wine I've never tried before and spend too much. And I'll leave happy - as I always do (except for that one night in 2002).
Go man go. -
Review from Ben S.
Newark, NJ
11/28/2011
Food was great- you get what you pay for!
Our waiter was very knowledgeable and was ready to guide us through the menu. I would go back if only there would be more control on kids out of control (on a Monday night) running all around the eating area! Hence 4 stars! -
Review from Bill L.
North Brunswick Township, NJ
11/14/2011
A few years ago I had what I still consider to be the best meal of my life at The Frog and The Peach. Braised pork shoulder with julienne squash, buttermilk bacon cornbread, and cider braising jus. Since then I've been back a handful of times and the food has not disappointed. The one complaint is that wait times can be LONG (we once waited over an hour for our meals), but the quality of food makes up for any wait times or pretentious servers.
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Review from Brian H.
Weston, MA
8/8/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I joined some long lost friends here on a weekday evening, starting at the bar and moving to the dining room. We all had a great experience at both.
We lost track of time at the bar, and although I was late to the party, the more dedicated of the crew ended up spending several hours there being served well-mixed drinks in a comfortable and thankfully benign and not-too-loud environment. I had an above average Manhattan (or two) in order to catch up once I arrived. The bartender knew what he was doing.
Dinner was sublime, with several choices for the foodies among us. We had ranges of appetites from seafood enthusiasts to those with gluten issues and no one felt limited in their menu selections. I had a fine cut of tenderloin augmented by lovely potato crouton-thingies and a vegetable of the day. Quite well done and fully satisfying.
It was by no means a cheap outing but good food and drinks enjoyed with good friends was worth the expense. -
Review from Mich L.
4/6/2011
Absolutely phenomenal.
I came here for a party event so we sat in the Alcove upstairs. We had a special prix fixe menu, consisting of an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Our event contained an etiquette seminar so we spent over two hours at the restaurant with the owner. Needless to say, a lot of bread was consumed while we were politely listening and waiting for our main entrée. The time spent eating bread was worthwhile though, since the bread had the perfect crunch (good bread should crackle when it breaks) and the herb butter was tasty.
For my appetizer, I chose a pea soup with ricotta flan. People at my table commented on how green it was. I decided to interpret their comments as, "fresh and spring-like" instead of "that looks like liquified Hulk." My flan sunk to the bottom of my soup so it looked like a blob of butter when I found it in my soup. Still, it gave the soup body and depth. Not bad.
The real winner of the meal for me was the entrée. I had hanger steak with three sauces and some sort of light salad-like garnish on it. The steak was cooked perfectly medium and had a lot of juicy flavor. However, the sauces were the most delightful surprise. Each sauce was unique and gave me a new interpretation of traditional steak. The salad-like garnish also provided a nice texture along with the steak. The pairings of the sauces/salad/steak were creative and well-thought out. I highly recommend trying the steak.
The executive chef came and held a Q&A session afterwards. He was incredibly nice and humble. At one point, I forgot what question I was asking and felt stupid but the chef actually returned and asked me if I remembered what my question was later on. He even offered us a tour of the kitchen or even working for a day in his kitchen if we ever wanted to. I wasn't sure if he was joking or not but he seemed like a really friendly, genuinely nice guy. It's nice to have your food prepared by people who aren't heartless.
I chose a blueberry bread pudding for dessert. The blueberries were very fresh.
Also, service was great; super-fast and attentive. I would love to come back again. Thanks for the great experience! -
Review from Nancy F.
Piscataway Township, NJ
Came here with another for dinner during restaurant week, and it was a wonderful dining experience.
The staff was attentive, polite, and friendly. Our server answered all our questions about the food and checked in on us a few times throughout the meal. Our glasses of water were never empty (rarely anything past half-full, actually).
The complimentary bread with herb butter was a good start. It was crisp on the outside & moist and soft on the inside. I ordered the spring pea soup as an appetizer. It had a nice, thick consistency that went along with the an explosion of flavors. For the entree, I ordered the Chipotle Glazed Flat Iron Steak with corn and pickled pepper salad, red bean puree, and anejo cheese sauce. The steak was tender and juicy; pairing it with the sauces only added on to its flavor. I got a chocolate gelato/raspberry sorbet for dessert: the perfect mix of tart and sweet. Our server informed us that they make their own ice cream!
As we wrapped up, we struck up more conversation with our server about the history of the restaurant.
I would definitely want to visit again! -
Review from Lindsay L.
New Brunswick, NJ
5/5/2011
Can I tell you how obsessed I am with the Frog and the Peach happy hour?? It's AMAZING!
Being recent grads my boyfriend and I are always looking for nice places to go without breaking the bank, and this is our top choice for Friday Date nights. You cannot beat the $5 glasses of wine and half price food at the bar. Each time we go we manage to get 4 glasses of wine and a handful of things off the menu for a total around $80. The calamari, oxtail tacos, and chickpea fries are TO DIE FOR!
I cannot say enough good things about this place!! Love love love it! -
Review from Karl K.
2/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a business dinner.
Got the roasted oysters for the appetizer, and the roasted shrimp with homemade sausage as the main course.
One friend got the smoked salmon, and another got the calimari. For main courses, one got the red snapper; the other, seared scallops - sampled those too.
Overall, an average experience. The snapper was overcooked, and the scallops were a bit too seared. The salmon needed more smoking. But, my dish of roasted shrimp with homemade Italian sausage rocked. I really appreciated the cannelini beans, and the light citrus-infused sauce.
Plus / minus as far as coming back. -
Review from Troy S.
Manhattan, NY
11/5/2011
Come here for the food, not the service.
From start to finish:
8pm reservation - seated promptly, things are looking good.
Table - seated in outdoor section converted for fall/winter dining, table in the corner, seats plastic - uncomfortable. Yikes.
Seated by hostess, no menus provided, sat for a few minutes without menus, water, or attention. Zzzzzz
Menus provided, finally
While glancing at the wine menu the waiter asks if he can provide some suggestions on wines - ok, I like suggestions. All wines he picked were $125 and up. Keep in mind I didn't ask for a recommendation, nor did he ask what type of wines I like to drink, nor did he ask how much I typically spend on a bottle of wine. Sommelier apply within!
Waiter leaves
Uncomfortable amount of time to wait for waiter to take drink order
During the uncomfortable amount of time he asks if we have questions - this is nice because I'd like to know what's on the Tasting menu (details are not provided on main menu) he leaves and comes back with separate paper menu. Explains dishes. Good explanation - very knowledgeable. In general he was full of energy. A lot of energy.
Still no drinks
The "secondary waiter" comes over and asks if we would like to order drinks, we explained that we did already. She said she'll check.
Main waiter comes out with drinks - "sorry bar was backed up"
Eh.
It's now 8:35.
Takes our order. Autumn Tasting menu, 2 glasses of wine.
Bread - great bread, great butter (with dill)
Duck Consommé - pretty good nothing to really report
Secondary waiter asked if I wanted another cocktail, I explained that I ordered wine with dinner - she said she would check on that
Wine later delivered! Heavy pours! win-win
Venison Carpaccio - great presentation, great tasting all around perfect
Pace between dishes, so-so, could have been tightened up a little
Braised Rabbit - great dish, watch out for the red pepper - very hot, which detracts a bit from the dish but still pretty good
Grilled Wild Boar Chop - not bad, cooked well, a little fatty but that's a consequence of boar
Pumpkin Flan - pretty good. When making the reservation I explained it was for a birthday and they included a candle and wrote happy birthday on the dish in chocolate.
Wasn't offered coffee/cordial with dessert.
Overall the food was very good and in-line with the price. Cocktails were 10-12 and good for the price. Wine by the glass - pretty good ($13-$19)
Overall:
My issue with this restaurant was the service. Part of this was attributable to the restaurant and part of it was attributable to the waiter. Our waiter was responsible for 10 separate tables in the outdoor room. Those 10 tables were a mix of 2 seaters and 4 seaters so he could have easily been serving 25-30 people. This is unacceptable for a high quality restaurant. Observing other diners you could note the lack of attention - wrong dishes brought out, apologizing for not refilling wine glasses, etc. To me that's junior varsity. Maybe I'm just used to personal service.
If you're looking for great service go to Due Mari, Luca Ristorante, or Girasole. Come to F&P for the food.
My top 5 (NYC):
La Grenouille
Picholine
River Cafe
Gramercy Tavern
WD-50 -
Review from Jon K.
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Frog and the Peach is one of those NJ restaurants that I have seen on a best of list for NJ for a very long time. Being a Bergen County resident the location had prevented a visit and for some strange reason it was never intriguing enough to be a destination restaurant.
Wife and I were at an event in Trenton and passing through the New Brunswick area at around dinner time gave us the opportunity to make a reservation and give it a try.
Normally, at a place like this we go for the tasting menu. Unfortunately, they were offering a special Peach Tasting that had peaches in every single dish. Pass. My desire for a tasting menu is just the opposite. I want different ingredients for each dish.
Luckily, the menu is interesting enough that we were able to make our own mini tasting menu.
Wife started with the tuna crudo special. Thinly sliced with an avocado sauce and some lime etc. She thought it was outstanding.
I started with the peach carpaccio. Very thin slices of peach, baby arugula and duck confit with spiced almonds and prosecco dressing. This dish was great! Very light and refreshing.
Next my wife had the black truffle ricotta gnocchi with a spicy tomato confit and shaved Caccciocavallo. Our fave gnocchi is served at Lupa in Manhattan. She said these were just as good if not better.
I had the marinated black mission figs with buttermilk black pepper ricotta, prosciutto lavender and Amontillado sherry reduction. The figs were very fresh and perhaps the best I have eaten. However, the dish just didn't work for me as a whole. The prosciutto lavender with fennel was placed atop the figs. To the left was the ricotta and to the right the reduction. The prosciutto lavender and fennel was quite acidic and did not mix well with the ricotta and reduction. Luckily some of the figs were not covered and went very well with the ricotta and sherry reduction.
Wife's main was the Griggstown Farm chicken breast with polenta, pine nuts, bacon, asparagus, sweet and sour balsamic and onion jus. She seemed to enjoy the dish and took some home.
My main was an excellent lamb shank. Tremendous portion.
We also ordered a side of cauliflower almond puree. That is exactly how it reads on the menu. The cauliflower almond puree was pure heaven. However, they mix capers and raisins over the top. This turned a perfect dish into one that we had to dig around to avoid the unpopular combination of capers and raisins. I don't get it.
Desserts were watermelon carpaccio with basil ice cream for her and honey roasted peaches with almond cream, candied Thyme,and salted shortbread for me. Both excellent.
Service was excellent. -
Review from Mike D.
Piscataway Township, NJ
4/25/2011
Hands down the best restaurant in New Brunswick. My girlfriend and I have been here several times and will come back soon hopefully. The service there is always extremely helpful and polite. They have a great drink selection and the ambience is very fresh and modern.
Since I never had a bad meal here it would be way to long of a review to go over all the positives they offer. But I would highly recommend the duck and/or hanger steak.
I highly recommend this place to anyone that wants to enjoy high-end dining. -
Review from Haim C.
Highland Park, NJ
8/30/2010
We went here for our anniversary, so money wasn't an issue.
The food was absolutely amazing. Everything my wife and I had was good, and the pairings were strange, but worked. I did the quick math and realized I rather make my own expensive prix fixe menu, and was able to get 4 out of 5 courses for the same price. The cheap prix fixe menu, in my mind was a good value, but not for a nice restaurant. I would of liked some meat on the cheap prix fixe menu or at least an option.
The wine was extensive, and there was something for everyone. The token second cheapest was very decent (according to my wife).
I liked the open table integration.
The service for us was a mixed bag. At some points everyone was checking up on us, but at others we were waiting too long. For a higher end restaurant the service could have been better.
My only knocks are the cost of the food, and the fact there aren't any deals. I would have liked some http://restaurant.com or entertainment books, or http://newbrunswickroc.... They have a Friday Couple night for $150. -
Review from Eric F.
Cranford, NJ
1/2/2011
Nice little restaurant in the heart of New Brunswick. I've eaten here twice, and both times the experience has been outstanding. They offer a rotating menu using fairly local items (a big plus in my eyes), an extensive wine list, and even throw together special events on a monthly basis.
The place is a bit pricey, but it's worth every penny you pay. The atmosphere is a bit cramped, but I haven't been so crowded that I felt like I was in a college bar. They're also integrated with open table, so reservations are a snap, even on the fly. Overall, if you're looking to spend a nice evening out and money isn't an object but the city is too far away, I highly recommend staying in Jersey and checking it out. -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
8/30/2010
Very good, modern American fare.
Former NJ Governor Corzine was seen here before.
Pricey too. Good to bring a date here. -
Review from John R.
Warren, NJ
7/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Upon entering you are welcomed by a very nice atmosphere and a choice to either sit inside or outside in a very nice covered area. As inviting as the outside area looked the humidity of the early afternoon lunch time made the inside choice easy.
Reviewing the menu it was a pretty easy choice to go with the Prix Fixe offering and for the first course I chose a mushroom vegetable, but not vegetarian, soup. They prepare some of the ingredients in a bacon broth so that kills the vegetarian side of it but not enough to be a deal breaker (for me anyway). The bacon along with the other spicing provided a unique experience and so far we were off to a great start.
The main course was Seared Day Boat Sea Scallops - Sesame Peanut Noodle Sushi, Pickled Vegetable Salad, Miso Vinaigrette. I do not care for peanuts but I must say beyond reading it on the menu I did not think about it at all when the food came as all of the flavors came together quite well for a single experience which made me very happy for selecting the dish.
Instead of wine I chose dessert and with another person at the table doing the same all of us got a chance to sample the two offerings for the prix fixe -- Pot de Creme and Watermelon Carpaccio. Both small but very interesting desserts and I must say the basilly ice cream that came with the Watermelon Carpaccio was a very unique experience. I would pass on it in quantity but in a situation like this where a taste was all I had it was simply perfect. -
Review from Nicole L.
Diamond Bar, CA
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food so so. But out-door dining environment is nice
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Review from Tiff W.
5/19/2010
We came here for a graduation dinner and while I was excited to come here because of the good things that I had heard, things were a little...off.
I'll start with this...the food was, for the most part, great. The homemade kielbasa was delicious, as was the tomato white bean soup. The calamari was disappointing...the rings were tiny and thin, and it was no different from the calamari you can get at any other restaurant. My pork tenderloin, which was wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with corn bread was awesome. The meat was perfectly cooked, and I have to say that the size of the entree was perfect. We ordered a side of asparagus with pine nuts (standard) and the macaroni & gouda. Let me just say, if we're paying $8 for the side, I would expect more than a tiny tiny cup of macaroni & gouda. The dish was the size of a teacup. Not kidding. Anyway, everyone else enjoyed their entrees, and we got a lemongrass semifreddo to share as the dessert. It was pretty good.
This restaurant is weird because like many have said here, The Frog and The Peach is trying to be something it's not. The food & drinks are pretty good but pricey (um...we got a half bottle of wine for $50 and that was on the low end of the list), but the service was mediocre. The ambiance & decorations were just kind of over the top - floral & gardeny. Pick one and go with it!
Now that I've finally tried it, I probably won't come here again. -
Review from Anjali M.
Philadelphia, PA
4/9/2009
Too fancy for its own good. I like fancy food. But I would like a little more, pretty please? We weren't even full after each of us ordering soup and an entree. Thank goodness we had a gift certificate for this place. Too bad that didn't cover everything because prices are so inflated.
Our service was great. Dress code very strict. Foo foo level, so high. Seating and arrangements comfortable. Salt and pepper shakers that look like frogs, adorable.
The only memorable dish of the night: lobster bisque.Listed in: Places to Impress
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Review from Dolores R.
Jersey City, NJ
2/15/2008
It's disappointing to mar the memory of a lovely Valentine's Day with a sub-par review, but I have to tell it like it is. The space is attractive, with about three or four distinct dining areas (a mezzanine, a small row of tables under the mezzanine, a large dining room behind the bar, a smaller dining room off the mezzanine) and a large bar occupying the front of the room. The lighting is flattering, brighter than what most restaurants in NYC are kept at.
I was anticipating a very good meal from the looks of the place, the reviews and awards, and the menu. But my appetizer, black truffle gnocchi, were the toughest gnocchi I've probably ever had and didn't taste at all of truffle. A monkfish entree was well prepared, but the portion was rather tiny. My BF enjoyed his organic stuffed chicken; I tried it and found it tender but somewhat on the bland side.
The cocktails were the best prepared things we had that night. The Lilliputian, with honey and giner, was very tasty. Service was excellent and the room is definitely attractive and subtly romantic. -
Review from Brenda C.
Somerset, NJ
5/12/2011
I was told by a friend that I should try this place during "Restaurant Week" because otherwise it is a little pricy, so I did. I worked at up scale restaurants that required we provide 5-star service and food, so I am quite picky about food and service, but this place is definitely what I was expecting. The service was impeccable, and therefore very much appreciated. My fiance and I really enjoyed starting with a very nice warm bread with a little butter; theirs is like a pesto minty butter - delicious. We followed that by a soup and a light mixed greens salad, tossed with light dressing, also delicious. While eating I had a pomegranate cosmo, which was very refreshing. My fiance had some sort of steak, that was so tender and juicy. I was really funny watching him slice the pieces with such care. I had salmon, which I had to have cook a little longer, but other than that, the taste was perfect! At the end we had these really small deserts, that were great compliment to our already fully bellies. I had a tart and my fiance had tiramisu - both delicious.
I am certainly looking forward to another excellent dinner. Excellent food and service - worth my money. -
Review from Lee h.
Flushing, NY
6/15/2011
For the New Brunswick area it would be hard to find restaurants to surpass Frog and The Peach. The food is excellent. Service is very very good.
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Review from Imtiaz P.
Belle Mead, NJ
2/15/2008
I tend to agree with the other reviews here that Frog and Peach isn't as good as people say. The place is good, not great and it seems a little dated amd over priced.
I have a more complete review on my blog. -
Review from Vinh N.
Matawan, NJ
1/15/2010
Excellent food severly marred by pedestrian waitstaff. Reading previous rave reviews on the waitstaff, the patrons were not served by the night's special, Remedial Rutger's Waitstaff 99.
The "never-ending" fresh rolls made it's debut and didn't return for any encore despite 4 spherical herb butter awaiting its arrival. Brian's wonderful introduction..."So, what do you want?". Umm...news flash Brian, this is not your local Rutger's frat bar...This is where people actually wear clothes other than hoodies and eat good food with complimentary service to justify a 20% tip. (BTW, my tip was $5 from an $89 tab. Do the math and you'll realize that I do not reward bad service.)
Unfortunately, it's not surprising to eat dinner at 8pm on a Friday night and see the restaurant 1/4 full. The food may be exceptional and well prepared but when the service is poor, you will find an empty restaurant.
The motto is "Fend for yourself" among the servers, as the GM is drinking a glass of wine at the bar, you will notice those whose unlucky to get Brian for the night, you are sitting with an empty glass of wine or water and no rolls to munch on. Brian was either a "newbie" or he is ignorant to the ways of basic table waiting. (The beer commercial comes to mind as the waiter walks by and ignores you or doesn't bother to ask how was your meal.) His waitstaff, despite wearing a tie, was not much use either except picking up your empty plates but leaving a empty glass of water and an empty bread plate. I guess the freshly made rolls are designed for only "one per customer". Maybe there's a surcharge if you want more rolls.......
It's sad really when you sit there with a barren of nothing to eat or drink and wonder that this restaurant can be so much better if the GM knew how to do his job or if the executive chef actually notices that his food is being delivered without a sound, kinda like a frog, but noticeable missteps of burps in service every so often.
The Frog and The Peach's chef is adept at preparing excellent food from the pumpkin gnocchi to the duck/foie gras terrine with carmelized onions and frisee and the chipotle braised beef and a side of crispy sweet potato fries.
Upon return, maybe the bar is my best option to order a meal because the bartender definitely knows how to make a great drink, the Shanghai Sling. It's a very strong, tasty beverage but you don't taste the alcohol at all....Hallmarks of a skillfull bartender. If he can provide service as well as he can pour, then its a no brainer. -
Review from Rich P.
Plainfield, NJ
3/7/2011
Everyone enjoyed their food very much. I had a hanger steak which was above average, not great however. Service was good.
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Review from gayle e.
New York, NY
2/18/2009
- i broke up with my bf so he took me here to.. idk.. win back my love with an expensive meal??
- service was excellent.. food was good.. pricey if i remember... never went back for dinner after that tho...
- i have chilled at the bar several times in the evening.. ordered some tasty food from the bar menu.. good times.. -
Review from Dan K.
Clifton, NJ
5/16/2011
Its quite difficult for me to give this place a rating any higher than 3. The food quality was good, not great, but the quantity was severely lacking. I'm still blown away at how I dropped $180 on dinner for me and my wife, and we both left the restaurant hungry. We had the calamari appetizer which came with a very tasteful jalapeno jelly. However, I could have fit all the calamari in the palm of my hands (my hands are not that big at all, its not like I can palm a basketball). I had the lamb loin dinner, which again, the taste was good, and presentation was nice, but $34 for 6oz of lamb is what I might expect to pay in NYC, not New Brunswick.
The atmosphere was nice, the staff was helpful, but was too "in your face" for me. I prefer traditional European restaurants where the staff does not bother you, and you call them when you need something. It is nice of the wait staff to ask how your meal is, but when they're doing it every 10 minutes, and interrupting your conversation, it takes away from the special night out.
Next time I plan on spending $180 on dinner, it'll be at a nice steakhouse where I know I won't have to stop on the way home to eat... -
Review from Natasha R.
Edison, NJ
5/12/2011
I went to this place twice. I had a pretty good experience both times.
SERVICE
Their service is impeccable. The most polite staff I have ever experienced. They take your coat when you enter, the maitre d' seats you, another person comes by and explains the specials, a third person is in charge of filling your water.
The thing that stands out about their staff is the way they speak. It might sound silly but they are extremely formal and extremely polite. They have a calm elegant demeanor, hands behind their backs, smiles on their faces, always 'sir' or 'madam', pleasant and subdued voice (not loud and obnoxious), extensive vocabulary, the works. The only exception was the last time I went there, the maitre d' was a loud annoying girl who spoke like she was from the jersey shore.
Before bringing the food out, they cleaned the bread crumbs off our table with a knife. The manager always comes to each table to ask how things are. They noticed my napkin fell and brought a new one (I didn't even notice). I can just go on and on.
FOOD
The first time I went here I got the Griggstown Chicken Breast. The chicken was cooked very nicely. It was tender and juicy. I was not a fan of their mushroom gnocchi though. I did not finish it.
The second time I got the spinach pappardelle. It was a very interesting dish. The flavor was quite unique. It wasn't amazingly delicious, I felt it was lacking something, but I enjoyed eating it because it was so unique.
Even though the food wasn't THAT special, it was still very good and there's something that draws me to this place. I look forward to going back and trying some of their other dishes. -
Review from Don G.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2009
This is the place to go for special occassions in New Brunswick. Several years ago, my fiancee graduated from Rutgers and talked about how tasty this place is. I couldn't disagree.
I had the Moroccan lamb sausage, which was good (except I couldn't stop burping after). Not pleasant for either one of us. Her scallop po'boy sandwich was great. The fried batter of the scallops stayed nice and crispy with yucca fries on the side. Next time, I'm going to get that sandwich. -
Review from caiti s.
Clifton, NJ
9/28/2009
I was really excited to come here for my anniversary; I have heard about F&P ever since I moved to NJ.
It was ok.
The thing that bothered me the most was that while we were still perusing the menu, our waiter brought us 2 glasses of champagne "from frog and the peach" to celebrate our anniversary.
We ordered a bottle of wine, 2 entrees, 1 side, and 1 dessert.
And we got charged for the champagne. We opted not to complain because we had been left sitting after dessert for 20 minutes, and just wanted to leave.
The food? The lamb was great, the monkfish was just good.
