Welcome to Red Bank, New Jersey! Red Bank returns with outdoor dining, music, friends, and lots of fun!
This past Saturday night, my friends and I gathered for our annual "Gemini" Birthday dinner. There are 3 of us who celebrate in the month of June, so we look forward to this outing every year. We are a group that play tennis together, ski together, sail together and yes, dine together. Anything FUN, we are in! As we all know, this is a different kind of year, but it will not stop friends gathering for good food and friendship.
We chose Pazzo on West Front Street in Red Bank as our destination. We have always loved the food and service, the location, the outdoor patio, and their ease in parking is tough to beat. We walked in with our masks, so it was a bit difficult to tell each other apart at first! But once together, we all unmasked at our table to greet each other. It has been a long few months since we gathered, so there were smiles and lots of chatter all around the table.
We were all hungry, so appetizers included: scallops, meatballs and rice balls with lots of bread and olives on the side. We moved on to their amazingly delicious dishes of veal, chicken and salmon We, of course, left room for dessert, as you just don't leave Pazzo without their Tiramisu or sorbet. And, a cappuccino completed the meal beautifully.
After 3 hours, we masked up and said our good byes, but not without planning our sailing outing which was rescheduled due to the thunderstorms. My husband and I decided to take to the streets which are now closed to local traffic for dining from Thursday night through Sunday. As the thunderstorms had moved on, the sky was just too amazing not to absorb! We are living through a Pandemic, so we will grab anything joyful and obtainable, in a heartbeat.
There was no mistake in our decision, as we walked down Broad Street to find diners galore and even a sax player in a storefront - which had unfortunately succumbed to the Pandemic. I heard "Sweet Caroline" begin, and did a quick about face to return to the music. Like me, everyone in the streets started singing. Yes, this is a Pandemic, but Sweet Caroline, no matter where or when it was played, brings people together and lifts the spirits! (Thank you Neil Diamond!) At this moment, it really did feel like we were all in this together.
It was time to head home, but we will be back to this beautiful town on the water.
Hope to see you there!
What a wonderful post! Red Bank truly sounds like an amazing place to enjoy great food, music, and outdoor fun. Your experience at Pazzo sounds delightful—especially with the scallops and tiramisu! It’s inspiring to see how the community has adapted to the challenges of this year while still making time for connection and joy.
Speaking of dining experiences, have you ever run into any interesting surprises during your food adventures? I recently came across some customer feedback about an unusual food incident that made me think twice about certain products, especially after reading about some cheetos complaints. Sometimes, it’s good to stay informed about what we’re consuming!
Can’t wait to visit Red Bank and enjoy all the charm and energy this…