Looking for a resto located on beach or river with a water view central Monmouth County, possibly located close to Belmar. seafood would be a priority
Hmmmm, casual or fancy ? Lunch or dinner ? Is BYOB and/or licensed bar a consideration ?
Avon Pavilion (which is BYOB, if that matters) immediately comes to mind ----- we really enjoy going there for the more casual breakfast or brunch ... but their more serious dinner menu lists 6 seafood appetizers and 8 seafood entrees + I'm not sure what they may have in the way of daily chef's special items in the evening.
http://www.avonpavilion.com/index.php
I'm sure others will come up with lots more ideas, but you can't get much closer to Belmar than Avon without being in, well, Belmar :-)
It may be buried in the Monmouth County thread, but someone recently asked a similar question so it's worth doing a search of the NJ board! As I recall, Klein's (Belmar) has the view but the food is average...in Asbury you can sit outside at Langosta Lounge, Stella Marina, and Tim McCloone's, but again, the food may not wow you enough. All three of those are ON the boardwalk.
Mc loons Rum Runners in Sea Bright is getting a lot of "buzz" since reopening post-Sandy. Pricy but supposedly good, further North than Belmar but a solid choice.
I have read nothing positive. What are you hearing/reading?
Limited menu, pricey but very good.
Gotta say that it would be a first if the food were actually good at a McCloones.
I've been to several, and the best I can muster is a hearty "meh".
They and the Rallos seem to prove the maxim that mediocre food with a liquor license equals a successful restaurant in Monmouth.
Looking forward to any reviews that would prove Rum Runners the exception.
I had their mussels. It was damn good!
I also had a strange experience at the newly rebuilt McCloone's Rum Runner in Sea Bright. On Father's Day, my family took me there for brunch ($35/person). Four kids in the early 20s and my wife and I. My expectations were low because, as mentioned in this and other threads, the food has always been average at best and definitely overpriced. I was shocked when everything I ate was fresh and delicious. I started the gorge with 3 dozen raw oysters (Chesapeake Bay) and then a bean, corn, romaine salad. I didn't eat much after that except for a few bites of their mini desserts. The rest of the family had the usual fare: omelets, waffles, fruit, breakfast sides, bagels, lox, mimosas and all reported good food. I tasted a few items and concurred, except most of the omelets were burned. Service was sketchy because nothing but college kids home for the summer were waiting the tables and all they care about is their cellphones and when their shift will be over. Like Joonjoon and Vikingkaj, I'm wondering if this will be a sign of a permanent improvement?
This would be for dinner. Fancy would be nice... Does not matter if BYOB or not . Just want a place near water. Anyone been to River House in Brielle?
This would be for dinner. Does not matter if BYOB or not . Just want a place near water. Anyone been to River House in Brielle?
The wife and I like the prix fixe at Avenue in Long Branch, we think it's a good value especially if you go early and sit outside. Some people on this site don't like it. You don't want to go late or linger as the club upstairs takes over around 9pm.
Both Molly Pitcher and Oyster Point in Red Bank have good food and great views. I don't think others on this site give them enough credit. Oyster Point has one of the better burgers in the area with an amazing view for $ 12.95. And Pitcher is hands down the best Sunday brunch in the county.
For a bargain we go to Keyport Fishery and then eat on a bench in the waterfront park. It's especially good on a sunny day in the spring or fall.
Beach Tavern in Monmouth Beach has great views of S Shrewsbury River, not a bad seat in the place, but is really espansive unless you get the bar menu at happy hour.
Barnacle Bills in Rumson and Harpoon Willy's in Manasquan also have waterish views and decent food, especially view of Navesink bridge if you sit at the bar at Barnacles.
Not what the OP in this case is looking for (e.g., "fancy") but wanted to +1 the mention of Keyport Fishery anyhow. We like to do the same thing (sit on a bench down by the boardwalk and enjoy our dinner from KF) after work sometimes when we are over in that neighborhood. Very delicious and fun way to enjoy the nice weather.
I went tonight aaaannnnnnddddd I don't think I would go back. Well, I would go back for lunch or cocktails or something other than a nice night out.
Tonight was the wife's birthday so we decided to give this a try for the occasion. We waited for my daughter to get out of work so we didn't go till late, 9:45 is when we arrived. (FYI they don't take reservations)
Strike 1
Q. How many valet parkers does it take to park my own car in the rain?
A. 3!
It's been raining fairly heavy all afternoon/night including as we pulled into the parking lot. As I pulled up to the valet parkers who were standing under cover, I sat waiting for one to approach the car. (There were 3 standing there) Finally one approached me and as I open my door says; "Go ahead pull it anywhere we have plenty of open spots". Really?
Strike 2
Q. How many hostesses does it take to decide where to seat people in an over 50% empty restaurant.
A. 2!
We go upstairs to a beautiful open space and approach the hostess desk; "table for 3 please"....after 45seconds to a minute staring at a computer screen and consulting with a co- worker over the logistics of table assignment a decision was made and we were brought to one of the well over 60% of the empty tables available.
Seriously?
Strike 3
Q. How many floor managers are there and how many check on your table during the evening.
A. 0 -and- 0
All employees and servers are young and I assume seasonal employees who were either very poorly trained or not trained at all. Service on all levels sucked. Sucked to the point I don't care how good the food is, it's ok, but not great, the service just sucks.
Food was oysters, shrimp cocktail, cheese board, crab dip, Cesar salad and crab cakes. The crab dip we weren't crazy about, the shrimp were 16-20's decent size but far from jumbo or exceptional. The cocktail sauce had a very odd flavor, I wanted additional horseradish but couldn't find a server. I was going to ask the food runner, but after he dropped, literally dropped / plopped my plate down, I paused to give him a moment to acknowledge his faux pas, and he turned and ran away.
Crab cakes were good that's about as good as it got for the night.
The waitress was non existent, there is no floor supervision and although you can't get something when you want it, the second you put your fork down someone is trying to remove your plate. At least 3 maybe 4 times we had to tell someone we weren't finished with something as a hand starts removing a plate from in front of you.
You're Ouuuuuutttt!!!!!
Go be dissapointed for yourself. The McLoon name has no redeeming quality in my opinion anymore.
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