JakeaBob's Bay — Restaurant in Union Beach

Take a hard pass on this one if you want something other than a good view because that's the only good thing here. Yes, it's directly on the water with great views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines and is all outdoors, with there only being a small overhang over the bar area. Smoking seems to be allowed everywhere on premise. The kitchen is in a trailer and the bathrooms are all porta-potties. Meals are served at long picnic tables with only umbrellas for shade and protection from the elements. It is somewhat of a diverse crowd in terms of ages, but it tends to be a predominantly older, more conservative set of regulars that can get very loud. They have beer and white claw buckets that rarely get cleaned up and take over tables and the floor. The food is not great, and it's only the typical bar type fare. The prices are way too high for what's on offer and there is a two dollar upcharge just for french fries, so take that as you first hint. Suffice it to say, the food is not worth what they charge. Most if it appeared prepackaged, frozen, and cooked in a crockpot and on a flatop. Aside from being remarkably bland, the nachos came with enough shredded lettuce to make a side salad, this watery, tasteless, plastic-like cheese sauce, and the pulled chicken on said nachos came with a giant, inedible adobo pepper. The waitresses are all young and good at what they do, so there are no complaints there, but the bartenders were woefully slow and unable to keep up with the demand. There is also just this uncomfortable, unwelcoming vibe across the whole place. It made me feel as though I should be grateful they...

This is my go to summer spot it’s the perfect tiki bar/restaurant when you don’t wanna go all the way down to Point Pleasant. Down to earth crowd - real people and good vibes. Try the white sangria and the fishers lemonade. I recently tried the veggie tacos since it was one of the last things I had not tried on the menu and even that was good ;)

UPDATE: June 2025. I know a lot has changed. The army core of engineers have completely reshaped the waterfront. There is no more water around The establishment… Which means you do not get the beach vibe and the breeze. You have a huge enormous, tall beach berm (Think hard mountain of sand or almost like a flattened pyramid) blocking the entire New York City view. You must now go onto the beach or if you’re lucky somehow get up several stories high. Due to these factors, it can get extremely hot at the establishment now. Yes, they have fans around the bar… But they desperately need to add water misters in certain areas. The bathroom having air-conditioning is a saving grace. If there is a such thing as portable outdoor air conditioners, I think it would be worth the money. and I really hope they allow her to build up! As far as the food, it is still outstanding I think even better! As far as the drinks, you must try the frozen rosé! Out of this world, and if you like pomegranate, ask them to throw some pomegranates in. You will be very happy and if you’ve never been to the old Jakeabobs… Then you really won’t have anything to miss because this will be the only thing you ever knew. But goodness, I could tell you it...

Love this place enough that it's a "must" several times each season, because I believe in supporting local.

But every time I always wonder (and wish) what a consultation from a chef could really do for Jakeabob's. The food and drinks are okay, stretching to say good. The service is good, although it's teenagers who are trying so hard you appreciate their effort, but would love to see some real management. Years of coming, an adult/manager has never stopped at my table to see how my dinner is going.

*2022 update: The wait-list is so poorly run that if the table clean up, check in process/communication INTERNALLY was run by adults or trained people, the wait times would NOT be as long. Yes, the hostesses are frustrated, but please stop being rude. Give a heads-up that the call for your table is coming from a strange/spam number.

A staple in the area, I love to support, but do feel something is lacking each visit. As the prices here rise, I wonder if it's worth it vs. going a little further south to quainter towns.

Great for drinks with friends - from happy hour to late night. Fun, live music scene.

Scenic spot on the water.

Not recommended for a...