We really like their rotating sandwich specials which are usually easiest to check out via their Instagram, as well as the gravlax with beet-horseradish cream cheese on an everything bagel, plus the terrific salads (the New Mexico Bowl is a standout). Another go-to is the cacio e pepe scrambled eggs, served with arugula, breakfast sausage, and Benchmark bread. Cardinal also has a bunch of vegan options, including many of their baked goods, making it an ideal place for special diets.

Asbury Park’s St. Laurent Hotel is home to two new spots from the area’s most well known restaurant group. The drinks here are some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the area: expertly crafted cocktails—featuring bitters, cordials, herbs, and complex ingredients like charred onion vermouth—a solid wine list, and a terrific slew of martinis, including an olive oil infused vesper.

The arrival of Milk Sugar Love—which has served some of the state’s best ice cream in Jersey City for more than a decade—has upped the ante on great desserts in not only Asbury Park, but the entire Shore. This shop’s unique flavors and high quality ingredients differentiate it from its competitors. If you need more than the standard scoop, there are cookie sandwiches, special collabs, and seasonal offerings, which feature some of the state’s best produce at its peak.

Frank’s is among the best places to get an iconic deli meat sandwich in New Jersey, which actually means any other place on Earth. Part-deli, part-diner, Frank’s has been an Asbury Park staple since before the Boss and his E-Street Band were rocking the Stone Pony on the other side of town. Go for breakfast and get that thick-cut taylor ham with egg and cheese on whatever bread you’re feeling (we often go rye). And if you’re headed to the beach, grab a deli sandwich for lunch.

Perhaps the most ironic thing about Jersey Shore restaurants is that despite most of them being less than a mile from the ocean, the seafood options are few and far between. Finally, a resolution has come via one of the region’s most well-known fish markets—Local 130 Seafood—that now operates Shucked, a small oyster bar and restaurant in the iconic Convention Hall.

When you mention Talula’s, the conversation naturally leans towards pizza. And rightfully so: the wide variety of pies are great, and suit even the most unique of dietary restrictions. We really like the Beekeeper’s Lament with hot calabrian soppressata, fresh mozzarella, and local honey, The Rocket, and the occasionally available Detroit-style pies. But the real reason to visit Talula’s is the bread they bake in-house and the sandwiches they use it for. They’re only available at lunch.

Besides fun restaurants for a post-beach or pre-concert meal, Asbury Park can come up a bit short when it comes to proper places to eat and drink like an adult. Especially when celebrating a special occasion like your birthday, anniversary, or running into Bruce Springsteen at The Wonder Bar. Pascal & Sabine makes great cocktails and serves really good French food, from a great pork chop to local seafood and beyond.

There are plenty of viable coffee spots around Asbury Park, but if you’re particular about your latte or cortado, Cafe Volan is the best option in town. The seasonal menu has a lot of unexpected flavors—particularly the orange honey and unique housemade syrups like maple, lavender, or a hot sauce-infused mazi mocha. They also have simple toasts and pastries that are helpful if you need something quick on the go, but really, you’re coming to Volan for coffee.

The team at Mutiny BBQ has opened up one of the state’s best barbecue options in the middle of Asbury Park. They do solid ribs, juicy hot links, and a rotating offering of brunswick stew, chili, and smoked turkey soups. The 5th Avenue location has a backyard that’s perfect for a BYOB hang with friends. The team also operates Mutiny Beach at Asbury Park’s convention hall with a full bar and outdoor seating overlooking the ocean.

Catbird is a BYOB restaurant and pizzeria in a fully renovated, idyllic location along Deal Lake. You’ll find stuff like simple seasonal salads with arugula and blueberries, roasted vegetables, and the biggest reason to come: their signature, slightly misshapen, nearly square wood-fired pizzas. We like the use of vegetables on the pies, such as the roasted eggplant with pesto or a spicy sausage and ricotta pie covered in trimmed fennel fronds. They have a great outdoor dining area.

Since opening in 2024, Pizzeria ’Lucci has established itself as the undisputed best pizza at the Jersey Shore. They keep it pretty simple with a menu of outstanding pies, a few salads—while the caesar is great, we love the vinegary chopped salad—their near-perfect meatballs, and housemade semolina bread. But the pizzas are the star of their show, with a thin fermented crust that’s purposefully cooked well-done to ensure maximum levels of crispy.

Go for the Mixta, which comes with one quesabirria, one mulita, and one taco de birria, each overflowing with queso and making excellent use of the rich, meaty consommé. And for any hot summer night, their cucumber aqua fresca might be the most refreshing drink in the area. We actually prefer the location in Belmar, as there’s more room to eat there, but the Asbury Park one is solid too, particularly for takeout.

At Palmer’s Quality Meats you can grab a sandwich for lunch and fill the fridge with a thick ribeye to grill later. Standouts include a cheesesteak made with trimmed chuck eye, served not too cheesy with a perfect cherry pepper relish, and any sandwich overflowing with upgraded housemade deli meats. like brined-smoked whole muscle hams, roast beef, and smoked turkey. These sandwiches are so popular that they often sell out within hours after the shop posts about the day’s specials on Instagram.

Anjelica’s Restaurant isn’t just the best red sauce joint at the Shore, it might be the best along the entire Eastern Seaboard. Reservations may seem impossible, but it’s worth checking constantly to secure one, even if you have to get a table in their outdoor alley (which is actually the best place to sit). Plates of orecchiette in a spicy vodka sauce, caramelle in lemon cream, and mafaldine al ragu can go toe-to-toe with most spots just a few nautical miles north (within the five boroughs).

Don’t let the fact that there are almost as many Rook Coffee outposts along the Shore as there are lighthouses be a turn-off. Just appreciate the fact that the best coffee on the coast has found a way to set up about a dozen shops from Holmdel to Point Pleasant. That means there’s always one close enough to shock your sunburned self back into normalcy with its New Orleans-style cold brew or one of its many rotating seasonal offerings.

Bradley Beach is among the most underrated towns for dining down the Shore, and Thai spot Bamboo Leaf is its star restaurant. We really like the curry options—order the duck penang or the spicy green vegetables—as well as classic starters and entrees like pad see ew. The restaurant is BYOB, but everything travels well if you just want to chill, eat, and drink on your front porch.

The Grand Tavern is where we like to take a break from the crowded beachside bars and restaurants. It’s in an odd location just west of Bradley Beach and has a notably terrific staff, great cocktails, well-dressed green salads, great baked oysters, and more. You can get things like steak, local scallops, and a particularly good chicken milanese here, but they make the undisputed best burger at the beach.

You might be surprised to find the best vegan and vegetarian options around the Shore. Their house salad, featuring large crusty croutons and vinegar-soaked veggies, is quintessential old-school Italian and our favorite in the area. And their mountain of fried hen of the woods mushrooms is a great item for sharing with a side of marinara. They also do a great fish milanese and a delicious plate of hot vinegar chicken, if you’re feeling more than just vegetables.

While this is an ideal lunch option, Berg’s is located just around the corner from Belmar’s popular Bar Anticipation (Bar A, for those familiar). In past years, Berg’s has offered extended hours until 2am in the summer, which historically made it one of the area’s best late-night spots, particularly for some post-bar hopping poutine and fries.