Located in the heart of downtown Princeton, Mistral brings that a breath of fresh air to the Princeton-area dining scene. Offering a stunning mix of taste, style and atmosphere, Mistral is recognized for its award winning chef Scott Anderson with a superlative emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and artistically plated dishes.
He has curated a progressive menu of culturally influenced and inventive small plates for guests to savor and share time and again. With its welcoming outdoor patio that is equipped to provide guests comfort regardless of the season and rustic, inviting interior, Mistral's atmosphere evokes feelings of warmth and community.
He has curated a progressive menu of culturally influenced and inventive small plates for guests to savor and share time and again. With its welcoming outdoor patio that is equipped to provide guests comfort regardless of the season and rustic, inviting interior, Mistral's atmosphere evokes feelings of warmth and community.
Services
Born and raised in Long Island, Stephen Distler spent 25 years in the financial services industry before getting involved in the restaurant business. A highly successful businessman with an impeccable eye for sound investments, Distler worked the majority of his career at Warburg Pincus, LLC, one of the world's pre-eminent private equity investment firms, where he served as Managing Director and Treasurer.
On staff planner to help you organize all of your details from final menu selections to help on ordering in wines. We can help with it all. Enjoy one of Downtown Princeton's only patio spaces with fireplace. Groups between 10-16 have the option of reserving the room semi-private without a privacy fee.
Reviews (26)
Marchesa
Jan 21, 2022
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The place has its own parking lot adjacent to the restaurant, but it’s a small lot in Princeton, so it may be full. Service was great and fast. Their food is great, flavorful, with colorful bright flavors. The appetizers are good for 2 ppl, but the entree could have had just a little more. You have to get an appetizer, entree and dessert to feel pretty full. Their steak is recommended, cooked perfectly, with tasty potatoes complimenting it. The almond dessert was delicious. Overall, it’s pretty good, just wish the portions was a little more.
Sachin Raje
Jan 04, 2022
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Alex P.
Dec 14, 2021
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This place overall was a huge disappointment. Fried burrata was not even warm so not sure how many hours ago it was fried, the smoked fish dip seemed like a lot of Philadelphia smoked cream cheese with some cucumber on top, and the house made chips that came with it looked and tasted like re-fried lays and were about half crumbs and only half chips (kind of like when you get to the bottom of the bag of chips). The entrees were better in flavor, except that my wife’s $30 order of scallops had 4 scallops in it, and my mackerel had some fried dough thing on top that looked like a crumpled up tissue
Kevin K.
Dec 13, 2021
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Mistral has been on my list to try in Princeton for a while now. First off, their "outdoor" seating is practically indoors with heat lamps, a fireplace, and being completely ENCLOSED. So no need to dress warm if you're seated "outside". It's plenty warm!
The appetizers we ordered were fantastic. My favorite was between the fried Burrata covered in a tomato based sauce and the octopus with the perfectly crispy potatoes. The oysters were tasty but quite small for the price, and the ceviche could've used a bit more hamachi as well.
The scallops were delicious
The appetizers we ordered were fantastic. My favorite was between the fried Burrata covered in a tomato based sauce and the octopus with the perfectly crispy potatoes. The oysters were tasty but quite small for the price, and the ceviche could've used a bit more hamachi as well.
The scallops were delicious
Kristina B.
Dec 12, 2021
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My husband and I went here for our first time and thought it was amazing. We had the deviled eggs, pork belly (forgot to take a pic), Szechwan fried chicken wings (must have) , Kim Chi, pork schnitzel, and steak. The service was great, ambiance was nice, and the food was excellent. The only little downfall is that it's on the smaller scale so when it becomes busy, it is a bit noisy. We will definitely be back.
Sally S.
Dec 03, 2021
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The service was alright--our waitress did seem a little nervous/impatient, but the other staff did pick up after us quickly and seemed friendly. The food was extremely salty, which was unfortunate as this was a birthday dinner :( overall, just had an "okay" time dining here and will probably not dine again.
Aysha A.
Nov 28, 2021
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Great brunch experience, can't believe how long it took me to finally try it! Wasn't too busy on a Sunday morning but I'm glad I made a reservation. They have a small but diverse selection of savory and sweet dishes. We started with the fried burrata and hutch was great and then shared a mushroom and spinach soft scramble. The eggs were cooked perfectly but the bread wasn't my favorite.. finished with the French toast with strawberries and cremè anglaise, delicious!
Lucy S.
Oct 26, 2021
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A great restaurant in Princeton - amazing for special occasions, birthdays, and a fun night out! There's an open kitchen concept, with the team cooking it up behind the restaurant, which I find extremely fun
We ordered the fish dip - which had this surprisingly astonishing herby/shiso flavor that was so scrumptious, a hamachi ceviche that had the right amounts of delicate flavors that balanced the fresh fish, and fried burrata that was so incredibly rich and creamy - the fried exterior made it that much more fun.
Lovely ambiance, amazing table service, and interesting/well balanced food
We ordered the fish dip - which had this surprisingly astonishing herby/shiso flavor that was so scrumptious, a hamachi ceviche that had the right amounts of delicate flavors that balanced the fresh fish, and fried burrata that was so incredibly rich and creamy - the fried exterior made it that much more fun.
Lovely ambiance, amazing table service, and interesting/well balanced food
Jeff Eaton
Oct 25, 2021
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Best food we've had out in years! Staff was great and really took care of us. Everything we had was delicious. The beef tartare and the wings were our favorites but wish we got to try the whole menu. Would definitely go back and recommend. They have an outdoor seating area which is a really nice space and is heated, but depending on which table you sit at you may want to bring an extra sweater this time of year.
Christine Li
Oct 19, 2021
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Chill ambiance, friendly servers and bartenders, great drinks. Tried the Tee Time cocktail and definitely recommend for those who enjoy tea. It’s super refreshing and has the bitterness of a good tea. Also tried the Pan Mee Ramen which was ok. Not the best though so not certain that I’d recommend. The Chinese 5 spice pork in the ramen was good but the noodles were all stuck together and kind of hard to get through. Also a bit pricey. Regardless, I would say to definitely stop by to try their specialty cocktails! Side comments for COVID now. Not everyone is wearing a mask but majority of the
Tamara Nikolas
Oct 15, 2021
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The ambiance of this restaurant is great. Very clean and restaurant staff is incredibly welcoming. All of the food was delicious and seasoned just right. The fried burrata and Szechuan wings are a must try! I had the Grilled Bavette Steak as my entree and I enjoyed every single bite of it. With that being said, it wasn’t a very big portion at all. Wish there was more for the price. The apple dessert with oats, caramelized apple, ginger and cheddar, yes you read that correctly cheddar was just heavenly. The cheddar added a bit of creaminess almost like a cheesecake.
Karolina M.
Sep 22, 2021
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I must say, I'm pretty disappointed. My fiancé and I sat at the bar while we waited for the rest of our party and we decided on a cocktail. The menu not being anything exciting, I asked the bartender how he felt about creating a drink off menu, he replied by saying he can. Proceeded to go to the other end of the bar and walks over with two drinks from the menu....? Moving on. Our friends come and we get to ordering. My mussels were very good was the hamachi, very fresh. The scallops on the other hand were very small, plate full of sauce and not much food, nothing to rave about in taste. I
Lou V.
Sep 22, 2021
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What happened? My favorite restaurant in Princeton is now awful. Well, the food was ok but everything, EVERYTHING else was awful.
A rundown.
Three of us arrived on a Sunday night at 7:35. The restaurant is relatively empty. We approach the hostess. "I don't know if there's any availability ". I point out that there are about six people are eating. "Oh. OK". Walk through the bar, it's as bright as a bus terminal get seated outside at one of the many empty tables.
We wait and wait and wait. Finally get a drink order in. A lemon twist is not the same as
A rundown.
Three of us arrived on a Sunday night at 7:35. The restaurant is relatively empty. We approach the hostess. "I don't know if there's any availability ". I point out that there are about six people are eating. "Oh. OK". Walk through the bar, it's as bright as a bus terminal get seated outside at one of the many empty tables.
We wait and wait and wait. Finally get a drink order in. A lemon twist is not the same as
Mau Mau
Aug 22, 2021
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This is a great restaurant, and the food is delicious. The service is fast. If you are lucky you can find your parking spot in the adjacent parking lot. I give 4 stars, because the waiter, as he was taking the empty dishes, poured some sauce on my back. He apologized and wanted to call the manager, which wouldn't helped with my shirt, so I didn't go for it. The other small thing is as the waiter replaced my used silverware with clean ones, I ended up having two forks and no knife.
Richel D.
Jul 05, 2021
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I've come back several times since this first review and every time my boyfriend and I get sat at "our table" which is that high top from our first trip. Totally by chance but just nice. The food is just as delicious! We've had the crispy Brussels sprouts and burrata tikka masala twice each now- definitely try these dishes!! Unique flavors that I didn't think would work but absolutely do. The Szechuan wings are also really good- crispy and the right amount of Chinese 5 spice to taste but not overpower. The ramen bowls are overpriced and just ok nothing amazing. The wagyu
Ms. F.
Jun 28, 2021
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I ordered two fish dishes and both smelled of a lime coconut broth. How is that possible?
A sashimi appetizer - that reeked of a strong acidic lime smell. I wasn't going to eat that. I've ordered carpaccio style dishes before that doesn't reek of a lime.
Trout - the fish was overcooked and a little fishy. This looks like salmon. It sat in an extremely salty coconut based broth with capers. It is seared so the skin is crispy. I took a bite and stopped eating. The texture is overcooked and firm.
It's Princeton downtown. There aren't that many restaurants.
A sashimi appetizer - that reeked of a strong acidic lime smell. I wasn't going to eat that. I've ordered carpaccio style dishes before that doesn't reek of a lime.
Trout - the fish was overcooked and a little fishy. This looks like salmon. It sat in an extremely salty coconut based broth with capers. It is seared so the skin is crispy. I took a bite and stopped eating. The texture is overcooked and firm.
It's Princeton downtown. There aren't that many restaurants.
Lena J.
Jun 18, 2021
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Mistral is a popular restaurant in downtown Princeton specializing in seasonally- and internationally-inspired shared small plates. While I have had some good experiences in the past, their dishes can be very hit or miss, and unfortunately recent experiences have been mostly misses. Many of their dishes sound very fun and interesting on paper but are less so in execution.
They open for both indoor and outdoor dining during the pandemic, and they do takeout as well. We sat outside and ordered the following dishes:
-Ramp & Asparagus Okonomiyaki Pancake ($16) - Japanese BBQ, kewpie mayo, nori
They open for both indoor and outdoor dining during the pandemic, and they do takeout as well. We sat outside and ordered the following dishes:
-Ramp & Asparagus Okonomiyaki Pancake ($16) - Japanese BBQ, kewpie mayo, nori
Michael Irenski
Jun 01, 2021
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They recommend sharing small plates as well as entrees. Although they say it not tapas like. Most likely you will take that suggestion and order too much. For a table of 5 we ordered 4 small plates and 5 entrees and it was all too much not only in food but, price. The waiter recommended to all at once. So my recommendation is to order increments. The food was good but, I expe ted so much more. The bar drinks were very good. Should have just ordered the small plates and drinks and skip the entrees.
Joanne H.
May 23, 2021
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An overall good experience! solid dinner with surprising tastes, but i'm taking down a star only because it didn't quite fit my taste palette.
pork schnitzel: loved the texture, super tender and cuts easy. the batter is extremely crisp and pairs well with the sauce + side salad. however SUPER salty!!!! so salty that i had to chug water after each bite.
pasta: opposite of the pork in terms of flavor. was kinda bland but i appreciated it next time the saltiness of the pork. the noodles had a nice bite, and was very filling.
beef tartare: loved! a refreshing appetizer with many flavors
pork schnitzel: loved the texture, super tender and cuts easy. the batter is extremely crisp and pairs well with the sauce + side salad. however SUPER salty!!!! so salty that i had to chug water after each bite.
pasta: opposite of the pork in terms of flavor. was kinda bland but i appreciated it next time the saltiness of the pork. the noodles had a nice bite, and was very filling.
beef tartare: loved! a refreshing appetizer with many flavors
Tiffany F.
Apr 11, 2021
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Nice ambiance, yummy food. My first time at Mistral was a delightful experience and I'll be back. We sat in the 'outdoor' seating area with the fireplace and it was really nice. Warm, inviting. I had the burrata to share and start, very yummy. The wagyu steak was delicious. The drinks were nice and strong, they had a good drink special selection. They do have a small parking lot attached which helps with Palmer square area parking. They brought out a dessert for my friends birthday (we ordered and told them
Ahead of time) but it was appreciated. The waitress and all the staff were
Ahead of time) but it was appreciated. The waitress and all the staff were
Lor W.
Apr 05, 2021
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Divine! This was a truly remarkable dining experience. Our party of 4 was promptly seated and whisked into a culinary adventure at Mistral on Saturday night.
We started with the Beausoleil Oysters, Tempura Mushrooms, and Tuna Ceviche. Portions were perfect for sharing and not too large as to put you over the edge for your entree. The seafood was all temperature perfect and visually appealing. Beautiful flavor complexities!
Our entrees included the Goat Cheese Agnolotti, the Pork Schnitzel, and the Spicy Shrimp Ramen. Our friend is a world-traveled guy and he exclaimed that the Pork Schnitzel
We started with the Beausoleil Oysters, Tempura Mushrooms, and Tuna Ceviche. Portions were perfect for sharing and not too large as to put you over the edge for your entree. The seafood was all temperature perfect and visually appealing. Beautiful flavor complexities!
Our entrees included the Goat Cheese Agnolotti, the Pork Schnitzel, and the Spicy Shrimp Ramen. Our friend is a world-traveled guy and he exclaimed that the Pork Schnitzel
Kenton M.
Feb 25, 2021
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First timer at Mistral here in Princeton. Called about 2 weeks before Valentine's day to get a reservation. Made the reservation over the phone, a slight misunderstanding occured and the host made the reservation for Saturday instead of Sunday. They called to verify the reservation a week before and that's when I realized the mistake. The host on the phone was able to get us the exact same time only for a seat on their patio. Honestly speaking I was concerned due to my SO hating the cold and sitting outside, but I took the gamble.
Arrived slightly early and were immediately seated. The
Arrived slightly early and were immediately seated. The
Hannah Lee
Feb 15, 2021
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We got to sit in the "outside" area with the nice fire. It was quite warm! It had a great ambience and my friend loved their beer. Their oysters were delicious and sweet. Their hot sauce was fire! Really spicy and delicious. Their hot wings were crispy, spicy, sweet and delicious. The burrata though... OMG the flavors were so perfect and so was the textures. The service was great and the lime posset dessert was so delicious with pockets of mochi was so clever and so perfect. And that uh huh honey drink, will get you but it was so delectable.
Natalie C.
Feb 03, 2021
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Our first indoor dining experience in ages and Mistral did a fantastic job. The tables were more than distanced and wait staff wore gloves and masks. Now about the fun part...THE FOOD!
I do have to say first - I have allergies which I shared with the waiter and he went above and beyond. He had the chef provide me a menu to show me what I would have no problem eating. Super thoughtful and a wonderful touch. (Also, Mike is the best. Ask for him!)
Mistral really embodies modern global cuisine. They create new twists on old favorites, and their cocktails are elegantly crafted. We got the PB&
I do have to say first - I have allergies which I shared with the waiter and he went above and beyond. He had the chef provide me a menu to show me what I would have no problem eating. Super thoughtful and a wonderful touch. (Also, Mike is the best. Ask for him!)
Mistral really embodies modern global cuisine. They create new twists on old favorites, and their cocktails are elegantly crafted. We got the PB&
Brandon L.
Sep 28, 2020
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My first time coming to this restaurant and it sure won't be the last. I'm glad to see this establishment survive these pandemic. First off, the food here was amazing. I came here for brunch. And we ordered the Tankatsu Ramen with Charsiu and Steak and Steaks. We also got the Mistral Wings. Food was plentiful and had lots of flavor.
In terms of the experience, I was very pleased with the service and the staff all adhered to Covid standards. I made a reservation for 2pm. However, I wasn't aware that last call for the kitchen was 230 before getting ready for dinner. Our waitress
In terms of the experience, I was very pleased with the service and the staff all adhered to Covid standards. I made a reservation for 2pm. However, I wasn't aware that last call for the kitchen was 230 before getting ready for dinner. Our waitress
Eric Glynn
Jul 19, 2020
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Went to Mistral for happy hour. They have a great happy hour menu and the food is something special. It’s definitely on a different level taste and presentation wise. It is a bit more pricey than other places, but the quality level is definitely substantial if you are looking for something nice. The burger... wow so amazing. The mozzarella bites were also really good. Had the NY Sour cocktail and one other drink—they were both quality drinks. The atmosphere is upscale but comfortable in the bar section. There is a second section of the restaurant with all dining tables and a chefs table—beautiful
