catbird asbury park and mabel

​As a belated birthday gift from my son and his family, he took me to Mabel at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ. Bell Works is in a pastoral setting just off the Garden State Parkway at exit 114. Once off the parkway you head for Crawfords Corner Road and look for the signs for Bell Work which leads down a long serene drive. The Bell Work’s interior has a huge inner atrium surrounded by various levels of offices. On the main level you’ll find restaurants and retail shops. Mabel sits in the middle of the building. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday with lunch service through Friday, dinner service through Saturday and brunch on both Saturday and Sunday.
 
We had a reservation for a Friday evening. The restaurant is quite large with several dining rooms. We sat in the room off the deck which was  spacious . We began with a cocktail with me ordering the Rotary (Woodford Reserve bourbon, cola syrup, angostura and orange bitters) and my son had the Rum punch. Although the punch wasn’t currently on the menu, the bar was able to make the drink. By the way, they also have several non-alcoholic beverages.

​With almost a dozen appetizers to choose from, we started with the Manchego croquettes which are made with Manchego cheese, bechamel, potato and membrillo honey. For our mains, my son chose the Pork Chop, that was generous in size with heirloom carrots honey and agrodolce. My selection, I went with the Fish and Chips. The crispy exterior was made with a beer batter covering white fish with thick cut fries and salt vinegar mayo. My son opted for a side of roasted Sicilian cauliflower that was dressed with currants, pine nuts, parsley and olive oil; delicious side. We both were very happy with our choices. The pork was thick and juicy and the honey and agrodolce sauce was a nice compliment to the pork. My husband and I have been looking for restaurants that can prepare fried fish with a crunchy and crispy exterior; Mabel’s delivers. We were too full for dessert.
 
In addition to our entrees, Mabel also offers several  house made pastas. You can also order 8-ounce burgers, Coq au Vin Blanc (think chicken stew with an herb sauce), roasted whole fish with a herb and citrus stuffing served with a parsley and caper salsa Verde, and lastly, risotto primavera. Mabel also has two sizes of cheese boards served with house made crackers, jam and olives. The pasta dishes are under $30, mains are under $45 with strip steak, ribeye and fillet range from just under $50 to $72. There are several sides along with desserts.
 
Overall, a wonderful meal in a chastely elegant dining room.
 
My next dining adventure took my husband and I to Catbird Asbury Park. We had been to Medusa, chef Aimée McElroy’s previous pizza kitchen. Her new restaurant is located on Sunset Avenue, between Asbury Park and Ocean Township in a space previously belonging to Sunset Landing. My husband and I went for a late lunch/early dinner one sunny Sunday afternoon. We had a window seat viewing Deal Lake.
 
While my son recommended their meatball bowl in marinara sauce and topped with fresh ricotta ($20)and the Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus and Fire Roasted Cauliflower with basil oil and Sumac ($12. We chose instead to try the fire roasted chicken wings that are marinated and tossed in white balsamic, honey glaze and a dusting of Parmesan ($18). The wings didn’t disappoint with their nice char, delicious seasoning and the marinade lent for a flavorful starter. We went with a classic for our pizza, the margherita, with mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil. The sauce was spot on,  full of rich tomato flavor lightly seasoned and dressing the pizza with just enough sauce. The crust was chewy, slightly charred and folded nicely for devouring. On our way out, I spotted imported Italian tomato cans by the entrance, sign of a great pizzaiolo.
 
Catbird is open Tuesday through Sunday. Follow them on Instagram for updates to their daily menu specials. Catbird has both an arugula and charred kale salad on the menu along with blistered shishito peppers, mussels, marinated olives, roasted fingerling potatoes, sour dough bread by Benchmark Bread and toasted farro. A limited selection of sandwiches are available at lunch, with the occasional hamburger and one or two inventive entrees. Classic pizza  combinations are available along with two vegan options along with several dessert offerings. If you’re a local, try them before the Memorial Day crowds arrive. Reservations are available through Toast.