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 - coming soon
Tomahawk - Upscale NYC style steakhouse. Extensive menu. Simcha room.
Sugo - Upscale cafe on Lakewood/Toms River border.
Smokey Joe Order only, WhatsApp 347-743-5648
Smokey Hill BBQ BDE
Seared Very upscale\Very expensive
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.
Avo Cado Dairy Cafe in Seagull Square.
Say Cheese in Jackson near NPGS
Fialkoff’s in Jackson near NPGS

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

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 October 29, 2024, 11:51:35 PM »

Author Topic: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread  (Read 265004 times)

Offline Hjay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 1398
  • Total likes: 100
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #320 on: July 28, 2021, 12:02:26 PM »


Seems from your quotes that @yuneeq is contradicting himself.


Offline yuneeq

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 8991
  • Total likes: 4276
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 10
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #321 on: July 28, 2021, 12:10:24 PM »
Seems from your quotes that @yuneeq is contradicting himself.

Correct - 1st visit at CharQ was during soft opening and judged more favorably based on that. Next couple visits I was underwhelmed.
Visibly Jewish

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19555
  • Total likes: 16050
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #322 on: July 28, 2021, 12:10:43 PM »
Seems from your quotes that @yuneeq is contradicting himself.


Seemingly, he prefers a better version of regular food over the more unique and creative ingredients and tastes.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19555
  • Total likes: 16050
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #323 on: July 28, 2021, 12:12:41 PM »
Correct - 1st visit at CharQ was during soft opening and judged more favorably based on that. Next couple visits I was underwhelmed.
I've been there after the soft opening and was more impressed than you. Same with Estreia. I was always underwhelmed at Entree because when I go to such a place I am not looking for a better version of regular foods.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Euclid

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5318
  • Total likes: 6690
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #324 on: July 28, 2021, 12:57:39 PM »
I've been there after the soft opening and was more impressed than you. Same with Estreia. I was always underwhelmed at Entree because when I go to such a place I am not looking for a better version of regular foods.
+1

I can make an amazing steak etc at home. This is why I generally order only appetizers at (higher end) restaurants - I feel like the creativity and unique dishes/flavors are there, as opposed to entrees which are typically "boring".

Offline yuneeq

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 8991
  • Total likes: 4276
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 10
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #325 on: July 28, 2021, 04:20:43 PM »
I've been there after the soft opening and was more impressed than you. Same with Estreia. I was always underwhelmed at Entree because when I go to such a place I am not looking for a better version of regular foods.

Don't doubt it but do you know a lot others like that? Every time this conversation comes up in person I'm usually in agreement.

+1

I can make an amazing steak etc at home. This is why I generally order only appetizers at (higher end) restaurants - I feel like the creativity and unique dishes/flavors are there, as opposed to entrees which are typically "boring".

I do get bored from Entree (though the drinks set them apart) but I simply don't enjoy the others.
Visibly Jewish

Online S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7630
  • Total likes: 4074
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #326 on: July 28, 2021, 09:11:01 PM »
Finally checked out CharQ tonight, and the food was definitely unique.
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Online S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7630
  • Total likes: 4074
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #327 on: July 28, 2021, 09:17:37 PM »
Finally checked out CharQ tonight, and the food was definitely unique.
Took a few posters’ advice and went for an appetizer and charcuterie board but didn’t get a real entree (though the board was pretty big).

The soup was really good, steak tacos were excellent, not a huge fan of all the dried uncooked meat on the board (to be fair I generally don’t like that so perhaps someone who goes for that would enjoy it), salad was quite good, and peanut butter chocolate brownie was fantastic.

It’s pretty expensive and I wasn’t super impressed with the serving sizes even though others have said they found them really generous. All in all a very nice experience, food was very different and exciting. Ambiance was nice, one of the better waiter experiences I’ve had, and some small things like the soup poured at the table were nice touches as well.
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline YitzyS

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 5974
  • Total likes: 15251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood, NJ
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #328 on: July 28, 2021, 09:29:40 PM »
Took a few posters’ advice and went for an appetizer and charcuterie board but didn’t get a real entree (though the board was pretty big).

The soup was really good, steak tacos were excellent, not a huge fan of all the dried uncooked meat on the board (to be fair I generally don’t like that so perhaps someone who goes for that would enjoy it), salad was quite good, and peanut butter chocolate brownie was fantastic.

It’s pretty expensive and I wasn’t super impressed with the serving sizes even though others have said they found them really generous. All in all a very nice experience, food was very different and exciting. Ambiance was nice, one of the better waiter experiences I’ve had, and some small things like the soup poured at the table were nice touches as well.
Any leftovers?  :P

Online S209

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 7630
  • Total likes: 4074
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Gowns By Shevy
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Marriott Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC, National EE, Rock Royalty Wild Card, Wyndham Diamond, MLife Gold, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Uber VIP, IHG Platinum Elite, ANA Platinum, DDF Lifetime Prez Platinum Elite, AmEx Platinum
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #329 on: July 28, 2021, 09:33:29 PM »
Any leftovers?  :P
Na, we didn’t get a main
Quote from: YitzyS
Quotes in a signature is annoying, as it comes across as an independent post.

Offline Euclid

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5318
  • Total likes: 6690
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #330 on: July 28, 2021, 09:45:44 PM »
I do get bored from Entree (though the drinks set them apart) but I simply don't enjoy the others.
I didn't mean Entree's boring, I meant I find (literal) entrees/mains boring.


ETA: 'entree' in the U.S. typically is used as a synonym for the "main course", though I know many people who use it to mean "appetizer" (which I think is how the rest of the world uses it too).
« Last Edit: July 28, 2021, 10:21:30 PM by Euclid »

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19555
  • Total likes: 16050
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #331 on: July 28, 2021, 09:49:16 PM »
I can make an amazing steak etc at home.
My son grilled steaks tonight that were better and more precisely cooked than the one I got the last time I was at Entree.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Toasted

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1102
  • Total likes: 222
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #332 on: July 28, 2021, 11:06:09 PM »
My son grilled steaks tonight that were better and more precisely cooked than the one I got the last time I was at Entree.
@aygart @Euclid

Instructions please. I couldn't grill a half decent steak if my life was in limbo. Always blamed it on Lakewood kedusha.

Offline Jellybelly

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2016
  • Posts: 1234
  • Total likes: 1123
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #333 on: July 28, 2021, 11:50:31 PM »
@aygart @Euclid

Instructions please. I couldn't grill a half decent steak if my life was in limbo. Always blamed it on Lakewood kedusha.
First recommendation is to not burn it as much as your toast

Offline Yehudaa

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2018
  • Posts: 3960
  • Total likes: 3007
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 111
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #334 on: July 29, 2021, 12:15:38 AM »
@aygart @Euclid

Instructions please. I couldn't grill a half decent steak if my life was in limbo. Always blamed it on Lakewood kedusha.
Was discussed just yesterday :)

A rib steak with good marbling definitely helps, but I can get the cheapest cut of London broil to be tender too. You can marinate the steak for several hours beforehand and that will help. Also use a meat thermometer and grill on high heat flipping once and take it off when it hits 130 degrees for medium rare.

A cheap Thermometer like this one is just fine. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IHHLB3W?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

160 degrees for chicken and burgers.

When you flip you can baste the done side with a bit of marinade/wine etc. Let it hit 170 and you will get really tough steak every time.
Which cuts come out tough?

For a nice, thick-cut rib steak (with good marbling, hopefully), follow these directions:
Use a thermometer.
Use a 2 zone cooking system (have the heat only on one side of the grill).
Put the steak on the cold side of the grill with the thermometer probe inserted. Cover the grill.
When the steak hits about 110, get the hot (direct) side of the grill as high as it will go (for charcoal, have a half chimney of charcoal ready to go, and put them on the hot side of the grill).
Sear each side of the steak for about 1 minute (or until it gets nicely browned). At this point, the center of the steak should be around 120-125F
Let the steak rest off the grill (on a drying rack if possible, so that it doesn't lose its crispness)

For a thinnish (16-ounce range) rib steak, you can do all the cooking on the hot side of the grill with the cover open and the heat as high as you can get it. But you should still use a thermometer, particularly if you don't have experience doing this (successfully). Flip the steak every 30 seconds until the center hits ~120-125 (this is the safe way of doing it. If you are more confident, you can do it where you only flip once, but there's no great reason to do that. Flipping every 30 seconds will get you the best searing and most even cooking, with no experience.

For something like a skirt steak, it's extremely important to cut against the grain, and to make the slices somewhat on the thin side of things. If you cut with the grain it will be tough.


Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19555
  • Total likes: 16050
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #335 on: July 29, 2021, 10:07:35 AM »
@aygart @Euclid

Instructions please. I couldn't grill a half decent steak if my life was in limbo. Always blamed it on Lakewood kedusha.
They sell meat thermometer that don't need a smartphone
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Toasted

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1102
  • Total likes: 222
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #336 on: July 29, 2021, 01:24:04 PM »
They sell meat thermometer that don't need a smartphone
Picked one up in DB for $20 similar to this. It looked legit other than the magnets that stayed on the grill.

Was discussed just yesterday :)
I tried those instructions like Amelia Bedilia. I think I put the thermo in wrong. I just poked in from the top and let it go to 140 and the thing was very pretty on the surface but the color of a stop sign inside.

First recommendation is to not burn it as much as your toast
As soon as I bit into my stop sign steak, I put it back on the fire till it was way beyond that toast. Just to get even.

Offline Iz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 7080
  • Total likes: 461
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #337 on: July 29, 2021, 01:51:47 PM »
Picked one up in DB for $20 similar to this. It looked legit other than the magnets that stayed on the grill.
I tried those instructions like Amelia Bedilia. I think I put the thermo in wrong. I just poked in from the top and let it go to 140 and the thing was very pretty on the surface but the color of a stop sign inside.
As soon as I bit into my stop sign steak, I put it back on the fire till it was way beyond that toast. Just to get even.
Very funny!
I use a thermometer that is mutar to use on Shabbos (for a choleh).

Offline yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 12424
  • Total likes: 4944
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 45
    • View Profile
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #338 on: July 29, 2021, 02:36:39 PM »
Very funny!
I use a thermometer that is mutar to use on Shabbos (for a choleh).
Which thermometer is not mutar to use on Shabbos for a choileh? Sufak Choileh Sheyesh Boi Sekana is doiche Shabbos.

Offline YitzyS

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 5974
  • Total likes: 15251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood, NJ
Re: Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread
« Reply #339 on: July 29, 2021, 02:47:22 PM »
Which thermometer is not mutar to use on Shabbos for a choileh? Sufak Choileh Sheyesh Boi Sekana is doiche Shabbos.
Um... There are a few levels of Choleh below that level.

If someone has a headache or thinks they have fever, it's not a sofek sakanah. Most poskim hold that they can take their temp with a mercury-style thermometer because it's not yad soledes bo.