Doris and Eds Seafood Restaurant
A NJ Restaurant Rating and Review

Doris and Eds Seafood Restaurant
348 Shore Drive
Highlands, NJ
732-872-1565

Restaurant Review

Doris & Ed's remains closed
due to storm & water damage

With a grand re-opening on March 12, 2010 and the arrival of new Executive Chef Thomas Donohoe, this review needs to updated after several months to experience to impact of Executive Chef Donohoe on this restaurant with a tradition of serving up outstanding seafood.

Executive Chef Donohoe comes with impressive credentials and the expectations are that Doris and Eds will reach a new high.

Executive Chef Donohoe returns to his native New Jersey native, after serving as chef at the nationally acclaimed Rainbow Ranch Lodge in Big Sky, Montana, where during his tenue, the restaurant was named as a DiRōna distinction recipient. Prior to that he was trained by master chef Thomas Keller of the nationally acclaimed French Laundry, one of the top restaurants in the U.S. and visionary food artist, Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto.

Doris and Eds has a long history of being a true classic restaurant and is one of the best sea food restaurants in New Jersey with scenic views of Sandy Hook Bay.

Owner/operator Jim Filip has a passion for the freshest and best seafood and makes the early morning drive each day to New York's Fulton Fish Market to carefully select the catches of the day.

They also offer an outstanding selection of over 315 bottles of wine with a focus on California whites along with sound advice on the pairing of your dishes with wine. They recently began to offer a BYOB night on Sunday's.

The atmosphere is upscale casual Jersey shore with a well trained staff.

The menu is extensive with a wide variety of well prepared fresh seafood dishes. Perhaps the biggest complaint amongst patrons is the high price for many of the menu items, though they offer a reasonably priced three course Prix menu.

When available, the recommended starters are: The Colossal Lump Crab Cake over baby greens with Doris & Ed’s tartar sauce and crisp root vegetables; The Chilled Salad of Maine Lobster with rock shrimp and little-neck clams tossed with ruby grapefruit and shaved fennel on an avocado marble; and the Lobster Bisque Artichoke Soup with dates, almonds, and capers.

When available, the recommended entrees are: The Sauteed Red Snapper over rock shrimp and fresh tomatoes with a warm herb vinaigrette; The American Kobe Gold Beef from Oregon, wet aged new york strip only cooked rare or medium rare, to preserve the tenderness; and the Seared Ahi Tuna with sauteed soy beans, radish and pistachio butter.

The dessert menu, which includes a selection of cheeses, is extensive. When available, the recommended desserts are: Doris & Ed’s classic dessert with warm chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream served with lustau, “east india solera” sherry; The Key lime pie, Meyer lemon crème brûlée: and the Caramelized Apple and pastry cream tucked into a phyllo cup with kumquat sauce.

Reservations are definitely recommended, especially during the popular warmer months.