A Jersey Shore BYOB restaurants are the best of both worlds. Not only are they rich in flavors, including everything from seafood to pancakes, but they’ll also make you richer, saving you some money on the alcohol portion of the bill. We hope you enjoy these restaurants as much as we do because even though they lack a bar menu, they make up for it elsewhere.

We’ve taken the time (and the pounds), yet again to comb through a number of Jersey Shore restaurants (even taking advice from our readers – thanks!) to come up with an updated Jersey Shore BYOB restaurant list that is sure to please every palette.

For the sake of geographic simplicity, we’ll classify the Jersey Shore as Monmouth and Ocean Counties for this article (take a look at our more in depth guide to Monmouth County BYOBs and Ocean County BYOBs). Yes, we know the Jersey Shore spans much farther south. Give us time… our stomachs are getting there!

An Insider’s Guide to Jersey Shore BYOB Restaurants



Gourmet cheeses sandwiches and charcuterie pair perfectly with wine or beer! Make sure you check out their $5 Fridays, cheese tastings and lecture schedule. But be forewarned, their superior cheese menu will ruin any future non-Cheese Cave cheese experiences! 14 Monmouth St, Red Bank 732-842-0796 http://thecheesecave.co/

Two words… VooDoo Shrimp! (We just can’t think of much more to say here. Everything on the menu is delicious – it’s Mardi Gras in your mouth!) 25 Church St, Keyport 732-739-9219 www.drewsbayshorebistro.com/

It’s been a few years since Chef Laercio Chamon Jr. (just call him Junior) opened Graze and he just keeps upping his game. Graze is one of our favorite restaurants in Monmouth County. The menu really doesn’t stand still. It just gets better and better. Pair your favorite wines or ales with swoonworthy dishes featuring local ingredients including Duck Tacos and Stuffed Local Squid. 151 Markham Pl, Little Silver 732-747-9988 http://graze.restaurant/

If you have yet to hear of Chef Dennis Foy, think of Cafe Loret as quite an introduction. With over 40 years of experience, Foy and his partner combined their love of food and art into a modern brassiere, serving up crafted French, American, and Mediterranean dishes with a collection of his own fine art paintings. This is our new favorite dinner spot in Red Bank. Check out photos of our visit on Instagram. 128 Broad Street, Red Bank 732-430-2250 www.cafeloret.com

Porcini‘s young culinary power couple (who most recently welcomed a little baby!) has successfully transformed this small space into a pasta powerhouse. Don’t believe us? Go try it for yourself – and whatever you do, don’t forget to order their homemade linguini with clams, scallops, and shrimp in a delicious white clam broth, which goes perfect with that dry rosé you were saving. 168 Bay Ave, Highlands 732-291-3080 https://restaurantporcini.com/



Located at almost the southernmost part of Ocean County, you can dock and dine at this Tuckerton waterfront Italian restaurant featuring a creative menu by Chef Ivar Johnson. 101 Parker Rd, Tuckerton 609-294-4281 www.paninibay.com/

Heads up to big eaters and gluten free diners, Patricia’s of Holmdel may become your new favorite restaurant. Just be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekend, because this place is no longer under the radar, especially with hungry locals! 2132 NJ-35, Holmdel 732-275-0234 www.patriciasofholmdel.com/

Linger over a plate of Disco Eggs and a stack of Red Velvet Pancakes as you and your friends enjoy glasses of spiked OJ and grapefruit juice. After all, they’re motto is “Peace, Love, and Pancakes!” It’s a Jersey Shore brunch spot that is here to stay (luckily for us). 45 Monmouth St, Red Bank 732-224-1234 toastredbank.com

We know your idea of Italian food may be dishes that are smothered with cheese, which is why Via Roma is the Italian restaurant for vegans. Seriously, you don’t even have to be a vegan to love the Vegan Stromboli and Eggplant Parmigiana! 2360 Lakewood Rd, Toms River 732-364-1980 viaromatomsriver.com

Friendly service, delicious classic Italian dishes that Italian home cooks approve of, and a location that makes it a mini secret, Via Veneto may soon become your family’s Sunday hangout. 2410 Highway 35, Manasquan 732-722-8458 viavenetoristorante.com/

Don’t be fooled by the tagline “A Creperie and Dessert Bar.” Whipped has everything you need for a savory meal. Try the Cuban crepe: BBQ pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, BBQ sauce and pickles. They’ve also got a lunch deal and event space. 6 Monmouth St, Red Bank 732-747-0076 www.whippedcreperie.com/

Even though they have a new name, it doesn’t mean that their goal of providing delicious pasta dishes has changed. At Neapoli (formerly Gaetano’s), you can have your pasta, dessert, and wine too. They’ll bring the dishes, you bring the drinks. 10 Wallace Street, Red Bank 732-741-1321 www.neapolinj.com

Taking over the old haunts of one of our favorite restaurants is Semolina Restaurant. Newly opened this past June, it took Red Bank by storm with its fresh pastas and farm-to-table mentality. If it resembles the luxurious and delicious dishes of another seaside Italian restaurant, it should, since owner Chuck Lesbirel of Ama in Sea Bright is behind it. 13 White Street, Red Bank 732-945-6816 www.semolinarestaurant.com

Introducing a newbie to the list, Bombay River brings all of the tastes and aromas of Indian cuisine to Red Bank. Whether you’re digging into a plate of Lamb Kheema Samosas served with a tamarind and mint sauce or Grilled Paneer, it’s a mini transportation to Eastern flavors (with your own Western wine). 90 Broad Street, Red Bank 732-530-1598 http://www.bombayriver.com

Avon may be small, but they are quite mighty when it comes to their restaurants, especially Clementine’s Restaurant, a place where we tend to gravitate to when we’re looking for a beachy, Southern, Cajun, and Creole dinner vibe. 306 Main Street, Avon-By-The-Sea 732-988-7979 http://www.clementinesavon.com/

We’re thrilled that someone finally took over this great restaurant, just seconds away from Sandy Hook, with views of the river – and that’s just the location! The food at 2nd Jetty is also just as delicious as the views with plenty of seafood dishes to choose from and a chilled out beach vibe to go with it. 140 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright 732-224-8700 www.2ndjetty.com

We’re not sure what our buddies up in Northern Monmouth are doing right, but we can’t complain. Yet another fantastic Jersey Shore BYOB restaurant, Christines Italian Restaurant offers a romantic dinner out with classic Italian dishes. 42 1st Avenue, Atlantic Highlands 732-872-4790 www.christinesitaliandining.com Outstanding, excellent, extraordinary – adjectives that describe everything from the dishes to the service and atmosphere. There’s a reason locals and visitors alike keep flocking to Stefano’s – and we 100% agree. 1814 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven 609-492-1100 https://stefanoslbi.com/

In need of a fancy locale that brings out all the stops without going over your budget with that expensive wine bill? There’s no other place quite like Larimar Restaurant. Cozy, intimate, friendly, oh and how can we forget the actual meal… well, we can’t do that either. 1311 3rd Avenue, Spring Lake 732-359-6700 http://www.larimarrestaurant.com/

Upscale Chinese food made with fresh ingredients. Their Lobster Fried Rice is always a show stopper when it comes out of the kitchen, and their Black Bean Filet Mignon may just be the best filet at the shore! 91 Broad St, Red Bank 732-212-8858 templegourmet.com/

(SEASONAL) There’s nothing quite like the Boondocks Fishery in Red Bank during the summer months. It’s one part lobster shack and one part party! Order up your favorite dish and start cracking as you open up some bottles of wine or cold beer and maybe even catch some tunes! There’s nothing quite like a summer night here (if we weren’t clear about it – this place is only open during the summer months, so get there before they head back down to the Keys!) 1 Marine Park, Red Bank 732-747-1777

(SEASONAL) There’s no need to choose between breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. Open late night, The Chicken Or the Egg is the ideal spot to bring a few beers to pair with their wings or some champagne to pair with the egg. 207 North Bay Avenue, Beach Haven 609-492-3695 www.492fowl.com