While you’re back home in Princeton with your friends and family for Reunions, consider checking out some of the new places in town for offerings ranging from onigiri to nostalgic diner-style burgers to classic Italian dishes.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy new dinner spot to meet with old friends or a quick bite before the P-rade, PAW’s got you covered! Here’s a rundown on the latest places that’ve hit Princeton.
Diesel & Duke
124 Nassau St.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, head to Diesel & Duke to hop back into simpler times with a delicious burger and fries. They offer a wide variety of burgers including, but not limited to: the Holypeno Burger — topped with bacon, aged cheddar, jalapeños, caramelized onions, and chipotle mayo; the Smokeshow Burger — with bacon, aged cheddar, onion rings, and BBQ sauce; and the famous Diesel Burger, which comes with a double patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, jalapeños, caramelized onions, onion rings, BBQ sauce, and chipotle mayo. Burger prices range from $9.50 to $13.50, and fries cost extra. Diesel & Duke is open from noon to 8 p.m., except Sundays, when the hours are noon to 7 p.m.
Maruichi
136 Nassau St.
If you’re craving sushi, onigiri, a poké bowl, or a bento box, look no further than Maruichi. Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., this may look like your average grocery store on the outside, but as soon as you step inside, your senses will be filled with delicious smells that follow you throughout the building. Maruichi is not only a deli-style Japanese restaurant, but it also has fresh fruit, snacks, jellies, drinks, and sweets that will be familiar to those who grew up eating them. Onigiri start at $3, and most sushi and bento boxes land at a reasonable $12. As a bonus, every night from 8:30 to 9, Maruichi offers half off any leftover sushi, bento boxes, and onigiri made that day.
The Fruity Pebble Overload features a Fruity Pebble bagel with birthday cake cream cheese and freshly sliced strawberries.Photo: PAW staff
The Bagel Nook
301 N. Harrison St.
Though it’s a slight distance from the comforts of Nassau Street, The Bagel Nook at the Princeton Shopping Center is worth the trip. A variety of toppings are available for the bright and colorful bagels; you can have a typical cream cheese snack, or go far beyond the norm by having dessert for breakfast (vanilla or orange honey butter, anyone?). Some of their wild-style cream cheese flavors include bacon ranch, s’mores, ghost pepper, and even crumb cake! If you’re craving something else, check out their breakfast burritos, wraps, paninis, pancakes, or a variety of other savory dishes and sweet treats. Stop by The Bagel Nook anytime between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., or until 2 p.m. on Sundays, to try something adventurous — if you’re up for it.
Pastiamo
301 N. Harrison St.
A few doors down at the Princeton Shopping Center, Pastiamo showcases classic Italian cuisine with antipasti such as charcuterie plates and bresaola platters, entrées including fresh pasta, focaccia, and sandwiches, and desserts like panna cotta and mini panettones. For Pastiamo’s lunch special, patrons can choose their preferred salad, dry pasta, and dessert for $25. Most prices range from $10 to $17. Pastiamo is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Tuesday, when they’re closed.
Grace Ni ’23 is PAW’s administrative coordinator.