See which Jersey Shore restaurants, chef won TASTE Awards

Nineteen restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean counties have been honored with TASTE Awards, which honor culinary excellence at the Jersey Shore.

The awards are organized 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 Exit 98 Living. Diners were invited to vote online for award finalists in August, then a panel of industry experts decided the winners.

Nominees and winners reflect the best combination of food, ambiance, service and where applicable, beverage program, according to Shore Foodie.

The winners, listed with their fellow nominees, are in bold below.

Best Fine Dining Restaurant

Winner, River Pointe Inn, Rumson

Bistro by Chef Bass, Point Pleasant Beach

Charlie’s of Bay Head, Bay Head

Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park

The Poached Pear, Point Pleasant Beach

Scarborough Fair Restaurant, Sea Girt

Best Casual Restaurant

Winner, Nicholas Barrel & Roost, Middletown

26 West on the Navesink, Red Bank

Beach Tavern, Monmouth Beach

Brothers Daley, Sea Bright

Coastal Canteen, Manasquan

Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette

Cross & Orange, Asbury Park

Proving Ground, Highlands

Robinson Ale House, multiple locations

Off Shore Restaurant & Bar, Point Pleasant Beach

Tradewinds, Point Pleasant Beach

The Grand Tavern, Neptune

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The “Cowboy Wrap” at Roost Nashville Hot Chicken in Marlboro is made with fried or grilled chicken, Romaine lettuce, cheddar, bacon, onion rings, barbecue sauce and Roost sauce. (Provided by Roost)

Best Bar/Tavern

Winner, Barnacle Bill’s, Rumson

B2 Bistro + Bar, multiple locations

Bar Anticipation, Lake Como

Boatyard 401, Point Pleasant Beach

Brickwall Tavern, Asbury Park

Elbow Room, Bradley Beach

Half Moon Point, Point Pleasant

Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan

Rella’s Italian Tavern, Brielle

The Ark, Point Pleasant Beach

More: Belmar bar named one of the best in US. See this ocean view landmark

Best New Restaurant

Winner, Apero Steakhouse, Oceanport

Coastal Canteen, Manasquan

Gourmand, Point Pleasant Beach

Olea, Spring Lake Heights

Raia’s Restaurant, Long Branch

The Reef Club, Allenhurst

More: See the 50+ restaurants that opened at the Jersey Shore this summer

Best Steak Restaurant

At The Butcher’s Block in Long Branch, diners can choose their steak from the restaurant’s butcher shop.

Winner, The Butcher’s Block, Long Branch

Berkeley Cut, Seaside Park

Prime 13, Point Pleasant Beach

Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson

Salt Steakhouse, Long Branch

Best Italian Restaurant

The barbabietole (beet in Italian) salad at Anjelica’s Restaurant in Sea Bright is made with herb-roasted beets, Cara Cara orange, shaved fennel, toasted hazelnuts, ricotta and goat cheese crema, mint, and honey balsamic vinaigrette. Pictured Nov. 6, 2025.

Winner, Anjelica’s Restaurant, Sea Bright

Brando’s Cucina, Asbury Park

La Bocca Cucina, Manasquan

More: USA TODAY named its Restaurants of the Year. This Shore favorite made the list

Best Seafood Restaurant

A dinner special of halibut and shrimp with risotto in garlic red sauce at Atlantic Offshore Fishery in Point Pleasant Beach.

Winner, Atlantic Offshore Fishery, Point Pleasant Beach

Bum Rogers Crabhouse, Seaside Park

Klein’s Fish Market, Belmar

Point Lobster Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach

Raia’s Restaurant, Long Branch

Red’s Lobster Pot, Point Pleasant Beach

Rooney’s Oceanfront, Long Branch

Spring Lake Seafood, Spring Lake

The Reef Club, Allenhurst

The Shrimp Box, Point Pleasant Beach

Best Ethnic Restaurant

Authentic miso soup from Taka in Asbury Park.

Winner, TAKA (Japanese), Asbury Park

Aarzu Modern Indian Bistro, Freehold

Beijing Bisto, (Chinese), Red Bank

Heights 167, (Latin) Point Pleasant

Mauka Indian Cuisine (Indian), Eatontown

Reyla (Middle Eastern), Asbury Park

St. Stephen’s Green Publick House (Irish), Spring Lake Heights

Xina (Chinese), Toms River and Bradley Beach

Best Specialty Food Store

Winner, Joe Leone’s, Manasquan and Point Pleasant Beach

Berg’s Smoked Meat & Poutine, Belmar

Lenny’s Colonial Market, Manasquan and Point Pleasant

Livoti’s Old World Market, Brick

Moondog Market, Lake Como

Pastosa Ravioli, Manasquan, Eatontown

Two River Dairy & Market, Manasquan

Best Breakfast

Corned beef hash and a biscuit with cinnamon honey butter at The Buttered Biscuit in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. Pictured Feb. 5, 2026.

Winner, Buttered Biscuit, Bradley Beach

Amy’s Omelette House, Long Branch

The Paramount Diner, Manasquan

Toast, multiple locations

More: Pork roll, pancakes and more: 7 Shore spots you didn’t know served breakfast

Best Brunch

Winner, Molly Pitcher, Red Bank

B2 Bistro + Bar, multiple locations

Cross & Orange, Asbury Park

Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson

Rooney’s Oceanfront, Long Branch

Best Pizza

Winner, Pete & Elda’s, Neptune

Qua Pizza, Manasquan and Asbury Park

Rosie’s Pizza, Point Pleasant Beach and Middletown

Vic’s Italian Restaurant, Bradley Beach

More: 15 of the Shore’s top pizza spots

Best Burger

The “Dockside” burger with three cheeses, bacon, mushrooms and sautéed onions at Harpoon Willy’s in Wall, New Jersey, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The restaurant won the Asbury Park Press’ March Madness-style Burger Bracket.

Winner, Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan

B2 Bistro + Bar, multiple locations

Bam Bam Burger, Point Pleasant Beach

Burger 25, Brick, Toms River and Ship Bottom

Frankie’s Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant

The Ark, Point Pleasant Beach

More: These are 5 great Jersey Shore burgers that you’ve got to taste

Best Wine List

Nicholas Barrel & Roost, Middletown

Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park

Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson

Best Cocktail Program

Winner, Watermark, Asbury Park

Amendment 21, Point Pleasant Beach

Laylow Cocktail Lounge, Asbury Park

Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson

Best Dive Bar

Winner, Bond Street Bar, Asbury Park

Broadway Bar & Grill, Point Pleasant Beach

Idle Hour, Point Pleasant

Joe’s Surf Shack, Lake Como

Nip & Tuck Bar & Grill, Long Branch

Tom’s Tavern, Farmingdale

Best Brewery

Winner, Asbury Park Brewery, Asbury Park

Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar

Carton Brewing, Atlantic Highlands

Icarus Brewing Company, Brick

Last Wave Brewing, Point Pleasant

Kane Brewing Company, Ocean Township

Best for Romance

Blood & Sand (left to right), Pascal’s Manhattan and the French Blonde at Pascal and Sabine in Asbury Park.

Winner, Pascal & Sabine, Asbury Park

Charlie’s of Bay Head, Bay Head

Scarborough Fair, Sea Girt

Best Chef

Winner, Josh Laurano (River Pointe Inn)

David Burke (Red Horse by David Burke)

David Viana (Judy & Harry’s, Heirloom Kitchen, Lita)

Meg LaManna (Mugsy’s Mercantile)

Jason Kobilis (Charlie’s of Bay Head)

Paul Holzheimer (Grand Tavern)

Ryan DePersio (Ember & Eagle)

Terry Eleftheriou (Shipwreck Grill)

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: See which Jersey Shore restaurants, chef won TASTE Awards