Let me put you onto a Monmouth County restaurant you NEED to know about. Drew's Bayshore Bistro has been a Bayshore staple for 20+ years, and after this meal... I completely understand why. The Voodoo Shrimp--the dish that BEAT BOBBY FLAY--is an absolute MUST. The sweet potato bisque tasted like Thanksgiving in soup form. The fig, bacon & blue cheese flatbread was a blue cheese lover's dream. The Apple Jack pork belly burnt ends? Rich, flavorful and ridiculously good. And then there was the Pork Dijour... an Oktoberfest-inspired dish with pork so tender it practically melted in my mouth. Add in the duck breast, crab cakes, chocolate bread pudding, German chocolate cake topping AND beignets with apple dipping sauce... Yeah. We went there. This meal was a triumph. If you love New Orleans-inspired flavors, bold food and a restaurant with decades of history, put Drew's on your list. 10/10. I'll be back sooner than later. Save this one--you're going to thank me later. read more

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Had a really good meal at Drew's Bayshore bistro, although I found it a bit overpriced. Additionally the wait staff was a little odd as they wouldn't take an appetizer order without a full meal order as well. No way to get that soup appetizer started without having to order the whole thing - which made the length of our mealtime go much longer than one would expect as they didn't start cooking until we had our full order ready to give. Outside of that, the menu was interesting, the food was flavorful, and the Service was pretty good. They lose a star for the weird way we had to wait to order. read more

Another incredible dinner at Drew's. It gets better, if that's possible every time we eat here. Everything from atmosphere, food, staff and first class. read more

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One of my wife's favorite. The best and freshest risotto my wife ever had. Potions are good, Cajun flavors like Jumbalia, and volcano shrimp are simply delicious. I had a great tasting Hanger steak dinner. We always eat here in on special occasions. Slightly expensive but well worth it. It's B.Y.O.B. And they supply the set up service. Their desert menus had great selections after the fabulous meal too. Sometimes it can be a bit noisy because of the high ceilings. read more

Friends told us about Drew's and we finally made it thee last night. the venue is quite nice, but parking can be a challenge. challenge accepted! We started our meals with and order of Broiled Oysters and the Octopus Ceviche Tostada and both were excellent. The oysters came out piping hot. Entrees consisted of the Pork du Jour with a spicy blueberry sauce, Fig Glazed Long Island Duck, Seared Scallops with a Vegetable Risotto and my favorite, the Crawfish Etouffee With pasta in a cream sauce. We finished our meal with and order of Beignets and an Apple and Cranberry Crisp. Drew's is a BYOB establishment and reservations are strongly recommended. We will definitely be back! read more

A hidden jem right in town that I was so excited to try and it definitely lived up to the hype. Staff was friendly and took the time to make recommendations to us as first timers as well as what her favorite dishes are. The food was everything and more that I could have dreamed of. I could literally bathe in the voodoo sauce for the shrimp and rinse and repeat with their mashed sweet potatoes. All of the dishes were well thought out with the best accompaniments, there's nothing I could even think about changing. Looking forward to trying more of their dishes! read more

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Cozy BYOB spot with great service! Prices are quite high (ex. $55 for crab and lobster cake) but the portions are solid. The voodoo shrimp was a big hit, but wouldn't recommend getting the jalepeno cornbread as an extra side. It was more dry than I expected! I ordered the scallops based on the waitress recommendation- the scallop was cooked nicely but the risotto was far too sweet for my personal preference. Everyone else loved their dishes so it certainly is hit or miss based on what you like! The beignets were delicious! read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - Jalapeno Cornbread - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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Went here for dinner with hubby after a few friends telling us how good it was so we went with high expectations. Pros -- building, decor, cleanliness, and seating were beautiful. Staff were beyond friendly. Cons -- THE FOOD!! We had pork belly and duck confit appetizer. Pork belly was drenched in sauce and overcooked. Duck dish was good but was a spread and served with such a small amount of bread. Main courses -- presentation was terrible -- i ordered NY Strip with french fries and veggies. Hubby ordered jambalaya -- both dishes were served luke warm and looked as though they had been sitting. French fries were all tiny pieces as if they were at the bottom of the fryer. The steak was a poor cut. The jambalaya lacked flavor. The protein on the dish was all overcooked. Dessert THE Elvis -- sounded sooo delicious but was basically a spoonful of peanut butter. Even the ice cream they served with it could not drown out the overpowering peanut butter flavor. I did enjoy the cappuccino. We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday and he didn't even eat his meal. It was that bad. Sadly, one and done for us. I know they changed their menu so perhaps this is not their best lineup but I cannot forgive the terrible presentation. The price point for what they are presenting its insane. read more

Excellent food, large portions, professional, attentive staff. Very much worthy of a repeat visit.

Great food, delicious specials and awesome service. Nice neighborhood, BYOB, bars nearby. read more

The food was very tasty, good portions, and very unique. I would come again! The ambient was nice, service was good, all the ladies very attentive. read more

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This place is set in an adorable downtown Keyport area. The interior is causally elegant with dark wooden floor/walls and a relaxed ambiance. When we walked in, it was a little loud just because most of the tables were filled. We had an 8:3pm reservation on Saturday night. We decided to sit in the back in front of the kitchen as it was a little quieter. It's byob so brought some wine! Our waitress, Margaret, provided the specials/recommendations, expedient service and was very kind. She offered to take my boyfriend and my picture. We started with the Caesar saad and calamari. Chef Drew was nice enough to give us a complimentary Voodoo shrimp app which I highly recommend! The salad and calamari were great as well. I liked the southwestern flair with tortillas in Caesar salad. The l calamari was fresh and airy and loved the dipping sauces. My boyfriend and I both tried the scallop dish. So delicious!!! To finish we had a delectable espresso, coffee and the special strawberry chocolate cake for dessert. Outside the bathroom and around are many articles on the Chef and the restaurant. I only started reading a few and was already impressed by his work! Only makes sense for him to have such a cute restaurant with great staff and amazing food in his hometown of Keyport. read more

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Came here on a random weekday and the place was busy. Actually made a reservation over the phone to ensure a table. We were seated by the front door. I normally don't mind where I sit but they don't have a closed entry to keep the cold out so anytime someone left I got a huge draft. That's really the only negative thing I have to say. In to the food... it was delicious. We got an appetizer, entrees and dessert and all were very good. They have a lot of specials to choose from too. Btw this place is BYOB and they left you know when you're making a reservation so you can pick something up on the way if you want. I will definitely come back. read more

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Everything about this place is amazing! The vibes, the staff, the menu, and the fact it is byob. This was my second time coming here and just like the first, I can't wait to be able to come back. I really enjoy the fact the menu here changes. This time around, I got the duck (my first time having duck) and it was so crispy on the outside yet so tender on the inside. Duck is now being added to my repertoire. My friend got the pork chop and just like last time it was juicy and seasoned perfectly, and all the accoutrements went well with the flavor profile. Our appetizers were great, the shrimp was tender and the rice balls hot and steamy when they came out. For dessert, we got the sorbet/gelato which was refreshing to end the night with, and the bread pudding was just the right amount of chocolate. read more

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Great dinner spot, everything was fantastic! Definitely save room for the dessert, you won't be disappointed. read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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What a place! Tight seating and small menu but the cool performed dances during our entire expierence!

I had the Chicken Cordon Blue and oh myyy godddd --- it was mouth dropping fabulous. We also tasted many other items like the Jambalaya, shrimp & grits, short ribs, seafood special and the smoked pork chop. We enjoyed the burrito app, voodoo shrimp, jalepeno corn bread and the pork belly bites. It was ALL delicious!! Portions were plenty and service was excellent. It's a BYOB so bring your favorite drink and your appetite. Ambiance is great too. Very welcoming and cozy. You won't be disappointed. We'll definetly be back again! read more

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Food, Service excellent. Eating at Drew's is a unique dining experience everyone will enjoy. Definitely recommend. read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - Short Ribs - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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Service was great! They tume every course perfectly , even if your not drinking you do not feel rushed. They start with some warm rolls and butter. We then had a salad and the calamari both delish and great portion. Shared both. I had shrimp and Grits for my entree my husband had the shortribs. Both delish. We will be back. read more

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We started with the BEST voodoo shrimp EVER! Used a spoon to drink the sauce!! Ha!! We shared the fig glazed duck that was to die for. Cooked perfectly. Tender and delish. The sweet potato mash was amazing. The crawfish etouffee was exceptional. I don't normally give 5 stars but Drew's Bistro deserves only perfection. Say hi to a wonderfully spirits waitress, Margaret. read more

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We had made reservations in advance to celebrate a birthday. The location is close to the keyport bay, nice place to take a walk before or after if you are having dinner at this location. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. The space is modern with a twist of wood furnishings, simple black ceiling and lighting. It was spacious, clean and comfortable. Bread, butter, water and ice bucket for BYOB at our arrival. Most amazing dinner ever. We started with the seafood bisque soup, oysters, voodoo shrimp and escargot (my personal favorite for the best butter garlic blended flavors). Simply ammmmmmazing. For the main meals we went with the short ribs and crawfish etouffee. So good. Highly recommend all our choices but these for sure were great. Desert we went with cappuccino and the Apple beignets. So hot and fresh. Done perfectly. Our main waitress was sweet and checked on us often. Met all our needs and was pleasant when explaining the daily special dishes and desserts. We can not wait to come back !!!!! read more

I have had Drew's on my radar for 3 years, I finally made a visit and I was not disappointed. Reservations are a must, 2 week lead time is ample. The restaurant is decorated beautifully, while the brick walls add a warm ambiance. The open kitchen is a wonderful touch. Service is fantastic but not intrusive. The restaurant is BYOB The menu is Southern style with Many twists and turns. On this evening we ordered the Panzanella special salad and Voodoo Shrimp to start. Both are successful dishes. The Shrimp are cooked perfectly while I was hoping for more spice. The salad was perfectly dressed and the croutons were delicious. My wife had the shrimp and grits for an entree, very well executed with the lovely surprise of thick cut bacon on top. The scallop entree was enjoyed by one of our dining partners. I had the Blacked Rib eye and BBQ shrimp over Mashed Potatoes special, it was absolutely fantastic and a great value for $50 The meal was complete with Apple cider Beignets. I am looking forward to returning. read more

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Love Drew's! Everything is always a culinary experience! Our favorite server is Matt who goes over and above to make it a fantastic night! Can't say about how extraordinary everything always is! read more

What a great restaurant. I don't eat Cajun/creole but there were great items on the menu for me. Mac and cheese was some of the best I've had. Creamy as it gets. Dr. Pepper Short Ribs tender and juicy over creamy sweet potato mashed. Bread pudding was ehh. BYOB makes it even better. Nothing here is cheap but you pay for quality. Place needs some shades though as late sun beams through windows right in your eyes depending on where you've sat Bread basket to start is fantastic but cmon on charging for more bread. Tic tacky. Next is charging for tap water read more

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Excellent food, helpful staff,BYOB. My shrimp and grits were amazing and my wife loved her escargot. We declined dessert, but the waitress brought us a complimentary blueberry cake ice cream and it was too good to pass up. Reservations mandatory and parking can be challenging. Brick walls, so it can get noisy.. read more

Drews is just on another level. The food is just all superb service, friendly and very attentive. Everything from appetizers to dessert were perfection a true gem of a restaurant. Highly recommend! The ambience is also white linen if you want one of the best meals at the Jersey shore, Drew's is definitely the place. read more

An amazing meal. Everything was delicious and the service was great. The only possible negative is that it is a little loud if that matters to you. read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - Voodoo shrimp, mac and cheese - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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I really enjoyed the food enough to give it 4.5 stars even through service was really slow. Louisiana Cajun style cooking. Big portions. As a corn-lover, I came in the right time of the year to get corn in all 3 courses. We also missed the memo on BYOB. We had a late lunch, so didn't order too much to start. - Corn chowder with bacon was the soup of the day. Perfect, wasn't too creamy. Had a bit of spice. - Broiled oysters. Comes with 6. These were tiny oysters with bigger shells. Not too much meat. Mains: - Seared scallops with corn risotto. The most expensive dish on the menu, but came with 7 decent sized scallops. It was so delicious, especially the risotto made with local corn. It was worth the price. - Jambalaya. Big portion, very very spicy coming from people who don't shy away from spice. We were worried about someone coughing and sniffling by us but after we ate this, we think this was the culprit. - Shrimp and grits. Very flavorful. The shrimp and toppings were a great combo. - Crawfish and crab cakes. I didn't care as much for this - the edges were a little too well done of the bite I had. Dessert: - Jersey Corn Gelato: Not sure if the corn gelato is sold on its own, I would've gotten that. I didn't really care for the sweet corn waffle and whipped cream, but the waffle was not bad. The corn gelato was a star that shined on its own. - Beignets: Comes with 4 and is pretty standard NOLA style beignets. We were seated in the back and it was slow to take our orders, to then get our mains. I get it - times are tough. We tried to speed it up by asking for the dessert menu and placing our dessert order when we got our mains and asking for our check when we got our dessert. read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - Corn chowder, broiled oysters, corn gelato waffles, beignets - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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Drew's Bayshore Bistro is a gem in Keyport. There is an open kitchen concept and tables at the bay windows. The interior isn't anything crazy but it gets the job done as it is clean. The food will take you to a journey down south and this is where the fun begins. The voodoo shrimp is excellent especially the jalapeño corn bread that is at the bottom. Also tried a special which was a pate made with duck liver and applewood bacon. The dish was excellent when eaten with all the elements of the dish as it felt like a complete dish that touched sweet, salty, crunchy, and game. The Nashville Hot chicken has heat to it so if you are not one for hot food I wouldn't order it but if you are you will think it is not hot enough. Either way I found it to be a good dish. The Dr.Pepper Braised short rib was great as I enjoyed the jus and the sweet potatoes that the short rib was placed on. The short rib needs to be eaten with the jus or else it did not taste seasoned enough. I will go back here again and try different dishes from the menu. read more

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About last night... We were a group of 10 people for our monthly get together. Drew's has been on our radar for a few months now. They are a Cajun/creole restaurant. Which is quite rare for the area. It's a BYOB place and portions are huge. First off, you'll need those warm rolls at the beginning of your meal for your app's & entrees. Just to put out the heat later on. A popular app at our table was definitely the voodoo shrimp. I really can't do too spicy, so we shared the sweet potato & andouille empanada. It only comes with one and yes it had a little heat. She had the chicken cordon blue for her entree. While I chose the braised short ribs. They were outstanding. For our dessert, those apple cider beignets weren't hard to resist. If coming for a dinner, do make reservations two weeks out if possible.This place really isn't that big inside. Even the parking lot outside only holds around 10-12 cars.Price per person with a tip about $74. You will have leftovers the next day. USC#11 Enjoy read more

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Absolutely Delicious! If you want fresh great tasting quality food this is it! I went with my husband for our date night and we were impressed with the service, decor and food. We did not have reservations but they were able to accommodate us which was great. It's BYOB so you can drink your favorite drink along with your meal. I wish I took pics of their Asparagus soup and Beignets for desert as they were also so flavorful and delicious. We will definitely be going back. Enjoy! read more

Drew's Bayshore Bistro - Salmon Dish - New American Near Me - Keyport, New Jersey

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Have reviewed this restaurant multiple times previously. I NEVER had an poor dining experience over many years, in any of their three locations. That only thing that vexes me it is becoming hard to get a reservation.Chef Drew, his lovely wife and staff always strive to make your dining experiences great. PS We will be there again tomorrow night! read more

Looking for a cozy, seafood based menu, that has comfort food mixed with New Orleans influences? Then come stop into this establishment. It's tucked away in a small parking lot, with tinted windows, but the active and full parking lot are sure indications that this place is knows how to keep customers returning. I came here during covid, in 2021 and I recall it being BYOB, but they did offer to open and serve the table. The hosts were nice and warm upon entering, and the server was friendly too. I ordered New Orleans style broiled oysters; Nashville Hot Chicken, and some other seasonal items from that menu in February. I know it was all good, and I recommend this place! read more

Keyport's top spot for a fantastic meal with friends and family. The appetizers and desserts were jaw dropping and along with the outstanding service make this place an easy 5 stars. The entrees are also very large and you will most likely take some home for a tasty second meal! The atmosphere was also very comforting. Absolutely love this place and can't wait to come back! read more

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First time with family at Drew's Bayshore Bistro, Foods are amazing and so good! Definitely will back again Started with Mussels & Andouille - 9.5/10 Main Course - Pork Chop w/ risotto BBQ Sauce - 10/10 - Monkfish with tomato sauce - 9/10 Dessert - Warm Brownie Sundae - 7/10 *** Drew's Bayshore Bistro not offer alcoholic beverage, but you can bring your own wine and beer. read more

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My fiancee and I have seen a big billboard for Drew's on our way to her father's house several times, but it wasn't until a friend recommended it to me that I considered it. Mostly it was the delivery - our friend had lived all over the country, even on a cruise for a while, and he said this was his favorite restaurante, and that it had the best cajun food he's eaten outside of New Orleans (another place he's lived in). OK SOLD. He specifically recommended the shrimp and grits, which another coworker had also mentioned, but I don't like grits. I ordered the jambalaya, even noting the disclaimer that it was spicy - and they did not lie. It was spicy. But damn it banged. The real kicker? The missus opted for the shrimp and grits, despite her also not a big grits fan. We. Were. FLOORED. The shrimp and grits was savory, delicious, tons of fresh, meaty shrimp, as good as it was recommended. We said we would be back - and we both were getting shrimp and grits next time. Consider this four people giving this restaurant five stars. And y'know what? Try the shrimp and grits. read more

Wow, this place is amazing! First off, it's byob which is always a plus for me! They start off the meal with fresh warm rolls and delicious whipped butter, which we loved and wanted more of. As our app we had to get the famous voodoo shrimp which did not disappoint! We had the hot Nashville chicken and shrimp and grits which were both delicious. I will say they have a tiny parking lot but it is in the downtown area so there is some street parking if it is full. Definitely coming back to this great spot. read more

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I give 2 stars is mostly for the below: So it was a little awkward when I called earlier today to ask if I was to arrive earlier for my reservations would we be able to be seated because we were driving from bridgewater and traffic is horrible on a Friday so we left earlier to avoid the traffic. Response " if you come earlier we may be able to seat you but might not be able to serve you right away " when we arrived earlier we were seated we reviewed the some of the items on the menu I asked if we could place an order for appetizers response " we have to wait until the 5:30 reservations are all seated meanwhile it was slightly after 5:30 already and then was also told you have to place the entire order together. We were served our drinks and some rolls and waited a while before our actual order was taken . Now I don't know about you I like to space out my food especially when we are ordering a few appetizers and then each ordering a meal because you have to pay an extra $6 each to share entrees . Also the menu is not kid friendly so unless your child has an expanded palate this is not the place for kids. The 3 stars is for the food We started off with the grilled Ceasar salad which was interesting mix of flavors . I ordered the oysters because I have been to NOLA and I loved them when I went ( so slightly disappointed they only tasted like Parmesan cheese and not nearly as tasty as NOLA char grilled ones and the oysters weren't meaty enough). We also ordered the voodoo shrimp the sauce was delicious and the shrimp was cooked perfectly but I would have preferred the corn bread on the side . My daughter dipped her roll on the sauce she preferred it that way . Our main dishes came out shortly after we finished our appetizers which didn't give us much time to digest. I ordered the scallops which was delicious with the combination of Brussel sprouts and purée the scallops themselves lacked and flavor but luckily the purée made up for it. My husband ordered the pork chop which was a nice hunk of meat and cooked to perfection juicy ( it takes a lot of skill to keep moisture in the thick of a piece of meat) the mashed potatoes lacked any flavor my husband was looking for pepper but we didn't find any on the table. My eldest daughter ordered the shrimp and grits they were cheesy and had good texture but was expecting more with the flavor profile instead it was pretty salty. My youngest ordered the NY strip with fries and cauliflower . The fries were delicious ( reminded me of boardwalk fries ) the steak was cooked medium rare as requested but also lacked any flavor by itself they give you a sauce which was ok but in my book when you order a steak if it's seasoned well you don't need to serve it with a sauce . We ended the night with the beignets ( they didn't taste like apple only like cinnamon sugar) . I definitely had high hopes before I came here .Although the food was decent it was over slightly over priced in my book every entree was at least $28-$45 and appetizers were all $16-$18 except for the grilled salad $13 . I guess you will have to judge it yourself if you decide to give it a try. read more

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Everything from start to finish is just amazing!! Even better that we are local ! The only downside is it's hard to get a reservation read more

First time visiting their new space. We like, a lot. What wasn't new, was the continued excellence that emanates from Drew and his talented staff's kitchen. The E. Front St Salad, was just full of goodness, and enough for two. Swiss Chard, mixed greens, goat cheese were a great starter along with the Southern Calamari, which was so tender and buttery. The aoli dipping sauce, a winner. Entrees, had my wife choosing the broiled scallops in a spring pea risotto, with rainbow baby carrots. For me? I can never get enough of Drew's Voodoo Shrimp, and ordered it as an entree, with extra order of his signature corn bread. We left a little on our plate for room for dessert, as Drew does it all in the kitchen. Sumatra Coffee with a lemon creme brulee, capped a wonderful Anniversary dinner for us. Service remains solid and professional. It's just a wonderful dining experience, one of the best that can be had in Monmouth County. read more