Barnegat Restaurant Named Among Best Hidden Gems In The Country, Report Says

BARNEGAT, NJ — A local restaurant is among the best hidden gems in the country, according to a new USA Today report.

Dozens of restaurants across America are featured in the USA Today report, which highlights the best hidden gem eateries. That includes two in New Jersey, with one here in Ocean County.

Haute Feast, a seasonal restaurant on the water, is one of the eateries that made the cut.

"Situated on the waterfront property of Barnegat Oyster Collective, a nursery-to-harvest oyster operation, the seasonal, farm-to-table BYOB showcases local oysters by serving them raw, cooking them over fire on an outdoor grill and dotting them with butter, or turning them into chowder," writes USA Today.

The restaurant's approach uses the freshest ingredients possible.

"We work directly with farmers and fishermen we know personally," Haute Feast explains on its website. "Ingredients are picked up fresh — often within 48 hours of harvest — and the menus are guided by what’s available, at its peak, in the season."

That means the menu is frequently changing.

"Each dish is thoughtful, intentional, and designed to reflect its source," Haute Feast's website reads. "Oysters, seafood, and vegetables are showcased at their peak, and each preparation draws you closer to the rhythms of this place. The result is a dining experience that is sensory, alive, and unmistakably tied to the land and water."

The eatery also caters weddings and other intimate gatherings.

Located at 483 E. Bay Avenue, Haute Feast is closed through the end of February.

For the full list of USA Today's hidden gem restaurants, click here.