Jersey Shore Restaurant Week Returns To Tempt Tastebuds

If you love to eat out and try new restaurants but the cost puts too much of a hurting on your wallet, mark Nov. 3 through Nov. 12 on your calendar: Jersey Shore Restaurant Week is returning, and it's a great time to try new places (or visit old favorites) for a more affordable price.

During the 10-day event, restaurants offer three-course dinners for $22.17 or $32.17, and there are special events as well, according to Jim Flynn, chairman of the event.

There are restaurants up and down the Shore included, from Bahr's Landing in the Highlands and Ama Ristorante in Sea Bright to Bum Rogers Crabhouse in Seaside Park. There's high-end restaurants such as The Raven and the Peach in Fair Haven and the Salt Creek Grille in Rumson, and down-to-earth places like Lenny's Pizza & Italian Grill in Lavallette and Woody's Roadside Tavern in Farmingdale.

There are the following special events as well:

The Dream Dinner kicks off the week Nov. 2 at Cross & Orange, Asbury Park. Five of the Jersey Shore's best chefs get together for one night, under one roof, to cook an extraordinary meal, this time paired with fantastic Australian wines. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. Guests will be seated for a 7 p.m. dinner. The restaurants featured at that event are Cross & Orange, Asbury Park; The Grand Tavern, Neptune; Remington's, Manasquan; Ohana Grill, Lavallette; Waypoint 622, Brielle.

Regions of Italy is set for Nov. 5 at The Breakers, Spring Lake. It features wines, cheeses and pastas and is co-hosted with Joe Leone's Italian Specialties. Sample delicious wines, cheeses and pastas indigenous to the northern, central and southern regions of Italy. New this year is a premium wine bar that will enable guests to try world class wines at a fraction of their regular bottle cost.

Burgers, Bloodies and Brews on Nov. 11 at Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan, features three kinds of burger, beer and Bloody Mary choices at a great price. There will be live music. No advance tickets necessary.

The Great Jersey Shore Martini Contest on Nov. 12 at Doolan’s Shore Club, Spring Lake winds up the week, with area bartenders competing for the “Best Martini at the Shore.” There is a judging panel and “People’s Choice” awards. Taste top-notch martinis and a spread of savory bites.

"The goal for diners is to experience restaurants they may not have heard about or been to yet and be able to do that at a great price," Flynn said. "For restaurateurs, it is an opportunity to boost their business at traditionally slow times of the year and show off their talents to people who havent enjoyed their restaurant yet."

A list of participating restaurants can be found on the Jersey Shore Restaurant Week website (click here). You also can purchase tickets to the special events on the website.

Wine and dinner, photo by Marco Verch, via Flickr, under Creative Commons license