Looking to go out in Asbury Park, but you're not sure where to go? Don't worry, the Two Dopes from Jersey have got you covered!
Purple Glaze Donuts
Purple Glaze, all in our brains! This donut shop sells an extensive selection of vegan donuts, as well as traditional and over-the-top decadent donuts. The go-to donuts for us at Purple Glaze are off of their Fancy & Filled Menu. Some of our favorites are the Holey Cannoili donut with chocolate icing, chocolate chips and cannoli filling and the French Toast Donut with cinnamon, sugar, cream cheese filling & maple drizzle.
Barrio Costero:
Barrio Costero takes a contemporary approach to coastal Mexican traditions. Their seasonal menu is filled with a lot of delicious small plates and entrees. The Beef Cheek tacos with grilled pineapple, onion, cilantro & salsa verde and the Braised Short Rib are some of our favorite items. They also have a great margarita selection, one of our favorites being the Barrio Margy, with blanco tequila, mescal, lime and agave. Two Dopes Tip: ask for it to be rimmed with the fennel salt!
Modine:
Modine has been getting a lot of amazing press for their smoked fried chicken & with good reason! The newsworthy fried chicken is deliciously cold smoked with a buttermilk brine topped with a hot honey drizzle. The rest of the menu, which is heavily influenced by the south, is loaded with classics like mac & cheese, biscuits and pimento cheese.
Confections of a Rock$tar:
Confections of a Rock$tar screams all things rock & roll. Kimmee Masi, a rockstar in her own right, has created something truly special in this bakery. Our go-to is the chocolate covered bacon, which is without a doubt the best chocolate covered bacon we’ve ever had. The cupcakes are also incredible and have hilarious rockin’ names like “S’more Than a Feeling” and “oREO Speedwagon”.
Frank's Deli:
If you're looking for a delicious and classic breakfast, Frank's Deli is your joint! They serve one of the best pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches around. The staff is always friendly to regulars and newcomers alike. If its your first time going, make sure to let them know because they might even give you their world famous jelly donut as a welcoming gift. The genuine and local vibe keeps us coming back, and it doesn't hurt that their egg creams are just as fantastic as the food!
Porta:
Porta is as diverse as the food scene in Asbury Park with its outdoor area dubbed “Porta Park" and a large eating hall that transforms into a club at night. They are widely known for their deliciously authentic Neapolitan pizzas, but our favorite menu item is the pan-roasted day boat octopus with fingerling potatoes on a fennel salad in a delicious lemon sauce. Two Dopes Tip: Order a side of bread, you'll need it to soak up the sauce!
Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten:
The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten has been written up as one of the best beer gardens in the country. The food & beer menus are epically large and overflow with flavors from Eastern Europe. It is perfectly located in an old rustic warehouse that is filled with large wooden tables, great live music and a rooftop bar with incredible views. Just be warned: the atmosphere is so incredible, that once you walk in, its hard to leave!
Talula’s:
Bread is an art form here and this philosophy is clearly baked into the crust of their pizzas. We have a sweet spot, so our favorite pie is “The Beekeeper’s Lament” with hot soppressata, mozzarella and local honey. The family style seating and rustic décor at Talula’s creates a laid back, comfortable environment where sharing food is easy & even encouraged!
The Wonder Bar:
The Wonder Bar is easily recognized by the iconic smiling face of “Tillie” painted on its side. Known as a classic New Jersey music venue, its often filled with great live music and dogs. Yes, you read the right: Dogs. In the warmer months, the Wonder Bar has a very unique Yappy Hour, which is a glorious outdoor happy hour for you and your favorite 4-legged furry friends. Two Dopes Tip: If you go hungry, get their Wonder Burger! It is a greasy delight!
Pop's Garage & Asbury Park Yacht Club:
Located on the boardwalk, Pop's Garage is the perfect spot to cool down on a hot summer day. Walk right off the beach and get some refreshingly delicious, no-frill tacos. We also go crazy for their Cuban Grilled Jersey Corn, which is a must try!
Cross & Orange
Cross and Orange's menu is as diverse as it is loaded with fresh and seasonal ingredients. The goal of the restaurant is to pay homage to the "cultural and culinary diversity caused by the influx in immigration to New York during the 1800s" and we have to say they nailed it. We really enjoyed the Slow Cooked Pork Ragu and the truffle burrata with asparagus, tomatoes, watermelon, & balsamic.
Salvation:
Salvation sits on the roof of the very cool Asbury Hotel, providing spectacular views of Asbury Park and the Atlantic Ocean. There is also really comfortable seating and a great drink menu, making it one of our favorite spots to hang out on a beautiful day. Two Dopes Tip: Its a beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
Betty’s Icebox:
Betty’s Icebox serves some wickedly delicious shave ice and can be found on wheels though out Asbury Park, or at its store location in the Convention Hall. The shave ice is made to order and all of the syrups are natural, vegan, gluten and lactose free. They also have artisan ice pops, cotton candy, popcorn and a variety of candies. After a long hot day on the beach, it is the perfect retreat to escape the summer sun and cool off.
Reyla:
Reyla is a mediterranean restaurant in a gorgeous space on Mattison Ave. The menu is full of unique and delicious options like pickled blueberries served with pita or a citrus quinoa cake served with avocado, deviled egg, whipped feta & mustard dressing. The cocktail menu is fantastic and the Tongue Thai'd made with gin & watermelon is easily one of our favorites!
Asbury Lanes:
Whether you're looking for a fun game of bowling, a rock concert or a satisfying meal, Asbury Lanes has got you covered! This classic Asbury Park music venue has recently reopened their doors and we're loving everything about it. The Diner makes a fantastic Classic BLT with some of the best, thick cut bacon around and the overwhelmingly delicious pork roll waffle sandwich oozes everything Jersey.
Taka
If you're looking for sushi in Asbury Park, this is where to go! And while we love the sushi here, the menu also includes a lot of other great traditional Japanese options. We really enjoy the pan seared scallops with miso and mustard sauce. One of our favorite dishes is the Fried Chicken Katsu Sandwich off of their lunch menu, which is served with wasabi coleslaw & delicious purple sweet potato fries.
Asbury Park Distilling:
Asbury Park Distilling is the area's first distillery since prohibition. If that isn't reason enough draw you in, we're not sure what would be. The distillery and tasting room is a fun boozy stop and while you can taste the gin, vodka and bourbon straight up, we keep coming back because of their inventive cocktail menu. The cocktails feature their hand-crafted spirits and all of the other ingredients, including the bitters, syrups and tonics are made in house by the staff.