The owners of Monkfish Waterfront Grill in Waretown – Edward and Kelly James, and Katie Davis – love the message behind the monkfish; and in particular, how it got its name. (More on that in a moment.) It’s also relevant to the restaurant because visitors of Key Harbor Marina can spot the monkfish in nearby waters. These two reasons explain the name.
The story goes that a fisherman gave his catch of monkfish to monks at a nearby monastery for free; believing he would be unable to sell such an ugly fish. Despite this, the monks were not bothered by its outward appearance and, upon trying it, discovered the fish was delicious. The lesson is that it’s important to look beyond the outward appearance of things to find their inner value.
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Setting the Scene
As for the eatery, Monkfish Waterfront Grill offers indoor and outdoor dining while overlooking Barnegat Bay. The 3,000-square foot restaurant comes from the same owners behind Breakers Kitchen and Tap, also in Waretown. Monkfish seats 80 to 90 guests indoors amid a nautical-themed mural, string lights, and solid glass doors. Meanwhile, the outdoor patio seats 50 and boasts umbrella-topped tables and an awning for protection from the elements. “We offer the best views on the water overlooking the bay,” Kelly says. “People come when it’s sunny and when it’s cloudy.”
Monkfish Waterfront Grill hosts live music on weekends, and pumps reggae covers from the speaker system throughout the week. They also offer dock and dine services, so patrons can dock a boat in the marina and order takeout. (Which Monkfish will deliver right to the boat.) In addition, guests that wish to dine in can tie up their boat and then call Monkfish for pickup; they will pick up a party of any size from the dock.
Plenty of Fish (& More) on the Menu
The menu at Monkfish Waterfront Grill provides an array of seafood, steaks, and burgers. “We have a little bit of everything,” Edward explains. It is not a fine dining restaurant, however, the vibe is instead more upscale casual. “If you’re coming right off the boat, we don’t want you to have to dress up,” Kelly says. “But we do have food that’s good for special occasions.” Fan favorites include the lobster roll, Filet Mignon, and Grilled Rib-Eye. Likewise, “Black and Bleu” cheeseburgers (black angus and bleu cheese) with Frizzled Onions fly off the menu.
Menu highlights include red snapper, tilefish, Chilean sea bass, and Faroe Island salmon. But things change depending on the catches of the day. Kelly says their fish speaks for itself, and does not require heavy seasoning or sauce. However, their dressings are homemade and Kelly says they are very proud of how they taste. They also serve Brunch on weekends. As for Edward, his favorite dish is the Blackened Salmon Sandwich. “Someone who doesn’t like salmon told me it was amazing,” he even recalls. Click her to see the full menu.
Monkfish Waterfront Grill is BYOB but they also carry a selection of wines, including NJ’s award-winning White Horse wine; in addition to nonalcoholic beers and alcohol-free cocktails for those who don’t want to drink. “These things are being done in the trendiest bars in New York, which is how we got the idea,” Kelly says.
Visit Monkfish Waterfront Grill at 2 Point Road in Waretown. (Click here to see them on Google Maps.) To learn more: Click here to visit their website | Follow them on Facebook | Click here to give them a call.
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Monkfish Waterfront Grill FAQs
No, they do not accept reservations.
Yes, and many items can be made gluten-free by request.
Yes, Monkfish Waterfront Grill offers vegetarian options.
They offer takeout, yes.
They only offer delivery to boats that dock at Key Harbor Marina.
No, they are BYOB.
Yes, there is a kids’ menu.
All Photos: © Monkfish Waterfront Grill / Facebook
