Jenna Giustino 
It’s no secret that Asbury Park has become a Jersey Shore go-to for quality restaurants, bars, and, of course, live music. Downtown Asbury Park is a destination for locals and visitors alike, so naturally, we’ve all been wondering what would eventually take over the former Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten space at 527 Lake Avenue. Once news broke about Asbury Social, our curiosity only grew. JSG, of course, needed to know more. We stopped by Asbury Social during its soft opening to get a first look at the space, try the food + drinks, and learn what’s ahead for this massive new addition to downtown. Spoiler: there’s a lot more coming. Read on to learn more about Asbury Social, Asbury Park’s newest restaurant, bar, + entertainment destination, complete with spaces designed for dining, mingling, dancing, and more.
About + History
Asbury Social is a new restaurant, bar, + entertainment hub in downtown Asbury Park, at 527 Lake Avenue. Think dinner, drinks, live entertainment, and a night out all under one roof, complete with a moody, sophisticated aesthetic that makes the entire experience feel a little elevated.
The restaurant takes over the former Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten, which closed in 2023 following flood damage. Owners Claude Elie and Julian Gellman, who also operate House of Independents in Asbury Park, have since transformed the space into Asbury Social.
JSG stopped by during the soft opening to try a curated selection of food + drinks and explore the new space. We also got to chat with owner Claude Elie, who gave us the scoop on some exciting future plans and how Asbury Social hopes to become much more than another place to grab dinner downtown.
The Experience
The Vibe
The Asbury Social experience feels chic from the moment guests arrive, starting with a red carpet leading to the entrance. Greeters welcome everyone inside, where the former beer hall has been transformed into an industrial-meets-upscale lounge. Moody lighting makes the space fitting for everything from a first date to a night out with the girls. Basically, this is the kind of place that gives us an excuse to finally wear that cute outfit that has been sitting in the closet.
The open-concept layout features a massive dining room and bar area known as the Supper Club, complete with comfortable leather seating. A statement chandelier + vintage-inspired furniture create plenty of photo-ready moments throughout the space, while also providing cozy spots for eating, drinking, + socializing.
Just to the left of the main entrance is The Green Room, an intimate nook tucked beside the main dining area and framed by velvet curtains. The space has its own dedicated entrance while still connecting to the energy of the Supper Club. The Green Room will also be available for private events and can accommodate up to 50 guests. Between the moody interiors and intimate setup, we can already picture it for a trendy birthday celebration, corporate gathering, private dinner, + more.
The Entertainment
Asbury Social plans to become a hub for all kinds of entertainment. Claude described the concept to JSG as having a “dinner and a show” element, meaning the experience doesn’t necessarily end when the plates are cleared.
Read more: The Reef Club: A New Oceanfront Restaurant in Allenhurst, NJ
Social Saturdays are also in the works, taking place from 10PM to 2AM and featuring live music + DJs spinning everything from R&B hits to disco classics. During late-night hours, the dining tables will be cleared to create plenty of room for dancing and transform the Supper Club into more of a nightclub atmosphere. FYI: The team is aiming for a more mature, 25+ crowd. Social Saturdays officially kick off on September 12th.
Entertainment plans extend beyond DJs, too. Live bands, Frank Sinatra-style tunes, magic shows, and other whimsical performances are all part of the vision for the space.
During our visit, JSG also got to meet Rico, who made his way from table to table throughout the evening. His larger-than-life personality adds another social element to dinner, so don’t be surprised if you spot him mingling around the room during a visit.
The Menu
Food
The menu at Asbury Social manages to feel familiar and elevated at the same time. Claude described the concept as “comfort food with an elevated Southern twist,” which feels pretty spot-on after our visit.
JSG got to try the soft opening menu, which carries the music theme all the way through its sections. Appetizers are known as “Opening Acts,” entrées become “Main Acts,” and sides are appropriately called “Supporting Acts.” Considering Asbury Park’s deep roots in music, the theme feels right at home.
With plenty of tempting options, narrowing down our order wasn’t exactly easy. We started with the Got the Mutz, an oversized mozzarella stick that looks more like a crispy, cheesy block and comes served with marinara sauce. The Pepper Jam Shrimp was another favorite, made with crispy Gulf shrimp, secret Social sauce, blue cheese crumbles, + vegetable conserva.
For our mains, we went with the grilled whole branzino, served with the head + tail, and the Goffle Road Farms Chicken. The chicken comes with Social BBQ sauce + cornbread, and the combination was one of the standouts of the night. The Crispy Brussels were another JSG favorite. Made with Parmesan dressing + cornbread crumbles, this was one of those sides we kept going back to even after insisting we were full.
Other menu highlights include The Drum Kit, a meal designed for two featuring fried chicken, caviar, sweet potato spoonbread, vegetables, + Social sauces. Premium steaks + chops are also available from The Butcher’s Block. As a little nod to the building’s former life as Asbury Festhalle + Biergarten, the OG Soft Pretzel also made its way onto the menu.
The full menu is expected to debut following the official opening.
Drinks
The cocktails at Asbury Social are just as fun as the space itself, with creative names + presentations that make ordering a drink part of the experience. JSG tried the Cloud Nine, Matcha Made in Heaven, The Socialite, + Monkey Business during the soft opening. Mocktails, beer, + wine by the glass or bottle round out the drink options, so there’s something for just about every kind of night out.
Future Plans
Asbury Social may already be a massive space, but there’s still much more to come. First up, The Cocktail Lounge is a coming-soon addition, providing a more intimate setting for dining, drinks, + private parties.
See more: New NJ Law Makes Cocktails-To-Go Permanent
Above the Supper Club, a Miami-inspired rooftop experience is currently in the works. Overlooking nearby Wesley Lake, the rooftop will feature small bites, wine, beer, + cocktails alongside curated playlists, live sets, and special rooftop events.
JSG already has one suggestion: time a visit around sunset because those Wesley Lake views are going to be hard to beat.
We also got the scoop on another addition that could quickly become a local favorite. Through the back of the dining area, guests will eventually find an entrance leading into a speakeasy-style space. And maybe the coolest part is that the speakeasy will connect directly to House of Independents, making it the ultimate spot for pre-show drinks. Yes, that means dinner, cocktails, a speakeasy, + a concert could eventually happen without ever leaving the building.
Between the Supper Club, Green Room, future rooftop, late-night programming, speakeasy, + connection to House of Independents, Asbury Social is shaping up to be much more than a restaurant. The concept brings several different ways to experience a night out together in one downtown Asbury Park destination, and we’re excited to see how each piece comes to life.
Details
Asbury Social is located at 527 Lake Avenue in Asbury Park. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th, followed by the official opening on Saturday, September 12th. Social Saturdays will also kick off on September 12th.
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