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    The Rum Runner

    3.3 (386 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Rum Runner Takeout or Delivery

    The Rum Runner Photos

    THE RUM RUNNER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rum Runner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Cocktail shrimp, 4 for $18?
    R W.

    In full transparency, the food itself is perhaps a 2.5, mediocre, ordered the 68$ or so seafood app from the raw bar, it was meh. Shrimp cocktail at 18$ was 4 average sized shrimp. I rarely consider process on the food but this one is as just a bit much for 4 shrimp on ice. The atmosphere and setting of course is what you're paying for and this is a reminder that the experience and expectations should be set accordingly. That said, we were offered inside or outside, beautiful day so we chose outside but rather walk up to the second level with the outside balcony we were walked to first floor adjacent to the cars parked.

    Happy hour
    Jonathan R.

    Great happy hour location with outstanding River views and a wonderful sunset Drink and food specials at the bar Service at the bar is great I have not had a dining experience as of yet Free valet parking available

    Bread

    We had such an amazing experience at Rum Runner! Everything from the food to the service was absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the Betty Salad with grilled chicken and it was so fresh and flavorful. My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese, and we were both obsessed--it was rich, creamy, and packed with lobster. We started with the chef's selection of bread and the calamari, and both were incredible. For drinks, I had the Rum Runner (which was delicious and a must-try!), and my boyfriend kept it simple with a whiskey on the rocks. Our waitress was so friendly, attentive, and made the entire experience even better. The atmosphere, food, drinks, and service were all top-notch. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better dinner. 10/10 recommend--we'll definitely be back!

    Miche

    Welcoming. Impeccable service. Evie took such care of us. Very helpful and so kind .I order the halibut. It was fresh, colorful and soooooooo delicious! Hot earl grey tea in this foggy rainy day. My bff and I shared a piece of coconut cake. Adorable, fresh and tasty. I loved coming here. I simply adore the view of the bay. I am smitten!! I wanna come back asap!!

    Sausage Broccoli Ravioli
    Marissa C.

    The Rum Runner is never a disappointment! It is decorated so nicely for the holidays and brings in the cozy holiday feel! The waitress that I had was so bubbly and cheery. She was so sweet, which always makes the experience better. I ordered the Sausage Broccoli Ravioli. Normally I would not think to put sausage and broccoli together for ravioli, but it was absolutely delicious. There was the perfect amount of sausage and broccoli in each. The sauce was also so flavorful. This definitely could be my new go-to here!

    What a great birthday brunch we had for my mom's 80th. The service was perfect for our party of 16. We all had a memorable time and appreciate the wonderful team at the restaurant

    Seafood Risotto
    Robin C.

    The Rum Runner was fantastic! We did the cheese board for an appetizer and it was tasty with the cheese, fresh fruit and nuts. We got the crostini on the side because my husband is gluten free. They were very accommodating to any dietary restrictions. I had the Betty Salad with salmon which was amazing. The portion was extremely generous. My husband had the seafood risotto and enjoyed his meal. The service was friendly and very attentive to any of our needs. The view of the river is amazing and the nautical decor goes well with location. I would highly recommend the Rum Runner!

    The Rum Runner
    Jennifer D.

    I wasn't a fan of this place the first time I tried it. I thought the view was amazing, the restaurant beautiful, the food was meh and service was poor. Nothing has really changed since my last visit but the service seems to be even worse! Our first choice was closed, second choice had an hour wait, so here is where we landed. We were seated just before 8pm on a Monday night. Only the second floor seating was open and the restaurant was fairly empty. We were told since we didn't have a reservation we could only sit indoors or outdoors overlooking the parking lot. The other outdoor seating was "reserved" although we didn't see anyone else being seated there our entire meal. Our waitress basically forgot about us outside after taking our order and after over an hour I had to seek out someone to find out what was happening with our food. Another few minutes passed and our food finally came. For the prices the food is mediocre at best. I asked for our check with our meal since I figured I wouldn't see our waitress again anytime soon. I guess the manager took this as a sign we weren't happy. He apologized and was kind enough to take the app off our bill which I truly appreciated. Unfortunately I cannot recommend this restaurant despite the gorgeous views.

    Chicken and waffles
    Monica B.

    Where do I start? Last year I made a review and this review is a follow up. I was contacted by Hannah via email and she extended an invite to give them another chance. First, every restaurant needs a Hannah! If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be making this review. We were greeted with numerous smiles at the front desk and escorted to our table looking over the beautiful River. We were greeted by Reed our server, who offered us to a cocktail , yes please! I had the island spritzer and hubby had sailor Bloody Mary. Warning, the spritzer is so good it's dangerous and the bloody was like an appetizer with shrimp and bacon! I had the goat cheese fritters and hubby had the candied bacon deviled eggs..both were outstanding! We moved onto the entree, I had Chicken and waffles and hubby had breakfast burger, the chicken waffles was delicious , chicken cooked to perfection and the flavor was amazing! The breakfast burger was messy good!! We recommend all of the above! We're so happy to give this restaurant another chance, we will be returning, OFTEN! Bravo to the chef, we tasted the love in your cooking!

    Interior showing 2nd & 3rd floor
    Brenda C.

    The building is lovely from the outside and even more stunning inside. There are elevators so if scaling the steps is an issue don't fret. The restaurant has three floors and is an open area with booths and many window seats that overlook the bay. On a clear day (such as today) is was breathtaking views everywhere. We ordered starters and entrees and all were delectable. The staff is wonderful (our server was training and was on point checking on us from the moment we sat down until we left) and goes above and beyond to make sure you're satisfied. The restaurant was full and can get a bit noisy depending on the volume of customers since it's such a large open area. The only down side is the parking spots that are oddly the most narrow spots I have ever had to park in. Myself and my passenger almost fractured our ribs (lmao) trying to get out and inside the car.

    Honey Rum Glazed Short Rib
    Jeff M.

    Was recently in New Jersey for a wedding and made a reservation for 9 on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately and everything got better and better from there. Beautiful restaurant with gorgeous views. Since there were 9 of us, we tried a number of dishes. Everything was delicious. Not sure why there are a number of negative reviews, but we highly recommend The Run Runner.

    Gorgeous view!
    Janna Z.

    A delicious meal starting with some great appetizers! Coconut shrimp and parmesan fries, followed by a delicious bread selection with various spreads. Then we each had a different entrée and all were delicious! We didn't have room left for dessert. Gorgeous sunset and delicious cocktails! Live music Friday and Saturday nights and sometimes on Thursdays. Also, ask for Shaun, the best server!

    wedge salad with chicken

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    Really great food, the service was amazing and the views are beautiful. I highly recommend.

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    The Rum Runner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Rum Runner

    What time does it switch from the lunch menu to the dinner menu during the week?

    Sorry I don't know the answer. Best bet is to call the restaurant.

    Thinking of going for dinner & sitting outside. It's been quite cool, are there heat lamps for outdoor dining?

    Not when I was there but that was a couple of weeks ago. I would suggest calling. It's quite windy and cold on the water

    Can you accommodate a party of 17 for dinner? Is there music on Saturday night?

    Hello Marilyn! We can absolutely accommodate 17 people for dinner! Give us a call at the… 

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    Proving Ground Waterfront Dining - Tuna Poke Bowl

    Proving Ground Waterfront Dining

    3.8(424 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Went on a date night to Proving Ground on a beautiful summer night…read more We started with some sushi getting the shrimp tempura roll. It was delicious I was surprised they even had sushi. For mains we ordered the truffle mac and cheese and the steak sandwich. The steak sandwich was on garlic break, the steak was cooked perfectly and the added fries were a plus. The mac and cheese was also delicious not overly cheesy just an all around good meal. Definitely worth checking out we sat outside and admired the boats and sunset. The food came out quick and hot. Service was polite and genuine.

    I'm not usually a fan of dishes with a lot of tomato sauce, and unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this…read moreentrée as much as I had hoped. Maybe I misunderstood the description, but I expected the Creole flavors to come through more. Instead, the dish tasted heavily of tomato and seemed to be missing some of the additional seasonings I was expecting. The orzo was also overcooked, which made it very soft and easy to break apart. That said, the lobster bisque was absolutely divine, and the fries were perfectly crunchy. Despite my meal not being my favorite, the restaurant itself is beautiful. It was pouring outside during my visit, but the waitress was incredibly kind and attentive, which definitely added to the experience. I would still love to return and try some of the other items on the menu. I especially want to experience their outdoor seating--it looks absolutely gorgeous with the lighting! Overall, it's a beautiful restaurant with a lovely atmosphere, and I'm looking forward to giving it another try.

    Photos
    Proving Ground Waterfront Dining - What a View!

    What a View!

    Proving Ground Waterfront Dining
    Proving Ground Waterfront Dining - Fort Hancock on sandy hook

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    Fort Hancock on sandy hook

    Bahrs Landing Restaurant

    Bahrs Landing Restaurant

    3.4(788 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    I have selected Bahrs Landing as my yearly visit for Soft Shell Crab (most commonly blue crabs that…read morehave recently molted their hard outer shell to grow. Caught immediately after shedding, the entire crab can be eaten...shell and all. They offer an intensely sweet, rich flavor and a delicate, crispy texture when cooked). Bahr's Landing prepares this sautéed crab with capers, mushrooms, lemon & butter, mashed potatoes and vegetables. My go-to appetizer is always the Grilled Cauliflower (Topped with tomato pesto, quinoa, and wild rice blend). The crispness of the cauliflower....brushed through the surrounding ingredients.....makes this the perfect starter. Aside from enjoying the mouth-watering food, you'll also feel as if you're dining on a ship, have great views of the pier, water, and the bridge leading into Sandy Hook Beach. Don't forget to visit their gift shop and view all of the maritime decor and beautiful woodwork.

    What a disappointment...been living in Monmouth County for over 45yrs...for most those years, my…read morefamily has dined here numerous times. Most recently, my older daughter, after college, married a young man from Long Island and moved there. My son-in-law and I have a friendly banter regarding who has the better seafood. They visited for the week and prior to them heading back to LI, I recommended going out to Bahrs, before they get on the parkway...easy and to prove my point, who has the better seafood...well, needless to say...my point was mute. First, let me set the stage, it's 4 adults and 3 children (7,5,3)....ordered steamers, mug of NE chowder, calamari, Caesar salad, linguine w/clam, kids cheese burger, pasta with butter, side of meatballs, fried founder and a Lava cake (baby girls bday-they were out of) replace it with a couple of scoops of ice cream...with a candle (best part). Mug of Chowder- $13 came out cold Caesar Salad- $15 couple of pieces of romaine, wishbone is a better dressing Linguine w/clam- $29 sauce was so think, uneatable (gave enough clams) still couldn't eat it Calamari- $17, only rings and rubbery, Costco has better frozen Kids cheeseburgers- $14.50 each, 4oz burgers It was a slider at best...no taste Pasta with butter- $14.50 dry, forgot the butter Steamers- $27....sandy and rubbery What has happened to this place...staff is summer help...inexperienced...it's not the fault of the help, it's the fault of the owners and management. For the record, we didn't complain to our waitress..it's not her fault. We tip her 25%, (my children worked locally, during the summers, not at Bahrs) Bill was over $300 with drinks...I'd rather spend that where I can get quality. There are many more options...guessing location plays a part...but, I'm a local and not a tourist. Sorry Bahrs, not returning......

    Photos
    Bahrs Landing Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    Bahrs Landing Restaurant - Bahrs Blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream

    Bahrs Blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream

    Bahrs Landing Restaurant

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    The Rum Runner - seafood - Updated August 2026

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