Julia's Restaurant
Opened in the spring of 2005, Julia's Restaurant is owned by former Major League Baseball player John Valentin. The restaurant offers special three-course meals on certain nights and a daily happy hour with cocktails, wine, and food specials. The elegant atmosphere features a Mediterranean-inspired decor, geared toward romantic dinners for two. Using fresh meat, seafood, and local produce, Julia's Restaurant serves up appetizers, homemade pastas and desserts. Start off with Mozzarella Napoleon, an appetizer of house-made mozzarella cheese layered in ripe beefsteak tomatoes and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic syrup. Remember to make room for the pasta, such as Frutte di Mare, a blend of Gulf shrimp, littleneck clams, calamari, and Prince Edward mussels in a spicy cherry peppered plum tomato sauce served over linguine. If you're not in the mood for pasta, Julia's offers many meat dishes, including a 28-ounce Australian rack of lamb, finished with a creamy blue cheese sauce and served with potato croquettes, zucchini, and squash. Reservations are recommended, and Julia's is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Julia's Restaurant
91 First Ave.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
(732) 872-1007
juliasrestaurantnj.com
The Copper Canyon Restaurant
Serving lunch on weekdays and dinner all seven nights, The Copper Canyon serves up Southwestern-style food and more than 150 different tequilas. The large windows and modern decor enhance the restaurant's casual and comfortable atmosphere. All hot lunch items are served with black beans, including the tuna taquitos, a dish of seared Luna loin, avocado, corn tortilla, and sweet serrano chili sauce. Another lunch favorite is the ancho-grilled baby lamb chops, dished up with mango salsa. For dinner, try the seafood ceviche tostada, featuring shrimp, scallops, halibut, chiles, and lime with avocado or the chile rellenos, made with goat cheese, shiitakes, roasted almonds, black beans, and white truffle oil. If you're a fan of tequila, be sure to go online and sign up for the restaurant's tequila tastings.
The Copper Canyon Restaurant
51 First Ave.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
(732) 291-8444
thecoppercanyon.com
On The Deck
Opened in the summer of 2008 and offering both indoor and outdoor dining, On The Deck offers views of Shrewsbury River, Gateway National Park, and the New York City skyline as you dine. The warm and casual atmosphere offers nightly specials and a lively bar setting. Appetizers are a great way to get started---make sure you try the spiced talapia bites served with pineapple chutney. For lunch, sample the horseradish-encrusted burger with a panko horseradish gorgonzola crust or the chipotle pasta, a penne tossed in smokey and sweet chipotle cream sauce. For dinner, try the yellow fin tuna, a pan-seared, sesame-encrusted tuna set on top of Asian coleslaw and drizzled with soy ginger. Those in the mood for pasta can try the stuffed rigatoni, tossed in a creamy marinara and served with garlic bread. A kid's menu features traditional kid-friendly fare.
On The Deck
10 Simon Lake Dr.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
(732) 872-1423
onthedeckrestaurant.com
