50 Best American Restaurants near Lavallette

“So cute inside and out! Our food was DELICIOUS and all of the staff was super friendly! Will go again for sure!“

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

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

“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.“

“The fried calamari is the best!!!“

“The food, Service, and atmosphere were all excellent. The fresh brewed tea is spot on. The Firecracker sauce is Devine and you can't go wrong with the wedge salad. Not a bad thing I can say from my experience.“

“I had an amazing experience at Ohana Grill during Restaurant Week! Their prix fixe menu was absolutely superb—from start to finish, every dish was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. The portions were generous, the presentation was beautiful, and the service made the whole experience even better. This was my first visit, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll absolutely be back!“

“We heard about Castaways from some friends and had to give it a try. The drinks were a little expensive but maybe because we had several and it added up. The food was better than good and my wife commented that the fish was cooked perfectly. Our waitress was prompt and courteous. It was a good time and that’s what we look for during the winter.“

“Absolutely delicious. One of the best lobster risotto and stuffed shrimp entrees I have ever had. & The calamari appetizer was mouth watering! The staff is so kind— the waitress Marchella is HILARIOUS and very attentive. Don’t walk… RUN to Dina’s.“

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

“Great dinner as response service class act! Loved appetizers and filet and shrimp special excellent“

“James was our server and he was amazing, outgoing very attentive. We had a great time and we will be coming back and hope he is our server again!!!!“

“great food great service great ambiance ....I'll be back“

“The best service and food.“

“Kevin our server was outstanding, personable, fun and explained the menu to us like every restaurant should, what a pleasure to have a friendly waiter that had a great personality. We will be regulars at the Rest. Thanks again Kevin, my mom really enjoyed it.“

“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!!!“

“This was our second cruise but first as a Sunset dinner cruise.
The captain was very friendly. Table service was great. Our only wish was that there were more menu options, like meat, besides chicken and salmon, but i think if this happens the price of the River Lady Cruises would go even more up and, in this case, not everyone would be able to afford River Lady Cruises.“

“We had Kate & Ally’s cater a party at our local community center for 100 people. Everything from securing the date, choosing the menu, the food, and the service was top notch! I am so happy we were able to provide such high quality and creative food, but also, to have had the opportunity to just enjoy the party while the Kate and Ally staff handled it all from set up to clean up! Huge thank yous to Dianne, Lindsay, Janet, and Rich for all their hard work to help make my event special!“

“Houlihan's Tuesday special for $14.99 was chicken tenders with French Fries. I received 6 large tenders and a plate full of crispy fries. The Chicken Taco Soup was delicious too. There was even enough to take home for another meal! Nicole is an excellent server!“

“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.“

“What is referred by my brother-in-law i was not disappointing“

“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.“

“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.“

“Perfect way to spend my Birthday dinner Year after year! Always perfect service and food/drinks.“

“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.“

“Wife and I took a day trip to Seaside Heights; wanted something a little more substantial than boardwalk fare to cap off our beach day. TripAdvisor rated Klee’s highly, so we decided to give it a try and we weren’t disappointed. Maybe a 15 minute wait for our table, and Shannon took very good care of us while we were there. Food was a good temperature when served and was delicious; I had the fish & chips platter and Dee had the flounder off the daily specials menu. Would highly recommend and look forward to a return visit next time we’re in town.“

“The breakfast is excellent at the Riverside Cafe . Their pancakes are among the best I have ever had with great texture and flavor, (no need for syrup). I also liked their egg sandwiches and homemade hash browns. Looking forward to trying more food from here. It is nice to have friendly service while enjoying the view of the boats as they move through the inlet.“

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

“Excellent food! Friendly service 🥰👍“

“So it is Friday 11: 20 pm i ordered pretzel bites with cheese and chicken fingers with honey mustard. You know, at 5 stars, I gotta give it 3, not bad. Not bad at all. I've had better, but this is this is acceptable very acceptable. And the bartenders that were there, the 2 girls, the brunette and the blonde hair girl, which served me was amazing. At her job considering she was dealing with 15 other drunk people in the bar. I was not intoxicated while I was there to stare to give food. But good job, guys, keep it up your bartenders. There are pretty damn good.They handle a situation, especially when there's only two em in there“

“I just wanted to reach out & thank your staff on duty from Friday 8/18 Especially Rod/Ron the Manager (my apologies I don't remember his name exactly) for outstanding customer service! We were at the restaurant Friday evening. It was the last night of our family Seaside Vacation and our first time dining at The Sawmill. We were seated promptly(young hostess with curly hair and an air cast), drinks & food orders were taken very quickly(female server with dark curly hair and an accent). Our beverages came out in a flash, and our appetizers were moments behind. When my teenage son reached across for some tasty pretzel bites...he knocked his full orange soda into his lap (and shirt) , onto the floor, & even onto me! We sent him to the restroom to try and clean himself up while we motioned for help, we didn't want anyone to slip on the wet floor! Within seconds your staff responded in the best possible way. Your manager was mopping up the floor, our server was bringing a replacement soda, one of the ladies bussing tables hustled over with towels. By the time my son returned from the restroom my husband and I were discussing how to proceed (Run back to the house to change or by new clothes on the boardwalk) when Rod/Ron appeared on bended knee next to my son with Sawmill t-shirts in tow asking his size so he could change his shirt. My son initially refused because; it was "all his fault & he didn't deserve it" but; Rod/Ron persisted and convinced my son that these kinds of things happen to everyone. A point I was just making to my child, when my son heard this he accepted. The way your staff responded in the moment took what could have been an awful end to our vacation into a very bright spot because of how attentive and supportive your staff was. It means more than you will ever know. Please take a moment & thank your staffers on our behalf. Thank you, Monica, Andy, & AJ Mossey“

“Great place ! Music and TVs for the games outside what can be better at the beach !“

“Delivered a boat by water there a fee days ago. The Harbor Master. (I forget his name) was very helpful, friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. Even as a non member he treated me and my partner kindly as we delivered a boat for someone else.“

“They are amazing with their staff and the owners care about their employees,👏👏👏best beer selections in town.“

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

“Best Stewart's Root Beer anywhere“

“The cheesesteaks were delicious, but I wished I noticed the disgusting fan that was above the ordering counter before I ate there. The fan is full of so much thick dust that I felt sick after eating there. Makes you wonder if the kitchen is really clean.“

“My favorite restaurant in this area. Food is great as well as pricing, service and atmosphere. If you haven’t been there yet, give it a try. You will not be disappointed!“

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

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

“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“

“Great atmosphere for sure. 3 different bars to choose from. Stopped by for a quick bite after a long day of travel because it was walking distance, but the food was just okay. The effort is definitely not there food wise, but it's my first trip to the Shore, so I can't really compare it to any other food spots. At $20 bucks a head for food, it's too expensive for what you get.“

“Found this spot after a cycling event. The service was quick, the food was fresh and delicious. We ordered the Salmon frittata and the Kale frittata and split the lemon ricotta pancakes w/fresh strawberries. Lots of fresh & seasonal options for even the pickiest eaters. Would definitely visit First Watch when I am in the area.“

“What a gem! Super cute venue, perfect for intimate gathering or workshops! The food is amazing, the staff is the greatest and the atmosphere is very warm and inviting! Really enjoyed my time there!“

“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!“

“The food is great. The service is very professional. I highly recommend the gyros and the fried chicken.“

“The food here is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Fresh ingredients, amazing flavor combinations, and don’t even get me started on the soup ! The owners are just as amazing 🤩 10/10 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.“