50 Best American Restaurants near Lakewood

“I wasn’t sure what to expect here, but I guess I’d call it a not-quite-balabus level steakhouse.
I went with 4 other people and ordered a steak which was okay, tasty but nothing crazy. When your paying their prices, a satisfactory steak just doesn’t cut it.
The design? Meh. And this was before all the competition came around. Now you really gotta up your game.
Not impressed by the ambience.
The service was ok too.
Listen though, I walked out with a full stomach, and that, my friend, always deserves 4 stars.“

“The other day my friends and I had the pleasure of eating at the Langhorn Steakhouse on Rt 70 in Lakewood. The meals were more than reasonably priced, and they were delicious. The staff was attentive, extremely friendly and courteous. Ty, the host, met us so amiably and showed us to our table. The server, Sharon B., was so attentive we never had to ask her for anything. Anything we needed she was right there to give it to us. We couldn't have asked for more.“

“When I arrived I wasn't expecting much. I sat at the bar and was greeted promptly. I asked what was good and was told that if I like Sushi that is was really good! So I ordered some. It was fantastic!!

Good food, fast service and great atmosphere! I am definitely coming back!“

“Wings were excellent, entertainment was fantastic, no cover,the band "Wallnutz" played a great variety of music, from the 50's right up to today, bartenders were excellent, general manager Stacey was accommodating and super personable, will definitely be back to chill and listen to an excellent band!!!“

“First time visit was very impressed with service, friendliness of staff and the food was outstanding. Restaurant nicely decorated for upcoming Valentines Day. Definitely will be back.“

“Amazing food, great service, it’s truly wonderful what this kitchen does for the community.“

“The best service and food.“

“Staff was very friendly. Food was very good. Prices reasonable. First time there and we didn’t know it was cash only or Venmo, but that’s ok. Will definitely be back“

“Came here for a quick, Sunday homestyle breakfast and was not disappointed at all. The atmosphere is unique, to say the least, but also gives a lot to start conversations amongst the table. Serving portions were superb and food was very tasty. I have seen other comments and reviews that were very negative and nasty, but everybody can have a bad day once in a while. They were complaining on the service and owner/waiter being rude and yelling. I've seen more positive ratings than negative ones. While not everybody has the same humor, people can definitely be some Debbie downers. All in all, we had a nice experience and enjoyed the food. Ihop who?? Lol will def be back!!!“

“Consistently Excellent as always ! Great food Great service. Menu has something for everyone ! Local items are featured.! Be back soon“

“Excellent food! Friendly service 🥰👍“

“Food was very tasty and exactly what you want and expect from a NJ diner. They had quite a few daily off menu specials and I went for a classic diner food. Chipped beef on toast, grits and coffee. All tasted really good.

Parking: Plenty of parking on premises

Kid-friendliness: Yes. Easily and happily welcomed“

“first time my wife and I were there for breakfast today the best bacon egg and cheese I ever had very clean courteous staff we will be back.“

“We went to masons, pretty much right before they closed on a Saturday (1am), and Jeremiah treated us (and everyone else) like we were royalty. He was kind, responsive, entertaining, and pretty much made my bad night considerably better. It was the first time we had been to the bar and will definitely not be the last, for us or our friends. We are officially sold <3“

“First visit today. Great breakfast and lunch menu. I had an omelet with home fries. Good was excellent. will definitely return!“

“Today was my first tome ver coming in to Wavershak’s. The owner of as super friendly and the sweet. I got the corned beef sandwich special. It was fantastic! I’ll be back for sure.“

“Fernando at the Brick location was an EXCELLENT server. So pleasant, kind and \nprofessional . Had the Pot Roast was in the mood for comfort food. The mashed potatoes and Pot Roast were absolutely delicious. Everyone loved their meals as well.“

“We took a long weekend to the Jersey Shore. We stopped in at Meg's Grill for breakfast. Clean, welcoming staff and a great breakfast! What else can you ask? Oh, and pet friendly.“

“We just picked up our first order,very good!👍👍👍“

“Amazing. We had our daughter’s sweet 16 last weekend at this venue and can not recommend this place enough! From the planning down to the nights end, the owner and his staff were incredibly attentive and bent over backwards to please! The food was excellent and plentiful, the venue was kept clean, the staff were on top of any soiled dishes and cups on the tables, and the outside area is gorgeous at night with the lights and waterfalls. There were small touches I wasn’t even aware of until the evening of our event. The mocktail bar for the kids had a menu where our daughter’s name was included in the names of all the drinks, flavors of the ice cream were more than the chocolate and vanilla other venues offer, the coffee was amazing, and the staff even helped clean our decorations at the end of the party. Everything I just mentioned and likely much more I’m forgetting at the moment all less expensive than most other venues we considered. Thank you again to Ravi and his staff for an incredible experience!“

“I’m always a happy customer. They’re always hospitable and friendly, and food is delish!!“

“Great Lobster and soup was delicious. I highly recommend“

“Went there with a party of 11. Everyone ordered something different and everyone's meal was excellent. And, the staff was extremely friendly and made everyone feel welcome. Wonderful experience.“

“The food is delicious 😋 The delicious food, the atmosphere and polite waitresses.“

“The fried calamari is the best!!!“

“The Food is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and Sandy and all her Employees are ALL SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE. We ALWAYS leave with a Full Belly and Heart.“

“Had a fantastic time on River Lady Cruises in Toms River, NJ! The history cruise was informative and engaging, the views were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the staff were wonderfully attentive. We can’t wait to do it again. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“

“Writing a review for Red Robin restaurant:

The service at Red Robin usually depends on who is serving. I had excellent and unprofessional service. The food is always great and 90% of the time no wait.We like it so we keep going.

Here’s a polished, balanced version of your review:

I’ve had mixed experiences at Red Robin, and it really depends on who’s serving you. On some visits, the service has been excellent—attentive, friendly, and efficient. Other times, it has felt unprofessional and lacking in care.

That said, the food is consistently great, which keeps us coming back. Most of the time (about 90%), there’s little to no wait, which is a big plus.

Overall, while the service can be hit or miss, the quality of the food and convenience make it a place we continue to visit.“

“Our server Diana tonight was fantastic. She was very personable, And brought our food out in a timely fashion. She came back to check on us many times. If I could give10 stars I would . When you find somebody that is good with customers they definitely need the recognition. We own our own private company and I would swoop her up in a heartbeat if I could for our family business. The gentleman that also brought us to our table was very outgoing and made small talk with us also. He was friendly and nice also. I didn’t get his name. He wore Gucci glasses that I commented on. 😊😊😊. My husband and I do reviews when someone goes over and beyond. Thank you for the pleasant experience.“

“My husband and I LOVE River Rock's outdoor dining. We enjoy seeing the boats coming and going while we eat. The Manasquan River is a beautiful sight. Any food items that we have ordered are delicious. Lauren Guenther is one of our favorite servers. She's a sweetheart. She's very friendly, personable, and very focused on what she's doing. We know Lauren from when she served at Carrabba's. She was very special to us back then as she is now. Being local residents, we visit River Rock frequently during the summer and we will ALWAYS request either Lauren or Kelsey Conover because we simply adore them both. River Rock is our outdoor Happy Place during the summer. 💗💗“

“I was attending a wedding in Lakewood, NJ. There are surprisingly very few hotels nearby there that aren't on the shore. I had in the past stayed at a Ramada in Toms River, but I learned that it had been sold and turned into an office building. For some reason, Lakewood has very few hotels. I had stayed at one of the only other nearby hotels, a Hilton, but it is overpriced. I saw the Days Hotel, and it got good reviews. The bride's grandmother told me a friend had stayed there and had given a good report, so I booked a reservation. The Days Hotel Toms River was a pleasant surprise. It was the cleanest hotel I've ever stayed in! No dirt, no signs of bugs. no stains in the bathtub! No cracked tiles or mismatched wallpaper. And I asked for maid service after the first night, and they gave it to me, complete with all fresh towels, bedding, and amenities, made the bed, vacuumed, and cleaned the coffee area, even not waiting until late in the afternoon, as some hotels do. And it looked like the hotel had just been redecorated. Not 1950s dreary with holes in the carpet and broken tiles in the bathroom. Very tasteful with light, simple colors: just the way I like it. The hotel was very quiet, no rowdy guests, and it was set back from the highway, so no road noise, as well. And a big parking lot in front (free) with no driving around and around for a space, even after I returned from the wedding late at night. And it is conveniently located to the main streets leading to Lakewood, which was important to me. Staff was nice, and there were two computers in the lobby with Internet + a printer for guests to use. It's a four-story hotel, and I had a room on the top floor, which I had requested. I had noticed before I left that the room rate (AAA - two double beds) since I made the reservation had gone down. I pointed that out when I checked in, and the agent behind the desk matched that rate. And there was always someone behind the desk, regardless of time of day. And they answered the phone!! There was a restaurant in the hotel that I didn't use, but they were very nice and gave me plastic silverware and disposable dishes so I could eat in my room the special-diet food I had brought. The room also had a large mini-fridge (that functioned well!) So overall I would say it was much better even than staying at the old Ramada. And better than the Hilton. at a much lower price. And 1, 000 times better than an old Best Western I stayed in once, which apparently is also kaput. Only complaint was that one of only two elevators was out of order, and it wasn't fixed the whole time I was there (3 days, 2 nights). But there usually wasn’t a wait for the other elevator.“

“Everything was amazing, the fried chicken has a lot of flavor, juicy, just perfect, the fries were very good not stale or soggy, and the fried Oreos were DELICIOUS!!! Not dry at all perfection, we got the family pack let me tell you get a bang for your buck so much food and so worth it!! Infinity /10 super good and definitely will be ordering again!!“

“I would give them 3 out of 5 stars. since the day they opened, inconsistent with food and drinks. one day the sliders are medium, the next well done. one day your $16 martini is full, the next it's missing the top inch of the drink. one day the pizza is ok, the next time is soup. last time the service was just ok. tonight she was great.“

“Very friendly staff and deliciously crafted food. This is no diner. You will get a great small town feel meal that is creative and delicious.“

“My wife and I had dinner here last night 2/11/2026. Service was fantastic and attentive warm and friendly. We loved the ambiance of a local restaurant/bar however the food elevated the whole experience. Buffalo wings were crispy and sauced perfectly. The steak bites delicious and the Mahgarita Pizza was amazing as well as the Zeppoles and Crème Brûlée for dessert. We will be back to try more“

“Amazingly friendly customer service, great food and coffee with a good selection of gluten free options.“

“Had an amazing pre wedding reception this past Friday and it was exceptional! Pinky was amazing with communication and was such a help the day of the event. Everything we requested they provided and worked with our budget. I would absolutely come back again forever grateful for them providing the space for a memorable night!“

“I highly recommend Hemingways it's good food and great music“

“Absolute favorite spot for pizza, clams on the half shell on the Jersey shore. They make an amazing stile of pizza with pico de Gallo on top, the crust is always thin and crispy! Also the best garlic bread I’ve ever had. My mom and I always try and come visit often from point plesant because it’s that much better here! Also super kind owner, and staff!“

“It can be a Great Experience depending on which Server you get. If you get the Rude one that treats you as if you are bothering them then you're Experience will Be Horrible! Be Careful the Rude Server will not even ask you if you need anything. No Refills! No Desserts! No Extra Tip😉“

“Wow! Today was my first time eating Mahana Fresh! DELICIOUS! I created my own bowl, but I’m looking forward to trying more ! Honestly my new obsession !! Don’t hesitate just try it ! Healthy and delicious 🤤“

“We have been going to HW in Manasquan for many many years, they never disappoint. I was in Robbinsville and thought why not have lunch at their new location there. I was very and thoroughly impressed. The ambiance is very cool and a great vibe. How they pulled off a mix cozy with a sports bar atmosphere is impressive. The service was great. Lila our server, was attentive and pleasant. The menu is deep but not too confusing. Steaks, Sandwiches, Seafood, they offer a wide variety for anyone taste. Our food was delicious. It's a hidden gem. I would recommend you get there and experience it for yourself before word gets out. Otherwise you will need reservations. Parking is abundant with reserved spaces for HW. Good stuff!“

“The atmosphere Is Beautiful and the food was amazing I got the special which was ribs with mac & cheese and they were so tender, and the mac & cheese was delicious our waiter was friendly (young man with curly hair) and it felt very homey in there on a rainy day drinks were very good too“

“Really good chicken fingers.“

“Recently was at Thursday burger night. Had drinks appetizers and burgers. Good food friendly service. Very reasonable prices. Will go back.“

“Mindahya, the sweet bartender took care of me. I’m sorry if I’m spelling her name wrong
She was wonderful! Cheerful, kind, professional, happy, & working hard.
Thank you!
My lunch special chicken sandwich was very good
Would prefer it a little hotter next time.
Thank you!“

“Definitely come eat breakfast here! The food is delicious and reasonably priced. The staff is very attentive and polite. This place is an American classic“

“Love what you did in support of the young man being harassed with racial slurs! My family and I will be visiting you soon! Thank you!“