Antwaun Williams
Google
My family of 4 (2 teens) had a great time here for dinner. I think it’s worth noting that we had a 5pm reservation on a Wednesday. The restaurant opens at 5 and we were the 2nd table to arrive.
They have free valet parking onsite, although I did see people parking on the street.
Ambiance, service, food…This place checks all of the boxes and I can easily understand why multiple people have said that this is their favorite restaurant.
The ambience/layout of the restaurant is like no other that I have seen in this area. The majority of the restaurant is actually outdoors giving the feeling of a rustic patio in Tuscany. It was 80 degrees when we visited, but even in cooler temps there are fireplaces and overhead heaters.
When I made my reservation, I requested to be seated outside. In reality, there are about 5-7 different areas (inside & outside) where you could sit. Even if you just want to come for drinks, there are multiple bars (2 outside). Really great vibe. I can imagine it’s even better at night.
Service was 5-star, but not the usual high end wait staff. Servers were cool, laid back, relaxed and you felt like you were speaking with “Friends”. Our main server was very knowledgeable of the cocktails, food menu and specials.
The Block’s menu is not on their website, so I’ve attached the summer 2025 edition. They change it 4 times a year (cocktail menu too).
The food was very, very good! Portions were impressively large. Some of the highlights:
- Halibut over lobster risotto
- Brussels sprouts
- Caesar salad
- Spicy rig
The food came out unbelievably fast. Like really really fast. Hot, fresh, flavorful. My wife immediately said “We ordered too much food.”
For the first seating on a Wednesday night, I had no issue getting a reservation. Primetime on a Friday or Saturday is a completely different story. Because of this, they offer you the opportunity to make your next reservation while you are onsite. Great feature which keeps you coming back.
The Block is a little pricey, but all things considered, it should be expected and the value is there. It’s a high end staple for the Jersey Shore and a quality steakhouse 4 blocks from the beach. You should absolutely go and my family be will be returning.