12 Farms Restaurant

It was the Saturday before Easter, a beautiful, sunny spring day, so we decided to take the Corvette to the Tulip Festival in Upper Freehold, NJ. We weren't the only ones with that idea, as an extra 25,000 people seemed to have the same plan! Arriving at the gate, after finding free parking, we were told they had reached capacity. Rats! It looked like a fantastic sight – tulips in every color imaginable stretching as far as you could see, along with food trucks and a charming windmill. I even chatted with two ladies who were close friends with the Dutch owners, flown in to help with the event. Disappointed but undeterred, we hopped back in the Corvette, put the top down, and enjoyed the drive. My wife, Jeanne, discovered a small restaurant in Hightstown, NJ, called 12 Farms Restaurant. It was 20 minutes away and off we went. Public parking was plentiful, and we entered the over 150-year-old building, immediately enveloped by its rich history and the delightful aroma of good food. Our waitress, Quinn (the same name as my granddaughter!), greeted us warmly and described the specials. My wife quickly chose the lobster mac-n-cheese, while I perused the extensive menu. They don't serve alcohol, so we both opted for their delicious peach iced tea. 12 Farms prides itself on sourcing high-quality ingredients, including grass-fed beef, fresh seafood, and local produce from family-run farms like their own farmette, Little Big Acres in Millstone, NJ. Their aim is to offer diverse and creative menus catering to various dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. The menu was indeed impressive, a great mix of gluten-free, vegetarian, and protein dishes. Options like the Jersey Tomato Panini and the Acho Chili Braised shredded chicken sounded wonderful. After much deliberation and another refreshing peach iced tea, I decided on the OG burger: a Wagyu beef burger with thick bacon, local cheddar, and onion jam. While we waited, enjoying the view of Hightstown's bustling main street, a fresh greens salad arrived – a bright and tasty sweet and sour mix with pine nuts, thinly sliced turnips and cucumber, and a flavorful vinaigrette. The edible orange slice was a lovely touch. Soon after, our entrees arrived. The Lobster Mac-n-Cheese was a generous bowl of large macaroni with plenty of lobster chunks and a creamy three-cheese sauce topped with greens. My wife clearly loved it. My OG burger was substantial, topped with cheese, thick bacon, and their house-onion made jam, accompanied by seven small home fries and more greens. Large burgers can often suffer from a soggy bottom bun, but I decided to eat the flavorful Wagyu beef, onion jam, and pickled jalapenos separately, thoroughly enjoying the delicious combination. Completely full, we skipped dessert. It's worth noting that 12 Farms is a cash-only establishment. Overall, I give 12 Farms a 4 out of 5. We definitely plan to return and explore more of their enticing menu.

Wow wow and WOW! Great food, impeccably prepared, we were shocked that the food would be so well prepped in this little gem of a local restaurant! Our first dinner of many! This will be our new, hands down, local favorite. The service and fabulous/spot on meal suggestions provided by Andrew were amazing wow we WILL be back many times! Also, with no problems or issues gluten free, the gluten free bread was shockingly good “the best in the world” according to Andrew and…he was 110% correct

Delicious unique dishes. Lots of variety. Gluten free options! BYOB