Five stars for Union Beach Grill! We stopped in for both breakfast and lunch and were seriously…read moreimpressed. The pancakes with sausage were spot-on, and the shaved ribeye over fries with cheese, peppers, and onions was absolutely delicious. The food was great across the board, but what really made the experience stand out was the owner--so friendly and welcoming, it truly felt like being fed by family. The place is clean, inviting, and just has an awesome vibe. A+ all the way--I'll definitely be back!

Warm, friendly, family-owned/run restaurant with great food! They come from a family history of…read morerestauranteurs. Got momma in the kitchen cooking up a sensational storm of Italian and/or seafood dinners. They offer handhelds too. Ambience inside is that they can't do enough for you! You want for nothing.

Me and my family went to the Butcher's Block for my 27th birthday. From the moment we walked into…read moreButcher's Block, we knew we were in for a great experience. The ambience is absolutely beautiful warm, inviting, and the perfect atmosphere whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying a nice night out. I ordered the dry-aged bourbon ribeye, and it was one of the best steaks I've ever had. It was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, like cutting through butter. The flavor was incredible, with the perfect balance of smoky richness and a subtle sweetness that made every bite unforgettable. What really made the evening special was our server, Mark. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to answer all of our questions about the menu. His positive attitude and genuine hospitality made the entire experience even more enjoyable. If you get Mark as your server, you're lucky and guaranteed to have an excellent dining experience. To top it all off, we ordered the Chiro Bowl for dessert, and because it was my birthday, they surprised me by putting it on the house. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a perfect ending to an amazing meal. If you're looking for an outstanding steakhouse with incredible food, a beautiful atmosphere, and exceptional service, Butcher's Block is the place to go. I can't recommend it enough, and I'll definitely be coming back!

The food was pretty good but my wife's steak was sent back three times as it ruined our anniversary…read more The service was good but wonder if the medium steak was ordered incorrectly The ambiance is a very loud bar crowd which is very unusual for an upper end steakhouse Not worth the $$ as I won't go back at all

I had a great dinner experience at Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse. I would recommend making a…read morereservation because it gets packed quickly, especially on a Saturday. Such a lively atmosphere with excellent service. The restaurant is spacious with beautiful decor and seating. There's valet parking, however, the restaurant is located next to other stores with a large parking lot. For dinner, I ordered the branzino with roasted vegetables. This was cooked to perfection. I really loved the branzino's flakiness. The roasted potatoes were delicious. My friend ordered the wasabi tuna. She said it was so crispy and cooked to her liking. We shared the broccolini side. This had a powerful spicy kick! There's a lot of cocktails to choose from. I went with the "Class Act" which was a spritz with St. Germain. For dessert, my friend and I ordered a pistachio martini, tiramisu martini, and Dubai chocolate bar. We saw that they have a special Birkin bag cake dessert. Looked super cute! Overall, a fun dining experience.

I took an edible and went to this place and was at first was absolutely terrified due to it being…read morevery dark and hard to see. The waitress was an absolute sweetheart but because I was flying high she was making me paranoid, like I was thinking girl do you know me from some where? But then I ate the garlic bread, and maybe this is the edible speaking, but it was the best garlic bread I ever had. My husband and I both ordered steak frites, and I thought briefly that my husband and I had formed a psychic connection and were ascending together. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. Overall I think I had a spiritual experience here. Anyway 10/10 will go back sober.

What a fantastic restaurant, the devote was so neat, since it was previously a bank they had…read morepictures tastefully done of known bank robbers in black and white and kept a vault on display. The explanation of the steaks was thorough, with great service. The had the fun couches for photo opportunities! We can't wait to go back!

A Steakhouse With History, Character & One Seriously Good Steak!…read more We recently visited Strickland's Steakhouse in Woodbridge, and now I completely understand why this place has earned accolades in both 2024 and 2025! From the moment you walk in, it's clear this isn't your typical steakhouse. Strickland's is located inside the former Woodbridge National Bank, and the restaurant has done an amazing job preserving that old-bank feel while turning it into a sophisticated dining experience. The décor is fantastic, with plenty of memorabilia and nods to the building's past--including some fun pieces highlighting the era of old-time bank robbers. There's something interesting to look at everywhere you turn. The main level features a full bar with plenty of seating, including booths if you prefer a more casual dining experience. But make your way upstairs because the second level is something special. There's plenty of room for larger gatherings, while still having an intimate feel that would be perfect for a date night or special dinner. Let's Talk About the Bread Service! We started with the Bread Service, and honestly, had I known what was involved, I would have taken a video! This is more than just someone dropping a basket of bread on your table. The server actually prepares and smokes the specialty house butter right at your table. Talk about dinner and a show! You can customize the butter with different ingredients, including brown butter, bourbon, and sea salt. The presentation alone makes this worth trying, but the butter was also absolutely delicious. The Star of the Show For our entrée, we went with the Elite Prime Dry-Aged Filet Mignon, an incredibly tender 8-ounce cut served with truffle shiitake butter. WOW. The filet was cooked beautifully and incredibly flavorful, and that truffle shiitake butter took it to another level. Tender, rich, and absolutely mouthwatering. This is the kind of steak you take your time eating because you don't want it to end! Sides We ordered two sides to share: Bourbon-Glazed Brussels Sprouts -- with diced bacon and Parmesan. The bourbon glaze added a nice touch of sweetness, while the bacon and Parmesan brought plenty of savory flavor. Creamed Corn -- with crispy chorizo, chives, and panko. Creamy, flavorful, and definitely not your ordinary creamed corn. The crispy chorizo added a fantastic little kick and texture. Dessert Of course, we had to save room for dessert! We finished with the House Bread Pudding, served warm and topped with ice cream. Warm bread pudding + cold ice cream is a combination that never disappoints. It was the perfect way to end an already fantastic dinner. Shout-Out to Henrique! A big Kudos to our server, Henrique! He was fantastic from beginning to end--super friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations were spot-on, and the way he described each dish made you want to order practically everything on the menu! Great service can make an excellent meal even better, and Henrique definitely helped make our experience memorable. Final Thoughts Strickland's Steakhouse is more than just a place to grab a steak. The historic setting, unique décor, creative presentations, quality food, and excellent service all come together to make this a really fun dining experience. Whether you're looking for a great date-night destination, a place to celebrate a special occasion, or somewhere to meet up with friends, Strickland's is definitely worth checking out. And now I understand those accolades from 2024 and 2025--they're well deserved! Great steak. Great atmosphere. Great presentation. Great service. Highly recommend Strickland's Steakhouse if you're in the Woodbridge area!

Did the shared Porter with some sides for me and a buddy. Got some drinks along with it, cool…read moreatmosphere and vibe, everything came out perfect delicious- memorable evening. I recommend.

Fun energy in the bar. Appetizers and dinner were tasty…read more The food out of the kitchen was slow, super slow, especially given our entree was prime rib and a baked spud. Cooked for hours before serving! We asked our server several times, she said kitchen was very busy. We ordered 2 desserts to go. It wasn't until we got back to our hotel that we realized both desserts were missing their side of vanilla ice cream and forks/spoons ! Both! $30 of desserts were meh without the ice cream and not really finger food! Lack of attention to details soured our overall experience. We won't be back!

This was my second visit, and it was just as amazing as the first! The staff is always friendly,…read morewelcoming, and attentive, making every visit a great experience. The sangria was delicious, and the food was absolutely on point--everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. If you're in the area and looking for a great meal, do yourself a favor and stop by. You can thank me later!

Horrible experience, such a disappointment. This restaurant does not shows what's a Portuguese…read morehospitality is. Let me share my last night experience, arrived at restaurant at 8:53 pm (restaurant closes at 10pm), was not crowded probably 4 tables on the outside patio, where they were showing a World Cup game. We got seated quickly and put the drinks order in right away, and then was when everything went south, in not more than a minute the server came to take our order, we ask for a couple more minutes as we just got the menu and were looking at it, then right behind the table 3 servers start to talk bad about us and saying things like they better hurry up, we need to go home to watch the game, tell them that we only have quick bites or else we not going home tonight ( all in Spanish but we DO understand the language) . Will never go back to this place or recommend it. It's a shame places like this ruin the reputation of great Portuguese restaurants. Also menu is extremely overpriced compared to other Portuguese restaurants. Stay away..

My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 6 year anniversary of dating! Everything was going…read morewell until a flash flood came in; the power went out and the fire alarm started blaring. Everyone was so kind and attentive. We got our food just in time because they had to close the kitchen to deal with everything, and it was phenomenal. We got the chef's cut from the "secret menu", japanese Wagyu, the grilled chicken club and a side of mashed potatoes. Everything was so insanely good. I was kinda hoping we'd get some sort of comp for having to listen to that deafening fire alarm for 15 minutes, but I'm not surprised they didn't because we were still clearly having a great time.

Came here again for my birthday. 4 adults two kids. Everything took forever and there were only two…read moreother tables. The entrees took 45 mins. Steaks were ordered med rare. My surf and turf for $70' was disappointing. The lobster wasn't cleaned properly and the strip was cooked uneven. We got asparagus and mash potatoes. They had to bring us free Brussel sprouts ànd comp the potatoes cause they arrived 2/3 of the way through three meal. I was never asked if I wanted another drink. For the prices they charged this chain steak house needs to be doing it alot better. Very disappointed. 2.5 stars

Walked into a beautiful place. We stated with a great bread basket. Maybe the best I've ever had…read more And the great food continued. For appys, we had a wedge salad w/ a slice of bacon, which my wife enjoyed. I had baked clams, which I loved! For dinner, my wife had Filet Mignon and mac & cheese on the side. The meat was cooked perfectly and the mac & cheese was great. I had a Wagyu rib eye cap and Brussel sprouts on the side. The meat was perfect, and so were the sprouts. For dessert, my wife had the affogato, which both of us loved. The only disappointment of the night was the Tiramisu, not flavorful at all. The service was top-notch, I appreciated that the waiter was not a kid, which so many places use these days. It's very expensive, $380 for two (BYOB), including tip. As great a meal as it was, I don't think I will be a regular. If I come back, it won't be for the steak, mine cost $115. The mains don't include sides, it's all a la carte. If the money doesn't bother you, or it's a special occasion, I highly recommend this restaurant. Somebody in that kitchen, knows what they are doing!

What an unfortunate turn of events. We arrived as a party of 4 on a Friday evening around 6 pm…read moreexpecting a well needed, well deserved, enjoyable meal amongst friends. I was especially looking forward to ordering the ribeye and lit up instantly when the server listed it as one of the specials. The server shared that he would need to collect the orders for all of our courses at the same time which was fine with me. I actually had more confidence in the timing of everything for that reason. Our server had a delightful energy particularly at the beginning of our visit. After we placed our orders, everything began to fall apart. It did get noticeably busy since we first arrived, but we ultimately waited for our main entrees for over 3 hours. 3 hours. The table ordered the charred octopus and the oysters to start. The oysters hit the table fairly quickly, but then we began to gradually notice how long it was taking for the octopus to come. I had only a slither of the octopus so that I could say I tried it. Everyone at the table raved about the taste. I did, however, agree that their oysters were delicious especially when dressed with a little bit of mignonette, lemon, horseradish and a touch of Tabasco sauce. I'm excited to now report that I am a fan of fresh oysters from the east coast, because apparently the coast matters. The table also ordered the canaletto stuffed with mascarpone, parmesan and another cheese, langostines and lobster with morel mushroom cream sauce, garnished with truffles. I passed on this one also as it was too adventurous for my taste buds; although, their delicious bread and our drinks did distract me for a little while. The restaurant is BYOB, so we had our wine to keep us company while we observed other tables come and go. We eventually asked to see the manager and was told there wasn't a manager on duty which was either untrue or a very poor decision on the part of the owners considering it was a Friday evening. Having someone occasionally check in with our table may have also helped to take the pressure off of the server who may have gotten overwhelmed or decided to prioritize other tables. Having a manager offer a personal apology may have helped us feel less forgotten about. After the three hour mark, we decided this was enough. I didn't have much to eat at this point, but I wasn't at all worried initially since I was there for the main event, the ribeye. I stopped a hostess who was walking past our table and asked for the manager. We were again told the manager is not here but can be called, if needed. I simply replied, "Please do". Shortly afterwards, I noticed our server who at this time was standing by the host stand briskly walk into the kitchen and then return to our table with our plates. I sent the food back which was a decision that was supported by everyone at the table. Let me tell you, that was a difficult decision to make, but I also was ready to call it a night. Our mood had changed, and I truly felt like we were derservant of having the same experience as everyone else that night. Our server apologized for his part to play in the ordeal which I appreciated since I know his intention was never malicious, but unfortunately we had to call this night a bust. He offered us dessert on the house, and our entire meal was comped which we felt was an appropriate resolution. I ordered the Cinnamon Toast Crunch bread pudding which was a favorite. Very good. Jasper Stone is a beautiful establishment with decorative yellow and white floral arrangements throughout the dining area. It is clearly a popular restaurant and has many positive reviews. I regret that I could not have a comparable experience.

Went here for dinner with hubby after a few friends telling us how good it was so we went with high…read moreexpectations. Pros -- building, decor, cleanliness, and seating were beautiful. Staff were beyond friendly. Cons -- THE FOOD!! We had pork belly and duck confit appetizer. Pork belly was drenched in sauce and overcooked. Duck dish was good but was a spread and served with such a small amount of bread. Main courses -- presentation was terrible -- i ordered NY Strip with french fries and veggies. Hubby ordered jambalaya -- both dishes were served luke warm and looked as though they had been sitting. French fries were all tiny pieces as if they were at the bottom of the fryer. The steak was a poor cut. The jambalaya lacked flavor. The protein on the dish was all overcooked. Dessert THE Elvis -- sounded sooo delicious but was basically a spoonful of peanut butter. Even the ice cream they served with it could not drown out the overpowering peanut butter flavor. I did enjoy the cappuccino. We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday and he didn't even eat his meal. It was that bad. Sadly, one and done for us. I know they changed their menu so perhaps this is not their best lineup but I cannot forgive the terrible presentation. The price point for what they are presenting its insane.

Another incredible dinner at Drew's. It gets better, if that's possible every time we eat here…read more Everything from atmosphere, food, staff and first class.

I know I've already left a review for Ember & Eagle, but I had to come back and say--every visit…read moresomehow tops the last. This place consistently knocks it out of the park with service, food, and atmosphere. Ryan behind the bar is a standout. He treats us like regulars from day one--always greeting us with a smile and delivering truly top-tier service. He's a big part of what makes the whole experience feel so warm and welcoming. And the food? Never the same experience twice in the best way possible. The menu and specials are always evolving, always leveling up, and it keeps things exciting every time we come back. Not once have we been disappointed. Everyone can have an off night--but this place seems to have cracked the code on consistency and excellence. Honestly, you could throw a dart at the menu and still walk away impressed. Already looking forward to the next visit!

Food and atmosphere was good (though indoors I won't say it was anything extraordinary). If you're…read morea foodie, there is better, but for NJ cuisine, it's standard for "high end" What was disappointing to me was: the fact that I was there enjoying a nice steak dinner with colleagues, and I was saving half of my steak for my husband to take home. It had a side of roasted elephant garlic, which my husband absolutely loves, so I couldn't NOT save it for him.But the thing is, they took it away without asking me if I wanted to pack it or not. And I brought this up, not once, not twice but -- 3 times-- with the wait staff. When I asked one of the waiters what the manager said, He replied " I'm not going to lie, I don't remember" Before I left, I asked my server if I could speak to the manager-- The manager finally met with me. He said that he was "trying to find you to give you my card" because "he did hear about the incident and he feels really bad." Mind you, even after I spoke to the first person about this incident, we were there for close to another 30 minutes (at least). Sitting at our table, having dessert and drinks . No one came back to address the situation, no one offered to make another plate of food for my husband to make up for the food they accidentally threw away. He offered his card, but I declined because I will not be going back. Honestly, poor service and optics for a high-end restaurant, at best. If you're used to high-end haute cuisine and have an eclectic palette, I'd skip this restaurant. If you want "the usual" nice-enough restaurant with good with a decent-enough ambience-- this is a good-enough place. For me, a place like that-- with "standard fare" cuisine, should have above average service. That's where they fell short.