Your bartenders are fantastic. Your food is to. Lately your chefs are way to heavy on the garlic. It takes over

Went there for our twenty sixth anniversary Saw previous reviews and traveled from seaside park to get there After champagne toast we ordered I got pork chop(it was outstanding ) Wife got flat iron steak and lobster tail for surf and turf. Her steak was very good,but her lobster was inedible and butter was so salty that she was not happy. Waitress took her entry off the bill, but the damage was done. Very disappointed read more

We waited 40 minutes and I killed 2 flies @ the table during the long wait for the food. The place was noisy and crowded too, but we will be back. The wine, cole slaw, New England clam chowder, baby back ribs, lobster avocado wrap and turkey club sandwich were all delicious! Worth the wait, noise + flies. Reasonable prices too. read more

Harpoon Willy's - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

My two teenagers, my husband and I have been spending some time in New Jersey and on one glorious day we headed out to the shore for some fun. After a day of frolicking in the waves we were starving and opted not to take part in greasy, yucky, boardwalk shore food. We got in the car and drove around passing various places right on the main drive. We decided we'd be better off heading off the beaten track and drove into Manasquan where we found Harpoon Willys. The restaurant looks like a old, classic, restored farmhouse. It's set on a huge lawn overlooking a little harbor on the river. Inside we saw that there are plans for a huge outdoor seating area which will really add to the enjoyment of this lovely place. We were seated quickly despite the restaurant being busy and bustling. Service was prompt but a little sloppy. Our server was young and table maintenance was poor but our wine came promptly (very nice selection of wines by the class as well as by the bottle) as did our meal. We started with the wings for the kids (delicious, buffalo style. Very juicy) and the roasted clams for us. I loved the clams. I've never had clams roasted and they were sweet and tender. For dinner I had an evening special....grouper with an artichoke crust. It was served with wild rice and roasted veggies. It was very good but didn't knock my socks off. My husband really liked it and we ended up trading our entrees. He ordered the day boat scallops off the regular menu and they were cooked perfectly and served with a wild mushroom risotto and the same yummy roasted veggies as the grouper. I would order that again. My daughter is a burger fanatic and she ordered the California burger which had a spicy mayo on it it that was divine. The burger was cooked perfectly and was really delicious. My son ordered the flat iron sandwich served in the style of a cheesesteak on a bun. It was so, so good. Both of the sandwiches were served with a generous portion of french fries. Every time a server went by with a plate of food we were oooing and ahhing and wishing we could order everything. As a matter of fact, my husband did end up asking for a side of mac and cheese because it looked so good....and it was! We were so stuffed by the end of the meal but we ordered dessert anyway. We got the molten chocolate cake and the chocolate mousse cake. The molten cake was delicious and the mousse was good but I was just so full. Overall, I would definitely visit this restaurant again if I ever have the opportunity in the future. Small improvements in the level of service would make this place a five-star for sure. read more

One of my favorite spots at the jersey shore. Food is very good. I recommend the burgers. Never a bad time to go. Summer, you see views of the river under the sun and in the winter, try and get a seat by the fireplace. A couple things that only give it three stars. First, the service can be very slow. If you sit at the bar and the bartenders do not know you well, they tend to be a little slow. The servers also can be a little slow at times, even when it's not as busy at times. Second, the place is a little cramped. When it gets busy, which it does often, there's not much room. The bar does not have much room on one side and tables are rather close to each other. Overall, if you want a good meal, come here. If you have time to spare and want to relax, come here. Great views and atmosphere feel, come here. Enjoy! read more

Was there today Food was good beer was cold . Had a very nice server name Sabrina made us laugh.

We usually go to Harpoon Willys when we want to have a nice dinner. We went on Thursday at 6:30 and it was packed! We were seated very quickly by a very nice hostess. Waitress was extremely friendly and our drinks were very good. After we ordered the hostess asked us if we could move our seats. Normally I would be very annoyed but she was very nice about it and informed us that dessert was on the house. As an appetizer we got the chicken quesadilla's, they were the best I have eer had! For dinner Bryan got the ny sirloin steak which was slightly over cooked for him (he likes it very rare). I got the seafood combo and as usual is was delicious! I recommend this place 100%. It is slightly pricey but very much so worth it! read more

Situated on the waterfront of the beautiful Manasquan River this local haunt highlights much of what makes seaside dinning a pleasurable experience. During the Covid world we live in all dinning was outdoors, tables were well spaced and all employees maintained proper PPE. We enjoyed raw claims and fried calamari for apps, the clams were fresh and cleaned properly and the calamari was light and airy. For our main courses my companion enjoyed one of their signature burgers. These are huge, delicious and she could only eat half. I enjoyed the fried fish tacos. These were perfect for a summer night and hit all the high notes that one would expect from this dish. As a plus both of these came with steak fries, which is a huge plus in my book. Dessert was obviously a chocolate lava cake which was a perfect ending to the meal. I would highly recommend coming here for a casual atmosphere with food that will leave you thinking..."what am I going to have NEXT time" read more

Waitress was nasty. Lobster salad was fishy. I am a local and been here many times. This was my last.

I got a call Monday afternoon from Toot and Stevie C., (who were both off), that we needed to meet at Harpoon Willy's to discuss some serious business...well OK... it was really just to drink, but nevertheless the meeting was of the utmost importance. Harpoon's sits right on the Manasquan River, and has a very nice view of the marina, with it's wondrous pleasure craft (there is a yacht dealer across the river at the marina) and the graceful lines of the quite new 9/11 Bridge (Route 70) that crosses the river directly outside the bar. Harpoon's features a rather large center bar with tables lining the river facing windows. There is a dining area on the west end of the bar with generously spaced tables, all in close proximity to a huge stone fireplace that essentially covers the entire west wall. When we arrived around 4pm the place was mainly empty, but as the afternoon drifted lazily into evening Harpoon's filled up with a lively festive crowd. Toot commented that there were many attractive women among the imbibers, mainly in twos, enjoying some cocktails and Harpoon's well regarded chow. The blinds were closed upon arrival but at our request and with our assistance they were soon open providing the aforementioned beautiful Jersey Shore vistas. After several hours and with all our business conducted we took our leave from the Harpoon and each sailed off in our own inland directions. But every time you visit a place like Harpoon's with the feel of a century of salt water in the air, you take a little bit of it with you it seems. 4 Ayes! read more

Amazing bartenders & food!! Everything from the sliders ( not on the menu , request only) to the steak is perfect! Great atmosphere & a diverse crowd between 30-60 no lil kids partying & loud! Perfect for happy hour or a date!! Love this place! Bonus- views & dessert are to die for :) read more

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Ordered the Hand Picked Center Cut Fork Tender Filet Mignon with Roasted Garlic Compound Butter - The order was takeout, and the servers were quick to prepare my order. - The Filet Mignon was cooked medium rare, as I had ordered it, but there was little to no seasoning. This would have been iffy if I had received the Roasted Garlic Compound Butter as ordered, but it was not in my to-go box when I arrived home. - The accompanying Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Baked Mac n' Cheese were both underwhelming (the former) and of a weird consistency (the latter). - I will admit that my meal was filling, though I was expecting a whole lot more (quality) for the price. read more

Great place ! Would definitely suggest making reservations . We went there with another couple and we did have to wait a while but sat at the bar had a few drinks ! The bartenders were very friendly the atmosphere is very friendly and fun ! Place was packed. The was was worth it since the food was delicious. Will most definitely be back again this summer! read more

Harpoon Willy's - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Host sucked she was clueless on seating people. Appetizers were good. Main course was a joke for the price. My sister in law got stuff shrimp and they weren't peeled, my dinner was Willy sea bake and it was mostly fries and the crab cake was so dry you couldn't eat it. It also was so loud you couldn't hear the person next to you talking to you. Very disappointed I will never go back to this overpriced cafeteria read more

It was super busy on a Sunday afternoon, but we still wound up getting great service. Absolutely delicious burgers and wings! I also noticed that every employee was jumping in and helping out, no matter what their job was. read more

4/30/16-Dropping it a star after my last trip there. The food was incredibly uninteresting and under seasoned. We had the Mussel appetizer which was just blah. I had the Blackened Grouper which was overdone and my sons steak lacked any seasoning at all. My mashed potato loving daughter said they were gross, they tasted out of the box to me. Overall very, very disappointing, I called it barely a step above a Friday's. Worth the trip... Decor/Atmosphere **** Looks like a large home on the street side with a wall of windows on river side. Inside the the barnwood walls, large stone fireplace and vaulting ceiling make it a very comfortable place. There is a small private room off to the side. The room is dominated by a very large bar and I can only guess it gets quite loud at primetime. Definitely feels like a mostly local crowd. Think of a local pub with a higher quality of menu and food Service ** Nothing too bad but nothing really good either. It is remarkable how many times a restaurant hostess simply walks away leaving you standing there debating do I follow or wait? How hard is it for a hostess to say "This way please"? Waitress disappeared for long, long periods, twice I had to get up to track her down to order more drinks. We were not in a rush thank goodness because it took 40 minutes to get our rather simple order. Food **** Menu is terrific! It reads well, covering all the bases, seafood, steaks, burgers, salads with everything sounding better than typical fair. We kept things pretty simple as this trip was an early dinner so no apps just entrees which were all very good. I had the Day Boat Scallops with Mushroom Risotto which was very good. Not true food snob good (a little overcooked) but I still left nothing on my plate. I walked around the restaurant to get a feel for it and it looked like everyone was thoroughly enjoying their dinner. . Value **** $130 for 4 adults with drinks and 2 kids for seafood was very good. Overall **** 4 stars for its cool location, comfortable atmosphere, good food and value. Service was rough but that is always hit or miss in most restaurants depending on who you get as a server. Notes - Casual dress, kids menu, private party room read more

Food is good, burgers, raw bar, salads. Worst part is the wait for food every time. 40 min for steamers and gazpacho. Too bad. read more

Harpoon Willy's - Beautiful water view from the bar - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

I've never had a piece of food from Harpoon Willy's that wasn't well above average. In particular, the Spicy Tuna Tempura is always delicious, and the braised short rib dish is the best I've had outside of the Big City. However, the dining experience is not perfect. I feel like the dining room was designed as some kind of echo chamber. Sound reverberates perfectly off of the walls and the tables and the ceiling and the skulls of other diners, so it can get pretty loud. The fact that Willy's is always crowded contributes to this issue significantly. Overall, however, the pro's outweigh the con's and I eat here regularly. QUICK TIPS: (1) if you're going during peak dining times, particularly on weekends, do yourself a favor and call ahead to get your name on the list, (2) be careful, drinks are expensive, (3) if you're ordering a burger, eating at the bar gives you a better handle on how that bad boy gets made. read more

Great place.. I was dying to have some good local seafood and plain American pilsner (getting sick of craft beer). This place came as a suggestion from a friend that lives in the area. Poke app was fantastic. Combo platter was exactly what I hoped for. The Mrs. got a lobster salad wrap and loved it. I consider myself a seafood snob having been in the seafood businesses for 13 years and an avid fisherman, that being said, H.W.'s food was great. Service was impeccable and live music was a nice surprise. We will definitely be going back. read more

Visit harpoon Willy's while I was on vacation My Date ordered the ahi tuna club. As I write this review she is in bed sick as a dog Food poisoning . Went back to the restaurant to talk to the manager he could care less not very professional . Never again read more

I had the pan seared duck.... it was delicious. The combination of the duck and the mashed potatoes made my taste buds tingle. The service is always great when I go. Unfortunately the tables near the side lake door are not comfortable at all. In the fall/ winter it's cold and drafty, plus the tables. Other than that the experience is great. And the blackened grouper bites are amazing as an appetizer. The environment is family, date night, and girls night out friendly. read more

Well worth a visit. The grilled tuna club was GREAT. My wife had the lobster avocado wrap which was also great. We must drive past here all the time and missed this gem. Hope to come back again and try other dishes. read more

Sat at the bar and had a nice burger and a beer! I'm a fan of the places that have the grill behind the bar as does this place. Of course the view is nice with the water off to one side, but the service was great and the burger too. I got the River Road burger with cheddar cheese which was cooked a perfect medium rare with steak fries. Nice lunch on a warm day! read more

Harpoon Willy's - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

My friend ordered this Tomahawk steak for 2 last night, clearly will have leftovers for a week! This steak was gorgeous and cooked to perfection. People were coming up to us asking if we minded if they took a picture of it. Harpoons is always our favorite place to go but this deserved a Yelp for sure. read more

Harpoon Willy's - Amazing Tomahawk steak for 2! - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Foods ok- drinks were great - until.... we didn't order enough dinners. waitress with tattooed arms cut us off! I had one and a half drinks and moved to water- but we got the message- no partying! Eat - only men can have multiple drinks- scary! read more

I agree with a previous reviewer- this place is "meh".On Saturday night this place is too noisy to have a conversation! There is loud and there is LOUD!! We were put in the "side room" with a LOUD group of 12, and we couldn't hold a conversation! The front, that were teenagers,said "sorry", but they really didn't give a shit. The food was fair for below average ambiance. The service was ok, and the waiter was apologetic . Nothing was done to make it "right". We will not go back - there are many other Monmouth county restaurants that are better! read more

Haven't been to this place in a while but I have had a great time every time I've gone. I specifically remember their burgers being ridiculously good. I think every time I've gone they've had music which can get a little loud, but that's just the atmosphere of the place. This is definitely a good spot to go if you haven't been there yet. read more

Be forewarned, if you are going to Happy Hour it only applies if you are literally sitting at the bar. Not at high top or at a seat in the bar area. Food is okay, nothing above average. Have been to this restaurant with different owners over the last 35 years, and once again seems to be on a down turn. read more

I am so sorry I chose this restaurant. We were looking forward to some great seafood and we sent our meal back twice Would not recommend this restaurant and will not go back! It was bad today! read more

It was our first time here today. We made it for lunch. My wife had a lobster wrap sandwich, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and I had fried shrimp. The breaking on my shrimp was crispy with a little seasoning; delicious. Service was prompt and friendly. We will be back. read more

Seems to always be a fun place to visit. The food, people and interior right on the river location are all part of the charm of this popular place. I can't say I ever had a bad meal here. When I am in this area I do stop in. read more

Fantastic! Nachos, Burger, Fries, Blackened Salmon, Crab stuffed shrimp, Chowder, Tuna Sashimi, Roasted Clams, and Flour free Chocolate Cake. The table was not disappointed and very satisfied. We sat by the fire place which created a very cozy atmosphere. read more

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Best BURGERS in years! Went with a party of 7 & EVERY SINGLE Burger was done to perfection! Ran the gamut from rare (I want it mooing) to Well--(I want it like a hockey puck). Lobster warm, large pieces on fresh greens was lovely. GO TO place for burgers now. Not cheap just worth it! read more

This review is for the bar area only. The bartenders are friendly, they cook burgers and fries in front of you on the grill in the bar area, and the New England clam chowder is delicious and relatively cheap (but get a bowl b/c better value!) Not too pricey and everything I've seen come from the kitchen looks good. There's generally a wait for bar seats as it's def known as a comfy watering hole so get there early if you're in a hurry. No public transportation options though so bring a DD. Parking is limited but there are street spots near the marina if you need. Onion rings are delish! read more

I do not like to give lengthy reviews. Have not been there since 2006 but wanted to revisit. The reason I have not been there in so long is because it is so out of sight from the road I think. Great food, great drink, great atmosphere. I had the salmon with mango sauce and it was fresh and tasty. As an appetizer we got the crab dip. My husband loves the crab dip and I am sure it will always be our appetizer when we visit. The view is great. It was a Wednesday night and SO crowded. Service was a little slow due to the crowd. Can't wait to go back! :) read more

We had a party here last night for my parents 50th wedding anniversary.. Everything was great! Our waiter could not have been more on top of things. He made it easy to relax and enjoy the company. Other than the calamari needing more seasoning all the other appetizers were fantastic. The seafood fondue is addicting. And the crabcake was the perfect mix of crab and breading. The scallop and mushroom risotto was fresh and yum. For a smaller party (under 25) this is a great private room. Highly recommend! read more

Love this place Friendly staff Easy going and willing to alter the menu at a customers request One of my favorites for sure read more

Solid food, nice beer and drink selection, fair prices, wonderful view and cozy atmosphere...I can't justify even a one star deduction. Our server was friendly and on point...we didn't want to rush and he was very accommodating. For me the restaurant is perfect for the type that it is...it's not quiet fine dining. If you want a lively, casual, bar/seafood/burger place, this is as good as it gets! read more

Only been to this place once, so I'm basing it off that one visit. Went there around 4 pm on a Saturday and it really wasn't crowded. I like the layout, nice decor and great view of the bay. Waitress was very friendly and courteous. Waiting time for the food was not long at all. Fried calamari was nice, juicy and tender. Had the the baby back ribs, with creamy spinach and broccoli as main entree and really was impressed. Kind of tender ribs that fall right off the bones, that's when you know they're good. Creamy spinach was also really tasty, and not in an artificial sort of way, because sometimes creamy spinach can taste like that. Tasted really homemade and authentic! My partner had the turkey club sandwich; though I did not have any of it, it looked superfluous and yummy. I would recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a reasonably priced classy casual place that would like to satisfy their taste buds. You will not be disappointed. read more

Harpoon Willy's - Seafood Near Me - Manasquan, New Jersey

Went there for dinner last weekend and glad we made reservations because it was packed. It's an old home turned into a restaurant right on the water. We ordered Tuna Sashimi - nice & fresh, Tuna Roll Tempura - decent, Grouper pieces - great as appetizers and they were good. I ordered the special of the night - baby lobster tail, shrimp & scallops with bowtie noodles & it was delicious. Most of us ordered the special & the stuffed shrimp with crab meat was excellent too, especially the creamy wild rice that came with it. Another friend had the pork chop & it was a nice thick one that h said was juicy & tasty. For desert, make sure you try the brownie with ice cream, the warm, moist brownie mixing with the ice cream will make your taste bud doing dances. Overall, I'll definitely return but not too frequently due to the prices. read more