March was filled with big happenings in the Shore’s dining scene.
A wide variety of restaurants are on the way, from new locations of well-known pizzerias and barbecue spots to a pair of coffee shops. The first U.S. location of a new Perkins concept is opening in Oceanport, and a popular restaurateur couple turned their Asbury Park restaurant into something new.
Also, Shore chefs are taking the TV world by storm.
Here is the food and dining news we reported on in March.
NJ native Britt Rescigno wows on Food Network
Contestant Britt Rescigno, as seen on Food Networks’ fifth season of “Tournament of Champions.”
Chef Britt Rescigno grew up in New Gretna, working at her family’s restaurant, Allen’s Clam Bar, before becoming an executive chef on Long Beach Island.
She now lives in Idaho, where she recently opened Italian restaurant Fiamma. But the chef’s fans back home continue to root for her as she competes on Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions.”
This is Rescigno’s third attempt at the show’s $150,000 prize, and this season, she’s outcooked Chef Chris Oh and Michael Reed. In the next round, she’ll take on Chef Kaleena Bliss.
Chef David Viana of Judy & Harry’s in Asbury Park, Lita in Aberdeen and Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge also is a contestant this season. So far, he has won against Chefs Dara Yu and Tobias Dorzon.
The show airs at 8 p.m. Sundays.
Brooklyn Square Pizza coming to Bradley Beach
Rocco’s Pizza in Bradley Beach is becoming the fourth Shore location of Brooklyn Square Pizza.
Peter Grippo owns Brooklyn Square Pizza restaurants in Toms River, Jackson and Manalapan, and a fourth is on the way.
Grippo has partnered with Monica Cione, owner of Rocco’s Pizza on Main Street in Bradley Beach, for his newest location. Rocco’s will open as Brooklyn Square Pizza within a few weeks, serving a pared-down version of Grippo’s menu. He said diners can expect takeout-focused offerings of pizza, sandwiches, wraps and salads.
Chef Meg LaManna takes home a ‘Chopped’ win
Chef Meg LaManna, owner of Mugsy’s Mercantile in Point Pleasant Beach, cooked her way to a win on the March 25 episode of Food Network’s “Chopped.”
The cooking competition challenges contestants to prepare meals with baskets of mystery ingredients. LaManna impressed the judges with a ricotta-stuffed peach, pan-seared branzino, and longan fruit and blueberry galette.
“It literally was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” LaManna told The Asbury Park Press about the experience. “It was so challenging, just the pressure of not knowing what you’re getting in those baskets. You’re under the gun, you’ve got to figure it out.”
Lidia Bastianich is coming to town
Chef Lidia Bastianich, pictured in 2013, will be honored during The Ashley Lauren Foundation’s upcoming Chefs Who Care event in Aberdeen.
Chef Lidia Bastianich, an Emmy Award-winning TV host, cookbook author and restaurateur, will visit the Shore this month.
Bastianich will be honored during The Ashley Lauren Foundation’s “Chefs Who Care” event, a fundraiser taking place Tuesday, April 29, at Addison Park in Aberdeen. The evening will benefit the families of children battling cancer.
“Chefs Who Care” will feature food prepared by more than two dozen chefs from New Jersey, New York and beyond, including Biagio Settepani of Bruno’s Bakery & Gelateria in Freehold Township, Mike Smithling of Judy & Harry’s in Asbury Park, Emiliano Graci of Half Moon in Keansburg, and Jessica Bucceri of JB Couture Cupcakes in Neptune City.
Judy & Harry’s opens in Asbury Park
The month of March brought the opening of Judy & Harry’s, a new restaurant in the former Heirloom at the St. Laurent on 7th Avenue in Asbury Park.
Chef David Viana’s menu is a mix of Italian and Jewish cuisines, like matzo ball soup made with ricotta matzo balls, chicken Savoy and “schmaltz” potatoes.
The restaurant is inspired by co-owner Neilly Robinson’s parents: Judy’s is the restaurant and Harry’s is the adjoining bar, where cocktail options include a Caprese Negroni, peach Bellini and a pina colada.
Mutiny BBQ expanding to Asbury Park boardwalk
A barbecue platter from Mutiny BBQ Company in Asbury Park.
Mutiny BBQ Company in Asbury Park, known for its smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs and wings, is opening a second restaurant in the city.
Owners Tom and Martha Dunphy are expanding to the boardwalk with Mutiny Beach inside Convention Hall. The restaurant, which they plan to opn Thursday, May 1, replaces Seahorse Bar & Grill.
“When there’s an opportunity to bring a local established business into a really popular, really busy area, that’s fantastic,” Tom said.
The menu is under development, but diners can expect French onion brisket flatbread, pulled pork-stuffed jalapeño poppers, smoked shishito peppers with hot honey, a smoked turkey Cobb salad, and a Nashville hot chicken sausage sandwich, along with Mutiny BBQ Company’s pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and barbecue platters.
MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos opens in Long Branch
Samuel Chung of Red Bank, co-owner of MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos in Asbury Park, talks about their new location at Pier Village in Long Branch.
Before they founded Asbury Park’s MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos, Jason Devino and Samuel Chung were engineering firm colleagues who bonded over their love of Korean food.
Devino and Chung wanted to bring the cuisine to the Shore in a way that would not intimidate diners, and the answer was tacos. They launched MOGO out of a shipping container on Asbury Park’s boardwalk in 2012, then added a sit-down restaurant in the city’s downtown.
In March, MOGO expanded to Centennial Drive in Long Branch’s Pier Village, serving Korean barbecue tacos and burritos, fried chicken, bulgogi cheesesteaks and more.
“We just thought it was a next step out of Asbury,” said Chung, adding that like Asbury Park, Long Branch has a developing arts, music and food scene. “We’re on the boardwalk (like the original MOGO) but with seating like Cookman.”
Saturn Pizza reopens in Brick
A slice is pulled from a classic New York-style pizza at Saturn Pizza in Brick. The restaurant has a new owner who revamped the pizza menu and added hot dogs and ice cream.
The curiosity of pizza at a gas station brought customers to Brick’s Saturn Pizza when it opened in 2021.
Tucked behind a Conoco station on Route 70, the quick-service spot owned by Cluck-U Chicken founder Rob Ilvento, served thin, crispy pies built on a premade crust.
Giovanni Kittaneh took ownership last year and resdesigned Saturn Pizza, swapping scratch-made dough for the premade and adding an ice cream parlor, North Jersey-style hot dogs and elevated convenience store drinks, snacks and candies.
“I really want this to be a family place, a place parents can enjoy and kids can enjoy,” he said.
One Bite Pizza Reviews continue
YouTube pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy visited half a dozen shore restaurants in February, and after releasing reviews of PaciDough’s in South Toms River and Pizza Ria in Manchester in February, the rest followed in March.
Portnoy awarded a 7.4 out of 10 to Romeo’s Italian American in Freehold Township, a 7.7 to Tramonto’s Pizza in Ocean Township, an 8.3 to Pizzeria ‘Lucci in Belmar and a 7.5 to Mona Lisa Pizza in Jackson.
Local baker appears on ‘Spring Baking Championship’
Lauren Klein, a Shore-based chocolatier and pastry chef, was thrilled when Food Network offered her a spot on “Spring Baking Championship.”
Being on the show, Klein said, was “definitely different from what I expected. It was quite the experience, and a wild ride. I definitely was nervous — I think being outside of your element a little will do that to you — but I think I was pretty confident as well.”
Unfortunately, Klein fell ill during the filming of the first episode and could not continue in the competition.
“A complete dream come true to see myself on the Food Network,” she shared on social media after the March 10 premiere. “I can say with confidence that this won’t be the last time you see or hear my name!”
Steady Hand Cafe coming to Bradley Beach
Steady Hand Cafe, known for creative coffees and drinks made with housemade syrups, is opening in Bradley Beach.
Owner Ashley Burk plans to open on Main Street this spring. Her cafe will serve culinary-inspired drinks like the Cereal Milk Latte, Banana Miso Caramel, and Hot Honey Tomato Espresso Tonic; the latter is made with ripe tomatoes, hot honey, tonic water and a shot of espresso.
Steady Hand Cafe, previously located inside Cats Luck Vegan in Asbury Park, also will serve grab-and-go snacks and bottled lattes.
Gregorys Coffee to open in Manalapan
Gregorys Coffee, with two drive-thru lanes, is under construction on Route 9 in Manalapan, with an opening hopefully by this summer.
The coffee chain, with more than 50 stores in 12 states, was founded by Gregory Zamfotis, who grew up in Holmdel.
“It’s really special for me to bring all this work I’ve been doing for the past 19, 20 years to the community that I grew up in,” he said.
Customers can expect drinks like cherry blossom matcha or London Calling, made with Earl Grey tea, lavender, citrus and oat milk topped with lavender cold foam. Scratch-baked items include matcha brownies, vegan bars and banana nut pound cake, plus vegan burritos, and bacon, egg and cheese on a brioche bun.
First U.S. Perkins Griddle & Go coming to Oceanport
An artist’s rendering of the interior of a Perkins Griddle & Go restaurant.
The first U.S. location of Perkins Griddle & Go, the revamped cafe-style version of Perkins’ classic sit-down restaurant, will open at RiverWalk Center in Oceanport.
Franchise owners Lisa Dalton and Anthony Degrande hope to open the restaurant in August or September. The mother-and-son team from Colts Neck have agreements to open 10 locations in Monmouth County and six in Ocean County.
The restaurants will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu featuring dishes like omelets, eggs Benedict, French toast and pancakes. The eateries, which will be smaller than traditional Perkins restaurants, also will feature a Perkins bakery.
Just Salad growing in Monmouth County
Just Salad will move into a storefront at Ocean Plaza on Route 35 in Ocean Township.
Fast casual salad chain Just Salad is opening on Route 35 in Ocean Township’s Ocean Plaza shopping center.
The restaurant follows one on Route 35 in Wall. Another is planned for West Main Street in Freehold Township.
Business writer 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: 3 restaurants open, 6 are coming and 4 Shore chefs appear on TV
