The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1369261
A T I M E L E S S C H A R M Dinner at The Meeting House sets the scene for every gathering from the long-term catchup session with an old friend to a six- o'clock family dinner after soccer practice. Upon entering, we immediately noticed the full stream of natural light pouring into the space from the tall, crystal-like panel windows lining the front of the restaurant. Reclaimed wooden chairs and tables and woody branches budding springtime florals placed in clay vases introduced a timeless charm. By evening, the incandescent glow of the brass lights painted every corner with gold, from the neutral olive-green wood paneling to the coffee-colored leather sofas. The Princeton restaurant features a minimal, rustic-chic design envisioned by Maher along with interior designer Hillary O'Carroll of Philadelphia-based Isabella Sparrow. I met O'Carroll while she sifted through pages of a 19th century American Agriculturist Almanac with dusty, amber-tinged pages discovered in a Pennsylvania countryside shop. O'Carroll envisioned framing a page to hang up on the wall. O'Carroll and Maher dreamed up the eye-catching, yet toned-down design for the restaurant, creating an overall memorable aesthetic. P R I V A T E E V E N T S P A C E S The Meeting House contains two private event spaces that both reflect the vast history of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood, the historical, middle-class sector of Princeton and home to the rise of mid-19th century Black entrepreneurs and laborers. The Jackson holds four bright-white walls adorned with a collection of countryside vintage frames. The bright sun pours in during the day, contrasting the gothic inspiration on the other side of the restaurant. A long-wooden table seats up to 15 guests for a festive bridal shower brunch or an intimate, springtime family reunion after the past tumultuous year. Descending upon the subway-like stairs to the base floor transports you to the Witherspoon, decorated with warm ruby red rugs, brass light fixtures, and a front-and- center mini-stage. The Witherspoon can host between 30 to 60 guests for sit-down events and up to 80 for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The flexible table set-up can form a charming long dining table spanning the room or several intimate candlelit settings. And with a private bar, every meeting, no matter how big or small, will be memorable. A fully stocked bar with a sophisticated collection of botanicals, spirits, and fresh herbs and citrus sit on top of a marble finishing. Deep, chestnut vertical paneling complement the warm golden accents scattered throughout, transporting you instantly to the timeless Princeton from a century ago. V U E N J .C O M 130