Porta Asbury Park — Restaurant in Asbury Park

I'm familiar with all three locations of Porta (Asbury, Montclair and Jersey City), each of which has a pretty unique atmosphere and really taps into their immediate surroundings. This Porta is probably my favorite, and that's due in no small part to its location a block from the Asbury boardwalk. It's usually pretty bustling (what isn't in Asbury these days, especially in the summer?) but also doesn't feel claustrophobic/overwhelming.

The Millennial Chum and I stopped by for a late lunch this past Saturday, after spending a RIDICULOUS amount of time trying to find parking. Asbury is really getting out of control in that regard - we literally had to park in Deal. But we got here, and that's what matters. Anyway. I was a little apprehensive about a potential wait time given that there was a sizeable wedding party on the premises at the same time, but it never affected us. We secured some outdoor seating immediately and made ourselves comfortable. As a pale creature, I think they need to stock up on a few more umbrellas out there, but this is exactly why I carry around sunblock.

We were famished and decided to split a margarita pie, along with two apps - meatballs and mozzarella with bread. The meatballs were scrumptious - very flavorful and juicy. The mozzarella was excellent as well; it's a deceptively solid portion that allows you to really heap some decent piles onto the slices of bread. I've had that particular app almost every time I've gone to any of the Portas, and it's always top-notch - no need to overcomplicate the situation.

Honestly, the pizza for me is good but never the star. Personal palate-wise, the sauce is a little too thick for me (not a big fan of chunks in the tomato sauce) and the dough is on the chewier side. That said, Neapolitan-style is one of my favorites, and I DO really like the cheese. And my slight tepidness could very well be a minority position, as I know quite a few people who absolutely swear by this pie.

Given that Porta was hopping, both in its normal public area and clearly behind the scenes with its party, the service was perfectly fine. Our waitress was constantly available, and nothing seemed to take a particularly long time to arrive (though devil's advocate, this kind of food shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes to prepare and I'm sure a lot of the app ingredients were ready to go beforehand). I'm also always impressed by the price point here. Even given that we're in Asbury, where you seem to be charged an extra few dollars for the scenery, we were both pleasantly surprised to get a bill around $60ish, which included a mocktail and a cocktail.

Porta was actually my suggestion on this particular day. I'm not claiming it's the best pizza/Italian option in the area, but it might be the most consistent/reliable, which is a valuable quality in...

I went here before for food, and it was always great, but I never went to the club. I tried once, but it was not open yet, so I went to Johnny Mac's, which I favored, until now. My friends and I came to Porta's club last weekend and we were met with the absolute best customer service and hospitality. It really stood out to me. This was actually followed by THE WORST experience at Johnny Mac's, and I do not see myself going back there sadly, I am not for real a Porta Fan!!!

I have Crohn's which is an autoimmune disease, and I can't have hard liquor, it makes me super sick. I can only have wine and champagne without getting sick. When I went to one of the bar's inside Porta, I asked for 2 drinks for my friends, 2 tap waters, and a glass of wine for me. I was told the club does not have wine, just the restaurant does, but I could go to the security guard to ask to go into the restaurant for wine. I went up to the security guard, and explained my situation, and he took me to the GM. The GM said I could follow the security guard in.

When I went to the bar inside of the restaurant, the bartender way very nice and helped me out. Then, the GM came over, and asked what I was drinking, so he could bring the bottle inside of the bar!!! I couldn't believe it, so nice and helpful. THEN, when I went to the bar the bottle was for a drink later, he started pouring a glass of wine while I waited to order. I actually thought to myself, "wow, they should keep wine in here, someone else is getting it LOL". The bartender THEN CAME OVER TO MEEEE with the glass of wine. I could not believe it, I was so shocked, it was so nice that he knew, ( I assume GM told him when he brought the bottle over ) , but even typing this now I am grinning from ear to ear because I could not believe it. I later saw the GM and chatted with him, explaining I also work in hospitality, so it is nice to get excellent customer service, and rare to feel this "above and beyond" touch. It really made me so happy and feel very special, and taken care of as a customer. Thank...

On May 25, 2025, we experienced a truly magical wedding day! The exceptional staff, from the wedding coordinators to the bartenders, made everything seamless. Their excellent communication eased our minds throughout the entire process. Karina began our planning, and Elizabeth and her team executed everything flawlessly, instilling calm and confidence in us for what turned out to be a perfect day.

The vibe was unparalleled—the energy was infectious and uplifting. Everyone was captivated by the décor and the stunning facility, which blended elegance with an industrial flair. The flowers and décor we added to our package made everything convenient and added beautiful, special elements to the room. We chose a floral arch, a bridal bouquet, and bud vases for the tables; everything was absolutely gorgeous and of excellent quality. All the details tied everything together beautifully. Our guests were totally impressed with the unique venue.

The staff was easy to work with, always professional, respectful, and kind. The food was outstanding, our guests raved about the variety and loved the family-style service, which was a refreshing departure from traditional weddings. Everyone thought it was fantastic! My new husband and I cherished every moment, knowing we made the right choice with Porta because everything was simply perfect from start to finish. Our guests had an incredible time, thanks partly to the attentive service that ensured everyone had timely refills and that everything ran smoothly.

A special thanks to Elizabeth, who played a crucial role in making our day unforgettable. She checked in with us frequently, ensuring everything was on track and, as we had discussed, that she truly went above and beyond to make this a truly personal experience. It was truly the best in every way, and many of our guests said this was one of the most unique, fun, and memorable weddings they have ever attended. We couldn’t recommend this venue more for your next...