ZAGAT Survey New Jersey Restaurants 2004/2005
"One of West Jersey's best", this "charming and historic" Hunterdon County New American is a "gracious" "discovery in the country"; chef-owner "Paul Ingenito hits the mark" with his "vast variety of treats", including a "not-to-be-missed lobster ravioli appetizer", while wife "Lorraine makes you feel like a special guest"; for the most "romantic" experience, "eat in front of the fireplace" "in the small", "cozy and quiet" 1813 "Room off the bar."
Food (24) - Decor (22) - Service - (23)

"Perryville Inn settles for nothing less than complete perfection... it is not only the excellent quality and craftsmanship, but the constant attention to details that makes this restaurant stand out..."
(4 Stars) Courier News, January 2005

"Warm elegance with a touch of whimsy... the Perryville Inn is enchanting at first sight, from its handsome federal-style brick exterior to its clubby lounge brightened by a fireplace. It has comfortable 19th century ambiance, a marvelous menu, and fine service..."
1/2 (3 1/2 Stars) Star-Ledger, October 2004

Isn't it Romantic?  New Jersey Monthly awards The Perryville Inn (3 Stars) - "Excellent" and (3 Heart's) - Just in time for Valentine's Day!  (Read all about it... click here.)

Princeton Packet
December 30, 2003
by Kate & Tim O'Neill

"This elegant country inn provides delicious surprises courtesy of Chef Paul Ingenito..." - (read more - click here.)

Zagat Survey
New Jersey Restaurants
2001 / 2002

"When the fireplace is lit, the "country charm" of this "romantic", pop-the-question American in Hunterdon County is readily apparent (it's "lovely", circa 1813 "historic setting" doesn't hurt either); owners Paul and Lorraine Ingenito have such "high standards" that the "fabulous", "creative" cooking makes it a "find in the culinary wasteland of Western NJ."

Zagat Survey
New Jersey Restaurants
2000 / 2001

"New owners" (Lorraine and Paul Ingenito, ex NYC's Russian Tea Room) "have upgraded the food and service" at this "quiet, romantic" 1813 Inn that's a "throwback to the Great Gatsby era" - "hot-air balloons even land outside."

Princeton Packet
"Restaurant Review: Perryville Inn"
May 4, 2001

"Proprietors Lorraine and Paul Ingenito took over in 1998, and have transformed it from a quaint, sleepy place with ho-hum food to a destination restaurant."

"Although Mr. Ingenito calls his cuisine "country, with American roots, " I respectfully disagree. While the menu features ingredients that could be considered American - buffalo, imported venison, lobster, American caviar, shipped potatoes, corn pancakes- the treatment is decidedly not rustic and that is all to the good."

"The setting of the Perryville Inn is totally appealing."

"The wine list is equally sophisticated, and full of excellent choices at prices that are more than fair."

"A lovely setting in an historic inn, exciting food expertly prepared and beautifully presented, a smart and pocketbook-friendly wine list and servers that are knowledgeable and enthusiastic combine to place the Perryville Inn among the growing roster of fine restaurants dotting our beautiful New Jersey countryside."

"Food: very good to excellent; Service: warm and exceptionally knowledgeable, Ambiance: beautiful, historic inn."

New Jersey Monthly
"Readers Choice Awards" - Central New Jersey
August 2000

"The Perryville Inn in Perryville, which serves inventive and delightful Contemporary American fare under new owners Paul Ingenito and his wife, Lorraine.

Excellent
Courier News
"The Perryville Inn is a Four-Star Winner"
July 6, 2000
By Lois Mattson

"Excellent entrees, decadent desserts highlight the menu."

"The wine list at the Perryville Inn was user friendly with good selections at reasonable prices."

"The assortment of entrees was excellent.  Snapper, duck, tuna, filet mignon, scallops, lamb, buffalo - something for everyone.  And of course, this made the choosing difficult."

"Chef-owner Paul Ingenito demonstrates a real flare with his entrees and accompanying dishes."

"The ingenuity, attention to details and excellent service show the pride Paul and Lorraine Ingenito bring to the Perryville Inn."

"I can be pretty stingy with my stars but this restaurant definitely deserves all four."

New Jersey Monthly
"Something Old, Something New"
September 1999
By Valerie Sinclair and Anthony Giglio

"Many people regard the Perryville Inn as a charming country inn with pleasant but ordinary food.  But since 1998, when Paul Ingenito and his wife, Lorraine bought the inn, everything has changed - and for the better."

"The restaurant rapidly is gaining a reputation as a must-visit for food lovers."

"Inside the couple's Perryville Inn, a stylish bar and lounge divide two dining rooms: The original dining area, dating back to 1813, has an elegant, Early American feel, featuring original fireplaces with elaborate mantels and pine woodwork; a larger more modern room filled with windows overlooks lush lawns."

"The menu is exciting, and presentation and preparation even more so."

"And the lovely food is not just for show.  The corn-and-shrimp bisque tastes intense and buttery, and the homey black-bean soup, decorated with a spider web of cream and chopped cilantro, is thick enough to suspend a spoon."

Sunday Star Ledger
"New York-Trained Chef Lifts Country Cuisine to Higher Level"
August 9, 1998
By Cody Kendall

"The charming 1813 brick building, overlooking woods and fields, is conveniently located off Route 78 in Hunterdon County."

"The food, which Ingenito calls 'classic country cuisine,' shows a master's deftness in creating high style without pretension."

"The wine list of French and American selections is well-chosen and reasonable.  While there are sufficient high-end options, Ingenito obviously considered the average person who doesn't want to blow the mortgage money on a bottle of chardonnay."

"[The inn] has real character.  There's a cozy lounge, just the right size for a pre-dinner drink, and a small dining room with what looks like original wood flooring.  Several dramatic flower arrangements add a feeling of elegance."

"Though they took over only in February, they have quickly transformed the Perryville Inn into a player among New jersey's finest restaurants."

The Courier News
"A New Chef Cooking in Perryville"
March 15, 1998
By Frank Curcio

"Fans of the fine dining establishment are finding the restaurant in the capable hands of a master chef."

"The chef favors local and regional American cuisine but is too inventive to be neatly classified."

"His menu shows a style of crossing culinary frontiers inventing a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."

"Several recent menu selections show how Ingenito creates his unpretentious culinary masterpieces."

"One thing Ingenito is firm about is maintaining the heritage of the historic old Perryville Inn."

"His goal is to elevate the Perry Inn to a higher level of historic relevance, culinary excellence, gracious service and the finest of fine dining."

Strictly Hunterdon
"Perryville Inn Offers World-Class Elegance with a Local Flavor"
By Frank Curcio

"The Perryville Inn ranks among the top restaurants, no question about it.  The fact that it is located in a tiny community mystifies some."

"Although many New Jersey eateries can boast of beautiful settings, they all have to tip their hats to the Perryville Inn's four-season splendor."

"The Perryville Inn's exterior features stunning Federal period architecture of dark red brick. The several rooms within have been faithfully and tastefully restored to their original elegant charm and are at the same time captivating, exciting and relaxing. To this add world class cuisine."

"Ingenito is a hands-on chef dedicated to every phase of the operation. The pre-dawn hours fnds him selecting the best, and often rarest, fresh fish at the Fulton Fish Market. He works with local farmers and even helps harvest his own wild mushrooms."

"This is the hallmark of the Ingenito style. He crosses culinary frontiers through time, culture and ingredients."

"Although Ingenito's creativity is obvious in his daily specials, it shows up as well in his regular menu."

"Although the chef focuses on the highest quality and freshest ingredients, and is always willing to bring in some of the rarest - and therefore, most expensive - ingredients, the shop continues to offer the greatest value in elegant fine dining."

"And the couple have created at the Perryville Inn something not usually associated with elegant fine dining - a family and neighborhood feeling."

"Rated in the state's top 10 restaurants, it is located in a stunning country setting."