Top 7+ restaurants are coming, 2 open, 2 close at the Jersey Shore

Every month is a busy one for the Jersey Shore dining scene, with openings, closings and more news to report.

In March, two longtime restaurants got new owners, two more closed, an ice cream shop-owning family expanded their business and chain restaurants announced plans to expand in Monmouth and Ocean counties, among other happenings.

Here is the food and dining news we reported on in March.

OB Diner to reopen under new owner, chef

OB Diner, a Point Pleasant Beach landmark that has been closed since last year, is set to reopen under new ownership.

The restaurant, which is expected to open by May 1, will be led by Diego Sanchez. The chef owns At The Point In Point Pleasant Beach and 39 Degrees North in Stafford.

"We're going to revive (it) and keep it as a diner, a classic Jersey diner, since it's a staple of the community," said Sanchez, whose career before the Shore included Galaxy Diner in Rahway, Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and New York restaurants of chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud. "We keep our classics and staples, modernize them a little bit and create a nice ambiance and deliver a little bit of everything for everybody, from classics to modern dishes, without losing the identity of a Jersey diner."

The 8,000-square-foot, 240-seat diner recently was sold to an unnamed investor. Sanchez plans to purchase it eventually.

New owners for The Office Restaurant & Lounge

The Office Restaurant & Lounge in Toms River, New Jersey, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Esperto Hospitality Group, a Holmdel-based company with four restaurants in Monmouth County and a fifth opening later this year, is the new owner of The Office Restaurant & Lounge in Toms River.

The Office, as it is known, was opened in 1975 by the late Phil Citta. For nearly 20 years prior, it was a bar and liquor store known as Toms River Hub.

Tony Ruccio, Esperto's director of operations, said the group is planning small cosmetic upgrades — a new bartop, remodeled bathrooms and some new dining room furniture — along with some menu changes, including the addition of a "state-of-the-art" pizza oven.

Esperto, comprising founder John DiLeo, his brother and vice president Anthony DiLeo and culinary director Jonathan Rice, also owns Catezza Italian Kitchen & Bar, Cafe Pari and the former Centrada Cocina & Cocktails, all in Red Bank; Covo Italian Steakhouse in Marlboro; and Local House Kitchen & Bar in Tinton Falls. They will open the first New Jersey location of chicken chain Daddy's Chicken Shack in Tinton Falls in June.

Numa Modern Mediterranean to open in Shrewsbury

A screenshot of a rendering of the dining room of Numa Modern Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar, opening in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, this spring.

Numa Modern Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar will open this spring on Broad Street at The Grove West in Shrewsbury. It replaces Albarino Tapas & Wine Bar, which closed at 508 Broad St. in November.

Numa Hospitality, led by partners Vansh Arora of Asbury Park; his father, Kamal Arora, co-owner of Maize Cocina & Cocktails in Westfield, and Rajiv Uppal of Colts Neck, began a complete renovation of the 4,700-square-foot restaurant in December.

The kitchen, led by Chefs Jiten Singh and Jack Cunningham, will feature Southern French, Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisines. Cunningham previously cooked at Pascal & Sabine and Heirloom at The St. Laurent in Asbury Park. Douglas Krajewski, previously of Asbury Park Distilling, Talula's and Laylow in Asbury Park, will oversee Numa's beverage program.

The group hopes to open Numa, which will seat around 120 diners, in late April, Vansh Arora said.

Asbury Ocean Club restaurant opens to public

Dishes at The Drawing Room restaurant at Asbury Ocean Club in Asbury Park include, clockwise from bottom, roasted chicken with cauliflower hash, a "Peas & Carrots" small plate, lamb chops with sunchoke puree, little gem salad, and tuna tartare with tapioca crisp.

Dining at Asbury Park's Asbury Ocean Club, previously reserved for guests and residents of its hotel and condominums, is now open to the public.

The Ocean Avenue restaurant, led by Executive Chef Kate Gagliardi, began public service in March. The year-round restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; dishes include waffles with lemon curd and whipped cream; bacon, egg and cheese with tomato jam on brioche; mushroom flatbread with goat cheese and truffle vinaigrette; bucatini with braised beef ragu and New York strip steak with Hasselback potatoes.

Cava, First Watch and more coming to Toms River

A rendering of a new retail building at Bey Lea Plaza in Toms River with Cava and Paris Baguette.

Bey Lea Plaza, a nearly 40-year-old shopping center on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, is getting a new look with new restaurants including Cava, First Watch, Paris Baguette and Just Salad.

The township Planning Board approved a building plan by the shopping center's owner, CS Paramount Hooper LLC, in March. Organic grocer Sprouts Farmers Market will anchor the plaza.

Cava, a Mediterranean fast casual restaurant, opened its first Shore location last year in Brick Plaza. First Watch arrived at the Shore in 2024 with the opening of an Eatontown restaurant, followed by the 2025 addition of a location at Brick Commons. Just Salad and Paris Baguette both have several locations in Monmouth County.

Mister Softee opens in Little Egg Harbor

Mister Softee opened in March in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Pictured March 10, 2026.

The owners of more than a dozen Mister Softee ice cream trucks and five brick and mortar shops in Ocean County added a new location in March.

Dan and Liz Pittman's new store is at 605 Route 9 South in Little Egg Harbor, in a building previously occupied by The Pine Cone ice cream shop. It serves 32 flavors of hard ice cream made at their Beachwood store; three flavors of soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, slices of ice cream cake, ice cream sandwiches, custom ice cream cakes, and pup cups.

The couple's other Mister Softee stores are in Brick, the Manahawkin section of Stafford, Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach.

Community rallies around restaurant damaged by fire

The fire was ruled an accident, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. The restaurant, located on Atlantic City Boulevard in the Bayville section of the township, was closed at the time. No inuries were reported.

Within 48 hours, a GoFundMe started by an employee of the family-owned breakfast and lunch restaurant had raised nearly $20,000. As of press time, the total was nearing $35,000.

Owners Carlton and Cady Kramer said they paln to rebuild.

Former Shore chef takes on 'TOC' — again

Contestant Britt Rescigno, as seen on "Tournament of Champions," Season 7. Photo by Anders Krusberg/Courtesy of Food Network

Former Long Beach Island chef Britt Rescigno cooked up a win on her first appearance of the new season of Food Network's "Tournament of Champions."

This is Rescigno's fourth season on the cooking competition, which is hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. During the episode, Rescigno's dish — schnitzel with Chasseur sauce and endive — bested the grilled pork shoulder steak with pine nut purée prepared by Chicago chef Giuseppe Tentori.

Rescigno, who grew up at her family's New Gretna restaurant, Allen's Clam Bar, and cooked at restaurants on Long Beach Island, now owns Italian restaurant Fiamma in Idaho.

Lebanese restaurant Naya opening at the Shore

Brook 35 Plaza is getting this storefront ready for Naya, a fast-casual restaurant featuring Middle Eastern flavors. March 3, 2026.

The eatery, which serves a menu of customizable bowls, salads, and rolls with various proteins and toppings, joins Just Salad, Tommy's Tavern & Tap and Chipotle Mexican Grill at Brook 35 Plaza. The 2,000-square-foot location includes a trellised patio for outdoor dining.

An April opening is planned.

Original MJ's Restaurant, Bar & Grill closes

MJ's Restaurant, Bar & Grill on Sycamore Ave in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, closed abruptly in late February. Pictured March 2, 2026.

MJ's Restaurant, Bar & Grill in Tinton Falls, the first location of a locally owned chain that now includes more than half a dozen restaurants across the state, closed Feb. 28.

A spokesperson for MJ's confirmed the closure of the Sycamore Avenue restaurant but declined to comment further. The closing was announced on social media.

"It with great sadness to have (to) write this post and to put into words how to truly express all these emotions right now," reads a Feb. 23 Facebook post from the restaurant. "Unfortunately, we will (be) closing our doors at MJ's Restaurant Bar & Grill in Tinton Falls…"

The restaurant opened in June 2011 in the building that previously housed the Grist Mill and Dam Site restaurants. Other MJ's locations remain open in Brick, Long Branch, Berkeley Township, Matawan, Middletown, Neptune and Spotswood.

Stella Marina closes on Asbury Park boardwalk

Owner Joseph Cetrulo is pictured inside Stella Marina Restaurant & Bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on April 17, 2019.

A spokesperson from the restaurant confirmed the sudden closure but did not provide additional information.

"With heavy hearts, we announce the closing of our doors," reads a post on the restaurant's Instagram account. "It has been a true privilege to serve the Asbury Park community over the past several years. We are deeply grateful to our incredible staff, loyal customers, friends and community supporters who made Stella such a special destination on the beach. Asbury Park, thank you for the memories, the support and the love."

Stella Marina, which was owned by Joseph Cetrulo and his Trinity Hospitality Group, opened in 2009. The group also owns Sirena Ristorante in Long Branch and Masseria Italian Steakhouse in Morristown.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected], follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to her weekly newsletter.