Restaurant
Unclaimed profileRoots Ocean Prime
Princeton, NJ · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The beverage program here leans on a deep, broad wine list and an after-dinner spirits selection with real range. Bottles span Champagne, Cabernet, Sancerre, and magnums, with allocated pours like Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr and Remy Martin Louis XIII on the spirits side. Cocktails are the lighter category: a Harvest Espresso Martini is listed as a dessert pairing, while a smoky walnut old fashioned drew praise and a Mai tai was reported as not made correctly.
- What should I order?
- The smoky walnut old fashioned is the cocktail to try when it lands. For wine, the Sancerre, Comte Lafond, Loire Valley, FR '25 at 107 is a solid entry point, and the Barolo, Pio Cesare, Piedmont, IT '22 at 196 adds range. After dinner, Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr at 158 or Fortaleza Blanco at 24.95 are strong pours.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want a serious bottle list and a deep after-dinner spirits selection will find plenty here. The wine list runs from value bottles to high-end Cabernet, and the spirits list covers bourbon, Scotch, agave, Cognac, and dessert wines.
- When should I go?
- The after-dinner drinks list and dessert wine pairings make this a natural stop for a final pour or a dessert pairing. The Harvest Espresso Martini is listed specifically as a pairing with The Roots Super Sundae.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Bottled wine ranges from 48 for Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc to 5145 for Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon. Spirits pours run from 12.95 for Sambuca Black to 390.00 for Remy Martin Louis XIII (1 oz). The Harvest Espresso Martini is 15.95.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The combination of a bottled wine list with magnums and high-end bottles, plus an after-dinner spirits list that includes allocated bourbon and rare Cognac, gives the program unusual depth for its setting. Dessert wine pairings are suggested for each dessert, including Sauternes, Kracher Auslese, Dolce by Far Niente, Moscato D'Asti, and Taylor 20yr Port.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail list is light. A Harvest Espresso Martini is listed as a dessert pairing, and a smoky walnut old fashioned drew a strong customer note. But another account described the drinks as inconsistent and said a basic Mai tai was not made correctly, so the program reads as uneven rather than dependable.
Menu strengths
- — A Harvest Espresso Martini is listed as a recommended pairing with The Roots Super Sundae on the dessert menu.
- — A recent customer account describes a smoky walnut old fashioned as amazing.
Standout selections
- — Smoky walnut old fashioned — a customer-described cocktail that drew praise
- — Harvest Espresso Martini — 15.95, listed as a pairing with The Roots Super Sundae
Pricing: The Harvest Espresso Martini is 15.95; other cocktail prices are not listed.
Wine
A bottled wine list covers Champagne, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc/Sancerre, other whites, other reds, red blends, Merlot/Zinfandel/Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and magnums. High-end bottles include Screaming Eagle 2021 at 5145, Harlan Estate 2020 at 2888, and Bond Vecina 2021 at 1558. Dessert wine pairings are suggested for each dessert.
Menu strengths
- — The list covers ten categories including Champagne, Cabernet Sauvignon, and magnums.
- — High-end bottles include Screaming Eagle 2021 at 5145, Harlan Estate 2020 at 2888, and Bond Vecina 2021 at 1558.
- — Dessert wine pairings are suggested for each dessert.
Standout selections
- — Dom Pérignon, Brut, FR '15 — 533, Champagne
- — Caymus, Napa '23 — 252, Cabernet Sauvignon; Screaming Eagle, Napa '21 — 5145, Cabernet Sauvignon
- — Sancerre, Comte Lafond, Loire Valley, FR '25 — 107
- — Barolo, Pio Cesare, Piedmont, IT '22 — 196, listed under Other Worldly Reds
Pricing: Bottled wine ranges from 48 for Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc to 5145 for Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon. Magnums include Stag's Leap Artemis 2022 at 292 and Silver Oak 2018 3-Liter at 1313.
Spirits
The after-dinner drinks list spans Scotch & Irish Whiskey, Agave, Rye & Whiskey, Bourbon, Cognac & Cordials, Tawny Port, and Dessert Wines. Allocated and rare bottles include Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr, William Larue Weller 'BTAC', and Remy Martin Louis XIII. Agave, Scotch, and Cognac all get serious attention.
Menu strengths
- — The list spans bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish whiskey, agave, Cognac, cordials, and dessert wines.
- — Includes allocated and rare bottles such as Pappy Van Winkle, William Larue Weller BTAC, and Remy Martin Louis XIII.
- — Bourbon pours range from 14.95 for Jack Daniel's to 158 for Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr.
Standout selections
- — Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr — 158, Bourbon
- — Macallan 25 yr (1 oz) — 280.00, Scotch
- — Remy Martin Louis XIII (1 oz) — 390.00, Cognac
- — Clase Azul Reposado — 61.95, Tequila; Fortaleza Blanco — 24.95, Tequila
Pricing: Spirits pours range from 12.95 for Sambuca Black to 390.00 for Remy Martin Louis XIII (1 oz). Bourbon pours range from 14.95 for Jack Daniel's to 158 for Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr.
How it sits with the food
The dessert menu lists a Harvest Espresso Martini as a recommended pairing with The Roots Super Sundae, and dessert wine pairings are suggested for each dessert, including Sauternes, Kracher Auslese, Dolce by Far Niente, Moscato D'Asti, and Taylor 20yr Port.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.