About us
Princeton Fine Dining is for those who enjoy fine dining and like to share the pleasure with others who enjoy the same! Great food, stimulating conversation, new friends and possibly a good wine to enhance the experience! Life is short – food is good! The dinners range from $50 to over $150, depending on what you order. Please sign up for a meetup only if you are willing to make the commitment. Reservations in a fine dining restaurant cannot always be changed easily or be adjusted to a smaller table on a short notice. Members who reserve a spot and cancel close to the date for a second time will be removed, as will no shows.
Princeton Fine Dining is one of the most successful dining groups on Meetup. Many dining groups are started but most are disbanded within the first 6 months. We have been strong for over 7 years. The reason for that is that I understand what is needed for a successful group. Here is what I know.
When you are opening up a dining to the public you really don’t know who takes a reservation seriously. I have heard from other organizers who have let “first come first in” they wind up with 5-6- people on a reservation of 14. They usually close up the group in months. My system of the waiting has made our group most successful. Here is how I do it:
When anyone signs up for a dinner, they all go on the waiting list. I give preference to those who have attended in the past. I know they will be there, or at least give me 24 hours’ notice if they can’t. Some people do drop out closer to the date. I then message everyone on the waiting list to see who is available. I can’t tell how many times NO ONE gets back to me. This is your opportunity to become someone who has attended one of our dinners. All of our attendees were “newbies” once. It also seems most people remain on the waiting list even though they have no interest in the dinner or have made other plans. I’m an organizer, not a psychic.
I do offer activities with Princeton Fine Dining that are open to everyone. There are no waiting lists for Happy Hours and vineyard events. A case in point, last weekend we have 50 people sign up and only 25 or so showed up. That’s okay with me as no reservations were needed. Could you imagine if only 50% of me diners showed up at a dinner. The restaurant is expecting you.
I do hope everyone understands how our group operates. The most important this is we are a success. It is open to all but if you are on the waiting list you must be available if a spot become open. We love making new friends who enjoy our culinary adventures.
I’m looking forward to great food experiences with new friends. Bon Appétit!
Upcoming events
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Dinner at Sergeantsville Inn
The Sergeantsville Inn, 601 Rosemont Ringoes Rd, Sergeantsville, NJ, USMichelin-Starred Chef Sean Gray Brings Manhattan Edge to NJ’s Sergeantsville Inn. Set inside a cozy former farmhouse, his restaurant pairs rustic comfort with fine-dining finesse. I'm ready to try it out!
Gray, who took the reins at the Sergeantsville Inn in 2024, made his name at the now-closed Momofuku Ko in New York’s East Village, where he won a couple of Michelin stars. The versatility he showed there is fast turning the inn into an if-you-know-you-know kind of place.
If you know, for instance, that his spicy, quadruple-fried chicken helped secure those Michelins, you might not be surprised to see squads of regulars filing in at 4 pm, when he offers the exact same bronzed, exceptionally crusty drumsticks for $5 apiece.Entrées include a dollar bill-sized wedge of halibut that may qualify for the most perfectly cooked piece of fish I’ve ever had, and a couple of rotating large format dishes meant for two. In the fall, they included a well-fired roast duck, whose depth was rounded out with squash and tender-sweet caraflex cabbage, and a 32-ounce côte de boeuf with sweet potato and mushrooms.
You can check out the menu here: Sergeantsville Inn Menu
5 attendees
Happy Hour at Eno Terra
Eno Terra Restaurant & Enoteca, 4484 NJ-27, Kingston, NJ, USIt's been a while since we have been to Eno Terra for a happy hour. I've always enjoyed their snacks and of course, their drinks. Come join me for some happy times!
You can check out their NEW Happy our menu here: Happy Hour Menu
17 attendees
Food & Wine of Italy: Cooking Classes, Truffle Festival & Fall Flavors
Milan Malpensa Airport, 21010 Ferno, Milan, ITDETAILS
I know you have all been clammoring for this one. Wisly Go Ahead Tours has just released this fabalous food and wine tour again. ( I think it pays to whine) Our tour director, Linda Garfano, said it was absolutly the finest she had ever been on and we know she knows food. I have had other tour directors tell me that ATK tours were the best also. We are definitly doing it. What's really great about this tour is that EVERYTHING is included. There are no "add on excursions" which can add up in price. This tour is not until the Fall of 2027 but your $300 will secore your spot. My tours are small so there is limited availbility. I suggest you sign up ASAP is interested.
Here are just a few of the Included Highlights- Hunting for truffles in the forests of Piedmont
- Sipping hearty Barolo among the rolling Langhe vineyards
- Tasting Parmigiano Reggiano in the region where it’s made
- Sampling the trademark tang of Modenese balsamic vinegar
- Wandering the bustling produce stalls of Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore
- 3 cooking classes, teaching you how to whip up regional favorites
The itinerary is just fabalous. You can read up more about our tour at:
https://artoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/italy-atk.pdf
The COST:
11 day tour price: $5,149.00 (land only, double accommodations) Private Group Fee $220 if less than 20 people signed up. Single supplement is $955.00 Limited single rooms so sign up early.The cost of round-trip airfare from Newark through the tour company is $1,351.00 that includes your hotel transfers. I usually sign up for flights with the company in case the cost of fights go up significantly by next year. You can always book flights on your own if the cost is less and cancel with our tour company.
Deposit: I'm getting tired of pre-collecting deposits and so many have told me they are definitly going, that I negotated with Go Ahead for a low deposit of only $300.00
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS for March:- $100.00 off on tour for all travelers this month
- $100 off for Travlers who have traveled with Go Ahead tours before (Club Go)
- Additional $100 off for travelers currently enrolled another tour or travelers who have returned from tour within the last 90 days
HOW TO SIGN UP?
Limited space on this very special ATK tour. If you ave traveled with us before the best was to sign up is to email (mlabbancz@gmail.com) or call me. You can also call our dedicated group reservation line at Go Ahead Tours at800-438-7672 and be sure to mention our specific group tour #58929079 or you can sign up for this tour at this link**: America's Test Kitchen Food and Wine Tour of Italy**
A $300 deposit is all that's needed to hold your spot. They can also answer all of your questions. I am also available to answer any of your questions. You can email me at [mlabbancz@gmail.com](mailto:mlabbancz@gmail.com)
TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS AND FINDING A ROOMMATE:
It's always more fun when we know the people we are traveling with. For those in New Jersey we will have meetups every 4 months at restaurants prior to our trip (exclusive to our travelers) so members can get to know one another. I think it's one of the very special benefits of a meetup travel tour. It will also be an opportunity for you to meet other travelers who are traveling single and might want to share a room. It's a wonderful way to find that perfect roommate! On all my past tours, everyone who wanted a roommate found a roommate! Email me if you would like suggestions for roommates.
WHY AM I ON THE WAITING LIST?
Everyone who signs up for the tour (on meetup) will be first put on the waiting list. As soon as you contact the company and leave your deposit you need to email me at [mlabbancz@gmail.com](mailto:mlabbancz@gmail.com) and let me know you left your deposit and I will switch you to going. There is a limited amount of spots available on this private small group tour and being on the waiting list does not guarantee a spot. Please only join the wait list if you are planning on leaving a deposit in the next day or two. Don't join the wait list because you think it sounds like a fun trip you will NOT be doing.
Once again, you can view the itinerary and sign up for the tour
https://artoflove.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/italy-atk.pdf
You can email me with any questions at [mlabbancz@gmail.com](mailto:mlabbancz@gmail.com)14 attendees
Past events
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