I stopped in to buy a few bottles of my wife's favorite flavors and the bartender and atmosphere…read morewere great. Normally purchase bottles at the Marlboro farmers market stand of theirs over the years, I now have them ordered to my local store.

3BR Distillery has quickly become one of my favorite spots to grab a drink! First off, I have…read moreenjoyed everything I've tried from their drink menu so far. The kofitini is easily my favorite, but they have so many unique drinks I could rave about. They also sell bottles to take home -- I've brought the lemon beary pie martini to a party before and it was a hit. I can't speak enough about the amazing hospitality here. Whenever I visit with people who have never been to 3BR Distillery, they take the time to tell our party about their origin story. They've also brought us samples of their Mendel pea vodka and they've happily answered any questions we've had about the distillery. Drinks always come out pretty quickly and they regularly refill our waters and clear the table when possible. The Soviet-inspired theming is so unique and offers a piece of history in their decor. There's plenty of seating, including some cozy areas on the couches towards the front. They have some board games and card games you can grab and play, but you're also welcome to bring your own games if you'd like. This establishment is also bring your own food! 3BR Distillery also has a bunch of events listed on their calendar. I've visited for live soul jazz music a couple times now, and I'll definitely be back for other events.

Why the hate for this spot?…read more Is it fancy? Hell no, but that's the point. Up the creek is a no-frills hybrid sports-dive-bayside bar that serves up cheap food, cheap drinks, and cheap company, in the best possible way. You're not coming here to be fancy, you're coming to watch the Mets, Yankees, Giants, or Jets on one of the huge TVs they have everywhere, while sucking down 3$ beers, and when the time calls for it, a porkroll* with cheese on a roll and an order fries. You can choose the bar, a high top, or the outdoor bar when the weather is nice enough (you'll always find me at the bar). There are some stairs to get up here, but you'll be rewarded with a view of the marina...and route 35....and if you look hard enough the parkway....ok there are stairs that lead up to a bar, that's all you gotta know. It's the perfect spot to catch the game and hang with the locals. Come in, say hey to Linda, and drink enough that you need some greasy food to make everything feel better. Doesn't get much better in my humblest of opinions. _____________________ *Call it "Taylor ham" and you're dead to me.

KEYPORT: Up The Creek Tavern is a great local spot with gorgeous views of the Matawan Creek and…read moremarina. Leashed and friendly dogs are allowed on their second story outdoor deck and there is a staircase to the left of the building to go up. Depending on the season, there could be wait service or you have to go inside to order. The food menu is American-style comfort food and a full bar of drink options.

We went with a couple friend of ours. We ordered appetizers with bread and they were delicious. All…read morefour entrees were served together and fantastic. Desserts were tasty and not extremely sweet. Wine list could use some better price points. Service was excellent and server was friendly. Great overall experience.

Celebrated a milestone anniversary at the Chef's Counter with wine pairings. Started with two…read morecocktails. The good: - Food is amazing. Fresh and interesting ingredients, creative and delicious. It is obvious that great care is taken with it. We enjoyed every course. - Cocktails also great. My wife had a standard Old Fashioned, and I had the specialty one on the cocktail menu. - Great staff. Friendly and knowledgeable (with one caveat, below). They genuinely seem to want you to have the best possible experience. Sitting at the counter provided great access to the hearth station, and the gentleman there offered pleasant conversation when engaged and kept to himself when not. Exactly how it should be. - Cool interior, nice vibe. The neutral: - Our server, while incredibly lovely, just didn't know wine to the level you would expect for someone serving at the chef's counter. It was fully admitted to us. This is totally fine, but then have someone else serve the pairings so they can talk about the wine. This did happen for one of the pairings, and it was great. I am not a novice when it comes to wine, but I fully admit I am not that knowledgeable about the regions presented here. It would have been nice to get a little more detail on the wines. - Automatic 20% added to the bill. I can count on one hand the times I have tipped less than 20% in decades of dining, and in this case we actually tipped more than the added amount, but I didn't see this mentioned anywhere on the website or Resy. Perhaps it was on the menu, and I missed it in the dark-ish interior. They do make it obvious when presenting the bill, so that is good. Mentioning this so that others are aware. The bad: - We were never served our last wine pairing. By the time we realized it wasn't actually coming, we were ready to go, and I didn't say anything since I didn't want to end the night on a negative note or make a big deal out of it. I did, however, follow up with an email two days later to gently point it out. The ugly: - Over two weeks now, no acknowledgment of my email. For a dinner for two that was just under $600 all in, this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. All I was looking for was acknowledgment. It would have been an easy four stars, but due to the lack of follow-up, three. We had planned to go back, but not so sure anymore. Oh well.

Always jamming at McDonagh's Pub! The band is awesome! Nice crowd and great food and really cold…read moredrinks. Service is on point Ari our server was so nice she made our day. I've been here a few times and I always enjoy the small town feel of this place. Always friendly people and service is always great. They have a great outdoor area as well as nice indoor seating areas. They even offer a smoking area for those of us who enjoy a smoke with our drinks.

Just stop by for few beers and an appetizer had their loaded potatoes which were yummy. Arrie our…read moreserver was fantastic very accommodating. Love their outdoor seating and they had a fantastic band playing all the right music. Do fun night for sure.

Love the water view. Have an upstairs with glass all around for great view. Bar downstairs and…read moretables part inside and outside . Peach sangria was really good. Love getting swordfish bites as an appetizer. Shared a chicken sandwich and fries were really good. Wish they had a happy hour but would come back since prices for drinks were reasonable

First time here and would definitely be back! The service was quick and the server, Nicolette was…read morevery attentive. The food, uh, great!

Viva Margarita There…read moreare several Viva Margarita restaurants throughout New Jersey, and I've had the opportunity to visit both the Hackensack location and the one in Hazlet The consistency between the two is remarkable. From the vibrant décor and lively atmosphere to the warm, attentive service, both restaurants deliver the same high-quality experience. Most importantly, the food is outstanding. Add an excellent selection of margaritas and an impressive collection of tequilas, and you have all the ingredients for a memorable meal. The tableside guacamole is simple but very good. Since it's prepared right at your table, you can customize the spice level to your liking. The steak tampiqueña is, in my opinion, the best north of Tampico. The flank steak was tender, juicy, perfectly marinated, and expertly cooked. Served with rice, refried beans, warm tortillas, and traditional accompaniments, it was simply exceptional. The impeccable service elevated an already excellent meal into a truly enjoyable dining experience.

Such a cute spot! I'll admit I was a little hesitant at first since it's right next to the Holiday…read moreInn and looks a bit cheesy from the outside, but once we walked in, the vibe was really nice. We came on Taco Tuesday, so our tacos were half-price--and they were delicious! We tried the chicken, barbacoa, and shrimp. My favorite was the shrimp, while my husband loved the chicken, though the barbacoa was also really good. Highly recommend checking this place out. I didn't order a drink, but their menu had tons of tempting options.

Their French dip is absolutely delicious. Always friendly great service love our Renee.read more

Dive bar with good service & food. Sat at the bar & ordered the grilled shrimp app. Mistakenly…read morethe bartender thought I ordered a different shrimp dish so I had to wait a little bit for it - NP, things happen. Shrimp came out barely grilled - they probably rushed it as I was waiting I guess. My husband enjoyed the breakfast combo but wished the bacon was crispy. Nice local joint - comfortable!

The owners genuinely care about their staff and customers. The tables and bathrooms were very…read moreclean. Loved everything from the salad, burger, and toddler meal. Nice they have small cups with lids for little kids. So nice to eat near the sandy beach under umbrellas.

Great atmosphere, but unfortunately, the customer service left a lot to be desired…read more We asked if one of the TVs could be changed to the Jets preseason game. The bartender--a muscular, gym-bro type who already seemed completely uninterested in serving us--responded, "Nobody cares about that." Really? We're in New Jersey! No matter how much bad luck the Jets have had over the years, they have some of the most loyal fans around. They stick with their team no matter what. But this really isn't about the Jets. When customers are buying drinks and food and make a simple request, responding with "Nobody cares about that" is rude, dismissive, and completely unnecessary. Unfortunately, we've had poor service from this particular bartender every time we've been there. It has often felt like unless you fit a certain look--particularly the cute blondes at the bar--you don't get the same level of attention. But tonight's blatant disrespect was something I couldn't ignore. There are way too many places where I can spend my Friday night and my money to be made to feel like I'm bothering someone by simply asking a question. Probably our last time at JakeaBob's, which is disappointing because the atmosphere itself is great. But good atmosphere doesn't make up for being treated poorly. Nobody cares? Well, this customer did. And now you've lost one. Now asked 3 different bartenders for check still waiting 15 minutes later.

What an exceptional experience having my daughters Bridal Shower this past weekend at A Salute!…read moreService was nothing but outstanding and the food was amazing and so much of it. The staff, especially Anthony and Andy went above and beyond to ensure that every detail was taken care of and that all of our guests felt welcome. Daniela stayed with us the night before, after the restaurant closed, to get the room set up for the Bridal Party Saturday afternoon. The entire event was seamless, enjoyable, and truly memorable. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone planning a special celebration, private event, or just dinner and drinks. A Salute definately did not dissapoint!!! If I can give 100 stars, I would..Thank you guys for a wonderful party!!! Until the next party......

Found this place by pure coincidence and so glad I did. We went here for my birthday dinner and…read moreabsolutely loved it. Staff is super friendly and professional. The ambiance, well it's an old church, so just picture that for moment, just lovely. The food was amazing and good portions as well. We will definitely be back.

MATAWAN: if you are chasing one of the largest beer selections in New Jersey, Maloney's Pub is the…read morespot and they now welcome leashed & friendly pups on their huge outdoor patio. Maloney's is legendary in the beer world. Over 125 taps, plus an ever‑changing lineup of drafts, cans, locals, imports, cider, mead, basically anything you can think of. Add in food specials, events, and you have got a must‑visit destination. Their outdoor space has two vibes: sunny seating right along the building, or the covered tent area for shade. Brie got her own water bowl and plenty of love from the staff, which always earns bonus points. The menu hits all the American‑style favorites: burgers, salads, flatbreads, appetizers, and hearty entrees, perfect for pairing with whatever you are sipping. This downtown Matawan staple has been going strong for 20+ years, this is the place to be.

Brunch, Great Food & 125+ Drafts? Yes, Please!…read more We stopped at Maloney's Pub & Grill in downtown Matawan for brunch, and let me tell you... this was the best idea ever! The first thing that grabs your attention when you walk in is the massive lineup of draft beers. Maloney's is known for its incredible rotating draft selection, with more than 125 taps featuring everything from IPAs and stouts to ciders, meads, Belgian ales, German lagers, and more. And if you're staring at that wall of choices thinking, "How in the world am I supposed to choose?" -- no worries! They're happy to let you sample a beer before committing. Now THAT is my kind of place! The restaurant has a really comfortable setup with plenty of seating. You'll find booths that are perfect for a date night, an open dining room for larger groups, outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, and of course plenty of seats at the bar if you just want to grab a drink and relax. And while the beer selection is definitely a major attraction, the food deserves just as much attention. Their menu goes well beyond typical pub food, with steaks, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. They also offer Sunday brunch from 12-3 p.m. What We Ordered: Steak & Eggs A nicely grilled NY sirloin served with two eggs and home-fried potatoes. A classic brunch combination done right. Chicken B.L.T.A. Grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and ranch dressing. This was loaded with all the good stuff and packed with flavor. Salmon Piccata North Atlantic salmon fillet with lemon, capers and a white wine sauce, served with mashed potatoes. The lemon and caper combination really worked with the salmon. Blackened Ahi Tuna Salad Blackened ahi tuna over mixed greens with avocado, sesame seeds, red onion and a house lemon-herb vinaigrette. A great option if you're looking for something a little lighter without sacrificing flavor. Crispy Chipotle Chicken Sandwich Panko-crusted chicken breast with chipotle ranch spread, cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato, served with tater tots. Crispy, creamy, cheesy and satisfying -- what's not to like? Everything came out hot, fresh and in a timely manner, which is exactly what you want when you're dining with a larger group ordering several different dishes. And honestly, just thinking about that meal has my mouth watering all over again! A special shout-out to our server Jeanette, who was fantastic. She was friendly, pleasant and attentive without hovering, checking on us throughout the meal and making sure we had everything we needed, including keeping those water glasses filled. Great service can make an already enjoyable meal that much better. Maloney's has been part of downtown Matawan since 2005, and I can definitely see why it has become a local destination. Whether you're stopping in for Sunday brunch, meeting friends for dinner, looking for a great burger or steak, or simply want to explore their enormous rotating beer selection, there's plenty here to keep you coming back. (maloneys⁠) If you're in the Matawan area and looking for a brunch spot with great food, a fun atmosphere and an unbelievable selection of drafts, put Maloney's on your list! We'll definitely be back -- next time, I'm exploring more of that beer list and trying something else from the menu!