Unofficially the best place to be in Belmar, I had to see what the fuss was all about. I was meeting friends so that in itself was a puzzle because there's an outside, an outside stage, an inside bar, an inside bar by the stage, and it goes on. The place was large and busy so pro-tip, have your friend meet you outside first. The food was good. Go during Happy Hour. The prices inside were different from prices outside so plan accordingly. Overall, a good experience but the best part was the staff. UNBELIEVABLY, all so kind! Esp the dude that was serving us when we moved indoors. Wish I got his name because he was excellent! read more

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Wait was reasonable! Really something that everyone should try at least once if coming to the area. read more

Bar Anticipation - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

I do not recommend this place at all. I felt extremely unwelcome by staff and I did not feel comfortable at all. It was extremely unfortunate as I had been looking forward to attend for a while, but the atmosphere was extremely unsettling. read more

Excellent entertainment Friendly staff Great reservation customer service Good food! read more

Went here at night and the vibes were true jersey bar/club. With multiple difference rooms/bars/experiences it felt like an adult playground. Super great place to bring a group of people. Majority of men are wearing black tees and gold chains with slicked back hair but you'll find a little variety. Lots of women pumped up ponytails and others with bleach blond hair to seal in the jersey shore deal. Highly recommend bringing cash for the $20 admission fee and to get quicker service at the bars. Some of my favorite things I saw: Live band inside, Spin the wheel for a surprise shot, snack bar. The food at the snack bar was really good and quick! Though it was a bit pricier than expected, they served a lot of food and it tasted real good. Highly recommend coming here on a big summer weekend to celebrate and have fun. If jersey is what you want to see, jersey is most definitely what you will get. read more

If you're looking for a jam packed bar with amazing priced drinks... this is the spot! Went for the Beat the Clock night and it surpassed all expectations. The service was absolutely incredible and bartender Ally was on point! Never missing a beat or a patron. Music was great and the atmosphere is everything you look for in a beach bar. An A+ for Bar Anticipation! read more

I hadn't been to Bar A in years , have never eaten there , but we heard the food was good so we went to give it a try. We went for lunch yesterday about 2 o'clock. We went in the front door, which is where the circular bar is. It's a little awkward as everybody turns around to see who's coming in the front door. So yes, we were seen by the blonde bartender. We walked past the bar. past the side bar on the left, which had three employees talking to each other .There were no patrons in the restaurant area but all the menus were on all the tables, so we assumed they were still serving food. We sat down at a table where we could still be seen by the bartender. We waited. Got up after awhile to look out the window. We hadn't been there in a few years and they've really expanded the outside. It looks like they're getting ready for a big Saint Patrick's day weekend with a bunch of Porta potty's. We sat down and waited some more, and then walked out to the fireplace area and stood there and waited. Since there wasn't a hostess, we weren't sure how it worked. We just assumed someone would've been sent over after seeing us but no one came and after 10 minutes we left. I get that the bartender taking care of the regulars sitting at the bar is important, but don't treat us like you don't give a shit just because we chose not to eat and drink at the bar and weren't getting tipped by us. Maybe Bar A just focuses more on the weekends and nights and not on the lunch crowd? Which had no crowd at all. read more

Bar Anticipation had an amazing DJ and a fun, lively crowd. Some of the staff were friendly and welcoming, but there's a serious issue with how their security operates--and it's hard to deny that some of the staff are RACIST. The majority of our group (at least 12 of us) got in without any issues after showing ID. However, my Hispanic boyfriend was singled out. After being IDed, he was told he was good, but was redirected to another guard who said he couldn't enter unless he changed. When we returned about 15 minutes later, the same guard who approved his ID earlier, took a long look at his change of shorts (knowing full well he was the exact same person now following their dress code) and then requested a second form of ID. Without any reason or explanation. To me, this is obvious he was looking for a reason to block him from entering, even after already clearing him earlier. Another Hispanic woman in our group was asked for a second form of ID. After we got in and told our group what happened, they shared that another Hispanic man in our group had also been required to show a second form of PHOTO ID--again, something no one else in our group was asked to provide, including another man. He had to go to Walgreens to print out a photo version of his passport (digital unaccepted). Fyi, all of the male staff at the entrance appeared to be white. And the fact that only Hispanic men were treated with suspicion and additional barriers--in this current political climate--it didn't feel random. It felt targeted. This is racism. Everyone is American-born. They were singled out, delayed, and held to a different standard. Mind you, this wasn't even a packed club with a long line--no chaos, no rush, no reason to randomly double-check anyone. These actions were intentional. Great music and vibes, but an extremely disappointing and disgraceful start to the night. Do better, Bar A. read more

Huge short side location for lots of fun with friends of all ages. I've been to some of the greatest parties on earth here the food is amazing and the service is quick and efficient. Perfect for you to enjoy your night at the bar without having to wait for food. read more

Had a disturbing experience here on July 26, 2025. A bartender falsely accused me of having an unpaid tab after I called her out for being extremely rude--even though I hadn't ordered any drinks personally--and security followed me outside trying to get me to come back in. When I did, the bartender insisted I hadn't paid for a bunch of drinks, which was false. So I ran out of there, and the bouncers chased after me - and this was all after I had tried leaving in the first place. It felt unsafe and coercive. I later reported it to the NJ ABC and NJ Attorney General's Office. There were witnesses and I paid in cash and can prove I never had a tab open. I would encourage more people to report this place as they do not deserve to be in business. Also, in 2019, a bouncer said to my friend "you have the most annoying voice I've ever heard I would kill myself if I had your voice." There is a reason Bar A is now empty even on Saturday nights in the summer, while Djais and every other bar DTS has lines down the block. Word has spread that they are terrible people and no one wants to go there - for good reason. Stay away - these people are literally criminals who will try to get you arrested for disorderly conduct on false pretenses if you bruise their fragile egos. Posting anonymously because I know they are in bed with the local cops and would try to retaliate against me again if I attached my name to this. Luckily, since I never opened a tab they don't have my name and can't do anything besides wait to be contacted by the NJ ABC and my attorney. read more

They denied me access at the door when I had a passport on me. The policy clearly states that it is an acceptable form of ID. They were so rude as well and were very condescending. It was very frustrating after a very long drive for some cheap beer and wings. DO NOT GO!!! read more

What is there to say about Bar A??? The biggest, happiest, most crowded, most exciting scene on the Jersey Shore. Nothing else compares or even comes close! Legend has it that the Fourth of July crowd was the single largest gathering in a bar in America. Eight bars, all different, sand bars, kiosks, dancing, picnicking , fun food, barbecue, etc. like a family gathering on a massive scale. If you can't have fun here, something is wrong with your life! read more

Bar Anticipation - a man walking down a sidewalk - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

Bar Anticipate this D! Lets dudes dance on the stage, feel the rhythm feel the vibes, its bobsled time. Wings: ehh undercooked, should be double fried. They know better than that. Bar wings baby. Make it nasty Music: Bangers Vibes: Locked in These boots gonna be knockin read more

This is not about the food which is very good. They have a good chef there. It's the service or lack of it. We went for lunch today about 12:30. The bartender greeted us, as we walked past the bar, which had about 5 guys drinking and eating. We sat down at a table next to the fireplace a few feet away from where 2 managers were talking. We waited for a server. And waited. The bartender looked toward us several times and did nothing. The 2 men just kept talking. We didn't think it necessary to yell out for a server when staff knew we were there, and the place was empty. After 10 minutes we walked out, never to return, Two older ladies walked in as we walked out. Hopefully they received better service. read more

Very unassuming place from the outside but it's a real fun spot. Reasonably priced drinks, TVs, multiple hangout locations and bars. My friend has the shrimp cocktail and liked it a lot. Would def go back! read more

Bar Anticipation - Grotto - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

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I'm a Muslim man and I wanted to come hang out with a few co workers so we heard a lot of good things about Bar A and decided to go. I get to the security at the front and they tell me I cannot where my Kufi which is a muslim head dress for men. I began to tell them it was religious and they said it has to have a brim if not i have to take it off. So you are telling me I cannot wear my Kufi which represents my belief but I can wear a hat that represents my favorite baseball team. It's insane and illegal. Will never come back. read more

Your classic trashy bar, if you're into using port-a- potties without toilet paper and paying for 50 cent cups of nasty beer you will love it. Bartenders were not friendly. There was also a toilet leak during our visit which caused gross toilet water and toilet paper to flood walkways. Do not come here if you're looking for something more upscale. read more

I loved this place!!! It is absolutely huge, with outdoor and indoor sections. All kinds of wonderful environments for drinking. My in-laws took us here, and I was wowed. There was live music, and it turned out my daughters new in-laws knew the saxophonist (my fav instrument) so I was doubly wowed. The dance floor was crowded, so I was very happy we found seats at the bar, against the back wall, facing the band. We had just come from a happy hour with food, but I was still hungry, and we were able to order dinner at the bar. I got Tuscan chicken with grilled vegetables and mashed potatoes. It was delicious but enormous! My husband just ordered a roast beef sandwich and fries. Afterwards, we checked out one of the outside areas. A+ night. read more

Bar Anticipation - Roast beef sandwich - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

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I have not been to Bar A for food in a very long time however A group of friends were looking for a place to hold our periodic happy hour and someone suggested here. Although I am not a fan of the food, typically mediocre bar food, I thought happy hour would be OK. We picked a Tuesday night when we thought it would be slow. The manager let us sit directly in front of the stage area and put several tables together for us. With no bands scheduled that night it was nice and quiet and we could talk. Our waitress was super and I'm kicking myself for not remembering her name. She was personable and efficient. As we were shooting the breeze for some time, she made many trips back to the table to see if anyone needed anything, each trip with a smile on her face. One in our group said they heard the food was good. I was very skeptical but ordered a chicken and broccoli dish with a cream sauce. When the food came out it was not only good, but it was hot. It's rare I go to a place like this and the food doesn't come out room temperature. In fact much to my surprise, everyone was happy with their food. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised overall with our visit. This is definitely not my kind of place in the warmer months at the Jersey shore; it's just chaos. It would not be a place I would search out solely for the food either, but for a bar, I think they did AOK. A warning though, about 7ish the tide changes and a whole different crowd heads in, where I do not belong. I'm very happy to have had a nice quiet and relaxed happy hour with friends. read more

Bar Anticipation - Chicken & broccoli in a cream sauce with brown rice - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

got a drink thrown on me did nothing as a black man and i was the one thrown out. security didn't care about anything that was said just saw a black person and grabbed me. will never be back here ever again because they obviously favor a certain shade. Go here as a black person and test your luck because if anything happens it is garunteed on you. read more

I can't say enough good things about this bar. The food is just amazing and the staff really listens as to how you want something done. The ambience is very nice outside with sand, cabanas and different types of tiki bars outside and you cannot beat the Tuesday night drinks I will highly be back, the burgers are just as amazing read more

Bar Anticipation - Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

I left a review a few years ago....some Things never change lol....i went there tonight just to see if the scamdemic of 2019 altered the course of the block heads who stood guard outside...lo and behold, they have evolved....evolved to greater heights of stupidity......I went there tonight 7/9/24, cut sleeve shirt and shorts....i was informed that the cut off wasn't allowed and was offered a short for $10 which I was ok with....you know, (support local businesses) ...whilst waiting for said shirt, one of the block heads, a trainee questioned the validity of my shorts and made it a point to an older guard...the older guard said he couldn't see from Where he was to make a call...the young blockhead took it upon himself to nitpick ...(oh, if it's mesh or gym shorts it's not allowed) .....my shorts are neither mesh or gym shorts ...then it was push for further review....it needs belt loop...I looked around and saw an army of people clad in similar shorts, who were nonchalantly and drunkenly walking around inside......I gave push back on my shorts and then the young blockhead was joined by 2 others who then proceeded to say I came here before but not on a Tuesday years ago (I referred them to the first review I left years ago) ...addressed my the random dress codes......they act as if they are protecting the gold reserves....i wouldn't recommend this place, its the same as its as alway been........I wore my military workout clothes there before and they let me in, no issue ....outside of uniform it's and issue....keep the same standard and have the dress codes posted......these block heads are top tier in atrocious customer service.....set the bar high, the platinum standard for never wanting to return to an establishment.....Murcia read more

Bar Anticipation - The outfit ... - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

If you like drinking warm piss for .50¢ this is the place for you Pretzel tasted good read more

First time visitor for the ESPN Beach Bash. So many bar areas, but I ended up with Erin, Claire, and Shane. They were awesome. Friendly and professional. The entire staff seems dedicated to the guests satisfaction. The food provided for the Beach Bash was excellent. The ribs were some of the best I have had. Looking forward to coming back next year! read more

PROS: This place was the best bar in Belmar that I went to. Only able to be seated outside they can hold a private event in the back, they have a stage for bands, and a multitude of bars around their outside grounds. They have a elevated platform to dance as well. The servers are friendly, prices are accurate, and they keep the place clean. CONS: The only thing is that it's a little out of the way from the beach but that's about it. They also have a dress code, but for a beach bar I think they're too strict with it OVERALL: I'll definitely come back to this place if i'm ever at Belmar again. I suggest hitting this place up if you're down there. read more

STILL The Greatest "Spot" at The Shore! Staff is FUN, Drinks Strong&Delicious. Came By After Many Years To HONOUR Their Outside Bartender ROGER(R I.P.) And My Memories. I Thought BarA Was Even More Beautiful. Spotless, SAFE(I'M An 'Ole Gal Now), and FUN! Decent Prices Too! read more

if I could give them a 0 I would they make yky wait 2 hours to come here on a tues night just to kick out me and my girlfriend once we get to the door because she had a duplicate license(both well over 21) and if they didn't we gotta pay a cover for a Tuesday 3 girls 2 guys for cheap beer on a Tuesday.. the whole buisness is a fucking joke and stop funding stupidity or you're worse than them.. every buisness around laughs at their stupidity read more

The Belmar Pickleball Club had its Holiday Party at Bar A on December 16 and it was a wonderful event. We took over the Mahogany Room for our group of 50 and it could not have been nicer. The food was phenomenal, the ambience great, and Joanne and the staff were absolutely terrific. The buffet featured chicken, salmon, and Rigatoni Bolognese (not on the regular menu) and everything was exceptional. The staff was extremely attentive from setting up the room to making sure everyone was having a good time. After our party, we went into the main bar area to enjoy the band. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Five stars for a wonderful party experience and kudos to Bar A! read more

This. Bar. Is. Horrible. They will treat you like garbage, no, actually, far worse than that. I went to Bar A, knowing I just got my Duplicate license I brought my Passport, credit card, AND College ID for further proof of ID. I did everything correct on my end to get into that bar that my beat friend was celebrating her birthday in. After showing them my license and them saying we cannot accept it, I pulled my passport out to show the bouncer, and he shooed me away while saying "I don't even care, I dont wanna see it, leave". It is to my understanding after reading their page on their Identification policy that they HAD to let me in if I had a passport. the secondary form of ID after that would have been my College ID, credit card, or birth certificate that I even had in my car. The bouncers, ALL OF THEM, are RUDE, WILL PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOU IF YOURE NOT IN THE WRONG FAR OFTEN THAN IT SHOULD, and have NO RESPECT FOR GUESTS OR THEIRSELVES. they are ALL RUDE AND THE OWNER IS TOO. never coming back, horrible, HORRIBLE TREATMENT, and it definitely isnt just me. they get so many complaints about the same issues, but due to connections that the owner has hes able to get away with anything happening there, which is fked up. dont give a disgusting establishment your money, time, or energy just yo get spit on by rude, short, sweaty pushing 50 y/o bouncers and a idiot owner with no respect. read more

Loud. Fun when you're in your 20s. Now everyone is sloppy af haha. Try going to Porta instead

Went on a Sat. in Sept. very crowded, chaotic. Felt a little out of place, guess I'm too old for this stuff.

I have been coming here for almost 2 decades and it never gets old. I moved back to NJ in 2005 and had my first Winter Rental in Belmar. I decided on an NFL Sunday to go watch football and boy was I in for a treat. There are TV's everywhere with many different fan's. Anyone who think's the Jersey Shore is primarily Giants & Jets, stop at Bar A. They have a large Steeler and Raider fan base. I have seen fans of Packers, Lions, Vikings, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Bills, Bengals, Washington, etc. I actually met my wife here on an NFL Sunday in 2011. My second favorite amenity they provide is the outdoor Cabana's on Grotto Beach. We had my wife's 40th over the summer with close to 50 people and it was a huge success. Johnnie B, Joanne, Reggie and the rest of the staff are top notch. Everyone who attended said they had a great time. Overall, it is a great place to come too. If you want excellent food, cold beer and great service, make sure to stop at Bar A. read more

Stop in for Restaurant week lunch offering and you won't regret it! I thought Bar A just had Bar food! Boy, was I wrong! Started with whipped ricotta, prosciutto and arugula! Wow! And then, my entry was tasty, tender beef short ribs over risotto! Scrumptious! Seasoned just right! Chef Bobby, you are to be commended for a masterful meal! read more

Unethical business. Boring as hell-needs to figure out how they run the front door.scenery was horrible. Workers were extremely rude.owned sucks read more

I've had all of my worst experiences at a bar here. If you are a girl, the owner and employees will make you comfortable and talk at your chest. The bartenders and security are RUDE. The owner tries to argue with negative reviews on google, but the sheer volume of negative reviews is telling. You can be legally drinking for 5+ years but they won't accept you if you have a probationary license even though it is legally valid. Like some people just don't drive. And they literally have ID scanners that they refuse to use. The owner amd employees are racist, sexist, discriminatory, and predatory. The food is bad, the drinks are overpriced and weak aside from Beat the Clock (you probably won't be accepted in those days unless you are a white girl in a mini skirt or a man). The bar itself is dirty and disgusting, no one ever cleans and the floors are always wet. Employees are rude. Atmosphere is dingy and the music is bad. The owner is an old man so it sort of makes sense. read more

As a New Jersey native, going to Bar A is a right of passage much like having a pork roll egg and cheese, going to a Devil's game, and moving to Brooklyn in your 20's. I have visited this bar on many occasions and yesterday came to an interesting conclusion. There's nothing actually fun about the bar itself. Sure, it's a madhouse! There's a swollen, enormous mass of people all jammed together like sweaty sardines all wearing pretty much the same clothing and dancing to the same songs over and over again. And there's a nostalgia to it: you go to see people from high school or college (Rutgers) you haven't seen in a while. And sure, there's fun to that. But other than a shot wheel with options for fuel to a sugary hangover, there's really not much to do. It's too loud and too crowded for any meaningful conversation, the TV's are tucked away too far to really be able to watch, and the overcrowding even takes away real dancing (I guess I could fall back on the white guy shuffle, but do we need more of that?). The bar is 100% racist and we could spend an entire post about that, but being a white male I am in the privileged position to not have been subjected to it. The bouncers are rude, the bartenders are too busy to be nice, the lines are long, the beer is sometimes warm, the cocktails are too strong, over serving is a problem, the bathrooms are a nightmare, and yet none of these things nor my little review here will ever stop hoards of 20-somethings from piling in Tuesday - Saturday. Go because you're supposed to, don't go because it's a good bar. And to the bouncer who said I won't be able to come back until I get my new license, don't worry big guy, I'm never coming back anyway. read more

This bar does not accept a government issued United States passport as an acceptable form of identification to get in. I waited in line for 1 hour just to learn this. My passport is not expired. I will never go back. read more

If you've only been here for the nightlife please please please try the food. The Garlic Sizzling Steak was incredible. Well flavored, not dry and definitely a reorder is needed. There's bread under the steak that also needs to be gobbled up. The fries were also delicious. The portion size was large and I saved half of it for leftovers. read more

Bar Anticipation - Garlic Sizzling Steak - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

Bar A is not just a night club or young crowd place. The food is amazing. Tonight we had Fried Buratta, Spicy Garlic wings, and homemade cheddar potato soup. The burgers are ridiculous and have won the Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest sever years in a row. Live entertainment is great with local and national bands. Seems like the negative reviews are from kids with fake I.D.'s or people that have been thrown out due to inappropriate behavior. Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday Brunch too! Starting at 8am! read more

Bar Anticipation - Spicy Garlic Jumbo Wings - New American Near Me - Lake Como, New Jersey

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It packed even in the winter with ALL age groups. At times I thought some people still dressed like they were in a time warp. Certainly different than today. I didn't realize that they let so many people in this building. Any applicable fire laws in most towns would limit the wall-to wall bodies here. I don't want to sound like a shit, but you literally cannot move at the main bar. The food is decent here but the drinks are very high priced. If you're looking for craft beer, forget it. A Blue Moon is $10. Boooo! Really a rip. I was with a group of people of 12 to 15, our tennis Xmas party. Hopefully next year it won't be here. I don't know what attracts the people at Bar A and believe me I go to many clubs/restaurants. My anticipation is not to come back. read more