The Drawing Room Restaurant Review:
A must try spot in Asbury Park, NJ

The Drawing Room
Asbury Ocean Club Hotel
1101 Ocean Ave.
Asbury Park, NJ

The Drawing Room, perched above a serene reflecting pool inside the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel, offers a refined, intimate dining experience that blends modern American cuisine with global accents and a strong commitment to seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

It’s designed for guests who value chef driven creativity, polished service, and a quietly luxurious atmosphere at the Jersey Shore.

Fare and pricing

Cuisine: Modern American with global influences

Price:: Moderate to expensive—aligned with upscale hotel dining and chef driven cuisine.

The Chef & Culinary Approach

Executive Chef: Kate Gagliardi.

Transitioned from a finance career into professional cooking. Started as a line cook at Pascal & Sabine in Asbury Park. Served as Chef de Cuisine at Happiness Bar & Grill before leading The Drawing Room.

• Cooking style:
  • Innovative, seasonal, and ingredient driven.
  • Blends global influences with modern American foundations.
  • Emphasis on balance, texture, and clean, bright flavors.
• Ingredients & preparation:
  • Seasonal, locally sourced produce and regional seafood.
  • Thoughtful techniques—slow braising, careful searing, and layered flavor building.
  • Organic and sustainably minded elements appear where possible, especially in produce and seafood sourcing
• Style & ingredients:
  • Fresh, often farm to table produce from New Jersey growers and regional purveyors.
  • Sustainable seafood and responsibly raised meats.
  • Menus that change with the seasons to highlight peak flavor ingredients.

  Menu highlights:

• Seasonal small plates: Rotating soups and vegetable forward dishes.
• Signature entrées: Slow braised meats, seared seafood, inventive pastas.
• Recent tasting features: Ricotta with spring vegetables, Yukon potato leek soup, Little Gem salad, gnocchi with pancetta and English peas, salmon with fregola and asparagus.
• Desserts: In house, often featuring local fruit or artisanal chocolate.

Ambiance

• Décor: Warm, intimate, and thoughtfully curated, with soft lighting and curated artwork.
• Vibe: Relaxed yet refined—ideal for conversation, date nights, and small gatherings.
• Striking features:
  • Dining room seemingly floating above a reflecting pool in the inner courtyard.
  • Views that connect to the hotel’s pool area and sweeping Atlantic Ocean vistas.
• Table spacing & noise level:
  • Comfortable spacing; not crowded.
  • Moderate to low noise—suited to intimate dinners and food‑focused evenings.
• Background music: Soft, unobtrusive, complementing the room’s elegant, modern‑chic feel.
• Outdoor dining: Limited or seasonal, depending on weather and hotel operations.

Service

• Staffing & style:
  • Warm, welcoming, and attentive without hovering.
  • Knowledgeable about ingredients, preparation, and wine pairings.
  • Pacing between courses is generally smooth and considered.

Other key factors

• Alcohol / bar service:
  • Curated wine list with boutique selections.
  • Craft cocktails featuring fresh herbs, house made syrups, and premium spirits.
  • Gallery Bar adjacent, with swanky, NYC style cocktail lounge vibes.
• Child friendliness:
  • Best suited for adults, date nights, and small groups.
  • Not ideal for very young children or large, kid centric family parties.
• Best for:
  • Romantic dinners and celebrations.
  • Food focused evenings and small gatherings.
  • Guests who appreciate chef driven, seasonal cuisine in a refined setting.
• Not ideal for:
  • Loud groups or party style outings.
  • Casual, quick meals.
  • Families seeking kid friendly menus and high‑energy spaces.
• Parking:
  • Street parking and nearby municipal lots; can be busy during peak Asbury Park dining hours and summer weekends.

What I like about The Drawing Room

• Thoughtful, seasonal cooking: The menu feels genuinely rooted in local farms and waters, with dishes that change as the seasons do.
• Chef driven personality: Kate Gagliardi’s journey and style give the restaurant a clear point of view—creative but approachable.
• Atmosphere that matches the food: The floating above the pool setting, soft lighting, and ocean‑adjacent views create a sense of occasion without feeling stiff.
• Balanced luxury: It’s upscale and special, yet still welcoming enough for a relaxed, lingering meal rather than a formal, high pressure experience.

What sets them apart from the competition

• Location and design: Few Jersey Shore restaurants can claim a dining room suspended over a reflecting pool inside a four star oceanfront hotel with courtyard and ocean views.
• Chef narrative: A chef who worked her way up locally and now leads a high end property’s kitchen gives the restaurant a grounded, Asbury centric identity rather than a generic hotel‑restaurant feel.
• Michelin Key context: Being part of a property recognized with a Michelin Key signals a level of design, service, and overall experience that stands out in the regional market.
• Ambiance forward dining: The Drawing Room is as much about the room—the pool, the courtyard, the art, the lighting—as it is about the plate, which makes it ideal for milestone evenings and romantic escapes.

Managing expectations: A balanced look at your visit

To really enjoy The Drawing Room, it helps to align your expectations with what the restaurant is designed to be:

• Food & pricing: Expect carefully composed, seasonal dishes at a moderate to expensive price point. This is not a casual boardwalk spot; it’s closer to a special occasion restaurant inside a luxury hotel.
• Atmosphere: The vibe is intimate and refined, with lower noise levels and soft music. If you’re seeking a lively, high energy bar scene or kid centric bustle, this may feel too subdued.
• Service pace: Courses are paced thoughtfully, which supports lingering, multi course meals. Guests looking for a very quick in and out experience might find the rhythm slower than a casual café.

Updated June 8, 2026

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