We went to Spring Lake beach this weekend and we were looking for a good restaurant. We found Blend by Chef Lou. It's a nice, quiet venue and the staff were very attentive and friendly. We started with the bread, a focaccia, which was served with an olive oil that had a large roasted garlic in it. It was a delicious starter, and complimented our Caesar salad. The Caesar salad was 'different' - aren't they all? I've been experiencing very different types - the one tonight had a subtle dressing - with a subdued sweetness. The grated Parmesan and Breadcrumbs smothered the salad - when you see the picture, you'll understand. It was a good salad, however I would have preferred less grating and more dressing. Next up, the Waygu Meatballs, in a delicious San Marzano tomato sauce. The meatballs were excellent. I was mystified by the accompanying 'jar' of 'basil' ricotta. See attached picture-it's a large amount of ricotta - I tasted it - it was very creamy but the basil was faintly noticeable. I added a little to a meatball and it didn't enhance the 'bite' at all. I was embarrassed leaving this large jar of cheese. We shared the two entrees - the first, Sea Bass on a bed of mashed potatoes was cooked perfectly and had the most delicate taste. It was 'too delicate', if there is such a thing as- for they say, ' good fish, doesn't taste like fish '. However, the fish needed seasoning or sauce - one or the other, or both. The next entree was the mushroom house made ravioli - a tender pasta with a mushroom filling covered in a creamy, earthy mushroom sauce. We also ordered a side of sautéed wild mushrooms and added those to the ravioli - it was a wonderful dish. read more

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Went here for our anniversary dinner. Service was very good, ambience was nice--not romantic but nice, laid back. Food was very good also. The worst part was some of the tables are very close so sitting next to an obnoxious guy makes it hard to ignore. Anyway, the food: we each got a salad: Caesar salad dressing was in point, but TOO much cheese and the croutons were stale but there were t that many of those so no biggie. Hubby got the Tre colore salad which was a special & he loved it. For dinner we both did specials: chicken rollatini (amazing! Highlight dish of the evening) & husband got the Salmon Oscar which was very good too. Took dresser home as we often do bc we were stuffed: ring ding for 2. WOW! The pastry chef there is a genius and super talented, it was SO GOOD! I had coffee which was fantastic & hubby had espresso also fantastic. We will definitely be back! read more

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We had a delicious dinner at Blend last night. Everything was fresh and plentiful. The grilled clams were tender and accompanied by a delicious lemony sauce that was perfect for dipping the focaccia bread into. We also got the ricotta and tomato sauce to have with the bread and it was perfect. The fried rice ball were yummy with a nice crisp. The ribeye steak was very good - not steak house good, but tasty. Disco fries were enough to feed an army and the gravy was absolutely delicious. The sautéed spinach - fresh and seasoned perfectly. The stuffed branzino (a Special) was fresh and citrusy. I never get stuffed fish because it's always full of breading and crab which I don't prefer. This was stuffed with summer squash and fennel julienned into a spaghetti as well as orange slices. The flavor was so fresh and enjoyable. The potatoes that came on the side and the lemon caper sauce rounded it out nicely. We packed half our food to go to save room for dessert. Espresso perfectly poured, gelato sundae, mini jelly donuts (to die for!) Chef Lou stopped by to ask how we were enjoying our dinner (very much!) and our waitress Anna was so fun to chat with and provided great service. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Stuffed Branzino special with roasted potatoes and a lemony caper sauce. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

The host sat us right away. Service was impecible. Menu was extensive. The asian calamari was delicious as was the waygu meatballs. The vodka bombs were nothing more than fancy riceballs. I ordered the prime rib...just a note...I've had rare prime rib many times before at various restaurants but this order looked like the chef passed it over a flame...meaning it was super rare. No big deal but order it medium rare for those reading this review. Other plates of note were the orechette with sausage and broccoli rabe, carbonara and rib eye steak, all were tasty. There was supposed to be a street festival that night but it was cancelled due to the canadian wildfires...bummer. read more

An excellent experience on a Saturday night. The staff is outstanding. From the minute we walked in everyone was friendly and pleasant. We were a party of 7 and the restaurant was packed but we never felt rushed or overlooked. Very attentive service. The tuna was plated beautifully and extremely tasty. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the fish and chips was crispy and delicious. My daughter got shrimp and grits and compared it favorably to our home in South Carolina. The filet was also delicious. All in all a great time was had by everyone. For dessert do try the jelly donuts. We will plan to go back. read more

The food was delicious! We went for Brunch, the day before Mother's Day, 2026. My son and I had breakfast and my husband had lunch. Everything was great! We reserved a table and it was nice, quiet, and overlooking the streets and shopping area. read more

Been to Blend many times over the years but was especially disappointed with the food this time. Though my old favorite the Asian Calamari was excellent, my father and I each had the special Beef Negemacki. There was total inconsistency with this dish. It was almost as if we ordered different entrees. The beef was under-seasoned and each of us had different vegetables in the wrap. On the other hand, the jelly donuts were superb and our server Elle was a delight. However, that entree dragged down the whole meal. read more

We went for lunch on a Saturday! They offered a nice array of breakfast selections as well as an amazing French onion soup. The sandwiches tasted delicious. My eggs Benedict came perfectly prepared. So delicious!! Our seat by the fireplace felt cozy on a frigid day. The wait staff attentively served the meal and made us feel cared for. read more

Had a delightful lunch at Blend today. I ordered the arugula with grilled chicken salad. Complete with goat cheese and Granny Smith apples. Portions are not large but satisfying. Presented beautifully by a great server. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - The Blend at the Inn in Manasquan. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

I went for restaurant week. For apps my wife got chili shrimp. Great presentation and great taste (could have used a touch more spice). I got the rice balls in vodka sauce. It was very good. Mains I got Cajun shrimp and grits. Meals was great but shrimp could have used a little more seasoning. My wife got the gnocchi which was amazing. Desserts were amazing too. Service was great! I never heard of this place before restaurant week. We will be back read more

Went there mothers day and did not realize BYOB meant bring your own bread. The said they were out of bread served with meals was out but were selling bread for 10 bucks. Food fair as service. Thought it was a bit of a gouge. read more

I have been here a few times in the past and I have always enjoyed the food. During the pandemic they were one of the restaurants that sent in food to the hospital for the healthcare workers. Definitely appreciated it so I wanted to give back. My hubby and I came for lunch, and we had the choice of eating inside or outside. Considering it was 90 degrees outside we choose to eat inside. I ordered the chicken sandwich which had a nice touch with the grapes. My hubby had the Southwest salad which he also enjoyed! Finished with a cappuccino which was a nice 8 oz glass. Only have been here for lunch, I need to come back to try the dinner menu! read more

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The hostess checked us in for our reservation. We were given a table in the main dining room that has a lovely ambience. We were greeted by a bus-girl and immediately offered water. After a few minutes our waiter greeted us and gave us menus and opened our wine bottle (BYOB). There were many recommendations after he read the specials and we ordered the Asian calamari (as recommended) and the halibut (recommended) and the bolognese. Literally 2 minutes later the calamari came out...clearly was already prepared and cooked. Must say it was tasty. Then the main entrees came. The halibut ($39) was not edible, the entire plate had little to no flavor and the fish was barely warm and dry (overcooked), and this was another recommendation by the waiter. The Bolognese had good flavor but some parts of the dish were piping hot and others barely warm. When the girl came to clear our table she asked to pack my fish but I told her it didn't taste good and she said "really"? The waiter then delivered the check (no accommodations given to the uneaten entree). We asked for the cork for the bottle he opened for us and proceeded to secure a cork into our bottle... followed by... it's not the cork for your bottle but it'll serve the purpose. All that to say, we will not be going back. The recommendations seemed to be based on what the kitchen had prepared ahead of time to turn tables and when informed of dissatisfaction, nothing was done to take ownership nor improve my experience. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Halibut - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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Food & Service were fantastic, everything we tried from the bread to the fries were awesome. Great variety on the menu. read more

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All the food has been great but we really love their filet mignon. They prepare it perfectly and bring it out on a hot cast iron skillet, which keeps it the perfect temperature. We like to couple the steak with sides of whipped potatoes and mushrooms, which also come in skillets. The scallop appetizer is also amazing and on our list of must haves when we dine there. The service and atmosphere is always great as well. I highly recommend Blend on Main! read more

I've been to Blend twice these past two weeks; once for lunch, the other for dinner. First, the good: the ambience is very good, very soothing, and love the fireplace in the middle of the restaurant. Our waiter for dinner was Tom and he was knowledgeable and very attentive but not overly so. The six of us at lunch all were impressed with the food. You don't come away hungry and it was all delicious (we all ordered something different. I had the BLT which was amazing. The bacon and the bread were delicious). Now the not so good: a few of us ordered the filet mignon at dinner. It was cooked medium rare, exactly as we liked it. But the filet was a bit stringy and whatever sauce or seasoning the chef used negated the taste. Overly salty and a strange subtle taste almost like seafood. Maybe cooked on the same grill as seafood? My thought: go for lunch. read more

Ambience, food and service were all amazing. Can't wait to get back. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who's looking for an authentic Italian dinner. read more

To start off, it was restaurant week and my four friends and I were well attended by our waitress. We all ate just about every morsel of delicious food we ordered! The pear and arugula salad with walnuts was so tasty and unique. I thoroughly enjoyed the moist, grilled chicken over risotto and butternut squash! Yum! The presentation of the tuna bites was artistic! My friends left nothing behind. Those who ordered soup were very impressed! I will return one evening. The main dining area looks very special, with fireplace and tables set very elegantly with white and Chrystal! Continued success, Chef Lou! I only hear raves about your restaurant! read more

Great experience My friend gave my husband and I a gift certificate here and we had a very enjoyable dinner here with excellent service along with delicious food highly recommend! My friend knew the chef from Seaoaks read more

Gotta say, there aren't many restaurants down the shore that has a menu where no matter what you order will be phenomenal. In fact when we eat there I usually ask our server just bring me out whatever they decide. Seriously. We usually request Sarah the chefs daughter and she never disappoints. I ordered this bacon wrapped applewood porkchop last night and had left overs for lunch. It was just a juicy today as it was last night. Just go and you'll see for yourself. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Porkchop - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Nice place. In fact, classy looking place. Excellent service. On the whole the food was very good and I would go back again. The Asian Calamari was both a taste sensation and a very nice presentation utilizing the take out container. The Clams and Chorizo special appetizer was kind of bland. The French Onion Soup was very tasty. The Big Chop was both very large and extremely tasty. Here is a weird note about it though. It is served on a sizzling plate. Mine came out looking like it was only slow cooked while my friend's came out browned and grilled. We just assumed it looked different because I asked for mine with the sauce on the side. After eating the first one (like I said, it was big) I decided to turn the 2nd one over and it was identical to my friend's with the grill marks. He then turned his over and his other side looked like my first side; no grill marks. Strange that they would serve the same dish to two people but with a totally different look. While we both agreed it was delicious, days later we both were still wondering why. Too bad we didn't ask. The side of the Angry Brussel Spouts was probably the best thing we ate all night. It was great. The creamed spinach even with nutmeg was good but nothing remarkable. The Ring Ding for two probably feeds about 5-6. Would definitely go back again. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Ring Ding for 2 (or more) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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We've been to Blend on Main several times and were always impressed with the food and service. Unfortunately, not so our time there this past Saturday. While service was good the food has declined quite a bit in quality. Everyone in our party remarked how bland the food was from the appetizers - scallops, main courses - rigatoni, salmon, to the side dishes - rice, asparagus, mashed potatoes. Especially disappointing was the scallops. I shared it with my daughter in law, and we were shocked at how tasteless (and cold in the middle) they were. Perhaps even worse, the price for this was $22 - for ONLY TWO SCALLOPS. An outrageous price of $11 per scallop!! Buyer beware! Given the many other fine choices in the area it's safe to say Blend has moved to the bottom of our list, or off the list entirely. Very, very, very disappointing. Would give zero stars instead of one if that were an option. read more

Christmas Eve fixed menu - everything was delicious however bread was extra?? For $99 per person? Butter was on a plate at the table and we never even touched it. Waiting for the bread that we thought would be served. Waitress was great, food choices were excellent, and wonderful ambiance. read more

Party of 13 for a retirement celebration for a family member was the reason for our visit. The staff was very friendly and accommodating from making the reservation to the servers. Food was delicious with generous portions. I would highly recommend! read more

Went to Blend on Main for a friend's 30th birthday brunch. I was torn between breakfast and lunch, but ultimately went with the chicken salad sandwich on the lunch menu. It was delicious! Flavorful and even had grapes in it which was a nice added bonus. The food was filling and the service was great. Definitely a great spot if you find yourself down the shore. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Chicken Salad sandwich - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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Just had my daughters Bridal shower brunch here. What a great event! Tara and the chef were so easy to work with from customized food choices to room decor extremely accommodating! Choice of food was fantastic! The 3 entree choice that I chose were chicken waffles, salmon and Frittata. All of my guests really enjoyed all of the food. Started with Cheese plater, fruit parfait choice of entree and Beignets on the tables. The 2 servers we had were excellent! They were very attentive and handled the room amazingly. If you are ever in need of an event space I highly recommend Blend on Main!! read more

This guy should be kept in the back (the chef). Just when I-was there. He destroyed some woman because she complained about his food and tried to humiliate her in front of the crowd at the restaurant. Jerk. I don't care how justified he thought he was. read more

one crab cake? seriously? add another crab cake and stop being so cheap ------------------------- read more

Kyle was a great server, great personality and very professional! Food was delicious, ambiance was lovely and festive for Christmas! Chef Lou came out to greet us and check that all was well! read more

Dont waste your money. Chef Lou is a pretentious A-Wipe, and the food is middle of the pack to say the least. Better off getting in your car and driving 5-10 minutes to a real restaurant with a liquor license. read more

Went here for a friend's 40th birthday. With a big party and the restaurant packed we had to wait an extra hr past our reservations to finally get seated inside a special table requested by the bday girl. The only reason I mentioned the waiting part was because of the restaurant effort. Wile we waited they didn't forget about us they still served appetizers and drinks. With the service, ambiance,and food so good it was easy to understand why people don't want to leave. I always judge a restaurant by the salads it really reflects the culinary attention to small things. I started with the blend salad, and the burrata n peppers they were both delicious and well dressed. I'm not a seafood lover but I really enjoyed the soft shell crab bLT. For my entree I had the bolognese it was also delicious. My wife and I had a great time and definitely will be back. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Crab blt - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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My First visit ; spectacular. Deidre was a joy . Ambiance was warm and inviting . The food is amazing and choices difficult to make. Calamari Tuna Bites Scallops Halibut and Salmon topped our table of four and were all amazing to the eyes and palate . Thank you . And for the finish the warm doughnuts was legal crack read more

Hosted HS Graduation dinner for my son and his classmates. Excellent service from Deidre and staff. The delicious prime ribs of beef were a big hit for the hungry boys. High quality and ample portions were no different from many prior visits. Restaurant was quite busy and energetic even on a late Thursday evening; Chef Lou graciously held our large table by 1 1/2 hours due to stormy weather. Was great to see other local families celebrating their family graduations here. Thanks Blend! read more

We had a very nice dinner at Blend last night. The Disco Fries are fantastic and big enough to share for a party of 3. We all enjoyed our entrees, Scallops, Venison Special cooked to desired rare and the Fettuccini Bolognese. We brought wine and the white was chilled promptly. Our server was friendly and efficient. Ran through the specials without noting the prices though. Only issue was the room was loud - some parties were very loud and the background music was also to loud. The good thing is that on a Saturday night the place was hopping so good for them. We passed on dessert but it was a very interesting menu - Ding Dong for Two was tempting... Starting to digest the prices now - I guess this is where we are at now for a quality dining experience - beyond burgers and pizza.... read more

I wanted to check out the new decor at Blend and see the latest going on at the restaurant. Very nice upgrade and a cool vibe. It's definitely more cozy and the color scheme was inviting. The sound level is still very loud on a busy Saturday night but we looked past that as the food was very good. Chris was our server and he did a great job taking care of us for the evening. Blend is byob so we brought our own wine. With so many menu options, I decided to share fun appetizers with my friend and hubby had his own swordfish entree. We all shared the Asian calamari which was delish and very flavorful... sorry no photo as everyone just dig in before i even had the chance to pull out my phone. Very flavorful and great appetizer to share. We also had the seared diver scallops which were cooked to perfection. Only 3 scallops and wish there were more! It would definitely be nice as an entree! The tuna tacos were very good and the tuna was very fresh and tasty. The BLT salad was also a nice addition-- a basic salad but the crumbled blue dressing was very nice and smooth and the bacon was nice and crispy and flavorful. My husband loved his swordfish which was a special for the nite. I managed to get a taste and it was very good. Yum! For dessert we shared the peach cobbler which was very yummy and really hit the spot. The cappuccino I had was made very well and I enjoyed it. All in all it was a very nice dinner. The new decor is a nice upgrade and we will definitely be back. Next week is restaurant week so it's a good time to try it out if you haven't been before. read more

Blend By Chef Lou - Scallops appetizer. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

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If you're looking for a great place to eat in Manasquan, Blend on Main is where it's at. As soon as you walk in, the place feels cozy with a big stone fireplace and candles on the tables. Chef Lou Smith's menu is all about fresh, local stuff. There is so much to pick from on the menu and the food is so good. The staff is super nice and helpful, so you feel looked after the whole time. Whether you're inside or sitting outside when it's warm, the service is always great. If you want a laid-back but nice spot at the Jersey Shore, Blend on Main should be on your radar. I will 100% be coming back. read more

This is the second time that I've dined at Blend within the last 7 months.. and while the service is friendly and speedy... they don't seem to understand what medium means for salmon. I mean, why ask if you aren't going to prepare it accordingly? Twice I've ordered salmon and was asked how I wanted it prepared and both times it came out super overcooked and dry. I'm not one to send back food for many reasons... so I've just dealt with it. Either I'm not going back OR I will just order anything other than salmon? My Green Goddess wedge was pretty tasty... great dressing.. and lovely addition of pickled onions and quinoa. Coffee was pretty darn good as well. read more

Surprisingly delicious food outside of New York City or Philadelphia. It's been a while since I went to the restaurant blend but still I think about the smoked pork chop. It was memorable... Like five weeks post dinner memorable. The food is really good here I highly recommend grabbing a few bottles of wine/beer and making a reservation. read more

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After dining here once a week for the last 5 weeks I have to give Blend On Main the 5 stars it deserves. Blend serves American, Far East, Mediterranean, and classic French cuisine. The portions are generous, and the prices here are really reasonable. My favorite dishes I had here are the burrata ravioli topped with lobster, shrimp hibachi, chicken Parmesan sorrentino, and the gnocchi in tarragon lobster crema. Those dinners are all FANTASTIC! My favorite appetizer so far is the crispy mozzarella. It's SO DELICIOUS! I also I had the filet mignon and Asian salmon, and they were excellent! The California flatbread appetizer I had here was very tasty! The only dish I didn't care for here is the pumpkin ravioli. That dish could of been much better. For desserts I had the flourless chocolate cake, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, and the crack waffle. The pumpkin cheesecake and the chocolate chip cookies were AMAZING! The flourless chocolate cake I didn't think was good at all, and the crack waffle was good, but not nearly as good as the cheesecake and the chocolate chip cookies. I love the menu here and all the variety it has. The food here is really excellent, and you definitely get your moneys worth! I highly recommend dining at Blend On Main in Manasquan! read more

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I love the atmosphere at Blend! It's so comfortable and modern looking. I had the burger and fries for my entree and enjoyed it. With that being said, I had a decent experience overall but there were some letdowns. -Waiter was nice, but not well versed on the menu. He didn't know the kitchen was out of the short ribs, he came back after he went to find out what vegetable it comes with to inform me of this. Also, they were out of the appetizer baguette so I got the pretzel rolls instead and they had no flavor. They seemed to be out of a number of items, which I get that it happens but the server should aware of these things -There's an error on the menu, it says that all sides are gluten free besides the creamed spinach, but the hay onion side is NOT gluten free. Good thing we double checked about the allergen because my mom has Celiac! I ordered them anyway since I don't have an allergy and they had no flavor, basically just crumbs -My mom ordered the "shredded" hash browns and they were chunks of potatoes. When we asked the server if this was the correct dish he said it was, that's just their version of shredded potatoes. Lol. She sent them back and got fries instead (their fries are amazing btw) Bottom line- I think Blend is a good restaurant in general and I'd recommend going (I just don't recommend the hay onions and pretzel rolls), but they need to verify that their menu descriptions/allergens are accurate and they should ensure their staff is more well versed on the menu. If I didn't run into issues with these things it would have been a 4 star review! read more

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