Brian’s

First time at Brian’s and it did not disappoint at all. Wonderful atmosphere, great service and the food was excellent. Remember to make a res as the place is small and intimate. And it’s BYOB which keeps the price down if you are a wine drinker. Definitely on our list to come back to.

We had a beautiful evening in Lambertville with friends, and it all began at Brian’s. The charming restaurant is conveniently located just off of Bridge St., and there is a lot of nearby parking, which can be difficult in Lambertville. It is BYOB and cash only, with a «Prix Fixe» menu, so the price is predictable and the wine is as good as your local wine store offers. Each meal includes three courses, and yes, you ~must~ choose your dessert at the beginning. (Not much of a hardship.) Between the four of us we had three different appetizers. I enjoyed the «Bacon Wrapped Rabbit Loin with Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Cream Sauce» as did one of our friends. We agreed that the cream sauce was superb and the rabbit was wonderfully cooked and full of flavor. Others had the «Arugula Salad with Shaved Reggiano & Toasted Hazelnuts» or the «Spinach Salad with Pork Belly, Pickled Plums and Miso Vinaigrette». They reported that the salad greens were fresh and tender, and the pickled plums were a pretty red color and delightful.
Our entrees included three orders of the «Halibut with Herb Risotto and Lemon Sauce» which was phenomenal. The lemon sauce was very tasty, the fish was cooked perfectly, and the risotto had us wanting more. Our other diner had the «Sea Scallop and Jasmine Rice Porridge and Crispy Garnish». Although I didn’t sample any of this, the scallops were plump and looked appealing, and the porridge looked wholesome and delicious.
Dessert…Ah dessert! I had the «White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Amaretto Sauce». The sauces for each course hit the trifecta — they were the most memorable part of the meal, and the amaretto sauce was the best of the three. Also ordered were the «Roasted Pineapple in Vanilla Bean Butter with Coconut Ice Cream» and the «Chocolate Pot de Crème with Whipped Cream.» These were both as good as my bread pudding, and I could have been just as satisfied with either. We finished with Cappuccino.
A word about the staff — they were attentive and friendly. Since the menu had recently changed, they couldn’t yet steer us in the direction of favorite, but they were well-​trained, pleasant, and provided flawless service.
Give it a try! You will not be disappointed.

Probably one of the best dinners we’ve had in NJ! After a persuasive local suggested we try Brian’s, we were fortunate to snag a last minute reservation (at 5:30) after they had a cancellation. We walked into an intimate setting with a fresh, clean, and modern feel. After reviewing the prix fixe menu with many delicious options, we settled on the rabbit loin, foie grois, sea bass, short ribs, bread pudding and pots de crème. Every bite was excellent! We can’t wait to fine there again!

Excellent BYOB located in Lambertville. Group of friends have been coming here since it moved from Newtown Pennsylvania to Lambertville New Jersey. Food is always excellent. They offer a Prix fixe menu which consists of three courses for $ 45. Cash only restaurant. Highly recommend if staying in the Lambertville area

Wow, what a wonderful experience! Service, ambiance and food were spectacular! 3 course dinner, about 5 choices for each. Our group had the filet, short ribs and sea bass — outstanding!!! Seared tuna for appetizer was delicious. Desserts were all great, we had the chocolate, bread pudding and pineapple with ice cream. What a wonderful way to finish the meal!

A BYOB and intimate fine dining experience at Brian’s! Prix fixe 3 course dinner Fri — Sun for $ 50 (Mon-​Thurs $ 45) with some items on the menu that go for an additional $ 10. We had the mushroom soup, sweet bread milanese (thymus entrée), and the goat cheese ravioli. Both were absolutely divine and for our entrée we had the halibut. The food portions are decent and everything was perfectly spiced, flavorful, and tasted fresh! For dessert we had the sauteed berries with ice cream. Again, everything was perfect as far as food quality, taste and the wait staff was concerned. We were a party of four on a Friday night with a reservation for 7:30pm and we closed the restaurant down without being rushed out. The space of the restaurant is small but the food and service makes up for the limited space. I look forward to my next visit Brian’s!

This was my third time eating here and I expect it may be the last. Food was good, not great and my fish entrée as well as vegetables were drowning in butter. The service was so appalling that it really detracted from the meal. Two of us had the mushroom soup and both of us found the temperature to be tepid.
We opted not to send it back.
The main dish was also not hot. I sent mine back for a reheat and after several reminders it finally returned. Unfortunately by that time I was eating my entrée alone.
No one filled our water glasses or offered a second cup of coffee.
The noise level was also very high.

Went early with reservations for 5:30
Food choices are limited, price fixed, seating very limited. Portions are smaller than most but that was fine with us, the food was outstanding, I had monkfish with lobster for main course, others duck meatballs, roasted beef shank and chicken. Chicken was juicy but uneventful. Its a bring your own bottle and thats a great saving. I’d go back. Server was great and stated menu with the exception of desserts which remains pretty stable, changes on a frequent basis. Good stuff.

Had a memorable meal at Brian’s this evening. Prix fixe menu with a choice of Appetizer, entrée and dessert. Great choices and wonderfully prepared. Had Duck Confit crêpe, monk fish with lobster and banana foster. The wait staff was very pleasant and extremely attentive. It was a great meal and I look forward to my next visit. Brian’s is BYOB which you can bring your own great bottle of wine.

Brain’s is a fantastic restaurant. The food is outstanding. This is the best restaurant in Lambertville. Everything is superbly delicious!

We went to Brian’s on Saturday night and were excited to try it as we have loved this little gem of a location when it was #9. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing. We had a 6:15pm reservation and first off, the waitress could not even describe how some of the dishes were prepared. All four appetizers came out cold with a $ 10 up charge for 4 small scallops (really?). The crab risotto was not thoroughly cooked and the spinach ravioli (one) was just ok. We returned it (due to temperature) and the second one came out just as cold. The portions were miniscule to say the least. I had the grilled tuna (two small slivers) and my wife had the crab cake which was more like a crab dip (terrible). She kept picking off my plate because she was starving. The desserts were just meh and frankly the whole menu that night was disappointing with very few good options — it felt like we were choosing from a cheap wedding prix fixe menu vs. a French restaurant! The only good part was the bread which were pastry like fresh rolls (hence the one star). The worst part of the evening was at 8:00pm a woman came over, asked where we were from and then proceeded to ask us to leave as they had an 8pm seating. I understand the restaurant is small, but to ask us to leave was embarrassing. Needless to say — we will not be going back any time soon. I did hear better reviews from friends who visited the restaurant during the week.

Brian did it again!!! HAPPY TUMMY!!! Omg everything is super Delish!!! My boyfriend & I love this restaurant Thank u!!! Definitely coming back for more!!!

We visited Brian’s as a party of 6 people this past weekend. Tiny and quaint, but a warm and inviting atmosphere. Some previous reviewers complained of feeling cramped — but we had a table near the kitchen and we were quite comfy.
I had the ravioli appetizer, braised beef entrée and strawberries/​ice cream dessert. Everything was delicious. Yummy — perfect portions. Excellent food! This restaurant is BYOB so be sure to come prepared. I believe there is a wine store across the way if you forget your favorite bottle. Also — no corkage fees, which is a nice touch!
The service was outstandingly good. Very knowledgeable staff, never invasive of your personal space… since we were a party of 6 there was an automatic 20% gratuity added to the check. Trust me — the server deserved it! But I will say that they added the 20% to the total INCLUDING tax. Everyone knows that this should be added to the pre-​tax total. While we paid it without complaint, this can be off-​putting. Our server did apologize for this and offered to recalculate the tip, to which we declined as we planned to give her more than the 20% anyway… but I do think that it was an unfortunate «error» to end the night with.
We will definitely be back! PS: Cash only and DEFINITELY make reservations well ahead of time.

Omg. The prix fix menu made for a wonderful dinner! I had the duck crêpe, the crab cake (which was one of the largest crab cakes Ive ever eaten, made with all crab and minimal filler), and the banana foster for dessert. The meal was fantastic and we left feeling extremely happy and full. The restaurant was very busy (it was a Friday night) so the staff was a little slow coming to greet us, but afterwards the service was outstanding. Would highly recommend this spot!

My wife and I had dinner at Brian’s on Friday night. It’s a three course fixed price menu, ala carte and associated prices are not offered unless asked for. The wait staff was efficient and relatively knowledgeable about the items on the menu.
The meal started off with a delicious roll that tasted like a croissant. For our appetizers, my wife chose the Sea Scallops with Cauliflower, Wild Mushrooms and Oregon White Truffle Oil ($ 10 supplement). I chose the Lemon Crab Risotto.
The scallops were seared to perfection without with being over cooked on the inside and the mushroom medley complemented it perfectly. The risotto was a wonderfully creamy lemony concoction made with long grain rice, not arborio, containing an ample amount of lump crab. The dish would have been adequate as an entrée.
For the entrée, my wife chose the signature Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and I the Sea Bass. Neither one of us asked for the ingredients in the crab cake, which had an abundance of red bell pepper that we found to overpower the dish completely. The sea bass was seasoned and sauteed nicely. Both dishes were served with over cooked snow peas and carrots.
The desserts we chose were Bananas Foster and Chocolate Pot de Crème, both very good.
Overall the meal was a bit pricey but good.

This was my second time at Brian’s; both times were superb.
The first time I came with my husband, it was a delight. I ate the ravioli, which were impeccable, the steak special, and the pineapple with coconut ice cream. I left completely satisfied.
Tonight, I came to celebrate my mom’s birthday. It was a great time. Our server was friendly and attentive, but not intrusive. The meal was very good, but I did not like my selections as much as the first time. I ordered the scallops, which I did not love, although they were cooked well. My braised beef was excellent. (the side of potatoes need more flavor though) The dessert was nice.
Overall, for the price point and execution, this restaurant is quite nice. Clearly one of the best fine dining options in the Lambertville/​New Hope area. I will return.

Yet another fantastic BYOB restaurant to add to the list! While visiting the Lambertville/​New Hope area this weekend, I fired up the Unilocal app to find this little French gem. What are the chances of getting a table for two on a Saturday night with four hours notice? Not very good. But, I called anyway and received a recorded message that the restaurant was fully booked the entire weekend. «Leave a message and someone will return your call». I left a message anyway telling them I was interested if there were any cancellations that evening. I laughed it off and went on to find another long shot to dine at. Well, after about an hour I got a return call from Brian’s saying that someone cancelled due to coming down with the flu. So one person’s loss is another’s gain right? RIGHT!
All set to go, strapped with a good bottle of Pinot Noir, we arrive at Brian’s at
7 pm. We were greeted and seated promptly. The restaurant itself is pretty small inside. The tables were closely placed next to each other not giving you much elbow room. But honestly, I don’t mind much because the setting gives off a cozy feel. The inside décor was nothing to write home about, borderline boring. But again, I can look past that if the food is on point. The kitchen area is set off in the back of the restaurant but it is open and in full view of the tables. Pretty fun to watch the hustle and bustle of the chefs.
There were some specials posted on a chalk board on the wall but our waitress explained most of the menu options for us. The menu is «prix fixe» at $ 45 and offers a three course dining experience. Basically you get an app, entrée and dessert. There are some modifications with the menu depending on what you choose (mostly adding $ 10 to your entrée when ordering the more expensive choices). So what we ordered;
Wife:
Blue Moon Acres Greens with Grapes, Candied Walnuts, Crumbled Bleu, and Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette
Beef A la Mode with Horseradish
Bananas Foster over Brioche French Toast
Me:
Spinach and Sheep’s Milk Ricotta Ravioli with Pinenuts, Lemon, and Sage
Wild Nova Scotia Halibut with Citrus Sauce
White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Amaretto Sauce
Everything was delicious and fresh tasting. The halibut was perfectly cooked and had just the right amount of citrus taste; not too overpowering. I will definitely be returning to Brian’s if I am ever in the New Hope area again.

On a quaint and quiet little side-​street off the main drag, Bridge St., in Lambertville, you will find this gem of a French inspired restaurant. Our second time here and the food did not disappoint either time. There is a $ 45 prix fixed menu on weekends with plenty of great appetizers, entrees and desserts. We started off with ravioli apps, I had the sweet potato ravioli in brown butter sage sauce, while hubby had the duck ravioli. Delicious! Last time we enjoyed the mushroom soup.
Onto the seafood entrees. We both had the crabcakes and they were full of fresh crab meat, no filler and baked not fried. The asparagus with a hollandaise sauce and mashed potatoes were excellent sides to the crabcakes.
Dessert was difficult to select from the 7 or 8 choices. I had a grilled pineapple in vanilla sauce with coconut ice cream, while my better half had the bread pudding with almond sauce. Both were wonderful. Assorted French desserts are also available. A great place for an anniversary or other special occasion dinner.
Tips before visiting Brians: It’s a BYOB and is often crowded so you’ll need to make a reservation in advance. There is limited parking in town, but there are metered lots around the area. Also Brian’s doesn’t accept credit cards, so be prepared before you arrive!

Foodie heaven
My wife and I had an anniversary dinner here and were thrilled with the food. For $ 40 I’ve never had a better meal. When the bread comes out fresh and delicious and warm, it’s a good sign — you know they are paying attention to details. The rest of the meal did not disappoint — the crabcake and the tilefish with citrus sauce were both wonderful and beautifully presented. Our server, Jamie, did a great job — professional, attentive and also warm and cordial. Desserts were delicious too — bananas foster and berries with ice cream. Even real cream for the coffee.
The space is simple. Not sumptuously decorated. No scenery, no outdoor seating, no view of the river. It’s all about the food here. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll love it here. BYOB makes it an even better deal. The only inconvenience is no credit cards, cash-​only. Don’t let that stop you. This place is well worth a stop at the ATM.
And if you’re new to Lambertville — bring quarters. You will need to feed the meter.

We lucked out and got a last minute reservation tonight, Saturday, due to another cancellation. We live nearby but hadn’t dinned at Brian’s before.
The restaurant is small and cozy, white linens and lots of glassware. It has a nice ambience, I liked everything about it; it is unfortunate that we had a dead rose as our centerpiece.
As mentioned in other reviews, the
Price fixed meal is your only choice at
$ 45.00 per person. I felt it was well with the $$$ for such a great assortment of choices, and 3 courses all prepared perfectly.
I started with the scallops and cauliflower purée (I posted my pic), followed by braised beef with horseradish and I elected to try the Bananas Foster because so many others raved about it. My husband had the risotto with crab (delicious) and duck with raspberries. He said he thoroughly enjoyed his meal too!