I just wasted 100$ on Easter brunch here, which was beyond disgusting. Honestly, I haven't had s meal this bad in ages. Plus, the service sucked. I had to pour my own water and ask for another drink when my glass was clearly empty. I will never eat here again, which is a shame because I live a mile away. Right now I'm just praying the food doesn't make me sick. read more

Went to the Beer Garden on 9/14/2019. Horrible service. Bartenders had a good time chatting with each other and watching tv. My wife & I walked out. Never got served. read more

The drinks are expensive however amazing. We have never gotten drinks like these before. They were expertly made and delicious. The food is so good and our waiter Chris knew exactly which wines paired well with our food. The bolognese was outstanding. The oysters were equally amazing as was the dipping sauce. We left feeling extremely satisfied. read more

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RUDE RUDE RUDE Unfortunately didn't make it to even eating at the beer garden . We went last Saturday totally turned off by attitude and pure ignorance . We left in dissatisfaction! read more

Been to Blu Grotto...limited menu and high range for prices...$38 for a steak... Bar tender did not know how to make a cosmopolitan... and when we explained it to him it was served in a champagne glass... Asked for a Dewers and all they had was Pig Nose... I hope they expand the menu and offer brands of beer both domestic and import that are recognizable... read more

We had an excellent meal last night at Blu Grotto. I started with the fennel & orange salad and my husband had the octopus. My salad was great & the hub said the octopus was very tender. I had the Vongole for dinner with gluten free penne. My husband had the pork chop which was out of this world. We finished with Affogato & Tiramisu cheesecake. We also visited the outside bar several times during the summer for happy hour & live music. The smoked mozz/pesto pizza is amazing! read more

I would give negative stars if I could. Service is painfully slow and not trained. Yesterday 90% of the menu was unavailable due to a kitchen malfunction. Food was inconsistent. My husband and I ordered the same dish and the portion size and taste were completely different. Good for cheap drinks and live music. Skip the food. read more

Not nearly good enough for such an expensive restaurant. We had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. Cost $200 with tax and tip. Strange experience. They try to be an upscale restaurant. But most of the customers were dressed super casual...sneakers, sweat pants, t-shirts, etc. The caliber of wait staff doesn't match the attempt at upscale. They spent a lot of $$ on the decor but all the neon blue creates a garish atmosphere. Wasn't terrible. But there are much better places in the area if I want to spend $200 on a meal for 2. read more

Bartenders outside at the beer garden are always awesome. Great old school band tonight, pizza was great and came out rather quickly! Always a good time here. read more

this review is for the Beer Garden. A group of 6 of us went there last night to see Brian Kirk and the Jirks and Blu Grotto was definitely not prepared for them! We wanted to grab a bite to eat so we put our name down with the hostess when we arrived and we were told it would be 60-90 minutes, which was understandable, given the weather, band, etc. and they would call us when a table was available. We went to the bar to grab drinks and enjoy the music and waited for close to 30 minutes to get the attention of one of the 3 bartenders. they did a terrible job of managing the bar and it took forever to get drinks. Two hours later, we watched multiple tables get up and people seat themselves. We went over to the hostess to ask about the process and if the "list" was being followed and she told us that management would not allow her to tell people who sat themselves to leave (even though they had a wait list). My husband went upstairs to find out if we could sit up there and he was told they were no longer seating outside and it would be another hour wait (even though there were empty tables and the same servers were responsible for inside and outside sections) So eventually, we found our own table downstairs (and bussed it ourselves too because we couldn't get a waitress to come over to us until we did). A waitress came over to us and said she wasn't sure who was supposed to be our server but she would take care of us (THANKS!) and we finally placed our order. When 2 out of 3 of our pizzas arrived, we asked about the 3rd and the guy shrugged.. so we went to go find our waitress and she said they were out of mushrooms and the guys should have told us that when he delivered the other pizzas but not to worry, we wouldn't be charged for it. We really should have been informed of this when we ordered or when the order was put in so we could have decided if we wanted something else. While we were eating, the hostess texted my husband and asked if we were still interested in a table (3+ hours later, with half the tables empty and once the band stopped playing). Overall, the Beer Garden has a lot of potential but needs better management and flexibility when crowded due to popular bands. read more

Happy Hour is the best. The Food is delicious, the service was excellent and this will be my summer spot.

This place is a hidden gem on the outside of Monmouth Park. Started with the service, to the decor and the food was excellent. Love the color blue that they used in the decor. Not a fan of the booths but that will not stop me from going back. I would go back and recommend it to my friends. read more

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By far the most fun outdoor space at the shore with live bands, great pizza, and drinks. Good vibes but get there early or you're not gonna sit. read more

The quality of the food here is amazing. The Medeteranen Octopus appetizer was tender and delicious. The staff was professional and attentive. We went on a Wednesdsy night and we ate on a beautiful and quiet outdoor patio. Because it is not located on a commercial highway, I don't believe a lot of people are a aware of it. It is definitely a place you need to try. read more

Really surprised how disappointed me and my friends were with this place. We went for the first time to the beer garden. Took a while to get drinks - bartenders were not paying attention and as I stood waiting for the female bartender to make contact with me, she kept passing me over for a male patron to the point at looking over my 5' body to the guy BEHIND me as if I hadn't been standing there for 5 minutes first. None of the bartenders were engaging or mustered up a smile. On to the food. Incredibly bland. We got a few things. Wings were ok, a little dry. But the meatballs and burger were probably the worst I've had in a restaurant/bar. Absolutely no seasoning whatsoever in either. Like they took chopped meat, formed it, cooked it and stuck it on a plate. No taste at all, not even in the marinara. Also, no one was going around cleaning tables. The place was a mess. Dirty dishes piled on the bar, empty tables left for long periods of time w/out being cleared. Sad because the ambiance is nice but we felt like it wasn't worth going back. Maybe inside is a better experience but the beer garden failed to impress. read more

Went to see a band and spend time with friends last night. Third time there and again the beverage service was terrible. Took 25 minutes to get our drinks. We were on upper deck, same problems there as in the beer garden. They really need to get beverage service in order, whether better management or staff or whatever. Have not tried the food there. Don't know if we will be back again. Disappointing as the setting is great and good bands too. We left early to go have drinks somewhere else. read more

Service was adequate. Cesare salad had different taste to it. Salmon was fine. The pasta Norma was unappealing and the pasta made in the cheese wheel was horrible. We have had this dish at other restaurants Blu Grotto definitely needs to learn how to make it. Their dessert menu has nothing appealing on it. I will say the restaurant itself is very nice and well done. Probably a nice place for a drink during the summer but my recommendation is to eat elsewhere. I would give it 21/2 stars. read more

The large outdoor music venues need help. The bar tenders work very hard but there is no system in place to order drinks. Rather than a free-for-all where the loudest most obnoxious people win, why not establish drink lines in the area under the decks? read more

Do not go unless you don't mind being over charged for under poured drinks. An absolute joke !!!

Driving up at night, the "Bunny Ranch" style sign and tacky lighting / fence out front set the scene for what awaits inside. The food is a solid "average." The service is very good. The atmosphere is tacky and weird. The prices are excessively overpriced, considering overall dining value for money. This review was for a weekend night in late March. That said, our waiter assured us the outside biergarten was great in the summer, if you can get in. To me, that sounded more like a lack of competition in the immediate area, as opposed to a strong desire for Blu Grotto. read more

Feeling very disappointed about our first time at this restaurant. The evening started with not so great drinks. While the bread offered was delicious , the staff whisked it away before we had a chance to finish it. The shaved brussel sprout salad was delicious but the entrees were poorly presented & small in size! Unfortunately the plates were hotter than our food!!The atsmosphere & dining space were beautiful but we enjoy dining out for the food. Lori C. read more

Great people, great and quiet bar area. The food is amazing! I had the pork chop which was perfect. My buddy had the scallops which were cooked perfectly. read more

I wanted to try this place and go somewhere new. To start off it shares a parking lot with mini golf. I came here around 630 on a Friday night so I figure parking might be tough there were no spots left and people ended up making up their own spots and parking anywhere they want it. It was fine I didn't get a ticket but was also slightly nervous. I had a reservation and they were able to seat us early we sat outside and for able to listen to the bands and enjoy the music. The hostesses were very sweet and the waitstaff at the restaurant was also very good. We got a rigatoni and chicken dish my piece of chicken could've been cooked a little bit more but the pasta and burrata app were great. They have quite the extensive wine menu showcasing wines from each country which I enjoyed. Afterwards we went to the beer garden downstairs and it was quite a different experience. The bartenders were not the most friendly and we were ignored for quite a while until I finally flagged one down who had been mid conversation and mid hug with another bartender. Like come on, you see us sitting there. Please don't ignore us. We were never asked if we were doing ok at the beer garden or wanted another drink by the girl bartender who looked quite miserable to be there, so we ended up leaving and going someone else. It's weird that the down stairs service was so bad when the upstairs service was so good. When we were eating there were three different people who were coming up to us at all times. We didn't need that many people but it was nice to be attended to. I would go back to the restaurant but not the beer garden due to the poor service. read more

Terrific place! Wish I knew about to sooner. Food was spectacular with a great atmosphere. Great service. Can't wait to come back!!

Had my husband's birthday dinner with friends last weekend at Blu Grotto. First, we were surprised at how pretty the restaurant is inside--sitting inside a glass conservatory, and surprisingly without noise from the outdoor beer garden. But, the highlight of the evening was the delicious food--an eclectic variety of Mediterranean spices and flavors. Appetizers including short-rib meatballs, fennel-orange salad, root vegetable salad, tomato & mozzarella were fresh and tasty. Main dishes were outstanding (spiced tuna, pasta specials), and desserts were beyond....just extraordinary! Love the affogato & the molten chocolate cake especially. Some reasonably priced choices on the wine list too. We highly recommend Blu Grotto for a special evening out! Thanks to chef James Corona & the team at Blu Grotto for creating another excellent & memorable restaurant. read more

Very odd location for a restaurant. Stand alone inside a race track. Restaurant looks much larger from the outside. Small interior for seating. Very large decks to accommodate outdoor seating. Service is young and inexperienced. Training is needed. Food and drinks were average at best. Nothing to write home about. I was told they have a beer garden. Going to give them a second chance just to check that out. read more

Really good fusilli and excellent hanger steak. We also got the blue point oysters which you can never go wrong. Perfect ambiance. Definitely a must visit if you're in the area. read more

There are few Restaraunts that are over the top with regards to their ingredients and thought put into their menu. This is a genuine Italian restaurant with recipes that resemble those native to Italy. The chef does wonderful things with these fresh well thought out ingredients. Highly recommend. read more

Absolutely beautiful decor and comfortable cozy atmosphere - I want a blue chair for my house! Combine that with professional but very friendly wait staff - and then top it off with a great selection on the menu and delicious food. Don't miss the meatball appetizer and the steak dinner. Everyone in our party loved it and said we will be back! read more

Not the easiest place to fine well worth it. You wouldn't normally expect a great restaurant in the parking lot of a racetrack but here they are. The food is fantastic and we look to go back soon. read more

FOOD IS GREAT, SERVICE IS THIRD-WORLD: This week was our 3rd visit to Blu Grotto. The food is absolutely fantastic - you just have to make it past the behemoth of awful service first. We had a red head girl server who was most likely stoned on the job. She came around the first time to greet us without a pad and pen... halfway through us ordering she had to break away and grab one because 'she couldn't remember it all'. We watched her bounce around to 4 or 5 more tables before she even submitted our order. She then came back to 'clarify' what we wanted because she didn't understand it. All of this accompanied by a blank stare was really something to witness. Just in general all over the place, slow, mumbling, stumbling, real piece of work. Certainly drunk or stoned. HOWEVER, THE FOOD: is great. Oysters, calamari, burrata mozzarella - all the best we've had at the shore. Just get better staff and I bet you'd have a hard time finding a reservation! read more

Beautiful location, wonderful food. Great, attentive service. My husband's dirty martini was spot on. My vodka espresso was excellent. We both had tuna tartare--wonderful. My tuna entree was expertly prepared. My husband had some sort of mixed seafood with mussels over fresh home made pasta; also excellent. Can't wait to return!!! read more

My girlfriend, parents and friends had dinner and we would sum it up as not disappointing but in-inspiring. It was pricey with good food and courteous service, atmosphere was nice. Our more note, they should consider a discount for horsemen since it is essentially a part of Monmouth race track read more

Our dinner was truly great! Each dish was special on it's own. We received delicious, original samples from chef Mark, who came out to speak to us. The ambience was beautiful at night which made it that much more special. I truly recommend this restaurant and will be back again. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place. First of all, the Blu Grotto is not to Beer Garden. They have different menus. I don't know if there is a connection at all. Blu Gotto offers a happy hour at the bar and it can be great...or not. Went a few times and enjoyed the $1 oysters and a few of the other happy hour menu items. My big disappointment was this week when we made the mistake of ordering house wine. They do not include their house chardonnay in happy hour prices. THEY DO NOT TELL YOU THIS, and that is my issue. When we questioned this, the bar tender said, "You didn't ask." For two people, we could have bought a bottle and then some for what it cost to have 2 very pricey glasses of chardonnay each, thus ruining our entire plan to enjoy a reasonable time out. read more

One of the best experiences we have had in a long time! Wonderful atmosphere, top notch service and great food and drinks! Right next to Monmouth Race Track is this new hidden gem of a restaurant! The tuna tartare was the best we ever had! The staff is extremely knowledgable and recommended excellent wines to accompany our choices - try the short rib meatballs-one of my favorites! We will return! read more

First time visitor last evening at the Blue Grotto. Food was amazing. Started with the razor clams, chopped salad, the halibut for myself and pork chops for my husband. The entrees were so different and we truly enjoyed every bite. The atmosphere was beautiful. Will recommend this restaurant to all my friends. read more

What a wonderful experience! Such an elegant place... The price fix lunch was amazing! Unique bar drinks that were absolutely delicious. Every thing was very fresh. The service was impeccable! Can't wait to go back. We were there as a party of seven and treated like royalty. It was our first time there but certainly not our last! read more

Food was solid. Service was excellent - Chris is a keeper! And they have ginger beer! Got the tuna steak and it was expertly prepared. Will be back. read more

3.5 stars Blu Grotto is bright and colorful and good for lunch with friends. While I wasn't there in the evening, I was told that they illuminate the ceiling with some type of blue light. The service was very good. Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. In terms of the food, it was good, but not outstanding. I had an appetizer with carrots and two different types of sauces..one was a Goddess dressing and I can't remember the other one; nonetheless less, it was over dressed. It either needed to be presented differently, or they needed to select one dressing to highlight the rest of the dish. As it was served, the two dressings blended together and the carrots sort of got lost which was a shame because they were well prepared. The rest of my meal was good (gnocchi with pesto) but everything was slightly under seasoned. I almost never add salt to my food, but this time it was necessary. Our table ordered several desserts, one of which was a type of tart with fresh fruit. There was something fundamentally off in the baking of the tart because it required a steak knife to cut through it ( seriously, no exaggeration!). It was so hard that eating it wasn't possible. The pastry chef came to our table and apologized which was appreciated. He sent out cookies as well as another dessert which was amazing (panna cotta which cherries). A bright spot on the menu were their drink options. The whole place seemed like a good idea with decent food, but it's clearly still new. It has the potential to be a really great spot within the next year or so with some minor tweaks. read more