Topic Wiki

Restaurants

Entree - An upscale meat place but great food and service  (Moved to 4th and Monmouth)
Ottimo- Dairy, upscale, great reviews, great lunch special
Estreia - upscale meat restaurant, a little noisy. Opens at 5:00pm
Pizzano- A pizza store with nice sit down area also has a large dairy menu
Upper Crust- A pizza store with nice sit down area also has a large dairy menu
Sushi Nation - Exclusive sushi spot. They also sell sushi in some other stores. Closed down
Kava - Nice Cafe with a drive-thru, they do events as well.
French Press - Niche coffee store
Cafoterria - Dairy place at the Avenue Shoppes at New Hampshire, also delivering to the business district
That Sushi Spot amazing sushi on Clifton Ave and they offer curbside pickup
Kalamata - upscale dairy cafe attached to pizza store. Has Simcha room.
Lamp Post - upscale meat restaurant in Toms River
Loft - on the 70 in Toms River
Tomahawk - Upscale NYC style steakhouse. Extensive menu. Simcha room.
Sugo - Upscale cafe on Lakewood/Toms River border. Now Giddy’s.
Smokey Joe Order only, WhatsApp 347-743-5648. Amazing smoked meats by custom order for Shabbos and Yom Tov, fantastic cholent/kishka etc. on Thursday night/Friday as well.
Smokey Hill BBQ BDE
Seared Very upscale\Very expensive Closed down
Taquito - Authentic mexican food. Behind Eat-a-pita
Char Q - An upscale steakhouse & bar, CHAR Q overlooks the beautiful & secluded Eagle Ridge Golf Course
Ishtabach Tom’s River, branch of a store in the Shuk in Yerushalayim

Fast Food

Meat

Glatt Bite- Massive menu with extremely fast service and delicious American and Chinese food.
D'LUX- Massive menu with fast service. American, Chinese, and sushi  :'(
Yussies- Deli and sandwiches. Delicious fries.
Glatt Gourmet- best homemade take out food (also sandwiches and chinese)
Yapchik- Nice menu great homemade take out, or eat in
Bun- Nice place, great burgers
Authentic Kosher Chinese- Chinese place on Clifton, recent change in ownership/name. Small, cheap, good food
Sushi Express- sushi and Chinese, they deliver 732-901-7874
South Side Sandwich Shop- Fast-food joint Extensive sandwich menu. Has delicious smoked Ribs/Lamb and chicken. Friendly service. Located on Cedarbridge between Martin Luther and Arlington Ave. (Changed Owners - Different Vibe)
Snaps- Fast food in Westgate
Glatt Gourmet- Down the 9, across from Bun. Good food, jammed Thursday nights
Pita Hut [PH Modern Grill] - (3 locations) Only 1 location Spruce & 9. Awesome Israeli food, free cholent on Thursdays with your purchase
Eat-A-Pita - Nice schnitzel/schwarma place, now with a hot dog bar, on Clifton
Keepshuto - (2 locations) On South Clifton Ave; On County Line.
Hamisada - Upscale Middle Eastern cuisine on the 9 just outside of Lakewood in Howell, Olympic Pita style
Flysh
Lipa's Munch
Mike’s
Burger Bar Located in Jackson co-op plaza
Teyavon Chinese, located near Chick Chock in Jackson

Dairy

Circa - Clean pizza store/cafe with large menu + sushi.
Pizza Place- A pizza store with a large dairy menu and very nice setting located in WestGate 732.730.1144
Pizza Plus - 4th st btwn Clifton and Lexington. Original Lakewood pizza store. Foods great.
J2- Pizza and sushi in Gourmet Glatt plaza. Pizza is good, great sushi.
J2 south - Pizza in the Evergreen plaza
That Sushi Spot- Clifton and Third.
Village Pizza (2 locatioons) - Pizza store with a dairy menu
Village Pizza South - Near Bais Shaindel, south side of the lake
Bagel Nosh - Legendary bagel store, needs no introduction
4 Corners (4 locations) , bagel store+ sushi ]
Out To Lunch - Nice, upscale dairy cafe across the street from Circa on Cedarbridge
Panini Cafe - Nice, new, sit-down place with iPads for ordering :)
Pop Up Pizza in Jackson Crossing (next to the WaWa outside Westgate)
Bagel King Great bagel store with drive-thru in NPGS Jackson plaza
Esty’s Bestys Milchigs in Jackson next to NPGS
Hot Bagels 3 Locations. Spruce & 9, 2nd bet Clifton & Lex, Drive through on Kennedy Blvd. Great breakfast special & place is packed on friday for sourdough Challah.
Toast Manchester. Breakfast and Dairy cafe.
Rosemary Jackson. Bagel store.
[/b]Avo Cado[/b] Dairy Cafe in Seagull Square.
Say Cheese in Jackson near NPGS
Fialkoff’s in Jackson near NPGS
Tuscany Cafe and next door pizza shop, in Howell on the 9
Panini Cafe in Jackson on New Prospect, reopening under a new name by Chef Ari G
Milk Crate Dairy cafe next door to Loft on the 70 in Toms River
Pies on Deck Pizza store in Yitzy Nussbaum Plaza in Toms River
Lutali Dairy Italian restaurant opening in Toms River


Ice Cream

Yismach Yisroel Westgate Westgate plaza
CREMEThe Avenue Shoppes, 12 America Ave
Sprinkles Gourmet Glatt plaza
Rita’s Open Spring/Summer, in the same plaza as Village Pizza South
Rita’s North in the same plaza as Staples in Howell
Sprinkles South In the Closeout Connection strip mall, with Bun
Yismach Yisroel 4th and Lexington
Ice Cream House on Route 9 in Toms River

Takeout

Aisle 9 (grocery)- Nice fleishig selection, arguably best sushi in town, now with a Jackson location as well
Seasons (grocery)- Good fleishigs and bakery
Gourmet Glatt (grocery) Just about everything, North location is on County Line in Gourmet Glatt plaza next to Chase Bank and South location is in Seagull Square
Evergreen


Catering

R&S - Probably the oldest establishment in town. Most famous for their liver.
Simcha Caterers -
Greenwald Caterers - They have a sort of monopoly on large events/Simchos

Bakeries

Gelbstein’s - On Clifton, next to His Place
Hershey’s in Amazing Savings plaza
Sesame In Mike's Chicken Plaza

« Last edited by S209 on January 12, 2025, 04:13:45 PM »

Author Topic: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread  (Read 302176 times)

Offline Dave321

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1440 on: December 17, 2024, 01:09:28 PM »
Tell him stop? Who got him to spend all that if not the designers and contractors?

What was mentioned about needing to replace a bunch of kitchen equipment because the chef didn't like it is entirely on the proprietor for equipping the kitchen without consulting with the chef.

FINALLY THE REAL PROBLEM. The restaurant was built BEFORE they had a chef. Doesn't make any sense bec thats the whole reason ppl come.
Hence when the chef was finally hired, he asked for new equipment.

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1441 on: December 17, 2024, 01:11:41 PM »
A comment on the original LinkedIn post:

Quote
Sam Mermelstein
Sam Mermelstein

Founding Member and VP of Development at Enclave Equities
2d

I was part of that group that went out that night.
There are always two sides to every story. Initially, I stayed quiet out of respect while the business was still operating. However, I feel it's important to clarify a few things.

We are a group of friends who gather every night to learn Gemara, and we celebrate each siyum by going out to eat. Over the years, we’ve visited nearly every high-end kosher restaurant in the tri-state area.

Regarding the receipt that was circulated, it was only shared internally among our group to split the bill. We have no idea how it got out publicly. That receipt was genuine—nothing was fabricated. If you look at the items and prices, you’ll see how much we were charged. The prices simply spoke for themselves; it was undeniably expensive.
Our intention was never to harm anyone. On the contrary, we specifically chose this restaurant to support the owner when he first opened. It’s deeply unfortunate that the business ultimately closed, and we feel genuinely sorry for that outcome.

However, blaming us for the closure or accusing us of wrongdoing for simply being overcharged feels unreasonable. We went in with good intentions, and it’s disappointing that things have been misconstrued this way.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline Afrages6

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1442 on: December 17, 2024, 01:16:18 PM »
Tell him stop? Who got him to spend all that if not the designers and contractors?

What was mentioned about needing to replace a bunch of kitchen equipment because the chef didn't like it is entirely on the proprietor for equipping the kitchen without consulting with the chef.

That doesn't change the fact that the food that was served was nowhere near the quality it needed to be for prices they charged. For most people if they went once they were not interested in going back.

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1443 on: December 17, 2024, 01:20:52 PM »
That doesn't change the fact that the food that was served was nowhere near the quality it needed to be for prices they charged. For most people if they went once they were not interested in going back.

Of course. During the period that they offered a reasonable prix fixe menu they had a lot of people who went to check it out and very few felt it was worth the full high price.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1444 on: December 17, 2024, 01:23:16 PM »
In general, I am skeptical of the amount of due diligence and market research many proprietors do before investing into a store. Is there even someone who specializes in doing this locally?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Afrages6

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1445 on: December 17, 2024, 01:29:53 PM »
In general, I am skeptical of the amount of due diligence and market research many proprietors do before investing into a store. Is there even someone who specializes in doing this locally?

If reserve cut opened with those prices in the middle of lakewood with the same quality as they have in the city do you think they would have issues?

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1446 on: December 17, 2024, 01:37:34 PM »
If reserve cut opened with those prices in the middle of lakewood with the same quality as they have in the city do you think they would have issues?

That is all part of market research.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline shlomoandtam

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1447 on: December 17, 2024, 02:07:33 PM »
I have to say, there's a point to be made.
The contractor, designer, and kitchen designer, all got paid. and very well from the sound of it. Did they not think it was within their duty to tell the owner, STOP. DO NOT PUT 4 MILLION DOLLARS INTO A RESTURANT? the subs were all locals. they know whats going to fly and what not. If they wouldve spent 700k, they would be in a very diff situation now. the prices would have never started where they orignally did.
Disagree, first of all why do you assume that contractor and interior deisgner know anything about the restaurant world, and since when is it the their job to tell a restaurant how to run their business. (Its like ordering a lot of food in a restaurant and the waiter telling you not to because you wont be able to afford it or eat all of it.)

Offline Dave321

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1448 on: December 17, 2024, 03:01:11 PM »
Disagree, first of all why do you assume that contractor and interior deisgner know anything about the restaurant world, and since when is it the their job to tell a restaurant how to run their business. (Its like ordering a lot of food in a restaurant and the waiter telling you not to because you wont be able to afford it or eat all of it.)
bec these are locals who know the market. I dont think its their JOB but rather its just part of market research. They see endless costs and custom tables with insane AC system etc, they should have said STOP. This is not necessary.

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1449 on: December 17, 2024, 03:01:17 PM »
Disagree, first of all why do you assume that contractor and interior deisgner know anything about the restaurant world, and since when is it the their job to tell a restaurant how to run their business. (Its like ordering a lot of food in a restaurant and the waiter telling you not to because you wont be able to afford it or eat all of it.)

If you are taking a lot of money to design a restaurant, you better make sure that you understand what you are designing.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1450 on: December 17, 2024, 03:03:11 PM »
custom tables with insane AC system etc,

Where do you think the idea to do these things came from? The restauranteur doesn't know what AC is needed for the place. He says simply that he needs to make sure that his customers are comfortable.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2024, 03:32:46 PM by aygart »
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline EliJelly

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1451 on: December 17, 2024, 03:03:15 PM »
In general, I am skeptical of the amount of due diligence and market research many proprietors do before investing into a store. Is there even someone who specializes in doing this locally?

I believe that our circles specializes more in "marketing", everyone does marketing and all the youngsters today are obsessed with "marketing". I think this hype leads to the illusion that any idea with the right marketing will fly high.

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1452 on: December 17, 2024, 03:47:23 PM »
If you are taking a lot of money to design a restaurant, you better make sure that you understand what you are designing.
That doesn't mean market research into if it's sustainable. If a client requests the most over-the-top restaurant design because they want to be the highest-end kosher restaurant on the east coast, no one needs to question why they want to do that. That responsibility lies squarely on the client.
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline aygart

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1453 on: December 17, 2024, 03:52:14 PM »
That doesn't mean market research into if it's sustainable. If a client requests the most over-the-top restaurant design because they want to be the highest-end kosher restaurant on the east coast, no one needs to question why they want to do that. That responsibility lies squarely on the client.

Yes, and the owner should ask questions about the utility of various design aspects. On the other hand the client is relying on them to understand how the design aspects affect the experience. There is more than enough blame to go around.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline LNS

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1454 on: December 18, 2024, 11:46:27 AM »
GKRF: The Bordeaux Steakhouse in Brooklyn have bought Seared restaurant in Lakewood
 and will be re-opening it again as a steakhouse.

Offline sylk

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1455 on: December 18, 2024, 07:44:46 PM »
If reserve cut opened with those prices in the middle of lakewood with the same quality as they have in the city do you think they would have issues?
Name recognition is a big deal. Loft is doing extremely well because it is a known commodity. There is a reason all the brooklyn stores moving here now are doing well from the start. Same could not be said of seared. Was more of an unknown.

Offline torashaman

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1456 on: December 19, 2024, 12:18:42 AM »
Cheapest fleishig place to buy bulk/catering from besides Poppers Plus?
Any reviews on Poppers Plus food?

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1457 on: December 19, 2024, 06:22:22 AM »
I believe that our circles specializes more in "marketing", everyone does marketing and all the youngsters today are obsessed with "marketing". I think this hype leads to the illusion that any idea with the right marketing will fly high.
this whole sage leads back to the fuzzy math thread = financial education

Did they even have a normal business plan? or was the whole thing winging it?
ETA: I've done a bit of sleuthing and it seems that the owners weren't newcomers to running resturants... so is this more about misjudging the market?
« Last Edit: December 19, 2024, 08:13:15 AM by yfr bachur »

Offline chevron

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1458 on: December 20, 2024, 09:59:43 AM »
GKRF: The Bordeaux Steakhouse in Brooklyn have bought Seared restaurant in Lakewood
 and will be re-opening it again as a steakhouse.

I wonder what these things cost, how much of the investment is returned ?

I know that restaurants cost a fortune to build and maintain.

I honestly have zero clue of actual costs but my index is between signing the lease and opening the doors you spent a year on rent .

The equipment and staff etc are a fortune or as stated here 4 million ?!

How profitable can a restaurant be that justifies a 4 million dollar investment ?

I mean restaurants close constantly etc you'd probably do better investing in crypto

Offline UKinNYS

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Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #1459 on: December 20, 2024, 10:53:27 AM »
I honestly have zero clue of actual costs but my index is between signing the lease and opening the doors you spent a year on rent.
It's possible lease includes significant TI reimbursement