We are in Monmouth County a lot and like trying new places. The food was good and the rating would be 4 or 5 stars if this review is just about the food. Unfortunately, it is not. I had a soda and was charged $4.25 for a small, ice filled jar that had very little soda in it. I was asked if I wanted a refill, and said yes. Twice. The third was after I was done with my meal. I was charged $4.25 for each refill. I had no problem paying $24 for a burger and %16 for my wife's sangria. I have a real problem paying $12.75 for as much soda as I can get in a 12 oz. can. This feels like I was ripped off. If you are going to charge for refills you should be upfront about it, give a reasonable amount of soda in each glass, and charge a reasonable amount per glass ($2.50?). I would come back for the food, but feel like I was taken advantage of for no reason other than they could. read more

Found this gem on a dog-friendly restaurant blog and boy, did it exceed my expectations! We came in for brunch on a weekday and found street parking conveniently right across the street. The ambiance was so quaint and lovely - the sound of the waterfall and soft breeze made this such a relaxing way to spend the morning. The service was phenomenal - our waitress was so genuinely welcoming! Even with us being chaotic with 2 babies and a pup, she made us feel comfortable and was very helpful in ensuring we had a great experience.  For drinks, we ordered an iced mocha latte, which was delicious... we were tempted to get a second round. The syrups are all made in house! The sandwiches we got were wonderful - flavorful and came with fries or chips. Honestly, I would never get chips over fries and when the order came out I was disappointed in myself for not reading the description to know that my order came with chips; however, I was pleasantly surprised! Dare I say it, I might've preferred the chips over the fries! You must get the aioli on the side - so good! My toddler had the mac and cheese bites off the kids menu and they were good - plentiful and quite filling too! We'd 100% make the 1 hour trip back here. read more

A great gem right off the Seastreek Ferry Terminal at Highlands. Came to Highlands for the Sandbox at Seastreak Beach, but they didn't have any coffee so we found this place a 5-10 minute walk away and were really surprised at how good it was. They are a cafe and restaurant. We only experienced the cafe, but the staff at the cafe are all really nice and helpful. They have really good coffee and make a variety of pastries, cookies, chips and dips in house. They also have juices and smoothies. We ended up coming back here to grab lunch to eat at the Sandbox instead because their food seemed more fresh and healthy. We had the rice paper wraps with the Thai spiced flank steak and coconut curry chicken. The rice paper was cooked correctly with a nice texture. The cobb salad was standard, but a nice portion. To note, don't miss the sandwich menu that is next to to entrance because we only noticed it when we were leaving the second time. I would definitely make a stop here again when I'm in the area. I would want to try their dinner and hopefully attend one of their live music or drag bingo events. read more

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Food was great, but would give 5 stars for the choice of music alone. Any restaurant that plays a heavy dose of Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen is 5/5 in my book! read more

We went with a large party for dinner yesterday, the service was amazing and the food was incredible. Generous portions and the flavor was unbelievable. It's a scratch kitchen and you can tell each dish is curated to perfection! Great vibe in the place too. read more

Et al fine food - Steak Caesar salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Lindsey the bartender is a reason to stop by! Super engaging and professional. Also great smash burgers!

Elevated food in a warm funky atmosphere. Great drinks. The new inside dining room is easy to relax in.

Excellent Staff . Excellent Food. Check out their weekly deals. The vibe us chill and the food is perfect! Fish and chips were crispy and perfect. Their mussels and fries! On Point Burger night is DA BEST! Its 2 patty smash burger heaven with sauce and love ! It has my heart! Wings & wine.. its all amazing. Go check them out ..they will become a new favorite read more

Very stunning work. I like to design my own food and the food is very good and amazing and you can create your own food and recipes too

My wife and I went here for lunch. The food is decent but that's not what I'm a little pissed about. We both were drinking seltzer. The waitress asked us numerous times if we wanted a refill to which we did. Their soft drinks are served in a very small mason jar and since it was filled with three quarters of ice we had about four ounces of actual seltzer. The waitress asked us numerous times if we wanted refills while my jar was still a little less than half full. When the check came much to our chagrin we were charged full price for every refill. The waitress number one, should not be constantly asking for a refill and she should have told us they charge for refills. I feel like this was very underhanded on her part. Spending over twenty dollars for a very limited amount of seltzer seems pretty extreme. Restaurants that charge for refills should let it be known upfront so customers can decide read more

Who knew you could grab a great sandwich and have an Aperol spritz steps from the water? Terrific soup-cream of asparagus for the win!

Hidden gem in Highlands! Having had them for catering events in the past, we checked out their spot in Highlands for dinner. Spacious heated patio and a beautiful bar area. The garden in the front patio has a koi pond with a cascading waterfall and a relaxing seating area. The bar area has several tables for different sized groups, and plays great music! Inside EtAl is a coffee bar, cozy seating, and a variety of salads, soups and many other food items. We had their smash burger which was a ten! We noticed that they post specials and events on their instagram and will be back! read more

Went there today for the first time on the hottest day of the year so far. Outside was a no go but would have loved to stay out there. It's got a nice little pond and water fall. I'm not sure if there was AC or not but they were doing their best. The person at the front was so kind. They had lil lemon bite samples. I got an avo toast and they didn't skimp on the avo or the dressings. There were lil cheese crunchies on it. My dirty chai was yummy too. Good experience would love to go on a day that isn't as hot and hang outside. read more

Et al fine food - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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This place is terrible. Drinks are watered down, you have to wait at least 30 mins to get your food after you order and servers barely pay attention to you. Chicken sandwich smelled weird and chicken was dry. The worst focaccia I have ever had. It had a very crunchy top and was dry and doughy at the same time. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!! read more

Great lunch sandwiches!! And the potato chips that come with them are great.I recommend if you're in the Highlands it's a great spot to have lunch and of course a few cocktails!! read more

Their breadsticks (cheese and olive) were hard and tasted old, not fresh. They didn't seem to have many offering- I think they used to have sandwiches and juices but I didn't see any menus or anything made to order. Only items in their cold cases. read more

Sooo, I moved to Highlands in Feb '21 and had driven by their old location a million times. Over the past several months, I saw that they were renovating a cool new space which they took over so I finally popped in and I'm so glad I did. They cater AND they have a fantastic assortment of prepared foods and artisan sandwiches. I've become a big fan of their mozzarella sandwiches on focaccia with taro chips. Their deli salads (potato and macaroni) are delicious too. Pair that with their coffee bar and baked goods and you're in for a treat. Highly, highly, highly recommend. read more

I love this place the food is incredible and all the people who work there are the best not to mention a great bar with seasonal cocktails

I went here this afternoon for a lunch. It has outside seating which is dog friendly. And there's a very nice atmosphere. The quality of food is excellent. I had a grilled chicken club sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. It's a pretty big sandwich so next time I'll probably split it. I highly recommend trying this place out. It also seems to have inside seating for the colder months. I very rarely give five stars unless it's deserved so go eat here and let me know what you think. read more

Et al fine food - Stuffed pepper is delicious - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Cute place, but takes forever to get the food and pay and the staff seem unfamiliar with many of the offerings. Also they seem to constantly be out of items or change the menu with no communication. In the fall they advertised a recurring weekly menu. I went on a Tuesday and asked for the Tuesday offering only to find they decided to swap tuesdays and Wednesday offerings but didn't update their site or Facebook. Another time I ordered the chicken Caesar salad off the menu board and the server tried to charge me extra for the chicken. Last time I went, I went in half an hour before closing and ordered a turkey lettuce wrap (they offer sandwiches wrapped in lettuce instead of tortillas.). They had no turkey but hesitantly offered to do it with chicken breast -- they had already cleaned up for the night and clearly felt put out that they had to use the kitchen (even though they still had 30 more minutes on the clock.). I received my container, only to find out it was 3 pieces of romaine, topped with cut chicken and miracle whip. Not wrapped. Just laid on top of one another. For approx $11. Vowed it to be the last time I order from there. It's unfortunate as I think the place has great potential but I get the sense that customer service is not something they take seriously. read more

Staying in the area for a month and so glad I found this place. Perfect for picking up sandwiches and drinks before heading to the beach. Everything looks so good that it's hard to decide. Some highlights were the chicken curry, the roast beef sandwich and the mozzerella/tomato sandwich. All kinds of other specialties and treats. Very nice staff and cute area to sit outside as well. read more

Had the lobster roll and it was quite tasty. Served on a warm buttered roll. Their fresh brewed iced tea was also very good. Place is cute and the people are friendly. A welcome addition to the town. read more

Delicious food cooked well and good for you. Honestly, I really like this place, but it does take a few minutes to get your food. Even though it is all prepared, if you ask for it to be heated it takes a while. My guess is there is no microwave and they do it the good way, on the stove. Who needs all that radiation anyway, right? That is a good thing. But my crabcake took 20 minutes to be reheated last night. The food is great, they offer a huge variety of healthy foods. The owner Kim, is very friendly, knowledgeable about her food, and takes great pride in her business. There is something good to be said about that. I had ginger cucumber lemonade last night with my small meal. It was delicious. I would encourage anyone to go get one of their fresh tea or juice drinks from the fridge. The prices are moderate and you are guaranteed to get something yummy. By the way, they even cater to gluten-free and vegan. read more

Et al fine food - Crab cake (yes, all crabmeat!) and grilled veggies. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

This is the find of NJ Located just down the street from the ferry to Manhattan and in my new neighborhood. I wandered in with my cold and the friendly staff took notice and hooked me up with a green juice and delicious just made chicken soup. When dinner for 2 ended up being dinner for 10, Etal had everything I needed for my Easter dinner guests. They took care of me even though they were very busy. It was the most delicious high quality meats and sides in a beautiful display and my guests raved. The menu is ever changing and the quality and service are always above and beyond exceptionally. read more

The parfait here was amazing, but the experience was not great. There were only two people ahead of us, but we had to wait for a while because the cashier was so frazzled and overwhelmed that she couldn't complete the task at hand without assistance. While we initially planned on eating a full meal here, we ended up grabbing a parfait to go and just went ate at home. The cashier was friendly, but she seemed completely lost, almost as though it was her first day working. I would love to stop by another time to give them another shot because that parfait was bangarang! read more

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME! There are no other words to describe my overall dining/catering experience with Kim and the et al crew. I hired et al to cater a Bridal Shower for 30 ladies in my home in honor of my future daughter-in-law. But, when COVID reared its ugly head we had to abandon that idea and come up with a new plan. Actually I should say planS because as restrictions continued to constantly change, so did my catering needs. Kim did not miss a beat; she worked with me to develop new solutions requiring new menu's each time our Governor changed the game on us. ( I should also mention that creating a menu was no small feat to begin with given that our Bride is a bit of a finicky eater.) The end result was a weekend event in my home for 8 ladies. Et al provided lunch and dinner on Saturday and Brunch on Sunday. (All while wearing masks and gloves). The food was absolutely delicious, the presentation was gorgeous and Kim's willingness to be flexible both before and during the event was much appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you Kim (and Fiona). Can't wait for the next event! read more

I had a great time and the lemonade was great. Was easy to order lunch from them. I also enjoyed my clean salad.

MAUREEN WAS AMAZING! The food is good the place is clean and very inviting! Lemonades are great and the samples were delicious coming back for sure! Maureen thank you for being so helpful and caring and personable! I appreciate it coming back again read more

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Over the last 2 summers 2015-2016 I work in Highlands during the summer and very happy to have Et-Al as a place to eat. Everything is made with love and as fresh as can be. Fresh baked bread, pastries, seafood salads, the list goes on and on. Great pricing and friendly people work here, go and you will be very happy. Edit May 15, 2017: There are a couple whiny reviews from New Yorkers who think the world revolves them so pay no attention to those jack wagons. read more

Five-star food in terms of deliciousness, creativity, selection, value and ingredient sourcing. My current favorite is their Cuban Sandwich, properly made with porchetta and other classic ingredients prepared in house. Prices are higher than run-of-the-mill delis, but very much worth it in my opinion. Service and organization are more in the three-star category, but glitches are well worth dealing with. read more

Stopped in on a whim after renting bicycles up the street, and Et Al turned out to be one of our best accidental "finds." The lemonade was delicious (not too sweet - and even better when they asked if we wanted it topped with fresh mint from their garden) and we thoroughly enjoyed the ham sandwich with brie and honey horseradish mayo (on *the* most delicious, crusty bread!) The outside seating area was shaded and felt like we were sitting outside in a friends garden. If you go, do yourself a favor and try their chocolate chip cookies...probably the best one I've ever had. Highly recommended, and we will most definitely be back! read more

The reviews may say the food is awesome but, Kim, who is the owner is not! I spoke with her and placed a large catering order for a party. She was to invoice me and we were to finalize the order. Then she went completely off the radar. I sent emails and left voice messages. NO CALL BACK! Left me Scrambling for another caterer. That's just not cool. Customer service is a priority in any business. Upon telling a friend, she confirmed that the place is always chaotic when she had gone there. Kim, all you had to do is say you didn't want the business. Unfortunately word of mouth travels! read more

Absolutely fantastic. We planned a last minute get together for 20 and Kim at Et Al executed it flawlessly. The food was delicious - the staff was great: efficient, friendly, professional. She even went above and beyond to run out to get extra ice when we ran low in the heat. I got the recommendation to use Et Al from a friend who has been picking up dinners to go during Covid. Whatever your catering or to go needs are, I highly recommend them. read more

This was a great place to order lunch from through uber eats. I got the cobb salad and a lemonade and it arrive fast and was super delicious. I recommend them as a great, quick, and delicious lunch spot in the area. Keep up the great work and I can't wait to order again. read more

Overpriced mediocre food. The food is so inconsistent and overpriced. The catering may be a better thing to explore with this place because for lunch ya just never know what your gonna get? Is it fresh? , bland? And yes over priced! read more

Great little place!! My husband attended a car show and they were in attendance and he really liked their food. We stopped today for lunch. My egg salad was so good and he had roast beef which was really good. The pickles are the absolute BEST!!!, and are worth the trip. read more

Et al fine food - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

First of all, the whole team at et al fine food is awesome! Their food is always fresh and delicious -- presented with creativity. Every day I try something new b/c there are so many options to pick from no matter when I go. Everything is always excellent. The salsa verde and fresh tortilla chips are perfection. Also love their fresh lemonade, and tuna salad on ciabatta. Go on a nice day and you can even sit outside! read more

Could not recommend more highly for personalized catering. Food was fantastic - the best clam and mussel dish we've ever had. Top notch customer service with a highly professional staff. Event was coordinated to perfection. Thank you for an amazing experience! read more

Many years of doing business with Et Al ended in stunning disaster. Besides being a constant, nearly daily customer of their original place in Allenhurst and several booked dinner parties with them of 10-12 guests at a price of about $1800-$2000, I had to cancel my last planned dinner party due to unexpected circumstances. I canceled in plenty of time and their contract stated nothing different than what I did. It wasn't at the last minute, which I would understand, but they told me they were keeping about $830 dollars of my money. I should have seen the red flag when I had to pay in full for the event at the contract signing. After much back-and-forth whenever they would answer my calls and texts and emails, the owner agreed to refund my money in whole. That took from September until November, following NUMEROUS unanswered calls, phone numbers of their's that were "disconnected", many unanswered texts and emails. It was only when I left a message that I was filing a claim in court for my nearly $1740 that I received a text saying they would refund me a check but that it would be POST DATED. I did receive my post-dated check and even then it was weeks after they had told me "the check is in the mail" time and time again. Their food was always excellent but buyer beware if you are booking a catering event! read more

This is my favorite place for breakfast! Best omelette special the one morning. When omelette's are not the special of the day make sure to order a sandwich. Oh and the mint vanilla lemonade is like crack. read more