Saltwater Bar and Kitchen by Big Mike - Highlands, New Jersey

Paul P.

Great place with friendly service and delicious food. Started with an apple salad which was fresh and more than enough for two people. The eggplant parm was not made in the traditional manner but was more crispy and full of flavor. The roasted chicken was juicy and mashed potatoes were perfectly made. Our server was excellent and one of the Mikes made an awesome pistachio martini. Other cocktails were right on point. See you again soon.

Jennifer

This place is a gem in Highlands! It’s a cute place with a modern atmosphere. The bar was packed on a Tuesday! We sat at a table and had dinner. We ordered the local clam chowder soup without bacon. It didn’t have much clams, but it was creamy and very good! For dinner we had the lobster fried rice and the Fluke Francese. Both were EXCELLENT! The Fluke Francese was fresh, and the orzo Alfredo was DELICIOUS! They ave a nice amount of lobster in the fried rice and the fried rice had a delicious flavor to it! For dessert we had the crumb cake and cookies. The crumb cake was good, but the cookies it came with were ever better! The cookies tasted they were fresh out the oven! All the portions were huge and shareable. Service was very friendly. I highly recommend Saltwater Bar And Kitchen By Big Mike in the Highlands!

melissa N.

The entire experience was amazing. It is obvious that every dish was created and prepared with thought. The food was beyond fresh and DELICIOUS! Atmosphere was comforting and relaxing. Service was attentive and very friendly.
The one thing I detest is going to a place, spending good money and getting served frozen food. This was not the case. It’s obvious that the owner has true passion for great service and food. GOOD JOB!!!

Dennis R.

We have lived in NJ for 30 years and generally save eating out for when we go to DC to visit our son. The exception has become Saltwater Bar and Kitchen (formerly Salt water social) again and again. Food is the best we have had in NJ and we have tried a lot. Conception and preparation are superb. Tonight we went for a special wine pairing 4 course dinner...simply superb. Shrimp caviche 1st course, pork ravioli-like 2nd course (sorry my description doesn't do it justice) and braised beef spare rib 3rd course...all superb. Finished with a fruit scone. Definitely worth the trip to Highlands. Also great cocktails and good wine selections. No place in NJ I would recommend more. Can't say enough about what Big Mike is doing here. His love of what he is doing will be readily apparent from the time you walk in the door.

Mary E. L.

A real gem! Not only provided a beautiful venue to celebrate our son’s wedding, but gave us a more private space on the loft to hold the ceremony! We were an intimate party of 8 and ordered off the menu. Mike was super accommodating and attentive. The afternoon atmosphere, service, food and drink were perfect! Highly recommend!

Brigid M.

I tried this place out with my family during their grand opening, and we were all blown away with the food. We ordered a variety of items from the menu, because there were so many great options. The appetizers were phenomenal. My personal favorite was the General Tso's Bao Buns! The bite sized pretzels in this mustard & wine sauce were unreal. I ordered the Poppa burger, and it was to die for, I mean just look at the picture below. Lastly, we saved room for dessert and ordered the Mom's crumb cake and cookies. The crumb cake was truly one of the best pieces that I've had. Definitely a spot worth checking out! Most menu items range from $14.00-$39.00, and I included a photo of their menu as well.

Mai P.

I had a fantastic time last night dining here. The food was simply outstanding, with each dish prepared to perfection, bursting with flavor and presented beautifully. We started off with apple salad, tuna tartar and general tso bao bun. All delightful. My husband enjoyed the suckling pig with grits (im usually not a fan of grits but it was delicious) and i ordered scallops with risotto. The drinks were equally impressive, with a diverse selection of expertly crafted cocktails and fine wines. I throughly enjoyed the peach martini. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with elegant decor and soft lighting that created a cozy, relaxed ambiance. Connie, our waitress, provided impeccable service, attending to every detail with grace and efficiency, making sure our dining experience was flawless. Her friendly demeanor and professional attentiveness truly elevated our evening.

If you're looking for a great blend of great food, drinks and ambiance, this is the place to be.

Tina M.

Such a cute place in the middle of the highlands. Really great specialty drinks. The food was delicious. Highly recommend the Purple Haze eggplant sandwich and even the fries were perfectly cooked and crispy. Definitely worth the trip! The bartender was super friendly too.