Scratching off the list. After reading so many great reviews, I had to try it. It was very disappointing. The food presentation and service were great but the tastes were across the board awful. Neither my wife or I could finish our entrees as the flavors were overpowering. We ordered the artichoke and cauliflower appetizers and a halibut special and chicken dish as entrees. The appetizers were ok but nothing I would ever order again. The cauliflower was overly sweet and the prosciutto wrapped artichoke heart was over seasoned with lemon. The chicken dish was especially bad as all I could taste was the vinegar seasoning. We skipped dessert and will not return. read more

Entire experience was awesome, food was delicious and the desserts were as well. Highly recommend, cannot wait to go back !! read more

Consistent, yummy, interesting! Reservations a must! Very limited seating. I love getting their appetizer specials as take out.

The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. There was something for everyone steak, fish, pasta and salad. I had the crab and lobster cake. It was spectacular. I also had the Cesar salad tacos. They did not disappoint. read more

Skratch Kitchen - Lobster and crab cakes - Italian Near Me - Bradley Beach, New Jersey

See all

Intimate space with a deft hand in the kitchen. Do not miss the clams in broth appetizer. The ceasar salad taco was too difficult to eat - so i broke it to pieces. Pappardelle bolognese was tender and savory with a hint of sweetness. BYO. Cash discount. read more

Ordered to go from this place and got the most pathetic salad for $15. Literally ate it in 4 bites. Mostly consists of little pieces of lettuce, 3 tiny pieces of pepper, and tiniest crumbs of feta. Absolutely ridiculous. read more

Skratch Kitchen - Chopped Salad - Italian Near Me - Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Chef jt dunn is amazing food is awesome i recommend u go there 5 stars staff is fantastic

Great food, great service for our 50th anniversary celebration. Everyone really enjoyed it.

I went here the first time tonight. the experience was so much better than I thought it would be. the place is so inviting. the food was fantastic from the salad , main entree and dessert and such generous portions. you won't be disappointed dining here. best of all, it's a BYOB! read more

The experience at Skratch Kitchen is always fantastic! The creativity and flavor of the food keeps you coming back for more. Highly recommend! read more

I almost didn't post because I don't want to call attention to how good this place is; if the tourists find out we'll never get a table again. By far, the best food I've had in this area in many years. JT Dunn is creating incredibly fresh and flavorful dishes in a cozy and modern setting. He's so down to earth, he came out to check on the tables and to tell us about the guy who caught the 80 lb fresh tuna we just ate from down the road 2 days ago. As for the menu, it offers a little bit for everyone, from Brussels Sprout Caesar salad on a parmesan tuile taco, roasted red pepper eggplant parmigiana, and fried oysters over grits with a maple reduction. It was hard to find something we didn't want to try from all the delectable choices. The decor is modern farm to table. It was typically Bradley Beach laid back but still a destination and reason to put on a nicer pair of jeans. Wasn't overly crowded and the diners were friendly. Our server, Keaton, was a joy, knowledgeable about the dishes, very accommodating. Will definitely be dropping by again soon. Highly recommend you get there to find out for yourself. read more

This was a first time for us and a friend recommended it. I loved the short ribs and the bean ragout. The artichoke hearts are great too. Our server Sheri was excellent from start to finish. The ambience was quiet as it's a small BYOB place so definitely make reservations. The only call out is I got a 3 percent service charge for using my card if I'd known I would have paid cash. I didn't see it posted anywhere which they should. Overall I would go again but it is a little pricier than expected. read more

Will definitely be back! The food was amazing. The atmosphere is inviting and the staff was awesome!

Excellent menu. Wonderful service. Intimate setting. I have been there several times and never disappointed. BYOB.

Skratch is amazing! I had the Philly Steak that was cooked to perfection. The vegetables were caramelized just right! Like many local Jersey establishments, Skratch is BYOB so bring your favorite beverage and the wait staff is happy to open and chill it for you. Small dining area so you will need a reservation- it's WELL WORTH the WAIT! read more

OMG... sooooo good. Short rib is insane, and the artichoke as well. All was amazing really. Only thing I would desire would be the ability to order entrees after ordering apps instead of together. Aside from that, best meal we've had in a long long time. Staff was great also! Compliments to the chef ! read more

What a great dinner my hubby and I had! I started with the grilled artichoke stuffed with ricota wrapped in prosciutto- hummy. Hubby started with grilled octopus salad - delicious. My second dish was the soft shell crab and hubby had shrimp and grits. Everything was delicious. Service was friendly and efficient. Chef walked around the tables asking if we were enjoying the food. We had a wonderful time! We will be back. read more

Small place with incredible hospitality. We couldn't decide if we should sit inside or outside because both spots were so cozy and beautifully designed without being stuffy. We sat inside. Incredible service from our waitress. She knew about our food allergy before she came to the table (I left them on our reservation - it was nice that she did her hw). We r vegetarian so we had the mushroom tacos that were fantastic! Great salad and fish too. Place is BYOB which was really nice. Mid meal the chef or manager or owner (not sure) came to the table to check on us - as we left he even shook my husbands hand and thanked us for coming. Would definitely go there again. Food was great! read more

Wow! Can't say enough about this gem. The food is absolutely amazing - menu is extensive with very unique and well thought out dishes. Everything we tried was an "oh my god, are you kidding me" moment! Compliments to the amazing chef/owner JT. He is not only talented but also very warm and down to earth. He took the time on a busy night to walk around to every table and say hello. He is truly one of a kind! The whole experience from start to finish was top notch. read more

Excellent food and service. The fish stew, cod and bolognese were all excellent. The meatball appetizer was wonderful. Small and intimate setting. read more

Came here based on yelp reviews and we were not disappointed. We could not get a reservation inside so we ended up sitting outside outback (walk out the front door, around the side building, past some parked cars) under a makeshift tent and eclectic wooden fence enclosure with large tropical plants. I wish I had taken a picture because it was actually pretty cool and I know it doesn't sound that way based on what I wrote. It was just a hot and humid evening with little breeze. If they had a way to get a ceiling fan or two out there it would be perfect. Service was very good especially considering the remote feeling of the area. Fresh warm bread and oil was quick to arrive at our table. It was good, fresh and tasty. My wife got one of the daily specials as an appetizer and loved it. I'm not sure what was in it protein wise but it had a lot of fresh fruits and veggies too and a woman who sat near us commented that she wishes she had ordered it too. For dinner she got a shrimp dish that she also thoroughly enjoyed, when we reflected back over the weekend. She said this meal was by far her favorite. I ordered two appetizers and a side of their rustic style potatoes as my meal. The clam appetizer came with canolini beans, bacon and grape tomatoes in a creamy broth with a couple crispy pieces of garlic bread. Wow did this taste good however, just a little bit too salty. It didn't stop me from eating it at all I just drank a bit more water with dinner, ha ha. The meatball appetizer was good, but very similar to others that I have had at other restaurants. I wasn't disappointed with the dish as much as I was with myself for not trying some thing that I can't get near home. The potatoes that my wife and I shared were very well cooked and seasoned. They were cut into pieces about the size and shape of a strawberry and they came with a dipping sauce. Definitely some thing I would recommend. As a sidenote, the woman who admired my wife's appetizer, apparently didn't like her choice of main course either and we could overhear her complaining to her husband and the waitress about it. Everyone agreed that the meal itself was made correctly, and the way that it was described on the menu . She just didn't like it and therefore wanted it taken off the bill. The chef, who apparently is also one of the owners came out and politely discussed it with this customer. They even offered to make her something else, but she declined. Ultimately, he took it off their bill and they seemed satisfied. I wish I was rude enough to tell her that she should just pay for it and know enough not to order it next time because it wasn't the restaurants fault she made a bad choice. If we are ever in the area again we will be back. read more

Incredible service ambiance and choices of entrees. Highly recommend. The staff exemplifies quality service

VERY impressive food AND service (thanks, Keagan!)! Our starters (the chopped salad and a special - eggplant parmigiana) were excellent. My husband is very particular about his eggplant parm and gave this a 10. I am fussy about salads, which I tend to find overly seasoned and drenched in dressing; this one was perfect, with a light but flavorful dressing and ingredients that fully complimented each other. Our main courses, both specials - a stuffed rigatoni with broccoli rabe and sausage and a ribeye steak with mashed potatoes that were not overly seasoned with garlic (a cardinal sin we often experience!) were exceptional. We only wish we lived closer (we were staying in Avon-by-the-sea for the weekend)! read more

This is only a review of the host as we didn't get a chance to eat. We went about 6 on Tuesday night however, we did not have reservations. The host made no eye contact and no effort to accommodate the two of us even though 1/2 the seats were empty at that time. For a new restaurant, I would have thought he could have been more welcoming and offered us a seat even outside. Needless to say, I won't be in any hurry to go back. read more

Inconsistent at best. Ate there earlier in the week and loved everything we ate (shrimp, fusilli, mussels). Ordered takeout and then ate in again. Like a totally different restaurant. Go - but on a night where they are not too busy to focus on quality. read more

The food and service was exceptional. Small intimate BYOB. I will definitely be back. The specials were off the charts

last week I had some challenges with my reservation, and the manner in which it was handled and I decided to not dine there and left. The next day I received a voice message from the owner of the restaurant, apologizing for the mishap and graciously asked if I would call him to discuss. I did return his call, and it was so refreshing to speak with a business owner that was truly concerned and wanted to understand what took place. I appreciate the time, concern and dedication this gentleman exhibited in elevating how his guest are treated. I have only heard great reviews about his restaurant and if his Cuisine is anything like his intregrity he deserves a Michelin star. Thank you JT. read more

My wife and I had heard a lot about this restaurant and decided to go tonight. We are so glad we did. The service, atmosphere, and the food was all fantastic! We highly recommend this restaurant. We will definitely be coming back. read more

#JTDunn We had dinner at Skratch last night WOW!!! J.t. Dunn you are an Amazing chef!!!!!!! Everything and Everyone was perfect!!! Our meals were delicious.. The dessert which was pistachio tiramisu (homemade)was unbelievable...we loved our server Dominica and the hostess Dannie (Forgive me if I spelled your names wrong) Excellent!!! We will definitely be back read more

See all

Very fresh and well prepared food. Terrific service. Chef came around and checked with the dinners. Lovely range of appetizers and entrees. Desserts were very good. It is BYOB - and they are very gracious about opening and chilling bottles. This restaurant rivals some of the best in Asbury - just one town over. read more

Scratch that! We heard about this new place from our innkeeper, and we were excited to try it out! Our appetizer (cajun clams) was very good, but things went downhill from there. The entree (philadephia steak) was bland, tasteless, and $38. It also took a very long time to come out. When the waitress (Kate) asked how it was, we were honest. Her response was "well, everybody else loves that one". When we suggested that was not helpful, as it effectively tells us that we are wrong not to like it, she became defensive and ultimately went off in a huff. If it would have ended there, we would have accepted it and moved on. However, a more senior waiter came over to ask what had happened. We told our story, and his response was to bring the check and suggest that we leave. We were ready to do this, but as we were wrapping up, the owner came over to get the check and asked us what had happened. Initially, we wanted to just let it go but he insisted he needed to know, so we shared again both experiences. His response was to simply take our credit cards and run them through. No apology or attempt to correct the situation. We left most of the steak on the table. read more

We were especially happy with the ambiance and service. The entrees and all but one appetizer was 5 stars. Two shrimp dishes, two tuna entrees and two shrimp and grits. I'd give a solid 4.5, but that doesn't seem to be an option on Yelp. Our only downside was the grilled octopus starter. Flavor was good, but extremely tough and hard to cut with a regular dinner knife. We will certainly be back ! read more

Amazing experience! Such a great time and great service. Will definitely be making a trip back.

We were two couples. All agreed it was just so so and yet VERY expensive. Two of us had the halibut and I thought it would be more seared it felt poached and yet somehow also a bit overcooked. pretty bland when I looked at it I could tell it wasn't gonna be great and when we tasted it, it wasn't. the pork chops were very good I must say. the bread pudding was fair for dessert. nothing to write home about and the price of $141 per couple (we did have some appetizers which were very good) was pretty shocking especially considering we brought our own wine. read more

Been a few times. First time was good. Short rib a bit fatty, large but fatty. Great artichoke hearts. Second time we had diver scallops (not worth the price) a sausage broccoli rabe (sausage dry) lacking spice.... Flavor. Last time it was ok. Chicken and waffles were unique but wouldn't order again. The escarole was very good. Pricey but byob. Hit or miss. read more

We moved to Bradley Beach Park end of June 2024 and have gone to Skratch Kitchen for dinner four times. It is a local BYOB restaurant. We have choices since there are a lot of places around. My husband and I have never had a bad meal here! It is one of the best restaurants we have ever eaten! My husband's family-owned restaurants all his life and they were amazing. That said, I am in awe of the chef. His food is different and his restaurant is different. We heard from some friends, go to La Mondina it is amazing, yes the food is good but the atmosphere is very typical. There is something very personal about Skratch. It is a smaller place, with a local vibe. La Mondina is good but it is very large and loud with very overpriced cocktails. Skratch Kitchen is small, quiet, personal, and intimate. The Chef cooks to the season and makes it eclectic and specific to the season (I like that). We love the cook-to-season using the ingredients that are in season to peak the flavors of each well-planned dish. We have had cajun clams, grilled artichoke hearts, mama's meatballs, stuffed rigatoni & shrimp, Tuscan Cod, and Fisherman's Stew, and a couple of specials named upon arrival. The menu changes and I appreciate that. All the dishes were superb to anything I have ever eaten. Hats off to the chef and our server on many occasions was Ally. She is friendly and engaged and her love of food helps when choosing from a tailored menu. I love it there. We recommended Skratch for a corporate dinner and they were happy! We will be back with friends and family! read more

I can't remember the last time I had such a perfect dining experience, from the first welcome, to the appetizers (wowza on the artichokes and the ricotta bruschetta), to the entrees (wowza on the parpadelle), to the personable service (the delightful Keaton), and the bonus of BYO. A lovely and delicious evening. Casual and classy read more

The food is great. One dish is better than the next. My favorite is their clam appetizer . The staff is also wonderful .

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS FOOD and even better service. We dined at Skratch Kitchen for the second time last night. I thought I had made a reservation but for some reason it may have been lost. HOWEVER, Shawn was incredible and figured out how to squeeze our party of 4 in before the table was booked for the next time slot. Shawn also described all the specials in great detail and even recommended the pork chops to one of our diners. 3 of us had the tuna special and 1 had the pork chop. Everyone was thrilled with their choice. I highly recommend the restaurant and be sure to ask for Shawn. BTW our apps and desserts were yummy too.! read more

Overpriced and unoriginal, even though the dishes descriptions are very colorful. Giving My stars to friendly staff only. Otherwise, the chef is yet to find his groove . Sorry . We ordered ravioli with eggplant, basil and mozzarella. The portion was pretty generous, but... the whole thing came floating in tomato sauce of pretty low quality , gave me and my husband instant indigestion. It resembled rather generic ratatouille then beautifully described ravioli dish. Disappointed 2. Stayed on a " safer side" and ordered Caesar salad tacos. The tacos were made out of potatoes ( acceptable ), but the filling consisted of shredded Romaine lettuce only ( with hard pieces not removed) , covered in what tasted as supermarket brand Caesar dressing , and 2 pieces of anchovy on top . Maybe I'm wrong , but nothing about this dish resembled the high end ( based on a price ) dish described on a menu I don't know.. maybe I'm being too harsh on this newly opened place with glowing 5 stars reviews ( from probably 6 friends of the family ), but I'm just not a fan on having TUMS for " desert" Sorry guys and good luck I hope your restaurant will survive in this economy and demand. read more