Swim Crush opens on Asbury Park boardwalk with rum buckets, frozen cocktails and burgers

Surfs up, dude. Time to grab some rum buckets, frozen cocktails and handheld bites at the Asbury Park boardwalk’s newest beach bar and restaurant.

BarCo Brands — the team that owns Deal Lake Bar + Co. in Loch Arbour, and the one that took over Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park Yacht Club and Pop's Garage in Asbury Park — opened Swimcrush in the former Cubacan space on June 30.

"Business picked up right away," Middletown resident and BarCo partner Tim McMahon said of the beachy hub, complete with bartenders in uniforms reminiscent of lifeguard suits, surf-themed décor and lounge chairs.

“[We’re] a comfortable bar with food on the boardwalk that people can just come off the beach and eat, [without] making a reservation or thinking a whole lot about it,” McMahon said. “We’re all about having fun in a relaxed environment where we don’t need to be the star of the show.

“If you’re having a great day … we just want to be part of that and add to your experience.”

BarCo Brands — also Phil Villapiano of Oceanport, Andrea Pappas of Tinton Falls, and Greg Bartz of Red Bank —was approached by Madison Marquette in June to breathe life back into it the space.

“Our locations on the boardwalk are a nice restaurant and a dive bar — this one we put in the middle,” Villapiano said.

Located steps off the beach and right across from The Stone Pony, they had three weeks to come up with a concept.

When Swimcrush first opened, the partners thought seafood bites like fresh steamers were going to be the star of the show. Instead, customers have made the Crush Burger (double patty smash burger with American cheese and pickles on a brioche bun) a favorite.

Try appetizers like corn ribs (lightly seasoned deep-fried corn with lime mayo dipping sauce) and sandwiches like blackened Mahi Mahi (pan-seared Mahi Mahi, grilled pineapple, mixed greens and apple cider aioli), served with fries.

If you're watching your beach body, try a salad like the Crush House (with grilled chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, diced tomatoes, cucumber and sherry vinaigrette).

Dock and Dine: Ahoy! Try these 12 dock-and-dine restaurants at the Jersey Shore

The drink menu is massive, with an assortment of fresh-squeezed "Crushes" like orange and pinapple; buckets like the Tipsy Mermaid (with Bounty Coconut Rum, 400 Conejos Mezcal, watermelon, strawberry and lime juice); and frozen cocktails like the Dirty Banana (Bounty Rum, banana liqueur, coffee liqueur, chocolate syrup, heavy cream and whipped cream).

The bar also hosts a Happy Hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, featuring drink specials like $8 singles and $14 buckets, $8 wine, $2 off beer and $5 tiki shots. Food specials include a half pound of peel-and-eat shrimp for $12, $8 beach fries (crinkle cut fries with Old Bay, apple cider vinegar and cheddar cheese sauce), and $10 chips with pico and guacamole.

More cocktails: More than 20 must-try summer cocktails and buckets at the Jersey Shore

Games like giant Connect Four, cornhole and ping pong make you feel like you’re killing time in a surfing cabin with your buddies. Acoustic acts perform every Tuesday and Thursday.

And if that's not enough, Swimcrush plays "Baywatch" on it's TV, nonstop.

By the end of the month, BarCo Brands will be opening Baseline Social, a 17,000-square-foot entertainment destination in the Fort Monmouth Commissary in Oceanport. There will be multiple indoor and outdoor bars, five virtual golf bays, a stage for DJs and live music, and a 600-square-foot television.

"We’re just taking over the world one restaurant and bar at a time," McMahon said.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park restaurants: Swim Crush bar opens along boardwalk