This afternoon my friend and I decided to take a leisurely hike at Hartshorne Woods Park in Highlands, NJ. Before we made our way to the trails, we wanted to fuel up with a bite to eat. We came across Bay Ave Bakery & Cafe which is only a five minute drive from the park.
LOCATION
Bay Ave Bakery & Cafe is located at 111 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ. Their current hours of operation as of October 2021 are seven days a week, 6:30am to 6pm.
ABOUT THE CAFE
Currently, Bay Ave Cafe is only offering take-out, and no dine-in services. They have a few picnic tables set up outside which is perfect. This was our first time dining here, and it did not disappoint. The cafe is small, but as soon as you walk in you see the cooks cheffing it up in the kitchen, as well as an array of fresh baked goods. They sell homemade cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, bagels and more in the bakery portion of this establishment.
THE FOOD
We of course couldn’t pass up a fresh baked treat, so we each made sure to get a cupcake to enjoy as our after lunch dessert. Remembering we went there for lunch food and not just dessert, we checked out the main menu. Bay Ave Cafe offers classics such as a grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese, chicken parmesan sub, salads, homemade french fries, omelettes, and many other breakfast/lunch options.
I ordered a grilled cheese on a handmade everything bagel with ham, which costs $6.50, and my friend ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, which costs $9.75. The grilled cheese was immaculate on a bagel (basically a breakfast sandwich but tasted even better). Both of our sandwiches were served with potato chips and a large pickle. My friend loved her grilled chicken sandwich, and the portion was pretty big (looked like a 10 inch sub roll). The grilled chicken sandwich was juicy and topped with fresh peppers, onions and cheese.
After we ate our sandwiches on the cute picnic tables outside the restaurant, we dug into our cupcakes. It was a tough choice to pick which dessert I wanted since they have so many fresh baked options. I was torn between the mini New York Cheesecake ($4) and the chocolate-coconut-marshmallow cupcake ($2.25), but I went with the cupcake. The cupcake was very moist and fluffy, and the marshmallow icing with coconut flakes on top really made it even better. My friend got a huge chocolate-peanut butter stuffed cupcake (about $5.50) and was in love. This looked incredible, and she said the flavor was impeccable! I definitely recommend coming here for both breakfast or lunch fare, and dessert!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This local Jersey eatery offers delicious breakfast and lunch food, handmade bagels, and a plethora a fresh baked goods. The service is friendly and welcoming. While the joint is small, they do not fail to offer a great variety of menu options at a generally reasonable price. We appreciated the outdoor picnic tables as they were only offering take-out when we visited. The inside of the eatery feels like your classic Jersey cafe: a little tight on space, locals conversing anticipating their food, and the slight smell of meats sizzlin’ on the griddle. I would definitely eat here again when I am in the Highlands area in need of a quick option where taste isn’t ignored!
BAY AVE BAKERY & CAFE REVIEW
Food: 4.7/5
Service: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 4.4/5
Price: 4.7/5
Overall: 4.6/5
