ADVISING THE VISITORS - HELP!!
By the time I get the calls, it's almost too late.
"Friends are visiting," the faithful Shore-dweller says, "and we want to know where to take them to dinner tonight. We've already been to X, Y and Z, but we're looking for some place, oh, I don't know - can you help?"
"Tonight." Gulp. That's pretty soon, right? "Already been to X, Y and Z." That means there's been some disappointment/displeasure, since there's no urgency to go back.
This is, really, the quintessential summertime dilemma for those of us who live here year-round, so I thought we should start a log of Places to Take Visiting Folks. These restaurants should speak to the character of our Shore, should be reasonably priced and should serve food that's unabashedly, deliciously ungimmicky.
I'm going to kick things off with a few of my own suggestions, and then you all can pitch in with your own recommendations. Sound OK? (Mine, FYI, are in no particular order.)
Mustache Bill's Diner, Barnegat Light. It's open for breakfast and lunch and early lunch is my favorite time to go. Fried fluke - caught that day by local fisherman. Ditto for the scallops. Cream-chipped beef! No kidding! Get a bowl of it for the table. Everything here is homemade, "except for the French dressing," the chef-owner is fond of saying.
Mexico Lindo, Burnt Tavern Road, Brick. I, for one, am so grateful for the born-in-Mexico dishes folks have brought to these parts. It's meant that the Shore now has more than Velveeta Mexican. Come here for the memelitas. The poblano burrito. The huaraches. Whatever is new on the menu. This isn't Tex-Mex, mind you.
Oyama, Belmar Plaza, Belmar. Do Korean at lunch. The owner is Korean and she offers a few different "bap" dishes (rice mixed with veggies, accents) for the midday meal. My two favorites: The "bap" topped with raw fishes and the all-vegetable one. Rustic, simple, yet the flavors are enthralling. Asian cuisines are taking hold at the Shore, many in the form of splashy, fish-tank-sporting large dining spaces, but this tiny, rather homely, tucked-away spot is doing this very different thing. I love it.
Bay Avenue Trattoria, Bay Avenue, Highlands. Lots of local seafood, a very seasonal menu, specials that lasso your heart. Now, don't forget an order of Joe's Meatballs, but just do whatever fishes are that-day caught and you'll be swooning. Yeah, yeah, the place is supposedly Italian, but it's far more than that. Which is very New Shore.
OK, I've had my say. Now how about you all speak up? Restaurant name, location, favored dishes, please.
cheers,
Andy
7.15.07
posted by Andrea Clurfeld at 6:30 AM
11 Comments:
PLACES VISITORS CAN GO (but only escorted by a native):
WINDMILL - simple and unadulterated, the West End location - the original - or Ocean Grove/Belmar for the southern end folks - have hot dogs, cheese fries, and lemonades...
The DRAUGHTING TABLE and Vic's - Bradley Beach - have the clams, the shrimp appetizers and pints, any steak at TDT...have pizza and beer at Vic's.
Hoffman's, Spring Lake / Point Pleasant - any cone or cup at all...
Hamburgers at Rod's Tavern in Sea Girt or Frankie's in Point Pleasant...
Those are all the secrets you get, excellent choices AC - oh I would LOVE to have a Dutch Country breakfast and some scallops at MBill's...
shhhhhhhhhhh....Far East Taste...Eatontown...any lunch special...Richard's special duck sauce, chicken satay, and steamed dumplings...
the seabass at the atlantic bar
and grill...the best around
Good idea to work on this list. We need to keep people from has-beens like Piancone's and Moonstruck, where the food never changes except for getting worse by the year. All they get is the tourist business because no locals will go there. Wannabes only at Pier. It's worse in summer too.
We like to take guests to Drew's in Keyport and also Bay Ave Trattoria, like you said. Dish in Red Bank, near the movies, is v. good most times we've been there.
The local style of shore casual that you speak of is at Avon Pavilion. Food only average, but you can't beat the beach being right there. Matisse on the beach in Belmar is a nice night out. I think in general good food on the beach isn't what you find. Like you, we enjoy the small places with exotics food. Tried Asian Basil in Manasquan but not impressed overall. Too much quality variation. We will wait for you to review before we go back. Thank you for Wasabi, we went immediately and found it as good as you said.
Well Piancone's is no more - under new ownership so that's a goner - no more Diaz or Mazi - we have to be on guard and keep going to places we love while they're still there - I would add one other place that I went past today - Labrador Lounge in Normandy Beach - but for lunch and apps only - dinner is too highpriced...
Labrador Lounge in Normandy Beach is worth the trip. Shipwreck still one of the favorites. Far East Taste, best Thai around. Eloise's Cafe in Brielle for breakfast or lunch. Hoffman's for ice cream.
Hi Andy,
Enjoy your blog and following your culinary escapades.
A question...someone told me there is an upscale restaurant in the Red bank or Eatontown area that has a "chef's" table where you can eat in the kitchen, served by the chef him/herself. Ever hear of anything like that? If you do, let me know at dkroft@optonline.com.
Thank you
It's probably Nicholas in Middletown that has the Chef's Table - or maybe David Burke's Fromagerie - in any event - they are megaexpensive...
no one mentioned the Circus - wow -in Wall on 35 - another timeless classic.
PorkRoll Egg and Cheese manna at either Chat and Nibble (1.99! Everyday!) in Asbury Park or the Allenwood General Store off 524 Spur (mmmmm good and antiques too)
Surf Taco, all of them -- a good addition to the dining scene.
Fast food without fast food taste.
What about Pete & Elda's? Vic's? Let's stick to Andy's theme of reasonable pricings on good food.
Andy, we live in Rumson, so forgive us for saying Val's, since it's not exactly excellent, but it is better than Salt Creek, which is overpriced and most often very dull in the food department. Also, Barnacle's for the ultimate burgers. Red Bank just isn't like it used to be, don't you think. We don't go there any more.
I met you when you lived in Rumson. We were shopping at the old Sickles and you helped me pick out produce and told me what to do with it. Then I met you again at the old Bon Panier and when I stopped you, you asked me how my food came out. I couldn't believe you remembered. We've followed your reviews and recipes ever since.
If anyone hasn't said Max's, I'll say it, but mostly for the memories.
Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall in Cape May - amazing lunch for under $10 - yes a day trip but what a meal!
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