Alison C.
Yelp
I had been intrigued by The Highwood from the moment it had opened. While sports bars were not normally my go-to, that one had great reviews, an expansive space, and a stunning view. The other day, my social media feed was full of announcements of the restaurant's 5th anniversary party. The festivities were super hyped up and the promise of complementary passed hors d'œuvres and champagne for the first hour, immediately caught my attention. I made a reservation, and we hopped on the light rail, making it a very quick trip into Weehawken and a 2 minute walk to The Highwood.
The energy of the place could be felt from a block away. We walked up to the red carpet and past the bouncer to enter the large bar. The hostess then walked us through the dining room, seating us at a table with a great view of their outdoor patio and the Hudson River just beyond that. Once we were seated, the passed appetizers started to appear in rapid fire, and I appreciated that they brought them to the diners at tables, not just the crowds at their two bars. I sampled the following bites, many of which were snack-sized portions of regular menu items:
1.) Ribeye Anticuchos (skewer of prime ribeye with anticuchera sauce and a single small potato with chimichurri)
- Meat was tender and flavorful, but the sauce was very smoky and had an overpowering amount of cumin in it. The potato was enjoyable.
2.) Highwood Ceviche (catch of the day (snapper?), red onions, habanero, sweet potato, corn, cancha, rocoto-tiger milk)
- Acidic, but fresh and bright
3.) Beef Sliders (patty with white cheddar cheese, fried onions, on a sweet bun)
-Burger meat had a burnt taste, and the bun was dry and crumbly.
4.) Ricotta toast with red grapes (crunchy bread, topped with runny, sweet cheese and sliced, marinated grapes)
- Dynamic bite of textures and flavors
5.) Crab Salad Tarts (crab salad in a small pastry crust, topped with fish eggs)
- The crust was too delicate and broke easily, and the salad had way too much mayo.
Since I had had those few extra tastes, I wanted to get a meal that was not too heavy, so I went with the Sweet & Spicy Poke Bowl. However, for $14, it was much larger than I had anticipated. The bowl started with sushi rice, which was then topped with teriyaki salmon, colossal crab meat, avocado, seaweed salad, cucumber, edamame, crispy onions, and furikake. Every ingredient was fresh and tasty, but the dish was dry. I requested a cup of ponzu sauce, which made the dish much more enjoyable.
I paired the food with the One in a Melon cocktail, one of the few mixed drinks included in the $12 happy hour special. The potent blend included a hefty pour of Olmeca Altos Tequila Blanco, mixed with fresh watermelon. The happy hour also included select $5 drafts. In addition, I heard very good reviews about the Hickory Stick Old Fashioned.
I also would be remis without mentioning the service, which was stellar! We were continually checked on by our server, other front of the house members, and even the manager, but in a positive way. You could tell the staff really cared about the patrons and were skilled at "touching tables" at the precise intervals to be attentive and not annoying.
The vibe was a mix of a sports bar, with televisions covering almost all of the wall space, and night club with trendy dressers and DJ tunes. The drinks were creative, and the food offered something for everyone (burgers to salads to sushi, etc.). The Highwood really offered an uplifting experience that validated their five years of success.