Highlands Café
300 Bay Ave,
Highlands, NJ

HIGHLANDS, NJ – On Monday, April 14th at 6:00 pm, members of the Highlands Council and representatives from the Highlands Business Partnership officially welcomed the Highlands Café with a celebratory ribbon cutting at its new location, 300 Bay Ave., Highlands.

At the heart of Highlands Café is a dynamic trio of chefs: Laercio "Junior" Chamon Jr., Bill Alexander, and Christopher Booket. All three honed their culinary skills at the Brookdale Community College Culinary Program, and their paths first converged at Graze Restaurant, in Little Silver—a beloved local farm-to-table spot —where their shared philosophy and friendship began to take root. Their passion for food, people, and community is the secret ingredient in every dish they create.

Chef Laercio "Junior" Chamon Jr. brings over 25 years of culinary experience to the table, though his journey started humbly—with a bucket of oysters and a dream. From shucking shellfish at 15 to launching a successful food truck, catering company, and restaurant, Junior’s story is one of perseverance and passion. His food truck, Cuts, and Catch, offers a fresh and fast casual Surf & Turf menu and can be found seasonally at The Seafarer, 1 Atlantic St. Now back in Highlands—where it all started for him at the iconic Doris & Ed’s—Junior is focused on using food to strengthen community ties and lead a team grounded in shared values: uplifting others, exchanging knowledge, and growing together.

Chef Bill Alexander discovered his love for cooking during college, launching a culinary career that has spanned two decades. With an associate’s degree in culinary arts from Brookdale and a B.A. in Political Science from Kean University, Bill brings both creativity and thoughtful depth to his dishes. His experience ranges from supermarkets to casual fine dining, shaped by a calm and deliberate approach and a love for the energy of the kitchen.

Chef Christopher Booket brings an artistic flair to the Highlands Café. A Monmouth University graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design, Chris followed his heart into the culinary world through Brookdale’s Culinary Education Center. Over the past 15 years, he has blended art and food, working in bars, pizzerias, and fine dining establishments, with a focus on detail and a drive to create dishes that balance creativity, comfort, and precision.

Together, this chef-driven team leads both the front and back of the house, creating a space that’s as warm and inviting as a friend’s home. The food tastes like it was made with love—because it is.

Highlands Café offers fresh, locally sourced breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Sunday, from 6 AM to 3 PM. The menu features house-made specialties like pork belly burritos, pancakes from scratch with banana bourbon fosters, steak and eggs your way, chicken sandwiches, house sausages, soups, daily specials, and a rotating selection of pastries.

Stop in Highlands Café and experience it for yourself. Pull up a seat, share a meal, and be part of something deliciously local.