The Lavender French martini was probably the best French martini I have had thus far…read more We came here on a quiet Sunday evening and were not disappointed. Service was quick and attentive. Love the clocks decor. The fruity pepples tres leches tasted like my childhood. Overall great vibes. Will have to check out a show next door at the Avenel Performing Arts Center one day before or after dinner. Avenel is surprising me!

I came to Caroline's Tavern in Avenel to celebrate a friend's birthday and was honestly surprised…read moreto find the place pretty empty when we walked in. From what I've heard, it usually gets packed during peak sports seasons--but we happened to hit a lull (post-football, pre-baseball, and no major games on), so we basically had the place to ourselves. That actually worked in our favor--the quieter atmosphere made it easy to relax and enjoy conversation without the usual sports bar chaos. Drinks were a highlight. I went with the sangria, which was refreshing and well-balanced. Instead of ordering full entrees, we decided to share a bunch of appetizers. Everything that came out looked great, and everyone in the group seemed really happy with the flavors. As someone with a gluten allergy, though, I was pretty limited in what I could order. The ribs ended up being one of my only real options--but thankfully, they were tender, flavorful, and definitely the standout for me. Still, I do wish there were more gluten-free choices, especially since we were there to celebrate and share food. One thing that stood out (in a not-so-great way) was that we felt a bit rushed toward the end of the meal. We didn't even get the chance to order a birthday dessert, which was disappointing given the occasion, but seeing since it was only our group there I'm sure they were ready to close and go home. Service overall was attentive and friendly while we were dining, so no complaints there otherwise. It was winter when we visited, but I can see this being a great spot in warmer months--the outdoor seating looks like it would really add to the experience. Parking was easy on a Sunday night, and they do have a lot, but make sure to read the signs carefully since some spots are reserved for the theater next door. Overall it has a great vibe, solid drinks, and food that people clearly enjoy--I just wish there were more gluten-free options so I didn't leave still a little hungry.

Great service, ambiance, apps, and drinks. One of the best…read morehappy hour menu's around!! I can't wait to come back for dinner.

Hubby and I wanted to celebrate our 19th Wedding Anniversary someplace special and my husband's…read morefriends recommended Stricklands Steakhouse. I am so glad they did. Nestled in downtown Woodbridge NJ, this steakhouse is located inside of an old bank! I already knew before entering it was gonna be beautiful! We were greeted by the hostess and owner of the restaurant. They immediately said happy anniversary to us and escorted us upstairs to our table. As i thought this restaurant is stunning. Sexy dim lighting, beautiful chandelier and candelabras adorned the bigger tables. The space is huge. High ceilings and even an elevator. I couldnt resist snapping pics of the aged meat behind the glass. Every detail in this restaurant is intentional. Our waitress Danya was the sweetest!!!! She was so attentive and took time to explain the menu. She checked on us the entire evening. She didnt miss a beat. Even saw that my fork had some dishwashing spots and went to get me another. For the food, we started with fried calamari and crabcakes which were both outstanding! We ordered cocktails which was old fashioned and a bay breeze made perfectly. The main course is the reason u come here! We ordered the porterhouse for two with the truffle mac and Brussels sprouts. Steak has a really nice flavor! I didnt like the truffle mac but the brussel sprouts were delicious!! We were def full but our wonder waitress insisted on a celebratory ice cream with a sparkling candle. It was very nice! Before we left the owner came up to ask how everything was. He was a cool guy and told us a bit about the restaurant and his future expansion happening! I love that he said he use to come to the bank with his parents as a kid and now he owns a restaurant in the space....full circle moment. We truly enjoyed our time here! Thank u for making our Anniversary dinner so special. We will for sure be returning. I have to try the snapper next time!!!

The set up is a little awkward. When you walk in there, there's very little space between the door…read moreand the host station. The seating is very tight. Also, many of the tables and chairs were very worn which was surprising given this as a fairly new restaurant. The food itself was very good. We were there for brunch and we enjoyed the meal and cocktails. Their service was also good. What we didn't enjoy was the very loud music. It was like we were in a nightclub eating breakfast. So mixed feelings about whether or not we would go back.

We came here early on a whim (without a reservation) on a Saturday evening just to check it out…read more Club vibes (be prepared for music that'll drown out your conversations) with fine dining and an expansive cocktail menu. Our iPad menu stopped working and it took awhile for our dessert to be corrected with the right order (it took 3 servers to finally bring our dessert out). A lot of wait staff standing around looking pretty and management seemed chaotic. Definitely felt a lack of proper communication amongst team members that night once it got really busy. This was an expensive date to say the least. But if you wanted to splurge on a date night, soak in some club feels then this is the spot.

While running errands in Edison I convinced my wife to check Anchors out. Read! I read in one of…read morethe New Jersey articles that this place was a tiki bar, so I was excited to try it out. Upon getting there, it is a nice Marina bar that has a grave a lot. We walked shortly from the parking lot and got seats of the bar right away. There was a good amount of people there for a Saturday afternoon. However, we were helped right away. Their beer prices are pretty phenomenal in my opinion. The selection I think is pretty good too. We were speaking with one of the people behind the bar and they said the plan is to also have food trucks here eventually as well for a food option. There is ample seating here as you can see from some of the pictures I took and the two staff we talked to were very friendly. One thing that could be a pro or a con depending on your disposition is that this is an outdoor bar. There are a lot of fans going and it has a very nice breeze. How over on a hot day where something loose and breathable. However, in the spring and fall I can imagine this place having a big crowd because it seems like a really nice place to have a drink and hang out. All in all. If you're local, I would definitely come check this place out. We will definitely be back in the future.

This place it's perfect to see fireworks. They have beer in draft and regular fair price cocktails…read more No food but there's a food truck with limited items food prices. This outdoor place has tv screens to watch sports. Nice breeze. They are prepared for the fall Incase the temp drops at night. They will be needing a real kitchen to serve some real food with a good chef. This place will make $$$. Nice view of the marina. They have a live band. Nice day to chill and relax and enjoy the breeze. Nice ambiance. Lots of parking . Will return and definitely recommend. Come and support the town.

Very cool.place to meet up with friends and enjoy a cold drink or two. The service is great and the…read moreplace just generally has an amazing ambiance. I would definitely recommend here and I give it five stars

A cool spot added to our area for the warmer weather. The layout for seating is spacious. You can…read moreopt to be close to the band or further back to still hear conversations. Love the concept of rotating different food trucks. It did take a while to get through the line for our food when we went. (Unsure if it just the vendor that was there during our visit, but worth noting if you're on a time crunch). Luckily we were not in a rush and so drinks and food taking longer than expected wasn't an issue. Be mindful you're by the water so bug spray is a must. You can also check out their Instagram to see which vendors and bands will be there each night. I would definitely return!

With the over-saturation of Italian restaurants in Woodbridge township, Angelina's Kitchen was not…read moreon the top 10 list of restaurants to-try for us. So we came with low expectations, but left with a satisfied experience. I love thin crust pizza, and Angelina's nailed it with their dough making. All the bread was delicious. The gelatos were so fresh and creamy. What gives them a 5 star for us: all the drinks were excellent (love their Negronis) and the dishes were well seasoned. It was a crowded night but we got a table with no reservations after a 10 min wait on a Saturday night. High ceilings and open layout, the place felt spacious and outdoorsy.

Meh, lovely decor, mediocre food, and overwhelmed staff about sums up my Monday dinner experience…read morehere. Initially, wood fired pizza was my draw here and the server mentioned that 12" sizes are available despite not listed on the menu. Thankfully, another server saw me waiting and waiting to place my order. Only 2 servers and the place was surprisingly busy so service was lacking in addition to the disappointing execution of my meal. I played it safe, I thought, and ordered the mixed veggie salad with salmon. The salad was a pathetic array of about 6 Boston lettuce leaves and then an inordinate amount of sloppily sliced red onions, way too many capers, and drowned in a tasteless vinegarette all served on a huge platter. Maybe a nice place to grab a happy hour drink ...but too much competition for food in the area to dine here.

Suburban hidden gem. Feels like we've transported ourselves to a NYC speakeasy whenever we come…read morehere. Located in a strip mall right next to a liquor store, it remains a quiet chill lounge with delicious food and quality drinks. A selfish part of me wants this spot to remain relatively anonymous so my husband and I can enjoy its experience without the social media hype. It could use more wait staff on busier days. But Barbara the hostess is super nice and our bartender made us some great custom drinks we wanted while we sat at the bar.

Attempted to go to this establishment for my son's 25th birthday and was turned away!! Due to…read morehaving a 18 year old. The place was completely EMPTY so there was no reason for us to be turned away! Literally next to ihop and acting as if you can't have a 18 year old in your establishment. Highly l disappointed and will never go here!! Poor management

This is a nice intimate lounge restaurant located in downtown Perth Amboy. It was beautifully…read moredecorated for a surprise birthday party, very colorful and inviting environment. The staff were all very helpful and allowed us to celebrate with each other for hours without feeling rushed. The host of the birthday party hired live musicians which at times performed with the DJ. The food consisted of some hors d'oeuvres, and I had the empanadas which were so good. The sangria and other drinks were enjoyed by everyone in attendance. We had an amazing time. Great night!

Always an amazing time and great service! Food and vibe is always on point. They also have great…read morespecials. Give them a visit you won't be upset!

Well, it's been said that picture is worth a thousand words, so I've attached a picture of my…read moresandwich because clearly something did not go right tonight. I'm a guest of the hotel and after a long travel day, I just could not do an outing for dinner, so I decided to order from room service. Excellent friendly service, and fairly quick delivery, but then I took a bite of the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and I got a mouthful of bitter burnt flavor. So disappointing! The side order of garlic mashed potatoes were tasty. Bad decision to serve this food. I may try again another time, but tonight I'm out.

Flew in today at 10 pm with my boyfriend & got a room at APA hotel. The restaurant/bar was closing…read morebut POCA was nice enough to still give us a round of shots and a wine bottle. Great service. She was really friendly and accommodating. The restaurant also had a nice vibe/look to it. Would recommend !

Absolutely Superb is all I can about CM Steakhouse! I visited two times a month apart from each…read morevisit and baby the steak was cooked to perfection both times! Chef Kiss! The Sangria was Delicious! The fresh bread melts in your mouth. The waiter staff, elegance design of the restaurant, wine glasses, china and ambience was top tier! By far My new favorite restaurant, I told my son I want a CM gift card for Mother's Day instead of flowers! It was sooo Goood!! Kudos to the Chef, Bartender & Waiter staff!

Nice place with plenty of parking. Sat in the bar area since I was alone. Asked for a hugo spritz…read morewhich is not on the menu...made to perfection...but what was even better was the bartender cared if it was good or not and was ready to make a change if needed. For the appetizer I had class casino...now dont judge me but I am not the person that likes bacon on everything so I didn't feel that it needed the bacon, but it was good either way. For my entree I had the ribeye, garlic mashed, and sautéed broccoli. My favorite thing was the broccoli...I just love my veggies! But the potatoes also amazing. Now for a steakhouse yhe steak wasnt the best. I tried to add some salt to bring out the flavor a bit, but it was just bland...the cooking temp was good just the flavor was missing. I would go back just to see if the other dishes are better.