Teresa Caffe

TERESA CAFFE
23 Palmer Square East
Princeton
609-921-1974

Hours: Lunch: Mon–Fri, 11 am–4 pm. Dinner: Mon–Thurs, 4–11 pm; Fri, 4 pm–midnight; Sat, 3 pm–midnight; Sun, 3–10 pm. Brunch: Sat and Sun, 9 am–3 pm.

Price: $/$$

Style: This bistro brings a friendly, casual vibe to tony Palmer Square. It has simple slat-back wood chairs, wood tables and no tablecloths. Open brickwork warms the space, and track lighting and a smooth, sleek wood bar add a modern feel.

Don’t Miss: The briney, spiced Castelvetrano olives ($5) go well with the crusty-chewy bread from sister property Terra Momo Bread Company. Salads are simple, but well conceived. Arugula with treviso (a kind of radicchio), pears, spiced pistachios and goat cheese in sherry vinaigrette ($11) makes a terrific starter—or a meal if you add chicken ($4), shrimp ($5) or salmon ($6). Pizzas ($12–$16) are personal-sized and captivating. The funghi misti combines fontina, roasted mushrooms, shallots, thyme and truffle oil; the salsiccia has a base of tomato sauce topped with smoked Scamorza cheese, pork-fennel sausage, sweet peppers and kale. Tempting pasta, chicken, pork and salmon dishes round out the menu, along with daily specials.

Head’s Up: Teresa Caffe does not take reservations. A line often forms at dinner time.

The Scoop: There are parking meters around the square, but you need luck to find an empty space. Fortunately, there are three parking garages nearby.