NJ dining: Try out more than 60 restaurants during special Jersey Shore week

It’s that time of year again that restaurants and locals look forward to at the Jersey Shore: The 13th Annual Jersey Shore Restaurant Week.

From Nov. 4 to Nov. 13, 65 restaurants from Keyport to Seaside Park will participate in the 10-day event.

The first Restaurant Week event started in November 2009 and drew 56 restaurants. Chairman Jim Flynn said it was created to help restaurants in two traditionally slow times of the year for them, which are November and April.

November is typically slow because it’s after the summer and fall seasons, which are busy, and before the holidays. So, it’s a lull period, Flynn explained. It’s the same for April, as restaurants emerge from the winter months and before the summer season ramps up.

He said the restaurants love this special week because they get the business during a time frame when they typically don’t have much.

“The second benefit is for the consumer where they get an opportunity to try restaurants that maybe they never got to before or thought they were too expensive,” Flynn said.

How does Jersey Shore Restaurant Week work?

The restaurants offer a three-course meal for $40. They offer a choice from a menu of three appetizers, three entrees, and three desserts.

“During Restaurant Week, 80% of the people that participate try a new restaurant,” Flynn said.

Participating restaurants are starting to submit their menus. You can see many of them here.

Fratello’s in Sea Girt has been participating in JSRW for all 13 years now as well as Grandma’s Meatball in Manasquan, Flynn said. But 21A on Broadway in Long Branch and Catch 19 in Red Bank are new participants. All of David Burke’s restaurants: The GOAT in Union Beach, Drifthouse in Sea Bright, and Red Horse in Rumson participate as well.

How does JSRW help small businesses and the local economy?

Flynn said not only do people try new restaurants but they also go out 50% more during Restaurant Week than they do during a regular week.

That’s flooding communities with diners who are out there pretty much every night during the 10 days, he added. This, in turn, helps the economy because there are a lot more people around.

Are there any special events being held during JSRW?

Yes. Two special events are happening. The first is called the “Dream Dinner” on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. Five top area chefs are invited to come and each cooks a separate course. Consumers can enjoy the cooking of top chefs under one roof on one night.

The theme this year is that the chefs will be cooking iconic dishes from famous NYC restaurants that are no longer around.

“For example, we’ll be doing Lobster Newburg from Delmonico’s, Black Bean Soup from The Coach House, Steak Diane from the 21 Club,” Flynn said.

All courses will be paired with wines too.

The second special event is Tito’s Cocktail Challenge, Sunday, Nov. 6., at Reef and Barrel, Manasquan.

That’s a competition between area bartenders to be crowned the Tito’s Cocktail Champion. Consumers show up, try all the concoctions, and vote for their favorite.
Tickets for both special events can be found here.

Some participating JSRW restaurants:

21A on Broadway, Long Branch
801 Craft Kitchen & Spirits, Belmar
Al Ponte, Neptune
B2 Bistro & Bar, Red Bank
Avenue, Long Branch
Atlantic Offshore Fishery, Point Pleasant Beach
Bar Anticipation, Lake Como (Lunch only)
Beijing Bistro, Red Bank
Berkeley Cut Steakhouse, Seaside Park
Berg’s Smoked Meats and Poutine, Belmar
B2 Bistro, Point Pleasant Beach
Brandl, Belmar
Branch Cantina, Long Branch
Blu Grotto, Oceanport
Brooklyn Bistro, Toms River
Bum Rogers Crabhouse, Seaside Park
Catch 19, Red Bank
Centrada, Red Bank
Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette
Drifthouse by David Burke, Sea Bright
Elbow Room Bar & Kitchen, Bradley Beach
Fratello’s Restaurant and Lounge, Sea Girt
Grenville Hotel and Restaurant, Bay Head
Grandma’s Meatball, Manasquan
Harrigan’s Pub, Sea Girt
Johnny Piancone’s, Long Branch
Killer Pies, Asbury Park
La Cipollina Ristorante, Freehold
Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park
La Dolce Vita, Belmar
Mantoloking Road Alehouse, Brick
Marandola’s, Bradley Beach
Maya, Long Branch
Mister C’s Beach Bistro, Allenhurst
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
MonAlyssa Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, Point Pleasant
Moonstruck, Asbury Park
Mr. Shrimp, Belmar
Ohana Grill, Lavallette
Pearl at the Oyster Point Hotel, Red Bank
Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach
Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson
Rella’s “An Italian Tavern,” Brielle
Scarborough Fair, Sea Girt
The Black Swan, Asbury Park
The Breakers on the Ocean, Spring Lake
The Bonney Read, Asbury Park
The GOAT by David Burke, Union Beach
The Melting Pot, Red Bank
The Offshore Restaurant, Point Pleasant Beach
The Salty Whale, Manasquan
The Shrimp Box, Point Pleasant Beach
The Shore House Bar and Grill, Point Pleasant
The Whitechapel Projects, Long Branch
Triumph Brewing Co., Red Bank
Windward Tavern, Brick
Woody’s Roadside Tavern, Farmingdale

It’s a great opportunity for the consumer to get out, Flynn said. The last couple of years with the COVID-19 pandemic have been tough on everybody, particularly for restaurants.

“It’s a way for the consumer to show support for the restaurant industry and it’s a way for the restaurant to give back a little to the consumer who has supported them, by offering a great value meal,” Flynn said.

There will be another Jersey Shore Restaurant Week held in April 2023.

Jen Ursillo is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at jennifer.ursillo@townsquaremedia.com

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