Arugula Spring Lake — Restaurant in Spring Lake

A major disappointment. This is a place you're hoping to enjoy, but fails on many levels. We had a mediocre lunch several weeks ago but decided that we would dinner. On each occasion, we were alone in the restaurant. The owner sat in the restaurant's seating area on each occasion, speaking loudly to staff, and working on lights. We found his presence off putting and his demeanor rather boorish. The wait staff both times was friendly and in my opinion, worked hard to create a good experience. The food leaves a lot to be desired. For example, the dish described as "godiva chicken" features two deep fried chicken cutlets, with a runny unappealing sauce. It is my opinion, from the uniformity of the cutlets and the deep bread coating, that they use prefabricated frozen chicken. I feel the same about the eggplant tower, one of the appy selections (prefab/frozen slices). The eggplant slices are eerily perfect in size and shape; anyone that cooks with eggplant would agree that perfectly formed cutlets that have their skins, are difficult to create. The intermezzo salad was soggy and over dressed. One of our entrees was a shrimp and chicken with pesto. The TYPE of pesto was not indicated and I believe that it was not basil, but perhaps spinach. Somewhat misleading in that most people immediately think basil when they hear pesto. The pesto was overly creamy and smothered the dish as opposed to complimenting (it). One further comment - when we were discussing our appetizers, we decided on Italian long hots. The owner overheard us and told us from a distance that they didn't have any - apparently none at the market he went to that day; also he said he didn't have arugula! Arugula is a ubiquitous green, and for a restaurant called Arugula not to have it's namesake veg is laughable. There is little to say of a complimentary nature about Arugula - it's AT BEST mediocre, and overpriced for the quality of the product. This is a disappointment to what is a lovely Spring Lake Main Street - the area...

Party of 6 dined there on Saturday night. Outside tables were full. Seated indoors. The negative descriptions of the dining room are accurate (spiders, dead bugs noticeable in corners...fruit flies over table). The decor is kitschy but fun (mounted fish on the walls). Waitstaff does not appear organized (big rush to get things "done" but without much thought). For example, we sat at a six top with 5 glasses. We got a plastic pitcher of warm water. A server then came and brought two chilled carafes of water. We also had our order taken twice by two separate servers. No real communication evident. The menu is large and varied, in the way that is generally disparaged by celebrity chefs on shows such as those of Robert Irvine, Gordon Ramsey, Willie Diegel. Lots of great ideas on the menu but not one if the dishes on our plates was well executed. My Fish and Chips featured breaded white fish (flavor slightly off) that was overcooked/pasty; shrimp that was breaded and poorly executed (more pasty food, totally different batter); and a "surprise" veggie fried rice bed with brussel sprouts and mushroom. The surprise side was a theme there, apparently. We also received salads we did not order (some which) contained melon, blueberry, lettuce, and chocolate vinaigrette. The dressing was interesting but it would have tasted better had we been expecting it. About the food, not one person finished their meal. 3 did not even take leftovers. And yes, the meals are significantly more expensive than NJ diners and not any better. However, on the positive, the fresh potato chips were really good. Also, many of the diners we saw appeared to be enjoying themselves (particularly the large group with the karaoke machine in the corner). The view of the back of the sand dunes was unimpeded as well. Interesting experience. Thank you to all of the other google reviewers (particularly Mike L.). You are all RIGHT simultaneously and that is the...

My 1st child's baby shower was booked here. I wouldn't recommend this place EVER. When we booked the venue we were forced to move to their "new location" 2 weeks before our event without them even advising us of the change. From the moment I walked in the door the waitress was beyond offensive. Her attitude was unnecessary and very unwelcoming. (By the way it was a one waitress show for a party of 40). I had to ask for drink orders to be placed...because all we had was water. In the middle of eating the staff was moving in pointless decor (A large register in on a dolly). Completely unprofessional. The room was so hot and sticky the ceiling was actually leaking water down the wall from poor air circulation (probably because the vent dust was pouring out). So a blower was placed on the floor to circulate air.... So I got to open gifts and concentrate on some happier times until as soon as I finish the owner decides to roll a huge stereo system through my party to put out on his deck for his public patrons......so rude. Then proceeded to blast music. Cake was handed out with no forks and once again beverages were scarce. Coffee wasn't even offered....My party was rushed to about 2.5 hours when I actually had the room for 4 hours. Regardless of the pace of the party they then proceeded to breakdown tables before our party was even gone ...(if we have the venue till 4pm ... 2:30 breakdown is unnerving. I was so disappointed in how hard my family worked to give me such a beautiful day and for unprofessional establishment to completely screw it up. At one point the owner aka the chef just stood there in the middle of my party all sweaty and condescending like I owed him some sort of attention. The place is a joke. The waitress I hope receives the same respect in life she gave my guests and to future patrons of this establishment...