Dining

Excellent for over two decades the Milford Oyster House is renown for its pristinely fresh seafood. But dinner at the Milford Oyster House is not limited to oysters or even to seafood; pork, beef, lamb, and chicken add variety to its menu. Chef Ed Coss cooks in an assured New American style, innovative and unpretentious, that relies on the freshest ingredients and on instinct and precision for his unerring marriages of flavors and textures. In addition, the tavern at Milford Oyster House offers a diverse selection of small meals. Milford Oyster House is located at 92 Water Street (Route 519), Milford, New Jersey. For reservations, call 908-995-9411.

The Ship Inn is the place where you can enjoy a hearty meal or a simple snack, where good honest food is crafted in a classically modern British and European style. Authentic British pub with nautical theme offering a wide selection of drink and food. New Jersey's first brewpub. Standard pub menu including roast beef, London broil, fish and chips. Lunch and dinner daily. Entertainment Fri/Sat. 61 Bridge St., Milford.  For reservations call 908-995-0188.

The Lovin' Oven This funky, tiny café in the heart of Milford serves breakfast and lunch everyday except Monday and Tuesday. The menu features Julie's fresh baked goods, made in house, pastries, sandwiches, salads and a good number of vegetarian dishes as well as chicken and other meat dishes. A special healthy treat - enjoy Michael's fresh juice of the day. 17 Bridge Street - 908-995-7744

Ma-De-Chat Shop Old-time cafe, loyal local following, breakfast and lunch. 8 Railroad Avenue, Milford. 908-995-2980

Pipolo's Pizza Pipolo's serves pizza, and Italian classic pasta dinners for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. They offer eat-in and take-out service (for one dollar). 50 Bridge Street, Milford. 908-995-4191 www.pipolospizza.com

The Frenchtown Inn has perennially been rated among the top in the State. In 1996, Tom, Laura, Andrew, and Colleen Tomko purchased the Frenchtown Inn, and uphold its reputation for fine cuisine. Fine Dining in Beautiful Frenchtown, New Jersey. In 1985, an on-going renovation project was started. The first floor was transformed into three beautiful dining rooms and a bar area, which resulted in a fine dining restaurant in Frenchtown. The Inn is Closed on Monday's all day and Tuesday's for Lunch All other day's the Inn is open for Lunch and Dinner.  For information or reservations call 908-996-3300.

Race Street Café is staged in a scene reminiscent of European village dining and offers not only a unique setting but a delightful gourmet experience. Cuisine: eclectic American/Continental food. Chef owner: John Dennison. Lunch Thursday thru Sunday 11-4. Dinner Thursday thru Saturday 5-9. Sunday 5-8. Credit cards: Visa-Master Card. Bridge and Race Streets, Frenchtown, NJ. Call 908-996-3179. Read review

Cocina del Sol We think this is the best spot in the river valley for Mexican food. This restaurant is in Frenchtown just three miles from the inn. Rolando is the owner/chef, Enma will greet you at the door. Too many favorites to mention. Try it! 908-996-0900. Check out the review by Tom and Kate O'Neill of TIMEOFF.

Miel's Bakery and Restaurant is a casual 12-table cafe restaurant specializing in regional American fare. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Cash only. Bridge and Main, Stockton, NJ Stockton, NJ. Call 609-397-8033. Read review.

California Grill creates wonderful salads and ultra thin pizzas loaded with great toppings, plus many interesting dishes, too many to mention. Hwy. 202 & 31 in Flemington, NJ. Call 908-806-7141. Website: www.californiagrillnj.com

Towns to Explore

Milford, NJ  Milford continues to blossom. Its many restaurants -- The Oyster House, The Ship Inn (New Jersey's first brew pub), Davy's Pizzeria, and Ma De's Chat Shop -- answer a host of gastronomical moods.  The Baker, whose healthy breads are daily delivered to Manhattan and neighboring states, is a genial duck-in for gourmet coffee, rolls, and croissants. Often, the town seems genuinely afloat on the shop's soft doughy scents. Specialty stores, including a wine shop, are also available on Bridge Street. Just 1.3 square miles, Milford retains the true atmosphere of a river town. Functional but friendly, it has an ambience neither syrupy with tourist schemes nor icy with commuter coat racks. The Delaware River, along which barges bustled in the 19th century, now draws scores of canoeists, tubers, and kayakers. Occasionally, a hot-air balloon dips its gondola into the water and rises -- a river kiss. Strollers along the river bank often see otters, beavers, osprey, blue heron, kingfishers, and endangered cliff swallows. A bald eagle soars past from time to time. The Delaware is an environmental success story, abundantly evident from the fish that have returned to its waters -- 4-foot-long muskies, striped bass, and shad.

Frenchtown, NJ  Here on the east bank of the Delaware River is a place which many have never seen, the kind of place most believe has all but vanished. Frenchtown is an authentic relic of the American past; a small town of clapboard and columns and shady porches tucked between brooding brown cliffs and a sweep of the rippling Delaware River. More information can also be found at the Frenchtowner site.

Flemington, NJ   Known for Victorian architecture, The Lindbergh Trial, factory outlets, 4H Fair. You'll find historic sites, fine dining, a steam railroad, town events, Northlandz, 200+shops and outlets, art galleries, and our favorite Flemington restaurant, The California Grill. This borough is the seat of justice of the County and is located very nearly in the geographic center of Raritan Township. According to Snell "the title to the lands...was originally held by Daniel Coxe and William Penn, two of the proprietors of the West Jersey Company". Built principally on a single street, the town contained in 1834 at least four churches, an academy, a Masonic Hall, the County buildings, and about 120 dwellings. The town was named for Samuel Fleming who purchased land here about 1756 building a tavern on the site - the place becoming known as "Flemings". A postoffice was established in 1794. (Snell:324; Barber and Howe:250).

Lambertville, NJ  The view of Lambertville has changed little over the last one hundred years. Nestled on the east bank of the Delaware River, its tree-lined streets, Victorian houses and Federal row homes and the graceful lines of its church spires continue to greet the eye as they did in the 1800s.  Lambertville is known as "The Antique Capital of New Jersey," and it certainly lives up to the title. Antique collectors will find everything from 18th-century furniture and decorative arts to 50's Modern.

New Hope, PA  This charming little village nestled along the Delaware River and Delaware Canal conjures up visions of a by-gone era. Located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, this sophisticated little gem of a town represents different things to different people. To some, New Hope is the place to visit art galleries. To others, it's a place to spend enchanting romantic weekends, cuddled up by the fire at one of the many beautifully restored inns, or walking down by the riverside. New Hope's natural beauty has always been mesmerizing.

Clinton, NJ  (Twenty minutes from the inn) The quintessential American small town is nestled in the hills of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. A charming historic shopping area, cherry tree lined streets and a river meandering through it makes Clinton a picture perfect hamlet.

Stop by and visit Audrey and Steve Gambino at their delightful organic winery, Villa Milagro, on top of a mountain about ten minutes from us. You will feel you are in Tuscany. www.villamilagrovineyards.com

The Sand Castle Winery has completed their castle. Guests enjoy the view from above and their special events. www.sandcastlewinery.com

Alba Winery ~ Well known for their fine events and weddings. www.albavineyard.com

Services

Enjoy a relaxing therapeutic massage in your room or off-premises by Ellen Miller, Certified Massage Therapist  www.muscletherapy-pa.com

Euphoria Studio is a spa, salon and boutique located in the charming riverside village of Frenchtown, New Jersey. 908-996-3399 www.euphoriastudio.com

The APOTHECARY ~ a Destination Plastic Surgery Spa and boutique.  Extensive cosmetic  services are available under the medical care of Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Michael A. Giuffrida, MD.  Specialists offer individually customized skin care and body treatments.  The APOTHECARY is located at 12 Bridge Street in Frenchtown, NJ.  908-996-6300 www.apothicaire.net

The Cycle Corner  Rent bicycles in Frenchtown, just three miles from the inn, and enjoy the wonderful Delaware River Valley.

The New Jersey Skylands  The Skylands Region refers to Northwest New Jersey and includes the counties of Morris, Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex. The five-county region contains two national parks at its edges, 60,000 acres of state parkland, and a diverse and beautiful geography filled with lakes, rivers and picturesque hills dotted with farms. The region's rustic nature is perfectly complemented by scores of vigorous towns and villages that offer wonderful entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities, fine museums, theaters and accommodations that satisfy the most sophisticated traveler. And there is a year round schedule of arts & crafts fairs, antique shows, exhibits and festivals that never leaves a visitor wanting for something to do in New Jersey's Great Northwest.  

TOUR BUCKS COUNTY

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bulletin Board  Music, Theatre, Events and Activities in and around Bucks County right across the river from Milford.

Bucks County River Country  Tubing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking on scenic Delaware River. P.O. Box 6, 2 Walters Lane, Point Pleasant, PA 18950, (Rte. 32, Upper Black Eddy), phone: (215) 297-5000, hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Daily

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.”   
                                                                                                                               ~ Walt Whitman