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The basics:

• The Morris Proper opens at M Station in 12,000-sq.-ft. space
• Menu features NJ seafood, handmade pastas, seasonal vegetables
• Kitchen led by David Felton, founding executive chef of Ninety Acres
• Reported $2.35M liquor license highlights investment in Morristown dining

An award-winning chef is launching a new restaurant that aims to celebrate New Jersey’s fresh, local foods.

Located at the M Station campus in Morristown, The Morris Proper features a locally focused menu that showcases the state’s agricultural bounty. The 12,000-square-foot space includes a 360-degree bar and outdoor wraparound patio.

The eatery bills itself as a “culinary love letter to the Garden State.” Dishes include handmade pastas, Jersey Shore seafood, seasonal vegetables and rotisserie meats, with many ingredients sourced from local farms. The drink offerings span craft cocktails with house-made cordials and cold-pressed juices, as well as a selection of wines and spirit-free options.

The kitchen is helmed by David Felton, the founding executive chef of Ninety Acres, an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant at the historic Natirar estate in Somerset County. Felton’s accolades also include being named as Food & Wine Magazine’s People’s Best New Chef in 2011.

“We believe comfort and excellence aren’t opposites—they’re partners, and our menu approach is about refining the familiar” Felton said. “We’re not overcomplicating but letting the bounty of New Jersey’s farms and waters speak through restraint, care, and balance.”

Gensler and Stokes Architecture + Design created the space. The restaurant also includes open kitchen views, lounge seating, floor-to-ceiling windows and dining alcoves.

Morristown’s ‘next chapter’

Since local ingredients and ethical practices are a priority for The Morris Proper, the restaurant tapped Erik Oberholtzer, co-founder of fast-casual chain Tender Greens, to help shape the sourcing approach, according to the restaurant’s owner, Chelsea Hospitality Group.

Jason Leeds, the group’s founder, said, “Having grown up in Morristown, I’ve had a front-row seat to the town’s remarkable evolution. It’s been inspiring to watch Morristown flourish, and we’re truly excited to contribute to its next chapter. The Morris Proper aims to honor where we come from while creating something that feels exciting, welcoming, and new.”

For their first restaurant, the Chelsea team reportedly spent $2.35 million to secure a liquor license for The Morris Proper from a group that sought to open a bowling alley/bar/restaurant but was unable to secure municipal approval. According to hyperlocal news website Morristown Green, that sum is more than twice the prior town record of about $1.1 million.

Following its July 9 grand opening, The Morris Proper is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Additional menu programs, including brunch, are anticipated soon.

M Station is considered the most high-profile mixed-used development in downtown Morristown. It’s also home to French health care company Sanofi’s newly unveiled $130 million flagship location. The company was previously located in Bridgewater.