As the Shore heads into its busiest season, so does the local dining scene.
A new restaurant from a longtime LBI restaurant group is getting ready to open on the island, a pair of neighboring Brick restaurants closed its doors, the first franchise of a locally founded chicken restaurant opened in Middletown, and several chain eateries are coming and going.
Here is the food and dining news we reported on in May.
Two Brick restaurants close their doors
Chicken parmigiana takes the shape of a pizza at Tre Pizza, Pasta, Beer Garden in Freehold Borough.
A pair of restaurants in Brick Plaza on Cedar Bridge Avenue — Tre Pizza Pasta and Beer Garden, and Rosalita’s Roadside Cantina — have closed.
They were owned by Great Restaurants NJ Hospitality Group, which also includes Freehold Borough restaurants The Standard at The American Hotel and Metropolitan Cafe, and Nonna’s Cucina in Marlboro.
Tre, an Italian restaurant, has a sister location on Park Avenue in Freehold Borough, and a second Rosalita’s, a Mexican restaurant, is on Route 9 in Marlboro. Both remain open.
Tide Table Group brings new restaurant to LBI
Ellis’ Chicken & Crab Cakes, from the Tide Table Group, is a new addition to Beach Haven.
Ellis’ Chicken & Crab Cakes from the popular Tide Table Group is opening soon at 208 North Bay Ave. in Beach Haven.
The restaurant will serve a menu of dishes popular at the group’s other restaurants: Ship Bottom Shellfish in Ship Bottom; Black Whale Bar & Fish House, Parker’s Garage and Bird & Betty’s in Beach Haven; and Mud City Crab House and Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House in the Manahawkin section of Stafford.
Diners can expect takeout-friendly dishes like fried chicken, crab cakes, macaroni and cheese, and housemade pies, plus sandwiches and sides, said Billy Mehl, who is leading the new restaurant with Executive Chef Kyle Baddorf.
An early June opening is planned.
Shore restaurants, chef win TASTE Awards
Ten local restaurants and one chef were honored this month with TASTE Awards, which highlight culinary excellence at the Shore.
The awards program is led by ShoreFoodie.com, a local dining guide from the team behind Jersey Shore Restaurant Week, in partnership with the Asbury Park Press, Jersey Bites and 107.1-FM The Boss.
Chef Meg LaManna opened Mugsy’s Mercantile on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach.
The winners, decided by public vote and industry professionals, are:
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Best fine dining restaurant: Shipwreck Grill, Brielle
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Best casual restaurant: B2 Bistro, locations in Red Bank, Toms River, Point Pleasant Beach and Berkeley Township
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Best Italian restaurant: Anjelica’s Restaurant, Sea Bright
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Best seafood restaurant: Point Lobster Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach
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Best steakhouse: Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach
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Best brunch: Charlie’s of Bay Head
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Best specialty food store: Joe Leone’s Italian Specialties, Point Pleasant Beach/Manasquan
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Best wine program: Shipwreck Grill, Brielle
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Best cocktail program: Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park
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Best new restaurant: Brothers Daley, Sea Bright
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Best service: La Mondina, Brielle.
Bahama Breeze closes in Toms River
After 12 years in business, Bahama Breeze closed its restaurant at the Ocean County Mall in mid-May.
The Caribbean-themed restaurant, owned by Darden Restaurants, was one of 15 closed in eight states. Other New Jersey closures included Woodbridge, Wayne and Paramus; the state’s last remaining Bahama Breeze is in Cherry Hill.
The closing of the Toms River restaurant follows the February closure of On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina at the mall.
Broadway Hot & Honey Chicken opens in Middletown
A year after launching its first location in Wall, locally owned hot chicken restaurant Broadway Hot & Honey Chicken opened last month in Middletown’s Kings Commons shopping center, 1500 Route 35.
The restaurant is owned by franchisees Sean Caggiano of Colts Neck, co-owner of Mangia Brick Oven Pizza in Toms River, Jackson and Shrewsbury, and Andrew Bostic of Howell, previously of Crumbl Cookie and Bonefish Grill.
Manasquan residents Michael Kelleher and Michael Falato founded the Nashville-themed restaurant, which serves hot chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, wings, wraps, salads, fried chicken and housemade sauces
Wall’s Roadside Diner has a new owner
The Roadside Diner in Wall closed in March when longtime owner and chef Dimitri Gerakaris retired, but a new owner is renovating and plans to reopen.
“I just love these little stainless-steel diners because you can’t find them anymore,” said Nicolas Kallas, who also owns Broad Street Diner with his wife, Maria. “They’re disappearing slowly, and I have had my eye on the Roadside for years.”
Kallas is renovating the diner’s interior, restoring its original booths and replacing old equipment.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers coming to Holmdel
The California burger at Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
The first Monmouth County location of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will open in the Commons at Holmdel, 2130 Route 35.
The restaurant, which is the first of four planned in Monmouth County, replaces Saladworks. Franchisee Peter Labib hopes to open in late summer.
Freddy’s, which also has a location in Toms River, serves burgers, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes and custard.
Cava comes to Brick
Cava, a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant, opened its first Jersey Shore location in early May at 1042 Cedar Bridge Ave. in Brick Plaza.
The eatery occupies half of the building that previously housed Atlanta Bread, which closed in 2024.
Cava serves customizable grain bowls, salads and pitas made with a variety of proteins (lamb, steak, harissa chicken, falafel), toppings (hummus, tomatoes, tzatziki, pickles, feta cheese, corn) and dressings (Greek vinaigrette, lemon herb tahini, tahini Caesar, yogurt dill).
David P. Willis contributed to this story.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to her weekly newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants close, another opens, 3 are coming
