The waiter last weekend was incredible! The food was delicious, and my lady loved the place. Can’t say enough great things about it. Definitely a placed I’ll be coming to at least once a week. To the owners: I love this spot. Please also update your hours of operation. We went back yesterday since we loved last weekend and it said you were open on Google but you were closed. Same today on google as well shows you open. Please let me know when is opening season for you again, we can’t wait to go back!
joellemr
Hidden gem. Food was amazing. Monk fish bites, calamari, and oysters were all perfect. Polite service and attentive staff. Scenic.
Joyce Allan
Ordered soft shell crabs. Was told along with them on side would be served mashed potato and broccoli. I opted for their soup instead of salad. The soft shells were mushy from the creamy rice mixture in the same pan. NO mashed potato or broccoli. Soup was okay: not extremely hot. Very disappointed with this meal. I called the restaurant to complain and waited to speak to owner, but the phone went dead. Do you think I’ll go there again? On a Saturday night, hardly any people were there at 5:30 pm.Gee, I wonder why!
John Stewart
Someone earlier rated this place a one star and the owner took exception. That person named Jo-Ann was spot on regarding the flies. And I live on the Jersey Shore.Been in the food business my entire life, my advice for this place, either get all in or get out of the business.Today I ordered steak bites with a Cajun cream sauce. The sauce was broken and separated. It was Luke warm. The beef was allegedly tenderloin, must have been select, tough. The beef was super salty and served at room temperature. What about the idea, hot food hot and cold food cold?The real issue with this place is the lack of sound sanitation. Never saw the movie “Lord of the Flies”, but this placecertainly has flies. They are dead along the window by the door that is left open so they can come in and enjoy, scratch that, get on and in the food.The tomato, basil and mozzarella salad with balsamic vinegar was tossed, and served room temperature (cold for cold). Tossed in was a small juvenile fly nicely coated in the room temperature mixture.Almost ate it, thank goodness that the Fly (perhaps a Lord) was on its back and it’s little legs were flopping around.Spoke to the server and he took it off the menu. He should of taken of the Select grade beef tips too.This place leaves a lot to be desired culinarily as well as from basic sanitation.If you are vegan, stay away, as you may get flies in your food. Actually, just stay away. Shame on who ever owns or runs this place. The local board of health should come it and visit.I had to throw some humor at this as I was initially very nauseated.
Sharon Rusnak
We are local residents from the surrounding area. We had heard about the restaurant a while back, via local FB posts and a friend. Decided to give it a try. We arrived a little after 11 AM for breakfast/brunch. When we arrived, there was only one other car parked outside the restaurant, one outside table was occupied. We went inside to be seated. The dining room was empty. Justin came to greet us and sat us at a table next to a window.The view was awesome. We were disappointed to see the very limited breakfast/brunch choices. We placed our order in spite of this. The food arrived in a timely manner. My over easy eggs were very well done. However, the bacon, potatoes, rye toast, and my husband's pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich were acceptable. We were totally turned off by the dead flies on the window sills and the live flies landing on our food due to the door to the patio being open. One of the reasons we chose to sit inside was to avoid the flies. I did read the notice about the new doors and windows being on order. Would have thought remodeling would have been a priority before opening for business. I do understand, that due to the pandemic, some building materials have had delays in delivery. Unfortunate.Really think this location could be a year-round business. With attention to detail, this would be an awesome wedding venue.We frequent other year-round waterfront restaurants that are hidden gems who do very well. Was hoping for a more positive experience.Wish the establishment success with their efforts.
Rod Tozour
My wife and I spotted the sign for monkfish grille while driving down rte 9 in the early spring. Decided to try it out. Nothing fancy and somewhat limited menu. We were met by Justin who sat us at a table with a great view. For lunch we started with a new England clam chowder which was excellent and a delicious creamy base that was perfect. My wife had the lobster roll and fries. I had the steak bites and monkfish bites. Both were perfectly done. I actually took a pint of their chowder and their smoked whiting dip home. Monkfish bites were so tender. I preferred the dill sauce over the spicey sauce which was a hit with my wife. The steak bites melted in your mouth. Talked to the owner who said it was their 2nd year. Going back for their brunch. A very simple small menu. Great service from Justin. Rod & Debbie
Ron and Joe
I was anticipating a delicious meal on the waterfront. I was so wrong! The waitress was awful! We had to beg for wine glasses, we had to track her down to get our salad which was included with the fatty over cooked prime rib. The fried calamari was over fried, almost impossible to eat! I had to share my dinner with a family of flies because no one ever took away a dish until they came with the check.She added an extra $13 for shrimp the menu said $9 for a side. (3 shrimp). I have pictures if you care. I really wanted to love this place but......
Abbey Zelmanow
The food was always fine, but the place is seriously going down hill quick. Used to have an excellent wait staff, including our favorite waitress, who they got rid of when she was the only one running the place well. Not sure what’s going on with their current wait staff, but the service is not what it once was. Very unfortunate as my family and I used to frequent here quite often. Would highly suggest finding another waterfront venue and skip this one, at least until this arrogant male who knows the owner resigns.
Danielle Wolf
I've been 3 times, the first time I was there for dinner it was quite good, the steaks were cooked perfectly. Went back for brunch which wasn't that great. Returned a 3rd time for dinner this time it wasn't great, my medium steak was well done and the aujus was spilled all over the floor on its way to me and just left there while we ate, and I wasn't given any more for my prime rib. The service is so-so, very nice servers but they all seem new and undertrained, they don't know the menu at all, and everything takes forever. The three times I was there it was dead we were the only people there for brunch and I think the two times we went for dinner we were one of no more than 5 tables. They have potential just need to be more consistent.
Megan Keller
Finally made it to Monkfish Grill tonight and it was worth the wait. When they first opened I immediately wanted to go for dinner since I LOVE monkfish. It’s definitely one of my favorite fish and not many restaurants serve it regularly. Unfortunately our timing never worked out until a few weeks ago we were finally planning on going and I messaged to make sure the hours were correct. Unfortunately when we arrived on a Tuesday they were closed. We ended up eating at Breakers, their other restaurant which was good but not what we were planing. I contacted Monkfish via Facebook messenger about the disappointment of them not being open and they were very apologetic and explained that they didn’t have a chef for Tuesday nights at the time. They offered us a discount on our next visit. Fast forward to tonight - I messaged again just to make sure they would be open. My husband and I sat outside which was very pleasant. The weather was perfect for it! Justin was our server and he was excellent. He checked on the daily fish options and helped us with our non-dairy sauce request. We ordered the monkfish bites as an appetizer and had them with an apple cider vinaigrette. The monkfish were little bites of heaven!! My husband ordered the blackened salmon sandwich with tater toys (cause he says he’s “a kid” lol) and I ordered the Ahi tuna salad. Both entrees were delicious. Justin was super attentive as were the other servers. We had a great dinner date and will definitely be returning! (Next time I’m getting the monkfish as an appetizer and main course!)
What makes a restaurant successful? Food? Ambiance? Staff? We think it's a combination of the 3. Monkfish hit the mark. AND it's a BYOB which has a perk for those who are picky about their adult beverage options. My 2 friends and I stopped in for dinner on a drizzly Saturday night. We were seated indoors due to the weather but clearly the outside seating would be great on a nicer night. Our Server was prompt with bringing us wine glasses and ice and even went so far as to offer to open our wine. Tables were nicely spaced from each other so you could carry on a conversation with your table mates without being overpowered by the diners seated next to you. The inside decor is minimalist except for the nautical mural. The bench seating along the windows have a cushioned area so you are not sitting on a hard surface. The Menu was what brought us in - the Prime Rib with Horseradish in particular (more on that in a minute) Warm Bread was provided upon asking. We opted to share some appetizers, the coconut shrimp and the Calamari. The Thai chili dip for the coconut shrimp was excellent - a nice mix of sweet and tang. The Server said the sauce was made in house. The Calamari was nicely battered and included battered jalapenos and red peppers. The appetizers easily shared among 3 friends. Two of us ordered the prime rib and the third ordered Fresh catch of the day. We ordered one Prime Rib with the Lobster salad topping and one without. The Entrées are served w choice of soup or salad. I opted for the Soup, specifically the Lobster Bisque. It was tasty but not as silky as I would have preferred and there were no lobster chunks in it. My friend ordered the salad and the salad was a great option - nice fresh greens. Our other friend ordered the Catch of the day with a Lemon Dill Sauce. The prime rib was a hearty portion and the Horseradish sauce was creamy. My friend raved about the lobster topping on his and he was only able to eat half of the meal after eating some appetizers, soup and the lobster topping. We did not see a menu for dessert(s) and were not offered any - but then again. Ambiance - As mentioned earlier the outdoor seating area is a big draw for nicer weather - the tables were sturdy (we actually looked at them for my friend's restaurant) and a terrific view of the Barnegat Bay. My only concern would be the proximity to the Marina pool and noise factors on a hot sunny day. We intend to return to check out the daytime vibe. The Website indicates Dock and Dine spots and we will return to check it out during the day by boat when the weather cooperates. We also noticed the restaurant had a lot of DoorDash orders! Overall it was a better than average dining experience with considering all the factors - Food/Ambiance and Service.
carol4045
My fist time at this restaurant. Came for dinner on a Saturday night. Started out with little neck clams as an appetizer which were outstanding. I had grilled tile fish for my entree with lemon butter sauce. It was tender well seasoned and flavorful. My sides were fresh green beans and the best mashed potatoes I have ever had. Great hot rolls with butter. Impeccable service prompt and efficient. The view is magnificent and the entertainment was a ukulele duo that played oldies and current hits. Can't wait to go back.
H8661ITreyj
Monkfish is open again! It is a seasonal restaurant that is open from May through October. Last season was the first year; definitely room for growth. This year, though... WOW! Awesome atmosphere, added booths and high top communal tables. Live music opening night was great! And the chef this year is their Executive Chef from the owners' other location. Great vibes and views! They have really done a great job! All the seafood is fresh caught, the sauces and dressings are all made in house, the staff is incredible, and it really feels good from the second you walk in! Everyone should eat here at least once, and if you had a bad experience last season you should give them another try!
Diane Potts
Compared to previous owners of this establishment Monkfish was a complete disappointment. Small portions, poor service served vegetable of the day, no choice of potato and overpriced. Did I mention I had to balance my plate on 2 different height tables. Obviously I won't be going back.
Julie Oldham
Our first visit today! We docked, they picked us up via golf cart and we had a wonderful lunch! Even though it is their last day of the season, our server was friendly, attentive and genuine. We both had burgers - perfectly cooked. See u next spring!
The waiter last weekend was incredible! The food was delicious, and my lady loved the place. Can’t say enough great things about it. Definitely a placed I’ll be coming to at least once a week. To the owners: I love this spot. Please also update your hours of operation. We went back yesterday since we loved last weekend and it said you were open on Google but you were closed. Same today on google as well shows you open. Please let me know when is opening season for you again, we can’t wait to go back!
Hidden gem. Food was amazing. Monk fish bites, calamari, and oysters were all perfect. Polite service and attentive staff. Scenic.
Ordered soft shell crabs. Was told along with them on side would be served mashed potato and broccoli. I opted for their soup instead of salad. The soft shells were mushy from the creamy rice mixture in the same pan. NO mashed potato or broccoli. Soup was okay: not extremely hot. Very disappointed with this meal. I called the restaurant to complain and waited to speak to owner, but the phone went dead. Do you think I’ll go there again? On a Saturday night, hardly any people were there at 5:30 pm.Gee, I wonder why!
Someone earlier rated this place a one star and the owner took exception. That person named Jo-Ann was spot on regarding the flies. And I live on the Jersey Shore.Been in the food business my entire life, my advice for this place, either get all in or get out of the business.Today I ordered steak bites with a Cajun cream sauce. The sauce was broken and separated. It was Luke warm. The beef was allegedly tenderloin, must have been select, tough. The beef was super salty and served at room temperature. What about the idea, hot food hot and cold food cold?The real issue with this place is the lack of sound sanitation. Never saw the movie “Lord of the Flies”, but this placecertainly has flies. They are dead along the window by the door that is left open so they can come in and enjoy, scratch that, get on and in the food.The tomato, basil and mozzarella salad with balsamic vinegar was tossed, and served room temperature (cold for cold). Tossed in was a small juvenile fly nicely coated in the room temperature mixture.Almost ate it, thank goodness that the Fly (perhaps a Lord) was on its back and it’s little legs were flopping around.Spoke to the server and he took it off the menu. He should of taken of the Select grade beef tips too.This place leaves a lot to be desired culinarily as well as from basic sanitation.If you are vegan, stay away, as you may get flies in your food. Actually, just stay away. Shame on who ever owns or runs this place. The local board of health should come it and visit.I had to throw some humor at this as I was initially very nauseated.
We are local residents from the surrounding area. We had heard about the restaurant a while back, via local FB posts and a friend. Decided to give it a try. We arrived a little after 11 AM for breakfast/brunch. When we arrived, there was only one other car parked outside the restaurant, one outside table was occupied. We went inside to be seated. The dining room was empty. Justin came to greet us and sat us at a table next to a window.The view was awesome. We were disappointed to see the very limited breakfast/brunch choices. We placed our order in spite of this. The food arrived in a timely manner. My over easy eggs were very well done. However, the bacon, potatoes, rye toast, and my husband's pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich were acceptable. We were totally turned off by the dead flies on the window sills and the live flies landing on our food due to the door to the patio being open. One of the reasons we chose to sit inside was to avoid the flies. I did read the notice about the new doors and windows being on order. Would have thought remodeling would have been a priority before opening for business. I do understand, that due to the pandemic, some building materials have had delays in delivery. Unfortunate.Really think this location could be a year-round business. With attention to detail, this would be an awesome wedding venue.We frequent other year-round waterfront restaurants that are hidden gems who do very well. Was hoping for a more positive experience.Wish the establishment success with their efforts.
My wife and I spotted the sign for monkfish grille while driving down rte 9 in the early spring. Decided to try it out. Nothing fancy and somewhat limited menu. We were met by Justin who sat us at a table with a great view. For lunch we started with a new England clam chowder which was excellent and a delicious creamy base that was perfect. My wife had the lobster roll and fries. I had the steak bites and monkfish bites. Both were perfectly done. I actually took a pint of their chowder and their smoked whiting dip home. Monkfish bites were so tender. I preferred the dill sauce over the spicey sauce which was a hit with my wife. The steak bites melted in your mouth. Talked to the owner who said it was their 2nd year. Going back for their brunch. A very simple small menu. Great service from Justin. Rod & Debbie
I was anticipating a delicious meal on the waterfront. I was so wrong! The waitress was awful! We had to beg for wine glasses, we had to track her down to get our salad which was included with the fatty over cooked prime rib. The fried calamari was over fried, almost impossible to eat! I had to share my dinner with a family of flies because no one ever took away a dish until they came with the check.She added an extra $13 for shrimp the menu said $9 for a side. (3 shrimp). I have pictures if you care. I really wanted to love this place but......
The food was always fine, but the place is seriously going down hill quick. Used to have an excellent wait staff, including our favorite waitress, who they got rid of when she was the only one running the place well. Not sure what’s going on with their current wait staff, but the service is not what it once was. Very unfortunate as my family and I used to frequent here quite often. Would highly suggest finding another waterfront venue and skip this one, at least until this arrogant male who knows the owner resigns.
I've been 3 times, the first time I was there for dinner it was quite good, the steaks were cooked perfectly. Went back for brunch which wasn't that great. Returned a 3rd time for dinner this time it wasn't great, my medium steak was well done and the aujus was spilled all over the floor on its way to me and just left there while we ate, and I wasn't given any more for my prime rib. The service is so-so, very nice servers but they all seem new and undertrained, they don't know the menu at all, and everything takes forever. The three times I was there it was dead we were the only people there for brunch and I think the two times we went for dinner we were one of no more than 5 tables. They have potential just need to be more consistent.
Finally made it to Monkfish Grill tonight and it was worth the wait. When they first opened I immediately wanted to go for dinner since I LOVE monkfish. It’s definitely one of my favorite fish and not many restaurants serve it regularly. Unfortunately our timing never worked out until a few weeks ago we were finally planning on going and I messaged to make sure the hours were correct. Unfortunately when we arrived on a Tuesday they were closed. We ended up eating at Breakers, their other restaurant which was good but not what we were planing. I contacted Monkfish via Facebook messenger about the disappointment of them not being open and they were very apologetic and explained that they didn’t have a chef for Tuesday nights at the time. They offered us a discount on our next visit. Fast forward to tonight - I messaged again just to make sure they would be open. My husband and I sat outside which was very pleasant. The weather was perfect for it! Justin was our server and he was excellent. He checked on the daily fish options and helped us with our non-dairy sauce request. We ordered the monkfish bites as an appetizer and had them with an apple cider vinaigrette. The monkfish were little bites of heaven!! My husband ordered the blackened salmon sandwich with tater toys (cause he says he’s “a kid” lol) and I ordered the Ahi tuna salad. Both entrees were delicious. Justin was super attentive as were the other servers. We had a great dinner date and will definitely be returning! (Next time I’m getting the monkfish as an appetizer and main course!)
Restaurantji Recommends
What makes a restaurant successful? Food? Ambiance? Staff? We think it's a combination of the 3. Monkfish hit the mark. AND it's a BYOB which has a perk for those who are picky about their adult beverage options. My 2 friends and I stopped in for dinner on a drizzly Saturday night. We were seated indoors due to the weather but clearly the outside seating would be great on a nicer night. Our Server was prompt with bringing us wine glasses and ice and even went so far as to offer to open our wine. Tables were nicely spaced from each other so you could carry on a conversation with your table mates without being overpowered by the diners seated next to you. The inside decor is minimalist except for the nautical mural. The bench seating along the windows have a cushioned area so you are not sitting on a hard surface. The Menu was what brought us in - the Prime Rib with Horseradish in particular (more on that in a minute) Warm Bread was provided upon asking. We opted to share some appetizers, the coconut shrimp and the Calamari. The Thai chili dip for the coconut shrimp was excellent - a nice mix of sweet and tang. The Server said the sauce was made in house. The Calamari was nicely battered and included battered jalapenos and red peppers. The appetizers easily shared among 3 friends. Two of us ordered the prime rib and the third ordered Fresh catch of the day. We ordered one Prime Rib with the Lobster salad topping and one without. The Entrées are served w choice of soup or salad. I opted for the Soup, specifically the Lobster Bisque. It was tasty but not as silky as I would have preferred and there were no lobster chunks in it. My friend ordered the salad and the salad was a great option - nice fresh greens. Our other friend ordered the Catch of the day with a Lemon Dill Sauce. The prime rib was a hearty portion and the Horseradish sauce was creamy. My friend raved about the lobster topping on his and he was only able to eat half of the meal after eating some appetizers, soup and the lobster topping. We did not see a menu for dessert(s) and were not offered any - but then again. Ambiance - As mentioned earlier the outdoor seating area is a big draw for nicer weather - the tables were sturdy (we actually looked at them for my friend's restaurant) and a terrific view of the Barnegat Bay. My only concern would be the proximity to the Marina pool and noise factors on a hot sunny day. We intend to return to check out the daytime vibe. The Website indicates Dock and Dine spots and we will return to check it out during the day by boat when the weather cooperates. We also noticed the restaurant had a lot of DoorDash orders! Overall it was a better than average dining experience with considering all the factors - Food/Ambiance and Service.
My fist time at this restaurant. Came for dinner on a Saturday night. Started out with little neck clams as an appetizer which were outstanding. I had grilled tile fish for my entree with lemon butter sauce. It was tender well seasoned and flavorful. My sides were fresh green beans and the best mashed potatoes I have ever had. Great hot rolls with butter. Impeccable service prompt and efficient. The view is magnificent and the entertainment was a ukulele duo that played oldies and current hits. Can't wait to go back.
Monkfish is open again! It is a seasonal restaurant that is open from May through October. Last season was the first year; definitely room for growth. This year, though... WOW! Awesome atmosphere, added booths and high top communal tables. Live music opening night was great! And the chef this year is their Executive Chef from the owners' other location. Great vibes and views! They have really done a great job! All the seafood is fresh caught, the sauces and dressings are all made in house, the staff is incredible, and it really feels good from the second you walk in! Everyone should eat here at least once, and if you had a bad experience last season you should give them another try!
Compared to previous owners of this establishment Monkfish was a complete disappointment. Small portions, poor service served vegetable of the day, no choice of potato and overpriced. Did I mention I had to balance my plate on 2 different height tables. Obviously I won't be going back.
Our first visit today! We docked, they picked us up via golf cart and we had a wonderful lunch! Even though it is their last day of the season, our server was friendly, attentive and genuine. We both had burgers - perfectly cooked. See u next spring!
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