JakeaBob’s Bay – 525 Front Street – Union Beach
The weather finally warmed up, so a couple of friends and I decided that it was the perfect night to start the season at a favorite waterfront bar and restaurant, JakeaBob’s Bay. Located approximately 1 mile off State Route 36 in Union Beach, it draws crowds of both locals and visitors from May until October. Since being rebuilt after complete destruction in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy, JakeaBob’s has outdoor dining only. The tiki bar is a nicely decorated and lively spot every night, and they have scheduled live music several nights a week. The restaurant seating consists of several colorful tables on a large outdoor deck over the water. If you time your visit right, you can experience a gorgeous sunset, followed by the lights of the New York City skyline across the bay.
First, let me tell you, the Sangria is good! My friends and I usually get the red, which is amazing, but opted for white on this visit. The view was spectacular at this point, I think we would have been happy just to sit there all night and drink Sangria. However, it was a Monday, and there was the reality of having to work the next day, so we started with some of the chicken tenders to get things going. Tasty, especially with the honey mustard dipping sauce.
We decided to stay casual with burgers and sandwiches. I honestly was torn between the “Beach Barker Dogs” (Sabrett dogs with sweet potato mustard, house slaw and pickled jalapenos on toasted buttered rolls) and a burger. I ended up choosing the “JakeaBob Burger” and I wasn’t disappointed. All burgers are 1/2lb. Angus beef and my burger came with American cheese, bacon and crispy onion strings. The hamburger buns taste toasted and buttered too, which is a delicious touch. Fries were nicely done and not too salty. My friends order included a “House Burger’ which is your basic burger, and a grilled chicken ranch wrap. The wrap came with house made potato chips instead of fries and they were very good. Everything came out hot, tasted fresh and delicious, and nothing was left behind on our plates!
Now dessert. Of course, there was dessert! I cannot speak about JakeaBob’s other desserts, as I have never, ever swayed away from their “Cheesecake in a Glass”. If they ever stopped making it, I’d skip dessert altogether, out of respect. It is loads of goodness layered all in one glass. There’s brownie, chocolate fudge, raspberry or strawberry sauce, a whipped cheesecake and some magic. It is the perfect finish.
The service is fantastic. Attentive servers. The tables are cleaned promptly, so you aren’t sitting there trying to enjoy the evening with dirty dishes in front of you. The band is playing, there are fans to keep you cool and the bugs away. The atmosphere is just what you would be looking for on a nice day. They are open for lunch as well, and there are daily specials. There’s a friendly staff, good food and drinks and great location. The tiki bar attracts people of all ages. So, whether you are twenty something, fortyish, or better, you will enjoy JakeaBob’s Bay!
