Jersey Shore locals know that there is nothing more glorious than eating pizza with a waterfront view on a beautiful and warm summer day. our coastal towns provide ample opportunities for picturesque dining experiences and a new, hidden gem in Asbury Park proves that even inland establishments are too good to gatekeep. CatBird Wood Fired Kitchen, located at 1215 Sunset Avenue, is now soft launching its artisanal pizza and dining experience, just a mile West of the beach, nestled along Deal Lake on the border of Asbury Park and Wanamassa. Read on for more about the newest addition to the Asbury Park dining scene, CatBird Wood Fired Kitchen.
About CatBird
CatBird is an unsuspecting, blink-and-you-might-miss-it, pizza joint that exists under the guise of a quaint 1960s lakeside cabin in a residential neighborhood. The wood-fired kitchen and pizza restaurant — located at 1215 Sunset Avenue — is a new, year-round, casual dining experience that features artisan, wood-fired entrees, pizzas, seasonal menus, as well as non-alcoholic spirits and botanical beverages.
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Its menu features a soft launch of sides, salads, and a selection of 12-inch, thin-crust specialty and classic pizzas. CatBird’s “Mocking Bar” is a unique, zero-proof drink menu featuring non-alcoholic beers, botanical beverages, and soft drinks. CatBird plans to serve breakfast and brunch on weekends in the future. The restaurant is also BYOB.
The new eatery serves as a rebirth of a local favorite pizza establishment as well as a reimagining of a local landmark. Asbury Park restaurateur Aimee McElroy — the former owner of Medusa Stone Fired Kitchen, which sadly closed in 2022 — is the brains behind CatBird Wood Fired Kitchen. Monmouth County pizza connoisseurs will be stoked to learn that the pizza at CatBird is reminiscent of the slices they loved from Medusa, which is a New York meets Neapolitan style — thanks to Aimee’s wood-fired kitchen and a slow fermentation method.
CatBird takes the place of the historic Sunset Landing Luncheonette, which was one of the oldest operating businesses in the city of Asbury Park when it closed in 2023. According to Zillow, the spot was purchased for $1.5 million dollars in 2023.
Residents are thrilled to be able to return to the space of this charming eatery overlooking Deal Lake which has a relaxed atmosphere and a scenic deck that is often adorned with an array of feathered friends.
During its soft opening, CatBird only has dine-in dinner service with a limited menu. The soft opening includes both indoor and outdoor patio seating for parties on a first-come, first-served basis. The CatBird team is currently implementing a one-time wait system that has been coordinated to decrease wait times and allow for a consistent flow of orders into its kitchen. Guests are instructed to place orders and pay at the server counter at the front door upon arrival. The counter will provide a table marker once an order is placed and parties can choose where to sit — inside, outside, or at bar seating — and a server will deliver the order to where the party is seated. This system is helpful because once a meal is complete, guests can leave and do not have to wait for their check. The restaurant requests that guests be mindful of the time they occupy tables after completing meals and other patrons who are waiting to be seated.
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CatBird has no parking lot or designated parking spots. Free parking can be found along Sunset Avenue.
Follow CatBird on Instagram @catbird_ap and join its email list for announcements regarding the grand opening, operating hours, and menu updates.
Stay updated on all of the Jersey Shore news by following @thejerseyshoregirl_ on Instagram.
Moonstruck’s Owners Announce Retirement; Asbury Park Restaurant Sold to New Owners
One of Asbury Park's most beloved restaurants just made a major change. Moonstruck has been a staple of the AP community for over 25 years, with the original restaurant dating back to the late 1990s. Earlier this week, the Moonstruck team took to Facebook to announce that they would be selling the restaurant at 517 Lake Avenue, as owners Howard Raczkiewicz and Luke Magliaro are retiring. It has since been revealed that the spot has been sold to new owners, who have not been named as of this writing. Read on for more about the sale and Moonstruck's history in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Sale
Moonstruck's team announced the news of the owners retirement on Monday, April 14th, 2025 — noting that this was not farewell, and they were looking for a new owner to buy the space. See the full post below:
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What's Next?
Just a few days after the announcement, it looks like Moonstruck may already have new owners in the works. Moonstruck co-owner Luke Magliaro told Patch Asbury Park that the restaurant has been sold. The new owners have not been revealed as of this writing.
Moonstruck said via a Facebook post that they are "touched by the outpouring of love and support we have received," and the restaurant will be in their hands for the next few weeks.
"Wow! We are so touched by the outpouring of love and support we have received since posting the news that we are selling Moonstruck. The restaurant is still in our hands for a couple more weeks. And then we will remain with the new owners to help with the transition. They have every intention to keep things the way they are. Same name, same menu, same kitchen staff, same service staff. Hopefully any changes will only be for the better!" the post reads.
The Moonstruck team shared with The Jersey Shore Girl that they will share further information soon — this post will be updated with any other details.
Background on Moonstruck
Moonstruck has a long history at the Jersey Shore. Per the website, it all began in 1988 with with The Raspberry Café — a breakfast and lunch spot known for its fresh food, juice bar, and homemade muffins. The original Moonstruck restaurant opened in Ocean Grove in 1996 as a small BYOB storefront, and made the move to Lake Avenue in downtown Asbury Park in May 2002.
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Housed in a three-story Victorian-style building with views of Wesley Lake, the Victorian homes of Ocean Grove, and The Great Auditorium — an Ocean Grove landmark — Moonstruck is a local favorite for al fresco dining, cocktails, and good food. The spot serves up American-Mediterranean cuisine, including dishes like eggplant fries, garlic-roasted shrimp, fettuccine salmon, and pan-roasted chicken, among other items.
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