
What we’re about
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 (4)
See all- Happy Hour at Rat's ResturantRat's Restaurant, Hamilton Township, NJ
We always have so much fun and commodore at our happy hours at Rat's. I thought we would try it again. They have specially priced small plates and drinks. They also have a new happy hour menu that you can check out here: Happy Hour Menu The Happy Hour prices are from 4 to 6PM but you can stay longer if you like. Come in from the cold and socialize with our friendly group.
- Food & Wine Tour of SicilyNeeds location
DETAILS
I thought I would add this tour to my food meetup since it's a food and wine tour. I only have 3 spots remaining, so it your interested contact me ASAP. Last fall we all enjoyed our fabulous tour of Southern Italy. Everyone loved it so much we all wanted to do Sicily in 2025. Linda Garfano, our tour director wanted to put together a very special tour for us and so many of us want to go. This is a small private custom tour only open to our Wanderers and their family and friends. There will be no more than 22 Wanderers on this tour and we already have 19 spots taken. HURRY! This will sell out soon.I've been to Sicily before and it was magic! So diverse in beauty and history. I would love to return. In the midst of the Mediterranean, discover an island with personality all its own—full of flavor and teeming with one-of-a-kind art and architecture. Whether you’re visiting Sicily for its multicultural history or its delectable street food, the island has a rustic charm that sets it apart from mainland Italy. Experience the enigma, ancient ruins, and natural beauty of this Mediterranean destination, journeying through Palermo, Syracuse, and Taormina—and indulge in the flavors and culinary traditions that make Sicily so utterly and deliciously unique.
Included Highlights- Cappella Palatina
- Saline Pans of Marsala
- Agrigento's Valley of Temples Piazza
- Armerina Syracuse Cathedral
- Agrigento's Greek ruins
- Views of Mount Etna
- Taormina's Greek theater
- Sicilian cooking class
- Savoca & Forza d’Agrò
You can read up more about our tour at: https://groups.goaheadtours.com/tours/zuag-marie-labbancz
The COST:
13 day tour price: $4,849.00 (land only, double accommodations) The cost of the tour will go down to $4,649.00 once we have 20 persons signed up for the tour. Single supplement is $814.00 The cost of round-trip airfare through the tour company is $1,629.00 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: To secure your spot you will need to leave a deposit of $450.00
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS for SEPTEMBER :- $75 off for new travelers
- $175 off for returning travelers
- $275 off for travelers currently enrolled another tour or travelers who have returned from tour within the last 90 days
HOW TO SIGN UP?
To sign up for this amazing tour you just need to call our dedicated group reservation line at 800-438-7672 and be sure to mention our specific group tour #58929079
A $450 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
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!
WHY AM I ON THE WAITING LIST?
Everyone who signs up for the tour 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 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 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://groups.goaheadtours.com/tours/zuag-marie-labbancz
You can email me with any questions at mlabbancz@gmail.com - Private Small Group Food & Wine Tour of Bordeaux & Burgundy with ParisBordeaux, Bordeaux
## etails
## HURRY! Up to $350 off if you sign up for our Food & Wine Tour of France by 7/24/2025. Everyone who signs up by 7/24 receives a $150 discount. PLUS, if you have traveled with Go Ahead Tours before you get an additional Club Go $100 discount. AND if you are are signed up for our Sicily tour or you just returned from our tour of Spain you receive an additional $100 discount. For some of you that $350 off. Make sure to call and leave your deposit by 7/24/25.
Well, here is a wonderful bucket list tour for all my Francophiles, foodies and wine lovers. We have done Italy a lot. I think it's time to move on to France! Sipping Bordeaux in Bordeaux? Now that’s how to do French cuisine right. On this small group Food & Wine Tour, we will hit some of the country’s hottest culinary locales, from Parisian pâtisseries to vineyards in Burgundy. You can also add a 3 day extension to Champagne & Paris if you like. Sounds good to me.
You can check out the entire tour at this link:
Food & Wine Tour of Bordeaux & Burgundy with Paris
Some Included Highlights- French cooking class
- Saint-Émilion wine tasting
- Monbazillac blind wine tasting
- Outdoor markets in Périgueux
- Auvergne cheese tasting
- Burgundy wine tasting
- Fallot Mustard Mill
- Parisian baking class
- Eiffel Tower photo stop
- Marché des Enfants Rouges covered market
You can read up more about our tour at:
Food & Wine Tour of Bordeaux & Burgundy with Paris
The COST:
13 day tour price: $4,939.00 (land only, double accommodations) The cost of the tour will go down by $230 once we have 21 persons signed up for the tour. Single supplement is $870.00 The cost of round-trip airfare through the tour company is $1,448.00 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. Also, if you just can't get enough of this grand tour there is also an optional 3 day extension to Champagne & Paris. The cost is $1,129.00Deposit: To secure your spot you will need to leave a deposit of $450.00
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS:
$150 off for all travelers until 7/24/25
$100 off if you've traveled with Go Ahead before
$100 off if you are signed up for Sicily or just returned from Spain
HOW TO SIGN UP?
To sign up for this amazing tour you just need to call our dedicated group reservation line at 800-438-7672 and be sure to mention our specific group tour #58929079 I find it's the best way to sign up because the knowledgeable staff is on hand to answer any of your questions.
A $450 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
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!
WHY AM I ON THE WAITING LIST?
Everyone who signs up for the tour 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 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 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.
Once again, you can view the itinerary and sign up for the tour
Food & Wine Tour of Bordeaux & Burgundy with Paris
You can email me with any questions at mlabbancz@gmail.com If you would like to set up a chat with me just let me know.