ON THE DECK RESTAURANT AND BAR · YELP ASSISTANT
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We absolutely love On The Deck! Their ambience and set up is perfect with a wonderful view of the bay and city. Our servers are always kind and attentive and the pricing is very reasonable for the area. The food is seriously delicious- their crab claws are so fresh! Highly recommend trying the Sarti Spritz on their seasonal menu right now for something different to sip on
Went for dinner after a day on Sandy Hook. Place was packed which made it a tad noisy. We sat outside on the covered deck. I ordered a Hugo Spritz as a cocktail, my son and I split the fried calamari appetizer and he had salmon for dinner while I had shrimp tacos. Everything was very good. We'd definitely go back.
Lovely seafood restaurant with views of the waterfront, including an outdoor balcony overlooking the pier. The menu and specials change depending on the season, and I always love trying something different. During the holidays, they also have Christmas decorations, which makes the atmosphere feel all the more fun and festive. Food portions are generously sized, and I've always been satisfied with my meal. If you love lobster, the lobster bisque is super rich but a delicious starter with large chunks of lobster in it. The crab dip (seasonal item) is phenomenal - definitely great for sharing. My husband likes their fried flounder platter, which is like fish & chips but with an impressively large breaded flounder. Again, everything we've tried here has been good. The bar is also popular here and always fills up. Would love to come back in the summertime around sunset - it would be a beautiful spot!
Awesome location and great views of the waterfront! Came here for dinner on a weekend and we were able to get seated right away. Staff was friendly and service was prompt! We started off with the nachos as an appetizer, and then I got the sun burnt pasta for my main, with a side of mixed veggies. The pasta could have used a bit more of a punch, but I could doctor it up with red pepper/hot sauce. I wish there were more vegetarian entree options (they are a few sides and appetizers), but apart from that, it was great!
Sat at the bar to get some oysters! Bartenders were great but it did take about 15-20 mins for the oysters. 6 for $18 The oysters were on the bigger side and were really delicious! Good vibes
On the Deck is off the hook (AMAZING!!!!) a must try if you are in south Jersey. I have been here several times but while in NJ was wanting something warm on this cold dreary day. Today's special was "a hot honey chicken sandwich".....this should be in the menu every single day. Chicken reminded me of Cajun spice it was absolutely perfect, I wasn't sure if I would like the hot honey so I elected to have it on the side (pour it on) the sweet and crunchy spiced cutlet accompany each other nicely. The fries here are also the best with sea salt n a whisper of pepper right out of the deep fryer. The staff is also on point, helpful and friendly. They make the best lobster bisque soup and also the calamari is a sure fire option. There are bar seats, high top table seats or the traditional tables and if weather permits sit outside on the deck and enjoy the sea air and sun and the ever so tiny view of the manhattan skyline (this area is so far the skyline of NYC is about 3" wide lol.
Nice place with a great atmosphere and excellent service. The shrimp and clams were a little sandy but still tasted good. We ordered extra bread to dip in the sauce--yum! The clam chowder was delicious, and my husband enjoyed the blackened tuna. The only disappointment was the crab dip, which is why I gave 4 . It felt more like "Where's the crab?!" The bread was a bit chewy, and the dip was basically just a plate of cheese. Other than that, I'd definitely come back--just wouldn't order the crab dip again. The water with lemon great!
One of my favorite places. Food service and the views were great. I go there often even that it takes me 40 minutes to get there.
I enjoyed lunch at On the Deck. It was an extreme heat day, so dining inside was available. There was not a bad seat in the house. The bay view was clear and bright. We had the burrata appetizer. I chose fish and chips from my entrée. Honestly, the star of the show was the iced tea. It was rich and refreshing on this summer day.
Went in with a friend and we ordered Ruben sandwiches. There was no sauerkraut on him no island dressing some type of crazy dressing and the slices of meat was so thick. I thought I was eating a piece of ham. When we finished eating, we like to relax there was only six people in the restaurant at the time we were there and that was at 3:30 PM the waitress came over and handed us the bill and we said to her we'd like to have dessert so she took the Bill back with an attitude. She gave us the menu then we had to wait a good 18 minutes before she came back to ask us what we wanted for dessert and there was nobody there. She was not serving anybody. So we put in our dessert order with our coffees or teas and then when we were finished, she made us wait again to get our check. I don't remember her name and I don't have the receipt cause my friend paid for the dinner. I could understand if it was super busy, but there was like six people in there. That was it. It was a rainy day and I did take pictures of our sandwiches. I can tell you I will never go back there ever again .
Food is good but don't come here for a glass of wine. I ordered a bloody but it was too spicy for me, so I ordered a glass of wine, this isn't even half and it's prime time not happy hour.
***3 1/2 stars*** If you couldn't figure it out from the name, this is a quintessential North Jersey Shore establishment right on the water (I think it's technically Sandy Hook Bay versus out-and-out Atlantic Ocean, but close enough), and a perfect location for a midweek meal during a nasty heat wave. The Millennial Chum and I stopped by for lunch on Wednesday after losing half our body weight in sweat on a bike ride from Keyport. This is a pretty regular spot for her, but I've also been here once or twice before. It was hopping when we got there (we had to push past one or two families lingering by the entrance waiting for a table) but we managed to procure two of the few remaining spots at the bar island outside. The biggest issue by far here was understaffing. The bar area was teeming with people, and we both immediately noticed that there was only one bartender handling all of them, including nearby diners at the high-tops. Toward the latter half of the meal, I believe a busboy (definitely not a fellow bartender) came by to assist with the dishes/glasses), but the bartender was mostly on her own. I will say that when we interacted with her - and we always had to be proactive/aggressive in hailing her down - she was very professional. Even though she was clearly slammed, she kept it together, which is a tribute to her at least, but the restaurant itself really should have had that area fully staffed. That said, the only significant delay we really had was at the beginning when we wanted to order food; everything came relatively quickly in the grand scheme of things. I'd been keeping very well hydrated during our bike ride due to an excellent water pouch, so I ordered a guilt-free cocktail - the Mermaid Juice, which felt like the appropriate beverage for where we were. As you can see from the attached, it's blue as one would expect, and it was legit boozy, which was a pleasant surprise. I think one of the reasons I've steered away from rum-based cocktails (besides the fact that I'm not 21 anymore) is because it tends to just be a sugary juice drink. That's not this. It's definitely not a drink I'd get on a regular basis, but for the early summer right by the water? Yeah. Doing it. Well made for what it was. I was also a fan of the Broiled Seafood Platter for the most part. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The only section I wasn't crazy about (and this is a palate issue that I literally confirmed in the moment) was the scallops. I think they're just a LITTLE too briney/fishy for me. I don't mean that it was bad seafood at all though - taste and texture-wise, it's just not my jam. I like a lot of seafood, but oysters and now scallops are on the other end of the spectrum for me. Hopefully that makes sense. I thought the shrimp and flounder were quite good though, and I was surprisingly in love with the jasmine rice. That's another palate discovery for me; most people would probably say it was too soft/overcooked, but I was really into it and I'd honestly say it was the highlight of the platter for me. The breakdown of the patrons here was interesting. I would have expected at least a few tourists on a super nice holiday like this, but it felt like close to 100% of the clientele was locals. In that regard, this might be a more under-the-radar place where you're at least not contending with random Sandy Hook visitors as much as nearby Jersey Shore residents relaxing and enjoying that view. Not a bad spot at all; hopefully they're more proactive in the future at keeping that bar fully staffed.
Best family restaurant experience we have had in years. Kids orders came fast, perfectly portioned and we never had to ask for anything. Our server knew to have sharing plates, extra napkins, ketchup (lol) . The view is stellar and is perfect for distracting toddlers. Espresso martini is perfect! (What a surprise!) not too sweet and tasted like real coffee was used. Crab cakes are consistently delicious with remoulade that will make you want to drink it. Fish sandwich hits everytime and always always order the calamari for appetizer. Consistent, swift, tasty, and service is perfect for young families. read more
3.5 stars I had seen pictures of On the Deck courtesy of a few friends that had been to the restaurant and bar on the harbor. It always looked like such a cool place, and I had been really interested in checking it out. I finally made it there the other day, after a brief afternoon at a local beach. When we arrived around 6:30 pm on that Friday evening, we could see that the back deck was very full and that the parking lot was also close to capacity. We were able to, thankfully, grab a spot and walked over to the restaurant, climbing the stairs to the second floor where we met the hostess. We were told that the wait for outdoor seating was 40-minutes, while indoors was 30-minutes. Glancing around, the inside dining room was casual and nautically-themed. The tables and bar were bustling. The balcony was just as busy, but offered live music, so we determined that it would be worth waiting the additional time and added our name to the list. In the meantime, we decided to hang by the outdoor bar but were unable find a spot. Thankfully, a duo was vacating one of the few high-top tables in the bar section, which were first-come, first-serve. We grabbed that table and settled in to watch the beautiful sunset over the boats docked in the harbor. The staff and the few patrons we encountered during our visit were all very friendly, which only emphasized the laidback vibe of the waterside venue. The food, however, was mediocre at best. When our dinner was delivered, we did not receive any silverware, so we had to grab that from the bar, which was also from where we had placed our order. I had requested the Pan-Seared Salmon, which was well-cooked and served with thin stalks of asparagus, dry jasmine rice, and a huge amount of buttery garlic herb sauce. It made sense that the fish was served in a bowl, because there was so much greasy butter that it would have leaked all over if it was on a flat plate. Thankfully, the bartender had given me a few side plates, so I was able to move my food out of the oily bowl. My friend also had some issues with her meal. Her cup of New England Clam Chowder was flavorful, but watery and mostly broth. Her Fried Flounder Sandwich was heavily breaded and served with an unripe tomato and mushy, oily fries. From a beverage perspective, they had surprisingly interesting cocktails, but I was thrilled to see my favorite beer, Kane Head High, on tap. We simply loved the view, live acoustic tunes from P.D. Brody, and the overall relaxing atmosphere. However, we felt that the food could have been better executed. The menu offered all kinds of seafood and higher-end bar food, but the preparation left something to be desired. read more
2 months ago
We absolutely love On The Deck! Their ambience and set up is perfect with a wonderful view of the bay and city. Our servers are always kind and attentive and the pricing is very reasonable for the area. The food is seriously delicious- their crab claws are so fresh! Highly recommend trying the Sarti Spritz on their seasonal menu right now for something different to sip on read more
Went for dinner after a day on Sandy Hook. Place was packed which made it a tad noisy. We sat outside on the covered deck. I ordered a Hugo Spritz as a cocktail, my son and I split the fried calamari appetizer and he had salmon for dinner while I had shrimp tacos. Everything was very good. We'd definitely go back. read more
Lovely seafood restaurant with views of the waterfront, including an outdoor balcony overlooking the pier. The menu and specials change depending on the season, and I always love trying something different. During the holidays, they also have Christmas decorations, which makes the atmosphere feel all the more fun and festive. Food portions are generously sized, and I've always been satisfied with my meal. If you love lobster, the lobster bisque is super rich but a delicious starter with large chunks of lobster in it. The crab dip (seasonal item) is phenomenal - definitely great for sharing. My husband likes their fried flounder platter, which is like fish & chips but with an impressively large breaded flounder. Again, everything we've tried here has been good. The bar is also popular here and always fills up. Would love to come back in the summertime around sunset - it would be a beautiful spot! read more
28 days ago
Awesome location and great views of the waterfront! Came here for dinner on a weekend and we were able to get seated right away. Staff was friendly and service was prompt! We started off with the nachos as an appetizer, and then I got the sun burnt pasta for my main, with a side of mixed veggies. The pasta could have used a bit more of a punch, but I could doctor it up with red pepper/hot sauce. I wish there were more vegetarian entree options (they are a few sides and appetizers), but apart from that, it was great! read more
1 month ago
On the Deck is off the hook (AMAZING!!!!) a must try if you are in south Jersey. I have been here several times but while in NJ was wanting something warm on this cold dreary day. Today's special was "a hot honey chicken sandwich".....this should be in the menu every single day. Chicken reminded me of Cajun spice it was absolutely perfect, I wasn't sure if I would like the hot honey so I elected to have it on the side (pour it on) the sweet and crunchy spiced cutlet accompany each other nicely. The fries here are also the best with sea salt n a whisper of pepper right out of the deep fryer. The staff is also on point, helpful and friendly. They make the best lobster bisque soup and also the calamari is a sure fire option. There are bar seats, high top table seats or the traditional tables and if weather permits sit outside on the deck and enjoy the sea air and sun and the ever so tiny view of the manhattan skyline (this area is so far the skyline of NYC is about 3" wide lol. read more
1 year ago
Nice place with a great atmosphere and excellent service. The shrimp and clams were a little sandy but still tasted good. We ordered extra bread to dip in the sauce--yum! The clam chowder was delicious, and my husband enjoyed the blackened tuna. The only disappointment was the crab dip, which is why I gave 4 . It felt more like "Where's the crab?!" The bread was a bit chewy, and the dip was basically just a plate of cheese. Other than that, I'd definitely come back--just wouldn't order the crab dip again. The water with lemon great! read more
8 months ago
One of my favorite places. Food service and the views were great. I go there often even that it takes me 40 minutes to get there. read more
1 year ago
I enjoyed lunch at On the Deck. It was an extreme heat day, so dining inside was available. There was not a bad seat in the house. The bay view was clear and bright. We had the burrata appetizer. I chose fish and chips from my entrée. Honestly, the star of the show was the iced tea. It was rich and refreshing on this summer day. read more
7 months ago
Went in with a friend and we ordered Ruben sandwiches. There was no sauerkraut on him no island dressing some type of crazy dressing and the slices of meat was so thick. I thought I was eating a piece of ham. When we finished eating, we like to relax there was only six people in the restaurant at the time we were there and that was at 3:30 PM the waitress came over and handed us the bill and we said to her we'd like to have dessert so she took the Bill back with an attitude. She gave us the menu then we had to wait a good 18 minutes before she came back to ask us what we wanted for dessert and there was nobody there. She was not serving anybody. So we put in our dessert order with our coffees or teas and then when we were finished, she made us wait again to get our check. I don't remember her name and I don't have the receipt cause my friend paid for the dinner. I could understand if it was super busy, but there was like six people in there. That was it. It was a rainy day and I did take pictures of our sandwiches. I can tell you I will never go back there ever again . read more
4 months ago
11 months ago
Food is good but don't come here for a glass of wine. I ordered a bloody but it was too spicy for me, so I ordered a glass of wine, this isn't even half and it's prime time not happy hour. read more
***3 1/2 stars*** If you couldn't figure it out from the name, this is a quintessential North Jersey Shore establishment right on the water (I think it's technically Sandy Hook Bay versus out-and-out Atlantic Ocean, but close enough), and a perfect location for a midweek meal during a nasty heat wave. The Millennial Chum and I stopped by for lunch on Wednesday after losing half our body weight in sweat on a bike ride from Keyport. This is a pretty regular spot for her, but I've also been here once or twice before. It was hopping when we got there (we had to push past one or two families lingering by the entrance waiting for a table) but we managed to procure two of the few remaining spots at the bar island outside. The biggest issue by far here was understaffing. The bar area was teeming with people, and we both immediately noticed that there was only one bartender handling all of them, including nearby diners at the high-tops. Toward the latter half of the meal, I believe a busboy (definitely not a fellow bartender) came by to assist with the dishes/glasses), but the bartender was mostly on her own. I will say that when we interacted with her - and we always had to be proactive/aggressive in hailing her down - she was very professional. Even though she was clearly slammed, she kept it together, which is a tribute to her at least, but the restaurant itself really should have had that area fully staffed. That said, the only significant delay we really had was at the beginning when we wanted to order food; everything came relatively quickly in the grand scheme of things. I'd been keeping very well hydrated during our bike ride due to an excellent water pouch, so I ordered a guilt-free cocktail - the Mermaid Juice, which felt like the appropriate beverage for where we were. As you can see from the attached, it's blue as one would expect, and it was legit boozy, which was a pleasant surprise. I think one of the reasons I've steered away from rum-based cocktails (besides the fact that I'm not 21 anymore) is because it tends to just be a sugary juice drink. That's not this. It's definitely not a drink I'd get on a regular basis, but for the early summer right by the water? Yeah. Doing it. Well made for what it was. I was also a fan of the Broiled Seafood Platter for the most part. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The only section I wasn't crazy about (and this is a palate issue that I literally confirmed in the moment) was the scallops. I think they're just a LITTLE too briney/fishy for me. I don't mean that it was bad seafood at all though - taste and texture-wise, it's just not my jam. I like a lot of seafood, but oysters and now scallops are on the other end of the spectrum for me. Hopefully that makes sense. I thought the shrimp and flounder were quite good though, and I was surprisingly in love with the jasmine rice. That's another palate discovery for me; most people would probably say it was too soft/overcooked, but I was really into it and I'd honestly say it was the highlight of the platter for me. The breakdown of the patrons here was interesting. I would have expected at least a few tourists on a super nice holiday like this, but it felt like close to 100% of the clientele was locals. In that regard, this might be a more under-the-radar place where you're at least not contending with random Sandy Hook visitors as much as nearby Jersey Shore residents relaxing and enjoying that view. Not a bad spot at all; hopefully they're more proactive in the future at keeping that bar fully staffed. read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
We were met with smiles at the open of the resturant. Bartender friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed our time on the deck resturant and food was tasty and well cooked. Views of the ocean were so nice because the entire area is lined with windows. Bright and airy bar area with high top tables. Plenty of leg and arm room. Highly recommend! I will be back to try it on a warmer day in the summer. read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
1 year ago
The restaurant has covered outdoor seating with shade and nice views of the water. The staff is young but friendly. Typical Jersey Shore seafood bar/restaurant. The Lobster Bisque was absolutely delicious, not too salty, nice and creamy, with lots of actual lobster pieces in it. The shrimp cocktail was fresh and a nice size. The broiled seafood platter was nothing special but was fresh. The Lobster Roll was huge! Had nice amount of meat and was on a large kaiser roll. I would definitely come back. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Love this place good food friendly staff good drinks and over looking the water what more could you ask for. And when the weather is nice you can eat on the deck read more
2 years ago
Seafood restaurant with very few seafood options. My friends and I were met with terrible treatment from our waitress and bartender. Originally came here expecting a chill last minute lunch for my friends birthday and left with complete drama from staff. Do better this place sucks besides my burger which was good but scallops were overpriced and bland. Don't order them. The staff is miserable. You know who you are ladies! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
I had high hopes for this restaurant since I haven't been in over 5 years and I didn't remember it being so good but thought I'd give it a try. I also normally don't post bad experiences but this one is an exception since we all felt sick immediately. We all had the New England clam chowder which tasted somewhat decent. When we asked the waitress what she recommended she said the seafood pasta was excellent. It was far from it. It had zero taste and the pasta was overcooked. I ordered the special surf and turf. It looked impressive but there were only 3 tiny filet medallions hiding under all those steak fries and onion straws which were the only things that tasted good. My dad ordered the broiled seafood platter. It was skimpy and bland. The one at the Shrimp Box and at Spikes were way better. We also ordered the sangria. All juice totally watered down at $12 a drink. Our bill for 3 bill with tip was $200. Not worth one penny. Also note worth is as soon as our food came out it was accompanied by fruit flies. Stay away. read more
2 years ago
Perfect spot for a cold beer and good food after a day in the sun. Completely covered outdoor bar on second floor which provides a great view of the marina. Took a walk to look at some beautiful boats docked there to walk off our meal. Ive also been here in the fall and the outside bar has heaters overhead to keep the chill away and stretch out the NJ summer read more
2 years ago
One of our favorite restaurants! Great atmosphere and so relaxing by the water. My absolute favorite is the lobster roll! It's large with a ton of lobster meat. Some other favorites: French onion soup, lobster bisque, fried calamari, On The Deck pasta, crab cake sandwich, balsamic chicken sandwich. My favorite cocktail is the Mermaid Water. These favorites never disappoint! & for dessert be sure to go to Nicholas Creamery on First Ave (walking distance from On The Deck) for some of the best ice cream! read more
On The Deck and Bar is on the Mark for Drinks, Food, Service and NY View! About two weeks ago, a friend and I stopped in for drinks and light fare on a chilly Sunday afternoon. We sat outside "On the deck" and had a wonderful view of New York. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We started out with a beer and Keitel one with cranberry. Appetizers consisted of a very creamy Lobster bisque, Lobster salad in an Avocado with Tostitos and a large Crabcake with tartar sauce. All the seafood was very good! The Restaurant does abide by strict Covid guidelines: servers wear masks, dining capacity is limited, hand sanitizers are all around, QR scanned menus etc.... On The Deck is a nice casual place to stop in. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Lobster bisque is good and has actual lobster claws, but a bit on the salty side, Calamari needs some seasoning, the service is pretty good and fast place was busy but the food came quickly. Good area and the ambience was great, location is nice by the water overall the experience is good, will recommend to friends, read more
The view gets 4 stars and the food, since I only had soup and salad only gets 3 stars. I would like to find this place again in the warmer weather and try some wider selection. My associate had the Tuna Tacos which looked pretty good, and that's exactly how he described them. Just good. Can w Fries. Soup was nice and hot. read more
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More info about On The Deck Restaurant and Bar
10 Simon Lake Dr
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
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(732) 872-1424
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http://www.onthedeckrestaurant.com
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