Witherspoon Grill

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Princeton Institution for American Cooking

On Witherspoon Street in the heart of downtown Princeton, Witherspoon Grill has earned its place as one of New Jersey's premier dining destinations through a straightforward commitment: exceptional ingredients, precise cooking, and genuine hospitality. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognizing the restaurant's carefully curated wine list — reflects the same attention to quality that runs through every corner of the operation.

Chef Alejandro De Casenave

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Alejandro De Casenave, whose path to the stove was anything but conventional. He first studied finance at William Paterson University before following a deeper calling to the culinary program at Mercer County Community College. After years working across North Jersey and New York City, he returned to the Princeton area, served as Executive Chef at Big Fish Restaurant, and joined the JM Group in 2015. He took the helm at Witherspoon Grill in 2018, and his cooking — rooted in passion inspired by his grandmother — has defined the restaurant's identity ever since.

Chef Alex's approach is visible in the details: fresh beef hand-cut in-house, locally sourced poultry, and seafood sourced directly from Nassau Street Seafood Company. Every steak is hand-selected for optimal flavor before it reaches the grill. His crab cake is singled out as one of the best in the state — perfectly seasoned and juicy — and his pasta dishes demonstrate the same philosophy: simple, precise, and satisfying.

What's on the Table

The menu is a confident expression of American cuisine, ranging from a raw bar with a chilled seafood tower (oysters, clams, ahi tuna, shrimp, mussels, and lobster) to steakhouse classics like a 20 oz. dry-aged bone-in ribeye and an 8 oz. filet mignon, both cut in-house. The Witherspoon Burger — a 10 oz. Angus patty — has developed a loyal following and is widely regarded as the best in Princeton. Braised short rib, jumbo lump crab cakes, and a rotating selection of seasonal features round out a menu that rewards both the casual lunch guest and the serious dinner table.

The bar scene is equally considered: an inventive craft beer selection, signature cocktails, and a wine list recognized by Wine Spectator sit alongside live jazz every Tuesday evening, making the bar a destination in its own right.

Every Kind of Occasion

Witherspoon Grill accommodates the full range — a weekday lunch, a business dinner, a celebration with family. For private events, a dedicated dining room with projector and screen handles both social gatherings and corporate functions with equal ease. Catering and delivery extend that same American cuisine beyond the restaurant's walls.