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On The Deck Restaurant and Bar

3.6 (294 reviews)
ModerateSeafood, Bars, American
Open • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

On The Deck Restaurant and Bar Photos

ON THE DECK RESTAURANT AND BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Live music
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - On The Deck Restaurant and Bar

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Dirty martini & seasonal cocktail
Katiemay T.

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

Salmon
Cheryl S.

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.

Selena Y.

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!

Grouper wrap

We love coming here, nice happy hour, food is great, service is great. Views are amazing

Pri W.

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!

Oysters
Sue S.

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

Hot honey buttermilk chicken sandwich is SUPERB
Brenda C.

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 view!
Carmen M.

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!

Tuna appetizer
Erik M.

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.

Burrata appetizer
Yolanda H.

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.

The Ruben sandwich, bread stale, no thousand island dressing nor sauerkraut. Meat was so thick, I thought I was eating ham.

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 was good and came out fast. Ordered a bloody but was too spicy for me, so I ordered a glass of wine. This is less than half.
Carrie D.

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.

Broiled Seafood Platter.
Emma G.

***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.

Mussels in white wine and garlic sauce

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Reviews are mixed. Many praise the friendly and attentive staff, waterfront views and atmosphere, and seafood dishes and appetizers. Drinks also receive positive mention.

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

Beautiful views, excellent food, Great Service, helped us with the right decisions on our food choices.

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11 months ago

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6 months ago

Never disappoints. Good food and drinks with great views of the marina. Outdoor bar open when weather permits.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Limited menus. Local crowd. We had a couple of drinks & clam chowder that was good. If I'm in the area, I'd go back. We were cruising by.

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Went on a date night to Proving Ground on a beautiful summer night…read more We started with some sushi getting the shrimp tempura roll. It was delicious I was surprised they even had sushi. For mains we ordered the truffle mac and cheese and the steak sandwich. The steak sandwich was on garlic break, the steak was cooked perfectly and the added fries were a plus. The mac and cheese was also delicious not overly cheesy just an all around good meal. Definitely worth checking out we sat outside and admired the boats and sunset. The food came out quick and hot. Service was polite and genuine.

I'm not usually a fan of dishes with a lot of tomato sauce, and unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this…read moreentrée as much as I had hoped. Maybe I misunderstood the description, but I expected the Creole flavors to come through more. Instead, the dish tasted heavily of tomato and seemed to be missing some of the additional seasonings I was expecting. The orzo was also overcooked, which made it very soft and easy to break apart. That said, the lobster bisque was absolutely divine, and the fries were perfectly crunchy. Despite my meal not being my favorite, the restaurant itself is beautiful. It was pouring outside during my visit, but the waitress was incredibly kind and attentive, which definitely added to the experience. I would still love to return and try some of the other items on the menu. I especially want to experience their outdoor seating--it looks absolutely gorgeous with the lighting! Overall, it's a beautiful restaurant with a lovely atmosphere, and I'm looking forward to giving it another try.

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Bahrs Landing Restaurant

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I have selected Bahrs Landing as my yearly visit for Soft Shell Crab (most commonly blue crabs that…read morehave recently molted their hard outer shell to grow. Caught immediately after shedding, the entire crab can be eaten...shell and all. They offer an intensely sweet, rich flavor and a delicate, crispy texture when cooked). Bahr's Landing prepares this sautéed crab with capers, mushrooms, lemon & butter, mashed potatoes and vegetables. My go-to appetizer is always the Grilled Cauliflower (Topped with tomato pesto, quinoa, and wild rice blend). The crispness of the cauliflower....brushed through the surrounding ingredients.....makes this the perfect starter. Aside from enjoying the mouth-watering food, you'll also feel as if you're dining on a ship, have great views of the pier, water, and the bridge leading into Sandy Hook Beach. Don't forget to visit their gift shop and view all of the maritime decor and beautiful woodwork.

What a disappointment...been living in Monmouth County for over 45yrs...for most those years, my…read morefamily has dined here numerous times. Most recently, my older daughter, after college, married a young man from Long Island and moved there. My son-in-law and I have a friendly banter regarding who has the better seafood. They visited for the week and prior to them heading back to LI, I recommended going out to Bahrs, before they get on the parkway...easy and to prove my point, who has the better seafood...well, needless to say...my point was mute. First, let me set the stage, it's 4 adults and 3 children (7,5,3)....ordered steamers, mug of NE chowder, calamari, Caesar salad, linguine w/clam, kids cheese burger, pasta with butter, side of meatballs, fried founder and a Lava cake (baby girls bday-they were out of) replace it with a couple of scoops of ice cream...with a candle (best part). Mug of Chowder- $13 came out cold Caesar Salad- $15 couple of pieces of romaine, wishbone is a better dressing Linguine w/clam- $29 sauce was so think, uneatable (gave enough clams) still couldn't eat it Calamari- $17, only rings and rubbery, Costco has better frozen Kids cheeseburgers- $14.50 each, 4oz burgers It was a slider at best...no taste Pasta with butter- $14.50 dry, forgot the butter Steamers- $27....sandy and rubbery What has happened to this place...staff is summer help...inexperienced...it's not the fault of the help, it's the fault of the owners and management. For the record, we didn't complain to our waitress..it's not her fault. We tip her 25%, (my children worked locally, during the summers, not at Bahrs) Bill was over $300 with drinks...I'd rather spend that where I can get quality. There are many more options...guessing location plays a part...but, I'm a local and not a tourist. Sorry Bahrs, not returning......

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Murphy's Tavern

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4.7(30 reviews)
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First off, this is NOT a dive bar... it's a SPEAKEASY! That said, let's keep this place a secret…read morebetween you and I.... because it will lose it's charm otherwise! Don't let the "basement bar" concept scare you away. Murphy's Tavern dates all the way back to the Prohibition Era (originally opened by Mary Murphy) and even though drinking is back in business with the 21st amendment, the concept of the intimate space to mingle, drink, and socialize is still there. The owner (not the original, but through generations, has kept the Speakeasy vibe going since the 1920s) runs the show. He's an older gentleman with smokey grey hair and bar tends, busses, and let's you finish every drop of alcohol you want- until 2AM! Then, bam, the light's brighten, and it's closing time! Don't worry, though, he blinks the lights around 1:45 for last call! He is also very personable, relaxed, and makes a mean old fashioned! What is great about this place is it really does transport you back in time. The drinks to order here are the classics, strong liquor, high end cocktails, or beer! Side cars, Manhattans, an old fashioned, etc. Single malt scotch. Whiskey, neat. You can also order beer or a vodka soda, or even a club soda. Prices are reasonable. There is ONE TV in the place. It's refreshing. This is the type of space where you actually TALK to your friends or make new ones. You can also play a variety of games. Darts, shuffle board, or the jukebox (it is modernized and takes dollar bills). Age groups ranged anywhere from 25 to 65. Pleasant crowd. Amazing Place. Classy. If you want to check it out, just keep an eye out. The sign is small, but it's there, and it's real! "Prohibition only drives drunkenness behind doors and into dark places..." Mark Twain SHHHHH!!! (see you there!)

There are few places left that still carry the quiet pulse of history. Murphy's Tavern is one of…read morethem. You walk down the old steps and the air changes cooler, darker, with the scent of wood and whiskey soaked into the walls. It feels honest, like a place built for men and women who have seen enough of the world to appreciate something simple and true. The story on the wall tells of Prohibition and rumrunners, of Mary Murphy and the river that once hid her secrets. You can still feel that in the glass you hold. The On a Yacht bourbon cocktail has the right burn, softened with mint and peach, the kind that lingers like a good memory. The Blackberry Bramble is bright and sharp, a summer night in a tumbler. You don't come to Murphy's for polish or pretense. You come because it feels alive, because the ghosts of the past sit quietly beside you, raising a glass in approval. A tavern like this doesn't chase the world it waits for those who still know how to listen.

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Murphy's Tavern
Murphy's Tavern - Whiskey, old fashion, vodka soda

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Saltwater Bar and Kitchen by Big Mike

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Came here to watch the final Knicks game and was surprised to see it rather empty. This place needs…read moreto be put on the map! It is super clean and weep kept open bar. Mia one of the bartenders is so friendly and hospitable! Making conversation and recommendations. They have a good craft beer selection. The wings with Cajun dry rub were amazing !! So crispy and flavorful. Pizza good too.

We were looking to go for dinner and after reading reviews and seeing that they had a reservation…read morewe ended up here. Wasn't sure what to expect. Super casual place, nothing fancy with many people sitting at the bar. They had some high top tables that were quite small, she the booth was some leather cushion to sit on and we ended up there. The upstairs seemed kinda boring and we wanted to be around people. I do think they need bigger tables for the high tops. We were greeted right away. The service was not amazing, not sure if they were understaffed but we weren't in a major rush so it was fine. I got the citrus crush which wasn't bad, slightly earthy tasting. It was served in a normal glass, which didn't make it as visually appealing but it tasted fine. We got the Thai chili wings which were underwhelming and I wish we got them cooked more well done. Now the star of the show was the tuna tartar. The crispy rice was awesome and so enjoyable. For our main, we for the skirt steak lo mein which came out a little undercooked for our preference, but they brought it back. It was really enjoyable and cooked much more to our liking. If we were in the area would come back and get those items.

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Saltwater Bar and Kitchen by Big Mike
Saltwater Bar and Kitchen by Big Mike
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On The Deck Restaurant and Bar - seafood - Updated November 2026

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