Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant

One of my favorite restaurants off Ocean Ave. the atmosphere is warm and welcoming no matter what time of year it is. Their menu has something for everyone on it and it rarely ever disappoints. The entire staff is super friendly and accommodating from the host to the manager. It’s one of my favorite spots to go after a long day at the beach with beautiful Boardwalk views. It’s even perfect in the winter. We celebrated Valentine’s Day early and had excellent service and an amazing four course meal. I highly recommend rooneys to people of all ages for all occasions.

Rooney’s was such a nice lunch experience! It wasn’t too far from where we were and luckily not crowded either for a weekend. I had their chicken caesar salad which was great and we all split the mac & cheese. The staff was so friendly, very interactive and nice. Our waitress took several pictures of us when we asked and even gave us our own photo shoot outside with the beach background. They even let us charge our phones. Nice place & good food!

Went to Rooney’s specifically for happy hour and the view. I must say this is a great location due to the fact that it’s directly on the beach! My boyfriend introduced me to this place since him and his father have been patrons for several years now. We arrived around 4:30 on a Friday afternoon and the place was already crowded.
The happy hour menu was mediocre. My boyfriend is in love with the baked clams here so he literally order several rounds of the clams. We also had the spinach and artichoke dip as well as the buffalo wings. The wings were delicious, the dip ehhhh I’ve had better. The drinks were solid. The service was average. Nothing spectacular and nothing horrendous for a busy summer afternoon.
I’d definitely return simply for the beach view and boardwalk atmosphere.

Been there twice while the weather was still nice and sat at the outdoor bar. Brought my family who came to visit and they all loved it. Great happy hour options. Fantastic $ 1.25 oysters. They were pretty big! Loved!!! My mom def loved it!!! Well done

Another W-​A-​A-​Y OVER-​PRICED, oceanfront restaurant in Monmouth County. I was at a company gathering recently, and the buffet of appetizers they served were very tasty. The service during the gathering was excellent.
In fact, the service during my recent dinner visit was superb. Our waitress, Ashley was very attentive, had great eye contact, pleasant, didn’t try to rush us and knew how to smile. The ambiance in the dining room is «OK». A bit loud, but for us, we go to quiet places when we want quiet. So that wasn’t a problem. I noticed a manager (I believe, tall, dark, shaved head), with a relaxed expression and pleasant smile on his face, on the floor walking around. He knew when to a inquire as to how things were and when not to disturb diners in conversation, as we were.
The bar is comfortable. Not dark and dingy, and busy for happy hour. But the crowd thinned out after 6:00P (end of happy hour). What’s THAT tell you?
From our table, the view out to the beach and boardwalk was nice. The empty martini glass with a dried lime sitting on the outside window ledge for some time (before we got there) was a bit gross.
The food? Not worth the fare.
Bread and butter is brought to the table.
We had fried calamari as an appetizer. The calamari was tough, rubbery and for $ 15, too few pieces. Even the marinara served with it was in short supply. I’ve had way better fried calamari elsewhere, where the calamari was tender, with a great coating, twice the portion size and enough marinara to dip all the calamari for $ 12.
Wifey ordered the crab risotto. The lack of crab meat was supplemented with shrimp. It should have been called shrimp risotto. The risotto was dry and sticky. And at $ 32, …a shame.
I thought I tried the Seafood Gumbo for $ 30. The roux tasted «canned», and I couldn’t find any salmon. A fair amount of shrimp though, and the jalapeño cornbread was excellent. But between the taste of the roux, the portion and missing ingredient, …certainly not worth $ 30.
Both meals came with a salad… even They were small!
A 6 oz. glass of wine of their lower priced selections ran us about $ 9/​glass. Santa Margherita will set you back $ 13.50. And since a bottle can be bought retail for about $ 22-​$ 24, …$ 13.50 for only 6oz. is excessive.
We won’t be going back for dinner. Would I recommend it? I can’t. So I give it 2 stars– …for the service. Even with the nice view. But since I can simply buy a Windmill Hot Dog a block away, and walk on the boardwalk to have a view of the ocean, if it wasn’t for the excellent server, I would have offered only the consolation single star.

I have been to Rooneys many times as someone who grew up nearby, but what they did for us on Sunday was so amazing. My boyfriend proposed to me (huge surprise) on the beach and after the proposal I was surprised again by our parents standing down the beach and a brunch with our close friends and some family members at Rooneys!
Far more people arrived than my parents and fiancé had anticipated, and Rooneys was incredibly accommodating! The food was unbelievable as always, everyone enjoyed the buffet brunch– some highlights included the carving station, crisp bacon, oysters, a lobster and pasta dish that was absolutely unbelievable!
I will never forget the amazing service that we had on one of the very best days of my entire life! Thank you, Rooneys!

Food and service just ok. Wish this place had food to brag about because the outdoor setting is great, right off the beach. The soft shell crab appetizer was good but the Puerto Rican rice with it was dry and boring. Glad I didn’t get that as an entrée. The broiled seafood combo. (Scallops, shrimp, a clam casino, talapia and red skins) was just ok. Not bad not good. Husband sticks with scallops and shrimp in vodka sauce with Penne, but a seafood restaurant should do fish and seafood well enough that it doesn’t need to be drenched in sauce. Right? Waitress didn’t give any recommendations, just an order taker. After dinner, the manager recommended Chilean sea bass or the shrimp and grits as she noticed we were not thrilled about the meal. IF there is a next time…

I had not been to Rooney’s in a number of years after having been seriously underwhelmed by my last meal there. That time, I had a pricy $ 40+ entrée of seafood risotto with «pan seared» scallops. The risotto was glop and the scallops had never even gotten a glimpse of a pan, never mind experienced searing. They were thick and wet, consistent with the consistency of the rest of the meal. I don’t mind paying exorbitant prices if the food lives up to it, but the food was subpar and amateur at best.
Anyway, my friend suggested we go the other night and I decided to give them another chance. The night was breezy and not too hot, sitting outside was lovely. The owners have spent an awful lot of time and money creating a gorgeous place. Why can’t they make the food live up to it? Is it too much to think that restaurants should be about the food first and ambience second?
My dinner was improved from my last visit, but still not anywhere near worth the cost. I got crabcakes. You’d think a place that, at least formerly, had crab in its name would rock the dishes that include it. They weren’t the worst I’ve had, but they were far far far from the best. I’ve had much better for half the $ 39 price I paid. Served with cold, lumpy and boring mashed potatoes and four match stick pieces of asparagus, it was filling enough if not fulfilling my desire for the deliciousness I would like to have experienced. Our tab for two was $ 90 and included no alcohol. I drank tap water.
There was live music in the outdoor bar section. Next time, if there is one, I will go for a drink, listen to music and enjoy the ambience. Then, I will head to an eatery where the food is considered important and the taste and quality reflect that.

We used to frequent this place years ago. Hadn’t been back in years.
Our last experience there was terrible. I can’t believe how much the prices went up!!! The owner is totally taking advantage of tourists and I see he’s making a fortune serving sub-​par food.
The only thing on the menu that is redeemable is the lobster bisque soup. At $ 13/​cup, insane. They call it a bowl, but it’s really a glorified cup.
We got lobster tail and filet. The lobster was chewy and bland. The filet was gross, tasted like a cheap grocery store steak with MSG-​laden, store bought marinade, also very bland and the mashed potatoes were horrible! Thick and chunky, with skins in them, and they looked old and dry, reheated– like leftovers. With zero flavor. This cost us $ 59.00.
The kids got kids’ meals that were typical kids meals, at triple the price. $ 15.00 for 3 chicken fingers and $ 15.00 for a few frozen mozzarella sticks and fries. Horrible.
$ 7.50 for French onion soup.
And $ 3.25 for a cup of hot tea after dinner. Which would have been fine, if I was presented with a box of fine teas to choose from, like most restaurants in this price range. But I was handed a bag of Lipton tea!!! And those cheesy creamer packets. At least give me real milk!!!
Not worth it. The atmosphere is nice. Go to the bar and get a drink if that’s what you want. Don’t eat here. The food is expensive and awful. You’ll be disappointed.

My girlfriend and I have been to Rooney’s several times for lunch. On average, we really enjoy this place. The view is beautiful and the food is good. The downside to Rooney’s is definitely the wait. (This leads me to today)
I am currently writing this review while sitting with my girlfriend at the counter overlooking the ocean. We waited for ten minutes to see a server and when one did not come to us I went to the bar to ask for 3 menus. I waited at the near-​empty bar for another 5 minutes before getting the bartender’s attention and getting the menus. We order 3 waters and even had a long wait for that. Eventually we put in our food order (2 cheese burgers and a half pound of peel and eat shrimp)…that was over 20 minutes ago. On top of that, nobody has even come to check on the fact that we are out of water. We definitely would’ve been interested in a beer (if for no other reason than to take the edge off of the ridiculous wait), but at this rate we may not get it until breakfast.
We will come back because the food is good, but if we have any time constraints, this will certainly no longer be on our list of places to eat (go see Sawa) especially since we drive close to an hour South to come to Long Branch.

2 stars for awesome location. Service for early dinner yesterday was good too. One of us had a burger and was very happy. Two had lobster mac and cheese. At $ 26, you’d expect to see some pieces of lobster meat, but there was none to be found! For waterfront dining, it’s ok if you arrive early. There is no reason to go out of your way for the food. Ambiance is good, but you’ll share the dining room with men in tank tops and backwards baseball hats. That’s not a plus!
Overall, underwhelming. Nice view of the ocean but will not come back for the food.

I am actually writing this as we sit waiting over an hour for our meals
Terrible service. I ordered grilled tuna with steamed broccoli. I got tuna crusted with panko and mashed potatoes. And I waited over an hour for it. So I sat and watched my family eat while I waited for a salad instead.
The salad that replaced my meal is now taking about 15 minutes and counting to prepare. At this point I will just take it home.
My family has finished eating and I’m still waiting. 20 minutes and counting.
Ok just got my salad and I’m taking it home.
Never an «I’m sorry»
Sick of these overpriced jersey shore restaurants that take advantage of their location to serve up crap.
Never again!!!
Save your money.

Dinner with friends last; BIG disappointment!
First time back in several years, thought we would have a great dinner based on last experience, but found a very crowded, first come-​first serve environment, rather than the relaxed, reservation based place of the past. After putting in our names, being told that it was a 45 minute wait, and getting their beeper plus a phone number so they would text me when the table was ready, we went for a walk. 1+ hours later, no beep, no text, we checked back at the desk to find multiple empty tables and they would «seat us right away».
Service was pleasant, but overworked, driving a lack of attention to their patrons, and response times slow. Sitting outside, our cocktails were served in plastic glasses, yet our wine was served in proper glass stems. After placing our orders, appetizer and salad among two couples were served in fragmented style, rather than together, so all would be eating together.
Main course, 3 Tuna dishes and 1 Grouper off the Fish Board, the 3 tunas, all ordered Rare, were served medium and Well Done; all went back, leaving me with a nicely prepared Grouper to get cold, if I waited for the others before dining.
All told, the food was okay, but the portion size was small for the price, and the service, wait, and atmosphere provided no added incentive to pay such a high price for our meals. 2 appetizers, 4 cocktails, 4 entrees, 1 overpriced bottle of wine = $ 280 less tip.
Bottom line… we won’t be going back, as there a MUCH better choices right near by.

I came to Rooney’s with my coworkers on a nice spring day. The view is breathtaking. Rooney’s is right on the water snd you can sit in the sun room which is all glass without getting too hot or too cold depending on the weather.
For apps we shared the lobster mac-​a-​rooney which was delicious. There were so many pieces of lobster in it and it was so cheesy. I would def recommend it to share or even for your entrée.
For lunch I got the lobster salad platter. Again a great amount of lobster with very soft and creamy potato salad seasoned perfectly. There were also fresh tomatoes and cucumbers on the plate with baby greens and my favorite, kalamata olives. It was very light and refreshing. If you are like me and not a fan of sandwich lunches, this is definitely a great alternative.
The only downside: Most of the restaurant is filled with the elderly and retired during lunch.

Spectacular location on the boardwalk, great food, drinks & service. What more could you ask for? Came here to eat after I ran the New Jersey Marathon. After 26.2 miles I had a serious appetite! I ordered off of the prix fixe menu. Prince Edward Island mussels were the first course. They were huge & delicious. Next up was the lobster macarooney. Not as much lobster in it as I would like but the savory & creamy Mac made up for it! Finally I had the strawberry tres leches cake. Talk about a grand finale! This cake was outrageous! Our waiter George was awesome & the manager came over to our table to introduce himself & see how we were doing. I’m planning on taking a trip to long branch this summer & will definitely go back to Rooney’s!

My husband and I went there last night for a quick bite to eat. We had been there previously and liked the food. The food last night was decent. We tried the wedge salad, new england clam chowder soup and calamari appetizer. However we were a bit thrown off when our server did not clean our table. There were plates and napkins from a previous customer and she took those but never bothered to wipe down our table. It is a bit pricey but that is expected due to its location. I’m sure we will be back to try it again. Hopefully next time the service is a bit more attentive to details.

We eat here often and I can say the food is usually decent. I have never disliked anything, but the prices are outrageous. You’re paying for the location and view. Which is fine. But the service is also hit or miss. We’ve had great servers and servers who can’t really be bothered to worry if they’re doing a good job. Sadly, the latter happened last night, which is what made me think to write this review. We had to ask for bread, my order was wrong, and our server never once asked us if things were OK or apologized for the mixup. Never came by to see if we needed cheese for pasta. (actually doubt this server will last the summer, unless some new skills catch on fast)
Still, the view is wonderful and the food’s OK — salads are great — so I’m sure we will be back. It’s just a shame that it can’t be on point every time. I’d really like to give four or even five stars.

I just stopped in here for a drink with a friend. There is a pretty decent bar but the restaurant looks even better. Pity I had already eaten. We just sat at the bar with the NJ Devils game on a couple of the many televisions on, and also a live band — well, 2 guys playing instruments and singing. They were really good too.
Really good atmosphere, obviously. A couple close to us were having the dinner at the bar as well — closest seats to the live music. I had a Blue Moon and my friend a Palm, which is a Belgian beer. This was a Sunday evening and it wasn’t very busy there.
I have also been there in the summer months (this was December) and it gets really crowded but there is adequate seating outside. Overall — really good place.

I stunned to see only 3 stars, Rooneys deserves 5 stars!
The only negative is it gets kind of busy and you have to wait for a table. But I suppose that is normal when waiting at a great restaurant with an amazing view of the ocean.
The artichoke is amazing, it’s the main reason we go! The drinks are pretty decent and fairly affordable!

It was my first time to Long Branch and I was hungry, ready to pay any price for a refreshing, quality meal. Since I did not know the area I asked two beach employees for recommendations for a good restaurant. They directed me to Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant… With this prime location and the oceanfront views how could I go wrong with this choice? Well I was wrong.
I walked in ready to spend and I walked out spent.
My girlfriend and I ordered several appetizers along with two bloody Mary’s, each one topped by a jumbo shrimp. When the drinks arrived they tasted as if they did not have any vodka in them and the jumbo shrimp toppers tasted a VERY long way from fresh, fishy even. The oysters, while not fresh were tolerable. I have a strong stomach so I decided to eat them and continue with my meal without complaining. When the third strike, my second appetizer arrived, the soggy, previously-​frozen calamari, It immediately triggered my ‘cancel the rest of my meal’ alarm. The odds were against me, the trend was clear, this was going to continue to be a horrible meal… Time to abandon ship.
I canceled my entrée order and asked for the check. I then politely asked to speak to a manager to whom I explained my issues. He removed the two bloody Mary’s from my tab, I paid for the rest. A meal for two with appetizers and drinks could of easily cost me ~$ 240, I walked away for less than $ 100 and a mild stomach ache. I guess that’s better than a $ 240 stomach ache.
Next time I’ll ask three people for recommendations.