Tula

SUMMARY:
So for the past year or so, I've been driving by this small, yet trendy looking place on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick called Tula. I always wanted to try it, but never really got around to it. One day, my boyfriend and I were trying to think of a new restaurant for the night, and for some reason we both thought of this one.

We placed a reservation through opentable that afternoon, and snagged a table for the night. Upon entering, we were politely greeted and escorted to our table. Tula is not a large space. It is rather intimate, with dim lighting, candlelight, and cozy booths. Our waitress was really excited about the menu selection, which made me enthused. The menu changes frequently depending on the season. This is also reassuring and exciting because it shows they prepare their meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and switch things up from time to time.

For an appetizer, my guest had Carrot Soup, which honestly, I was a little apprehensive about. I've heard of butternut squash soup, pumpkin soup, sweet potato soup, but carrot soup? I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. It's taste and texture was similar to a butternut squash soup, and seemed to be spiced like any other typical fall soup... but then... the heat came. There was definitely a kick to this soup. Just enough to make you go for the water glass, yet subtle enough to make you want more. It actually was the perfect balance of flavors. For dinner, I had the most amazing take on a carbonara. In addition to the pancetta, egg, and cheese (which by the way, they were generous with), they added roasted butternut squash. It was an unexpected surprise, but the flavors worked really well together. Oh, and did I mention? The pasta is homemade.

For dessert, we split a homemade banana empanada with dulce de leche ice cream. My biggest mistake was splitting it. I highly recommend getting your own, and keeping it to yourself. The empanada was fantastic on its own, but the ice cream made it. It was a huge baseball-size worth, and was so incredibly dense. Tula actually gets the ice cream from the ice cream parlor next door. The caramel flavor combined with the warm banana was killer. I'd honestly go back just for that.

CONCLUSION:
All in all, we had a great experience and would definitely return. The staff was friendly, the food was delicious, and the location is awesome. After dinner, you can stay at their bar/lounge, or venture out to the many bars and clubs that are in the area. Something I didn't mention though is the price. It is definitely a place you want to make a reservation for, and get dressed up to go to, but the prices are reasonable. It is a nice evening out that won't put a huge dent in your wallet.

QUICK REVIEW:
Price: Dinners range from $10 - $34
Dress: Trendy Casual
Reservations: Yes
Parking: Off-street, limited. Give yourself enough time to get there and park.
Must Order: The Banana Empanada
FYI: The restaurant next door, Evelyn's is the same owner (but I haven't tried it).