Daniel's Bistro, Point Pleasant, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
115 Broadway
Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ
(732) 899-5333
Website
Restaurant Highlights
Fare: New American
Price: Expensive
Food Quality: 3 Stars
Service: 2 Stars
Decor: 2 Stars
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to Four stars= Best in Class
Serves high end, well prepared New American food
Cramped dining areas, tables spaced close together
Value: Good
Noise Level: Moderate to high, depending on seating
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy excellent, well prepared food without being rushed.
Not Recommended For: Budget conscious diners who prefer simply prepared food and lower prices in a casual family setting.
Recommended dishes: When available, Osso Buco --braised veal shank; The Colorado Rack of Lamb: and The Berkshire Pork Castelleto.
Liquor: BYOB
Restaurant Review
Daniel's Bistro is one of the top fine dining restaurants in the Point Pleasant area. It's popular with diners aged 50+ in groups of 4-6 diners.
Chef Danny & Karen Picard also own and operate Daniel's Bistro By The Sea in nearby Avon By The Sea.
Chef Daniel Pichard, formerly of Martha's Vineyard in Clifton, and Pino's in Marlboro, is masterful at running the kitchen, while his wife Karen oversees the service in the dining room.
Upon entering you will be greeted by Karen who often times is seated behind the counter looking up to welcoming guests in a less than congenial manner. However, this is not the case with the wait staff who are friendly and interested in making it a pleasurable, friendly dining experience.
The menu at Daniel's Bistro offers a good variety of creative, well prepared dishes using fresh ingredients.
The dining experience features thoughtful little extras beginning with a tasteful complimentary amuse - bouche and ending on a positive note with a serving of complimentary warm brownie squares.
While the ambiance is cozy, with soft lighting, dark green walls, and tables set with white linen, on busy weekends the noise level, especially in the rear dining area can get to be very high. Most of the tables are packed close together and arranged to accommodate groups of 4-6 people with just 4-5 tables set for seating for two. Couples looking for a cozy dining experience are best served by avoiding busy weekends.
The service at Daniels Bistro is knowledgeable and friendly, though on busy weekends, it can be slow and inattentive. Having said that, they also are not rushing diners out the door, and spending up to two and a half hours to dine here is common.
There is limited on-site parking with overflow street parking available. Free street parking is available across the street though parking on the restaurant side requires feeding the meters.
Daniel's Bistro is open year round, 6 days/week for dinner, from Tuesday - Sunday @ 4pm
(updated April, 2017)
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