Food: Tasty burrata with the tomato compote; delicious crispy halibut with whipped potatoes;…read moreflavorful braised short rib au vin; ample amount of broccolini; no extra fee for subbing sides Service: Very accommodating, friendly, attentive Ambiance: clean, good vibes; tiny hole in the wall bathrooms; spacious parking

We chose Nicholas Barrel & Roost based on the menu and an almost 4 star rating on Yelp with over…read more500 reviews. The halibut caught my eye immediately; I'm a sucker for a perfectly prepared piece of halibut or a great pork chop, and since my partner doesn't eat meat it made for an easy share. Earlier in the day, a couple of women at our hotel bar mentioned the chef had trained at Jean-Georges in Manhattan, which only added to our anticipation. It wasn't until we got back to the hotel after dinner and did a little reading that we learned just how decorated Harary really is; his Restaurant Nicholas held Zagat's top spot in New Jersey for 15 consecutive years and earned a 4-star New York Times review. That context made our middling meal sting just a little more. We started with the bread service and the beet salad. The bread itself was baked beautifully, but the butter and ricotta accompanying it were completely flavorless. My partner and I are not salt-at-the-table people; we trust that seasoning happened in the kitchen. This was the first time in recent memory that we actually reached for the salt shaker. Not a great sign. The beet salad should have been a showstopper. Beets, when done right, can carry an entire dish on their own. Instead, they were buried under an avalanche of arugula. Don't get me wrong, arugula is one of my favorite greens; that peppery bite and beautiful texture are hard to beat, but here it was doing all the heavy lifting while the beets sat underneath doing nothing. We'd eaten most of the salad before we even noticed the sunflower seeds and a smear of mascarpone hiding on the bottom of the bowl. That mascarpone, gently flaked on top with the seeds scattered over it to catch in the folds, could have made this dish genuinely memorable. The gorgeous candy-striped radishes were a lovely visual touch, but they were raw, undressed slices with no seasoning, no acid, no pickling. Beautiful to look at; an afterthought to eat. The whole salad felt that way, honestly. For our main, we shared the Panko Crusted Halibut with bok choy and smoked shallot velouté. The sauce was the star; the smoke level was dialed in perfectly, present in all the right ways without overpowering everything else. The wild mushrooms were lovely, but the dish needed something to break up the texture. The bok choy brought good flavor, but it mirrored the mushrooms so closely that each bite started to blur together. Something crispy, something sharp, would have elevated the whole thing considerably. The fish itself was cooked well; firm, flakey, and not dried out. The panko crust was gorgeous to look at but could have been crispier. Based on its beautiful golden color, it looked like it had more crunch than it actually delivered. The cocktails were a genuine highlight. An old fashioned made with 1792 and a Black Manhattan, both well-crafted and the clearest bright spots of the evening. The three people behind the bar were another highlight. Expedient, attentive, never rushing anyone, and willing to make easy conversation without being intrusive. That is exactly what you want from people working a good bar. The ambiance, though, was confusing. The space seemed to pull in two directions at once; it wanted to feel upscale but also like a sports bar, and it never fully committed to either. Three small TVs tucked into the corners would have been fine. The oversized screen mounted prominently on the wall was intrusive and clashed hard with any sense of elevated dining. The music was classic rock, which I enjoy, but it read as wrong for the room and was a tad too loud. The music for this type of setting should be something to just add some ambiance, not for people to shout-sing too like you've had too many beers at a dive karaoke bar, which I love by the way, this was just not that kind of place. Those same women from the hotel bar had also warned us it could get loud and obnoxious in there. We figured we'd take our chances. We probably should have listened. With the legacy behind this place, the potential is clearly there. The bar staff gets it. Now the kitchen and the room just need to catch up.

The food was great. I got the grilled chicken wrap and we got corn nuggets and cheese fries…read more However, my husband ordered the regular steak sandwich and I guess the waiter misheard him and brought him Dads steak sandwich and that was very thick and had a lot of fat on it. My husband does not like that kind of meat . The service was OK. I just wish that the waiter would've asked if he could change the sandwich for us when we informed him that it was the wrong sandwich other than that the place was beautiful inside and the food was delicious.!

Was looking for a place for dinner at prime time in Red Bank on a Saturday night. Should have had…read morea clue from the fact that while all other places were booked up, this place had lots of room. Though the menu is basically Italian, it had elements of fusion cooking. Talking to our waiter, he steered me to the fusion dishes which he said were his favorite. Though portions were large, the food was underseasoned. Maybe the Italian dishes are better

I'm giving it a 5 stars Bec the service was awesome. Our server was very attentive and constantly…read morechecks on us. The meatballs was very tender , well balanced with the tomato sauce that's not too acidic. The sauce was not heavy at all and I love the fresh basil. The chicken parm , which I don't normally order was recommended by the server and did not disappoint. It was tender, moist chicken cutlet with crispy, flavorful breading, balanced by a vibrant, not too salty or acidic marinara sauce and, melted mozzarella, served with rigatoni. The desserts we got were super delicious and not too sweet. We had a 5 pm reservation and was able to self park on their lot.

4.75 for high quality food that is just missing that exceptional wow factor to push it to 5 stars…read more Service was timely, friendly and had a warm feeling. Ambiance was casual with families, couples, etc. There is a good amount of seating inside but reservations are highly recommended. 1. Wine list - Huge huge Italian wine list with smaller names and unfamiliar names. Did my research and got a bottle of rosso montalcino ($69) which was excellent to pair 2. Meatballs - tender, doesn't fully fall apart but light and almost melts in your mouth. Sauce is light but full of flavor 3. Eggplant parm - not spicy even though supposed to be spicy rigatoni with it. Huge portion. Took half home. Pasta was delicious with enough sauce and al denté as I like 4. Tiramisu - one of the better ones I've had. Not alcoholic. Moist and excellent balance of layers. Shaved chocolate on top is a nice touch 5. Chocolate torte - deliciously creamy and lighter than I thought. Full chocolate flavor. Comes with a fior di latte gelato which was high quality. Overall an excellent high quality Italian dinner. No wonder why it's hard to get weekend reservations. Highly recommended and will definitely be back when in Red Bank and craving Italian.

Great place to spend time with friends, enjoy the view of the water, and pick from a yummy and…read morevaried menu. Great service, too!

We have eaten lots of meals prepared by Chef Alberto @ The Range. The food is always fresh and…read moredelicious. He catered my 50th birthday- the guests raved about the food!

The food, the service, the atmosphere is truly amazing. You won't be disappointed, this place is…read moreworth a visit, you will thank me as you go back for more and more.

Great outdoor dining perfect for the summer. Enjoyed the hummus and guacamole platter and a…read moredelicious homemade veggie burger packed with fresh vegetables. Fast and friendly staff made for an enjoyable afternoon

My family and I just had dinner at Robinson Ale House, and I have to say -- we were pleasantly…read moresurprised. We almost didn't go because of the 3.5-star rating, but the space looked promising and the menu caught our attention. I'm so glad we trusted our instincts. The decor is beautiful -- calm, cozy, and upscale without feeling stuffy. It has that warm, polished vibe that makes you want to settle in and actually enjoy your meal instead of feeling rushed. Our server, Devin, was fantastic. He was attentive, friendly, and genuinely kind. He checked in at the right times, answered all our questions, and made the whole experience feel easy and relaxed. And the food? Absolutely delicious. My family and I are pretty picky about our meats, which is one of the reasons we usually prefer eating at home. Everything tasted fresh and well-prepared -- flavorful without being overdone. You can tell care went into the quality. Overall, it was such a great experience. Definitely exceeded our expectations, and we'll be back.

Classic spot in downtown Red Bank! Great to hangout and catch up with friends. Service was friendly…read moreand prompt and the overall vibe was great (even better in the summer). The food was average/ good, just about what I expected! I got the rigatoni vodka and I wish it was a bit more flavorful, but you're probably better off getting a burger at a spot like this. Will be back to try more!

My husband and I were in red bank and decided to try out this branch. We frequent the branch in New…read moreBrunswick and love their happy hour. There is a parking lot across the street you can park at so no need to worry about street parking. The first thing I noticed was that this location was much smaller than the New Brunswick location and had a more chill vibe. I thought the happy hour menu had less selection as well. I was low-key disappointed there were no clams or oysters on the menu considering we are much closer to the shoreline. My husband loved his smashburger, it was very juicy. He also enjoyed the sweet potato fries which he normally doesn't like. My wings have the perfect amount of sauce where it didn't drown the wing and it was still a big crispy. We were in and out within the hour so service was fast on a Tuesday night. But I think we are going to stick with the New Brunswick branch.

We chose B2 Bistro in Red Bank to enjoy their Tuesday Taco night. Despite the fact that this…read moreSpecial offering is listed on their website, we were told that those prices were no longer in effect and would not be honored! (Is that legal? It's certainly not ethical!) We were charged approx TWICE as much for the Website listed 'Special' tacos! They certainly were special-E'special'ly expensive! We asked to speak with the manager who indicated that she didn't even know that this 'Special' was still on their website. At that point (and in good faith), she should have offered us something as compensation! When told that they do not carry a common beverage-BLUE MOON, the waitress suggested giving me a similar beer and offered a 'taste test'. I could not tell if I liked the sample cause the shot glass had SO LITTLE beer in it-offering me NO TASTE at all. We also ordered chips, plantains, and salsa as an appetizer. For the cost of $14.00, I assumed it would contain enough chips for three people and might even be an unlimited supply. There were approx 15 chips on the plate and 6 plantains-which were tasteless. But think about it!? 15 taco chips for three people to the tune of $14.00?! They should be embarrassed! By 7:30, this restaurant was almost empty. We have been there several times over the years, but this place has deteriorated, in many ways, and we will no longer patronize this establishment!

We cannot say enough incredible things about 26 West on the Navesink. As an older couple…read morecelebrating our second marriage, we knew we didn't want a traditional wedding reception--we wanted something meaningful, personal, and full of joy. What we got was beyond anything we could have imagined. From the very beginning, Michaela and her team went above and beyond to bring our vision to life. Every request--big or small--was met with enthusiasm, creativity, and genuine care. I had collected so many unique and whimsical pieces to incorporate into our celebration, and Michaela placed every single detail throughout the restaurant with such thoughtfulness and style. It truly felt like us in every corner of the space. The atmosphere was warm, intimate, and beautifully personalized. Our guests are still talking about how special and different the evening felt--it was a true celebration, not just an event. And the food... absolutely outstanding. Every dish was delicious, beautifully presented, and served seamlessly. The entire experience felt effortless, which allowed us to fully enjoy every moment. We are so grateful to Michaela and the entire team for making our day unforgettable. If you're looking for a venue that will honor your vision and create something truly special, this is it. With heartfelt thanks, Helen and Paul Pricoli

Went there for Mother's Day place was very pretty but we all left hungry the portions were small…read moreand the prime rib my husband had was all fat and at 72$ even that was small I had tuna which was delicious but it wasn't enough the food was good but for the price I will go elsewhere I would go for a drink but I don't want to leave a restaurant hungry so I dont think I will be dining there again

I was a guest at a party at bistro. I cannot comment on the…read moreprices. Loathe reservation accommodated with a prefixe menu. BYOB Parking on the street or a local lot a short walk away. Nicely decorated larger red bank institution, never visited before. Service was very good, plenty of water, ice, glasses etc. Family appetizers included calamari salad which was excellent, Asian Caesar which was good, meatballs which were above par, pizza which was the sleeper and very good. The filet mignon skewer was good, lovely plate but the steak needed seasoning. The short rib was good, tender piece of meat, wasn't crazy about the horseradish crème over the mashed potatoes. The bread pudding was a nice finish to the dinner. I will go back for dinner.

I hadn't been to The Bistro since it changed its menu to Mediterranean…read more We sat close to the door and had a nice Saturday dinner. It was busy but we managed a table at the last minute. I had also been there that previous Tuesday for lunch and really enjoyed it so hence the dinner four days later. Service was good overall on both occasions. Appetizers Lightly fried artichokes short rib empanadas Entrées Snapper Salmon We didn't have dessert , too full. This is a nice stop on the Broadwalk and a very convenient Byob.

After a four hour drive down from Rhode Island, my partner and I pulled into Red Bank and made a…read morebeeline for Triumph Brewing Company on Bridge Avenue. Sometimes you just need a cold beer and a bite, and Triumph delivered on both fronts. The space itself sets the tone nicely. Raw wood beams, big glass garage door-style windows flooding the room with light, and a mix of modern and rustic that somehow manages to feel like both at once. Green plants are positioned throughout, around the bar and seating areas, adding just the right amount of warmth throughout. The space is generous too; a large bar anchors the room with plenty of big tables spread throughout. It could clearly handle a crowd. It's the kind of place that makes you want to settle in. The service matched the vibe. Our bartender was attentive from the start, and at one point a second bartender passing by stopped to check if we needed to place an order. When we told him we were already taken care of, he smiled and moved on. Small moment, but it says something about the culture of a place. I started with the Baltic Porter, a solid pint, dark and roasty with that smoothness the style calls for. Good, but it was the second beer that really got my attention. I noticed the bartender working a hand pump and knew right then I'd be having their Pub Ale next. That's the real deal right there; a true cask pour is a rarity, and this one showed why it's worth seeking out. The ale was alive in a way you just don't get from a CO2 tap, soft carbonation with layers of flavor that opened up as it warmed slightly in the glass. It was genuinely awesome. For food we kept it light, a couple of snacks to set ourselves up for the rest of the evening. My partner had the falafel; fresh, nicely seasoned, with real crunch and plenty of accoutrements to keep things interesting. It was exactly the kind of bite that tides you over without weighing you down. I went with a special: Weisswurst. It was juicy and flavorful; served on a nice bun with mustard and the expected trimmings. My only gripe was the portion size, could've used just a bit more sausage. The real surprise was the side of housemade chips, which were exceptional. The kind of thing you find yourself reaching for long after you've finished everything else. Unfortunately, we arrived just as a band was packing up, but according to the schedule posted on the wall, they have live music quite a few days a week. All in all Triumph was the perfect setup for our little mid-winter getaway.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Second time that I visit Triumph Brewery. The first time was mostly drinks and last night was for…read moredinner and drinks and to listen to live music. The place is really pretty and has two floors and a really nice vibe. The music was really great. It was this kind of sexy lounging jazzy type of music. The trumpet player was really good. The band's name was Red123 and I am a fan. We sat and ordered food at the bar and our bartender was great. The other two guys were equally as nice and personable. Now the negative. Although it's considered a brewery, they do not have flights. So keep this in mind when you do visit. I ended up have the Czech dark beer, which was good. It was a large amount as well. My friend had one of the Pilsners and it was pretty good as well. The food for me wasn't that great. I ordered baked oysters with breadcrumbs and bacon on top and it was to be shared with my friend. Unfortunately, the oysters were not cooked thoroughly because they were still kind of slimy and soft and not hot and they did not taste baked. I was OK with it because I do eat raw oysters, but she does not eat raw fish so she didn't have any. I also ordered a Cubano sandwich listed as containing braised pulled pork, Swiss cheese and ham with Bavarian mustard with thinly sliced pickles on the side. I ate half sandwich and it tasted ok. However, for the second half of the sandwich, I decided that I just wanted to eat the insides and not eat the bread. Unfortunately, the pulled pork that was in the sandwich was tasteless and very dry. I do cook roast pork as well as pulled so I know what it's supposed to taste like. I did not notice it at first because the dressing on the bread masked the bland taste of the pork. I did not continue to eat the pork and only ate a piece of the ham and the cheese. I do plan to go back for the vibe and music and if hungry, will try a different dish.