Dinner with a View: Why One Willow Is Monmouth County's Best Waterfront Restaurant
- May 8
- 3 min read
Some restaurants are about the food. Some are about the setting. The best ones are about both, and those are rare.
One Willow, perched on the water at 1 Willow Street in Highlands, New Jersey, is one of those rare places. It's a seafood and raw bar restaurant where the food is genuinely excellent, and the views are genuinely breathtaking, and neither one lets the other down.
If you haven't been yet, here's everything you need to know before you go.
The Views Are the Real Thing
One Willow sits directly on Sandy Hook Bay. From both the indoor dining room — with its floor-to-ceiling windows and the outdoor deck, you have unobstructed panoramic views of the water and the New York City skyline in the distance. Depending on the time of day, the light shifts from bright afternoon glitter to the warm amber of sunset to the glow of Manhattan across the bay after dark.
It's the kind of view that makes you put your phone down. And then pick it back up to take a photo. And then put it down again because the real thing is better.
Seafood That Takes Sourcing Seriously
One Willow was built on a genuine love for the ocean and a commitment to doing seafood right. The team regularly travels to the Fulton Fish Market — one of the most renowned seafood markets in the world — to source the finest whole fish available. They also work with local fisheries and trusted suppliers who share their values around sustainable, ethically caught seafood.
That dedication shows up on the plate. Every dish on the menu reflects what's available, fresh, and in season, which is exactly how great seafood restaurants should work.
What to Order: A Look at the Menu
Executive Chef and Partner Nicholas Liberto leads the kitchen, and his menu manages to feel both approachable and genuinely impressive at the same time.
Start with the Raw Bar One Willow's foundation. Fresh oysters, clams, and chilled shrimp set the tone for the kind of evening ahead. From the appetizer menu, the Grilled Littleneck Clams arrive with Calabrian chili butter, chives, lemon zest, and sourdough bread crumbs simple, coastal, and deeply satisfying. The Tuna Tacos featuring Bluefin tuna in crispy wonton shells with wasabi ponzu have become a crowd favorite for good reason.
For entrees, the kitchen's sustainable sourcing philosophy shines. The Bluefin Tuna comes with carrot ginger purée, sesame green beans, cabbage slaw, and salsa macha, a dish that balances bold flavors without overpowering the fish itself. The Hiddenfjord Salmon is paired with roasted fennel purée, pickled cabbage, quinoa, marinated tomatoes, and beurre blanc.
For something equally satisfying but more classically New Jersey Shore, the Spaghetti & Local Littleneck Clams made with Semolina Pasta Shoppe spaghetti, colatura, white wine, breadcrumbs, and aged Parmesan is a must.
If you're in the mood for something from the land, the Grilled Swordfish with cannellini beans and broccoli rabe holds its own, and the Smoked Pork Chop house-smoked Berkshire Pork with roasted apple purée, braised cabbage, bacon lardon, and sauce charcuterie, is one of the most comforting things on the menu.
There's also a daily Fulton Fresh Catch, whatever the team brought back from the market that week, which is worth asking your server about.
Cocktails Worth Lingering Over
One Willow's cocktail program matches the energy of the food: creative, coastal, and well-crafted. The Jersey Surfin' Mi Campo Blanco tequila, lemon, jalapeño-infused orange liqueur, cucumber, and cilantro is refreshing and perfect for a warm evening on the deck.
The 732 (named after the local area code) brings together Ketel One vodka, St-Germain, Aperol, lemon, and orange bitters for something bright and bittersweet. The Captain's Old Fashioned, made with High West bourbon, is rich and unhurried — exactly right for a long waterfront evening.
Non-drinkers aren't left out either. The spiritless menu includes options like the Garden State (Seedlip Spice 94, basil, cucumber, red bell pepper, lemon) and Seas the Day (The Pathfinder Hemp & Root, ginger, lemon, cucumber, mint, ginger ale) — both thoughtfully made.
When to Go
One Willow's hours vary by season, so the best way to plan your visit is to check the current schedule at onewillowhighlands.com before heading out. Whether you're coming for a weekday dinner, a weekend brunch, or a summer lunch on the water, the team updates their hours regularly to reflect what's open. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during the summer season when the waterfront fills up fast.
Come for the View. Stay for the Food.
One Willow is located at 1 Willow Street in Highlands, NJ just a short drive from the Garden State Parkway and easily accessible from most of Monmouth County.
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