Asbury Park is the top dining destination down the Jersey Shore, based on the results of New Jersey Monthly’s Jersey Choice Best Restaurant Poll for 2018.
The seaside city has emerged as a force on the Jersey dining scene in recent years. In the 2018 poll, Asbury Park restaurants received the most votes among Central Jersey restaurants in 10 categories.
Along the Shore, Asbury Park was followed in the poll by Cape May (winner in nine categories); Point Pleasant Beach (six categories) and Atlantic City (five).
Nine different Asbury Park restaurants accounted for the city’s 10 wins. Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten topped the bar scene and beer selection categories. Other winners in AP were the Mediterranean-themed Reyla (best new restaurant); Toast (breakfast); Pascal & Sabine (French); Taka (Japanese); Cubacan (Latin American); Barrio Costero (Mexican); the Speakeatery (soup/salad/sandwich); and the WindMill (hot dog). The latter also has Shore locations in Long Branch and Belmar.
Like Asbury Festhalle, several Shore restaurants topped more than one category. Winners in multiple categories were Buddakan, Atlantic City (Asian fusion and Southeast Asian/Thai); 410 Bank Street, Cape May (Caribbean/Southern and French); the Turning Point, Long Branch and Sea Girt (breakfast and brunch); and Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties (Italian-style deli and caterer).
In addition to the poll winners, New Jersey Monthly named its Top 30 Best Restaurants for 2018. The Top 30 included two Shore restaurants—Modine in Asbury Park and Poached Pear Bistro in Point Pleasant Beach.
Balloting for the Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll took place from January 22-February 28, exclusively at njmonthly.com. The winning restaurant in each of three regions (north, central and south) received the most votes in its category.
If you want people to visit Asbury Park, kick out the residents.