Cross & Orange — Restaurant in Asbury Park

After my girlfriend accepted my proposal we got right to planning our wedding. We knew we wanted it to be at the beach as it is our favorite place to be. After meeting with many wedding coordinators at more traditional venues we consistently walked out each time feeling like we visited a wedding factory… it was going to be just like every other wedding they put on week after week. They all had the same offerings - here are 12 appetizer options – pick 4, same with the entrees and so on. Very cookie cutter.

Then we stumbled upon Cross and Orange, a newly opened restaurant on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. We immediately felt comfortable - the space was warm and welcoming and the hostess was so happy to help us. We were greeted not by a manager or event coordinator but the owner himself, Bob Fahey. This meet and greet was like something we had not experienced in our hunt for wedding venues. He was so cool and relaxed and made us feel comfortable from the minute we shook hands (that was the last time we shook – we signed the contract with a hug). The restaurant was beautifully decorated and was everything we were looking for. Cross and Orange has a fantastic bar area, fully stocked with a vast selection of craft beers on tap. Atmosphere was important but not as important as the food, which exceeded our expectations. We asked Bob if he had a menu of options for us to choose from and he just smiled and said, “what would you guys like to eat?” That was so refreshing to hear.

We opted to have a cocktail style wedding reception with a few stations since we didn’t want to have assigned tables. After discussing a few menu ideas with Bob, we went back for a tasting where we sampled the dishes we requested. Bob and his chef also presented us with several additional ideas to try and are we happy his did since we added some to our menu. The lobster roll sliders on brioche buns were a huge hit, as were his signature 60/40 burger (40% bacon) sliders, wild boar and short rib mini tacos, seared scallops that were perfectly executed, and crab cakes that made our guests from Maryland envious. I won’t take you through the whole menu but everything was not only flawlessly prepared but the presentation was top notch.

We were married September 24, 2016 and had 100 of our favorite people celebrate with us. Nearly every person commented on the beautiful space was and how amazing the food was.

Thank you, Bob, Joe and the entire staff at Cross and Orange – you made our most special day one that we will remember for a lifetime!

If you are looking to have any type of event whether it is a wedding reception, engagement party, baby shower etc., you will not find a better place in Asbury. I will be a reference for anyone that is looking to have an...

My husband and I got married here this past Friday - and let me tell you, it was so much more than we ever could have imagined. If you are looking for a wedding venue and you are not a ballroom type of person - do NOT hesitate to put all of your faith in this team. The atmosphere, the staff, the food. Everything was absolutely perfect. And I’m sure it’s every brides nightmare to have to switch your ceremony inside last minute because of rain, but the indoor ceremony turned out to be a beautiful, intimate, PERFECT ceremony. This was the first venue we looked at, and we knew right off the bat that this was the right place. Ashley is absolutely phenomenal. Her personality, experience, and constant reassurance really made this the easiest day for us. The entire staff was SO friendly, warm, and super attentive to us throughout the entire night. Throughout the entire process really. Ashley was hands down the most comforting factor when choosing a venue that was very different from any wedding we’ve ever been to. I promise, if you’re on the fence, just choose them. Please trust me. And the food?! I can’t say enough good things. Not your typical wedding food, this was top notch chef specialty, kept our family’s talking for days, DELICIOUS food. If you can take avocado toast, and make it one of the most delicious things - that’s impressive. I honestly couldn’t believe it. There was also SO much, it just kept coming all night long. You couldn’t have left hungry. (You also HAVE to pick the chicken lemongrass potstickers. Probably the best thing I’ve ever had) And the next morning when we came to pick up our decorations, the staff came up to us and asked us how everything went and we’re just so damn friendly it was really just such a great experience from the absolute start to the very end. I could not...

My husband and I got married at Cross and Orange last week. We had to postpone our wedding twice because of the pandemic, and as we got closer to our third wedding date, we had to find a new venue. Living in Asbury Park, we had frequently gone to C+O for happy hour and brunch. After getting more information on their wedding packages and talking with Kathy and Bob, the owners, we knew that this was the perfect place for our wedding. From the start, Kathy and Bob were so quick at communicating and were incredible to work with. They made the entire process so easy and stress free! The day of the wedding was everything we wanted. Everything went so smoothly and the staff was incredible. Everyone was so attentive and friendly. We had our ceremony inside which was beautiful! Afterwards, the staff members quickly turned the event space into a reception area. After we ate, we decided that we needed more room to dance so the staff adjusted tables to make this happen. Anything we needed they helped with. I wish we could relive this day everyday. I am so happy that we were able to have our wedding at Cross and Orange! Our friends and family couldn’t stop raving about the atmosphere of the venue, the food, and the entire day. I highly recommend C+O to anyone looking for a relaxed,...