THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY

THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY

JULY 20, 2017 BY ELAHEH NOZARI

Asbury Park has many reputations — some know it as the slightly grungy home of The Stone Pony, the music venue where Bruce Springsteen got his start, while others consider it the best damn beach town on the Jersey Shore (a hotly contested topic in the Garden State). A slightly newer reputation? One of the best dining destinations in the state.

While the food scene in Asbury Park used to consist of boardwalk staples like fried Oreos and sausage & pepper sandwiches, in recent years, the town has grown to offer restaurants that are a cut above those in neighboring beach towns. From a Neapolitan pizzeria to an Instagram-famous deli, these are the best restaurants in Asbury Park.

TOAST
If you drive through downtown Asbury Park on a weekend morning, you’ll likely see a hangry, slightly hungover, crowd of people waiting on the sidewalk outside of Toast, an upscale diner known for its breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The speciality here is pancakes, available in buttermilk, chocolate chip, strawberry, red velvet, and carrot cake varieties, though the challah French toast stuffed with Nutella is a wise choice if you have a sweet tooth. The rest of the menu skews towards typical Americana fare — build-your-own burgers, three-cheese grilled cheese, and eggs Benedict.