50 Best American Restaurants near Lavallette

“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.“

“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!!“

“The fried calamari is the best!!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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!!!“

“Our second dinner cruise was so much better than our first experience! The tables were much more comfortably spaced out, there was plenty of room to move around, and the entire atmosphere was so much more enjoyable.

From start to finish, it was a truly memorable and delightful experience. The food was great, and the staff was incredibly attentive, friendly, and accommodating. We really appreciated the improvements and had such a wonderful time this time around.

We will definitely be cruising with them again next year and are already looking forward to it! Highly recommend giving them a try!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Best Stewart's Root Beer anywhere“

“We went there the other night and I have to say I was impressed with the place.There are plenty of tvs if you like to watch sports and a big open area with tables if you just want to dine.The bartender was friendly and so wwere the customers that were sitting at the bar.The food was really good and we can't wait to go back .I'm going to try the Italian hot dog and my girlfriend wants to try the pizza.You owe it to yourself to try this place out.“

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

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

“Best restaurant ever love the food. Everyone is friendly very popular. I love this place.“

“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.“

“My hubby and I had the best Italian Hot Dog at Dickey’s with a side of crispy onion rings and fried sweet plantains. Great service too! The place was immaculate and reminded us of a 50’s diner. I would highly recommend!“

“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.“

“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.“

“New owners same food. Service is good with waiters checking in periodically. Many seasonal items as well as limited time drinks and meals. Love the reward system. Only grip is the smell from the mens restroom. It smells like a sewer line back up or scaling build up on the inlining of the sewer pipes.“