the mommy avenger

Mercer County is home to one of New Jersey’s largest and most popular parks. Couples, friends, and families often visit this area to experience the natural outdoor opportunities abundant in the 2,500 acre expanse. 

Just outside the southern border of the park, nestled in Robbinsville, New Jersey Town center, is the newest location of Harpoon Willy’s. We recommend Harpoon Willy’s to those seeking an elevated dining experience that does not skimp on portion sizes for brunch (Saturday and Sunday 10-2), lunch, or dinner. 

Upon entry, one immediately notices the cozy, rustic feel of the space blending seamlessly with modern design—definitely a location to impress clients or a date without appearing ostentatious. We also appreciated the spotless restroom’s separation from the main space. Hands free amenities keep things clean and classy.

We began with their two alcohol free cocktails. The first, a grapefruit elder flower Paloma, keeps the floral notes in the background while accentuating the welcome tartness of freshly squeezed grapefruit. For those who want their cocktails sour, this is an excellent choice. The second, a lychee highball, avoids the syrupy taste common among lesser mixologists. All the drinks are made from fresh ingredients in-house and it shows in the subtlety of the flavors. Children can enjoy a homemade Shirley Temple that appears slightly purple due to natural ingredients (without red-40). It also balances the melon’s mild flavor with the highball quite well. We would order the latter again, yet I might ask the bartender his opinion on how a touch of honey would interact with the drink. 

We ordered two appetizers, the first being blackened tuna bites, which came with a sushi rice cake, micro greens, avocado, and sriracha mayo. Having been disappointed by sriracha-heavy sauces many times, we first tried it without the sauce.

The tuna dissolved in our mouths beautifully on the first bite, yet we wanted a bit more balance in the dish profile. We should have trusted the chef because adding the sauce made the dish truly worth ordering. It was one of our favorite parts of the meal. The light amount of sriracha showcased the kitchen’s palate. 

The popular truffle tater tots took a childhood favorite to the level of haute couture. This filling appetizer with bacon Gruyère and cheese dusting easily could satisfy four adults for the starter course. This also would be a highly recommended dish for families, as children would likely appreciate these breaded potato balls—though it might ruin their feelings about freezer to oven tots. 

For the main course, we opted for the surf & turf and the pan seared mahi in a lemon butter risotto with creamed spinach. The generous portion size of both would satisfy hearty and hungry appetites. 

The mahi absorbed the flavors of the buttery risotto. Often fish is a lighter dish, yet this combination spoke of the comfort food one would have in a cabin on a lake after a long day of outdoor adventures. 

Alternatively, the shrimp and filet mignon matched up with the depth of flavor and precise cooking practices of much higher priced restaurants. The steak’s reduction sauce and seasoning did not steal the show from the cut of meat, but dramatically enhanced the experience over traditional “butter and salt” only approaches. Each bite invited us to slow down and enjoy the moment, rolling the flavors around until we delighted in each succulent drop. They cooked the giant shrimp to its ideal temperature and texture. 

Was there room for dessert? No. Did we order the key lime pie and apple crisp anyway? Absolutely. Our waitress Lauren had not steered us astray yet, and hearing her describe how these treats were made from scratch in the restaurant left us confident in finding some more room. This proved the correct choice. 

Salted Caramel ice cream, melted on the apple crisp, incited memories of Thanksgiving evening when the pies came fresh out of the oven and we gathered to continue the celebration with loved ones. The ice cream alone would be worth ordering. 

Key lime pie is always difficult to review, because preferences for the dish range from uber-sweet (looking at you Royal Caribbean) to lip-puckering-tear-inducing tartness. If sweet is a ten and tart is a one, this pie comes in at a six, which, I did not know until now, is my preference. The smooth, dense texture of the custard, balanced with the just-right thickness of the graham cracker, is rich enough to split. The accompanying sour raspberry sorbet, adjusted that number so we ate them separately. 

The desserts alone were worth the visit. If we lived in this area, we would likely make this our new late night outing destination. 

As the restaurant filled up through the evening, we saw families, friends, and couples fill the space. Even though Harpoon Willy’s has only been open in this location for six weeks, it is well on its way to establishing itself in the area as the hotspot to go in the greater Princeton area and Mercer County. 

Check their website for current events and specials at Harpoon Willys.

_{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}