A time to celebrate the best in Jersey Shore dining
Hello again, foodie friends! Are you ready for Jersey Shore Restaurant Week?
Actually 10 days, Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is a time for Monmouth and Ocean counties to attract new diners and treat regulars to special, prix fixe menus. More than 50 restaurants, from casual burger spots to fine-dining restaurants, are participating; the twice-yearly event starts Friday and runs through May 1.
I spent time this week perusing menus, and here’s what I would order: short rib quesadillas and churros with dark chocolate sauce at Branch Cantina in Long Branch; chicken tikka masala at The Black Swan in Asbury Park; shrimp and grits at The Shrimp Box in Point Pleasant Beach; and pork belly burnt ends at Jersey Shore BBQ, also in Point Pleasant Beach.
The restaurants will offer three-course meals for lunch or dinner – some offer both – and while I certainly don’t need a reason to go out to eat, this is a great time to try a new place.
Prices are either $30.22 or $40.22, not bad for a three-course meal (I think it’s worth more than that to have someone else cook dinner and do the dishes!).
Here’s what else is happening in the local food scene.
Centrada preparing to open in the former Downtown in Red Bank
Fans of Catch 19 in Red Bank already are familiar with the team behind Centrada, a pan-Latin restaurant nearing its opening date in the West Front Street space that previously housed The Downtown.
The Esperto Hospitality group — President John DiLeo, Vice President Anthony DiLeo, Chief Operating Officer Anthony Fiorentino and Chef/Vice President of Culinary Norman Reola — that runs Catch has been renovating the three-story space for months and plan to open in the coming weeks.
There are more than 200 seats spread throughout the restaurant, which will have a heavy emphasis on tequila and serve dishes like paella made with risotto, king crab empanadas, Spanish arancini, ceviche and an American wagyu tomahawk.
“I want our guests to feel the vibrancy of the Latin culture, taste the strong flavors and feel the warmth of getting together to enjoy good food,” Reola said.
Chofi Beach brings a North Jersey favorite to the Shore
Remember when birria tacos took off last year?
Patrick and Kim Flammia had something to do with it, at least in New Jersey. The couple had tried the crispy tacos, which are served with savory broth for dunking, in Los Angeles and Mexico and knew they’d be a hit back home.
They started making and selling them at Smorgasburg, a weekly open-air food market in Brooklyn, and their tacos were a hit. The Flammias opened Chofi Taco in Union City in March 2020, and this summer will bring their dishes to Monmouth Beach, with a new restaurant called Chofi Beach.
“It was always a dream to have multiple concepts,” Patrick said. “We’re still going to serve the birria tacos, that’s still a beach item in Mexico, but (we will) also have a focus on seafood.”
Diners can expect a taco-focused BYOB restaurant that also serves aquachile and ceviche, “something that’s fun to eat before or after the beach,” he said.
Look for Chofi Beach on Beach Road.
A dish you have to try…
Earlier this year, I was in Long Branch’s Pier Village for an interview at Salt Steakhouse (what a beautiful restaurant!). I needed lunch before hopping on the Parkway and paid my first visit to nearby Hummus Republic.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you I still think about the dish I had: street-style sweet potato fries topped with eggplant, fried jalapeños, chickpea croutons, kale salad, pickled red cabbage, olives, feta and tahini.
If you love toppings like I do, this is a must-try. The sweetness from the fries, the crunch of the chickpeas, the salt from the olives and feta, and the creaminess of the tahini make for such a delicious dish. It doesn’t get much better.
On that delicious note, have a great week! Thank you so much for reading. Until next time, find more local food stories at:
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Sarah Griesemer is a food writer for app.com. Email her at [email protected]. For more on where to eat and drink, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: A time to celebrate the best in Jersey Shore dining
