Moonstruck
Moonstruck is a restaurant and cocktail lounge in downtown Asbury Park. According to Zagat, it is "delicious American-Mediterranean food with a flair." Housed in a multilevel Victorian home, Moonstruck serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Guests can enjoy the first-floor bar and cocktail lounge, complete with live music, or the second-story main dining room for an intimate meal. The third story is used for additional dining usually during the summer months when the city is busier with tourists. On the menu are dishes such as whole wheat pizza topped with mozzarella, grape tomatoes and crushed olives; lemon-rosemary marinated roast pork tenderloin; and whole wheat penne with asparagus, broccoli, green peas, leeks, fresh basil, goat cheese, cream and toasted breadcrumbs.
Moonstruck
517 Lake Ave.
Asbury Park, NJ 07712-7107
732-988-0123
moonstrucknj.com
Bistro Ole
Bistro Ole serves what it calls "Latin infused Spanish Portuguese cuisine." Located on Main Street in downtown Asbury Park, Bistro Ole is open Tuesdays through Sundays for dinner. This BYOB restaurant is small and intimate with dark cherry wood accents and white-linen-topped tables. For appetizers, Bistro Ole serves the likes of calamari, picadillo (stuffed sweet plantains), verde clams and chorizo. As for entrees, choices include the center cut pork chops with sauteed Spanish onions and cherry tomatillos, the filet mignon topped with a cabrales cream sauce, the fresh sea bass in a mild pine nut sauce and the "Ropa Vieja," or shredded beef with rice, black beans and sweet plantains.
Bistro Ole
230 Main St.
Asbury Park, NJ 07712-7017
732-897-0048
bistroole.com
Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room
The Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room has an interesting interior of exposed unfinished brick, cement and plywood walls. The cuisine at Brickwall's is quality comfort food paired with an extensive drink list. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner with the bar area staying open until the wee hours of the morning. On the menu in the dining room are entrees such as seared tuna, short ribs and hanger steak, plus salads like the roasted pear, iceberg wedge and Cobb salad. The tavern portion of the menu has more bar-styled options like mini burgers, turkey chili, kielbasas, chicken pot pie and meatloaf.
Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room
522 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park, NJ 07712-7140
732-774-1264
brickwalltavern.com
