3 minute read
Sarah GriesemerAsbury Park Press
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The first few months of 2024 have been a whirlwind of restaurant openings.
Monmouth and Ocean counties have seen the addition of new spots for Indian, Mexican, Italian, American and even Georgian food, plus vegan, seafood, coffee and pizza.
So much pizza.
Here's a look at more than 30 new restaurants at the Shore, including some opening soon.
30 Burgers, Freehold Township
Take your pick from dozens of options: The menu includes a Bullseye BBQ burger with crispy onion straws, bacon, barbecue sauce and cheddar; a Trenton burger with pork roll, American cheese and ketchup; and a Bacon Royal with a fried egg, bacon and American cheese. 9 Village Center Drive; 732-410-0011,30burgers.com.
Aangara, Keyport
The former Cornucopia and Ovidia restaurants is now Aangara, an Indian restaurant serving classic dishes including chicken tikka masala, vegetable Biryani, butter chicken, samosas and roti. 98 Maple Place; 732-320-1569, aangara.com.
Azzurri Italian Cucina, Harvey Cedars
The north end of Long Beach Island will gain a new Italian restaurant in late spring or early summer with Azzurri, a BYOB opening in the former Neptune Surfside Grill space. 8001 Long Beach Blvd; azzurrilbi.com.
More: Jersey-born chef Britt Rescigno takes home another win on Food Network's 'Champions'
Bad Hat Dumplings & co*cktails, Marlboro
Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese cuisines come together at Bad Hat, an upscale Asian fusion restaurant serving dishes like stretched noodles with char siu pork, mushroom dumplings with ponzu sauce, and coconut curry mussels. 133 S. Main St., Unit 2; 732-858-6855,badhatnj.com.
The Beach Gallery, Keansburg
Opening in late April, The Beach Gallery is part restaurant, part bar, part art gallery and part event space. The venue will offer a grab-and-go cafe, a brunch restaurant, a tea room and a rooftop bar — and will display art by local artists. 260 Beachway Ave.; beachgallerykeansburg.com.
The Blonde Shallot, Sea Girt
Jessica Rogers is expanding her popular market, which serves salads, wraps and healthy takes on comfort food, to the former Joe Leone's Gastronomia. She hopes to open in April. 527 Washington Blvd.;theblondeshallot.com.
Bonesaw Brewing, Freehold Township
The former Kirkland's space at Freehold Raceway Mall is set to become Bonesaw Brewing Company, a craft brewery and tasting room where customers can bring food from elsewhere in the mall to enjoy with their beer. The brewery also has locations in Glassboro and Deptford. 3710 Route 9; bonesawbrewing.com.
More: These Jersey Shore spots didn't make the Pizza Playoff, but readers love them
C28 American Bistro, Brick
Stop by C28 American Bistro for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dishes like French toast topped with coffee mascarpone, a Buffalo chicken grilled cheese, and seafood risotto with tomato cream. 2140 Route 88; 732-475-8039, c28americanbistro.com.
Cali Snacks, Belmar and Asbury Park
Edwin Vazquez is known in Belmar and Asbury Park for his Los Barbaros Birria restaurants, but now he is making sweet and savory snacks, too. The street food at Cali Snacks is inspired by similar shops in California (where Vazquez lived as a child) and includes mini fluffy panques, or pancakes,with Nutella and fruit or ice cream; pepilocos con fruit, a treat made of cucumber cups filled with fruit, nuts and chamoy; and esquites, or street corn, topped with cheese dip and jalapenos. 1110 Main St., Unit A, Belmar. Also 704 Main St., Asbury Park; instagram.com/cali_snacks.
Dentato's Clam Bar, Seaside Heights
Dentato's, long known for its sausage sandwiches and fresh clams, has moved to 1205 Boardwalk, next to Berkeley Candy. The seasonal restaurant should open in early April. facebook.com/Dentatos.
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D'Amore's Caffe and Toast, Wall
Choose from more than a dozen toast options at D'Amore's, including one with whipped ricotta, prosciutto di Parma and baked peaches, and another with arugula salad, fresh beets, burrata cheese, hot honey and balsamic glaze. The cafe also serves ground-to-order espresso drinks, plus smoothies, salads and panini. 1861 Route 35; 732-561-0114,damorescaffeandtoast.com.
Georgian Chef, Howell
Excitement is building around Georgian Chef, a family-owned restaurant serving traditional dishes like Adjaruli khachapuri, a boat-shaped bread filled with cheese and egg yolk, and dumplings called khinkali. 3720 Route 9; 732-276-6898,clover.com/online-ordering/georgian-chef.
Gray Leaf Cafe, Freehold Township
The owner of a well-traveled vegan food truck opened Gray Leaf Cafe, a restaurant serving a plant-based menu starring wraps filled with Buffalo cauliflower, grilled falafel and chickpea Caesar salad. There are smoothies, too, and coffee fromTurnstile Coffee Roasters in Belmar. 58 Thoreau Drive; 732-334-8843,grayleafcafe.com.
India Garden, Belmar
The former Simply Southern restaurant is now India Garden, serving a menu of dishes like mulligatawny soup, samosa chaat, crab and pepper soup, paneer tikka masala, coconut naan and tandoori tacos. 817 Belmar Plaza; indiagardeneaters.com.
Jersey Girl Kitchen & Market, Beach Haven
The owners of Jersey Girl Grill in Haven Beach are transforming the former Foster's Farm Market into a new restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at indoor and outdoor tables, plus a market.
"It's been a long process just securing the building from being turned into more condos, but we were able to do it," co-owner Kristin Mailhiot said. "We are really trying to keep the charm of the old building and keep the market aspect."
Customer favorites from the original restaurant will be served, plus new items for dinner. A summer opening is planned. 400 N. Bay Ave, Beach Haven; jerseygirllbi.com.
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Julio's Pizza Co., Keansburg
You can order plain pie if you want, but Julio's Pizza Co. — also in Atlantic Highlands — has pizzas topped with housemade garlic parmesan sauce, mozzarella and pickles, and pulled pork, ham, Swiss, mozzarella, pickles chips and Dijon drizzle (a Cubano pizza). Gluten-free pizzas also are on the menu. 297 Main St.; 848-300-2674, heyitsjulios.com.
LDM Bistro Café, Berkeley Township
Order breakfast, lunch and dinner at this new addition in the Bayville section of the township, where the menu includes platters of chocolate chip pancakes, chicken and waffles, and steak and eggs, plus breakfast skillets filled with roasted potatoes, eggs, cheese and vegetables. They serve pizza, panini and pasta, too. 340 Atlantic City Blvd.; 848-226-6260, ldmbistro.com.
Luigi's Square, Ocean Township
Luigi's Famous Pizza, a longtime favorite in Middletown, is adding a second location called Luigi's Square in June.
"We are extremely excited to bring our famous pizza and food to a new area," owners Kelly and Jason Emerson shared on social media. "We look forward to creating and establishing new bonds with the families of Ocean Township and surrounding communities, just as we have over the past 25 years in the Lincroft area." 809 West Park Ave.; luigisfamous.com.
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Kiersten’s Creations, Point Pleasant Borough
This food truck-turned-bakery has jumbo chocolate chip cookies, Funfetti cookies, cupcakes, donuts, cakes and more, plus coffee from Booskerdoo Coffee & Baking Co. 2401 Bridge Ave.; 732-475-8094, kierstenscreations.com.
Meli’s Thin & Crispy Pizza Co., Marlboro
Pizzas baked until crispy are the specialty at Anthony Meli's new restaurant, where the menu includes pies topped with sauteed spinach, cannellini beans and roasted garlic; fried eggplant and burrata; and chopped clams, garlic and toasted breadcrumbs. There's also an option to add a sesame seed crust or cauliflower crust, or top a pizza with chopped salad. 280 Route 9; 732-972-2200, melispizzaco.com.
MJ's Restaurant Bar & Grill, Brick
The former PJ Sweeney's Restaurant & Irish Pub is now the newest location of MJ's, a sports bar and restaurant serving sandwiches and wraps, burgers, tacos and sushi, plus beer and co*cktails. 447 Brick Blvd.; 732-262-3663, mjsrestaurant.com.
Nicholas Creamery, Wall
The sixth Nicholas Creamery ice cream shop is coming to Wall Towne Center, but you'll have to wait to try its small-batch ice creams, milkshakes and ice cream cakes. Co-owner Nicholas Harary estimates a spring 2025 opening. Route 34 and Lakewood Road; nicholascreamery.com.
Nikko Sushi, Manalapan
Sushi fans have a new lunch and dinner option at Nikko, where the menu includes rolls, poke bowls and sushi entrees, plus noodles, katsu, hibachi and fried rice. 285 Gordons Corner Road; 732-637-8093, nikkosushimanalapan.com.
Offshore Coffee Co., Belmar
This Long Branch coffee shop is heading south for its second location in the former Stay Gold Café & Lounge. Customers can expect coffee roasted in small batches, plus seasonal breakfast toasts, smoothie bowls, salads and baked goods from New York City's Balthazar Bakery. 800 Main St.; offshorecoffeeco.com.
More: Serving 'old school' pies, Zoni's Pizzeria in Middletown expanding kitchen
Panko Pizza, Middletown
Pizza gets some crunch at Panko Pizza, where the dough is coated in olive oil and dipped in panko breadcrumbs. Aside from a classic pie with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Pecorino Romano, varieties include a vodka Sicilian pizza, hot oil pizza, and a sausage, butter and onion pie. There are fried calzones, too. 1104 Route 35; 848-225-3080, pankopizzeria.com.
Peel, Ocean Township
This family-owned restaurant and pizzeria has pies you probably haven't tried before, like a caramelized leek and bacon pizza with garlic cream sauce, an artichoke pizza with ricotta and pesto, and a Greek pizza with grilled chicken, olives and feta. Don't skip the housemade pasta or hot honey garlic knots. 2001 Bellmore St. in the Oakhurst section; 732-531-4478, peelnj.com.
Pizzeria 'Lucci, Belmar
Mike Gallucci's long-anticipated pizzeria has opened, and the former co-owner of Rosie's Pizza in Point Pleasant Beach is making pizza, meatballs and more. 809 Belmar Plaza; instagram.com/pizzerialucci.
The Toast Post, Bradley Beach
You can build your own toast or choose from a menu of options including ricotta with honey, banana, cinnamon and granola; avocado, grated egg, bacon, blue cheese and tomato; or hummus and greens. Add a specialty coffee or smoothie. 710 Main St.; 908-997-0331, pairednj.com.
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Tommy's Tavern + Tap, Wall
Tommy's Tavern + Tap's 10th New Jersey restaurant is coming to the Brook 35 shopping center this fall. Diners can expect a restaurant and bar that seats more than 350 diners inside and 40 on an outside patio. Route 35; tommystavernandtap.com.
Ugly Dumpling Express, Holmdel
Shanghai street food is served quick-service style at Ugly Dumpling Express, a scaled-down version of sit-down restaurant Ugly Dumpling in Edison. You'll want to try soup dumplings called xiao long bao, which are filled with pork, chicken, crab or shrimp, and crispy scallion pancakes, noodle dishes and dim sum. 2130 Route 35, Holmdel; 848-294-7188,uglydumpling.us.
The WindMill, Brick
Five years after closing on Route 70, iconic Shore hot dog spot The WindMill is set to return to a location nearby. In mid-March, owner Ralph Epstein received approval from the township's planning board to open in aformer T-Mobile store. 905 Route 70; windmillhotdogs.com.
Gabriela L. Laracca and David P. Willis contributed to this story.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014.Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com,follow on Instagramat Jersey Shore Eatsandsubscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
