HighlandPlace Shifts into High Gear

HighlandPlace is shaping into the sort of place that tries to be everything to everyone – in a good way. From family-friendly, affordable options to fine dining and a boisterous bar scene (especially Wednesday Karaoke nights), this local spot is valiantly vying for broader appeal and quite capably competing with Maplewood’s many restaurant choices.

“We really want to be a place with a neighborhood feel, where younger families can come grab a steak and a burger,” explains proprietor . “Really we just want to bring people some entertainment and hopefully a great meal.”

Before it was HighlandPlace, 5 Highland Place was Cent’Anni – a celebrated place that attracted a steady stream of somewhat subdued regulars. Since taking over the space, Farrow has angled to attract a wider range of folks by stepping away from the traditional Italian fare to a steakhouse menu. The most recent additions include more bar, tapas and children's choices, making Highland not only one of the largest eateries in town (the space seats nearly 140 people) but now one with what may be the most extensive and ambitious menu.

Farrow, a former financial software salesman, took the leap into the restaurant business six years ago at the urging of family and friends.

“I’d always loved entertaining,” says Farrow. “Running my own place was something I really wanted to do.” Acknowledging the growing and transitional pains his eatery has experienced in this economic climate, he adds with a chuckle. “Of course I now know that it’s a whole a lot harder than hosting friends at your home!”

Recently Farrow has teamed up with investor and food consultant Dan Dandino to tweak the menu, ambiance and entertainment offerings:

"Over the past few months, Chris, Dan, myself and the entire HighlandPlace team have been working hard to change our product to be more fun, affordable and family friendly while at the same time raising the quality of our service and food,” says Kerns, who points to Highland’s strict ‘fresh is best’ adherence which continuously runs from individual ingredients to home-made salad dressings and desserts. “Maplewood is quickly becoming a destination place to enjoy great food and entertainment,” he adds. “HP is one of those premiere establishments and getting better all the time."

Judging from the word of mouth buzz that Highland’s been garnering for its menu changes and dependably exceptional live music, this tried and true Maplewood spot has changed for the better. To put the ‘all things to all people’ approach to the test, I hit Highland twice in one week with two very specific ambitions: a Decent Date Night and an Affordable Family Meal.

Date Night: My husband and I spent a stellar Saturday night over a table for two with candlelight in a quiet relaxed dining room with exposed brick and attentive service.

We started off with the Bacon-wrapped dates filled with blue cheese and drizzled with shallot vinaigrette ($6). I could have ended the dinner there – not because what followed wasn’t good, but because these things were THAT great. (While this combination of sweet and savory may not have been overly appealing to me before that night, it’s now on my short list of addictions. Delicious.) Two other stand-out starters are the grilled fillet mignon served over flatbread with white bean puree and sun-dried tomato chutney ($10) and lump crab cakes served over an arugula salad ($11).

For the main event, my artfully arranged pancetta wrapped scallops ($26) were served with potato gratin and light francese sauce and were pretty much perfect – even for this scallop snob: sufficiently salty, plump, tender and not over doused with superfluous stuff. The showstopper of the night, though, was my husband’s rib-eye ($31) — 14 oz of sizzling medium rare glory that the man could not stop praising mid-mouthful. (Chris credits the reaction to Highland’s open wood-burning grill which imparts authentic smoky seasoning.)

So complimentary of the flavor was my dining companion that I fully fell off my somewhat-no-red-meat stance to verify his reaction. He wasn’t kidding, and the black peppercorn sauce further solidified the props from my side of the table, too.

We opted to end the experience with a slice of key lime pie (not too tart or overly tangy) and the malted chocolate mousse cake (both house-made and $7). Of the two, I’d cast my vote for key lime, only because I like my chocolate overly, overly so, but really look forward next time to sampling the exclusive flavors of the artisanal gelato is conjuring up for the eatery. (How about bacon-wrapped date gelato?! No — really!)

On our way out we were waylaid from relieving the babysitter by funky, soulful song-smithing skills. A drink later we were absolutely satiated, soothed and ready to go home, having had a great night out on the town — all under one roof.

Later that week we returned to HighlandPlace for the next
test…kids in tow for…

Family Night: I oft liken dining with our wee ones to ripping up $20 bills. Between the drinks they order and don’t finish and the foods they finish that I wish they didn’t order, it’s usually a hard experience to swallow (even without the under–table kicking). Add to everything the fact that most places only offer up overly priced fried stuff as ‘kiddie fare’ and you’ve usually got a recipe for indigestion before you’ve even ordered.

To my delight Highland is not only one of (if not THE) best children’s menu deals in town, but their $6 kids choices come with a choice of sides (French fries, carrots, steamed broccoli or apple sauce) as well as a chocolate or vanilla ice cream dessert. So large was my daughter’s side of broccoli that Chris likes to joke that the chef must not like kids. (Foiled, Sir Chef: So perfectly cooked was the perfectly crunchy, seasoned broccoli that she ate the entire amount!)

As for entrees, my entire table went the burger route — the kids, beef; myself, the very good veggie ‘Emma’ burger (created by Chris to appease the taste-buds of the dished namesake, his daughter, a vegetarian from the age of eight). My husband went with – you guessed it – the Rib-eye. Again. Same moaning this time, too.

Takeaway: From Date to Family Night, Highland truly passed with high marks. Next on my list of Highland to-dos? The Wednesday Night Karaoke to see a certain father and son team from my neighborhood take on the competition….IF I can get my head around staying up that late on a ‘school night’ – singing starts at 9:30. Hmm, maybe an Irish coffee with a side of Bacon-wrapped dates would do the trick!

HighlandPlace Steakhouse – 5 Highland Place, Maplewood 973-763-3083. Dinner, drinks, live entertainment. Dinner Hours: Monday- Closed, Tuesday thru Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday & Saturday 5-11 pm. Sunday 4-8 pm and as of September 6th open for lunch, (doors open at 11:30).