3 Princeton Restaurants Under New Management

PRINCETON, NJ — Three Princeton restaurants, Dinky Bar & Kitchen; Cargot Brasserie; and Agricola, will soon be under new management.

Harvest Restaurant Group will take over all three restaurants as of this fall. Dinky Bar & Kitchen and Cargot Brasserie are located on University Place adjacent to McCarter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts, while Agricola is located on Witherspoon Street.

The restaurants had previously been operated by Fenwick Hospitality Group, which the University selected as a partner when the restaurants opened in 2016 as part of the arts and transit neighborhood.

Ahead of the transition, Cargot Brasserie closed on July 28 for interior renovation work. The Dinky Bar & Kitchen will remain open and expand its hours to include breakfast. There won't be any changes to the interior or exterior or even the menu for the time being for Agricola and it will still be fully operational through the transition. The exterior architecture of all three restaurants will stay the same.

Upon reopening in September, Cargot Brasserie will reopen as Roots Ocean Prime. A prix fixe menu will be available at Roots Ocean Prime for pre-theater dining.

The Roots Ocean Prime menu will focus on fresh seafood and steaks of the highest quality, along with an award-winning wine list and signature cocktails. It will also have a full list of appetizers, salads, and sides including tuna tartare, lobster bisque, the classic wedge salad, baby back ribs, creamed spinach, onion rings, lobster mashed potatoes, and much more.

"Dinky Bar and Cargot have become popular local dining establishments for the campus community, patrons of McCarter Theater Center and the Lewis Arts complex, commuters and campus neighbors. We look forward to Harvest Restaurant Group expanding upon the strong foundation set by Fenwick Hospitality Group," said Kristin Appelget, Princeton University’s director of community and regional affairs.

"Getting to know the Princeton community — from our partners at the University, to leaders of the area’s vibrant arts and culture scene, to local business and government officials, to the residents of this very special place — has only served to reinforce our decision to join this wonderful neighborhood," said Chip Grabowski, owner/CEO of Harvest Restaurant Group. "And we could not be more grateful for the support we have received so far. We look forward to returning that show of support by way of outstanding dining experiences for all of our new family members and friends."

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