Doris & Ed’s has been a fixture in Highlands, New Jersey for decades. I’m not quite sure how I grew up practically the next town over and never had the pleasure of visiting the James Beard Award-winning restaurant, but to my sheer delight, that is no longer the case!
For over 30 years, it has been owner Jim Filip’s mission to create an ultimate dining experience for his guests, and he has been wildly successful in doing exactly that! Jim Filip is warm, welcoming, and enviably knowledgeable about every ingredient used in his restaurant. His passion for food, wine and hospitality oozes out of every pore of his body – if he is there when you visit, be sure to talk to him about the menu selections – he is a font of knowledge, and an absolute thrill to talk to! Executive Chef Thomas Donohoe, who has trained with such illustrious chefs as Thomas Keller (The French Laundry) and Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto), clearly shares Jim Filip’s all-consuming passion for food, and skillfully radiates that passion onto the plate. Both men are truly committed to serving top quality, local ingredients, and providing a “refined, yet fun” dining experience for their guests.
Our incredible visit to Doris & Ed’s began with a couple of amazing cocktails:
The Jersey Fresh Bloody Mary is made with Jersey Fresh crushed tomatoes and Square One organic vodka, and rimmed with a fennel-spice blend. It is one of the freshest bloody marys I have ever tasted, and the fennel-spice rim was unique and SO delicious! The Manhattan was definitely not your standard Manhattan – this one is made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey and Urban Moonshine Organic Bitters, and garnished with ridiculously delicious Italian Luxardo cherries!
We started with Wild Belon Oysters in a Champagne Mignonette. The delicate mignonette was the perfect accompaniment to these incredibly special oysters from the coast of Maine.
Wild Belon oysters are like no other oyster I have ever tasted. They are mildly briny, with a distinct coppery taste, and have absolutely beautiful shells. These unique, delicious oysters are truly a special treat!
Our next course was McCormack Farms Asparagus and Ahi Tuna Crudo. The asparagus was shaved raw into the crudo…and it had been picked fresh that morning at McCormack Farms in Middletown, New Jersey! The crisp, amazingly fresh asparagus and delicate, sweet tuna were tossed with a sweet-tart lemon vinaigrette and topped with mild, lightly salty Hackleback caviar. This crudo was absolutely spectacular!
Next, we enjoyed Doris & Ed’s legendary lobster bisque. This silky, creamy bisque was luxurious, but not overly rich, and absolutely chock-full of sweet, tender lobster!
The Basil Marinated Shrimp was another taste of perfection! The perfectly-cooked shrimp were served with marinated cucumbers, tomato confit, baby arugula and a little bit of lemon rind, which gave the perfect citrusy bite!
Our next course, Sweet Butter Poached Maine Lobster served with crisp, fresh English peas, yellowfoot mushrooms and summer truffle vinagrette, sent me into pure bliss! The sweet, tender lobster was nestled atop a puree of the same crisp sweet peas that accompanied it – believe it or not, this dish was both incredibly decadent and incredibly fresh and light!
Li’l Random enjoyed the Truffle Parmesan French Fries – and I have to admit, Mr. Random and I enjoyed our share of those fries, too!
Next we enjoyed Atlantic Halibut a la Plancha. “A la plancha” refers to any food that is grilled on a metal plate. The tender fish was grilled perfectly, and served with braised pork belly, salsify and an orange-carrot emulsion.
The Pan Roasted Breast of Hudson Valley Duck was yet another taste of absolute perfection! The duck was seared to perfection, with oh-so-crispy skin, and served with a dried cherry reduction made with the same fabulous Luxardo cherries that were in my Manhattan at the beginning of this incredibly delicious meal! The pretty little purple flowers on top of the duck are rosemary flowers, which came from Doris & Ed’s herb garden outside the restaurant.
Li’l Random’s dessert was Doris & Ed’s amazing Boston Cream Pie! Covered in warm, luscious chocolate and served with raspberry coulis and sugared lemon rind, this dessert was not only a sight to behold, but a completely decadent way to end a perfect meal.
Mr. Random and I ended our meal with the Chocolate and Banana Pot de Creme - a bottom layer of thick, rich chocolate, topped with an absolutely amazing banana mousse, and served with chantilly cream and dehydrated peanut brittle. This yummy dessert was not overly rich, but still fabulously decadent, and also a perfect way to end a spectacular meal!
It may have taken me way too long to make my first trip to Doris & Ed’s, but I will be sure not to let too much time pass before my next one! Owner Jim Filip and Executive Chef Thomas Donohoe have created an atmosphere of welcoming comfort and a menu full of little bits of culinary heaven – make it a point to seize the opportunity to enjoy what these incredibly talents have to offer!
Tags: Chocolate, Dessert, Favorite dishes, Food, Produce, Restaurants, Reviews, Seafood
Everything looks fabulously delish!!
I’ve managed to never eat there as well. How is that possible? Didn’t know they were JB award winners.
Wow! Nothing else … just WOW.
I’m looking at this post at 5:15 PM and absolutely dying…the food looks amazing. I can almost taste it from your photos and descriptions!!!