Our waitress Jesse was amazing! Very polite and informative, she even wrapped our food for us. Bread and the fancy butters and marmalade it came with were very good, worth the cost! Truffle fries, mussels, and gorgonzola smashed potatoes were so flavorful. Hearing the waves while eating outside on the boardwalk was calming. Just FYI you cannot reserve outdoor seating in advance! only can reserve for indoor. read more

Spent a day on the boardwalk and stopped in here because the menu looked like one of the better-balanced options around - a nice mix of salads, tacos, oysters, seafood, and lighter fare. There are a few seating options: outdoor seating right on the boardwalk (about a 30-minute wait when we arrived), indoor dining with no wait, or bar seating which is first-come, first-served. We initially put our name in for the boardwalk wait but ended up being seated almost immediately after checking out the bar area. The hostesses were incredibly friendly and welcoming, both at the front and in the back. Service throughout the meal was definitely on the slower side, although our waiter was pleasant and polite. One small thing that bothered me: when I ordered bottled water, the glasses appeared to be taken from a neighboring table that had been sitting there. They may have been perfectly clean and unused, but psychologically I'd rather receive fresh glasses. Not a huge issue, just something I noticed. Now for the food. The crab cake was excellent - easily the highlight of my meal. My friend ordered oysters, and I tried one as well. They were fresh and delicious. For my entree, I asked for a salad recommendation and was steered toward the peach salad. Unfortunately, this was a miss. The peaches were hard and unripe, and the dressing was so vinegar-heavy that I found it nearly impossible to eat. My friend was hungry and less picky than I am, so he ended up finishing it. I politely mentioned the issue to our waiter, making it clear I wasn't looking for anything removed from the bill since the salad had still been eaten. After that interaction, though, it felt like he disappeared for much of the evening, and we had to flag him down to get a dessert menu. Ironically, I decided not to follow his recommendation this time and ordered the chocolate cake instead. Great decision. It was absolutely delicious and ended up being another highlight of the meal. Have you ever had one of those experiences where every recommendation is somehow the wrong one for you? It happens. This is a beachfront restaurant, and maybe the salad was just an off day. The only reason I'm mentioning it is to save someone else from ordering that particular salad if the kitchen is preparing it the same way. Overall: friendly staff, great location, excellent crab cake, fresh oysters, delicious chocolate cake, decent drinks, but slow service and a disappointing peach salad. I'd definitely return - I'd just skip the salad next time. read more

Iron Whale - Delish Crab Cake - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

This wasn't great. Steak was not good. Texas Road house has better steaks and it's not even close. The service was alright. I liked the music there though. They played this song "After Dark" and I added that to my playlist. Nothing great about this place. read more

Iron Whale - Steak & Eggs - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Great service at the bar. Drinks were perfect and food was fresh. I had the tuna tacos the slaw was a little dry but great to enjoy after a beach day. read more

Iron Whale - Olive Tapenade - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Awesome (happy hour). Awesome (appys). Awesome (food). Awesome (service). Awesome (bartending). read more

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Food and drinks were great! Service was a little slow but they were super busy. Overall highly recommend! read more

Iron Whale - Strawberry fields cocktail was delicious - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Great service! So much great conversation about Asbury past and present! So many friendly patrons and we had a great time. Drinks were cold & delish which was perfect when coming in from the sun. Definitely a must visit! read more

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My husband and I came here on a whim at 5 PM on a Wednesday because we were craving seafood. Unfortunately. We missed the happy hour that runs from 1-4 pm. They do offer both outdoor and in door seating and you can see the beach so clearly! We decided to get a bunch of small plates to share. The Asbury, Calamari, Moules Frites, soft shell crab, and a special they had for a caprese salad. The Asbury, all the seafood was fresh and tasted like the sea in a good way. I just wish they put it on a smaller platter as there aren't many items on it. The Calamari was fried to perfection and you could tell it was never frozen. We loved the caprese salad as the mozzarella was super creamy. The soft shell crab also fried to perfection and loved that it was paired with grilled vegetables. On the other hand we were not a fan of the charbroiled oysters. It was overbearing with the cheese and we could barely taste the oysters. Additionally the mussel fish I wish they separated the sauce/juices in a separate bowl. As we kept eating the dish the fries kept falling deeper into the sauce and getting soggy. Overall, this was a great date night spot. A little pricey but worth it for the freshness of the seafood plus the view of the beach. read more

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We had the best dinner at Iron Whale yesterday! We sat at the bar and the bartenders were so knowledgeable, attentive and accommodating, and the food and drinks were amazing. If you go, definitely try the oysters, tuna poke bowl and short rib tacos. Cannot wait to go back. read more

Three stars for the three main things I loved about Iron Whale: 1) Our amazing server Jen who was prompt, caring, kind, and overall wonderful. 2) The unbeatable boardwalk location with views of the ocean and great people watching. 3) The truffle parm fries which were legitimately incredible. I don't think that's a secret, as these fries headed over to literally every single table I saw. Otherwise, Iron Whale is mostly a miss of unflavored fish, a middling menu, and "crowd pleasing" vibes that result in a less than remarkable dining experience. Not to be brutal, but I have had better tortillas from the grocery store and the pan fried tilapia I make from Trader Joe's packs more of a punch than the cod on my taco dish. My date got the shrimp tacos and had the same feedback. Overall, a great place for snackies and a beverage. Honestly - you're not coming to Asbury Park for a foodie experience anyways, and if you have unadventurous eaters in your party, this will get the job done for convenience. Jen took this from a two star to a three star and is truly an exceptional server! Would come back for post-beach snacks. read more

Iron Whale - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Their overall numbers say it all. Although they use to make a very decent red sangria, it's long gone. The new version is dumbed down and just ho hum. Their chilled shrimp at $4 per use to be great as well, no more as they are smaller and water logged. Just like the last time I ordered them a couple of months ago. Bar staff and service was just fine but can't makeup for the food and drink here. Bottom line: just okay. read more

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We visited Iron Whale for an early dinner on a Saturday. This is a nice, oceanfront restaurant with 2 outdoor spaces. One with an ocean view on the boardwalk and the other on Ocean Ave. This is where we sat and still a great vibe. We were seated immediately, so I didn't get a good look at the inside of the restaurant. Seemed like a nice place for a date night. Cocktails were impressive. Quite creative, tasty and surprisingly strong. Food highlights for me were the Jerk Mahi tacos and the Caesar salad. The salad had shaved Brussels Sprouts in it and the dressing was awesome. The service was...eh. When we had our servers attention, they were really nice. The problem was trying to find them at times and when we would ask for certain things, it took longer than it should. The food arrived quick after ordering, but took a while for us to actually order. Overall it was a good time and a great night to dine outside. As a seafood lover, I loved the menu and I would go back to give the service another try. read more

Iron Whale - Olive Tapenade, Brussels Sprouts & Kale Caesar Salad - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Nice place for a lunch meet up with friends. Creative spins on sandwich classics. Fresh drinks. Great beach view. Friendly staff. Very noisy though. read more

Woah! My mother in law decided to stop in while enjoying a day on the boardwalk and I'm so glad we did! There was a good amount of outdoor seating without allowing it to feel overcrowded like some other restaurants seem to be. There was plenty of room on the patio with a beautiful view! We enjoyed a couple of glasses of their exclusive wine which was such a fun touch! I enjoyed the Brussels Sprouts and Kale Caesar Salad with blackened salmon - I was beyond impressed! Our waitress, Kiera, was so sweet and really made sure that we enjoyed our lunch. read more

Iron Whale - Brussels Sprouts & Kale Caesar Salad with Blackened Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

As a known New Jersey hater it hurts me to say that this was a fantastic meal with a fantastic wait staff. The weather took a turn and they accommodated us inside with no issues despite how packed it was. We got the daily bread and demolished each of the butters. The calamari was gone the Roy boy, ahi tuna, and short rib tacos never saw the light and the poke bowl was a hit. Espresso martinis were a dark horse we love would come again if I ever step back in Jersey read more

Iron Whale - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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My husband and I have tried the Iron Whale a few times for takeout and the food is solid! The menu is packed with seafood, salads, and sandwiches. My go-to is the brussel sprouts and kale caesar salad, it's a nice portion size for an entree salad and very tasty. My husband loves the coffee rubbed bbq pork chop, especially the bacon jam that it's served with. Every time we order from here our order is delivered correctly and on-time. I can't speak to the in-house service, but we plan to dine in soon! read more

Food & service were phenomenal. menu is pricey but worth it. the indoor dining doesn't have ocean views read more

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I was so excited to bring my friend who was visiting from out of town and had never been to the Jersey Shore... unfortunately, the food fell below the standard of what we were looking for. Pros: awesome location on the AP boardwalk with great views of the ocean and people watching when you choose outdoor seating. Make note that you cannot book a reservation for outside, but the waitlist on a busy Friday night definitely went faster than expected. Everyone is very friendly and service was quick. Really cute interior with an attractive bar area that makes you want to pull up for a cocktail or two (espresso martini was nice). On the street parking wasn't hard to find... Cons: Really just the taste of the food. We ordered oysters and their Moules Frites to start. The oysters were nice and fresh. And the MF were actually the star of the show.. Very interesting concept of having beautifully crispy fries drizzed with a really nice garlic aioli served over a bowl of steamed mussels in an absolutely delcious sambuca broth. OMG. I could have eaten the entire thing by myself.. actually, that may bring me back here. Not even kidding. The only thing was that it should have been served with bread to dip in all of the abundance of leftover broth... when I asked for bread, they were nice enough to give us crostini for free so we didn't have to pay for the bread app.. The rest of the meal really fell downhill. Crab cake was small and just uneventful and the seafood risotto was not cooked properly and was really tasteless. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, just maybe some of the menu can be improved upon. read more

Iron Whale is a beautiful spot on the boardwalk with good views for people watching from the outdoor seating area. Our waiter was great the entire night checking in constantly on our party of 8. The food however, mediocre. The hummus was not soft and creamy, but rather like a thick dip. The pita bread that came with it was burnt, as well as my burger entree (charred). The other guests enjoyed their food, but was expecting more for the price. read more

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For a restaurant on a beach boardwalk Iron Whale is excellent. Clean, inviting ambiance, with tables nicely distanced so you don't feel like other guests are on top of you. Helpful attentive staff, a fun and varied menu with something for everyone and an accommodating kitchen for those with food preferences. Cocktails were also excellent. Would attend again. Note: not the place to bring beach chairs and hampers post day at the beach, it's a nice restaurant. read more

We went for lunch- the seafood tower at $110 was a little sparse- I think it could have been much better. The sandwiches were good and the salad was good too- The service was good which is why I gave them 3 stars. read more

Iron Whale is a good spot right on the boardwalk. They have a decent food and beverage menu. I enjoyed the drink I had that came tasted like a piña colada but also had a small hint of coffee. I don't drink coffee but I read the menu fast and missed the coffee part. However, it didn't ruin my experience with the drink. The appetizers are okay. I tried the bread with their jam and butters along with the calamari. Decent appetizers but nothing out of this world. The halibut special was good. I wish that it had more flavor with each individual component but each component combined made for a tasty price. All in all, decent spot for food but a little pricey. read more

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Great seaside atmosphere, inventive drinks, and attentive, kind service. We waited about 30 minutes for an outdoor table on the boardwalk, and it was worth it--a cool ocean breeze, the sound of waves rolling in, and a canopy of soft lights combined with music from a nearby dance club made for a vibrant atmosphere. Hilariously, the "No dogs on the boardwalk" signs were considered a suggestion since we counted at least four pups dining at nearby tables as several strolled past. Asbury Park is arty, unpretentious, music-savvy, and very chill. The food and drinks were good--bartenders and chefs clearly like to play with unexpected flavor combos, and most of them really worked; the only quibble I had with the food was the halibut (special), which was a tad dry. But shout-out to our server Bree (hope I've got that right)--she fielded all our questions about the cocktails and entrees, and when she didn't know, she checked and got right back to us. She also gave us a heads-up that the bar was slammed so our drinks ran a little late, but the transparent communication made it a non-issue. We'd happily come back. read more

Iron Whale - Halibut Special - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Stop by for a late lunch for two and only ordered some starters and not a main course. Tried daily bread, calamari, and their mussels. My only beef with the service was that they delivered everything at once. Food got cold and the table was so cluttered we were reaching all over the place to grab food and put spent mussel shells in a bowl. I wish the server would have metered the dishes. The calamari was standard, nothing special except it was quite oily. The daily bread was awesome and we loved the bacon butter, fig jam and ricotta cheese spreads. The mussels were also a star, but I could have done without all the mayonnaise coating most of the fries. Good size and portion of mussels in a really flavorful broth. In all, a decent experience. read more

Iron Whale - Menu May 2025 - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

Quick stop for dinner and it was great our server Caitlin was super friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. She made us feel right at home from the get go. The manager Scott was great as well. He stopped at our table multiple times to check in and make sure we were annoying ourselves. You can tell he loves what he does. read more

Necessity brought me to this seaside fly trap once again, sadly to find that very little has changed -- swift service hamstrung by a kitchen who thinks lukewarm fries and a soggy lobster "BLT" are mating calls to the trapped tourists who crowd the bar. Enjoy the beach view because you've earned it and are certainly paying for it. read more

I don't typically write reviews especially negative ones but my experience was absolutely not up to par. I came in on a Friday for a late lunch/early dinner around 3pm. I ordered a cocktail off menu which was pretty good no complaints. But the food quality did not match the price at all. I paid $30 for a lobster roll that was served with a "petite" side salad (aka a handful of mixed greens with no dressing). I tried to sub the "petite" salad for truffle fries but was told I cannot sub and only order a side for $11. As someone who has and currently works in the industry I was not pleased by the service. I understand people have off days and we can't give our 100% everyday but our server was cold and barely attentive to our table. Service & Food quality absolutely needs to be re worked. Can't believe I dropped $170 dollars for a mediocre lunch :( read more

Right on the board over looking the Atlantic Ocean in Asbury Park, New Jersey, we had a lovely lunch at The Iron Whale! The menu is wide and varied with many fresh seafood options, but I went with the short rib grilled cheese on sour dough bread! Yum! My one friend went with a Brussels sprout and kale salad with salmon and my other friend went with the Thai grilled chicken sandwich. Bloody Mary's were a must. What a great lunch over looking the ocean! read more

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I'm in asbury in the summer almost every other weekend. Whenever any of the lovely restaurants are booked up, iron whale always has availability and if they don't it's worth the wait. The food is always phenomenal. The seafood pasta and the tuna tartar is a must. Service is spot on, very professional & quick. Better than A&P rooftop. The food is better than the views from upstairs don't let that steer you. Can't wait to come back! read more

We've been to Iron Whale multiple times and have really enjoyed the experience--especially the creative cocktails, variety of adult dishes, and the thoughtful kids menu. I've even left positive reviews in the past. This note is just to offer a few suggestions to help improve what's already a great spot. First, a request on behalf of the younger diners: please bring back the hot dog from the kids menu! It used to be a standout and we miss it. Second, some feedback on the tofu used in salads and the street corn tacos. The tofu currently retains too much moisture--it would benefit from being pressed longer to achieve the firmer, crispier texture that works best in these dishes. The presentation could also be improved. Rather than serving large slabs, consider cubing and crisping the tofu for salads, and using a tofu crumble for tacos. These simple changes would really enhance the texture, appearance, and flavor. I genuinely appreciate that Iron Whale offers a vegetarian menu with real vegan-friendly options, including the ability to add tofu to salads--which many restaurants still don't do. That said, since you've taken the great step of including these options, I'd love to see them executed with the same care and detail as the rest of the menu. Thanks for all that you do--we look forward to coming back! read more

Great menu. Excellent atmosphere. Service was very good and the food was delicious. A great place along the boardwalk.

What a great dinner. Party of three sat outside. Everything from clams, salad, and three entrees were delish. Service A+. I think it was Nick. read more

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Date night at Iron Whale was cuteeee. Martini with blue cheese olives & the crab cake app were 10/10. Could've ended the meal there with 5 stars. The entrees were good not great, especially the rigatoni. Flavor was nice but super overcooked pasta. All in all, a good date night spot. read more

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We came here at 7pm on a Wednesday and wanted to sit outside with family we haven't seen in several years. There were 9 of us and it was a special occasion and we had planned to eat here after a nice day at the beach. We approached the hostess and requested a table outside for 9. She immediately said they don't have seating for 9 outside but they'll put us inside. We didn't want to eat inside. We could go anywhere and eat inside and look at walls. I wanted to celebrate outside with family I hadn't seen in years, and probably won't see for several more (or maybe ever) looking at the ocean. While we were speaking two men walked past her and sat themselves at a large table. I mentioned it and she ignored me. The hostess went to get her boss, the manager, a big bald guy with a huge attitude, condescending and aggressive. He was very abrasive and came out and said we could sit inside or in the front (with a street view) but they would not accommodate us on the boardwalk. Then he abruptly left. I didn't understand. There was one empty 4-top table and another getting ready to leave. I asked the hostess why they can't push those tables together. She said they can't do that. When I asked why, she said "it's policy". Very poor customer service, the equivalent of "because I said so." This place rubbed us all the wrong way. They are rude and abrasive and don't care about potential customers. They have really bizarre rules with no explanation. We were disappointed, but we moved on and ate at Robinsons Ale, a few places down and had a great experience there. read more

This location on the boardwalk is awesome. We had a variety of food at our table including appetizers and entrees. The Cowboy Ribeyes were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The Halibut filet over risotto was very well done. Ceviche with shrimp, lobster and calamari did not disappoint. The service was fantastic and we never waited too long for anything. The service staff took excellent care of all our party. The ambiance and decor is well thought out. Allowing for the seashore vibe, the intimate table and the family style table all at once. read more

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Great for big groups! Food was good for big group! They all arrived at the table at a timely manner and warm food! read more

We visit Asbury often and had passed by Iron Whale but never stopped through. This time we decided to check it out since it's right on the boardwalk with beautiful views of the ocean. When we arrived, there was a 30-minute wait, so we walked next door to AP Rooftop a new rooftop restaurant for drinks; I'll give reviews on their website. No sooner than we sat down at AP to enjoy our drinks we got a text our table was ready. Once we were seated at Iron Whale, we enjoyed the view while drinking our cocktails. Drinks were cold and refreshing with just enough alcohol. Our Lobster grill cheese and Lobster Roll were delicious with lots of lobster meat no fillers. Each entrée came with fries and a pickle. Just enough to get us full. The prices are comparable to most restaurants in the area. The food was fresh, tasteful, and service was quick. Overall, an enjoyable experience. read more

Iron Whale - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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We were recommended to go to the Iron Whale by a local during our visit to Asbury Park. Not being from the area, I wasn't sure what to expect, and upon seeing Yelp's 3.9 star rating, my heart sank to my feet. I really thought I was going to be in for yet another gimmicky mediocre boardwalk tourist trap experience but this restaurant far exceeded my expectations! Our hostess was kind and went above and beyond to accommodate us. It was a sunny Sunday at the beach so naturally the restaurant was very busy. We opted for seating on the deck and I must say it was worth the half an hour wait. They have a great system where they text you which I found super convenient. The view outside was stunning, facing the ocean. We mostly went with small plates because neither me or my friend were feeling like chowing down on full size entrees. We started with the crab cake appetizer which was made super well. The crab cake was thick, chock full of crab meat and an appropriate portion. Corn added amazing texture and the remoulade was absolutely delicious. This dish was not just scrumptious but also a visual delight! We ordered the seafood platter which we also enjoyed very much. There is just so much joy to be found in a dish this interactive, where you have little bits and pieces to work through and put together. Oysters were fresh, large and shucked properly, served cold and super smooth tasting. The shrimp was fat and juicy, cleaned very well with enough lemon wedges and cocktail sauce to go around. We also ordered jerk shrimp and the seared ahi tuna. Both plates came in looking absolutely stunning. The tuba was so nice and pink I have never seen tuna in such a vibrant color before. The sauce with the tuna was just perfect, and the sear on the outside was just right. The jerk shrimp is probably one of the best preparations of shrimp I have had in a while - the seasoning was absolute perfection, and the pickled onions w cucumbers and that tangy sauce - every bite was a juicy delight. If you are visiting the boardwalk, I would say this restaurant is an absolute MUST! I am so sad to see such a low rating on a place that is serving up some banging food! read more

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Easily the best restaurant on the boardwalk! The food and drinks are always delicious. Service was great and the restaurant is super cute. They also have some unique vegetarian options. Would definitely recommend! read more

Iron Whale - Seafood Near Me - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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Bartender was friendly and attentive while it wasn't busy. Drinks had a lot of ice. Ocean view dining and at bar. Only had the truffle fries which weren't great. Not edible without the ketchup. I will have to return for dinner and reserve my overall food review for then read more

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