REYLA was an incredible first dinner in Asbury Park and set the bar high. From the moment we walked in, the staff was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. The service was excellent throughout the entire evening, and every cocktail we ordered was fantastic. We started with a few appetizers, which were the perfect way to kick off the meal before diving into our mains. For dinner, we ordered the Duck Rice, Schnitzel, octopus, and mushroom skewer. While everything was delicious, the Duck Rice and Schnitzel were the clear standouts. Both were packed with flavor, and the Schnitzel was an especially generous portion without feeling over the top. It was perfectly cooked and incredibly satisfying. To top off the night, we headed downstairs to their cocktail bar, Laylow, and had an amazing time. The atmosphere was fun, the cocktails were just as impressive as dinner, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. If you're in Asbury Park, I definitely recommend checking out Reyla and making a stop at Laylow afterward. Great food, outstanding service, amazing drinks, and an all-around memorable experience. read more

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My husband and I were staying overnight in Neptune so we came to Reyla for dinner. It was a Thursday night and not crowded but a decent amount of people. We opted to sit at the bar because the vibe looked good. I had a lemondrop martini from the half price menu and it was good but a little too sweet. Then I had the Blood Sugar Sex Magic from the regular menu and it was unique and fun. I then had an espresso martini with dessert. I was feeling good after that. We did three appetizers: hummus, falafel, and the halloumi. The hummus had a nice texture but it could have used a little more lemon and garlic. But it was served with a jumble of fresh herbs on top which was very nice. The falafel was amazing. The texture was perfect: very crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. Not like the dense falafel you get in some places. It was serviced on top of a delicious red pepper sauce. The server told me it was an old family recipe. The halloumi was fantastic. Very generous and covered in a very crispy coating. It sat in a pool of hot honey. They brought the appetizers out one at a time, which was the perfect way to pace it. We were pretty full by the end so we shared one entrée. We had the lamb kofta. It was cooked perfectly and sat atop a pomegranate labneh. It was also delicious. For dessert my husband had the chocolate cake which was only ok. I had the baklava malabi which was sooo delicious. Great meal and excellent service. Paul the bartender was friendly and made good drinks. read more

3.5 stars I had been wanting to try REYLA for a while, but when I looked at their dinner menu, I found it rather limited. Their brunch list, on the other hand, had much more to offer, so my friend and I stopped in there for a late afternoon meal. We had gotten held up shopping around town, so we arrived close to the end of their brunch time window, and the place was completely empty. The restaurant's rustic, Mediterranean elegance was not lost on us, however. We kept it simple and only ordered main dishes. I opted for the Tofu Scramble, which was plated with a side of Calabrian deep-fried potatoes and some sort of spicy tomatillo salsa that was studded with chickpeas. The whole dish had a lot of seasoning, but it was greasy. I tried a few of my friend's za'atar fries, and they were also very oily. She thought her Fried Chicken Sandwich was decent, though. We both felt like REYLA was a stunning restaurant with just above mediocre food. I would not be opposed to going back there, but I would not rush there either. read more

REYLA - Tofu Scramble chickpeas, tomatillo, and Calabrian fried potatoes - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

We so enjoyed everything about this spot. The hostess and servers were awesome and told us a bit about each plate. They have a great menu and a full bar and will make anything you want. The lemon vodka drink caught my eye immediately. Light and refreshing it was perfect to start with. They offer small plates to share so they recommend getting a few. The timing of it all was nice because you were ready for the next plate when it arrived and the table never felt crowded. Be sure to start with the hummus and cauliflower those were our favorite dishes. We'd totally come back and try even more. read more

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This menu would have been our jam but it was quite lifeless, sadly. The best item was the Halloumi. Chef's kiss. Sadly there were multiple miscommunications between us and the server and bar and the kitchen. Multiple. Just left hungry and disappointed. read more

Valentine day surprise here. I didnt know in advance so couldnt scope out reviews and menu in advance. Location: parked at paid parking nearby which was cheap $1 or $2 per hour. Didnt partake in $25 valet parking but was sorely tempted. The indoors are beautiful, white walls and pretty decorations, large bar. Service: Terrific. 5 stars. Julia was awesome, helpful and honest. I did tell her I cant eat spicy stuff although I enjoy lightly spicy stuff. Drinks: I tried the Lebanese red wine. Very nice medium body. My husband tried the old fashioned which he said were good. Starters: we had the salatim which is 6 different dips and two piping hot large pita breads. I liked 4 out of 6 dips while hubby liked 5 out of 6. We both loved the hummus, salad, lima bean, and eggplant ones. This kind of eating is always fun. The discovery! STAR: The star is the halloumi. Fried cheese with lightly sweet crispy crust honeyed and topped with a light refreshing salad and pomenegrate seeds. Our server charmingly apologized she forgot to warn me about the codfish chili being potentially hot but I ended up trying and enjoying it, although I felt the fish was slightly overcooked. Not rubbery but a little too crusty and not flaky enough. I did not complain though because her dessert recommendation for malabi, a custard with oat crisps, was lovely. Nice to share with hubby and cap off the night. Temperature control: we sat somewhat near the front so were hit with cold air anytime someone entered. My husband is recovering from back surgery so walking was difficult for him. I appreciate he planned such a nice outing for us despite his walking challenges. All in all, we would return and explore cocktails and other menu items. read more

REYLA - Halloumi fried cheese - - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Delicious fresh creative food, great service, beautiful setting! We had the schnitzel and a delicious summer salad with beets and tomatoes, and dessert! read more

REYLA - Dessert - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Ambiance was nice Service was good Food and drink over priced and not very good. We had 3 different menu items no one in our party enjoyed. Margaritas were weak and not very tasty. read more

excellent ambience excellent food wood go their again when in asbury park. go there and see for yourself if you like cool minimal bars and good food read more

Cocktails and share dishes. Excellent service and dog friendly!excellent staff ! Also great outdoor space

Really not sure who is reviewing this place, blue haired imbeciles I suppose.. food was garbage, the hummus platter was worse than store bought and we sent back the pasta that essentially had bacon bits in it, was oily and watery. read more

Reyla is a cute modern restaurant. For the entree I got the Schnitzel. It was really good. Breading was perfect. Service was ok. Pita was really good and fresh. read more

REYLA - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Reyla is fun. It's casual, but not sloppy. We were the oldest couple in the restaurant, but were treated very nicely. The food is great, I've been three times and tried several things, all were excellent. The Salatim was plentiful for two and enough for four - and delicious. Houllumi was a standout. I really enjoyed the beef tongue, which is an under appreciated cut. Service is friendly and efficient. I did not visit the speakeasy, but it seemed like fun. read more

We went on Saturday night and I was happy to get a table without a wait. The place had tables outside but we chose to eat inside the restaurant. Our server was very pleasant and explained its tapas style where we share dishes. We ordered the Salatim it came with 3 pitas and 6 sides. We loved them all except the Moroccan carrots which were way too spicy. For our shareable we had the Tuna which was delicious but was about 1 scoop each for the 3 of us. The Octopus and the Lamb were unique very tasty and imaginative dishes. Everything came out quickly and service was very friendly! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was I thought the dishes were a little skimpy for being a shareable. That aside it was a great dining experience! read more

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Delicious food! Warm and friendly staff. Our waitress was very on her game and took such great care of us! We would very much like to return! Love the Speakeasy in the basement!! read more

Reyla says it is a "modern" twist on Mediterranean cuisine. I adore Mediterranean cuisine but felt that the menu and execution was overcomplicated. I can only imagine my first Generation friends from Greece, Israel, Middle East come here & see their reaction. I don't need to imagine, I know that they'd laugh and push the Chihuahua-sized "shareable" Salatim across the table and just be insulted that the Costco Sample size portions are considered Shareable. The flavor profile of each salad and spread was poor--The hummus was bland & every item in the Salatim was acidic or bland. The second dish came out 60-90 minutes later. I was so hungry but after waiting so long, and only having the itty bitty Salatim, I was not hungry. The drinks were very good. I would not recommend to folks who adore traditional Mediterranean cuisine. read more

REYLA - SALATIM - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

A vibrant new restaurant with city vibes, this Mediterranean tapas style food is a delight. This is really a high end bar. They have a very large and beautiful bar area where you can rest after a long day. The cocktail menu offers a good selection of signature drinks. The menu has tapas style dishes that are meant to share. The food is a fusion of Turkish and Greek food flavors. Offering a great mixture for all proteins as well as vegetarian options. The service was very prompt and friendly. We felt connected to our waitress and highly welcomed as we ate our delicious meal. Definitely a place to try when in the area. read more

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Absolutely loved Reyla! Been wanting to try this quaint, gorgeous restaurant in Asbury for awhile and we ended up celebrating a friend's birthday here. Lots of photo-worthy spots and great lighting too! Reyla also contains the entrance to a speakeasy that is right underneath them which we of course had to check out! Such a great experience. At Reyla we got a champagne bottle and were having a great time-- vibes are nice and our server was so kind and helpful. For the table to share we got their Turkish hummus served with warm pitas, which actually comes heated on a skillet! It was actually so flavorful and delicious -- I wasn't sure if I would enjoy hot hummus but it surely added to the experience of eating hummus. I will definitely be trying more Turkish hummus in the future. For my entree I got the Khachapuri, a Georgian bread with egg and sun dried tomatoes. It was delicious and so good when I ate it nice and warm. I ate the entire thing and was very impressed, especially as a vegetarian. Some hot sauce would have been perfect addition but I was so hungry I ate it as it was, nice and refreshing but also filling. The staff was so kind they even gave my friend a birthday card with a gift card inside for her birthday. We were impressed & grateful! Definitely something you remember, so shoutout to Reyla for that. We will definitely be coming around again to try out their dinner menu! Loved these Middle Eastern eats. read more

Came here with a friend on a busy Friday night. Leave yourself some time for parking because it can be difficult to find in this area. The restaurant is listed as mediterranean but the food leans more towards middle eastern flavors, so if you're not into spices make sure you preview the menu before going. Our waitress let us know that the dishes are meant to be shared and are on the smaller side (similar to tapas). We ordered the hummus to start which was very good. We also ordered the schnitzel and steak. The schnitzel was huge and very good. The steak was so bad we sent it back. Not sure what cut of meat it was but it was very tough and chewy. For dessert we ordered the Mille-feuille, it was a bit dry and tasteless. Overall, this place wasn't for me or my friend but I can see people that are into unique flavors enjoying it. read more

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Food was great and vibes of the restaurant were even better. Menu was small but still felt like there were enough options. Service was attentive and fast, it was an overall great experience! read more

Me, my girlfriend and my girlfriend's mother went to REYLA for a late lunch / early dinner this past Saturday -- got there early, because there's always a line for a table later in the evening. Ambience of the restaurant is very beautiful, I loved the plates (super cute!). For starters, we ordered the SALATIM, which was 6 different appetizer dips that came alongside with pita bread for the table. We ordered double hummus in sub for the Tzatziki because my gf's mother is vegan. I honestly got very satisfied off of this -- all dips & veggies were so freshly prepared and savory. Favorite combo for me was the pickled veggies mixed the cauliflower dip on pita -- chef's kiss! Not the best pita I've ever had, but REYLA's was up there (top 2 for sure). For entrees, me and my girlfriend shared the Shnitzel -- It was alright, the seasoning and spices on top of the chicken made it fantastic. A pretty decent chicken cutlet, paired with a fresh feta arugula salad -- With most fried food, I feel crappy after, but with this one, I can say it was done right. I felt great after. GF's mom (vegan) got the Shishito and Squash -- I tried both. I've never had shishito peppers, but these were pretty good and VERY flavorful. With most vegan dishes, I try to see what restaurants do differently with their vegetables worth it, and I can say I wasn't disappointed. Very well seasoning and had great flavor, for both the shishito and squash. I will definitely be back to REYLA to try other dishes. read more

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We got a chance to try their happy hour menu and it didn't disappoint. Our favorite was the Cauliflower, who knew cauliflower could taste so good! read more

REYLA - Cauliflower dish for happy hour - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Now this restaurant knows how to celebrate an occasion! Came here over the weekend for brunch for a birthday celebration. We got a free bottle of champagne and a lovely card from the restaurant for the birthday girl. The layout of the restaurant is so well thought out! It flows so nice from the bar to the front seating area to the back seating area. These three different places all have their own vibe as well. The back seemed more homey and cozy while the front was more modern. I loved being able to see the kitchen from where ever you sat! The service was excellent. The food was so fresh and the smell... the smell of each dish was everything. The Turkish hummus we got as an appetizer was served warm with pita. The pita was phenomenal - hot and freshly made. I'm not a hummus person but this warm hummus has changed my view of it for sure. The entree of shakshuka was delicious when you mixed everything together and I think it really came all together adding the side hot sauce. I will be back for sure not only to this restaurant but their sister restaurant as well (Barrio Costero). read more

REYLA - Shashuka - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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The nicest most attentive server I've ever met. Variety of dishes on the menu with interesting spices and flavor combinations. Food was served hot. Portions were decent. A reliable dinner in Asbury park. Music not too loud. Comfortable seating. Good lighting. Happy to not be eating in the dark. Grab a drink downstairs before your meal. read more

REYLA - Squash entree with wild rice and veggies. - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Fun chef's counter experience at Reyla from Salatim to end -- all the dishes look beautiful (especially the ceviche) and the kitchen staff never looked stressed the night we were there. re the salatim, everything was yummy including the Israeli pita, but I super enjoyed both the cauliflower and the lima bean; I had never seen either spread before! As an additional starter, we got the Bagel -- good idea conceptually and it tasted good, but it didn't quite read bagel flavors to me. For mains, we tried the Steak and the Lamb, while both were good, have to give this one to the lamb and the pistachio pesto. I admit I was concerned I was not going to like the pesto, but it was a refreshing take on a pesto. Top it off with some wine and post-dinner drinks at laylow and you have yourself a nice evening. read more

Amazing! The food was delicious, our server was knowledgeable about the ingredients and background on everything on the menu as well as how to order vegan. We had a really lovely brunch in this cute and cozy spot and I can't wait to come back. read more

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We came here for brunch because it had great reviews and looked interesting. Unfortunately, we didn't love our food experience here. The service was great and the staff was very friendly, but the food wasn't what we expected it to be. We got the appetizer sampler and unfortunately the only item from the six that we liked was the hummus. The rest had a sweet taste to it with such strong flavors that it was hard to handle. We barely ate anything on the plate besides the hummus. The lamb burger was good and the steak and eggs were okay. I wish this was more of a memorable experience. We did enjoy our drinks, however! read more

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We go to Reyla a few times a year and always enjoy it. The food is delicious and the plating is top notch. They have a happy hour and other special events like charcuterie classes, martini classes, etc. It's a really fun spot! Definitely a good option for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. We've always received excellent service here, too. read more

A beautiful restaurant with a somewhat limited menu. However, you can't beat all night happy hour Wednesday. The happy hour menu has a good selections of tapas like food, a good number of cocktails. We had a mezze plate, lettuce wrap, and two chicken slides. The sliders were tiny, the size of White Castle hamburger. You got three lettuce wraps with plenty tasty chicken. The mezze plate was good for two people to share. read more

REYLA - Chicken slider - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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We have had a lot of fantastic dishes here, however our last date night outing was disappointing. I'll start with the good- the service was friendly, the bartender was top notch, the Heart of Darkness drink gets 5 stars (though a little bummed they can't make any off menu drinks that they previously had, like this fantastic green drink with aquavit and egg foam, but maybe they don't stock all of the ingredients so I give the bartender a pass). I watched as he delicately placed each coffee bean perfectly atop the foam in our drinks. Truly, a masterpiece. Now the pretty good- the chicken schnitzel was almost 5 stars. The meat needs some salt. That's the only minus. Otherwise it was crunchy, juicy, presented beautifully, and topped with delicious quinoa, marinated beets, and other flavors. The hummus was also yummy, you can't go wrong. It's delicious every time as are the marinated side carrots and crunchy cucumbers, and the warm pita. Now the bad- the fried bacalao balls/cod. So disappointing. I appreciate they tried something... lemony sauce underneath, ginger, greens.. it wasn't lacking in complexity or presentation, but my partner and I both thought the balls were super fishy and very unpleasant. They were incredibly over salted. Texture reminiscent of what I feed my cat. We left most of it on the plate and the waitress wanted to leave it on the table noticing it wasn't eaten, I indicated we definitely won't finish it and asked her to take it back. The waitress didn't ask how it was or if anything was wrong but brought the nearly full dish back. The other big disappointment was the tamale. It was supposed to have braised lamb in it, but the morsels of lamb flavor didn't come through and it was so dry and crumbly. The salad on top was the saving grace, it rounded out the dry tamale underneath making it barely palatable. But if you said it was vegetarian I'd believe you, because you couldn't taste the meat. Last was the dessert, which left us scratching our heads. We have had bad dessert here before, so we knew it was a toss up. While the truffles are alright (prob the only good dessert we had here), this strawberry sorbet with pistachio biscuit, whipped cream and honey comb was the most in-cohesive plate I've had. We looked at each other befuddled, how someone could send this out to customers. On its own, the sorbet was decent. The shortbread biscuit was dry, not buttery as shortbread should be, not sweet- not even a little, just a dry crumbly flavorless biscuit with some pistachios in it. The homemade 'rose whipped cream' was quite literally cream that has been whipped. Zero flavor. Not a hint of sweetness. No idea where the rose came in. The burnt honeycomb bits on top were alright. We left most of it and when the waitress asked, I said 'not a winner'. Understatement of the year. Overall, I'm certain we will come back, however we will not order some of these dishes again. It's a shame though, because we like trying new things. We once came with family and ordered the whole menu, everything was excellent- not a single bad dish. So we came yesterday hoping to try some new things and left moderately disappointed. read more

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I like Reyla, the food is solid but what really stands out here are the cocktails...the bartenders are very friendly and masters of their craft. The restaurant is beautiful as is the bar area. Check out their happy hour food and drink specials. Metered parking available in the street. read more

Reyla is another great dining spot in the heart of downtown Asbury Park (aka my favorite town in NJ!). Service was friendly and our drinks and food came quickly! Their mezze platter is a great way to start to sample delicious falafel, dips, and homemade pita. I had the chicken schwarma wrap, which had a great variety of flavors from sweet, spicy, and vinegary. Their crafted cocktails were tasty, and depending what day you go you can access a speakeasy bar through the restaurant. read more

REYLA - Chicken SHAWARMA WRAP (DF) - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Went on a Wednesday evening for their all night happy hour. Hostess and bartenders were very friendly and attentive. Happy hour inventive drink choices are delicious. Tried the mezze board that was tasty and healthy all at once. Will be back again soon! read more

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What a fun spot with great food options. Some favorites were the falafel balls (i loooved the garlicky and soft inside), the turkish hummus was AMAZING. it was so hot and fresh. i also loved the mahi, but be warned that there are bologna pieces in the dish (something i didn't pay attention to). my favorite dessert was the truffle assortment -- melts in your mouth. The ambiance is awesome. It feels very hipster but it's not a dark spot. Very clean and modern decor. Check out laylow after! read more

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These were really Well made drinks :) I enjoy the ambience here too! We'll be back to check out some more. read more

REYLA - Strange Love (orange) and Renaissance women (purple) - Mediterranean Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Came here for brunch to celebrate my birthday with a few friends. When we walked into the restaurant they showed us to our table where a complimentary birthday champagne bottle was waiting for us at the table. We started off with the Turkish hummus which was amazing! The hummus came hot and had a beautiful cinnamon flavor. For my entree I chose the chicken and waffles. Instead of waffles they were serving chicken and pancakes that day. The gravy it came with gave it a nice middle eastern twist on a classic dish. The modern design of the restaurant really elevated the dining experience. There is a stunning bar area which is a great spot if you wanted to just grab drinks. Also the open layout kitchen at the back of the restaurant is the perfect touch. The staff was lovely and so accommodating. They were patient and explained the different items on the menu. The team even gave me a sweet birthday card and gift card. Thank you to the Reyla team for being so thoughtful! I will definitely be back to try dinner at this spot! read more

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Run ‍ do not walk to this restaurant! We were lucky enough to snag reservations for 4 on a gorgeous Summer Friday.. However at the last minute, 2 of our friends decided to join us, but they were able to accommodate us on the chefs table on a fully booked day! And I am so grateful, because it was amazing, we got a chance to see how the restaurant worked, interacted with the talented Chef! Chef Anthony took personal interest in making our evening special, he explained the menu and we got to taste a lot of things! Tried both Hummus's- my Favorite was the the Turkish hummus. The falafel were so so good! Got to taste the chicken shawarma (huge portion), lamb burger and the steak. Truly a 5 star experience! Drinks were good and service was exceptional! They also have an after hours speak easy and a sister Mexican restaurant. Some of our friends liked it better than Laser Wolf which is top Notch ! read more

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Reyla is consistently excellent! The food is so fresh, creative and absolutely delicious. The servers are so kind! It is hands down the best restaurant in Asbury Park. read more

Amazing date night special for $90 for two people on a Thursday night. Don't miss this deal! The special included 5 courses plus a bottle of wine. We got the Turkish hummus (served hot with cinnamon and tomatoes), grilled artichoke (just ok), Chicken sharwama sandwich (massive portion, delicious), the steak, and chocolate truffles. Service was fantastic! read more

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My husband and I went there for date night dinner. I do not understand the good reviews. We ended up sitting at the bar, the drinks were good and the bar tenders were great. To start we got the Salatim, we both love Mediterranean food. Three of the six dips were not edible. The entire dining experience at reyla had intense flavor profiles that kind of fought each other and didn't work. The hummus is one exception to that and it was just bland. We both love eggplant and the burned eggplant dip was really burned. The skins needed to be spit out. It was really an odd combination of tastes. The shishito peppers themselves were good but they too had a lot going on that didn't really work. The one thing we had that I liked the flavor profile was the chicken shawarma wrap. It was tasty and the flavor was not at odds with itself. However, the one half of the wrap I shared with my husband had a single l piece of chicken in it. His half had more but still not what one would expect. It was more of a salad wrap, but it was the best thing we ate there. In short go for the drinks and maybe we ordered wrong or it was an off night. read more