Once temperatures drop below 32 degrees, New Jerseyans often seek refuge in snug settings (that is, if they’re brave enough to leave home). Restaurants, adorned with inviting décor and often fireplaces, dot the state and welcome those patrons looking for good eats, warm libations and a chance to thaw.
A Colonial Feel
The Olde Mill Inn & Grain House Restaurant in Basking Ridge has multiple fireplaces throughout its property, with Sheila Palka, marketing director for the restaurant, calling them a “hallmark of the establishment.”
“The Olde Mill Inn & the Grain House are located in two separate buildings on a single property and are considered to be among the coziest locations in the state for any type of event,” Palka says. “The décor of both the Olde Mill Inn and the Grain House also includes artwork and other distinctive design features that create the look of an elegant home away from home.”
There are several fireplaces in the Grain House Restaurant—one in the Coppertop Pub, one in the Childs Dining Room, as well as one in the Grain Room and one in the Hunt Room (both of which are used for meetings and social events).
The Grain House Restaurant’s building dates back to 1768 and was restored in the late ’90s, but has retained the original trademark colonial features such as the beamed ceilings and the hasp and ironwork door hardware.
“The property is particularly cozy during the holiday season; the entire property is custom decorated inside and out from Thanksgiving through New Year’s,” Palka says. “Many social and corporate events are scheduled during this time to take advantage of the unique holiday décor.”
The property offers 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting space accommodating from 10-500 attendees.
Chef Luca Carvello characterizes himself as a contemporary American chef with strong traditional roots, and ownership strongly supports sustainability and local sourcing for its menu.
A Yankee Doodle Dandy
The Yankee Doodle Tap Room, inside the Nassau Inn in Princeton, has an inscription carved into the wood beam above its massive stone hearth (which dates back to 1756) that reads, “Rest Traveller, Rest, and Banish Thoughts of Care; Drink to Thy Friends and Recommend Them Here.”
“The fireplace beneath is lit during the winter months, and provides welcoming warmth to the guests,” says Jamie Volkert, promotions manager for the restaurant. “Our legendary Yankee Doodle Tap Room serves creative gastropub cuisine indoors by the grand stone fireplace or out on the (heated) bustling sidewalk patio.”
Amidst a 13-foot-wide original Norman Rockwell mural and solid oak booths and tabletops bearing names carved by notable Princeton University figures like Dr. Einstein, visitors and guests convene for everything from casual breakfast meetings to relaxing lunches to intimate couple’s night dinners.
The Inn itself also has a cozy fireplace and offers 13 meeting and event spaces, while the restaurant can serve a private party or event on its own. The restaurant provides on-site catering for its event guests.
Cozy in New Brunswick
Jack Tagmouti, manager and director of events for The Frog and The Peach in New Brunswick, says the restaurant features gourmet American cuisine with creative seasonal choices and fine wine in the picturesque and much coveted Garden Room (heated and enclosed in the winter).
“We offer a variety of rooms for private events, depending on what you consider cozy,” he says. “Our Alcove, Wine Room, and Balcony all offer an intimate, cozy dining experience, while our Garden Room boasts a more natural and open elegance.”
The semiprivate Alcove room seats up to 12 people and is what Tagmouti considers the most intimate of the event spaces. The Wine Room seats up to 20 people, the upper Balcony seats 36 people, while the entire Balcony is also available and seats up to 55. Finally, the Garden Room is a semienclosed outdoor dining room, and is the largest event space, with seating for up to 55 guests.
French Inspired
Located inside the popular Grounds For Sculpture, Rat’s Restaurant in Hamilton was conceptually designed with an Impressionist Claude Monet-styled atmosphere. “The restaurant scenery features artist Seward Johnson’s own Impressionist-inspired sculptures, as well as a lily pond and bridge,” says Richard Moskovitz, the restaurant’s director of operations and general manager. “We have three rooms with fireplaces and they offer extreme coziness, as evident by our being voted the most romantic restaurant by New Jersey Monthly.”
Rat’s offers two private rooms with fireplaces, large enough for events or private parties for up to 30. There’s also a lounge bar with a fireplace and several other event spaces available on the property.
“We have stone walls and fireplaces, reclaimed wood for all structures, all custom built to look like Monet’s home in Giverny,” Moskovitz says. The menu is also influenced by the setting, offering a modern take on country French food.
Fishing for Comfort
Amy Coss, owner of the Milford Oyster House, notes that the popular seafood restaurant provides a comfy spot and delicious meal for those who rent out private event space or come for dinner, as customers enjoy the main dining room with exposed stone walls and an inviting fireplace.
“Chef Ed Coss cooks in an assured New American style, innovative and unpretentious, that relies on the freshest ingredients and on instinct and precision for his unerring marriages of flavors and textures,” she says.
The menu features such favorites as Crab Norfolk and Oyster House Shellfish Stew, while daily specials feature whatever fish is best in the market that day.
“Milford is a beautiful town in a unique area and people don’t always associate beauty with New Jersey, but this is a historic setting and it is just lovely,” Coss says. “We cook everything from scratch, including salad dressings and desserts, and are well known for our sauces.”
Space is available for private events during the days and Tuesday nights for 20-50 people. Chef Ed will prepare a menu that is designed for event guests, while still in his specialty.
