Brickwall Tavern

Last night, in anticipation of having today off from work, Mark and I ventured out to one of our favorite restaurants, the Brickwall Tavern in Asbury Park, NJ. As usual, it didn't disappoint.

The Brickwall occupies what used to be a boarded up space on the east side of Cookman Avenue, an up and coming area in town. When you enter the space, you can see the influence of the area right away. As per the restaurant's name, there is lots of exposed brick, an open ceiling that lets you see all the pipes, and a wide open space with a few pillars scattered about. Dim (but not too dim) lighting and a neutral, industrial color scheme adds to the appeal. There are also a range of choices of where and how to sit. A giant bar runs for almost the length of the restaurant, and a few tall bar tables are nestled at the front of the restaurant, right in the windows. In terms of sit down tables, there are some more high bar tables closer to the bar, and plenty of normal tables spread throughout the rest of the space. Prime spots are right up by the window.

The menu. Where should I start. First of all, the menus themselves are very cool. They are some sort of heavy wood or fiberboard that are printed with the menu on both sides. A unique take on the traditional menu, for sure. The menu might not be the best for someone who is indecisive (ahem...) since there are all kinds of choices. They have your standard appetizers and entrees sections, but on top of that, they have salads, sides, and tavern fare sections, too. Tavern fare is where you get the biggest bang for your buck. Items on this part of the menu max out at $13, but the average is closer to $10; you can guarantee there is something for everyone too, given that there are anywhere from 15-20 things on the tavern menu at any given time. Sides are also a great idea. For $2-$5, you can add on anything from mac and cheese, to sweet potato fries, to Parmesan grits (my personal favorite). I wish I had more to say about the dessert menu, but I can usually barely finish my dinner before I'm stuffed.

Beer! This place is a mecca for draft beer in the area. There are way more interesting choices than anywhere else around. How many places have Troegs, Stone IPA, and Purple Haze on draft? There's also an impressively varied selection of microbrews and imports. There's a wine list too, for those who prefer that, and of course the bar is stocked with all the essentials for a stiff drink. The bar is always busy, and the bartenders (and waitstaff too) are always friendly. If live music is your thing, every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the Brickwall has artists performing from 9pm on. They have everything from reggae to DJs. I've always gone to the Brickwall for dinner, with a drink, but this place would hold it's own if you were looking for a cool place to have a few drinks with friends and hang out for the evening .

Overall, the Brickwall Tavern is a gem in Asbury Park. It's got great ambiance, delicious food, very reasonable prices, and one of the better drink menus in the area. On top of everything else, this place draws an eclectic crowd from the surrounding area. That's more than a lot of places can say. I can guarantee that if you go to the Brickwall once, you will be back. Regularly.