New Shore restaurants offer Turkish cuisine, Mexican food, elevated diner dishes and more

The year may be winding down, but the restaurant scene is ramping up.

From a 200-plus seat restaurant serving traditional Turkish dishes to a roadside kitchen dishing up smash-style burgers, here is the latest batch of restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Marmara Mediterranean Cuisine, Freehold Township

A long-shuttered Ruby Tuesday at Freehold Raceway Mall has reopened as Marmara Mediterranean Cuisine, a 230-seat restaurant serving dishes heavily influenced by its Turkish owners and chefs.

In the kitchen, fresh bread is shaped by hand and puffs in an oven sent from Turkey. A vertical cone of beef and lamb, for doner kebabs, cooks slowly. A dedicated butcher cuts lamb chops.

The restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner, is the work of owners Bill Ayaz and Firat Harbiyeci.

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"We put a lot of money and work into this," Ayaz said of the 5,800-square-foot restaurant, which was completely renovated and sits at an entrance on the mall's main level. "We have a big variety and we cater to all — vegetable eaters, meat eaters."

Executive Chef Metin Calisir's favorite dishes are chitir kebab, made of kebab wrapped in lavash bread and topped with grilled eggplant and garlic yogurt, and steak sushi, made from thinly sliced beef with mushrooms and peppers in a cream and cheese sauce.

His Gavurdaği salad is a tower of tomatoes, peppers, onions and walnuts with pomegranate and olive oil. Wedges of pita are served with dips: hummus, babaganoush, eggplant salad, boiled beets and labneh, sauteed carrots and labneh, and muammara, made of bread crumbs, walnuts, cheese and spices.

Lamb shank and short ribs are served with bulgur, lamb skewers with eggplant and garlic yogurt, and thin, crispy lahmacun, or Turkish pizza, has ground lamb, beef, parsley, onion and tomato.

The restaurant will host performances by belly-dancers, as well as live music on the weekends.

"We want to turn it into a place to hang out after dinner," Ayaz said.

Go: 3710 Route 9, Freehold Township; 732-808-2727, marmaracuisine.com. Reservations are recommended.

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Casa Calaveras, Middletown

After more than a year of construction, this Mexican restaurant and tequila bar on Route 35 — which is easy to find, thanks to a bright mural painted on the exterior — is getting closer to opening.

"We are at the finish line," said Rich Crocker, who is opening the 250-seat restaurant in a former Carrabba's with his wife, Cherie, and business partner Kenny Lehan. The Crockers also own The Atlantic House in Atlantic Highlands.

Casa Calaveras was inspired by Rich's experience growing up in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, and dining at restaurants like Dos Caminos in New York City and Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar in Florida.

"The vibe is great, and I thought it was something that's missing here," he said.

The menu, developed by Chef Gary Gonzalez — a "Chopped" champion whose parents were born in Mexico — "is going to have a lot of fun dishes," Rich said, including plenty of tacos, tableside guacamole and weekend brunch.

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Diners can expect another mural, courtesy of Shore-based artist Jay Mack, in the dining room, plus tin ceilings, colored chandeliers, a tequila room with dozens of high-end tequilas, and a flower wall for Instagram photos. A 35-foot-bar faces a wall of televisions, and the dining room will open to an outdoor patio via folding walls of glass doors.

"We wanted something different," Rich said. "People want an experience when going out to dinner. We want to make it an experience."

Go: 1864 Route 35, Middletown; instagram.com/casacalaverasnj.com.

39 Degrees, Stafford

You can count on a New Jersey diner to serve eggs, pancakes, burgers, grilled cheese, disco fries and tuna melts. But what about brioche French toast with tres leches syrup, sourdough toast with house-cured salmon, or beer-battered cod tacos with curry aioli?

This is the kind of menu created by a chef like Diego Sanchez, whose cooking represents a career spent in the kitchens of Galaxy Diner in Rahway, Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, a Greek restaurant in Austin, Texas, and New York restaurants of chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud.

"My menu reflects all of my past experiences. Tacos bring me back to the Austin food truck scene. The healthy (dishes) ... are from the hotels," Sanchez said from a booth in his restaurant, which he renovated after taking over the former Horizon Diner. "I offer the basics but not at a basic level ... for people who want to think outside of the box. We try to keep it simple, but good."

He plans to change the menu with the seasons, and diners may eventually see dishes inspired by Sanchez's Peruvian heritage, such as ceviche.

"I was always aiming for a diner," Sanchez said. "It gives you the opportunity to be creative."

Go: 32 East Bay Ave., Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-597-4771, 39degreesnorthnj.com.

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ORB O BYTES food truck, Tuckerton

Sal Hobler didn’t grow up in a restaurant family, but in one that gathered for good food on Sundays.

He never owned a food business but loves being creative.

“I have a wild imagination,” said Hobler, standing in front of ORB O BYTES, a galactic-themed mobile kitchen he opened in September along Route 9 in Tuckerton. At night, it lights up like a UFO.

Hobler’s menu is small but fun, and cooked to order. He makes three kinds of chicken smash burgers: Buffalo, with julienned carrots and celery on top for crunch; honey barbecue, with pickles, purple cabbage slaw, poblano peppers and crispy fried onions; and a breakfast version. There's also garlic parmesan fries, cinnamon toast sweet potato fries with cream cheese cinnamon dip, and macaroni and cheese.

He makes milkshakes inside the custom-built trailer, and Refresher drinks made with iced tea, lemonade or seltzer, and flavored syrups.

“I wanted to make food everybody loves but with a twist to it,” he said. “I’m trying to make everything very visually appealing and fun.”

Hobler plans to stay open all year, with grilled cheese and chili to come.

“I want to keep trying and experimenting,” he said.

Go: 156 East Main St., Tuckerton; 609-857-1422, instagram.com/orbobytes.

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Ben's Bistro, Middletown

Inside the former Grill 36 on busy Route 36 in the township's Belford section, Ben Klima is preparing to open his first restaurant.

Monmouth County diners may have already tasted his cooking: Klima has worked at The Black Swan, Homesick, Reyla and Modine in Asbury Park, and Cavé Bistro in Avon.

He hopes to open Ben's Bistro in mid-October.

"I'm doing mostly sandwiches ... (and) I can implement my knowledge and technical skills I've used over the years," he said.

That means scratch-made Kansas City-style mop sauce on dry-rubbed pork and brisket sandwiches, Gorgonzola cream sauce on a bacon blue cheese burger, and housemade hot honey on chicken and waffles.

The 36-seat restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, and Klima plans to add meal prep as well.

Go: 571 Route 36, Belford section of Middletown; 732-201-0678.

Other new additions:

Almost Home at Red General, Atlantic Highlands: This breakfast, lunch and coffee spot, featuring Southern-style dishes in the morning and sandwiches and salads at lunch, will open this fall in the recently vacated Big Mike's Little Red Store. It is the fifth location for Almost Home; there are others in the Lincroft and Belford sections of Middletown, in Sea Bright, and in Jersey City. 101 Navesink Ave.; almosthomegeneral.com. (The restaurant is physically in the Navesink section of Middletown, with an Atlantic Highlands mailing address).

Bagel Nook, Freehold Township: The third New Jersey location of Alex and David Berkowitz's bagel shop, known for its over-the-top bagels and cream cheese flavors, opened in late September in the former Eli’s Hot Bagels. 4345 Route 9; thebagelnook.com.

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Baseline Social, Oceanport: This restaurant, bar and entertainment venue from the team behind Deal Lake Bar + Co. in Loch Arbour opened last month in the former commissary at Fort Monmouth. 675 Oceanport Way; baselinesocialnj.com.

Bandwagon Diner, Toms River: Following a renovation, this long-running restaurant reopened in August. 2500 Route 37 East; bandwagondiner.com.

Big Dogs Cafe, Berkeley Township: This sister restaurant to Big Dogs Cafe in Toms River, which opened in early 2023, began serving coffee, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, milkshakes and more in late August. 242 Route 9; 848-226-6127, bigdogscafe.com.

Chocolate Moonshine, Tinton Falls: The first New Jersey location of this Pennsylvania-based candy company will open this month at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets. Expect gourmet fudge and hand-painted truffle bars, among other sweets. 1 Premium Outlets Blvd., Suite 852; 732-567-4191, letsfudge.com.

Claudie's Chicken, Middletown: In September, Kathy Lowenstein relocated her fried chicken restaurant from Route 35 North in Red Bank to the space previously occupied by Sabatos Prime Meats. Her menu has chicken dinners, ribs, wings, sandwiches and more. 113 Leonardville Road; 732-450-0007, myclaudies.com.

Clemmy's, Waretown: Allen and Carolyn Walski's 24-seat BYOB serves seasonally inspired dishes like smoked potatoes with black garlic and malt vinegar, and Long Island duck breast with Swiss chard and apple gastrique. 290 Route 9; 609-891-4066; instagram.com/clemmys.restaurant.

Cucina Fresca, Berkeley Township: Rich and Maria Panassidi, who opened their Italian market in Bayville's Heritage Square nearly a year ago, are moving the business 1 mile south on Route 9. An opening date has not yet been announced. 791 Route 9; cucinafrescamarket.com.

G's Cheesesteaks, Toms River: Giacomo Pisano, who opened the first New Jersey location of his New York-based restaurant in Point Pleasant Beach in May, added a second Oct. 3 in the former Philly Philly Steaks space. 1611 Route 37 East; gscheesesteaks.com.

Latin Diner, Asbury Park: Formerly Cuban Cafe, this newly opened and remodeled restaurant is serving Cuban sandwiches, papas rellenas, empanadas, lechon asado, tres leches cake and more. 1007 Memorial Drive; 732-361-5191.

The Mainstay, Asbury Park: Formerly The Bonney Read, this bar and lounge serving beachside bar food from Chef James Avery will open in early November. 525 Cookman Ave.; itsthemainstay.com.

Mav's Top Buns, Middletown: After three years of running their popular cinnamon bun bakery without a brick and mortar, Nikki and Mike Ashkar are turning a former Greens and Grains into a hub for baking, pickups, shipping and parties. 1092 Route 35; mavstopbuns.com.

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MJ's Restaurant Bar and Grill, Brick: The eighth MJ’s in New Jersey will open in the space previously occupied by PJ Sweeney's Restaurant & Irish Pub, which closed in August. MJ's is expected to open this fall. 447 Brick Blvd.; mjsrestaurant.com.

Mule Barn, Highlands: The long-awaited bar and restaurant at Sandy Hook's Fort Hancock opened in August, serving pizza, sandwiches, burgers, salads and tacos, plus beer from Carton Brewing and Kane Brewing. 36 Kearney Road; 732-233-9277, mulebarntavern.com.

Pies on 37, Toms River: Brandi and Ricky Digiovanna are converting the recently closed Joey D's Pizza into a sister restaurant to their Pies on Nine South in Lacey. They plan to open the pizzeria in January. 1311 Route 37 West; 732-503-4409, pieson37.com.

River Pointe Inn, Rumson: Surf, Victor Rallo's restaurant, closed in September to make way for a new project. Details are forthcoming, but River Pointe Inn is described as "oysters, cocktails, and contemporary classics served in a warm space complete with chophouse flair, retro-glam decor and champagne toasts." 132 East River Road; riverpointeinn.com.

The Squire at Branches, West Long Branch: This restaurant and bar, located inside Branches, opened in August. The renovated space includes a bar, wine room and fireplace, with a menu that includes charred octopus with Romesco chimichurri, braised short ribs, and ricotta gnocchi with truffle cream sauce. 123 Monmouth Road, 732-542-5050, thesquirenj.com.

Wild in the Treats, Atlantic Highlands: This vegan bakery from Tony Panzica, previously of Dean's Market in Ocean Township and Shrewsbury and Healthfair Natural Food Market in Little Silver, will offer sweets like cinnamon rolls, chocolate stout Bundt cake and green tea whoopie pies. 183 First Ave.; facebook.com/wildinthetreatsbakery.

Wunder Wiener, Berkeley Township: Five years after his roadside hot dog stand was destroyed in a car accident, Jerry LaCrosse reopened the decades-old business in mid-September. It is in a new location a half mile south of the original location, with a familiar menu of Italian-style hot dogs, french fries, cheesesteaks and sausage sandwiches. 108 Atlantic City Blvd. in the Bayville section; instagram.com/derwunderwiener.

Gabriela L. Laracca 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 and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants: New diners, Turkish, Mexican spots open