I have been here plenty of times, and for the most part really enjoyed it. But then my sister hosted her wedding here and I was I impressed. First of all, the space is so unique, that if you are doing something a little more casual, a little touch of decor goes a long way. The room had huge portraits of royal renaissance animals, disco ball bouquets over the dance floor, and delicious food. Our family was so impressed with the pasta, pizza, and my gosh, the shrimp was fresh! An excellent experience with excellent service. read more

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Visited with family tonight to celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday. Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and attentive. Food was ok but what really ruined the evening was this rude little manager. As we were closing out a very nice night and after paying our tab, the manager approaches and tells me we need to leave, he needs to turn the table and we've been there for 2 1/2hours. I get it, but to embarrass a family that was obviously finishing the evening and had just spent $1,000 is unconscionable. Customer service should be your goal. Please rid yourselves of this little troll before it's too late. No, unfortunately we will not return. read more

You ever leave the concert early in hot pursuit of pizza and end up getting more than you bargained for? Me too! I was so happy to belly up to the Porta bar after a long day outside enjoying a concert next door at The Stone Pony. I needed pizza. I didn't want pizza, I needed it. My date and I probably could have stuck to one pizza to split but each decided to get our own in the name of...being starving? I don't know. He ordered the Scampi pizza and I ordered whatever spicy italian meat concoction was on the menu. The crust of the pizza at Porta is perfection and I loved how fresh everything tasted. We didn't opt for drinks but the menu looked solid. I would come back anytime I find myself in Asbury and appreciate how awesome the bar staff here was. Another bonus? Food came out in like 7 minutes and you can see the chefs firing off pizzas in the big wood fired oven. We had leftovers to enjoy! read more

Porta - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Nice place, good atmosphere, friendly staff and a decent, fairly limited menu. Had an old fashioned, shared the fresh ricotta and olives and had the octopus for myself. Everything was amazing. The ricotta was so fresh and a good portion size as was the octopus and the awesome fennel salad. A little pricey but the quality and quantity made for it. I would definitely return. read more

Porta - Pan-Roasted Day Boat Octopus - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Porta is always solid. This location is huge, and when we popped in on a random Thursday night there wasn't an empty seat in the house. Love the food and also love the vibes - they just do it right. I always order the bootzin pasta which has a spicy and flavorful sausage ragu and lots of fresh olives. You can't go wrong with any pizza, and their homemade ricotta and fresh mutz are deeeelish. This was the perfect place to grab a bite and a drink before seeing a show at Asbury Lanes! read more

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Pizza was pretty good if you like Neapolitan pizza style. Meatballs and pasta were ok. Good for a quick bite if you are headed to or from the Stone Pony. read more

Porta - Spaghetti - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Bartender David l. Was so great. Attentive.Amazing.Engaging even though he was so incredibly busy. The drinks were yummy. The food. Great. Love this bar I never saw in 2023 &2024. read more

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Stopped in again on a whim. Quite a change from off-season. Still they were able to seat us with no wait thanks to having long tables with open seating. Loud, but fun atmosphere. Tried the eggplant this time and meatballs, bread and oil on the side. Eggplant resembled a lasagna with multiple layers. It was a hefty portion. Homemade meatballs were solid. Not much to say about the oil and bread, although I really think it would be nice to have it served complimentary on all the tables. Shaker cheese provided on tables was delicious! Gnocchi seemed to be the popular choice (pricey though at $30) along with quick pizzas. If I could rate 3.5, I would. Overall it was good, location is great, but food just ok. read more

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Nice big place. Nothing fancy. We ordered a white pie and Margarita pie. Both were good. Best thing was the salad. Pretty sure it was the three trees salad. Meatballs were ok. The red cheetah cocktail was great. Probably why I didn't remember the name of the salad. Service was good. Prices reasonable. Would definitely come back read more

Came here before a concert and the food was phenomenal. Atmosphere was buzzing the summertime, definitely would come back for the pizza. read more

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I think it's time for us to move on from this place. We come here every couple of months-usually a group of 10-15 of us for dinner after seeing a show at the Pony and every time, the experience gets a little worse. Orders have been getting mixed up or forgotten entirely, and we almost never get refills on our drinks. The wait staff seems so rushed that they don't truly hear what we're saying, which leads to more mistakes and frustration. It's disappointing because we've always loved coming here as part of our night out, but the consistency and service just aren't there anymore. read more

Nice spot with fun vibes. Pizza looked awesome but now I need to eat cauliflower crust and they didn't have. I had the Bibb salad which was delish and the tomato salad. Hubby enjoyed his octopus. Our server was great and we got seated for our reservation time of 4pm. There was a huge wait when we left at 5:30 so consider making reservations. read more

Reliably delicious dinner. Cozy vibe in the winter and a lively vibe in the summer. Service is always good and prices are on par with the other places in the area. read more

Porta always delivers delicious food and amazing drinks! Attended a fantastic wedding here too read more

A staple in Asbury Park - always packed in the summertime. This time, our groups split several pies; Margarita, Italian Stallion, It's Corn, and a 14 1/2. The It's Corn was hands down our favorite. read more

Porta - Italian Stallion Pizza and Porta Porta - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

I love this place abd love the ambience, but we need a gluten free menu!!! I've been gluten free over 2 years and now I can eat 3 things, if that off the menu. Gluten free pizza crust would go a long way!!!! read more

The peppe pasta with egg was delicious, as were the salads. Our server was great! Big and open with chairs and benches, so not the most comfortable, but fine. Worth a visit if ur looking for decent family style italian. read more

Amazing time here last week. The food was great. They provided us with a wide variety. Just select from during our time here for the trade show. I had a great time, educating people on Penelope and the brand and a face behind the brand love representing new brands. read more

Porta - Trade show - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

The service was excellent. Our server was patient and came around to check on us. Great service. Plus we got seated immediately. The ambience is minimal. The place is big and spacious. Kind of cold and dark. The pizza were good but I wouldn't say great. NJ pizza has different categories. This is a coal fired pizza. Good, chewy crust with some topping and some light sauce. You get a meatball pizza for $16. It's a personal pizza. For $16. That's expensive. I can get a regular pizza for $12 that will feed a family. The hot sausage was tasty. read more

Yummy pizza. Great salads. Homemade ricotta and mozzarella. Good cocktails and other libations. Have a group in Asbury for a wedding weekend? Great place to go. Loud and fun. Party vibe. Our server handled our large crew with young kids with ease and grace. Excellent! We had a ton of fun! read more

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Visited on a Saturday night in the summer. It was crazy busy but we knew that going in. Our party of four waited about 30 mins for the first available table. In the meantime, we hung out near the outside bar. My wife and I shared the Bibb salad and 14.5 pizza (ricotta, mozzarella, hot sopressata, Calabrian chilies, oregano, and EVOO). Food and service was great even on a busy night. Our friends visiting from out of town also really enjoyed the Vegan pizzas. Will come back and highly recommend! read more

Porta - 14.5 - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Today I had a great girls lunch at Porta. We dined there in the middle of the afternoon and the place was packed. It has a huge open dining room lined with benches, open bar and open kitchen concept. Our server Ryan was quite busy, but he did the best he could with everything. We ordered from the brunch menu which is available until 4:00 pm: Apps: mozzarella, whipped ricotta, meatballs Mains: octopus, eggplant parm, Porta Porta pizza, Arugula pizza Dessert: cheesecake, espresso, latte, cappuccino The food was tasty, especially the mozzarella and whipped ricotta. It was definitely a positive experience, but I would like to return when it's not so busy and try a few more items on their menu. read more

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We came on a busy Friday night without reservations or being on the waitlist but I AM THANKFUL there were able to sit us. The Hostess said we were the last walk-ins they were taking for the night. THANK GOODNESS! There were lots of bench style tables but she sat us at the back bar with Carla. She took our order, served us, then left. We had to flag someone down when we needed extra napkins and when we needed our check. Even the person we flagged down didn't even know how we were gonna get our check. It was madness since the restaurant was turning over to the club so we got out right in time. In any case, the pizza was FANTASTIC!!! Everyone raves about Razza in Jersey City being the best artisan pizza in the state. I'd have to disagree. THIS was the BEST artisan pizza I've EVER had in NJ!!! We had got the Betty Pie and the 14.5 Pie. BOTH amazing in their own right. We couldn't decide which one was better since they each had their own flavor. SOOO FREAKING GOOD!!! I can't wait to get them again! read more

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Really enjoyed this place. Big beach cafeteria vibe (but nicer). Pizza, pasta and apps were all too notch. Service was on point too. Recommended. read more

If you're looking for the perfect mix of incredible food, a fun atmosphere, and the laid-back, creative energy that defines Asbury Park, then Porta is the place to be. I've been here multiple times--day and night, summer and winter--and every single time, it delivers. It's hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the area and a spot I constantly recommend to both locals and out-of-towners. Let's start with the vibe: Porta has this effortlessly cool, slightly industrial, but still warm and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're sitting inside the massive dining room with its long wooden tables and high ceilings or enjoying a drink on the rooftop in the warmer months, it just feels good to be there. It's the kind of place where you can show up in beach gear after a day on the boardwalk or dressed up for a night out, and you'll feel equally at home. Now, onto the star of the show--the food. Porta is known for its pizza, and rightfully so. It's the real deal: wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pies with that perfect thin, slightly chewy crust and beautifully blistered edges. The Margherita is a classic that's always spot-on, but don't sleep on the more creative options like the "14 1/2," which balances spicy, savory, and sweet in a way that's completely addictive. You can tell the ingredients are fresh, and the kitchen genuinely cares about what they're putting out. Beyond pizza, the menu is thoughtfully crafted. The pastas are delicious and feel homemade, the salads are surprisingly flavorful and never just an afterthought, and the appetizers--especially the meatballs and the ricotta with honey and bread--are absolutely worth ordering. It's one of those menus where you want to try a little of everything. And trust me, you'll end up doing just that if you go with friends. The drinks are another major plus. Porta has a great cocktail menu, solid wine list, and plenty of local beer options. Everything is fairly priced, and the bartenders know what they're doing. It's a great place to grab drinks even if you're not staying for a full meal. The service has always been friendly and relaxed. You're not going to get fine-dining formality here, but that's not the vibe Porta is going for. The staff is approachable, attentive, and happy to make recommendations or adjust to your preferences. Even when it's busy--and it does get busy--they move efficiently without making you feel rushed or ignored. One of the things that makes Porta truly special is that it manages to be both casual and memorable. You can come here on a random Tuesday or a packed Saturday night and still leave feeling like you had a great experience. Whether it's a first date, a group dinner, or just grabbing a pizza before a concert or beach stroll, it's the kind of place that adds to the memory of the moment. So yes, Porta might be popular and yes, you may have to wait sometimes--but it's absolutely worth it. The quality of the food, the inviting atmosphere, and the sheer fun of being there make it one of the standout spots not just in Asbury Park, but the Jersey Shore overall. If you haven't been, go. If you've been before, go again. Porta just gets it right. read more

God did my experience at Porta in Asbury make me miss the Philly Porta. After what a brutal evening my friends and I had, I have made a vow to never return to a Porta ever again. The only other business I have sworn off entirely made my husband miss kick-off of the 2023 SuperBowl (see review of Lazaro's) and I am convinced this is why the Eagles lost. I digress... Over a month in advance a friend made a reservation for her birthday dinner at Porta. It was one of few places in Asbury that could accommodate 19 people and did not ask for a deposit. I was equally impressed and alarmed at this fact. It was pouring rain when our group showed up for our 7 PM reservation on a Friday night. A show had been rain-delayed and ultimately canceled at The Stone Pony, and it appeared that every single person in town for the concert was now inside of Porta. You could not walk around or get to the bar, and worst of all, you could not even be seated if you had a reservation. We were told there would be a 20-minute wait before we could be seated for our reservation. It was packed, and we tried to be understanding. By 7:45, my patience had worn thin. We asked to speak to the manager, who explained that we would be seated next and that a portion of our table was ready so half of us could sit and the rest should stand around the table. She mentioned they would "get us started with some appetizers". This request was ridiculous, but we did as we were told and hovered over the other half of the table filled with two parties still chewing on their pizza. The worst part is that the mentioned appetizers were nowhere to be seen. We watched as other tables emptied entirely, and other groups were seated at them. I would have thrown a literal fit if it weren't for one group telling us their reservation time was 6:30 PM, and they were just being seated at 8 PM. What a nightmare. By 8:15, we were all seated. Half of the table had water and menus while the other half had to sit while the table was bussed. When you expect to be seated at 7 PM and eat shortly after, you end up HANGRY when the server comes to take drink orders at 8:30. I mentioned to her that the manager offered us comped appetizers but we never received them, and while I understand she has nothing to do with the absolute sh*tstorm of a mess of a situation that we were in, we were all incredibly hungry and these appetizers would be make or break for everyone's well being. She let me know she would get right on it. I'm sure she hated me. We ordered appetizers, and one of the food runners promptly spilled half of a salad with bibb lettuce and gorgonzola on top of my head. I picked cheese out of my hair for the rest of the night. At that moment, I decided they probably did it on purpose, considering the food runner did not even apologize. This was when it dawned on me that I would never return to Porta. I even suggested we all "dine and dash*" and was half serious. They did ultimately comp the appetizers ordered which felt like the absolute least they could do. If the meal weren't intended to be a birthday celebration, maybe I would have had more tolerance, but the restaurant should have never given away reserved tables. They knew better. *Disclaimer: I would never have the heart to do this to a server. read more

Awesome pizza joint walking distance from both downtown Asbury and the boardwalk. Building also steeped in early 1970s Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band lore. read more

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It's been awhile Portal! Came in for a late lunch and ordered a Carbonara Pizza and a draft of Carton's Smith Sauce. The pizza was excellent!! The guanciale, Parmigiano Reggiano, roasted egg, parsley, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil made for a nice flavor explosion of cured pork jowl, salty nuttiness from the parmigiano, creaminess from the roasted egg with a hint of evoo. Looks like this might be a new habit!! read more

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small menu.......... small portions........... can be very loud at times.............................

I'm familiar with all three locations of Porta (Asbury, Montclair and Jersey City), each of which has a pretty unique atmosphere and really taps into their immediate surroundings. This Porta is probably my favorite, and that's due in no small part to its location a block from the Asbury boardwalk. It's usually pretty bustling (what isn't in Asbury these days, especially in the summer?) but also doesn't feel claustrophobic/overwhelming. The Millennial Chum and I stopped by for a late lunch this past Saturday, after spending a RIDICULOUS amount of time trying to find parking. Asbury is really getting out of control in that regard - we literally had to park in Deal. But we got here, and that's what matters. Anyway. I was a little apprehensive about a potential wait time given that there was a sizeable wedding party on the premises at the same time, but it never affected us. We secured some outdoor seating immediately and made ourselves comfortable. As a pale creature, I think they need to stock up on a few more umbrellas out there, but this is exactly why I carry around sunblock. We were famished and decided to split a margarita pie, along with two apps - meatballs and mozzarella with bread. The meatballs were scrumptious - very flavorful and juicy. The mozzarella was excellent as well; it's a deceptively solid portion that allows you to really heap some decent piles onto the slices of bread. I've had that particular app almost every time I've gone to any of the Portas, and it's always top-notch - no need to overcomplicate the situation. Honestly, the pizza for me is good but never the star. Personal palate-wise, the sauce is a little too thick for me (not a big fan of chunks in the tomato sauce) and the dough is on the chewier side. That said, Neapolitan-style is one of my favorites, and I DO really like the cheese. And my slight tepidness could very well be a minority position, as I know quite a few people who absolutely swear by this pie. Given that Porta was hopping, both in its normal public area and clearly behind the scenes with its party, the service was perfectly fine. Our waitress was constantly available, and nothing seemed to take a particularly long time to arrive (though devil's advocate, this kind of food shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes to prepare and I'm sure a lot of the app ingredients were ready to go beforehand). I'm also always impressed by the price point here. Even given that we're in Asbury, where you seem to be charged an extra few dollars for the scenery, we were both pleasantly surprised to get a bill around $60ish, which included a mocktail and a cocktail. Porta was actually my suggestion on this particular day. I'm not claiming it's the best pizza/Italian option in the area, but it might be the most consistent/reliable, which is a valuable quality in its own right. read more

Porta - Meatballs & Mozzarella/Bread. - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Large restaurant with ample seating inside and out. Great food, especially the pizza. Very good, fresh salad, also. Friendly staff and quick service. read more

Porta - Pizza and salad - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

was looking forward to eating pizza here for the last 3 weeks. got here and realized I was thinking of another restaurant lmaooo. we got the eggplant parm and a margherita pizza. pizza was pretty good. they unfortunately didn't have a cheesed out atherosclerosis-causing pizza but they do sell a block of mozzarella if you need it so that's good. the eggplant parm was very good tho maybe a 10/10. it was like eggplant lasagna with mozzarella I can't wait to have it again. our two items made a nice lunch for two people. that was the review for patrons here's my review for management: leaving extra plates on the tables all day is gross. passerby, or a fly, can touch them or drop stuff on them. if a person isn't being paid hourly to touch my plates or stand weirdly close to my plate I would rather they not lol. also 3 of the plates next to me were still wet from drying rack or they had crust on them. my glass also had crust. good eggplant parm tho. ambiance meh. would be a nice chill spot for the family after church or something like that. read more

Porta - Eggplant Parm - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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An average visit. Portions were decent, but the presentation felt rushed. Service was friendly yet slow at times. It works for a casual meal, but the overall experience wasn't particularly memorable. read more

Stopped by here due to the fact that it looked crackin for dinner! We ordered the Italian Stallion Pizza, the Eggplant Parm with Mozzarella (so good), and my friend also got a side of Calamari. The Ambience inside is nice and lively. The bar area is big too, there were acouple of uncles watching the futból game. Hahaha. The service was okay but not really complaining cos everything else was great. Come check it out if you are in a group of friends or even wanna meet people! Aha. It'll be a good time (: read more

Porta - Eggplant with the Italian Stallion Pizza (side of calamari) - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Pomodoro pasta isn't always consistent, but when it's good, the sauce with its sweet kick makes it one of the better pastas on the Shore. The margarita is decent, but the Betty Pie is better. It could use a bit less flop and more crisp, but the goat cheese and tomatoes taste super fresh. I recommend asking for well done and crispy. Great value and vibe, especially at the bar or outside on a nice day. read more

Porta - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Came weekend before memorial weekend and place was packed, but we were seated quickly. Drinks came fast! Ordered the ricotta, and that was just okay, tasted good, but had had it at the (closed) Philly location where they baked it with cheese on top and it just hit better than what we received today at the Asbury Park location. This was served in a bowl with some bread, pretty meh. Ordered spring Betty and margarita pizzas, and both came fast as well! Piping hot, perfectly cooked, and flavors were on point! Overall we enjoyed and will be returning! Took 3 spring bettys to go for later bc they were really that good! read more

Porta - Spring Betty, was the star of the show for us! - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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One of the highlights of our first-time visit in Asbury Park. This neighborhood restaurant was on top of my must visit. Love the vibe, with plenty of communal picnic tables. Cocktails - very creative, delicious. Must try the White Door/Red Door and Margarita. Good selection of domestic and import draft beers. Calamari- lightly breaded Margherita - Love it, light and airy Italian Stallion - homemade Italian sausage, perfect crust. We ended up ordering this pizza to go Gnocchi - My favorite of them all! It just melts in your mouth. The sauce is just another level. Octopus - Another top choice. Simple seasoning. Very soft and tender. Service is top notch. Three of us sat at the bar, and service was attentive. If you are in the area, do not miss this place. It turns to a club at night. read more

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Went for lunch. The margherita pizza hit the spot, super fluffy crust and great mozzarella. The side of broccoli rabe was really next level, though. It has pistachios, raisins, olives, and red pepper flakes - it was so delicious and wells seasoned. A real surprise. I had to try a side of long hots, too - $4 for four looong green peppers cooked up to perfection. Slightly spicy and 100% delicious. They have an ok selection of beers, too, but most people were sampling cocktails. While a mimosa might be more traditional, I recommend the painkiller. Their take is so creamy and delightful. The space is huge, so it's great for groups, families, etc. They even have a back room for events (we did see a wedding reception while we were there) and even live music on weekends. It's near the boardwalk and right across from The Stone Pony stage. If you drive, there is a parking lot across the street ($3 per hour). read more

We were in town for a show at Asbury Lanes and wanted to grab food beforehand. We arrived pretty early, 430 or so, and it was already pretty full. The vibe and decor are great. Staff is very attentive and friendly. They have an open pizza section so you can watch the pies get made. All of the food we had was great! read more

Porta - Meatballs; Arugula Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Grilled octopus with lemon sauce, hot peppers, excellent service, and outdoor ambiance read more

Porta - Octopus - Pizza Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey