The Dinky in Princeton is a local bar serving small plates and drinks at the former dinky station. We came for dinner and drinks and enjoyed the lobster rolls, braised short ribs tacos, buttermilk fried chicken baos, pretzel twists, and fig and prosciutto flatbread. The food and drinks at the Dinky are both solid and makes for a great casual meal with a date or friends

What a cute little place! I stopped in here with my mom while we were waiting for a show to start at the nearby theatre. Staff were all friendly. We sat at the bar high top seats which were extremely comfortable. We ordered appetizers and some non-alcoholic beverages. Everything was delicious. The salad I got with apple slices and pecans was yummy. The soft pretzels and cheese were great and you got a good amount. I recommend coming here for a quick bite.

Great little dive slightly off the main strip in Princeton. Place is great for groups so people can try different items, portions are small on purpose so it can be a little pricier but overall good and worth it. Bar area is really cool, not a place you'd go for a game though with a more retro vibe and smaller tv's. Outdoor seating available too.

Yes, the food is great. It had better be! It's the only affordable sit-down joint hugging the campus, and if the chow wasn't eminently edible, there would be open revolt. I really want to talk about Sam. I was just about to call he a hostess, but that's such a catch-all term, as well as sounding very 1950-ish and sexist. I want to talk about how effortlessly she manages a frequently chaotic dining room, how far out of way to make sure the customers are accommodated and comfortable, how she's the reason I keep coming again and again. What brought all this on? I made a reservation one night before a show at the McCarter, but it turned out that some computer popped its plug and the reservation service was doling out reservations for seats that didn't actually exist. Because of this, there were customers piling up at the door, and tension was rising. Outside dining wasn't a particularly attractive option because it was FREEZING The dining room was packed, the noise level was considerable, and I was marveling at how cool, calm and competent Sam was. In the end, every customer got what they wanted and you'd never know there'd been a problem. (I know because I asked. I told Sam she was extraordinary.) I'm a prof at Princeton, and I often Dinky. I've gone from a drop-in to a loyal customer because I watched Sam work a miracle. And I've seen her again and again, and I'm convinced that place is what it is because of her. Dinky is lucky to have her.

My friends and I had a reservation at The Dinky Bar on Sunday 9/29/24. We decided to eat there before a show at the McCarter Theatre. None of us had ever been to The Dinky Bar before. I was immediately struck by how gorgeous the restaurant is, both inside and out. I didn't realize it was an old train station! The black and white decor is strikingly beautiful, and modern against the bones of the old structure. The bar is lovely. We were served by Ben, an utterly charming and friendly young man, whose service was absolutely impeccable - such a rare treat these days. Ben knew the menu very well. I always like to know what the staff likes at a restaurant - it tells me two things: what's *really* good, and whether the restaurant feeds their staff. Ben didn't disappoint. Our cocktails were delicious. We had the hummus appetizer and it was very spicy but very tasty. I had the tuna roll and added the mango and avocado. It was the best sushi I've had in a very long time. My friends got flatbreads, one fig and one avocado, and they really enjoyed them. What a great place. Can't wait to go back.

Fun food/drink place across from McCarter. Good drinks and lots of small plates to choose from. Flatbreads are more like a pizza - very good. I'm one of those folks where cilantro tastes like soap, so they removed it wherever they could - thanks! Old time train station vibe with fun food and drink. Good for light bites and drinks.

The restaurant is beautiful from the stone exterior that fits perfectly with Princeton University to the interior, the nods to the Dinky train, a beautiful, nicely decorated space. The servers were all great and friendly, the food was delicious. Prices were on par for Princeton. It was my first time there on a friend's recommendation and I'll definitely be back.

Everyone needs to try Dinky and I need to get back here to try even more on the menu. Very easy location to get to. Plenty of parking. Pretty sure I read this used to be a train station back in the day. Lots of fun cocktails and heads up, they were strong. I started with the Mango Set to Stun French onion soup Dumplings- Good. Lots of tasty cheese. More of soup that soaked into the dumpling rather than soup being present when bitten into. Buttermilk fried chicken bao buns- One of the best things I've eaten this year. The size, the flavors, the crunch, the fluffy bao bun. Absolutely get these. Dinky dogs- Good, not spectacular. Mexican street corn hummus- Tasty, fun twist on a simple dish. Dinky Maine lobster roll (for one)- I liked this but thought it needed a little bit more flavor. Fig & prosciutto Flatbread- Delicious. Come, enjoy, eat your heart out.

Really interesting vibe here at "The Dinky Bar & Kitchen" which sits on the premises of the Princeton University campus. Has amble parking which is a huge bonus as you can park closer to where all the shoppes are which is slightly more annoying as the cars go at a snails pace as many people come to this area for the shopping (think of the shoppes at New Hope type of vibe compared to the main street near Witherspoon and Nassau Street where the shoppes sit). I ordered the French Onion Dumplings which sounded unique AF. Very good value as they come with five to an order and they are loaded with Gruyere cheese, onions, and mushy goodness inside. My only complaint is I prefer dumplings that are not crunchy (fried) and more the type of dumplings you find in your soup. I wanted to order a peach bellini as the vibe here was wealthy parents dining as they visited their children that attended here however they did not offer this options, I ended up getting a mango flavor accompanied by a majority pour of champagne (kudos to the bartender). My girlfriend went with there 1865 burger subbed on a lettuce wrap instead of a bun and I had the tiniest bit and wow, seriously yelpers this burger was delish. It was odd however as I told my gf wanted it medium well and he basically sighed and said we only do one temperature (I have heard places that only do one temperature do this because the amount of meat they use is so small it doesn't work to cook the burger above a certain degree). I know super weird, however it was freaking delish and a great price point. I would be excited to come here for another visit and try some of their other food. Highly recommend you check them out if you are in the Princeton area. And as always people SYOY!!!!