Bites Nearby: Bistro Ole

A few years ago I was told to go to Bistro Ole, a latin-infused Spanish and Portuguese restaurant on Main Street in Asbury Park, and I finally had the chance to go there this past Saturday.  

We opted to sit outside which ended up being pretty chilly towards the end of the dinner, but as the summer is here and it is warming up, there will undoubtedly be a wait for outdoor seating here.  

A small restaurant, they offer perks unique to their cuisine. The restaurant is BYOB, so I bought a cheap bottle of Chilean red wine that they then made into a pitcher of sangria for us, with club soda, apples and oranges.  This was a great way to warm us up quickly while browsing the menu.

My friend and I had a hard time deciding what to order, as everything sounded delightful.  We decided to split a salad before ordering entrees to further explore the menu. The Verde Salad is served with field greens, pine nuts, almonds, and goat cheese with their house vinaigrette, while the Salada Mozzarella is served with fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, and tomatoes topped with a Spanish pesto dressing.

While I was tempted to order both of these salads, we opted for the Latin Experience salad of fresh chopped avocado, served with a raspberry vinaigrette, field greens, tomatoes, and tortilla chips.  The dressing was a unique twist with the avocado, and we were fighting for the last piece.

Once we ordered our salad, we finally narrowed down what we both wanted to order.  I was torn between three entrees.  The Vaca a la Parrilla, a 16oz marinated T-bone steak and shrimp is grilled and topped with a garlic sauce reduction, while the Ropa Vieja, shredded beef, is served with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains.

I ordered the Ole Ole Chicken, a chicken breast stuffed with manchego cheese, fresh spinach, and onions.  With great flavor, my friend could not stop taking bites off my plate.  She ordered Pork a la Gitana, pork tenderloin prepared with port wine, mustard, and a cream sauce.  It had great flavor, but the pork was slightly dry for her taste.  

As a seafood lover, perhaps next time she will opt for the Sea Bass en Salsa de Pinones, served in a mild pine nut sauce, or the Atlantic Passion, grilled salmon filet topped with sauteed portabello mushrooms and scallions. Bistro Ole also has the Chef's "Best Seller" Sea Bass, seared and topped with a Spanish pesto sauce and bread crumbs, served over avocado salsa.

All in all, I was very happy with my experience at Bistro Ole. There are a few other dishes I want to try, including sampling the appetizers menu.  It is definitely a good place to treat yourself to a nice dinner for a special occasion, or just because.  As one of the restaurants to jump start Asbury Park's comeback, it is definitely still thriving.  I mean really, how many other places around here will offer you free sangria if you bring the wine? I found a good $8 bottle, which for me isn't a bad investment at all, and a delicious way to spend my Saturday.

To view the full menu, visit www.bistroole.com.  To inquire about their catering menu and services, call 732-609-0487.