Elements Restaurant, Princeton, NJ:
A Restaurant Review

Elements Restaurant, Princeton, NJ

Elements Restaurant: A Culinary Destination in New Jersey

Elements Restaurant
66 Witherspoon St
Princeton, NJ

Best NJ Restaurant

Prestigious "Best Restaurant" Recognition
Awarded to establishments earning 3 stars or higher for culinary excellence, service, and overall dining experience.

Elements: Restaurant Highlights

Fare: Interpretive New American

Price: Very Expensive

Food Quality: Extraordinary, their seasonally inspired menu features the freshest, high quality, often rare ingredients. Menu is well executed, using progressive, modern techniques to draw out the purest flavors.

Service: Wait staff is professional, knowledgeable & attentive without being intrusive.

Ambiance/Decor: Luxurious, quietly elegant, with open, exposed, beamed ceilings. Every table having a view of the open kitchen. providing an intimacy with the kitchen staff.

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Note: Four-star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to 4 stars = Best in Class

Noise Level: Moderate

Dress: Upscale Casual

Recommended For: High income diners with sophisticated taste, seeking a non-traditional menu using high-quality, rare ingredients, using progressive cooking techniques.

Not Recommended For: Budget conscious diners who have a strong preference for a traditional ala carte menu.

Recommended dishes: The Five Course small plate, tasting menu. (limited options)

Liquor: Full-service bar service shared with Mistral’s restaurant on the lower level. Large variety of high end domestic and international wines by the bottle. Wines by the glass are limited.

Nestled atop Mistral Restaurant in Princeton, Elements stands as a nationally acclaimed dining establishment and a crown jewel of New Jersey’s culinary scene.

Co-founded by Steve Distler and celebrated chef Scott Anderson, both venues reflect their commitment to innovative gastronomy.

At the helm of Elements’ kitchen is James Beard Award semi-finalist Scott Anderson (four years running for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic), renowned for his avant-garde techniques that push culinary boundaries. Alongside Chef de Cuisine Mike Ryan, Anderson crafts a seasonally rotating five-course tasting menu rooted in New American cuisine with Japanese and Asian influences.

The menu—a tightly curated selection of small plates—prioritizes the purity of flavors, omitting customer requests for specific cooking temperatures on dishes like Wagyu beef or tuna to honor the integrity of each ingredient.

Sustainability and quality define Elements’ ethos. Ingredients are meticulously sourced from local purveyors, including Dave Zaback’s organic Z Food Farm in Lawrenceville, while sustainably raised meats and seafood underscore their environmental commitment.

The kitchen’s dedication to premium quality is evident: no salt or pepper shakers adorn the tables, as seasonings are expertly balanced to highlight the ingredients’ natural profiles.

Diners embark on a 2.5- to 3-hour journey beginning with artfully plated amuse-bouches, followed by courses served on handcrafted earthenware by local artisans. Each dish is presented by a kitchen team member, offering insights into its composition.

The ambiance exudes understated elegance, featuring exposed beam ceilings, earth-toned walls, and a striking mural in the main dining area. Nine spacious tables seat 28 guests, all with views of the open kitchen, fostering a connection between diners and chefs.

Additional private dining rooms accommodate groups of 7 or more (up to 30 guests total). Attentive, knowledgeable staff in dark suits enhance the experience without formality. The clientele, typically affluent professionals aged 35–55+, mirrors the refined yet relaxed atmosphere.

Practicalities include:
Limited street parking and a nearby garage on Chambers and Hulfish Streets.

As of January 2025, open Wednesday through Saturday (extended hours during Princeton University Reunions & Graduations),

Elements incorporates a 20% Guest Experience Fee in lieu of gratuity.

Updated January 2025

How We Review Restaurants?

Our Restaurant Rating Criteria to Ensure Minimum Subjective Evaluation