A former Jersey Shore beer garden is being transformed into a luxury steakhouse and seafood restaurant.
The new high-end eatery, named Asbury Social, is planned to open in the space that formerly housed the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten.
Asbury Social is being spearheaded by the ownership group that operates the House of Independents entertainment venue in Asbury Park.
The ownership group told NJ Advance Media that further details such as an opening date and other plans for the space will be released soon.
The transformation of the former beer garden has been being shared on social media, with a video showing construction and claiming they’re already being contacted for wedding and bar mitzvah bookings.
Asbury Social will feature an indoor dining area and a large rooftop for seasonal upstairs seating. Menu items for the steak and seafood restaurant have yet to be announced.
The former Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten closed in 2023 after a devastating flood caused serious damages to the property. The Festhalle’s owners announced it would not reopen in early 2025, citing a lack of insurance to cover the flooding damages, as well as anticipated rent increases, as reasons for the permanent closure.
The Festhalle, which opened in late 2014, was beloved by locals for its large beer selection, European menu items — the wienerschnitzel was top notch — and lively rooftop.
Time will tell how the city receives yet another higher-end dining option, joining an increasingly crowded group of pricey spots already established in town, like Judy and Harry’s, Brando’s, Iron Whale, Stella Marina, Palmetto and others.
A cheap meal in Asbury Park gets harder to find each year.
Then again, a rooftop dining experience at the Jersey Shore is tough to beat.