I had heard a few people rave about a fabulous little French BYOB called Manon in Lambertville, NJ. Like many of the gems in the eclectic town, Manon sits under the radar, without a website or much advertising; a little restaurant off Union Street that I’ve passed on several occasions without taking much notice. When it came to picking an intimate restaurant for a birthday celebration, the much buzzed about Manon immediately came to mind.
The warm candlelit room welcomed us on a stormy night. Perhaps the most striking feature of the decor is the ceiling, which is tastefully painted to imitate Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Since I had called ahead to make the reservation, we were seated at the best table in the house- a romantic table for two by the window. The menu is small but has a wide enough range of delicacies to satisfy any palate. Best of all, on Wednesdays and Thursdays Manon offers a two course menu for $25, an amazing deal considering the restaurant is already a BYOB.
Since we were celebrating, we decided to treat ourselves to a French feast, complimented by a bottle of Pinot Noir. For appetizers, we savored perfectly cooked mussels and a mixed green salad. It baffles me that something as simple as mixed greens with a balsamic vinaigrette could taste so amazing. Next, we moved on to the main course, one being an assortment of lamb, beef, & chicken with a tangy glaze and the other dish a skate fish with crab and scalloped potatoes. The food was exceptional, but we weren’t finished (after all, it was a birthday celebration). For dessert, we splurged on a rich chocolate cake drizzled in caramel & raspberry puree and a homemade nugget ice cream with walnuts with a couple espressos to wash them down.
With stuffed bellies and content smiles, we talked about our wonderful meal the whole way home. Manon was the perfect place to celebrate a special night, and with their amazing weekday deal, we may even make it a regular treat.
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