If I could give this place zero stars I would. Disrespectful and unprofessional staff. I came here with a group of people and was Denied entrance because I was told that I had a duplicated I'd. However this was not the case. I went to boathouse down the street and they confirmed that I did NOT have a duplicate identification. BAR A IS A SCAM read more

If I could give no stars, I would. After having schlepped to the shore, I was keen to partake in a jersey night out. After standing in line and having the bouncer check my out-of-state ID for 5 min, I was let through. My friend, also from out-of-state, was not so lucky. They asked her for a backup, and she ha her credit card...but because she didn't have a photo on it, she wasn't allowed in. There are fake NJ licenses floating around, and these underage kids are not asked for backup. I understand having a backup ID, but if you are going to enforce it, you should have everyone pull out a backup. read more

I really hate to give bad reviews but when you are completely disrespected and assaulted by EMPLOYEES of the bar one is needed. If your looking for a gamble on meeting underaged girls, low quality food or even a low paying job with no requirements; Bar Anticipation welcomes you with open arms. read more

Both the drinks and the food were disappointing. We paid $60 a head and were really upset with the whole event. My party and I ordered drinks and realized they were using liquor that had been previously watered down. The bar staff was nice but the management was incredibly rude. We will never book an event there again. read more

Definetly place to be if you want to listen to good music and want a cocktail after a day on the beach. Very busy place, unfortunately I have to give their food & service a 2 out of 10, I was served a rare burger when I asked for medium well, took forever for someone to take our order & the waitress never even acknowledged our wait. When I told 2 people about my raw onion ring which I immediately spit out because it was coated in cornmeal that was only cooked on the outside I got a sorry about that & a shrug of the shoulder,Not Cool. Won't eat again but will definitely stop in for a drink. read more

My cousins from London just got shot down at Bar A because they only had their license and not their passports! Seriously?? They obviously have British accents !! And are over 21!! Do you only allow Americans into the bar? They had proof....it just wasn't American proof. Sad reflection on the Jersey Shore. read more

Great food. Muff Dip was spectacular. Man singing Tequila Sunrise this Sunday, terrific. 10/10 , will be back.

Like the place but can not believe my 25 year old friend had such a hard time getting in! BEWARE anyone 25 or under must have 2 photo IDs. Then when in side BUD the bartender was a complete p@&*( waving his hand, "like hurry up" when there was absolutely no one else ordering. My friends and I were shocked! Thank goodness the rest of the place made up for these short falls! Bring your IDs and Patience and you might have a good time. read more

Came here with my girlfriend one night and waited on one of the longest lines I've ever seen. Get to the front of the line to be told her license is a duplicate. We go back to the hotel and get another form of ID only to be told that it is a duplicate as well. They refused to let us in even after giving the bouncer credit cards and all sorts of identification. Very rude and unprofessional. Won't be returning. read more

Normally we go here but very dissatisfied with the service we received the other day. It was my friends birthday, she set up her happy hour two weeks in advance. She was never asked to provide a guest list but time and day was confirmed. Upon arrival we were told we could not get her birthday happy hour, we were in touch with the manager. She was very rude, after showing her the emails she said that the woman always responds and she could not do anything for us. An establishment such as this should take responsibility for their mistakes as this was their own fault and not be so dismissive and rude. Very angry with this bar and the way the treat their customers read more

Who knew the A stood for something? Bar A - Tuesday nights. I doubt you would be reading this if you were thinking about going here so I will write this review geared for people who I think are reading this... Have you never heard of this place? Is your bf or gf thinking about going here without you? Did they describe it as a casual, fun divey place? Well how could I put this, they are about to cheat on you. This place is for the Jersey Shore wannabe crowd, ages mostly 21 to 24 at most. Don't get me wrong there will be some older 20s; the ones that cannot accept they need to move on and the ones whose only hope is hooking up with someone super young. Everyone gets drunk and stupid here. Not overflowing with juice-bags but enough to make you feel bad about yourselves guys. Girls are you coming here to stalk someone you like? Follow someone from a check-in? What should you wear? As little as humanely possible. Do I look too slutty shouldn't be a question on your mind. In fact, wear a white skirt, a really short one, if you're going here you may as well get the attention you seek, live it up.. One last bit of advice, bring mommy and daddy's credit card kids, the drinks are $$$$$ especially when getting loaded with people that didn't pregame aka as idiots... read more

Ugh. This place is the worst. I somehow manage to get dragged down here once a summer and I really don't see the draw now that my friends are a half-decade over 21. The crowd is annoying and it gets crazy crowded late into the evening. The bouncers are way too into themselves as well and a few friends have had a hard time getting in despite showing a variety of alternate credit cards, nursing and attorney credentials, and social security cards. I get they are trying to avoid drunk people, but seriously, get over yourself. read more

Hands Down...The best Bar in the Jersey Shore area. You will be impressed by the food and the service is great but what sets this bar aside the rest is the atmosphere and energy(hard to explain), not pretentious, laid back, casual, classic relaxed shore vibe. When you go to Bar-A (as it's known by locals) you simply find it hard to leave. Always something different going on. read more

Tues in the summer is a fun time and they have pretty good cover bands all year round. I like the bar because it has plenty of space and I play volleyball there. It is one of my favorite Bars on the planet. Happy Hour is an older crowd. Generally though it is a younger crowd so I understand some of the reviews on here. Prices are good in the summer, but I am a local. In the winter they should tone down the prices a little to try and draw more people in like Jenks on "Free for all Friday". All in all a solid bar. read more

We got really thirsty after hitting the Seafood Festival at Belmar beach. The lemonades weren't enough so we decided to go to a bar. A little tricky to find, we were looking for "Bar A" on the main street which we couldn't find. So we asked someone and voila! Its called Bar Anticipation. Someone said its the biggest bar in NJ? I don't know if I believe that but the place is big although I didn't get the chance to see it all. There was a lot of stuff going on that day they had some college party. We sat outside ordered chips and chicken fingers with some beers to wash them down. Looks like a good place to hang out, crowd was mix (old and young) but had a good time overall. read more

Great outdoor bar area! They were also doing random games that some of my friends got to win T-Shirts from. It was a nice place for us to hang out for a few hours before heading somewhere else to dinner. read more

This place is like a sneak peek into heaven. The minute I walked in, I felt like I transcended into a perfect utopian world. Every single square inch of this enormous place is full of hot girls and the amount of bars are plentiful. They even have a snack bar for a quick slice of pizza in between drinks. The service was adequate but the prices were a bit inconsistent from bar to bar. I highly recommend hanging out in the back area under the tent where the music is loudest because that area has the most energy and is very exhilarating. Highly highly recommend anyone in between the ages of 21-26 to come here because it was the most fun I've had in a while. read more

Great big place to go have a fun time at the jersey shore! This bar is HUGE. They have inside and outside space and outdoor space with a text. Tuesday is their big beat the clock night. They get very crowded and the line gets super long so getting in early is always best! read more

This place has gone downhill from when I first started going seven years ago, it used to be a lot more of a warm friendly atmosphere but now it seems more like a bar on its way to becoming dated (indoors) with cold staff and bad drinks. The most notable event is Beat the Clock Tuesdays, where beers start at 50 cents and go up a quarter every hour. These nights used to get pretty crazy on Tuesdays and filled with out of towners. The outside portion is open during the summer and very spacious with grotto, sports sand area, multiple bars, VIP area (now goes mostly unused) and shot wheel. The Good ---------- - The food at Bar A is pretty good year round, nothing especially unique mostly your typical bar menu but with a lot of unique twists on their food. There is (was?) a hot food buffet and seafood buffet on Fridays / Sundays, and a made to order quesadilla bar on Tuesday happy hours in the summer. The Bad -------- Why I am updating my review - - There is no bar in South Jersey that should be charging $9-12 for a crappily made mixed drink in a small plastic cup. - Bartenders tend to pick their own prices for drinks that night and each bar will charge a different price. Obviously the less intelligent ones charge much more and wonder why they aren't getting any customers. - Beat the clock has died down, there used to be more of a dancing presence and music but now its just a bunch of people (or no one) standing around. - In the summer if it wasn't Tuesday there were nights that Bar A was just flat out dead. Someone with some business sense should realize there's a problem and step up. - In the wintertime, I will not go now because it doesn't really have that neighborhood feel with a lot of the locals. Maybe some more event nights besides the standard Trivia night would help? - The bouncers have some insane identification requirements, more for "crowd control" than for any other reason (if you know what I mean), which I've seen countless friends throughout the years get rejected. Last year I finally got turned down even with a brand new drivers license and passport and forced the 12 girls with me to leave for a nearby bar. Will make you think the DMVs 6 point verification is a walk jn the park. Bring backup ID! And always have a backup plan just in case! Honestly, what happened Bar A, you're falling apart. My school used to do Alumni reunions here but even they've had enough. Get your act together. read more

Was here for the Great Jersey Shore Burger Contest on Saturday helping represent The Committed Pig in Manasquan. It was such a fun event and so well organized. Bar A is very spacious, has an extremely friendly staff, and the beer and burgers I tasted from their end were great! Look out for event such as these that they host - so much fun and I was working! read more

The inside bar - filthy and smells like an outhouse. Vfw crowd. The outside is a younger crowd. This place was my style when I was 20

I like that you got the chance to pick different music genres and rooms. Could be either indoors or outdoors, live music or a dj. The line is a pain, unless you got the VIP card. read more

I used to party here since I was old enough to drink, and had a hell of a time. Over the years, as you get older, so does that whole scene. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore. There is an exception though. Sundays in the summertime for all you can eat snow crabs!!! Absent are the droves of sloppy drunk 21 year olds that you see on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. It's actually kinda mellow with a more mature clientele. Don't get me wrong, there are still young people, but they seem more chill. We usually grab a table outside, order some drinks and order the AYCE snow crabs for $28. The crabs are very big and perfectly steamed. Best of all, they keep coming until you say "no more." They come with a small pasta salad, drawn butter, lemon and a cracker to break open the crabs. Whats not to love about a ton of crabs and a bunch of cold ones on a nice summer day. read more

Terrible service!!! And inconsistent with mixology. Really upset with how rude the servers were.

If you are colored or foreign don't bother trying to get in. I went there for the first time to celebrate a friends birthday. I had my passport but apparently that's not a valid form of ID. So I can cross the dam border get hammered in Mexico and come back into the country but I can't get into bar Anticipation. It's okay I rather drink tequila anyways. What's not okay is the fact that the 5 white guys infront of me where allowed in with their college year book! I hate to make it about race but it is what it is. A passport isn't valid but you're going to tell me a year book is ??? When I mentioned that it was straight up discrimination they said "so hire a lawyer and sue us" at least they were honest right ? I really hope their security gets laid soon so maybe they will cheer up. I wanted to go there on a Sunday since I heard about their rubber ducky races but after dealing with their security I won't even bother. They are all soggy bowls of cereal! Yuck! read more

Horrible. My friends and I decided to travel to Belmar for a 21st birthday and were immensely disappointed in the customer service at this establishment. My one friend was denied because her license was a "duplicate" and was told she needed a second form of ID. So her kind uncle drove 40 minutes to drop off her passport. After receiving her passport, she returned, expecting to now of course get in. However, upon our arrival the bouncers said they never said we could come back and that they did not like our "attitudes." We did not give any attitude besides being justifiably upset our friend could not get into the bar being 21 with a valid ID and passport. The lack of respect and large egos of these bouncers was astonishing. These people were not kind and I also did not appreciate that there were no women in the area in any position of authority. Just insecure men in need of power to make themselves feel a little less ugly. XOXO read more

My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to grab dinner and a few drinks while down the shore. With Covid still being a thing in NJ, safety was a key in choosing the right place. We drove past a few places that had lines with people not wearing masks and crowds gathered outside. And then we decided to check out Bar A. It was such a positive experience from when you first walked in with having your temperature taken to being sat at a table that was very spaced out from everyone. Social distancing is a thing being practiced here with management being visibly reassuring. Liza was our waitress and she was so reassuring about our safety with being understanding and so friendly. Even during a quick rain storm, we had quick options that were still socially distanced for protection. Highly recommend this place for a nice relaxed vibe while being socially distant but yet still feeling like you're at the shore on a summer day/night! read more

Bar was ok, we ordered food sent it back twice as have an allergy and they sent us back the exact same dish. I think it has a great atmosphere but just stick to the drinks read more

My friends and I visited Bar A this past Saturday. There was a cover of $10, which I expected on a busy Saturday night. I made sure to bring 8,000 forms of I.D. after reading all the negative reviews. I told everyone in my party to bring at LEAST two forms of photo I.D. They laughed at me and said it wouldn't matter. Unfortunately (or fortunately), they were right. We all went to different bouncers and we were all granted entrance only by showing one form of I.D. (driver's license). I suppose we were lucky, but I was happy that I came prepared. There were multiple lines but they all moved pretty quickly. Once inside, we had a great time. Of course it was crowded but nothing overly obnoxious. We walked out on the deck and had plenty of room to dance. The security guards were very on top of things. Every belligerent patron I saw was kicked out almost immediately. No questions asked. The only reason I gave three stars is because all the bars were cash only. This was the one detail that was not mentioned on the website or in any of the previous yelp reviews. This was disappointing as only two people in our party had cash on them, so the rest of us were forced to mooch. I was told there was an ATM but the service charge was ridiculous. So make sure to bring a ton of cash just in case they decide to make it a cash-only night. read more

I had the worst experience here. The whole place is full of rude staff. The management was nothing but rude to multiple guests. This place is horrible avoid at all cost! read more

I have never felt less safe at a bar. I had brought my own charger and my phone had died. I lost all my friends so I went up to every bouncer and bar tender and they would not help In the least bit... I was completely alone and they refused to accept my charger/charge my phone. I do not feel safe at this bar and will never return. Be safe and do not trust the staff read more

I went to this place to meet some friends for a birthday celebration, but i recently lost my license and only had my passport with me. I thought this would be fine as i checked the website and it said that a passport was acceptable as a primary identification. I also saw two other people get in with solely a passport. When i reached the front of the line i presented my passport to security, he was completely dismissive, did not even look at my picture he just told me "you're not getting in" . I asked why and he completely ignored me. I then asked another security guard why and then someone named Chris intervened and said to me under his breath "you're nigger ass isn't getting in" and then told the police officer that I had come around 4 or 5 times trying to get in and needed to be escorted of the property, literally lying about me right in front of me, it was mortifying. I have never in my life been so blatantly discriminated against. read more

This place huffs. Before and during Covid-19 doesn't make the difference. Friend of mine was denied entry tonight for using a full blown United States PASSPORT. Security said it was NOT a VALID piece of identification... mind blowing. On their website it says in big bold letters PASSPORT's are accepted; as they are anywhere in or out of this country, but I guess the hobbit upfront didn't like it tonight. 8 of us had rented a cabana for the night but left due to the one ID issue. Been here a handful of times and each time the experience just has gotten worse, tonight was the last line for me personally. Besides beat the clock this place is worthless. Don't waste your time or money at this old washed up dump of an establishment. Sorry to be cruel but it's the hard truth. Management, hospitality, food, security you literally name it I promise it is abysmal. Hope I can save anyone looking to enjoy themselves and if you do end up here make sure you have a valid up to date drivers license, pandemic or not they don't care. If you get a cabana ask for Vince to host only guy that knows what he's doing in that place. But again my advice is anywhere but here from now on. read more

I have a beach house in Belmar about 3 blocks away and I have been to this bar every summer for the last 6 years. Its a good place to chill on a Sat. night with your friends for an hour because it gets too crowded, get there before 9 so you don't pay a cover, get 1 or 2 beverages, and get some sloppy girls back to the crib by 11 to go in the hot tub. I don't think I have ever stayed past 12, and I have never left without at least 2 chicks. Its a huge outside bar and a small inside bar, if it rains its lame, but if the weather is nice (May-Sept.) the place is packed with hot chicks. The prices run high, hence 2 beers and peace out to my fridge of beers. The bouncers are a**holes, have 2 id's Some of bartenders are b*itces, Security is there because sometimes you have to calm down a meat head or 2, but they act like they run sh*t, their $10/hr uneducated duches working til 3am on the weekend while everyone around them is drinking and while I party and get chicks, their miserable. I was there recently, blonde bar tender that works next to Monika in the outside bar near the food section gave us a few shots of grey goose, security guard spilled 2 of them pulling some wasted ass away. The bartender didn't give a sh*t, we had to talk to another bartender to get them replaced. read more

If you have ever lost your license and got a duplicate, they wont let you. They don't accept credit or debit cards as secondary forms of ID. They expect you to have PHOTO ID such as college ID or passport. Sorry we are OUT OF COLLEGE and we don't carry our passport?? Its sad that so many people travel over an hour to experience Bar A and cant get in. On top of that, the staff are unfairly RUDE. They don't give you a chance to speak or gather your friends, they just want you off the property. read more

This place has to be the most bullshit piece of shit establishment. They fucking randomly select who is worthy enough to go through their piece of shit excuse of a bar. Came in with three of my boys, two of my boys and myself managed to get in with our fucking drivers license, but my other boy Enrique who had the same type of ID as us couldn't get in for some cluster fuck of a reason, maybe because he was Spanish I guess I don't fucking know. And in terms for him to get in he needed his fucking passport and a birth certificate. Never in my life have I seen such bullshit transpire during this night. Fuck this bar. Fuck the people that work here. It's 2017 we don't need this bullshit. read more

Thursdays is for cheap shitty beer and a huge crowd. Gotta come back Wednesday to see what country night is about

Don't go here if you're out of state or have a duplicate ID!!! They require two forms of PHOTO id which most people don't carry with them

Seafood Sunday review: Crab legs are hot and are usually cooked well... apps are good too (just simple stuff like shrimp, roasted clams or on the half). Used to go every Sunday for the all you can eat legs.. service is ALWAYSSSS slow, i usually order a crab leg refill well ahead of actually being finished with my first one. usually you have to flag down the waitress to get any attention whatsoever. If i could go up and get my own, I would. live reggae band is fun. ...but this place is really known for the bars and getting completely shit faced with a bunch of Staten island guidos. read more

This place was definitely big and crowded. Came down on a Tuesday night with some buddies and I think I only spent 20 bucks. That's unbelievable compared to NYC. It was a little too crowded for my liking, but it was a good time with the right people. read more