Awesome spot!!!! Last night in SSP on vacation, we had a special event in our family and the staff was able to get us a reservation for 5. Cudos! We came about 15 minutes early, had a drink at the bar. The bartenders are incredibly attentive given the craziness and I feel bad I did not ask the bartenders name. She was an A+!!! So after a bit, one of the hostesses came over to bar to bring us to our table...Oceanside view, very sweet. We were promptly greeted by Erin, our server. She's gets an A++ (I can do that!). Very cordial, ready to explain anything. We ordered the Seafood Tower as an appetizer...great mix of Tuna Poke, clams, oysters, shrimp and etc. Big hit! Our dinners ran the gamut from Filet Medallions, Crab Pasta, Scallops and Swordfish. All delicious and well executed!!! Compliments to kitchen staff!!! Dessert round was coffee, and Crème Brûlée x 2! My beautiful wife could barely finish she was so stuffed. Hint: you need a reservation most likely. We'll make out way in advance! Thanks for making a special night a little more special!!! read more

Fabulous food, great service. Sorry to see you going away. Loved the view of the ocean and the ambiance.

UNIMPRESSED is an understatement. The GOOD - great view, great service. Pulpo appetizer was very good, oysters were good, portions are good size. The BAD - shrimp cocktail @ $4 per shrimp. Unfortunately 4 of 4 all had a nasty metallic taste and were more than likely previously frozen, mussels were tiny with no taste. The UGLY, prices are way too high, think insulting. The decor is not nice, this place needs to look like the upscale place they pretend to be. Chairs are farty and worn. Stairs and ceilings are a mess. Take some of the money they're making and dump a few bucks into this place. read more

Chef Mike's ABG - a view of the dining room - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

Great dinner with an unbeatable view! I made my reservation for Chef Mike's two months before we dined here. It's extremely had to get a reservation so it was important to try to get a decent time. Score: we got a 7pm reservation! We arrived right on time and were swiftly seated indoors to a stunning view of the water. Last year, we dined outside, but it was extremely windy. I'm so glad we ate inside this year. Years ago (I don't think they do it anymore since the pandemic), they offered peppered bacon at the bar to snack on while we waited for our table. We noticed we can now get the bacon as an appetizer, so that's what we started with. The bacon was decent, nothing special and especially not worth $9. The bread was fine, nothing great, either. For my entree, I got a filet mignon but subbed the potatoes for fries. I noticed the lamb came with a delicious sauce and the waitress happily brought it out for my meal. My husband had the lamb chops but subbed the spinach for asparagus. My steak was delicious. The sauce was fine but I wouldn't get it next time. Fries were phenomenal. The asparagus was a hit or miss. My husband enjoyed his lamb chops but it was definitely cooked more medium than medium-rare. If you're looking for a restaurant with a beautiful view of the water, Chef Mike's is your place! read more

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Went here last Saturday night for my girlfriend's birthday, ocean view table, warmly greeted by the lovely hostess, our server Christin could not have been better! The food of course was spectacular, I had the Chop salad, Jessica had the salad with strawberries, amazing. Raspberry martini and the Napa Cab were delightful. She had the filet mignon cooked perfectly, they made me Gemelli pasta with spinach and cream sauce, amazing. Chocolate molten cake with ice cream and a heavy pour on the Gran Mariner, the B52 after dinner drink was also something else. Can't wait to return! read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Gemelli pasta with spinach and cream sauce, they left out the crab and prosciutto for the vegetarian - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

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Not sure anyone sees these reviews but here it goes. Unfortunately we could not get a reservation this past Saturday. Open table had a 9 pm. I called here from Wednesday night through Saturday no one answered phone. We were staying at local saturday at 4:30 walked up to hotel no one was there. Finally at 5:15 I called again no answer. Sorry your closing but some better customer service would be nice read more

Food A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Service A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ambiance A+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Any questions? read more

Food is very pricey .. mediocre to best quality wise. Restaurant is very over rated Years ago it was excellent , has gone downhill read more

We've been going for 18 years and will never go again!! Friday night of Memorial weekend we had a 5:00 reservation for the high top near the piano. I am aware they cannot guarantee you'll get the table you want, so we always make the first reservation for when they open AND we arrive early!! We were the first guests to arrive, at 4:35, and the hostess seated us at our table at 5:00. Two minutes later, a waitress approached us, telling us we had to sit at another table, that a couple arrived that has a standing reservation for our table. I have reached out to them multiple times asking for them to explain their policy and I've gotten NO response, yet whenever I messaged asking other questions (what night will the piano player be there, etc) they respond immediately. They also canceled my Open Table reservation which then didn't allow me to write a review ... Shame on you Chef Mike, so sorry (not sorry) you're closing. read more

Leanna was great the food amazing! Picture perfect day outside and drink specials! Could hang out all day! Beautiful space!!! Spectacular service read more

CHEF MIKE IS A ROCKSTAR!!! Deserves 10 stars!!!! Worlds Best, I say again, World's Very Best Crab soup. I buy 12 quarts to go and freeze them for the winter. They defrost well. Crab cakes can't be beat. Chef truly understands food. He is like the NJ Bobby Flay that doesn't have to overwhelm you with 75 spices in each dish. Chef Mike gives you great food simple with unbelievable deliciousness. You could put this restaurant in any city in the world and it will shine New York Vegas, California doesn't matter. Tell him Louie The Cop recommends the crab soup. The steak is prime meat no bad cut here cooked perfectly. Everything is good here everything the staff works hard to give you a good experience and you can't beat the atmosphere on a New Jersey beach. Good luck getting a reservation because it's worth the wait. read more

We enjoyed a lovely Birthday dinner for my partner. Started with the appetizer sampler which was delicious. Our dinner were superb. I had the scallops, which were cooked to perfection. I only wish there was a bit less seasoning. John had the Sea Bass, I was able to get a very small bite....he didnt want to share. LOL. We were too full for desert. We will be making another reservation soon to being the family. Thank you for a wonderful dinner Oh and service was apt on. read more

First off this Restaurant is right on the beach in seaside park,enough said for ambience. Food if you like seafood is topnotch , the whole menu from reef and beef to pork chop all delicious. Hot app is outstanding... Been 4 times in 2 months our new favorite in the area.. Service is good we even ate at the bar once because we came with no reservations which are definitely needed. It can get loud at times but all in all with the food ,view and service. Definitely recommend Mikes . We will be Back. read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Ambience outstanding, cant beat the view. Food top notch ,we will be back - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

SEASIDE PARK: if you want to eat on the beach, Chef Mike's ABG is the place to go! Well behaved and leashed dogs are allowed to join you at the tiki bar and the outdoor seating area on the beach! Chef Mike is renowned in NJ for having incredible food and drinks! You can eat well while being surrounded by palm trees , sand, and sun! The outdoor area is open seasonally, so please call before you go to make sure they can accommodate you and your pup and to also check their hours. P.S. ABG stands for Atlantic Bar & Grill! read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

After noticing that the Central Jersey Trinity of Yelp Elitists, Jennifer D, Jennifer T and Doug D have all positively reviewed the restaurant, we tried Chef Mike's Atlantic Bar and Grill the other night. It is located on 24th St., by the dunes to the beach. Due to the nearby hotel, street parking is difficult to achieve and must be impossible at peak season. We followed the walkway to the upper deck and follow the signs to the entrance. We were seated in their dining room, which has windows overlooking the dunes and the sea. Our server took our drink orders and advised us of the specials. We shared the calamari appetizer. It was tender with a touch of heat and sweetness from the delicious sauce. Perhaps the best calamari we've ever had. For entrées we had the French Chicken Breasts, which are very good, the Haddock, special was encrusted with pistachios was excellent, and the horseradish crusted Chilean Seabass, which was also tender and excellent. The desserts were also delicious. We had the Key Lime Pie, the Crème Brûlée and the Cinnamon Donuts with dipping sauces. The service was outstanding, and the food was excellent. The atmosphere was low key considering that it was a Sunday evening. We enjoyed Chef Mike's very much and give it our best recommendation. read more

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Loved the property this Restuarant sits on. Service was super friendly! Food was ok. Beautiful presentations though. read more

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The good was the food. Excellent. We sat at the bar. The male bartender was slightly rude. My friend ordered a glass of Chardonnay which had a sour taste to it. When he told the bartender he said "it must be you". I don't think he handled the situation very professionally. I was upset. read more

This out of the way bistro on the beach in Seaside offers creative tasty Nouveau American dishes that will satisfy even the most discriminating diners. This is a great time of year to go as after Memorial Day it becomes near impossible to get a reservation. It is well worth the trip. A special shoutout to our server Courtney who is especially friendly, knowledgeable and attentive to all the details of the meal and customers. If you are fortunate to have her as your server, your meal will be that much more of a smooth and enjoyable experience. read more

Great food, perfect service and who doesn't like looking at the Atlantic Ocean while eating dinner.

We were unable to lock in a reservation earlier than 9:00, so we took our chance at the bar. Drinks were delish :) We ordered bacon, which was incredible. Salmon for 40.00, was disappointing and delivered dry, my friend was too embarrassed to return. The bartender heard and delivered some sauces to help. I had the scallops, very sad 47.00. I'd ordered cause I've loved them in the past, this time not so much. The dish lacked presentation. It seemed as if the food slipped off the plate and was slid/slapped back on. The scallops were small, and the dish wasn't hot. A serious pet peeve of mine. We won't be returning and I'm kind of sad about that, but it wasn't good at all. Our server was superb. read more

We had Dinner here last night and it was Great! Good luck Chef with your future endeavors..!

Chef Mike's is awesome in all categories - food, drinks, service and atmosphere. It's rare to find ocean front dining in the area that isn't boardwalk food so the real estate alone makes this place a gem. The drinks are ginormous. My margarita was so big I didn't have to order any other drinks for the night haha. The food is great. From apps to seafood to steaks to dessert - everyone loved everything. The portions are a good size - not so big that you want to cry yourself asleep but not so small that you're left hungry. They are just right. The price is exactly what you would expect for good seafood and steak. The desserts are actually less expensive than most places so that was nice. Overall I'd highly recommend Chef Mike's for any occasion. I'm already looking forward to the next time I can come back! read more

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The food at Chef Mike's is very very good. I had the crabcakes and they were all crab no bread. My wife had flounder stuff with crab again no filling with the crab. The food was excellent. The only reason I gave four stars is because the male bartender seemed to have an attitude that night. I would definitely go back. It's too bad that we're gonna lose another good restaurant because of condominiums read more

The craziest entrance to any upscale restaurant I've been to but... Dirty Martini was amazing. Attentive bar tenders and nice bar seats for those waiting for dinner or a quick Convo with a beautiful lady. Restaurant seats: it reminded me of someone's garage facing the beach. Nothing was fancy but it was comfortable. Appetizers were fresh and we'll thought out. Raw Oysters, clams and jumbo shrimp extra horseradish and Tabasco. Dinner: sea bass was out of this world. I was a complete big back and ate everything on my plate. read more

Bucket drinks for the beach a resounding YES! The summer lunch? Underwhelming. We love Mike's and are holding our breathe for it to blow us away again and really hoping for some more vegan options, please ;-). They change up the drink buckets/sand pails so checkout the special to bring back to your beach chair! We sat on the deck and had a dozen shrimp cocktail which are large and delish, I know we are eating outside but plating left much to be desired, no lemon for shrimp cocktail? The garden burger came with nothing, no lettuce, tomato, pickles, not even ketchup, again we had to wait for it (we were only one of two guests). Had burger with a side salad which was tasty. The Southwest bowl was SAD for the price basically a bowl of dry white rice with a few black beans and corn. A little lime wedge or something to enhance it would have gone a long way. Waitress said they have a daytime and nighttime chef so think we prefer nighttime.. Love getting buckets of cocktails with some orders of fries so upping by a star..we are going to get back to five stars Mike we have faith in you! read more

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Hey all I visit seaside heights for a beach experience. For people who live in NYC this is a Gem.. beautiful clean beaches with whitish sand. Plan it out like this. Leave at 11:00 its an hour and half trip smooth sail. Parking is 2 dollar an hour Beach visit per person is 10 Splash it out and then head to Chef Mikes ABG.. BTW they open at 5 !!!! Food is phenom Atmosphere is relaxed Must have is there chowder.. octopus plate is must Tuna poke Lump crabs And crab cakes It was wow I had a blast guys dont know why 3.5 stars but i give them 4.0 Just a note. Small plates are soo awesome that i never go towards entree.. good food. Enjoy read more

Chef Mike's ABG - a platter of oysters - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

My family and I have been coming here since Chef Mike took over. Place has only progressed, steak was cooked exactly how I asked and the lobster tasted fresh. Ambiance here is just a loud upscale restaurant, they have someone usually playing the piano live to draft the noise. Not complaining, this is the Best restaurant in the area so it's gonna be loud and it's gonna be busy. Staff are all nice, from the hosts to my waitress. My father has sensory issues due to a traumatic brain injury so when I asked the waitress to turn down the ceiling fan, she did it without hesitation. Love this place, would always recommend. Shout out to Chef Mike for keeping this restaurant to a high standard. read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Reef & beef - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

So grateful we were treated so kindly here! After getting completely screwed by Ebby's up the road, we walked in this VERY CROWDED restaurant around 9pm. They seated us - graciously. Sorry, no photo of the appetizer sampler, but that's when I knew our bad experience at Ebby's was a GIFT IN DISGUISE that landed us here. The food was amazing! So fresh! All the servers were happy. The kitchen crew (you can see working through the window) was happy. The place was nice and clean (though could use some structure updates, like the floor). Thank you for a perfect dinner! A perfect evening! read more

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Hard to find. Weird set up going into the restaurant. You go through a closed door down long hall twist and turns into restaurant seating area which is underwhelming and nothing special. We shared the mussel appetizers which was amazing. I had the pistachio encrusted halibut with crabmeat over asparagus risotto. Where was the pistachio???? Absolutely none. No sauce no flavor. Not even a tablespoon of crabmeat. risotto drenched in butter and oil. My husband got surf n turf. Steak ok. Lobster maybe 1/4lb and was terrible the quality and texture disgusting. Tasted like it was old and in the freezer the whole summer terrible tasting and weird texture. Did not even taste like lobster. Got lime pie for desert. They ruined it by throwing caramel sauce all over it. Prices high, quality and ambiance low. Would not go back or recommend. read more

We love chef mikes! Always great food and great service. Location is pretty awesome too.

Since 2013 I had been wanting to come here. I'm glad I finally made it. They are an oceanfront upscale American restaurant right before you get to Island Beach State Park. You need to know that it's there. What pleasantly surprised me a little bit is that they actually are a restaurant attached to a motel, which has not gone into disrepair. But the entrance is a little awkward and does not have a fine dining feel. It's just basically a wooden walkway through the motel to get there. My objection with it is that a lot of people showed up at 5 PM for when they open, and there was no crowd control. People were cutting ahead in line. We were seated at a table for four, although we were a party of five. We noticed there were other tables right on the window overlooking the ocean that had more space. We had a reservation, so that should not have happened. They didn't give us a place setting for five either and we had to flag down the waitress in order to get it. The prices are somewhat high for the entrées, but I would say that it's mostly worth it. It is one of the better restaurants in the area. The meals are all prepared with a delicate touch. They took time and care to make them. The recipes all have a summery flair to them, which is appropriate for the location. You can tell they change the menu around as new recipes get invented. Our service was not necessarily friendly, and I did not get any help with the menu. It's sort of just felt like quick diner service. It should be noted that it was very hot in there. I normally don't complain about the temperature of the restaurant I'm in either. The Decor on the inside had been moderately redone at some point. You could tell there was a fresh coat of paint. But there was nothing extraordinary about it. The chairs are wooden and uncomfortable after a while. My friend noticed there were dirt marks on the wall. They have a bar. My friend got a Captain and Coke, and it was watered down. He asked for replacement... They actually charged him for two. He didn't say anything. I ordered a Pinot noir, and it was just run-of-the-mill. Normally that's a safe house wine to get. All in all, ocean front dining, and the entrées are individually and delicately prepared. Maybe hyped up a little bit too much. But we enjoyed it nonetheless. read more

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Service was excellent- we sat outside so the ambiance was great but windy. The food was very disappointing and I've been there several over the past 4 years. The swordfish was small & tasteless & the pea shoots were not a good combination with it. The crème brulee' was great. Different chef ? We were a party of six and not planning to return!! read more

The food was excellent the service was good. When a customer requests to lower the fan and the waitress makes excuses. Not good

First time coming here and everything was amazing! The hostess was super friendly, we waited for our table at the bar and the female bar tenders was also super friendly. She made the most amazing sangria! Our waiter Courtney was AMAZING! She was so sweet and helpful, absolutely loved her! The food was AMAZING! We got the scallop meal and omg! The desert was also amazing!! Deff coming back!! read more

Cool location right on the water but the decor (tables, floor, etc ) were not congruent with a cozy classy experience.....room was also very loud. We expected more from a venue that charges $40 an entree. We started with the calamari which is fresh and made from scratch and it was very filling. Oysters (three types to choose from) were very good and fresh. Our waitress was nice and also atentive. My Seafood pot was good and was created in the memory of the chefs father which was very cool. Tomato sauce was delicious. My wives crab cakes were not good. The lime was to overpowering and the sauce didn't work with the dish. Also 39 dollars for crab cakes, not sure that made sense? Overall the chef seems passionate and talented but we had a less than stellar night. read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

Holy crap is this place amazing and during a pandemic no less! We made reservations for Friday of July 4th weekend and were seated outside as only outside dining was allowed in New Jersey at the time. We were blown away by the regular menu and the specials. Everything was mouthwatering! The waitress came over immediately and took our drink orders. Since it was hot out, I opted for the frozen Rum Runner and my boyfriend ordered a craft beer from nearby Cape May Brewing Co. Both drinks were great! For our appetizers, we opted for the Warm Roasted Garlic Cloves and the Hot Sampler. The garlic was absolutely delicious and was accompanied with crackers. The Hot Sampler stole the show -- it was huge and came with chicken dumplings, calamari tossed in sweet chili sauce, shrimp tempura and crab cakes. Everything was spectacular! For our entrees, I ordered the scallops and he ordered the halibut. Both were outstanding -- so fresh and cooked perfectly. The sweet corn risotto with the scallops was so good. I wish we had room for dessert but hopefully next time. Also, the service was the best I've ever had. Our waitress was friendly and super attentive despite having several other tables. Can't wait to go back! read more

This place NEVER disappoints! From the moment you enter, you are greeted by a staff who obviously love where they work . The menu is ever evolving. Always. wonderful surprises created by a culinary genius who is confident enough to blend seasonings and textures in unexpected and delightful ways. We dine at ABG for special occasions which is strange to say because any time we dine here it BECOMES a special occasion. This venue is truly the best dining experience at the Jersey Shore. Unsurpassed service, variety, flavor, presentation and ambiance all wrapped up in an affordable dining experience. read more

What a great meal. Server was new and she did a great job. My pork chop with sausage on top was amazing and I will eat it again. A bowl of delicious bacon as an appetizer, wow. All our food was delicious and the atmosphere is great. read more

This gem sits hidden between a private beach and a motel, definitely worth checking out. The last stop on the island before Island Beach State Park. The food is amazing the wait staff is great. We almost always order the appetizer platter. The calamari is out of this world, and the lamb is some of the best I've ever had. I don't typically like pork chops but Mikes are definitely an exception. Just thinking about the food here makes my mouth water. Can't wait to go back. Looking for something different than the typical chains this is the place to go. read more

Chef Mike's ABG - Stuffed after eating a special treat. - Seafood Near Me - Seaside Park, New Jersey

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The stars are for the food. It wasn't outstanding, just better than average. We were a party of five for my birthday. My husband's sea bass tasted "fishy" -- not sure it was super fresh. Short ribs were a bit stringy, but ok; salad special was served over wilted greens with no dressing. Couldn't get the server's attention to ask for dressing. My son's porterhouse was rare, not medium rare as requested. Calamari, crab cakes and lobster ravioli were very good. So were the other two salads. We had a reservation for 7 pm. The hostess (dressed like she just came from the gym) acknowledged us, said there would be a short wait for our table and suggested we have a drink at the bar. No seats at the bar, and the high tops are "reservation only". We spent 25 minutes standing in the crowded bar area dodging waitstaff and other patrons. My sons finally gave up and sat in the lobby. We were seated at 7:25.There was no apology. I requested a table downstairs. What a mistake! The acoustics in that room are so terrible that everyone, including the server, was screaming. All the tables were filled, some with larger parties. We could not have a conversation and pretty much gave up trying. Because of the noise level, we passed on coffee and dessert. Couldn't wait to get out of there. Our server was pleasant enough while she was bellowing the evening's specials at us, but she wasn't particularly welcoming. Bar must have been backed up. It took about 20 minutes for a round of drinks. No such thing as ordering an appetizer, then salads and dinner. Server told us everything had to be ordered at once, so we got our three salads and appetizer at the same time. The table was so sticky, no one would touch it or put their silverware on it. We decided to live with it rather than try to flag down someone to clean it, so we kept our silverware on our bread plates between courses. Finally and sadly, what might have passed for shabby chic decor years ago, now looks worn and tired. Definitely not bright and clean. The place needs a complete remodel. I really wanted to love this place like I did in past years. Didn't happen. read more