Savor the Tastes of Monmouth County During Jersey Shore Restaurant Week

As any local foodie knows, Monmouth County offers a virtual smorgasbord of culinary adventures, with everything from fast food to fine dining, eclectic menus to ethnic cuisine, sports bars to banquet halls, and the whole gamut in between. For many food fans, some of the biggest questions when it comes to eating out include where to go, when to go, and how much to spend. During the month of April, one event in particular provides the answer to all three of those dining dilemmas: Jersey Shore Restaurant Week.

First held in November 2009, and having enjoyed great success, Jersey Shore Restaurant Week has become a twice-yearly tradition, with one event held in the fall and the other in the spring. Thousands of area residents take advantage of this delicious opportunity to sample specially priced three-course meals at some of the Jersey shore’s best restaurants – some for the first time, some for the hundredth, but hopefully for restaurant owners, certainly not the last. The timing of Restaurant Week is perfect for locals, as it falls during the non-peak times of year when the shore towns are quiet and peaceful and diners don’t have to fight the crush of summer tourists who often crowd the restaurants.

The 2011 spring rendition of Jersey Shore Restaurant Week will be held from April 1 through April 10. Participating restaurants – 66 in all as of this writing – will offer a three-course menu for either $20.11 or $30.11, with three appetizer, three entrée, and three dessert choices. The venues span the region, from as far north as Matawan to as far south as Seaside Heights. The week also features some special spotlight events, having kicked off the festivities with an opening night celebration on March 31 at the Dauphin Grille in Asbury Park. 

On Saturday, April 2, for instance, Harpoon Willy’s in Manasquan will present “Burgers, Bloodies, and Brews” from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Spend the afternoon overlooking the Manasquan River as you enjoy great food, drinks, and live music, all at one great price. The next day, “The Great Jersey Shore Martini Contest” will be held at The Mill in Spring Lake Heights from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., as area bartenders compete to create the best martini at the Jersey shore. For $30 per person, guests can sample a variety of tasty martinis along with delicious food and live musical entertainment.

A showcase event called “The Dream Dinner” will be held on Monday, April 4 at The Barclay Hotel in Belmar. From 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the mouthwatering meal of a lifetime will be prepared by four amazing Jersey shore chefs, including Chris Brandl of Brandl, Thomas Donohoe of Doris and Ed’s, Larry Baldwin of David Burke Fromagerie, and Terry Eleftheriou of Shipwreck Grill, each of whom will serve up several signature dishes from their famed establishments. Contemporary jazz entertainment will accompany the meal, performed by The Jay Sweet Trio. The cost of this scrumptious evening is $75 per person, which includes four courses, wine, tax, and gratuity.

“Shellfish & Chardonnay” will take place all day long, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 6 at Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant in Long Branch. At this beautiful beachfront location, diners can enjoy peel and eat shrimp or Chesapeake Oysters for $1 each and Little Neck or Top Neck clams for 50 cents each, along with $5 glasses of Chardonnay. The following weekend, chase away the last remnants of the winter blues with summery barbecue dishes and microbrews at the “Get to the Point” event, scheduled from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at The Elks Lodge in Point Pleasant Beach. For $30, you can try wonderful craft beers from around the country, hailing from breweries such as Sam Adams, Flying Fish, Ommegang, Harpoon, Blue Point, Brooklyn Brewery, Spaten, and Sierra Nevada. The menu will feature barbecue pulled pork and cheddar spring rolls, chicken chili, barbecue St. Louis spareribs, corn on the cob, and homemade macaroni salad. Chow down to live music by RetroJunk.

The final course for the week’s special events will be “Sunday Soiree: A Taste of San Tropez,” hosted on Sunday, April 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Avenue in Long Branch. There, you will have the opportunity to spend a glorious afternoon overlooking the Atlantic Ocean as you feast upon delectable foods and wines of the Mediterranean and listen to a musical performance by the classic blues band, Filthy Rich and the Poor Boys. Tickets for this culinary escape are $35 per person.

Take a look at the Jersey Shore Restaurant Week website at www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com or visit the event’s Facebook page to dish up all the details, including links to the various events and restaurants to see locations, menus, reviews, reservations, and more.

Participating restaurants for the April 2011 event include:

Allenhurst: Mister C’s Beach Bistro

Asbury Park: Brando’s Citi Cucina, Dauphin Grille, Langosta Lounge, McLoone’s Asbury Grille, Moonstruck, Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar, Synaxis, Trinity and the Pope

Bay Head: Theresa’s South

Belmar: Brandl, Jake’s Crab Shack, Klein’s, La Dolce Vita, Matisse Restaurant, Mr. Shrimp, Nicchio Ristorante, Ragin Cajun, Tulipano’s Italian Market & Ristorante, Vivas

Brick: Pilot House

Brielle: Rella’s Italian Tavern, Sand Bar Restaurant, Shipwreck Grill, Simko’s Grill

Colts Neck: Colts Neck Inn

Fair Haven: Nauvoo Grill Club, Raven & The Peach

Highlands: Bahrs Landing, Doris & Ed’s

Lavallette: Labrador Lounge

Long Branch: Avenue Restaurant, Charley’s Ocean Grill, Sirena Ristorante, Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant, Tre Amici al Piccolo Forno

Manasquan: Harpoon Willy’s, Remington’s, Squan Tavern

Matawan: Buttonwood Manor

Point Pleasant Beach: Europa South, Frankie’s Bar & Grill, Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty, Red’s Lobster Pot, Tardi’s Ristorante Italiano, The Wharfside

Red Bank: Basil T’s Brewery & Italian Grill, Buona Sera Restaurant & Bar, Danny’s Steakhouse, Gaetano’s Italian Ristorante & Market, Via 45

Rumson: David Burke Fromagerie, Murray MacGregor’s Publik House, Salt Creek Grille, Undici Taverna Rustica

Sea Bright: The Dockside

Sea Girt: Fratello’s Italian Restaurant, Harrigan’s Pub, Rod’s Olde Irish Tavern, Scarborough Fair, Spicy’s Cantina

Spring Lake: Breakers Hotel & Restaurant, The Black Trumpet

Spring Lake Heights: St. Stephen’s Green Publick House, The Mill

Toms River: Artisan’s Brewery & Italian Grill