Boathouse Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Belmar

This was my families first time visiting. The curb appeal was , well appealing . We arrived a little before 6 pm on a Saturday and the place was not crowded so we thought why not try out the food . We wanted to sit out back and there were available spaces but all were filled with food and were not cleaned nor set up for the next guests, meaning us…Waiting for a few minutes no one greeted us . I went to the bar asked if it’s okay to sit outside and they were like well it’s not clean , so I asked for at least one set of tables to be cleaned, I know right , I should have left , but my family and I stayed . I ordered the chicken tacos , my family ordered fish and chips and a pulled pork sandwich of some sort . We also ordered the tuna bites and chicken wings . After about 20 minutes or so the apps are out , one minute later the main courses. I barely could swallow a wing , our main courses were getting cold at our table while we scarfed down the apps . Talk about poor food timing on behalf of the kitchen staff. The kicker , the cheese on my tacos were spoiled and the chips they came with over fried . notified the waiter , he apologized and we were still charged . Being the patrons that we are , we still tipped 20% . Definitely not in a rush to go back…. Wait , I actually wanted the prime rib , because it was prime rib Saturday and was told it would be a very long wait … had to rush home so my in law and I could make it to...

Sad to say, we stopped here after another restaurant appeared to be closed. It looked like a fun vibe on the outside, so we went in on a lark. My girlfriend asked for an unsweetened ice tea, and was told "our waitress called out, so no one had time to make it." My instinct was to leave, and I wish I had followed through on that impulse. As we waited for our food, we started noticing things, such as food by the next table on the floor, that remained there our entire stay. The only saving grace was that their food wasn't half bad. The inside vibe was semi controlled chaos. The bathrooms, and general cleanliness were a 0-star affair. I'll give this place 2, because the food was edible, and our waiter/bus boy/cook was clearly doing triple duty under impossible conditions. No excuse for the grime though. None. This place is ripe for one of those restaurant makeover reality shows. Keep the old school local vibe, wipe off the grit, and get a new flow between bar and restaurant, and this place could thrive. It is never a pleasant thing to serve up a bad review. Generally speaking, I don't say anything if I don't have something positive to say. It takes a lot to get me to go negative. As outings go, I'll probably remember this one for all the wrong reasons, and can hopefully laugh about it down the road. There's a big difference between loveable local dive, and just plain gross. It's not too late...

Alright, listen up. If you want the real Belmar experience, this beach bar’s the place you gotta hit. It’s got that old-school, no-frills feel—cold drinks, decent grub, and the kinda vibe that keeps the party rolling. Whether you’re a regular or just passing through, you gotta swing by and soak up what Belmar’s all about.

Drinks are priced right, which means it’s way too easy to lose track and have one too many. Not that I’m complainin’, mind you. Get yourself some bar food, knock back a few, and before you know it, you’re settin’ your tab down and maybe makin’ a new buddy—or catchin’ the action when someone’s got a problem with their beer spillin’.

The place is always buzzin’, whether you just wrapped up a beach day or you’re loadin’ up for a long night. The crowd’s a mix—locals, weekend folks, beach bums—they all know how to have a good time.

And don’t forget—over-tip your waitstaff. Those folks are workin’ hard, makin’ sure you stay topped off, and if a scuffle breaks out, they’re gonna make sure you don’t lose a drop of your beer while...