livingloving's Profile
Beasty Burgers - Red Bank
Was owed lunch by a co worker so we went to Beasty . I am a burger person and frequently disappointed by most, gotta recommend the burger here. They use Prime meat and you can taste it. To the tool who groused about it without trying it stick to Burger king pal. Not a fan of the owner but wisely he outsourced the kitchen to someone who knows what he's doing. Had the
Guinness Cheddar Bacon burger. The cheese sauce doesn't taste of that nasty beer but brings out the sharpness of the cheese without bringing out the separated oil . Fries were crispy and decent but I tasted too much oil aftertaste Bun was nicely toasted and the lettuce tomatoe onion were sparse but thinly sliced and the pickle a good one. I asked I'd they used Hellmans which they do and they had to get from the basement; weird but it was Hellmans. Ordered med-rare and was cooked perfectly. Their differentiation is that they sear one side nice with a nice crust then flip and cook the other side in the Au -Jus which makes the burger very soft and very wet and juicy. The Au Ju really. Is unneeded IMHO because the burger was really juicy to repeat. I would give my burger a 9.
Sienna Grill, Red Bank (formerly Two If By Sea)
Sienna like most new places it can sometimes take a while to hit your stride. They are an above average neighbor hood friendly place. The burgers arre delicious the menu should be explored but you'll be hard pressed to find a better value then on their half priced Wed. Heidi, the bartender is one of the greatest ever and you should see her bartend.. love her!! Jimmy the owner is a salt of the earth nice guy who is approachable and trying. Give it a shot.
Pazzo's Red Bank
Pazzo is a welcome new place which I have found to be uneven and inconsistent but they seem to be trying to get it together. Try the margherita Pizza and the chicken Savoy. It can get very cougar ville complete with aged Jersey Shore refugees.
Pizza in Monmouth County
Nunzios closes for the month of Feb. and when you go there you'll see why it doesn't have a web site. It closes at 8:30 I believe I can take partial credit for igniting the flame of Nunzios. I repeat get a plain with extra cheese and a special and put on a little salt and pepper and its IMHO pizza ecstacsy. Chop chop is a nice old school antipasti cross with iceberg salad it works. Try a parfait and then run 5 miles the next day. Try Luigis of Little Silver for pie get the rectangle with extra cheese
Best Pizza in N.J.
I have to agree after reading about Delorenzos for 10 years in Zagat's It's off the chart I have to say best in NJ and i have been to many. I went to the Robbinsville location which was nice BTW
Bagel Recommendations in Central NJ?
bagel oven red bank one of the few places still using malt in its ingredients. they hold up to splitting freezing also the best deal in monmoth county buy 15$ of deli boars head normal prices and in some items cheaper get a dozen bagels free about 10$ value. hot bagel oakhurst which are fatter and a bit less chewy are a somewhat distant 2nd imho.
Via 45 ~ Red Bank
i didn't particularly care for this place. I dont know why rb has such bad italian Buona Sera, Sogno { just closed} Dannys, gaetanos, pastaria, buyer beware at all of these youve been warned worked in rb over 20 years can someone make it like grandma or whoever. I see a lot of mexican chefs behind the stoves at a lotta these places and theres not an italian in sight working the sauce. and no im not being racist just an observation. have yet to be blown away by an italian in rb to the poster mr bingley the food at downtown is pretty bad IMHO Red is better
Pizza in Monmouth County
no it isn't its been around since the 50's and looks like the pizza place in the opening Sopranos credits. i like the plain with extra cheese IMHO the regular is a little light on the cheese. there was a rumor that it used to be a place that took numbers back in the day and they started making pizza as a cover. Gotta love it jersey mob/pizza lore.
get the chop chop salad and the extra cheese and say hi to snooky the owner/wife
Any Armenian restaurants in NJ?
try zaaitooni in red bank on mechanic street more middle eastern but I think youll find a fix for some of those cravings. very clean place never have had a piece of rusty lettuce on my greek salad with grilled chicken eat them once a week for over a year
weekend breakfast
I second the in between in red bank. Bob the owner/chef is very good and has never made me an under or overcooked over medium no small feat their fried potatoes are best around,try the 3 eggs with pancetta delicous.. pepperry. chewy. Zoes in atlantic highlands I haven't seen mentioned I know it has gotten lumped up before on this board but I like it i wish the potatoes were more like in btwn If your there for lunch at zoes must get the potatoe salad best in monmouth county if u care
Crazies Ice Cream Rumson NJ
I believe they use Thomas Sweet ice cream which is good. This placed was /is owned by a local Rumson legend who passed away who was known as a very large hearted kinda crazy man. he was once arrested for alledgedly going with a rifle to rid the world of Ivan Boesky He also was rumored to have anonomously bought a teacher who was retiring from Henry Hudson his dream car a Ferrari Tom Selleck model 308 GTS I remember reading he was on trial it was revealed he was on lithium for health disorders. I appreciate someone who can laugh at himself and I think of John every time I ride by. he was a good man and had a nice ice cream place worth trying
Twin Lght Bakery in Atlantic Highlands
i like this place if the poster above thinks this place is expensive flaky is way worse. I think these are apple and orange bakerys. And in case you other chow hounders haven't noticed bakerys offering decent fresh baked goods are a rarity in these parts. please try this place and try a few of your favorites . I have had mostly positive things here. live locally ....have yet to try the bread ....on a red banks farmers mkt Panzanella kick. always on the sugar search and when you walk in it smells good. I really liked the cream puffs chocolate covered of course they have plain. The last time it didn;t taste as terrific but better than your avg. grocery offering and whole foods which I have found to be expensive and lame. Not everything is great cheesecake was very airy yet looked like a traditional ny style kind of a head fake and I would steer clear napoleans which are kind of an aberdeen proving ground IMHO of a bakerys skill and this one was good worth the run the next day i will dutifully report my other findings in future posts. to be fair and democratic I like flaky tart and know Marie personally the macaroons the choc chips the key lime and chocolate cream tarts top shelf worth the dough $$$$ other things not so sure 4.50 for a brownie really? not that great. I think there's room for both to succeed and I want both... call me greedy.. no a chowhound!
its heavy butter and sugar here and has been known to put me into a sleep/food coma . be careful with the cinnamin bun with raisins sinful yet narcolepsy ensues after two LOL
Best Cheesesteak in SJ?
try Ciao Bella Navesink, If you want to trek to white house be forewarned they lost their lustre. I generally find a good pizza place usually turns out a respectable one ask for provolone and try a california style with let. tom. mayo gotta be Hellmans check
Pizza in Monmouth County
I read and heard that 4 new pizzerias are opening near term in red bank. lets hope and pray collectively someone(S) gets it right. Since I work there I'm happy. Here goes my current favorite taking the mantle held by Nunzios in Long Branch in for about the last 8 years or so to Frankie Feds. I believe all pizza needs to be eaten right out of the oven your mouth blisters are temporary remember that..Feds is cracker thin yet chewy with a little pull to it. it also has a slightly wetter feel to it than Pete and Eldas which I like but feel its over hyped. mad hatter Sea Bright similar story. I do like Jimmies Asbury park Vals, Brothers try the white with fresh sliced tomato and garlic trust me. Also if your in a i wanna be indulgent try a New England at Luigis Little Silver...Mr Pizza have to mention wife and kids love I'm neutral...Like front Street Trattoria try the mexican if again your in the non neopolitan or sicilian. I also have to mention Ciao Bella Navesink Ceaser and Paulie Lubrano formerly of Lubranos two of the nicest restauranteurs you'll meet Ceaser will spin pies and talk Yankees or politics sometimes both at the same time.. try the chicken vodka sauce or chicken alfredo but don't miss the sicil;iian with extra cheese. Have to finally mention Vesuvios Belmar Ruvolos welcome newcomer to the highlands area good luck to all the above and all chowhounders in their search for the perfect pizza or meal
Best burger in Mon/OC?
went to Boom finally. Not that impressed. Meat quality was good but the overall impression was a better quality wendys. disappointed
Broad St Filling Station - Red Bank NJ
have had 2 good sandwiches here and would say its worth a try and they have different combinations. I do like sandwiches that are proprtioned well and here they definitely are.
Very Good to Great Shore Restaurants that are BYO's
Giannas Ciao Bella Navesink Fishery
Best burger in Mon/OC?
my favorites are Basil T jamians Sienna Grill cant wait to try Boom I think Barnacles is overated and I think my favorie is Belford Bistro oh and I like Bellas too. Does anyone know of a great cheeseburger sub in monmouth co.
Copper Canyon 8 Days a Week
I agree the salsa and chips are worth paying for. That said I love the steak they do tend to undercook the steak. I usually enjoy med rare like any good carnivore but I order it med, here. I have not heard any raves for the spring rolls with black bean red onion and chorizio on top of the hottest and best asian slaw phenominal.The salad with the chile pecans is excellent. Lunch has a great deal and the steak chicken or pork taios are money. I once had a chocolate mousse that had some powdery spicy chile pepper that might sound wierd but afrer a meal like what I have layed out it/s heaven. I wish they wouldn't keep rasing their dinner prices.
:) Crab Cakes Anyone?
Belford Bistro had according to my discerning wife the best she ever had...
Zoe's Vintage Kitchen - Atlantic Highlands
like every place Zoes has it's bad days but I have had consistently good food there with good friendly service. I will keep my rants and rave short and sweet..excellent omelets french toast turkey club. The potato salad is the best I've had out in Monmouth county. They use Hellmans..The owner is friendly and is always welcoming to my family and they genuinely try. Homemade desserts are 1/3 to 1/2 the flaky tarts prices and I enjoy them.
Garden salad with chicken and the greek salad are very fresh and good. My few rants are no pickle spear served with sandwich(Nice half sour would be perfect) homefries generally lacking in flavor and well doneness. I think people want a nice crispy well done pile to go with their eggs etc. it would be more congruent with the rest of the plate. I almost forgot when hungover try the English breakfast or the fishermans you'll thank me one day. This is a nice asset in an area bereft of a decent breakfast. Please support smaller MOM AND POPs and leave IHOP and Perkins for the non chowhounds. PS order your bacon well done
Review of Ama, Atlantic Highlands
I went to Ama after my wife raved about the shrimp risotta and my kids eating everything in sight. My wife is a fantastic cook and is generally not impressed by most places with a few exceptions. My dinner was very good although I hate to start a whole quality versus quanity debate but I feel that the 18$ orechiate with broccoli rabe is good but it was a small amount as was my chicken milanese. Please don't say to go to Buona Sera UUGH but if the owner is reading put another piece of chicken on or put some more pasta in the bowl. I came away after dropping 120 no drinks feeling a bit slighted I shouldn't be hungry coming from any italian(food cost)IMHO
Frankie Feds in Freehold?
I agree with Shabbystorm. Right out of the oven I think this pie is better IMHO than Pete and Elda's. Very moist versus dry P&Elda's. I think this place is top 3 in Monmouth County.
