Ella Barchie A new Italian restaurant is coming to Ortley Beach, New Jersey. Signage is up at 1855 NJ-35 for Dune- Coastal Cuisine, a new fine-dining concept taking over the former Rockafellas space (briefly also The Market at Rockafellas). Details are sparse, but our team spotted the signage just last week. Keep reading to learn more about Dune Coastal Cuisine, the new Italian restaurant in Ortley Beach.
About the Area
For years, the space at 1859 NJ-35 was previously home to the Italian restaurant, Rockafellas By the Sea. Rockafellas was founded in 1997 by the Palermo family, who continued to own and operate the restaurant until its 2023 closure. It had been an Ortley Beach staple for both locals and vacationers in the area, brimming with seafood-hungry patrons nearly every night of the summer.
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In the summer of 2023, the space was changed from a fine-dining restaurant to The Market at Rockafellas. As the name suggests, The Market was an Italian market and deli, serving sandwiches, pre-made sides and meals, and an assortment of Italian specialties (olive oils, pastas, and sauces). However, it was only open for approximately two months before it permanently closed, and the space was sold. Since then, the space has sat vacant on 35.
The Palermo family still owns another restaurant, Piccolino Italian Kitchen, at 1177 Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Piccolinos opened in late December 2023. Similar to Rockafellas, it serves a classic Italian menu and is open for lunch and dinner. Piccolino is open for dining, pickup, and catering.
Dune Coastal Cuisine is Coming to Ortley Beach
Just recently, the Rockafellas space gained new life, with signage for a new restaurant called Dune now up. Described as “Coastal Cuisine,” Dune is a fine-dining Italian-American restaurant, according to their job openings for cooks and servers listed online. Residents in the area have shared on social media that the space is being cleaned up and under construction.
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Dune-Coastal Cuisine is another addition to the list of new restaurants coming to the Ortley Beach area, including Salty Dick’s, a new piano bar + kitchen set to open next March. Just last month, Pelican’s Warf opened in Seaside Heights, adjacent to Ortley Beach.
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