3-course deals: Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is back at more than 50 eateries

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, the area's biannual celebration of local dining, kicks off Friday, Nov. 4.

The week — actually 10 days — features prix fixe menus from more than 50 restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean counties, which will offer lunch and dinner deals for $30.22 and $40.22.

Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, Nov. 13.

From new participants to related events, here's a look at what's happening:

This year's new additions

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week takes place in April and November, and each time, new restaurants sign on. This month's first-timers include restaurants that opened this year and others that have been around longer: Killer Pies in Asbury Park; Al Ponte (previously Simko's Grill) in Neptune City; 801 Craft Kitchen and Spirits in Belmar; Berg's Smoked Meat & Poutine in Belmar; Mantoloking Road Ale House in Brick; 21A on Broadway in Long Branch; and Beijing Bistro (previously Temple Gourmet Chinese), Catch 19, Centrada and Triumph Brewing Company, all in Red Bank.

Centrada, a three-story pan-Latin restaurant, opened in Red Bank earlier this year.
Centrada, a three-story pan-Latin restaurant, opened in Red Bank earlier this year.

Kevin Newberg, owner of Berg's, said Restaurant Week "is a great opportunity for new customers to discover us. It’s also allowed us to give customers a great deal on our food, which isn’t so easy during these inflated times."

The best deals

Restaurant Week menus include an appetizer, entrée and dessert, and diners can get the biggest bang for their buck at restaurants with regularly higher price points.

The prix fixe menu at Avenue, which serves French food by the beach in Long Branch, includes escargot, steak tartare, boeuf Bourguignon, steak frites and pot de crème. The GOAT by David Burke in Union Beach will have Wagyu meatball parmesan, short rib and shrimp surf and turf, and Burke's signature cheesecake lollipop tree. Ohana Grill in Lavallette will serve braised pork ribs, lobster ravioli in truffle cream sauce, jumbo lump crab cakes, and pistachio tartufo.

More:Bruno's Bakery of Staten Island to open in Freehold Township

Clams gremolata at Avenue on the boardwalk in Long Branch's Pier Village.
Clams gremolata at Avenue on the boardwalk in Long Branch's Pier Village.

The event's founder, Jim Flynn of Brielle, said the best deals include the meals offered at 21A on Broadway, Beijing Bistro, Blu Grotto in Oceanport and Grandma's Meatball in Manasquan.

Restaurant Week events

In addition to special menus, the week also includes culinary events before and during Jersey Shore Restaurant Week:

  • Dream Dinner: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at Spring Lake Manor in Spring Lake Heights. Local chefs will prepare a five-course meal around the theme "iconic dishes from New York restaurants."

  • Tito's Cocktail Challenge: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Reef & Barrel in Manasquan. Mixologists will compete to become Tito's Cocktail Champion and Tito's People's Choice Champion. The event will feature casual food and live music.

More:We asked 8 local chefs for their favorite Jersey Shore restaurants. Here's what they said

For more information about Jersey Shore Restaurant Week or to purchase tickets to the events, visit jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com.

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, and for more Jersey Shore food news, subscribe to our weekly Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Restaurant Week returns, offers great deals