Mediterra

Great place to have small tapas after strolling around the park. Princeton is a nice town and this is a great stop to enjoy great food and very attentive service.

We dined outside and enjoyed the view of Palmer square and the food was all very delicious. The salmon was crispy and tender and the salad was light and nicely balanced with flavor. Pasta was homemade. Everyone really liked their food.

Met 3 of my girlfriends at this restaurant for lunch. We chose it by random. The food was really good, as was the atmosphere. Will definitely consider coming back next time I'm in the Princeton area.

Mediterra in Princeton offers an exceptional dining experience with a focus on Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is known for its delightful ambiance, perfect for romantic dinners, business meetings, and special occasions. The menu features a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, making it a great choice for those with dietary preferences. We loved every single dish we tried and there was no scope of any complaint at any point. The flavor was spot on! We captured few pictures and few we could not as the dish was more enticing than the thought of clicking a picture. Now, this is a true testament of great food. One standout dish is the Pastaless Lasagna, which combines roasted eggplant, garlic spinach, pomodoro, basil, and fresh mozzarella. Another favorite is the Market Bowl, which includes spring pea falafel, couscous, avocado, asparagus, roasted zucchini, and mint chutney-yogurt, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to flavorful vegetarian fare. We appreciated the attentive service and the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. The outdoor seating is particularly pleasant, providing a wonderful setting to enjoy a meal. Whether you're indulging in their famous paella or savoring their flourless chocolate cake for dessert, Mediterra consistently delivers on taste and presentation.Their empanada, with mushrooms, how could I miss mentioning that, it had the most flaky crust, yet crispy and soft, and best tasting filling in it! Overall, Mediterra is a top choice for those seeking a memorable dining experience in Princeton, offering a diverse menu, excellent service, and a welcoming environment.

We visited Mediterra as a big group for business dinner. We got the cheese board with prosciutto, cheese empanadas and oysters for appetizers. Enriching tasted great. For mains we had the pork chop, the meatless lasagna and the monk fish. Everything was superb. The dessert that we ordered was also very good. Sorry did not get a chance to trade dessert pictures. Overall great restaurant.

My visit to Mediterra was a real treat. I came here with family on a Sunday evening with a reservation, although the place wasn’t too busy at that time. The waitress was super friendly and went out of her way to make our night special, even helping with a surprise cake for us from the family. The menu had something for everyone, including some solid vegetarian options. I had the house-made lumache, and I loved it. It’s a mushroom carbonara with truffle, pecorino, and a runny egg - it was hands down the best pasta I've had in a while. It had this earthy kick that really set it apart. If you're into seafood, there’s some good options there as well. All in all, Mediterra nailed it with great food and service. Definitely worth checking out.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I went there for lunch and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food. I got one of their lunch specials, and everything was super fresh and tasted amazing. The only thing I will say is that the portion of food was rather small for the price of the dish. However, the location and design of the restaurant (sat outside) made up for it.

Downtown Princeton is filled with numerous restaurants, from high-end molecular gastronomy (Elements), gastro pubs (Mistral), Italian cuisine (Teresa Caffe), Spanish (Despano), eclectic (Witherspoon Grill and Mezzaluna), modern American (Agricola) and French (Cargot Brasserie), not counting smaller joints and ethnic establishments. Mediterra occupies its own niche and does so well. The restaurant serves good food of the generally Mediterranean cuisine, with Spanish and Italian dishes, as well as some Middle Eastern specialities such as falafel or hummus. The prices are rather budget-friendly, with most appetizers priced below $15, pastas in the low $20s, and most main courses in the high $20s to mid $30. The food is well prepared and served attractively. The service was good, polite but not too fussy. The ambiance is pleasing, the dining area features generously spaced tables. The by-the-window seating allows for street and people watching. The opening hours are the best. The last reservation slot on the weekends is 10:30, thus allowing for an after-show dinner, if attending an 8 PM McCarter performance. Your best parking solution will be an affordable parking next to Witherspoon Grill and Princeton Public Library. Will definitely come back again, very soon.

Decent Mediterranean food. Definitely would come for their Paella again. Limited street parking nearby. There is a gated garage one block from the restaurant and the price is quite affordable. We called in advance to make sure they are pet friendly, and they let us sit outside with our dog, which is super nice.

Absolutely delicious dining experience. Nicely decorated and terrific staff. I have been here several times over the years and just returned after about 4 years. It is still as wonderful as it was the first time I went. We were greeted by very pleasant hostess named Izzy. The manager Gianni was friendly and checked in on us. Our server Oscar was professional, helpful and personable. He was very good at his job. The food outstanding. We enjoyed our Ceasar Salad and Manchengo Empandas. However the real star was the Paella Clasica! This was full of great flavors and the seafood and meat were perfectly cooked. A tremendous treat for those who love this dish. I look forward to returning again the next time I am in town.

Muy Bueno!!! From the beginning, we were accommodated and with a party of 10 that happened to meet up on graduation weekend, we were thrilled! All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Off the tapas menu, I ordered the fried eggplant. Hands down, it was the best eggplant I've ever tasted. Not heavily breaded and accompanied by a light honey yogurt sauce that took it over the top. As my entrée, I ordered the salmon. That too was some of the best I've had. It was fresh and cooked to perfection. Our waiter was extremely polite and helpful as well :-) Ohhhh and I almost forgot, the white sangria was sooo refreshing, filled with fruit on a 90 degree day! I can't wait to return to try more tasty dishes!

As others have stated, get the paella if you go to Mediterra for dinner. It's pretty darn good, and quite big even when sharing it. This restaurant seems like a great place to bring a medium to large sized group. It would be a nice restaurant to treat visitors from out-of-town such as family, academic presenters, or businesspeople. Great place.

Best food I've had in months! The tapas were so good! As was the el jefe. Highly recommend the gazpacho!

I recommend reservations at this place because it's a popular restaurant!! Very lively atmosphere that is upbeat and casual. Beautiful wooden tables in the bar area. I had the home made gnocchi with pistachio and arugula pesto. Talk about one of the best gnocchi dishes I've ever had. And the pistachio be burrata was absolutely delicious. Perfectly balanced and nice contrast of textiles. The sparkling sangria was nice a s refreshing too. I highly recommend this place. Very intriguing flavours in their desserts.... cardamom custard with semolina fritters! I can't wait to come back again.

Dropped in for a light meal and really enjoyed the overall experience. This feels like the kind of spot where sharing small plates is the best way to enjoy the menu since it lets everyone sample a variety of flavors. While the main dishes were decent, the atmosphere truly stood out. The outdoor seating was calm and relaxing with a lovely view of Palmer Square, which made the visit even more enjoyable.

Our family has been coming to Mediterra for years, and it continues to be our go-to spot for special occasions in Princeton. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for celebrations or simply enjoying a great meal. One of my all-time favorite dishes here is their paella—flavorful, perfectly cooked, and generously portioned. Every visit, the food is consistently excellent, and the service is always attentive and welcoming. You can tell the staff takes pride in what they do, and it shows in the overall dining experience. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just looking for a reliably great meal, Mediterra never disappoints. Highly recommended!

Quiet late afternoon dinner. We sat inside even though outside was a perfect day. Sinners was fabulous. Florida swordfish and Gnocchi. Both dishes were very good. Finished with Afergotto. We'll be back again and again and again.

Stopped by for a quick bite to eat and this place was great. Personally I would come here to get a few tapas so that everyone could try a bit of everything. The mains didn’t quite stand out. Sitting outside was also quite peaceful and had a great view of Palmer square.

My husband and I went to Mediterra Restaurant & Taverna for a dinner date, and we absolutely loved it! The service was excellent—attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The food was outstanding, especially the seafood rice, which was my favorite. If you’re a seafood lover, this is the perfect place to indulge! And of course, the hummus and pita bread were delicious as well. The only thing I noticed was that the prices felt a bit high, maybe because of the location. But overall, the experience was fantastic!

Visited Mediterra for the first time today and had an amazing experience! Their food and drinks are fantastic, and the service and staff were exceptional! I would recommend this place for anyone and will definitely be back!

Excellent food and cocktails in chic setting amid Princeton's entertainment center. Their harvest bowl was a delicious combination of several healthy vegetables and sweet potato falafels. Their flowerless chocolate cake was a sumptuous end to the meal. They have numerous large wooden tables spread between multiple indoor dining rooms and shady outdoor seating.

We had a great experience hosting our private dinner for 18 at Mediterra. We booked the Taverna Room with a pre-set menu, and everything ran really smoothly. The only small downside was that the chairs were higher bar-style seats, which weren’t as comfortable as regular chairs. Other than that, the team was fantastic, super responsive, easy to work with, and very thoughtful about dietary needs. Guests were greeted warmly and even asked about their preferences before being served, which was a nice touch. The vibe was great, the neighborhood is lovely, and having a parking garage nearby made things easy for everyone. We’d definitely book Mediterra again!

We had wonderful small plates, delicious cocktails and a great dining experience. Staff was not put off by our indecision and multiple waves of ordering. It’s a bustling dining area that is quite inviting.

I recently dined at Mediterra Restaurant & Taverna, and the experience felt like stepping into a timeless corner of the Mediterranean. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the risotto—rich, velvety, and cooked with a patience you can taste. Each bite carried a gentle depth, the grains perfectly tender yet still holding their character. The flavors were balanced with a classic touch, allowing the ingredients to shine without ever feeling heavy. It’s the kind of dish that doesn’t try too hard; it simply reminds you how good true craftsmanship can be. The dessert brought the night to an elegant close. It had that old-world charm—simple, refined, and memorable. The sweetness was measured, never overwhelming, and the textures played together like a quiet harmony. It felt like something made with intention, the kind of dessert that lingers with you long after the last bite. Mediterra offers not just a meal, but an experience rooted in tradition and detail. From the atmosphere to the final note of dessert, everything felt thoughtfully curated. I’ll definitely be returning.

We were recently invited to a birthday brunch at Mediterra, and it was our first time trying the food. We had the house-made spaghetti, steak and eggs, NJ salad, clam chowder, and the strawberry rhubarb crisp. While the dessert didn’t quite win us over, the rest of the dishes were absolutely delicious and well-executed. What truly stood out, though, was the incredible service we received from Mia, our server for the event. Despite the large and lively crowd, Mia was a total rockstar — attentive, calm, and always smiling. She made sure everyone was taken care of, drinks were filled, and every little request was handled with such ease. A big shoutout to Mia for making our first experience at Mediterra so memorable — she’s a gem!

Decent restaurant in a nice location. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Overall the food was good. We ordered the calamari and arancini as appetizers. The calamari was very good but the portion size was small. The arancini was delicious. For the entrees we got steak and eggs, spaghetti with homemade sauce, shakshuka, and salmon. I would recommend the steak and eggs overall. Everything else was good overall.

Wonderful array of selections on the menu for both appetizers and main course. All of the food that we ordered was fresh and very well prepared. I would definitely recommend the Artisan Cheese Board as an appetizer and the Pastaless Lasagna as a main course. Service is friendly and timely, and the ambiance is nice.

Great spot for a quick bite to eat. Good quality food, mediocre drink (I did not get the recommended sangria and maybe that's my fault), and super fast and friendly service. I came here for work from out of town, and was pleasantly surprised. The pastaless lasagna was actually delicious. The papas bravas were super tasty, and our buffalo mozzarella was incredibly fresh.

In town for a work meeting. Colleagues recommended Mediterra. It was really good. Atmosphere was great. I can see on a nice Friday or Saturday being a great location to walk around and grab a bite to eat. Plenty of seating. Servers were great. Always checking on our party of 10. Appetizers were great. Cheese with honey was amazing. Local Chicken dish fresh and juicy. I’d recommend!

**Updating this post to give it a better review** While my first time here was less than satisfactory, my recent visit was quite pleasant. Got the hummus pita, spring greens salad, corn cheese empanada, sweet potato falafel & pasta. These were all tasty & I had a good time. Wish I had got to try this before! First review - We reserved this place for a 5 course meal as a End of Year Dinner few months back and it was disappointing. While the service was great the food lacked taste.

The food was good, need some olives on the hummus plate or stuffed grape leaves, that would really be a nice touch.

The papas bravas are good, as is the pasta less lasagna. Restaurant week: Chicken ginger soup was good, but a little too much scallion relish for me. The ricotta gnocchi was disappointing. The gnocchi was doughy, instead of pillowy soft.

The October vegan challenge menu items tasted great, especially the artichoke cannelloni. would add a star if more vegan items were added to the menu permanently as currently there are many labeled vegetarian options but very few vegan.

Christmas Eve Brunch Price Fix Menu - highly recommend. Started with Wellfleet Oysters and Stuffed Topneck Clams followed by the East Coast Halibut with kale, oyster mushrooms, pureed potatoes, artichoke velouté and a charred lemon. The Avocado Toast Benedict was served artichokes, wild mushrooms and a truffle olive oil hollandaise. Recommended by our waitress we had a glass of Albariño with the starters and entrees which paired perfectly with both the oysters and the halibut. We had flourless chocolate cake with a latte and lemon trifle with a cappuccino. One of the best brunch menus we’ve tried! Highly recommend this restaurant! Looking forward to their seasonal menu.

Modern, big location, suitable for big groups also. Pleasant atmosphere. For the evening we went in, on the day’s special they had fish and veggies and well, it just didn’t impress me...the taste was missing something. Otherwise we had a great dinner and would go back, next time we are back in Princeton.

Was in the Princeton area and decided to swing by here for a quick bite. The restaurant from the outside really caught my eye. Nice outdoor patio and spacious, located right in the center of a bustling food/shopping area. No parking unfortunately - had to find a deck. The food was good, but it didn’t blow me away. I’m not complaining tho, it hit the spot, but it just didn’t leave a memorable impact on me. The calamari was a bit chewy and all stuck together. I did enjoy the bravas and the empanadas. The octopus could have been grilled a bit more, but still good nonetheless. I liked the atmosphere inside - it was nice and cozy, but it felt a bit dusty. There’s some carpet sections on the floor.

We shared the sweet potato falafel. It was excellent. The pasta-less lasagna was delicious, as was the rigatoni. We are only restrained from giving 4stars because of the limited serving size.

Let's call a spade a spade - they are overrated. The menu keeps changes, of which we were rudely reminded by the waiter who was subpar at best, which also seems to be the cause of a mediocre product. From the pics the food looks good, but don't judge the book by its cover. It was underwhelming. If you order a $15 salad which had lettuce and a side dressing, how can that taste bad? Exactly. But it did. Fifty places around them one hundred times better.

The tables outdoor around the utensil organizer are nightmare! Totally ruined the atmosphere since the utensils organizer and the lady arranging the utensils are always super disturbing and noisy. She throws plates into it and onto the table and throws utensils onto the plate. There was a gentle literally took the empty table behind us to organize a whole table of glasses?!! How can I enjoy my time with such a disturbing environment?

In summary, I think it's overrated just for being in Princeton. Well, the food is disappointing to be honest. The atmosphere itself is beautiful and upsale along with great servers. We had: 1) Salad. Not good at all. 1/5 2) Pastaless eggplant Lasagna. 2/5. 3) Almond Cake. 1/5. Too hard of a Cake. Basically not a moist cake. 3) Hummus and pita for the table. 2/5 Went with a group of 15 and no one was happy with their food except the people who ordered Salmon. Definitely, not going there again.