Back again - this time with 4 additional Yelpers (we get together every month or so for dinner)…read more We started the meal, after opening our wines, with two orders of Polpetine di Pollo (chicken meatballs) and Fiori di Zuccca (Zucchini Flower). both were excellent ! Entrees consisted of Australian Striped Bass, Gnocchi Truffle, Pollo Impanato di Milanese, and 3 orders of the Chicken Cordon Bleu. we shared an order of Warmed Mascrapone Spinach. Everything was served in a timely fashion - piping hot. Desserts consisted of a delicious Fruit Tart, Pecan and Walnut Tart and their terrific Pistachio Creme Brulee. Espresso, Capuccino and Americano Coffees paired well with our choices. Our waiter, Cosmo, was terrific. He knows his menu and was able to guide us in making our choices. Remember, Dolce Fantasia is BYOB. The chef came to our table twice to gauge our reaction to our meals, always a nice touch. The space is decorated nicely and we will definitely return.

Asbury Park is one of my favorite food towns, and a huge reason is because it still has the ability…read moreto pleasantly surprise me. Case in point - this restaurant has apparently been in the downtown area for several years and I had no idea. I stopped by here for lunch on Memorial Day with the Millennial Chum, and in a totally risky move, didn't make a reservation anywhere and just decided to wing it. The Millennial Chum's only requirement was that it be a place neither one of us had been to before, so after a very quick search/walk, we noticed this place and also decided we had a hankering for Italian. Done. I don't know how to describe the interior, but "yellow" and "modern" comes to mind. This isn't a stodgy white tablecloth kind of place; it's vibrant and hip, I'm sure trying to capture that classic Asbury demo. Really unique. The weather was a little meh, which worked in our favor - although there was a decent amount of foot traffic in the downtown area 70% of which were pooches, only one other table was occupied in here. We were able to sit down and were served very promptly. We were both very intrigued by one of the apps on the verbal specials menu - mango burrata, which sounded like sort of a mess, but also worth a try. Definitely more of the latter. Never would have thought to combine these two ingredients together, but it was really excellent and an interesting palate pairing. The presentation was solid as well, and this...didn't last long, although given that we both ordered entrees perhaps we should have been more responsible in that regard. Something I'd recommend for the regular menu in the future for sure. A lot of the entrees looked interesting and pretty authentic; this isn't just spaghetti and chicken parm (I'm not actually sure either was even on the menu). The one that emotionally spoke to me the most was the Pappardelle (one of my fave pastas and always pleased to see it) Al Telefono Nostro. Really hit the spot, and as you can see a really hardcore portion. The tomato cream sauce was light and flavorful, and the only nitpick I had (just a personal palate preference) was the inclusion of the sliced tomatoes. I'm sure a ton of people love those, and it basically adds a level of authenticity to the dish that a barbarian like me just can't quite appreciate. I made sure the Millennial Chum had a few tomato pieces though. Really good dish and would order it again. Honestly not sure what possessed us to even look at the dessert menu much less actually order from it, but I thought Oreo Tiramisu sounded interesting, despite the Millennial Chum's yowling that she despised tiramisu. It turns out she doesn't, because once this dish arrived she happily helped herself and decided that her opinion on tiramisu was likely based on a traumatic/misleading childhood incident. Bare minimum, this place gets solid marks for rewriting history for her in the Italian dessert department. But it WAS delicious, which was a theme of our meal. The service was top-notch; our waitress was over regularly and had a strong command of the menu (which I think deserves bonus points, given that this was not Americanized and it helped to have a metaphorical lifeguard helping us navigate some of the trickier stuff; I studied abroad in Florence over 20 years ago, but you'd never know it). Very pleasant. BIg recommend; not a ton of establishments under the radar in Asbury, but this might be one of them.

i can see why there's always a wait, this food is AMAZING. the coffee is super creative and great…read moretoo. service here is a bit slow to get your order taken but once it's taken the food comes out fast! the cacio e pepe eggs were a dream come true, creamy, cheesy and plenty of flavor. the bread that came with it was also a sleeper hit. I tried their crab chips as well and those were amazing, they truly did not skimp on the crab here. I would've liked it try it when they still used fries but the chips were still good. i got one of their dirty sodas and will say it wasn't my favorite but i enjoyed the creativity and extra option past just alcohol and coffee. overall though the portions are massive and well worth the price, the food is creative, fresh, and outright delicious. if you're in the area this place is a MUST. No other brunch in the area can compare to what cardinal is doing. ambiance here is like any brunch place but a little more upscale, clean interior and a nice little counter service space as well. if you're gonna visit ashbury, be sure to hit cardinal.

Food was good; good portions…read more It took us a while to get in- at least a 30+ minute wait so we walked around for a bit. Service was excellent- they were very attentive and friendly. We had a booth and were able to comfortably have a conversation as noise level not too bad. Would come back to try different things.

ASBURY PARK: The latest addition to Asbury Park's vibrant scene, The Berkeley Backyard is a stylish…read morenew restaurant located inside the historic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel--and the best part? Leashed and friendly dogs are welcome both indoors and out! Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, the space is beautifully designed to bring the outdoors in, with green floral backdrops, hanging string lights, and framed flower displays that create a fresh, modern ambiance. The outdoor patio offers views of Ocean Avenue, Convention Hall, and the iconic Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel--which is also dog friendly! Be sure to check their social media for the latest hours and upcoming events.

Excellent service, very good drinks. I tried the Coco Lychee Martini . This place is also…read moreconnected to a pool area where day passes are available for purchase. Serene ambiance

I fall more in love with this place each time I go!…read more Grabbed a Vegan Cesar and vegan hot honey pizza. Unreal! The Cesar salad was amazing - I'll be dreaming of it the next visit. The pizza, as always, a FAVORITE. Truly the best place ever!!!

Wanted to like this spot. Good vibe, cool decor…read more... Pizza was overworked, crumb non-existent. Zero flavor. Also undercooked and gummy. Toppings were ok, but didn't really matter on top of a soggy, bland mess...pizzas shouldn't flop over and drip. Service was friendly but slow.

This place was GOOOOOD. Honestly blown away by this establishment…read more Was in town for work & everyone from the area to told me to come down to this area for dinner. Walked around & landed on this place. Such a swanky cool kind of new age hipster but also vintage vibe? Lol No idea! But I sure was digging it! The bartender was super sweet in helping me make a decision for dinner, because I wanted to try it ALL. I folded on the Lemony Shrimp & Bean stew (absolutely spectacular and this is coming from someone that doesn't like being or vegetable type soups) the leeks were so yummy but the shrimp was the star, just look at how huge they were. Sliced Flat Iron - SO JUICY. Such flavor! Literally haven't had any steak til this day that could replicate that flavor of the scallion chimichurri and celery root purée. It has been over a year now since I've been here, and I still CRAVE, I'm talking I have full on dreams about having this place again. Can confirm, I AM Homesick.

This is such a charming restaurant with quality homemade food. The chef makes everything from…read morescratch, so they require every group to place their orders for appetizers and entrees together. My group shared the mini lobster rolls, French dip sandwich, and cablarian chile shrimp. My one friend ordered the soup of the day, corn poblano. The appetizers were excellent! We would have liked some bread to share while waiting for our food. For the entrees, we ordered the hamburger and bucatini. Both were cooked to our liking. I loved my bucatini cooked with zucchini and garlic. The cherry on top were the zucchini flowers. This added a nice crunch. Our cocktails were refreshing. My summertime cocktail had cucumber and St. Germain. It was refreshing! Next door to Homesick is Lovesick, an adorable cocktail bar. When down the shore, this is definitely a must try!

Seated right away and greeted quickly. Food came quick and…read morewas very tasty! Cute interior and friendly staff!

Okay experience. Upon arriving we were met with a friendly but a bit frantic hostess. The place was…read moreby no means busy and she was acting as though they were swamped. Once we sat down our server arrived who seemed less than pleased to be serving us, he was nice enough but barley spoke with us and seemed to not want to be there. For food I had the Mediterranean omelette which truthfully was not very good, it was borderline flavorless. Additionally our server barley checked in with us. Ambiance is fine, its your typical casual brunch spot - don't expect anyone dressed well or an elevated experience. I definitely don't think this was the best showcase of Toast as I have heard great things so they may have just been having an off day. I would definitely give it another shot.

Absolutely delicious breakfast and lunch. Great service and outdoor dinning during the summer. A…read morelocal favorite for sure!

ASBURY PARK: The Chat and Nibble is a long-standing breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot that allows…read moreleashed and friendly dogs at the tables out front and also on their back patio. Even being outside, there is a nice ambiance and cozy feel. The menu is classic comfort food and prepared deliciously and we love that there is a veggie sausage option for non-meat eaters. Our server was attentive and brought Brie a water bowl and gave her lots of attention. Located less than a mile from the beach area, this place is a not-quite-so-hidden-gem tucked away from the boardwalk buzz, perfect for a chill meal before or after your seaside stroll.

Came with a very large group. Service was very good given the group size; drinks were quite slow to…read morecome but that's understandable. They let us order a la carte despite the size. Food seemed decent but personally my steak was a fair bit overcooked from medium rare. The tuna tartare was also pretty plain. It seemed like a busy/popular spot.

Saw a 1 star review saying "one and done" , "dessert was good", "all atmosphere", "just okay"…read more As much as I disagree with that assessment and personally feel that Pascal and Sabine is way better than "just okay"... that review should not equal 1 star. You're only review, you've only been once and decide to go onto a public forum and give 1 star. Anyway off my soapbox. Pascal and Sabine not only has some of the best cocktails and bartenders in Asbury but possibly NJ. I have been countless times with my wife, my kids, large groups you name it. My favorite way to experience Pascal is to sit at the bar get a couple cocktails (The Jackal is a staple), the Madame Smith Burger (my wife gets the Mr Smith) the fries are amazing, and maybe the escargot and just enjoy. It's up there with some of the most perfect nights out in Asbury you can have. Hope this 5 star review balance out a ridiculous 1 star review. - YH

We happened to be in the area and stopped into the Black Swan for brunch. I had heard great things…read moreabout the place and was eager to give it shot. From the moment we entered the pub, we were transferred to the United Kingdom with its tavern-like decor. They had a quaint dining room, a bar area with soccer team schwag hanging overhead, a dainty tea room, and a dimly lit space inside what used to be a bank vault. We were seated at a high-top table in the bar, which was fine, as there was a large party with rowdy children in the dining room. Thankfully, the layout allowed us to avoid the majority of their loudness, though their sheer party size clearly held up the kitchen, since it took a while for us to get our food. There was a specific brunch menu with some breakfast-forward items like Loaded French Toast, but we were also given their full-day menu with many more options. I decided to get two smaller dishes to count as my complete meal. First, I had the Chipotle Chicken Chili, which was apparently a recent addition to the menu. I omitted the scoop of sour cream that was supposed to sit on top of the mound of soup, but I did not feel like I was missing anything by doing so. The smoky broth was packed with kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, and chunks of ground chicken. I thought it was delicious, but a bit thin and oily. I also sampled a side of the Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts, which were similarly greasy, but crunchy and well-flavored. In fact, they could have used a bit more marinade to really pop. My companion had positive things to say about his burger and fries. We really enjoyed the casual atmosphere, friendly service, and tasty food at the Black Swan, and I would certainly return to try some of their other traditional, European dishes.

Quick and friendly service. A bit expensive but good food…read more Tater tots & scotch eggs: probably the biggest tater tots I've ever had. Crispy and hot. Scotch eggs were good. Pasta: can't remember the name of the pasta I got but it's the one that was recommended by the waiter. It comes with burrata which made the dish so so good. I would get this again.

REYLA was an incredible first dinner in Asbury Park and set the bar high. From the moment we walked…read morein, the staff was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. The service was excellent throughout the entire evening, and every cocktail we ordered was fantastic. We started with a few appetizers, which were the perfect way to kick off the meal before diving into our mains. For dinner, we ordered the Duck Rice, Schnitzel, octopus, and mushroom skewer. While everything was delicious, the Duck Rice and Schnitzel were the clear standouts. Both were packed with flavor, and the Schnitzel was an especially generous portion without feeling over the top. It was perfectly cooked and incredibly satisfying. To top off the night, we headed downstairs to their cocktail bar, Laylow, and had an amazing time. The atmosphere was fun, the cocktails were just as impressive as dinner, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. If you're in Asbury Park, I definitely recommend checking out Reyla and making a stop at Laylow afterward. Great food, outstanding service, amazing drinks, and an all-around memorable experience.

My husband and I were staying overnight in Neptune so we came to Reyla for dinner. It was a…read moreThursday night and not crowded but a decent amount of people. We opted to sit at the bar because the vibe looked good. I had a lemondrop martini from the half price menu and it was good but a little too sweet. Then I had the Blood Sugar Sex Magic from the regular menu and it was unique and fun. I then had an espresso martini with dessert. I was feeling good after that. We did three appetizers: hummus, falafel, and the halloumi. The hummus had a nice texture but it could have used a little more lemon and garlic. But it was served with a jumble of fresh herbs on top which was very nice. The falafel was amazing. The texture was perfect: very crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. Not like the dense falafel you get in some places. It was serviced on top of a delicious red pepper sauce. The server told me it was an old family recipe. The halloumi was fantastic. Very generous and covered in a very crispy coating. It sat in a pool of hot honey. They brought the appetizers out one at a time, which was the perfect way to pace it. We were pretty full by the end so we shared one entrée. We had the lamb kofta. It was cooked perfectly and sat atop a pomegranate labneh. It was also delicious. For dessert my husband had the chocolate cake which was only ok. I had the baklava malabi which was sooo delicious. Great meal and excellent service. Paul the bartender was friendly and made good drinks.