The Bonney Read

If we were to discuss seafood at the Shore, you’re certainly going to think about dockside dining, plastic lobster bibs, and overly aggressive seagulls. And while you wouldn’t be wrong as you drive through the beach towns of Monmouth County, The Bonney Read is not that. Rather, it’s a tavern-style, seafood-focused restaurant that does a few specific fish dishes really well. 

Sure, it’s a worthy spot for a beer and to shoot some raw oysters and clams, but we’d suggest checking out their fish tacos, which are large and fried and crispy with a cool crunchy slaw, as well as their fish and chips and crab dip. The Bonney Read is a great option for lunch while checking out the shops on Cookman Ave., or a late afternoon snack or early dinner after the beach before you blow out of town. At brunch, be sure to check out the kitschy oversized Ultimate Bloody Mary, served in a beer mug and overflowing with seemingly half of the raw bar in each glass.