FiNNBAR

Arrived with some friends for an early dinner (4:45pm) on Saturday. Bar area seemed like there were a few guests already but we opted to sit outside so they set up some tables for us. The staff was very friendly and all of our food came out in a timely manner. The place seemed clean and had a vintage vibe. The menu is very limited and it changes everyday. For as bougie as it seems the prices are competitive. I started off with a martini and unfortunately noticed right away that there was a hair in it. Our waiter was quick to get a new one but made a joke in passing suggesting it was my own hair. My hair was actually tied back, and it's long where as the one in my drink was short. Either way a little off-putting. Also ordered a red rush, which is like a Manhattan. I found both drinks to be quite boozy and not that sweet which was pleasant. For apps we got 2 kinds of focaccia. One with ceviche and another with hummus. The ceviche was drowning in oil which isn't very typical but at least the fish was fresh and tasty. The hummus I found to be a good blend of flavors with the soft focaccia. For my entree I ordered the meatballs and mashed potatoes. It comes with a side of broccolini. The meatballs had great flavor and texture and the mash potatoes was creamy. The broccolini was a bit overcooked (mushy) but it tasted good. Overall I found this entree to be comforting. I think the desserts were the best. Their homemade whipped cream was excellent on top of the multiple desserts. I especially loved the bittersweet chocolate mousse.

This was an interesting experience. My OG chums and I stopped by here impulsively last night for an early dinner. All of us grew up in this area (I was making a humble cameo return) and were thus enormously pleased that the meh weather prevented a lot of the tourists from jamming up the sidewalks on a Saturday afternoon. That extended to the restaurant; it looked like the bar area to the right of the entrance was hopping a bit, but the dining sections to the left were empty or close to it. After jokingly mentioning that we were natives of the Kingdom of Hunterdon, the hostess good-naturedly seated us at the "locals booth," in the corner of the backroom. Only the best for this crew. Given how bougie this daily menu is, I was pretty impressed at the competitive price points; if I'm uncertain what 40% of the ingredients in my dish are, I'm expecting to pay probably twice what I actually did. In true hipster fashion, the menu had a stamp at the top (akin to a ye olde library card) with the day's date, if you needed explicit confirmation that this menu changes every day. It's a limited menu for sure, but that made it easier to narrow down the choices. Very The Bear, if you've recently watched that (disclaimer - it takes a bit of a step back in Season 3). I ordered a Red Hook ($14), which was basically a Manhattan. Pretty tasty - definitely a boozier cocktail but I thought the vermouth they used, coupled with the cherry, gave it kind of a subtle cola vibe. I personally have to be in a very specific mood for this kind of drink but I'd theoretically get it again. We split the fried squash with mint raita, which was the high point for me. I thought it was delicious, and the flavor profile was pretty much perfect. The mint gave it a nice subtle nip without being overwhelming, and the squash was lightly fried and not remotely heavy. A delight. We ended up almost strategically ordering different entrees and thus ended up testing out 75% of that section of the menu. My heart was with the meatballs but I figured you could get meatballs pretty much anywhere, and went with a very edgy pasta dish, Torchio Pasta alla Palina. It was good but in hindsight I should have gone with my heart - it was just not my jam, palate-wise. I'm primarily a texture-based eater so the crunchier aspects were not the selling points I'm sure they are for others. And I'm sure this is a very specific, intentional decision based on the type of pasta dish, but it seemed a touch dry, like it needed some kind of sauce to moisten the pasta overall. It WAS a little better in that regard when I stirred in the wetter bottom more. A unique taste for sure, and I do want to make it clear this was a decent dish but just a better fit for someone else. The service was interesting. We ended up getting assigned the general manager as our primary waiter (one or two others made quick cameo appearances as well). When the GM initially came to our table, he seemed almost startled, like he'd recognized one of us but didn't want to bring that up, or wasn't sure where he knew the person. All of us picked up on it. And that skittery demeanor pervaded the meal; it was almost like having a cat for a waiter, who looked like they might bolt out the room at the first sign of a bird in the window. I really don't know how else to describe it, but he was PERFECTLY nice to us and turnaround times and communication were very solid. Maybe something else was going on behind the scenes or we should have picked up on something, but it certainly made the meal more memorable. Overall, this was very pleasant. Most places in Frenchtown and the surrounding river towns are either very obviously catering to the out-of-towners or are going hardcore local but this is a rare one that I think does navigate the two worlds pretty deftly.

What a gem. Healthy, delicious food elegantly served in a beautiful dining space. Reservations recommended if you go on the weekend.

I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed. I’m local, but this is my first time out because I’ve been hibernating. I was extremely impressed by the service, especially which was impeccable not to mention our waiter looked just like Edward Snowden and knew who that was when I mentioned him, we ordered the halibut and the pasta. My husband was a little cranky because he thought there should be more meat on the menu, but he doesn’t understand. Alice Waters inspired farm to table cuisine. The crowd was extremely hip and sexy. They impeccably appointed the room, and the food was very very good. I will definitely be back. You will not be disappointed unless you are looking like my husband for Diner portions, but even he had to admit the drinks were great, and the food was good. The rest of it was probably lost on him, but not on me;) Impressed

5 stars all around. I have six severe food allergies which they were able to accommodate. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully plated. The quality of the ingredients is unmatched. Finn Bar has become our new favorite restaurant. Highly recommend.

I wish i could give a good rating. The servers, bartenders, and management are truly sweethearts but after multiple visits I’ve realized there is an issue in the kitchen at the highest level. The food is simply not good, every visit leads to a negative experience whether it be an over salted appetizer or a dish that is overly complicated to the point that you don’t understand the purpose. We were served foccacia and hummus which was ok- but there was some sort of yogurt dip that had SO MUCH ground turmeric on top of it- truly a choice. We also got some sweet potato tempura fritters which did not taste good- and the sauce served with them was straight up just sesame oil and soy sauce- it was really not good. It’s overpriced and pretentious honestly. I was disappointed i hadn’t grabbed a six pack and some curry from bamboo house instead. I would have had a better meal and spend 1/2 the $. The restaurant itself is a nice space. Sorry for the negative feedback- I hope they figure it out.

Experience was amazing. The staff was exceptional and offered great recommendations for food and drink. Every dish was amazing and the flavors were balanced and delicious. Loved the changing daily menu and went back the next day to try more.

We show up with our two toddlers without reservations. The place was full and they were so kind to accomodate us. They made the nicest pasta for our kids and we enjoyed the most deliciost meal. We are not from the area, and will suggest any visitors to come here!!