The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1326760
HOTEL REVUE e Secret Garden is the hotel's fine dining restaurant and with the crowning feature (apart from the menu) being its newly unveiled dining room that overlooks the waterway, where diners can enjoy an intimate evening overlooking the glamorous yachts cruising by. ough the restaurant is open to hotel guests, it is also a private members' club where members can visit the hotel, without a reservation, for special events like cocktail hour, fine dining with wine pairings, and an international dining program. One of our favorite parts of our stay was dining at e Secret Garden. Executive Chef Youssef Hammi cooks with a focus on elegance, he prepares food that is both fresh and multi-culturally inspired. While there's so much we can say about Hammi's thoughtful dishes, the highlight of the fall menu was definitely his selection of fresh seafood. We also had some time to explore the local food scene and enjoyed dinner accompanied by modern cocktails at YOLO. e restaurant decor alone commands an air of casual sophistication but the large and cushioned booths offer privacy and convenient social distanced space between diners. e dish that stood out to us was the grilled oysters, its buttery flavor, drizzled with a squeeze of lemon, along with the harmonious textures of a crispy exterior and so oyster meat is indulgent perfection. If you couldn't already tell, YOLO also places a special focus on sourcing fresh fish but also has something for steak lovers and pasta lovers. V U E N J . C O M 140