Whale Sighting in Manasquan: The Salty Whale & Guesthouse

The Salty Whale & Guesthouse
Manasquan
390 East Main Street
732-592-3344

Open: Mon-Sun, 11:30 AM- 2 AM (Kitchen closes at 10 PM)

Price: $$

Style: Beach-house chic, with distressed shiplap walls and exposed wood-beam ceiling. Nautical accents, such as ship wheels and vintage paintings of beach scenes, adorn the walls. The bar is underlit by colorful rotating lights.

The Scoop: In 2018, Driftwood Hospitality bought the space previously occupied by the Manasquan Beach House and O’Neill’s Bar, Grill & Guesthouse and refurbished it. The restaurant part, the Salty Whale, opened in June. The guesthouse part is still in the works. Rooms will be available for next summer.

The Menu: Landlubbers and seafarers alike will find something to love on this menu. Whale Tavern Wings ($12) come with a choice of two sauces, Caribbean Buffalo or Bourbon BBQ. The Jack Talk Thai mussels (pictured), served with Thai green curry, coconut milk and chili cilantro, make a zesty start to your meal. Sandwich and burger choices abound. The Cali chicken sandwich ($12) combines grilled chicken, avocado, candied bacon and bourbon BBQ sauce, bringing West Coast flair to the Shore. The dinner menu includes a variety of entrées, such as a prime French bone-in pork chop ($26) and a mahi-mahi bowl with bok choy, sushi rice and red coconut-curry glaze ($25).

Heads Up: Parking is available in an adjacent lot.