As the year starts to come to a close, the local restaurant scene shows no indication of slowing down.
Two chefs who were trailblazers in plant-based cuisine at the Shore have released their first cookbook, while a long-standing dog-friendly happy hour is set to conclude. A town known for its excellent dining options is introducing its first restaurant week, and a burger and custard chain with Midwestern origins has opened its first location in Monmouth County.
Here is the latest in food and restaurant updates that we covered in September.
Seed to Sprout releases cookbook
Alex Lopez and Cara Duerr, the skilled chefs at Avon’s vegan eatery Seed to Sprout, are offering their culinary creationsin a new cookbookFrom Seed to Sprout Kitchen.
To commemorate, the duo is holding book events on Sunday, Oct. 5, at The Little Point Bookshop Book Festival, Point Pleasant Beach Bandshell, located at Baltimore and Arnold avenues; Thursday, Oct. 16, at Thunder Road Books, 1100 3rd Ave. in Spring Lake; Saturday, Nov. 1, at Barnes & Noble, 180 Route 35 in Eatontown; Thursday, Nov. 20, at Talula’s in Asbury Park, and Sunday, Dec. 14, at Asbury Book Cooperative, 644A Cookman Ave. in Asbury Park.
Yappy Hour to conclude this month
Yappy Hour, a pet-friendly event that has been available for two decades atThe famous Wonder Bar in Asbury Parkis coming to a close.
The bar on Ocean Avenue rents the outdoor area where Yappy Hour takes place from property owner iStar, which in collaboration with developer Inspired by Somerset is constructingLido Asbury Park, an eight-story residential project located on the block between Fourth and Fifth avenues. The developmentwas approved in 2023but Wonder Bar was allowed to keep using the space until the construction started.
Debbie DeLisa, who has been the manager and former owner of The Wonder Bar, mentioned that the project was initially planned to start in May but was postponed at the request of Asbury Park Mayor John Moor to provide one final summer for Yappy Hour.
The last Yappy Hour event will occur on Sunday, October 12, allowing small dogs to join from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Mondays, all dogs are welcome from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Meanwhile, on Saturdays and Sundays, the event runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Fridays, it is open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Marlboro Restaurant Week announced
Marlboro’s Economic Development Committee is organizingthe town’s initial Restaurant WeekFrom Sunday, October 5, to Sunday, October 12.
Restaurants taking part will present fixed-price menus and special offers throughout the week, featuring three-course meals at Aunt Butchie’s in Brooklyn ($29.95 per person), Istanbul Bay Premium ($39.95 per person), and Nonna’s Cucina ($47 per person). Additionally, Over Easy Kitchen will provide pancake flights, along with sandwich and soup combinations.
Emilio’s Kitchen opening in Belmar
Emilio’s Kitchen in Atlantic Highlands, previously known as Zoe’s Emilio’s Kitchen,is expanding to Belmar.
Owner Emilio Vicens is launching a second dining establishment at 1006 Main St.
His menu offers homemade, organic Mexican cuisine “with a unique twist.” The dishes draw from Emilio’s childhood experiences, such as the pork torta — a sandwich that originated in Puebla — which he enhances with black bean mousse and roasted tomatoes, and El Goyo, a breakfast dish featuring rice and egg that is presented to look like a mountain in Mexico.
Our experience from our hometown, we wish to share it with the community,Vicens shared information with the Asbury Park Press earlier this year
Fat Patty’s opens in Toms River
Fat Patty’s, a chain of eateries and sports bars known for their burgers, pizza, and chicken wings,opened on September 1 in Toms River.
The eatery takes the place of a closed Mellow Mushroom — and the briefly existing Lot 11 Eleven, which came after its shutdown — along Route 37.
Fat Patty’s, which originated in West Virginia, offers starters such as fried pickles and Southwest-style egg rolls, nachos loaded with steak and beer cheese, and burgers served on brioche buns, along with salads and sandwiches.
Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen receives an extension in Toms River
The temporary Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen at the Ocean County Library, which began operations in January,is anticipated to stay openuntil January 30, 2026, with operators wishing that this date might be prolonged.
The eatery, managed by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, has provided thousands of meals, given out hundreds of personal care kits, and assisted individuals in securing housing and jobs. The Soul Kitchen offers warm meals to anyone who needs them, without considering their financial situation.
In November, Dorothea Bongiovi, founder and program director of JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants, is set to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as an “Unsung Hero.”
Burger, ice cream chain Freddy’s opens in Holmdel
A year following the debut of the Shore’s first Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers location in Toms River, the burger chain based in Kansas extended its presence to Monmouth County.
The restaurant opened in the House of Commons at HolmdelIn September, the first of four locations scheduled for the county. Franchisee Peter Labib aims to open his next restaurant in the second quarter of 2026 in Freehold Township.
Freddy’s offers freshly prepared burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and custard.
Other locations in New Jersey are Linden, Cinnaminson, North Brunswick, and Burlington.
This piece first was published in the Asbury Park Press:Two restaurants are open, one is set to open, one receives a cookbook, and a restaurant week is announced.
