Amazing 2nd time and it as amazing as the first time !! Can't wait to come back love BYOB happy fourth !!!

The name says it all. Fresh is farm to table and hand made with love. The dining room is lovely and intimate. If you are looking for Romantic in Highlands, this is the place. That's not to say you can't go for dinner with some friends. Get anything alfredo. Yum! read more

This place just gets better with time. We went for dinner on a busy Saturday night and every aspect of our meal was perfect. The food was spectacular, our waitress was very attentive and the owner/Chef was out on the floor ensuring everyone had a wonderful evening. Make a reservation, bring your favorite wine and have a delicious meal. read more

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Due to Covid I had to rethink my daughters wedding. We ended up hiring Fresh to cater the small affair at my home. Working with William was a dream come true. He attended to every detail but the most important thing of all was the food! Every one of my guests raved about the food! I was so pleased and my daughter and her husband told me it was just perfect! I highly... highly recommend William and his restaurant! You won't be disappointed read more

Last night we decided to explore and go to a new place for dinner. I was intrigued by the Farm to Table concept of the restaurant and we were not disappointed with the experience. We walked into the front door and felt a nice, cozy, warm lighting, white table cloths with votives on the the table. It was not overly noisy and had an upscale yet comfortable feeling. FYI, they do take reservations, but you have to call them. We did and although we had called in the morning, we somehow were not on the list. That being said, they were able to seat us right away AND we had the option to sit outside or in and we selected outside. The outside area is lovely. It is on a small deck and only seats about 22-24 people. You are surrounded by herbs, from Basil to Spicy Hot Oregano, some Lemon Geranium and Thyme. It's a very inviting space. Don't forget to BYO, but if you do, there is a liquor store with a limited selection wines, just a block or so away. You get a complimentary slice of Bruschetta to start and fresh read baked on site which come out warm. If you have a hard time with discipline, I strongly recommend asking them to not bring it. We started with the Burrata and Tomato salad from the Specials for him, which was delicious, although the tomato could have used a little more ripening. Overall it was a good choice. I started with the Local Little Neck Clams Steamed with White Wine and Garlic. They were super fresh, a good size and the "sauce" was very good. not too heavy, very flavorful. You could really a well blended mix of the ingredients. If I ate bread, I would have likely sopped it all up, it was so good. Next, it was the Barolo Braised Beef Short Rib with Mashed Potato, Sautéed Spinach and Natural Beef Jus which my BF described as very flavorful. The meat was tender enough to eat without a knife and there was no bone, which for him was a major bonus. He called it the ideal comfort food. For me, it was the Fruti Di Mare Linguine with Shrimp, Clams, Muscles, Sea Scallops, Roasted Tomato, and Garlic. It was light, but all of the flavors and textures came together well. The scallops were expertly cooked, which is not always easy. You get a good deal of pasta, of which I only eat about half, but it's very copiously served. You will not go hungry with this dish. You can choose to add grated Parmesan to it also. I thoroughly enjoyed it! For dessert, my BF selected the HomeMade Cheesecake. It is made with Ricotta Cheese, so it is to as smooth as we are used it, but on the flip side, it is lighter, while keeping the richness of the flavor of a traditional cheesecake. Finally, our waiter Cosmo was attentive and engaged, even though he was tending to all of the tables outside. Overall a great experience! We will go back :) read more

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What a gem! The staff is great; so accommodating and the food was fantastic. Party of 5; we ordered a few specials including burrata (to me this is always a must-order!), Mussels, crab cake. Can't go wrong with any of them! I had the scallops which I am sometimes hesitant to order because I feel they are often over cooked, but these were great and especially love the poblano sauce accompaniment. I was too full for dessert but had a few bites of the mousse cake. Delicious. I highly considered taking the leftover home for breakfast. Would absolutely recommend. BYO also! read more

My 3rd time here in 3 weeks! Great Restaurant! Very comfortable ambience n apps n entrees were great. Had scallops in risotto first visit, halibut on the 2nd n seafood risotto on the 3rd! All were exceptional. Sat in outdoor garden area and very comfortable social distancing! Would Highly recommend! read more

I'm trying to give out less 5 star reviews lately- but this truly deserves it. Every single thing we had was delicious. It's super rare that I truly enjoy every bite of every course at a restaurant. They have very fresh fish and delicious specials. We ordered caesar salad, lump crab cake appetizer, the lobster and asparagus dinner and the Halibut. All fantastic. We then also ordered cheesecake and carrot cake desserts. spectacular. The atmosphere was enough to encourage me to come back- super cute inside and there is also an outside deck. The inside is romantic and cozy, and the server I had, I believe her name was Michelle?- was also knowledgable and made the experience great. Go here. read more

So glad we chose to come here for dinner. Food and service was great. Menu is not very big but just right for me! Cannot wait to return!

This restaurant is wonderful! Great food and a BYOB! We were not sure what to expect but have no issues going here for a great dinner. On our table ordered was a Ceasar salad, clams, delicious bread and outstanding service. Main courses were veal chop, halibut, and short ribs, and the desserts were outstanding! I don't give 5 stars often, but this is an exceptional finding for this area. read more

Vegetarianism and the farm to table concept can be assumed to be quite the symbiotic match, especially when the latter is handled well. That's right--symbiotic. Thank you. In the case of Fresh, that potential is extremely nicely, if not so widely, met. I took immediate notice of the warm and inviting interior when I entered to check to see if we could get a table outside, but the outdoors is in fact where we dined. BYOB, there is a (very) small liquor store about a minute's walk. My advice...know what you want before you go. Make of that what you will. Having secured a table (and a Pinot Grigio), I enjoyed a few minutes on the small, attractive redwood (or ish, at least) deck on the side of the small storefront building, away from the bit of main street traffic, while waiting for my friend. If you know the town, you can imagine the feel, that of a relaxed waterside village of long (I'm willing to dangle the preposition for this...) ago. From the time I arrived, the staff was, in keeping, warmly and casually professional. There was music (Think Under the Boardwalk and What a Wonderful World (No, not the Louis Armstrong; the Sam Cooke (Well yeah it matters 'cause I don't like the former and really love the latter (That scene in Witness (Well yeah, okay, I'm sorry if you didn't see it but I think you're getting a bit off track here anyway.)...).).).) playing, if just a bit too loudly (though our table was quite near a speaker). How could you have not seen Witness? Anyway, as is often the case due to the not eating meat factor, I knew in advance what I'd be ordering. A salad of arugula, beets, goat cheese, and candied pecans was a bit wanting content-wise, but otherwise fresh and delicious. Meanwhile, while tagliatelle is not a favorite pasta (One non-meat offering on the menu, but even with farm to table, not so surprising (This is the lot of the vegetarian which is why I write with them in mind.).), this version with a light tomato and eggplant sauce was cooked just the firmer still side of al dente, and this made all the difference. Also not a large serving, as much as I enjoyed both it and the salad, I could have eaten more before dessert. This, btw, along with the single dinner option, is the only reason for the four--not five (which I almost never give)--stars (so feel free to adjust accordingly in your own mind). Fair to note that I noticed that the servings in some dishes passing by on their way to other tables were quite sizable, to the point that I even mentioned it to my friend upon her arrival. For dessert she had the chocolate creme brulee and I the double chocolate mousse tart. Yes, I did spellcheck on a lot of those words (Had 'em all right (Again, thank you (And I knew tagliatelle and al dente, 'cause, Italian...)...).). We both immediately agreed that I made the far better choice. Hers was served warm, more like a pudding, and was not as chocolatey as one might want. Mine though, was awesome, rich, and, happily for me (though I could totally understand not so for someone not expecting it), salted on one side. Consider it, like the restaurant itself, strongly recommended. Finally, I promised the couple (And their little dog too (The Wizard of Oz? You've seen that, right??).) sitting next to us, with whom we conversed most of the evening (I'm delightful (And I photograph wildlife which makes me seem very Indiana Jones cool and and adventurous (though once a chipmunk scared me and I almost dropped my camera).).), that I'd mention them (Certainly if the restaurant owner prefers I not highlight the pup I'm happy to edit (though he (the pup...), like me, was delightful).). Yeah, they were in there somewhere... From our discussion, it was four guests (Five if you count the dog...), not just we two, who are sure to visit again. I in particular am looking forward to seeing what the kitchen does with fall vegetables, as well as experiencing dining inside in winter. read more

Food was fresh and well prepared. The staff was welcoming, warm and helpful with menu selection. I would highly recommend.

Horrible service. Had an 8pm reservation. It's BYOB so we brought our own alcohol. Waited 45 minutes for a glass of ice until we decided to leave. Chased down our server to tell him we were ready to order and he put his finger up and "shh"ed us. Left and went to Giannas down there street, EXCELLENT service there. read more

I was so busy enjoying myself I actually forgot to check in! I would travel from NYC just to visit this place; the food was OUTSTANDING. Every single item we ordered we devoured, I love farm to table! We were fortunate enough to be seated upstairs where the ambiance was much nicer than downstairs; quieter (except for the large party next to us) and overall prettier. PERFECT place for a romantic evening. While it is on the pricier side, it is ABSOLUTELY worth it. We were only in NJ for the weekend and I really wanted to go back here for dinner every night. Also this restaurant is BYOB (like many in the area) so it's a nice treat that you can bring your own bottle(s) of your liking! Can't wait to go back!! read more

We have been here a few times, and have never been let down. It is BYO, with liquor stores right up the block in either direction if you need a bottle of wine. The food is, as the name suggests, fresh, and the service is wonderful. The place is small and can feel a little cramped - you may feel tempted to join in your neighbor's conversation, or ask to pull the tables together ;-) so beware - they don't all appreciate that! (!) They do have an outside seating area but it's in the alley alongside the restaurant and we've never sat out there. It does look nicely decorated. They do take reservations, but we've called and gotten in on the same night. There are no views to speak of, so maybe people go for the waterfront restaurants, but they don't know what they're missing. We will definitely be back, and back some more. read more

The name of this restaurant is very accurate. It checks a lot of boxes that other places in the area don't: - fresh, farm to table food - interesting menu - great service - comfortable atmosphere - BYOB Few, if any, details are overlooked. read more

This was a Fresh Bistro weekend. My wife and I ordered Saturday night, food was hot portions were excellent. Now to talk about the food. I had the shrimp Diablo which was delicious, my wife had scallops with risotto which was incredible. I would recommend this bistro but only if you want a incredible dining experience. read more

So glad to see this terrific restaurant return after Sandy wrecked most of the businesses on Bay Ave. The setting is cozy and the people are very friendly and accommodating. The menu has regular items and there are always great specials on the menu. We have found the waitresses and chef will work you in regards to the menu. The BYO policy is always a plus. The fresh pasta could have the best spicy sauce ever. Each time we have been, we have gotten amazing deserts. The tiramisu is highly recommended. The best eating experience in Highlands, NJ. read more

Fresh is a gem in the small town of Highlands, NJ. Although I have a bunch of local spots that I love to frequent here, Fresh is where to go if you're looking for something slightly fancier and more intimate. It's also where to go when you're in the mood for exceptional food. Everything is fresh from local farms and waters and the chef certainly knows how to put subtle spins on each menu item to make your dining experience unique. Recently, me and my fellow diners ordered the crab cake appetizer, along with the scallop appetizer to split. Both were so tasty. Be warned, the portions are very small: the scallop appetizer for example is really only good for one person (2 scallops, per order). For my dinner I ordered the grouper, which was really out of this world. It was cooked so perfectly. I also sampled the sauteed lobster entree and the steak entree. Everything on the table when in seconds flat. Dessert recommendations: The tiramisu and the Peach Pie. Yum. Definitely make a reservation if planning a trip here. The service was really great: only one waitress was there on this particular Thursday night, which I think is the norm, our table never felt neglected. Also, don't forget to BYOB. Can't wait to get back. read more

Oh how I love this place, The owner/chef has weathered 2 hurricanes in the 2 years since he opened; forever grateful he did not give up on Highlands! The food - is amazing. I drool just thinking about the lobster dishes and his peaches and cream pie. And don't skip out on the clams to start - they are brought in locally. The dining area is very cozy; solid chance you will be sharing wine & conversation with the table next to by the end of the night. Never had a bad meal there, and we ate there every week for moths after they reopend post Sandy :) read more

Shrimp risotto, short rib, lamb chops & peaches and cream pie were all superb. Fresh rocks! A couple seated next to us was disappointed that they did not serve cherry coke - really? If you wanted cherry coke hit up the Sonic drive through. read more

Their food was good, service was good and prices were very reasonable. We'll definitely go again. I do wish they'd expand their hours and open for lunch though. read more

Celebrated a (big) birthday with my family of 9. They sat us upstairs in a comfortable intimate room. First of all, the wait staff was professional and attentive. Really just perfect. Every meal we all got was excellent, including lobster with mashed potatoes, several vegetarians ordered "fresh tagliatelle" with eggplant, crab cakes, salmon, and steak. Dessert was off the charts, especially the chocolate créeme brûlée and chocolate moose cake. Would not hesitate to eat here again! read more

My husband and I went there for dinner for the first time last week. I am very fussy about where I eat because I am very sensitive to poor quality food/ingredients/food handling. A friend told me about it as she knows I like farm to table type restaurants. I had the clams and my husband had the crab cakes. Really good! Well prepared and good quality. My husband followed with Tuna and I the halibut. OMG, the halibut of all halibut dishes. Fantastic arrangement of summer vegetables with halibut perched delicately on top. The flavor exploded in your mouth. It was the best fish dish I have had in more than 10 years. On a par with what I ate when I lived in Paris. This chef is amazing. Last, but not least, tiramisu and chocolate creme brûlée. My husband and I shared each ither's desert and then he ordered a second chocolate creme brûlée. I finished with a very good expresso. This is a very very good restaurant with top quality food. read more

Fresh Restaurant - New American Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

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Little BYOB restaurant in the Atlantic Highlands that serves farm fresh meals and epic desserts. Food: Really was delicious and a good portion size for the cost and atmosphere. The food is fresh and you can absolutely tell. The pasta itself is OK and doesn't feel fresh made but the ingredients used with it (the main reason you ordered it) are the real stars. Their specials are the way to go as those are what they got in super fresh and generally limited to that season. And their desserts...probably the best cheesecake I have ever had in my entire life. Cheesecake Factory looks like the McDonalds of desserts now. Even the carrot cake was amazingly fresh. Their dessert chef deserves some awards here! Service: Overall, service was very good and it was the right amount of attention without being overbearing. Make sure you arrive on time for your reservation or you may end up waiting at the front door watching everyone else eat. Walk-ins are not recommended for Friday, Saturday or Sunday. As per BYOB, they really can't pour your alcohol for you but they can open it and hand it to you to pour yourself (NJ stupid laws). Decor: It's basically the living room of a house. There is enough room to fit about 50 people and you walk in and are immediately in the dining area. If you are made to wait, there is no waiting area so you feel in the way. It is crowded, the tables are on top of each other and you have to do the whole pull out the entire table to let people in and out. It's cute, but you can't stop seeing yourself as in the front of a house. However, its a fancier house so I'd still recommend getting a little dressed up. If you show up in sneakers, you are way underdressed and should go to the bar next door instead, you are declassing the place. Price: Slightly pricey but with fresh ingredients, not so outside the norm. And it's BYOB...so overall you will save money. Special Notes: BYOB and get dessert. Overall, you can never get bored of the menu as it changes per the season. Absolutely great for a special occassion, date night, or dinner out with some friends. read more

Ridiculously small portions are served here! We were displeased with how cheap the servings here are! A seafood special only 4 ounces with a tablespoon of mash potatoes served with it! A very tiny salad appetizer too! Everything served here is so tiny owner is so cheap with portions! If you dine here you will leave starving! Do your self a favor and go to Porcini on the same street where they serve generous portions and better tasting food! read more

Let me start off my saying the food and waiter were very good. Food- They had a Halibut Special on the menu for $36. Little high but I know Halibut is expensive. Asked for special, was told they were out of Halibut but were substituting Grouper. I asked if they were the same price, knowing Grouper is way less expensive. No, price is still $36 but we add shrimp. Well, they did add shrimp (Singular) Grouper was very tasty, came out on a bed to spinach. Nice, but extremely small. Maybe a 5oz portion. I have never complained about pricing, but I thought this was very expensive for the size and type of fish. Waiter asked what I thought is should be, a said from $28-30. He goes into the expensive overhead. Ok I get it, but Grouper is less than $10/lb. IF they gave 8oz portion, still only about $5. Very Upset. read more

Best upscale dining in Highlands and if you want fresh - it really is. I have been to dine for dates and also with my group of friends and every time it was great. Yes, the food sometimes takes a while, but that is because everything is meticulously and individually prepared. Have some wine (byob) and relax. The service is always excellent and everything is spot on, with tons of traditional and unique entrées to try. Definitely make a reservation as tables fill up very quickly. Try the risotto or veal and don't skip dessert! read more

Fresh is the cutest restaurant. It's so intimate and the staff is so friendly. The Thai Mussels are fantastic and so are the scallops!

I attended a 50th birthday party this past weekend. I'm typically not impressed, but this "Fresh" catering place was fantastic. Food was truly delicious, and all the workers seemed to genuinely care (which these days is shocking). I have no idea on their pricing, but would def put them on a short list to contact for an upcoming event, top notch. read more

I Love this place!!! It's a BYOB so you can have a fantastic meal with your wine for a reasonable price. The service is always A+ and the food is great! The staff and owner take great pride in everything they do. I dream about the deconstructed BLT salad!! I usually get one of the fish specials which are incredible. The salted caramel gelato should not be missed either. I have eaten here more than 10 times and have had 2 parties here. I am never disappointed. Everything is handled with finesse and class.I rarely give 5 stars but in this case its warranted. read more

Way too noisy! Food OK but overpriced. Pretention over substance. Farm to table - yawn... read more

Great BYOB with amazing food and service. Quaint and intimate dinning, perfect for a quiet but lively meal. Warm bread on the table and sweet tomato balsamic bruschetta to start. Appetizers: burrata, grilled chimichurri shrimp; Entree: lobster asparagus signature dish, seafood linguine, crab cakes; Dessert: carrot cake (save room, it's the best I've ever had). Everything was delicious, never disappointed with this local gem. - I keep returning and am never disappointed. The food and the service are of the highest quality. read more

Excellent food and ambience. Friendly and attentive staff. One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Definitely five stars.

Fresh is a gem to discover! We wanted to come here for a few months and learning it's been here for five years was news. For this shore fishing town, the inside is a bit more upscale but they didn't seem to mind if you were casual. The rolls they brought out were some of the best I have ever had. Flaky and deliciously fresh. We were a party of 6 so we got some appetizers, and the burrata special was top notch. For entrees, everyone loved their selections but my strip steak with the chefs cut one steak sauce was so good, I cleaned the plate. Other standouts were the shrimp and pea risotto and the peaches and cream dessert was so good! Perfect little get away for a small celebration, anniversary, date night or just a bite. It's BYOB. Service was top notch too. read more

We have been coming to this Highlands gem for the past 2 years. It is truly one of the Shore's finest restaurants. The quality of food and service is exceptional. William, the owner, is extremely pleasant and strives to ensure your dining experience will be exceptional. While all the dishes are very good, the veal chop is beyond compare and to top it off, the restaurant is a BYOB. A fantastic night out, you won't be disappointed. read more

went back 3 times in the paste 2 months. This place is only getting better. with the addition of the deck on the side street (very nice when whether permit. first time back there, we were a group of 30 people and we occupied the all 5 tables on the deck. We had a family style late lunch. it was awesome!!! read more

Really great, cozy restaurant with amazing service and food! Cosmo took great care of us with the clams, tuna (great quality) and scallops. Make sure to order the pork medium rare if you like it that way. We'll definitely be back. read more

Great Service and Great friendly people. So many dishes to choose from as well. The prices are great for the quality of food you get. Definitely going to come here again ! read more

Consistent execution on food and service. My favorite place to eat outside of NYC. Favorites are the lobster, the salmon and the carrot cake for dessert. read more