I recently had the pleasure of taking a trip to New Jersey, and had the liberty of tasting many dishes from the local restaurants in the small town of Mt.Holly. The restaurant that is worth taking a detour for is the High Street Grill.

The High Street Grill in located near Burlington, just south of the I-295 New Jersey Turn Pike located on High Street in old town Mt.Holly. Mt.Holly, formally Northampton is one of the oldest townships in the New Jersey. In old town, some of the oldest buildings still stand erect for historical enjoyment.

Aside from the history of this town, High Street Grill is an enjoyable establishment. Locally owned and operated by John and Nancy. Nancy was an excellent host and sat my fiancé and I in the upstairs dining room. Down stairs is a bar and lounge where a local band played mellow music for patrons to enjoy. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, a locally known pianist performs in the lounge for an added pleasure of soft sounds. Many folks sit and enjoy cocktails in the bar to listen to the melodies.

As you walk up the stairs towards the dinning area, you can see the chef preparing dishes. I did feel a little underdressed for the atmosphere, but no one seemed to pay any mind to my attire. The restaurant isn’t high society elegant, although you may consider this establishment “upscale casual”. Nancy sat us in the far corner of a beautifully lit dinning area near the window to overlook the street below. It was rather romantic to say the least. We both felt cozy and comfortable. The music was just soft enough to hear, but not over powering that we couldn’t speak to ourselves in a soft audible.

I started the evening with an enjoyable glass of a 2003 South African Fleur du Cap Shiraz with a California Baby Aragua Salad. Because, Aragua is a bitter leaf, the medium bodied-earthy Shiraz complimented the salad. I also ordered the Mediterranean Sampler as an appetizer. It included flatbread with Hummus, Muhammara, and Baba Ghanouj with Feta and Olives. This appetizer isn’t much to look at, but the flavors were astounding.

The main course was even more delightful. I ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon. The salmon was glazed in a shiraz barbecue sauce and pan seared to perfection. The salmon covered a small bed of vegetables and potato. The salmon was cooked perfectly and it melted in my mouth. It was so delightful that I was so sure that other dishes were just as exquisite. My dinner was followed by an outstanding crème brûlée, a rich custard base topped with a layer of flame hardened caramel. Prior to my visit to the High Street Grill, I never had the pleasure of enjoying a crème brûlée. If all Crème brûlée tastes like this, I can see why it is a popular upscale desert.

The restaurant for being located in a small New Jersey town, gives the visitor a feel of inner city elegance hidden in a small town. The service was just as pleasant as the food. If you are looking for excellent cooking with a romantic atmosphere that is worth the detour, the High Street Grill is the perfect place to take a loved one.

If you would care to see their full menu, please go to http://highstreetgrill.net/dinnermenu.htm. It isn’t required, but if you plan on visiting this restaurant during the weekend, it is highly recommended to reserve a table. Space is very limited.

I highly recommend the High Street Grill.