Donna Walsifer
winter dining deals at the Jersey shore
Prior to retiring several years ago, I used to love perusing websites such as Talbots during their semi-annual clothing sales. After the holidays, I found it especially great for shopping as that’s when prices became sharply reduced. Now, my excitement comes from food store specials or shopping at Uncle Giuseppe’s on Wednesdays for my 5% senior discount. Another thing I like to see is what dining offers local restaurants have. Some of the special offers are offered in the off season which usually starts sometime in October and ends just before Memorial Day weekend.
In Belmar, Bar Anticipation has a daily blue plate special from 11 AM to 4 PM that includes a choice of starch and fresh vegetable for $7.95. Monday is a Guinness Beef Stew, Tuesday - meatloaf, Wednesday - chicken Parmesan, Thursday - boneless center cut pork chop and Friday has broiled or beer batter fish and chips. Monday nights you can purchase one burger and get the second burger for half price. Tuesday night’s offering is two tacos for $7 (served all day) and starting at 5 PM, 75¢ jumbo wing special.
In Belmar, Bar Anticipation has a daily blue plate special from 11 AM to 4 PM that includes a choice of starch and fresh vegetable for $7.95. Monday is a Guinness Beef Stew, Tuesday - meatloaf, Wednesday - chicken Parmesan, Thursday - boneless center cut pork chop and Friday has broiled or beer batter fish and chips. Monday nights you can purchase one burger and get the second burger for half price. Tuesday night’s offering is two tacos for $7 (served all day) and starting at 5 PM, 75¢ jumbo wing special.
One of my personal favorite restaurants is Brandl Restaurant in Belmar, NJ. Thursday through Sunday they have daily specials for $25. Thursday - Garlic Steak with Fries, Friday is Fresh Catch (contact restaurant for offering) and Saturday is chicken Milanese. Sunday’s special offer is their “Lazy Lobster” which is lobster on top of asparagus risotto with a vanilla bean butter sauce, served with a choice of lobster bisque or Caesar Salad and dessert can either be warm chocolate molten cake, apple strudel or crème brulée. I’ve had this Sunday special and it was delicious.
If you don’t mind sitting at the bar, Rod’s Tavern in Sea Girt offers happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 12 PM to close and Friday and Saturday’s 12-6 PM (bar only). There are select specials on beer, wine and cocktails. For noshing, items such as country fried chicken bites with a smokey honey mustard sauce, coconut shrimp with a mango-jalapeño jelly, cheeseburger sliders. Check their website for a more detailed listing.
Seagrass in Ocean Grove offers Half-Price Wednesday with half price entrees and specials for lunch and dinner. On Thursday, they offer a prix fixe menu, three courses that includes soup or salad, an entree and dessert for $45. Sunday night special deal is a free appetizer with every two entrees purchased. If you love oysters, $1 oysters are available every Monday during lunch and dinner service. Check both their Facebook and Instagram page.
Talula’s Pizza in Asbury Park had a “Sunday Double Dinner for $55,” on Sunday January 18th. If interested, I highly recommend making a reservation as the dining room can be quite busy. Today’s special was “Calabrian Buffalo Chicken Parmesan, a side of garlic fried Brussels sprouts, bread and a carafe of good wine. Serves two, only $55. Tip like you mean it.” Their words, not mine. Check the following weekend if this special is available and if the menu has changed. You can also follow them on Instagram.
On January 15 in an Instagram post, R-Bar in Asbury Park offered $1 oysters. You can following them Instagram for other specials.
Judy and Harry’s located in St. Laurent Social Club in Asbury Park has the following specials:
Pasta Happy Hour on Wednesday and Thursday from 5-6 PM (1/2 off pasta)
Sunday Sauce $38/per person plus $25 off bottles of wine
Harry’s “The Italian Line Up” is every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Chicken Parm sandwich $20, Eggplant Parm Sandwich $18, Italian burger $22 and schmaltz potatoes $10. Harry’s is a bar that is walk-in, Judy’s is a sit-down restaurant where reservations are highly recommended. Reservations can be made through the Resy app.
Belmonte Ristorante of Asbury Park offers 25% off pasta dishes Monday and Thursday nights, plus it’s BYOB. Reservations suggested.
In Holmdel, NJ at the former Bell Labs is Mabel at Bell, a restaurant from the same owners as Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park. On Wednesday’s they have “Girl Dinner Wednesdays.” For $40 you get a martini, truffle fries, Caesar salad and chicken tenders with assorted in-house made condiments. I’d like to try this, as I have dined here twice before and their food is fabulous.
Moonstruck in Asbury Park has a prixe fixe dinner special just on Wednesday and Thursday nights. For $45 you get an appetizer, entree and dessert. Follow them on Instagram for their prixe menu. Currently, they are taking a short break and will reopen February 12th.
Brando’s in Asbury Park (scroll to bottom of web page) has a prixe fix menu Monday through Thursday’s 4 PM to 5:30 PM (orders MUST BE IN THE KITCHEN BY 5:30 PM). There were seven appetizers offered, along with a pasta, chicken, beef and fish entrees. Dessert was a house offering of the day. Please note that I have yet to tried this restaurant, but they have an excellent reputation.
Prices and offerings are subject to change, please verify with restaurant the special dining offers listed above. Not all offers mentioned above appear on their webpages, but on their social media accounts.
If you don’t mind sitting at the bar, Rod’s Tavern in Sea Girt offers happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 12 PM to close and Friday and Saturday’s 12-6 PM (bar only). There are select specials on beer, wine and cocktails. For noshing, items such as country fried chicken bites with a smokey honey mustard sauce, coconut shrimp with a mango-jalapeño jelly, cheeseburger sliders. Check their website for a more detailed listing.
Seagrass in Ocean Grove offers Half-Price Wednesday with half price entrees and specials for lunch and dinner. On Thursday, they offer a prix fixe menu, three courses that includes soup or salad, an entree and dessert for $45. Sunday night special deal is a free appetizer with every two entrees purchased. If you love oysters, $1 oysters are available every Monday during lunch and dinner service. Check both their Facebook and Instagram page.
Talula’s Pizza in Asbury Park had a “Sunday Double Dinner for $55,” on Sunday January 18th. If interested, I highly recommend making a reservation as the dining room can be quite busy. Today’s special was “Calabrian Buffalo Chicken Parmesan, a side of garlic fried Brussels sprouts, bread and a carafe of good wine. Serves two, only $55. Tip like you mean it.” Their words, not mine. Check the following weekend if this special is available and if the menu has changed. You can also follow them on Instagram.
On January 15 in an Instagram post, R-Bar in Asbury Park offered $1 oysters. You can following them Instagram for other specials.
Judy and Harry’s located in St. Laurent Social Club in Asbury Park has the following specials:
Pasta Happy Hour on Wednesday and Thursday from 5-6 PM (1/2 off pasta)
Sunday Sauce $38/per person plus $25 off bottles of wine
Harry’s “The Italian Line Up” is every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Chicken Parm sandwich $20, Eggplant Parm Sandwich $18, Italian burger $22 and schmaltz potatoes $10. Harry’s is a bar that is walk-in, Judy’s is a sit-down restaurant where reservations are highly recommended. Reservations can be made through the Resy app.
Belmonte Ristorante of Asbury Park offers 25% off pasta dishes Monday and Thursday nights, plus it’s BYOB. Reservations suggested.
In Holmdel, NJ at the former Bell Labs is Mabel at Bell, a restaurant from the same owners as Cardinal Provisions in Asbury Park. On Wednesday’s they have “Girl Dinner Wednesdays.” For $40 you get a martini, truffle fries, Caesar salad and chicken tenders with assorted in-house made condiments. I’d like to try this, as I have dined here twice before and their food is fabulous.
Moonstruck in Asbury Park has a prixe fixe dinner special just on Wednesday and Thursday nights. For $45 you get an appetizer, entree and dessert. Follow them on Instagram for their prixe menu. Currently, they are taking a short break and will reopen February 12th.
Brando’s in Asbury Park (scroll to bottom of web page) has a prixe fix menu Monday through Thursday’s 4 PM to 5:30 PM (orders MUST BE IN THE KITCHEN BY 5:30 PM). There were seven appetizers offered, along with a pasta, chicken, beef and fish entrees. Dessert was a house offering of the day. Please note that I have yet to tried this restaurant, but they have an excellent reputation.
Prices and offerings are subject to change, please verify with restaurant the special dining offers listed above. Not all offers mentioned above appear on their webpages, but on their social media accounts.