Jersey Shore Restaurant Week Update

Please note that the list of participating restaurants has been updated in the Jersey Shore Restaurant Week 2009 post. Keep up the good work, guys!

The participating restaurants so far include Harpoon Willy’s (Manasquan), Shipwreck Grill (Brielle), Matisse (Belmar), Avenue (Long Branch), Basil T’s (Red Bank), David Burke’s Fromagerie (Rumson), Undici (Rumson), Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty & Wharfside (Point Pleasant ), Mixx (Manasquan), Fratello's (Sea Girt), Sand Bar (Brielle), McLoone's Supper Club (Asbury Park), Moonstruck (Asbury Park), Salt Water Beach Cafe (Asbury Park), The Lake House Restaurant and Bar (Loch Arbour), and Park Avenue Bistro (Freehold).

In Search of the Best Hot Dog

In the spirit of July 4th weekend, I am beginning my quest to find the best hot dog in Monmouth County/The Jersey Shore. In my eyes, there is nothing more quintessential summer than biting into a juicy dog after a long day at the beach or on the boardwalk. I look to you, my friends, to offer your thoughts on the topic. Are you wacky for Windmill? Mad for Max’s? Leave your votes in the comments section or shoot me an email at EatWithYourMonmouth@gmail.com.

(For more hot dog fun, Bon Appétit did an awesome feature called “AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DOGS.” Check it out here: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/07/international_hot_dogs)

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week 2009

Everyone has heard of the famed NYC Restaurant Week and the great success it has had over the years. This year, however, a new kid is in town! For the first time ever, the Jersey Shore will host its own restaurant week from November 6-15, 2009. According to the JSRW website, Jim Flynn, CEO of BestWeekends travel information, created this concept after noticing the growing number of cities that offer restaurant week. Who wouldn’t want to experience this fabulous event near beautiful beaches?

The participating restaurants so far include Harpoon Willy’s (Manasquan), Shipwreck Grill (Brielle), Matisse (Belmar), Avenue (Long Branch), Basil T’s (Red Bank), David Burke’s Fromagerie (Rumson), Undici (Rumson), Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty & Wharfside (Point Pleasant ), Mixx (Manasquan), Fratello's (Sea Girt), Sand Bar (Brielle), McLoone's Supper Club (Asbury Park), Moonstruck (Asbury Park), Salt Water Beach Cafe (Asbury Park), The Lake House Restaurant and Bar (Loch Arbour), and Park Avenue Bistro (Freehold). These very notable Jersey Shore restaurants will offer three course meals (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) with three choices in each category for $20.09 or $30.09. Reservations are recommended!

Another cool feature of this event is that there will be official sponsor liquor and wine stores with specials during Restaurant Week which will be great if you decide to dine at one of the BYOB restaurants. There will also be certain hotels with special rates for the event.

The site also lists “2009 Special Events” that seem like a blast:

• Jersey Shore Beer Festival: 11/5/09, Convention Hall in Asbury Park, 7-10PM
• Burgers, Bloodies, and Brews: 11/7/09, Locations TBA, 11:30AM-3:00PM (3 burger choices, 3 types of Bloodies, 3 beer choices for $10.09)
• Brunch at the Beach: 11/8/09, Locations TBA, 12:00PM-3:00PM (Brunch by the water for $15.09)
• Wines and Cheese of Italy: 11/14/09, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Undici in Rumson ($20)
• The Great Jersey Shore Martini Contest: 11/15/09, Ship Wreck Grill in Brielle ($20)
• Happy Hour Hosts: Special prices on drinks everyday of Restaurant Week from 4-6PM (Locations TBA)

Check out the site at http://www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com/index.php. Stay tuned for more updates!

Surf Taco, Long Branch, NJ

A lazy, and may I add hazy, June Saturday led me to Long Branch to grab a quick lunch. Pier Village was still beyond packed despite the clouds and drizzles, and all I wanted to do was sit back, relax, and avoid the inevitable lines and crowds at any of the Pier restaurants. I continued down Ocean Avenue until I arrived at Brighton Avenue, another trendy and up-and-coming sector of this "hip" beach town. Brighton Avenue is an adorable street with a few restaurants, small shops, and of course the famous Strollos Italian Ices. As soon as I saw the colorful and inviting Surf Taco, I knew that I would find exactly what I was looking for.

I have taken out food from the Surf Taco in Belmar before, but I had never really taken in the full "Surf Taco experience." Surf Taco is best defined as a fast casual restaurant and is known for its fresh food and as many surfers would say, "chill," environment. As I went up to place my order at the register, I was pleasantly overwhelmed with the options in front of me. I decided to order the Teriyaki Chicken Taco ($3.75) and the Grilled Steak Taco ($3.75). The pricing at Surf Taco is extremely reasonable, and you can really eat like a king or queen if you wanted to! The cashier was extremely pleasant and cheerful and gave me a number to place on my table for my order. My two generously sized tacos came out within about three minutes, each with heaping portions of tortilla chips.

The next part of my experience was to venture over to the famed salsa bar. The salsa bar is seriously any chip lovers dream with different varieties of salsa and levels of hotness. I, of course, decided to take the hottest salsa and enjoyed every minute of it. I sat back down to dive into my tacos. The Grilled Steak Taco had some of the moistest steak I have ever tasted. Whatever the marinade is, props to you, Surf Taco! The cheese and Pico were also extremely fresh. The Teriyaki Chicken Taco was even better! The taco had the perfect amount of Teriyaki sauce to give it a bit of a kick! I never really associate tacos with Teriyaki chicken, but this innovation is definitely something you shouldn't miss.

Aside from the delicious food, the atmosphere at Surf Taco is really fantastic. It's a great escape from everything and really makes you feel as if you are on an island as you enjoy your food to the sounds of Bob Marley. Surfing videos also are played throughout the restaurant on the TVs. Even with the poor weather outside, there was no stopping Surf Taco from making you feel home at the beach.

**Even better! According to the website, "If you join our mailing list and provide us with a valid mailing address we will send you a postcard good for a free taco at any of our locations."

Food: 4*
Service: 4*
Atmosphere: 4.5*

94 Brighton Ave
Long Branch, NJ 07740-5337
(732) 229-7873
*See http://www.surftaco.com/locations.html for additional locations.

Le Peep, Manalapan, NJ

Le Peep: “the next best thing to breakfast and bed.” Le Peep recently opened in the Design Center Plaza on Route 9 in Manalapan after the Java Moon Café closed. Straight across Route 9 from Mom’s Griddle and a few miles down from the Turning Point by Wegman’s, Le Peep has brought some competition to the Marlboro/Manalapan area. Le Peep is currently open every day from 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM with its overwhelmingly large and tempting menu serving breakfast, lunch, and of course, brunch. Le Peep appears small from the outside, but this charming new spot actually has many tables inside. Its friendly décor and staff make Le Peep a great place to catch up with friends or family. Additionally, Le Peep offers free wireless internet for those who wish to keep up with their email or for young children who wish to remain entertained on their iPods or other wireless devices.

My most recent experience at Le Peep was for my parent’s surprise anniversary party. (Blue Water--see post below--was for dinner, and Le Peep was for a surprise brunch.) The execution of the event by the Le Peep staff was flawless. The staff set up and accommodated our table for twelve in a very quick and efficient manner. I set up the table with a few decorations, and I brought my own cake to be served, which the manager graciously stored for us in the back until we were all finished with our meals.

Coincidentally, all of the members of our party either ordered the Garden Omelette ($8.49) or the Stuffed French Toast ($7.49). The Garden Omelette was absolutely perfect! It was a wonderfully fluffy omelette with mixed veggies, chives, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. The one thing that stood out, in a positive manner of course, was the freshness of the vegetables. I could absolutely taste the difference between this Le Peep omelette and omelettes from other breakfast/brunch places or diners. The tomatoes and chives in particular were notably delicious. The omelette was also served with a hefty size of potatoes and an English muffin or toast.



My father, uncle, and brother ordered the stuffed French toast which was filled with cream cheese and topped with fresh blueberries. The dish was presented like a mini Leaning Tower of Pisa. After one look at this mouth-watering delicacy, all of us that ordered the omelettes immediately regretted our choice. I tried a piece of my brother’s dish, and we both agreed that the French toast was “pure perfection” and that it would also make a terrific dessert. The blueberries were definitely a great finish and made me feel slightly less guilty, if at all possible, about indulging in this treat.



After the completion of our meals, the manager brought out our cake, lit with candles, to the table. She was extremely friendly and sweet and made us feel so welcome in her restaurant. She wished my parents the best and told them what a big milestone their 25th anniversary was. I definitely could not have picked a better place for the party!

On a side note, I would also highly recommend Le Peep if you are in the mood for lunch. My mother and I ordered salads the last time we went and were extremely pleased. The salads were humongous and tasted extremely fresh--just like omelettes and everything else at the restaurant. I had the Starburst salad which is composed of baby spinach, fresh strawberries, delectable goat cheese, toasted almonds, and fat free raspberry vinaigrette. My mother had the Firecracker Chicken salad which I thought was even better than the Starburst. The Firecracker has field greens, peppers, onions, crispy wonton noodles, sesame ginger dressing, and incredibly delicious chicken. The seasoning was spicy and almost tasted like the sauce used on spare ribs at a Chinese restaurant.



Whether you are in the mood for breakfast, lunch, or brunch, Le Peep is a sure winner with its fair prices, tasty food, and wonderful atmosphere. Le Peep is also a great alternative for those seeking to escape the crowds and lines at Mom’s or Turning Point. Le Peep currently has a great coupon being circulated for “buy one entrée, get one free--with the purchase of two beverages” for any day except Sunday. Le Peep also has a “Senior Appreciation Day” on Monday and Tuesday for 15% off. Dig in!

Food: 4.5*
Service: 5*
Atmosphere: 3.5*

345 Us Highway 9
Englishtown, NJ 07726
(732) 303-1400

Pete & Elda's / Carmen's Pizzeria, Neptune City, NJ

What comes to mind when you hear of Pete & Elda’s? Most first timers associate Pete & Elda’s with the words “free t-shirt” and “thin crust pizza.” Loyal customers know that this friendly pizzeria is about so much more. Pete & Elda’s has been a Jersey Shore classic for fifty years in Neptune City. Although the actual pizzeria’s name is Carmen’s, most people call the restaurant Pete & Elda’s, which happens to be the name of the large and lively bar.

I commonly venture over to Pete & Elda’s after a day at the beach, but I decided to go one evening for a late night “snack attack” with a friend. We went at about 10:30PM on a Thursday night, and we were seated immediately. The restaurant and bar were by no means empty, and the atmosphere was just as fun and hopping as it is on any beautiful weekend evening when it is packed with both tourists and locals. I have tried many different and more interesting things on the menu before, but this time I just wanted to have “the norm,” so we ordered a portion of calamari to start and an extra large pepperoni pizza. We also started with drinks. I ordered a Long Island Iced Tea since I was in the mood to have a “good night,” yet I was a bit nervous at the same time. Long Islands can either be super strong or pure perfection, and my faith in Pete & Elda’s certainly carried through.

The generous portion of calamari arrived at the table with a sweet sauce and a hot sauce. The sweet sauce was just a regular marinara sauce but was delicious, and the hot sauce was a regular marinara sauce with a hint of Tabasco and red pepper flakes. The calamari was cooked exactly the way I like it—not too oily and fried but with the perfect amount of crispiness. The actual calamari was not too squishy or rubbery either. The portion is definitely large enough for 2-3 people.

The extra large pepperoni pizza arrived shortly after we finished the calamari. This size also is good for about 2-3 hungry people, but it would be fine for 4 if each person just wanted to snack in addition to their regular entrees. My family and I actually order our entrees and split one extra large pie on the as an appetizer. Anyone who has been to Pete & Elda’s can vouch that the pizza is simply mouthwatering. It has a thin crust and plenty of delicious cheese. The one caveat is that if you are craving traditional Jersey Shore or New York pizza, I would probably not recommend Pete & Elda’s. It is among the other pizzerias specializing in thin crust pizza such as Federici’s in Freehold.

The service was speedy and great as usual, and I hope everyone will go out and try Pete & Elda’s if they haven’t already. It is definitely a treasure! Hey, and while you’re there, I dare you to try to eat one extra extra large pie all by yourself. You will be given a free t-shirt and be able to proudly flaunt it! (As long as you don’t explode after…)


Food: 4*
Service: 4*
Atmosphere: 3.5*

96 Woodland Ave
Neptune City, NJ 07753-6420
(732) 774-6010

Miami Beach Party Recipes

The weather has STILL not improved; however, there’s no stopping me when it comes to thinking of fresh “summery” foods! The March 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine had a great feature called the “Miami Beach Party Menu” (created by Michelle Bernstein) that can be used for a fun themed dinner party or to spice up a traditional BBQ.

The alluring menu consists of four categories:

• Tapas-Spanish tortilla and white gazpacho with marcona almonds
• Entrées-Jerk pork tenderloin, grilled lobster with charred chili sauce, and grilled skirt steaks with red and green chimichurris
• Side dishes-Watermelon and tomato salad with feta and olives; Mexican-style corn on the cob with lime, ancho, and queso fresco; and tomato relish
• Cocktails-Pineapple-cucumber mojitos

I personally can’t wait to try the Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Feta and Olives! A Greek Salad with a sweet twist? Sounds good to me…http://www.oprah.com/menu/omagazine/recipes/200903_omag_beach_party

(Photo by Quentin Bacon as seen in O)

Blue Water Seafood Company, East Brunswick, NJ

With so many fantastic dining choices in Monmouth County, it seems quite sacrilegious to make my first restaurant review about a restaurant in Middlesex; however, Blue Water Seafood Company simply cannot be ignored. As we all sit here wondering when this weather will finally turn around, I found myself seeking refuge and curing my separation anxiety from the beach at Blue Water Seafood Company on this hazy June Tuesday.

My past dining experiences at this adorable restaurant on the northbound site of Route 18 (across from The Brunswick Square Mall) led me to mandate Blue Water as the venue of choice to celebrate my parent’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I called ahead to reserve a table for three for 7:00, and the voice on the other line said, “I wouldn’t really call it a reservation; but I will take your name anyway. We are not crowded at all.” I embarrassedly hung up and then thought to myself, “He’s probably right. In this economy, who is shelling out the big bucks for seafood on a rainy TUESDAY night.”

As we drove up to the very small white building, we curiously looked around the equally tiny parking lot. We parked in the last spot which happened to be the only spot left. The past two times that I visited Blue Water on the weekends, the parking situation would have been disastrous if they did not have valet parking. That being said, valet parking is available, and certainly necessary, on weekends for free. During the week, it’s every man for himself! We entered the restaurant to find about three parties waiting to be seated and nearly almost every table occupied. I proudly marched over to the maitre d’ and told him I had called for a reservation. This instance left him feeling embarrassed and not I. (He also was much more polite this time.)

Upon being seated at our cozy table, we were greeted by our very personable and professional waiter and were given our menus along with fresh bread. The menu is quite extensive, with options for every taste. My father ordered a bowl of New England clam chowder ($4) to start, and my mother and I ordered the Buffalo-style sea scallops ($13). For the main entrée, my father ordered the Atlantic Swordfish ($23), my mother ordered the Chilean Sea Bass ($25), and I ordered the Caribbean Red Snapper ($23).

The starters came out within 10 minutes, and the pure ecstasy began. My father proclaimed, “This is the way soup SHOULD be,” while my mother found ourselves in such bliss that we were unable to talk until we devoured our scallop appetizer. The scallops were perfectly fried and then coated with a traditional—and quite delicious—Buffalo wing sauce. The scallops were not greasy at all and were wonderfully tender inside. They were served on top of a large bed of greens with fresh onions, cherry tomatoes, and bleu cheese. I am seriously contemplating making this dish my entrée the next time I come for lunch! It was a perfect portion size for two to share, and it would make a great salad for one to have for a lunch or light dinner.

Within another ten minutes, our beautifully presented entrees arrived at our table. (See photos) One looked more incredible than the next. At first sight, I wondered to myself, “How am I ever going to be able to finish this monstrous portion?” I carefully inspected my plate only to find a heaping portion of potato straws over my snapper—both laying over a bed of sautéed spinach. Some of the potato straws were a bit too crunchy for my liking, but I found softer ones as I dug through the pile. From both a presentational and culinary standpoint, I loved the spin the chef took on the traditional preparation of fish with potatoes. When I finally got to my snapper, I was even more pleased. I enjoyed every minute of this delicate and extremely fresh piece of fish that had a slight garlic taste to it. The snapper was extremely moist but still remained solid and not flakey. There is nothing worse than a fish that keeps falling apart as you try to eat it! The spinach was also perfectly prepared with a lovely lemon taste to it. It was not overly wilted or dry.

My parents had the same reactions to their selections as I did to mine. They both were extremely pleased and continued to say how Blue Water truly is one of the best, if not the absolute best, seafood restaurants in NJ. (As native New Yorkers, everything is always compared to restaurants in the city, and trust me, they hold their standards extremely high.) Unfortunately we were all too full to even try one of the desserts; however, I am almost positive that they would have been just as heavenly as the rest of the food.

All in all, I HIGHLY recommend Blue Water Seafood Company for those seeking to enjoy quality seafood at very fair prices. The service is top notch, and the food is to die for. An additional perk about this place is that you can bring your own wine for the table, and the wait staff will so graciously serve it to you. (Nearly every table tonight had a bottle of wine on it. We forgot ours but have brought and enjoyed it in the past.) Don’t forget to call ahead on weekends! Bon appétit!

Food: 5*
Service: 4.5*
Atmosphere: 3.5* (a bit cramped and noisy but still cozy!)

1126 State Route 18
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
(732) 967-9220

Welcome to Eat With Your Monmouth!

Upon thinking about The Jersey Shore, does anyone's mind not instantly jump to thinking about the deliciously greasy pizza and boardwalk fries? How about the different varieties of gooey saltwater taffy? The Jersey Shore has always been associated with these yummy treats; however, our beautiful towns have more to offer than just quick "beach eats." (Not that we don't all love 'em!) For this reason, I have decided to start writing about all of the different choices locals and visitors alike can have when looking for a new place to dine in and around Monmouth County, NJ. From Keansburg at the northern tip to Brielle at the southern, and from Upper Freehold Township in the west to Long Branch in the east, a review from any town in the county is fair game. All different dining categories will be considered--whether it's the local pizza joint or the upscale French Brasserie.

If you would ever like to recommend a restaurant for me to review or have news about an opening, please send an email to eatwithyourmonmouth@gmail.com. Suggestions are always greatly appreciated!