A must-visit gem in Belmar, this family-owned and operated Italian dinner and drinks spot delivers unforgettable flavors and warm hospitality. Located at 1002 Main Street, and recently acquired by new ownership, F. St. has something for every palate with a large menu featuring timeless Italian classics, blended with bold, innovative dishes.
The atmosphere is industrial but homey, with plenty of greenery, soft lighting and a touch of familial charm shown through a wall of black and white family photos. The restaurant offers a full bar with seating, high tops for drinks and appetizers and indoor and outdoor seating for dinner. Private parties can be hosted in the far back dining area. Behind the bar is a brick pizza oven, branded with the F. St. logo, where their iconic thin crust pizza is fired, and here’s a tip: If you like your pizza with really, really thin crust, you can request it that way.
Tony Russo took over ownership of F. St. Social back in April of 2025, along with his two sons, Tony and Gio, opting to keep the name and interior design the same. Following the busy summer crowds, the owners are now in an experimental menu phase, trying new dishes and testing what works and what doesn’t. They won’t get rid of the classics but are trying to nail down their signature dishes and make food that’s just really good and authentically Jersey Italian.
The Russo boys themselves prepared four dishes for Night and Day to try, the first being a loaded fried calamari dish called “Tony’s Calamari,” complete with red hot peppers, dried cranberries, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese crumbles and tossed in a sweet chili sauce. If you want a fun appetizer that will keep the table full until the entrees arrive, then definitely give this one a try. There is an explosion of flavor in every bite, and a unique mix of flavors that work surprisingly well. This dish is a true foodie’s dream, but it is on the heavier side, so opt for a lighter flavor profile for the main course.
The second dish was a garlic shrimp appetizer, listed as “Social Garlic Shrimp” on the menu, which is a few pieces of shrimp covered in garlic sauce with shreds of red pepper, served with a side of toasted bread. When ordering, you can request the dish spicy or mild. This one is a must-try on the menu and is the perfect size starter dish for one or two people. The shrimp is cooked to perfection and tossed in a smooth, loose garlic sauce that’s perfect for dipping crostini. It’s rich, flavorful and utterly delicious without overpowering a main dish.
The third dish was an extra thin-crust inverted margherita pizza, with melted mozzarella cheese forming the base, topped with dollops of vibrant red sauce and fresh strips of basil. Russo and his sons have an ongoing debate on whether the inverted style of margherita pizza is better than the original style. The answer has yet to be determined, but from my tastebuds’ perspective the inverted pie took the cake. According to Russo, making the cheese the base allows for the crust to cook faster and get crisper, rather than soggy, in the pizza oven. This pizza is large and perfect for sharing, but it’s so light and easy to devour that stopping at just one slice will be a challenge.
The last dish prepared, spicy rigatoni vodka pasta, is not technically on the menu, although sometimes it gets rotated on as a special menu item. However, consider this a secret menu hack, because according to Russo, the kitchen always has the ingredients to prepare it upon request. The rigatoni was al dente and the sauce was thick and packed with flavor but not overly rich. It’s topped with shaved parmesan, fresh parsley and for the cheese lovers, a whole ball of burrata. The sauce was made with hot peppers, onions and crispy pork bites and slices of garlic.
Russo has been in the restaurant industry since he was 13, opening his first restaurant in 1990, so it goes without saying that he’s an expert. F. St. Social can accommodate up to 120 people. The normal operating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. except for Tuesdays when they are closed. Sometimes on weekends, the restaurant hosts live music, and makes sure to keep an eye out for when they run their special three-course meal deal for $24.95, featuring a salad or soup, a main entree and dessert.
F. St. Social would be a perfect place for a date night or celebration but one can also enjoy a casual meal there as well. For more information, visit their website at fstsocial.com.
Dining and Cooking