Moonstruck

Moonstruck is what they mean when they call a place venerable. Hipsters may love the irony of an old standby but the vibe is relaxed and the menu remains solid and consistent. The spicy calamari has always been first rate as is the tenderloin so if you're in the mood to skip the over-hyped foodie scene in Asbury and relax in comfortable surroundings, Moonstruck is still up to the task. Four solid stars.

Love this place. Food is great and lovely atmosphere. Servers are very attentive.parking on street is metered.

Amazing steaks and pasta, such a delight to go on a less crowded night off season. Thanks to the staff for excellent hospitality.

Got shrimp and clams. While it was good every single clam had no clams in them and one tiny piece in the sauce. Basically paid 45 dollars for spaghetti and 6 shrimp.

We've eaten in the bar (shared appetizers and drinks), and in the restaurant- two different but equally lovely experiences.

Am from out of town (Carbondale, IL) and went to Moonstruck recently with my dad and his new wife (Tammy--questionable) who I had not seen in some time. I was expecting a rough outing, but instead of a battle, we had a really good night. And if I am remembering correctly, it was because of Samantha, our server, was charming and had a great sense of what to suggest and had a nice way about telling Tammy to cool it. Our table had a view of the ocean and the immediate lake right in front. Cannot recommend more highly. Thanks again Sam! --Jim

2nd time dining here, fun atmosphere and food generally excellent. Only negatives, food took well over an hour to be served and male host was very rude when we checked in for reservation. Server Payton was nice however.

Very good place in Asbury Park The food is excellent. Location is perfect (away from the boatdwalk) Highly recommend.

I have passed this place many times and can't believe I've been sleeping on it! Romantic, cozy, and the food is great. Our server, Eric, was great! Celebrating my sisters birthday dinner was a success. We had the oyster special and arancini balls, dinner for me was the salmon fettuccine. The chocolate cheesecake for dessert was the perfect way to end our meal. Thanks for a great experience - we will definitely be back!

Nothing really spectacular. Food is bland and missing flavor. Not many options to choose from.

The front desk would not allow us to order appetizers or seat us bc our husbands were parking the car. We had 2 hungry children waiting. The older gentleman with gray here at the front was rude and made a comment such as "everyone is 2 min away" and was disrespectful. He made an unprofessional comment and told me "You just want to argue with me". They did nothing to compensate for the reprehensible way in which he spoke to me and treated us. Needless to say immediately after sitting down we all walked out. With nothing more than a non-sincere pathetic apology from the manager. We went around the corner and had a fabulous meal. Where the wait staff, manager and chef were warm and welcoming.

I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant especially about the food but I wasn't impressed by the service or food. Our waitress was very good but the rest of the staff bumbled around looking like they did not know what to do. It was very distracting as they walked by the table many times. We sat outside on the third floor porch and the restaurant had an elevator which was nice . Unfortunately the porch was narrow and there was constantly someone walking by. The entree's were $48 but while the dish was eatable it was not impressive. The seafood was cooked perfectly but the asparagus mushroom risotto was bland. My husband's dish looked like a heaping portion of brown . It was seared tuna on buckwheat noodle salad. The tuna was cut very thick and didn't have much wasabi for the amount of tuna. I just don't think it was worth $200 !

We were in Asbury Park on Halloween to pick up a Craig's List find so I went to the trusty Yelp app and Moonstruck was ranked highly. This restaurant was really nice and surprisingly big. The building is beautiful. We were seated upstairs and on the enclosed patio. We had an awesome view. First, tje bread was delicious and comes from the Iron Bound section of Newark. We shared the Bronzino and the Apple & Danish Blue Cheese Salad. Both dishes were extremely good. Our server was outstanding as well. Would definitely be back when in Asbury Park.

Love Moonstruck! They are back and better than before. Service here is always exceptional. They have daily specials and plenty of options on the menu. There are also a lot of gluten free options, including a gluten free pasta substitution for most of their dishes. I've eaten here a number of times and continue to go back regularly. My favorites are the eggplant fries (which are GF) and the shrimp & scallop risotto. Also, they make an excellent Boulevardier. If you can get a table outside on a nice day, it's lovely to sit on the patio and have a nice view of Ocean Grove and Wesley Lake. Definitely recommend! Tip: They don't take reservations. You can sit on the porch or in the downstairs lounge/bar area for a cocktail while you wait.

Stopped in during restaurant week to try the pre fixed dinner. Everything was top notch! The food, ambiance and especially the service. I wasn't expecting much but my expectations were exceeded in every way. The dishes were presented lovely and were cooked perfectly. I can't wait to return.

On first arriving to this handsome building the expectations were promising. I did get concerned when noticing it's a 3 story building with a great view but how can you feed so many people with great food??? You can't. Upon arriving , we were led to the second floor which looks very romantic at sunset Our table was spacious and comfortable even though there must have been 30-40 ppl just in our area. The waitress knew little about the menu or how the food was prepared. The cocktails are cheap because there's no booze in them ! The food. Meh. The mezzo platter was very expensive for how uncreatively assembled it was 29 bucks ? The eggplant fries were delicious. Shoukd have stopped there Chicken Milanese was school cafeteria quality chicken , not crisp and served on top of uneventful and flavorless mashed potatoes likely from a mix. Pasta was precooked and mushy The dessert .... Usually I can enjoy most any. Nope the apple crisp was NOT crisp. What's more was that when we asked for Hot coffee .. it was barely warm. When asked if we could have hot coffee the insensitive waitress tried to offer ( heating it up ) likely via microwave This is not dining. This is just pushing food out to unsuspecting dinners who either don't know good food or are afraid to say anything. The staff were polite enough but I don't think they think anything was wrong. Worse part of the night is getting a 50 parking ticket for spending money in a local business How unwelcoming the town of Asbury Park is. Truth is ... I would never patronize any business is this town. The business owners here should bitch to the crooked town council of how unsupportive it is to penalize people who use their restaurants Don't go.

Great drinks, excellent appetizers, a phenomenal roast duck for dinner--it was the perfect place to celebrate our anniversary. Stan, our waiter, was an excellent guide through the menu, and the environment was so lovely. Would absolutely go again!

Went on a Thursday night before going to see a show at House of Independents. Hadn't been here for at least 10 years. We were able to get a seat upstairs right away for 3. If we wanted to sit outside, there would have been a little bit of a wait. it was a little chilly that night so we were happy sitting inside. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. Read us the specials for the evening. We ended up getting a Moonstruck cocktail and a bourbon. The Moonstruck was very good and refreshing. My friend got the fried seafood platter, which looked very good. Not overly fried looking. I got the Iceland Baked Cod. It was good. I wasn't a huge fan of the almond crusted, but it was good and light. The mixed vegetables were heavy on brussels sprouts. My other friend had a strip steak and held mashed potatoes. The steak had great flavor. We ran out of room for dessert. Was a pleasant meal with friends.

I must admit, I was tickled, pink, knowing we were finally coming here everything from the service and attentive Ness from the bartender, as well as the ambience and the service from the waiter. The food was excellent. I really love how they serve the martinis they give you the extra in the shaker that's how it's done. Kudos to the owners, they know how to run a tight ship very very impressed. The food was delicious as well.

Amazing. A+ from start to finish. Outstanding service. Lovely atmosphere. Delicious cocktails and a GREAT specialty cocktail menu Perfectly warmed bread basket Delicious apps Delicious dinners Delicious desserts All our plates completely cleared...Not much else to say. I would go back again and again. They have a great thing going here.

Great food, ambience and service. Sat upstairs in the dining room and got full service. Downstairs bar is appetizers and drinks only. Love this place!

We've been here more than a dozen times. They never miss. From the fabulous food to the tremendous service and wonderful atmosphere. Kyle (the manager) is always friendly and welcomes us back. The downstairs bartender last night (we've had him before but I forget his name) is friendly and professional. My husband said he had one of the best steaks (NY Strip) he's ever had (even comparing it to and better than some well-known steak houses). I usually get fish or pasta. And the dishes are always done beautifully. The portions are plentiful. Consistent every time. Go there for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. Moonstruck does not disappoint.

Delicious food /fantastic service Halibut special was perfectly cooked and presentation with special mashed potatoes and vegetable medley was impressive Mussels app was tasty as well

Had my Birthday dinner here last night and was so delighted in the Food and the service. I had not been here for several years , but this will be our local go to restaurant. What a wonderful menu !! They had a half Duck roasted and glazed to perfection. My husband had the Filet with Shrimp, which he loved ,once they brought the missing sauce. I am a baker and their Key lime Pie was perfection. Drinks were good, especially the unusual Sangria with many ingredients. Our waitress, Christina was the best ever.... All the staff was so helpful and courteous. What more could you ask for ?

atmosphere: nice bar area downstairs with table and live music service: great! food: very tasty! a great option for dinner in the area. drinks: also good!

Not a family friendly restaurant. If you have a small child or baby, this restaurant is not for you. They don't allow strollers and they only have 2 high chairs in the entire restaurant.

The food was good and waitress and all help at table were friendly. Just have to run gauntlet of rude host and hostess leading you to table. Horrible, rude host and hostess. I almost rated 2 stars but not fair to quality of food and the rest of staff who were friendly. I would have rated 4 stars if there was a way I could have bypassed the front desk.

Pack your patience for parking! Asbury is notoriously bad for parking and this area is one of the worst. Lots of tables inside so our wait was short for an early dinner in summer. Service as great. Appetizer pizza was pretty good bread was great. The chicken Milanese and salmon dish were both pretty good. We'll be back. The mixed drinks weren't anything to write home about so deducting a star.

It's always so wonderful to go to Moonstruck, a family favorite for years and years, and hopefully for years to come! You can't beat the view or the food!

Just about as good as it gets. The venue is super nice, slightly casual and a great place to go if you're looking for a great dining experience without the stuffy dress codes and stuck up staff. We sat on an upper outside balcony overlooking the lake and it was pretty much perfect. The service was perfect and we didn't wait for more than a couple minutes to see our super attentive waitress. All the other staff was amazing as well. The food was 5 star as well. We had greek meatballs with a tzatziki sauce that hadn't been made more than 10 minutes ago. I had seared pepper tuna which came in a very generous serving and was like butter, drizzled with a sweet soy and wasabi mayo with an Asian cold noodle salad that was perfect. Coconut key lime pie for dessert - amazing. I'd avoided going before now just because they don't take reservations but we got there right around opening and walked right to a table. Leaving we did notice people starting to line up but now I realize it's worth the wait and will for sure be going back again.

WOW! My husband and I came here back in March and I still felt compelled to write about what a wonderful experience we had. Our drinks, our waiter, our meals- perfection. I had a steak, hubby had the duck, we each got a drink and we finished everything. Our server was knowledgable regarding Celiac, which helped put our minds at ease, as my husband cannot consume gluten. We had an amazing time and plan to go back again in a couple weeks. A definite must go!

Decided to eat at Moonstruck after a long day at the beach and shopping. We didn't make reservations ahead of time and they told us it would be a 45 minute wait. We sat in the the lobby and ordered drinks, but as soon as we ordered our buzzer went off, which was about 10 minutes later. It was kind of a pain trying to find our server and settle our drink tab, but I was happy it was only a 10 minute wait and not 45 minutes. I ordered a fruity drink with guava, it was ok but didn't really taste much alcohol in it. My husband's drink was pretty good though, I think he got a mule. I liked the atmosphere of the place and the Victorian house was cute, and we had a nice view out our window of the lake across the street. We were sitting right by the door though and felt a rush of hot air each time the waiters went in and out. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. Our water was refilled throughout the night. I ordered the shrimp and scallops risotto with Fava beans, bacon, and summer vegetables. Everything tasted very fresh and light. The shrimp and scallops were perfectly cooked. I always thought Fava beans were brown for some reason, when I saw the green I thought they were Lima beans. But they were very good and I would like to have more meals with them. All the flavors worked together really well. My husbands lamb had a raspberry balsamic glaze on it that made the lamb taste even better than it did. He was inspired and tried to recreate the meal the next week, but it didn't taste quite as good as here. For dessert we split a New Orleans bourbon ice cream with pecans and meringue dish and the chocolate creme brûlée because both looked delicious and we couldn't decide. ( he wanted the creme brûlée and I wanted to try the New Orleans dessert because it seemed different) I ended up liking the creme brûlée better, but both were good. Later on at night we saw fireworks across the street last the lake which was a nice touch for the night. Glad we came to this restaurant and would recommend it.

We attended Moonstruck, because we saw a positive review from someone we knew on Yelp. They told us we would have to wait forty-five minutes, but the wait might have been ten? I ordered a cocktail, got my drink, and then by the time my wife decided to order something, our table was ready. We were sat upstairs in a quiet corner, which was welcomed. Service was pretty good and my water glass rarely was empty. The bread was delicious as well. I went with a rack of lamb with a raspberry sauce. I've never had that combination before, but it's definitely inspired me for my own cooking at home. It was incredibly delicious and all of the flavors worked well together. Afterwards, there was a nice firework show on a neighboring beach and I saw a lot of the staff at Moonstruck watching it too. Turned out to be a great evening and I'm glad we made it out.

Were told about an hour for a table. Seated an hour and 20 minutes later. Waited an hour for appetizers. They were cold - not meant to be. 45 minutes later served food so bad, neither of us could eat it. And we hadn't eaten all day. No one seemed to think any of this was unusual.

One of our favorites in AP. Food is always good, never disappoints. Service is excellent, ambiance is nice - not too loud. We do go for an early dinner because they do not take reservations.

This spot here 5 star solid!!! Service, food, drinks Excellent!! What more do you want! See photo of braised short rib over tagliatelle! Excellent, get here as soon as possible.

The food was very good!! Just a hair short of great! The staff is amazing, we had the price fix menu, all very good. Word of caution, they do not take reservations and parking is difficult. Will definitely go again!!

Wonderful, romantic restaurant just a a block away from e downtown overlooking Wesley Lake and Ocean Grove. Gorgeous seating outdoors on wrap around porches or indoors with casual or dressy attire fine. The first floor outdoor porch as well as indoors are open to drinks and appetizers only. Dining is upstairs with extraordinary service by knowledgeable staff. Excellent food with several specials. I loved that the servers knew everything they possibly could about the way the dishes were prepared and also very helpful with choosing a wine to go with dinner. Never pushed or rushed. We arrived a little before six on a Wednesday night without reservations and were able to snag the last table for two. Next one would have been an hour and a half wait! Perfect timing for an unplanned dinner. I'm a vegetarian and had their (only?) vegetarian dish-pasta with fried eggplant strips, capers & pomodoro tomato sauce. It was tasty but wish I had a second choice for next time. Will definitely be back (even though some dopey developer just built a big ugly condo right on top of poor Moonstruck!)

I had dinner here last week. The foods was amazing. The cod dish never disappoints . When it is warmer you can sit outside. I never miss an opportunity to eat here when I am in Ashbury

Great food,ambiance and the service is always on point. Excellent date night destination.

My husband and I came here for locals season dinner (Wednesday's and Thursdays during the off season). It's $35 for three course meal and we were blown away by how good everything was. While waiting for our table, we also got drinks at the bar and they were so good and unexpectedly strong. Would definitely return in the near future.

We were so happy to be back home at one of our all-time favorite restaurants. This is our first time since they reopened after Covid. We were so welcomed by name by the owner Luke st the reception desk and by his partner Howard who was cooking in the kitchen. At this point in time the 3rd level is closed for about 2-3 months until more staff can be hired. They will not open until they know they can provide exceptional service and the best experience they can offer like in the past. The menu was abbreviated but still amazing. We started with margaritas and then we shared a watermelon and feta salad with pistachios, red onions, and arugula. Afterwords, I had the halibut Special which was perfectly cooked and awesome, and my husband had a scallop dish with risotto. We shared a blueberry crumble with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream in recognition of July 4. Our waitress, Joan was so friendly and professional. All the wait staff is professional and they know exactly what the restaurant is offering and can make great recommendations. Keep in mind, that the parking situation in Asbury Park is difficult.Every space is metered even if you are handicapped. Park in any space and remember your license plate number to put it into the box. Plan on 2 to 2 1/2 hours when paying for your space which is two dollars per hour.

Finally came here even though I've passed by this place numerous times, always waiting for a special occasion. We were a group of three who came in well past official dinner time ( around 9:30 PM) and luckily for us most of the crowd had dwindled down. We went to a third floor outdoor table with a nice view of the lake and an almost full moon. They started us off with two kinds of freshly baked warm bread. The specials sounded great, and most of our orders ended up being from that list (there were other items that were really interesting too, we just couldn't order enough of them; somebody please tell me how their sweet potato soup is!) - 1. Rosé Sangria : light, crisp, fruity, refreshing - we ended ordering one more later on ($15 for a half carafe). Off the specials 2. Artichoke stuffed with raisins, cheese, pesto: another special of the day, absolutely loved this! My girlfriend and I don't often order vegetarian appetizers (or anything, for that matter), but thanks to our vegetarian friend we got a chance to savor this delicacy. It came with a chipotle flavored smear which was finger licking good. My girlfriend made sure that nothing other than the outer leaves were left; she'd probably have given artichoke eating animals a run for their money (she'll probably kill me for this) 3. Mixed bruschetta: mix of white bean bruschetta and Sicilian eggplant ragout bruschetta. Definitely a good vegetarian choice 4. I ordered the fish special, branzino fillet with a cilantro salsa on a bed of almond wild rice and some grilled vegetables. The fillet was huge (wasn't expecting this size) and extremely well cooked. Great quality, delicious, soft with skin on one side (my favorite). The rice was a really weird accompaniment and could have been totally eliminated. The grilled vegetables were perfect ($32) 5. My girlfriend ordered another special, the rack of lamb crusted with mustard and tarragon. The medium cooked meat was great from what I sampled, but I wasn't in the mood for lamb to be honest. The accompanying jus was mildly sweet and didn't really do much for me. The mashed potatoes with caramelized onions were delicious though 6. Our friend ordered the Linguine al Pesto with some extra grilled vegetables. I didn't sample it but she was pleased with it 7. My girlfriend also ordered the bourbon cocktail (Kentucky something). It wasn't much to our liking 8. We ended with the apple crumble (or something similar named) for dessert, which again wasn't the best thought of dish. Tasted more like granola breakfast than dessert. The server was extremely nice and accommodated my friend's request to put on a candle on our dessert (we were still celebrating my birthday week). The ambience was great, the view soothing and the company pleasant. I'd definitely recommend Moonstruck to people who are looking for a nice, quiet evening with some great options on the menu and some exciting specials! Mostly five stars for the food minus the dessert and the lamb, and a perfect five for the ambience and hospitality.

Oh I could taste it now. I thought about the salmon pasta with tarragon sauce for WEEKS after I had it here this summer. I rarely order pasta unless I'm at an Italian spot that's specifically known for that. But I decided to give it a try at Moonstruck and I can't even aptly describe how delicious it was. Pasta perfectly cooked, sauce just the right consistency, with amazing flavor thanks to the tarragon. Salmon was cut into chunks and tossed into the pasta (I thought it was going to come as a filet on top but I actually preferred it this way as it melded the flavors of the sauce). All around one of the best pastas I've ever had. Service was top notch. Had the zucchini fries to start and they were insanely yummy. Cocktails and wine were also great. Loved having apps and cocktails on the cute wrap-around porch before heading up to the dining room. Only complain would be having to close our our tab downstairs before heading upstairs for dinner (even when we were seated at a regular table and not the bar downstairs). Just kind of a pain and kills the continuity vibe. But I guess the restaurant has their reasons for this. Definitely making Moonstruck a staple on my Asbury trips!

We had to wait in the bar, but only 15 mins, had a drink and they took them to the table for us. Our dinner was delicious and the atmosphere is cozy and very professional.

Wonderful dining choice in Asbury Park's renovated district with everything you want; great food, ambiance, location & service! My group had a terrific dining experience here, a beautiful building with wonderful decor greets you. If you haven't been totally satisfied in the past, you need to go back, this place is at the top of their game! There's usually a wait but a lovely bar and lively atmosphere makes for comfortable waiting. The food was wonderful, and so were the drinks! Everything I tasted was succulent. I started with the house salad. Wonderful! I chose a healthy selection for dinner, Thai grilled salmon with brown rice and vegetables. Excellent - all around! I loved the spicy cucumber salsa that covered my fish. Just delightful! My group really enjoyed their desserts. I passed that night, but the coffee they serve d me was refreshingly hot and delicious! Highly recommended as the restaurant of choice if you're going to Asbury park and looking for fine dining, a great atmosphere and a great place to take a date, delicious drinks and food! You won't be disappointed!

The food is great and the service is excellent. The parking can be difficult, especially on weekends but it was worth it.

This place is lovely... Located downtown Asbury by the Lake. It looks like a huge house ... with lights all lit up at night. Parking is street and don't forget to pay the meter! Hours and days open depends on the time of year. No reservation policy from what I remember. Has an old school romantic feel to it. Bar located on first floor then there are two additional floors for dining. Outside dining for the summer although I came during winter . I plan to change that this summer. Even though it has an old school feel... the service and the food is impeccable. The scallops were amazing. I came on New Years Eve and I remember my dinner was good. I wish I had more photos and info but will be better with my next visit.

Moonstruck has a very classy old school rich decor feeling to it. We came here for a friend's birthday dinner and we were situated in a semi private room as we had a group of 12. We had to make approximately $200 down payment on a credit card for our group of 12. PROS: - Thai Grilled Salmon - Grilled Salmon with Spicy Lime-Cilantro-Cucumber Salsa and vegetables. The sauce was really on point. I could really use more of the sauce to go with the salmon as the salmon was slightly overcooked but nonetheless it was very good. 4 STARS - Seafood Linguine - Sauce was great and they gave a good amount of seafood 4 STARS - Service was on point. Waiter cleared our plates as required and brought out extra ice to cool our bottle of wine as needed. THE OKAY: - Hummus and Pita - nothing special about this. Just regular hummus and pita. 3 STARS - Arugula Tomato and Mozzarella Salad - good veggie option for the table to share.3 STARS - Fried Calamari (appetizer) - good started to share but again nothing special. 3 STARS - Baby Back Ribs (special appetizer) - When the waiter mention this special appetizer I was salivating and had high hopes for this but when it came it just didn't meet my expectations. The baby back ribs were on the dry side and could use a bit more sauce. The grilled shrimp was good but what I liked the best was actually the chips. I think it was plantain chips or something. It was thin and crispy. 3 STARS CONS: - PRICEY - we brought two bottles of wine with us and the corkage fee is $15 per bottle. - Fettuccine Grilled Salmon Tarragon, Cream, Tomato, White Wine - Salmon was very dry here and the cream sauce was way too thick for the fettuccine. The dish was overall very dry and hard to eat and finish. 1 STAR