Rick's in Lambertville

Rick's in Lambertville, New Jersey, has a long and rich history. The red plastic tumblers, the old Phil and Dan's menus on the shelf, and the checkered table cloths are historic proof. The knotty pine interior has not changed at all over the years, but the owner has.

Alex Cormier is the chef/owner at Rick's

Alex Cormier can list stints at La Truffe, The Fountain Restaurant at The Four Seasons Hotel, Ciboulette, his own Alex on South, Harriette's, and Alison on Dominick among his many culinary accomplishments. Cormier's Rick's, following on the heels of his previous successes, has never failed to impress.

Beef Braciole Fra Diavolo

Amidst a humble backdrop of ephemera from Rick's days as Phil and Dan's, Cormier serves food that is at once hearty, humble, and inventive all on one plate. On a recent winter night, the ever changing specials menu featured Beef Braciole Fra Diavolo. Thin slices of beef wrapped around herbed breadcrumb stuffing with a spicy tomato sauce was no match for those who ordered it on a cold night out recently. A delightful Minestrone with a spicy kick was wonderful with the homemade bean dip that was served with the fresh Italian bread. Confit of Quail with Shitake sauce has been a recent feature on the specials menu as well. Cormier's vegetable special winter is usually Brussel Sprouts -  a real treat.

Italian standards

Along with Alex's inventive dishes are the standards that have been in place forever at first Phil and Dan's and now Rick's. The parmesan dishes - eggplant, chicken, portobello, tofu, veal and shrimp, are all fantastic. They come with a massive serving of tomato sauced pasta. The standard pasta dishes on the menu are also excellent -  particularly the ones with the massive homemade meatballs.

BYOB

Rick's is a great choice for both diners who choose one of Alex's weekly special creations or those who want a traditional Italian meal. Remember to grab a special bottle of wine because Ricks is BYOB.