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Drew's Bayshore Bistro
Categories: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Restaurants American (New) Cajun/Creole, American (New) [Edit]
28 E Front StKeyport, NJ 07735
(732) 739-9219
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
32 reviews for Drew's Bayshore Bistro
Review Highlights
"Be sure to bring your own bottle."
(in 4 reviews)
"Has been a favorite of mine since they opened."
(in 3 reviews)
"I had the crab cakes and they were "AWESOME."
(in 4 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from N. M.
Morganville, NJ
1/15/2012 4 photos
not too casual, but not stuffy either. BYO too! one of the better restaurants in the area.
it's nice to be able to go to this place spend money on good flavorful food and not have to worry about spending a ton of money on alcohol. -
Review from b k.
New York, NY
12/27/2011
The food was wonderful, the service spotty, and the ambience lacking. It's worth commenting on each individually.
The food- this chef is truly gifted. The seasonings and flavors have clearly been developed with care and thought. We got a pork dish (excellent), vodoo shrimp (one of the best I have ever had), clams (not my favorite- but I don't love clams), and crawfish etouffe (very very good).
The service- Our waitress was a doll. Very genuine and sweet. Our hostess though raised my blood pressure a bit. We were seated next to an extremely loud and obnoxious party, and when I asked if we could be moved to a corner table, she claimed someone had already called to reserve it. This may be true (though it seems odd), but she could have offered to reseat us as soon as a new table opened up, or offered to move the table over a little, or offered us a different table that was set up for a larger party). Granted, the place is small, but that doesn't bug me, as a Manhattan girl. The obnoxious loud folk constantly knocking into my coat and bag, however, did annoy me. Further, or waitress kept informing us that they were out of items- and it was only 8 PM. Which I guess brings me to ambience...
The ambience- We were there for a special occasion, and the great majority of it was wrecked by the boisterous large party that seemed to think they were in their living room. They apparently missed the lesson 5 year olds get on "inside voices." I know it is not possible for a restaurant to completely control their crowd, but if it is to the point that one group will be dominating the entire place with their noise levels and eating up all the food, perhaps you should close the place and let them reserve the entire place for their private party?
Long story short- this place has potential. But I can't see traveling out of my way, or recommending anyone else do so until service improves. -
Review from Bill B.
Roaring Branch, PA
10/3/2011
The food is very good and unique to the area. Lots of flavor and intresting dishes. The inside is not bad, but not fancy either.
If you care about the food first and foremost, this place will not disappoint. If you are looking to for a romantic spot for a date, this may not be the best spot.
Days in advance for reservationsand byob. -
Review from Tom D.
MILLSTONE TWP, NJ
Updated - 1/15/2012
Our first visit in 2012 and very happy to report that Drew continues to serve very high quality cuisine in a comfortable setting.
We started last night with two special appetizers, The spinach salad had sliced apple, dried cranberries, bacon, spiced pecans, cheddar cheese, all with a maple cider viniagrette. Flavorful and delicious dressing. Also had the special duck quesadilla which was a large portion stuffed with moist duck, cheese with a grape tomato salsa which added some nice kick to the flavors.
Entrees were a special of blackened mahi mahi covered with delicious BBQ shrimp served over smashed potatoes and a side of fresh vegetables. This was delicious. Also had an old favorite, shrimp and grits which always is a big hit and last night was no exception. DW took some home for lunch today.
We also tasted a couple of other items, first a tender pork belly covered in a "secret" BBQ sauce which was flat out delicious and also tried the perfectly seared scallops served over roast butternut squash and ancho chili risotto. What a great scallop preparation.
We were really stuffed but decided to split the Blondie sundae which I believe was vanilla flavored brownie with a scoop of mocha ice cream, chocolate drizzle and whipped cream. Excellent dessert to end a feast.
For folks who are interested, check out Drew's Bayshore Bistro Facebook page, they will be starting tasting menus with a featured ingredient on Thursday evening. First one is Thursday January 19 featuring duck!3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/6/2011
Went last night with another couple, they had not been to Drew's for a few years. A feast is the… Read more »
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Review from J C.
Hazlet, NJ
9/4/2011
Best place best food
Never have had a bad experience
My fiance and I always get the vodoo shrimp appetizer and dessert cappuccino creme Brûlée so good
We try to switch up my entree each time and everything We have gotten We have loved which include scallops , soft shell crab, shrimp and grits, crab cake,steak and various versions on the pork of the day
We like to try new local restuarnts and everytime we do - if we are disappointed we wished we would have just came back to drews
Very reasonably price plus it's byob don't get any better -
Review from Brian S.
Wall, NJ
Updated - 8/7/2011
Drew has moved into is new location at 28 E Front, which is a block away from the old location in Keyport and it is a lovely space albeit very noisy because of the hard surfaces that abound. I know he is aware of the situation and he plans to remediate the condition soon.
Ah but the food is the same as always and that is delicious southern Louisiana fare which Drew has perfected over the years. His spin on cajun is not to be missed for at least a sampling - hard to describe but easy to enjoy and relish.
You gotta go here and see for yourself what I mean.Listed in: My A-List, Best of the Best
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/10/2009
Drew is one of the most liked and most creative cooks on the Jersey shore scene. He has a big… Read more »
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Review from Anthony V.
East Rutherford, NJ
8/1/2011
Wow, talk about a hidden gem. A few friends and I went here for dinner on saturday night after having spent the day sailing. I had the Crawfish Etouffee and it was excellent with a nice cajun kick to it. All the entrees are over sized so bring your appetite. My fiancee had the garlic chicken and it was very succulent and well prepared. We ordered the voodoo shirmp appetizers... as the menu says, it will change your life. The calamari was delicious and not battered to oblivion... it was near perfect.
I highly recommend this place. It is byob and we brought along some beligan beer with us as a thank you to our friend with the sail boat. We had been obsessing over Lindemens Faro, its a lambic beer we discovered while on a business trip to Tokyo.
Anyway this place capped an awesome day. -
Review from Sean R.
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Drew's lives up to the Yelp hype. The service could be a little better and the atmosphere is a little off (you really are in a converted house) but that should change in July 2011 when they plan on moving a block away from their current location. With the kind of negatives out of the way...
The food we had was awesome. You have to try to Voodoo shrimp appetizer, its perfectly cooked shrimp in delicious sauce served over jalapeno corn bread (if your mouth isn't already watering please to not read any further). All the entrees that our party ordered were very good and come highly recommended (crawfish etouffee and jambalaya are huge portions) but the crab cakes were the best crab cakes I have ever had. I have no idea how the chef was able to get the crab cakes to stay together since they were totally crab meat and spice with no filler.
I wanted to try their homemade desserts but with the size of the meal and the amount of wine consumed (its a BYOB!!!) there was no room left in my stomach, which rarely happens.
If you are even thinking about trying Drew's do not hesitate. I promise you will walk away saying to yourself "that is the best meal I have had in a while". -
Review from Jon K.
3/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Four of us met to celebrate a recent engagement.
The food was as excellent as most of my fellow Yelpers have written and the service was good but very unpolished and a bit indifferent.
I started with a special muffaleta salad. It was an excellent chop salad that included chunks of salami, provolone and their version of olive salad. It was served cold, generous portion, and should be included on their everyday menu.
My main course was the jambalaya with shrimp. A huge portion! The menu warns that it is spicy and they are correct. This dish is not for the timid it has some heat. There were lots of pieces of andouille, chicken and shrimp. The dish was well balanced and large enough to share or take half home like I did.
My dining companions shared some type of tiramisu cake which they said wasn't too sweet and must have enjoyed very much because it vanished.
Please remember this is a byob!
There are so many other interesting items on the menu that I look forward to returning and trying them all! -
Review from rick b.
Matawan, NJ
7/14/2011
RUN!!! don't walk to this place. (you might have to roll home)
There are many great places to eat in Keyport but Drew's is my favorite.
The staff is genuinely friendly and attentive. the atmosphere is casual and welcoming and the dining room is modern, cozy and clean.
THIS IS THE BEST FOOD IN TOWN!!!!
You can't go wrong with the shrimp and grits. There are many different specials daily. Every meal I have had at Drew's has been heavenly. There are also many HOME MADE dessert specials so save room! -
Review from Sheryl O.
Keyport, NJ
7/10/2011
LOVE Drew's Bistro! Has been a favorite of mine since they opened. I have not been the new location yet, which is just a block away, however I have heard the food and service has not changed, which are both top-notch.
I highly recommend for a casual night out with delicious food (and BYOB). -
Review from gary c.
Matawan, NJ
Updated - 9/2/2011
Keep in mind that the new location is East Front Street which is not the same as Front Street. 28 Front Street is a hardware store and the food there is terrible. Go past Division Street (I'm assuming you will be East of it) and you will se Drew's. Food is still terrific. Ask for Heather's section she's terrific, too.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2010
Yelp defines 5 stars as "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" That is a great definition of this place.
… Read more »
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Review from Jeff S.
Rumson, NJ
1/31/2011
Id say this place is a top 5 restaurant in America for me. Everything on the menu that I have had is incredible. Everything I have not had sounds incredible.
Went last night with the wife and a few friends. Started with the Voodoo Shrimp and French Onion Mac n Cheese. Both were exceptional. Highly recommend the Voodoo Shrimp. Dinner we got the Jambalaya and the Sea Bass. Jambalaya is there specialty and I can see why. Full of flavor and the portion size was huge. Sea Bass was also very good. Had one of the homemade desserts to finish the night off. Incredible meal.
I highly recommend this place and we will be going back. -
Review from Lauren T.
7/14/2010
We went to Drew's for my birthday last year. Overall, the food is the true star at this establishment. In a word, fantastic!
The place is small, be sure to make a reservation. Even though I did, we still had to wait for half an hour and I felt the service could have been better. These are my reasons for the 4 instead of 5 stars. -
Review from Doc B.
Freehold, NJ
6/20/2010
I just found out about this place when looking at Yelp listings for the area. Thank you Yelp!
What a cool little place! Not pretentious. Friendly staff. No bad attitudes here. I was glad I had a reservation and dined early, as there was a line to get in when I left and the dining area is small. The decor is plain but tasteful and the noise level was not excessive. There was good background music. The waitress recited the day's specials, which are not printed out, and included the prices, which is as it should be, I think. When my wife wondered if a dish would be too spicy, she offered to bring a sample of the sauce to taste first. Nice!
The food really reminded me of New Orleans- the late lamented Uglesich's, and the current Jacque Imo's, but without the humidity and the quirkiness. The shrimp dishes were very good, as was the pork du jour dish. The pecan pie was respectable. The bread was freshly-baked and yummy. The preparation and presentation showed careful attention to detail. The quality of the ingredients was excellent and the seasoning was right on. The portions were generous but not outlandish, and the prices were not cheap, but were appropriate. The menu was of moderate size and had many intriguing dishes. Be sure to bring your own bottle.
I have been back a couple of times since writing the original review, and have been pleased each time. The waitress did not give prices with the daily specials the last time, though. My wife and I asked for some minor substitutions in our entrees. The waitress thought the chef would not agree, but he did, and we both were able to enjoy our meals even more. -
Review from Chris C.
Keyport, NJ
Updated - 9/29/2011
Drew's is totally amazing. The new location is great and the food and service haven't changed at all. We've been to the new location twice and I don't know what Mark S. is talking about. The jambalaya is still spicy and Heather is still sweet. Sorry if the staff doesn't kiss your ass, but this is Keyport, not Colts Neck. Some folks just don't get it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2009
I've eaten at Drew's several times and it's always been outstanding. The restaurant itself and decor… Read more »
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Review from Kimberley M.
Woodbridge, NJ
3/24/2008 1 Check-in Here
Our new favorite restaurant! The food is just fantastic and spicy. The chef has his own style and it shows! I don't think I'd recommend it to anybody that doesn't like spicy food.
The dining area is small and looks like a converted living room area (I believe it is, so the decor isn't all that, but the food makes up for it. The service is friendly and usually terrific, but last night our waitress forgot our bread, water, and bill till we pointed it out to her, but it hardly mattered. Oh, and this is a BYOB, so bring plenty and get ready for a relaxed and terrific meal! -
Review from Fred K.
Shrewsbury, NJ
6/10/2011
Since the food is my primary criteria, this is indeed as good as it gets. Went for dinner on a weekday. The menu is New Orleans style, with flavorful and sometimes spicy dishes. We had the voodoo shrimp, which were delicious with subtle heat. My wife's shrimp and grits were an interesting variation of a classic, with fragrant smoked bacon. My scallops came with corn couscous and was well-prepared. The blueberry bread pudding was excellent.
Dress is casual (some patrons in shorts on an early week night). The decor is plain. Service was very good. Bring your own alcohol. -
Review from Jeff K.
Nutley, NJ
8/20/2009
Always a pleasure dining at this small, quaint restaurant in Keyport. The food here is always phenomenal. Be warned - Friday and Saturday nights are packed and a reservation is necessary. The two dining rooms are small, so do so in advance.
Gernerally, I start with the Vodoo Shrimp here which is served in a cream sauce with a kick over cornbread. This is one of the best dishes I have had ANYWHERE. Good to share as an appetizer. However, recently a note has been added that it can be made into an entree which creates a quandary. The crawfish entoufee is an outstanding entree as well, esp when getting it with the smashed potatoes. I have also had the jambalaya which.....be prepared.....is SPICY, SPICY, SPICY. But good.
Other family members of mine are fond of the Day Boat Scallops which always look fresh and tasty. I for one think there are too many other great dishes on the menu that I would get before the scallops. They always have a Pork of the Day, options for steaks and fish. One item that they replaced on the menu this summer was the Chicken Cordon Bleu (which was excellent) - hopefully that comes back in the fall. The Jumbo Crab Cakes are also pretty tasty.
Also keep in mind that it is a BYOB. Service is always attentive and friendly. It really doesn't get better than this as it is one of my favorite restaurants ever. -
Review from Alexander G.
Englishtown, NJ
7/19/2010
My family went to Drew's Bistro yesterday. It was great. We had soft shell crabs and crab cakes and it was truly delicious and unusual.
Worth every penny -
Review from judi t.
Rumson, NJ
5/26/2010
So delicious...
Spicy and creative!
Must go! -
Review from Alexander W.
New York, NY
9/7/2010
Drew's is almost as good as it gets for interesting delta cuisine. Menu doesn't change very frequently but there are always numerous specials from which to choose. Service is attentive at this small BYOB and Drew is always in the kitchen taking orders and cooking up consistently excellent and flavorful cajun and creole food. One of the best restaurants in the region and Chef Drew definitely deserved the James Beard Award nod that he recently received.
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Review from JW U.
Marco Island, FL
8/15/2010
Small Bistro in Keyport which is rebuilding the town one store front at a time. So this restaurant could be well positioned to do really well for a long time. The dinner stared off good with appetizers, including, southwestern caesar salad and the BBQ port fillets. The starters were well prepared and served with a strong presentation. The SW Caesar won the bake-off and was very good.
Then off to the entrees: seared day- boat scallopps were prepared as expected, however, way to much oil. In fact the entire entree was ruined by mashed potato's that had a stick of butter added and fresh veggies that were basking in butter. Clear signs of a cook not a chef. The entree was edible but for $28 you would like to enjoy.
The second entree was Jambalaya, which was in the menu - listed as spicy. This was one of the worst entrees that has ever been set in front of me in my life. The rice was not cooked and appeared to be minute rice (think hard) the chunks of chicken were just diced a thrown into the mess they called an entree. The entire dish was covered with a salsa type tomato pared that appeared to be from a jar or can. The key ingredient in this dish is Jalapeno peppers. And they go very heavy on them - so much so you can not taste anything after. This may have been a blessing in disguise as the plate set in front of me was not worthy of eating. By the way, if Drew is reading - a Jalapeno is a fruit, medium to large in size chili peper that creates a warm burring sensation when eaten. You don't need them in jambalaya, always add in moderation and it's not considered spicy it's described as HOT. So you may want to change your menu if you insist on serving this dish your way.
In the meantime, I will never return. I mentioned to the waitress and she said sorry and never returned.
This is OK cause I will not return either. Poor service - bad food.
Don't risk ruining a good night out as you work way to hard for your money for it to go to waste. Plus you could ruin a good date on a cook that wants to be a chef some day. -
Review from Eric N.
Holmdel Township, NJ
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been dining at this restaurant for many years and I'm a huge fan...and when they moved to their new location, I realized that I had never done a yelp review. Why you ask? Probably because there's a selfish part of me that doesn't want to spread the word about how great this place is, in turn making it harder for me to get a dinner reservation! Speaking of reservations...you're gonna need one. Drews has a large and faithful following that returns time after time for their fix of cajun influenced bistro fare. There's something on the menu for everyone: steaks, chicken...and an emphasis on seafood. Everything is fresh, portions are generous, and there's that consistent high quality preparation that has given Chef/Owner Drew Araneo so much notoriety. This guy has serious talent. The service at Drews is friendly and attentive, and a big draw or me is that it's BYOB. As I mentioned earlier, they recently moved to a new building just up the street from the old place. It's nicer, slightly bigger and layed out better. There is one thing that I don't like about the new place. At the old restaurant, when you walked in, there was a large open window allowing you to look right into the kitchen and see all the action. Drew always managed to wave and say hello as you walked into the dining room. This is missing in the new place. You can still see Drew at work, but you now have to peer in through a window on the street. The bottom line? Drews is a "must try" for any foodies in the Monmouth County area!
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Review from R L.
Jamesburg, NJ
8/29/2009
What a quint little restaurant that serve great cajun/creole style food. There were 6 of us there and brought our own wine to enjoy. The Voodoo shrimp is a must, The jambalaya was really spicy and tasty. Several of us ordered the crawfish etoufee b/c my friends had never tried it before and they were glad they did. If you go during the weekend, the best time is around 5 or 6 to avoid the crowd & tough parking.
They have daily special and I don't think you can go wrong with any of he dishes there and the service was exceptional. Try them out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Andrew W.
Monmouth, NJ
11/7/2010
Drew's is a exceptional restaurant. Whenever we eat somewhere else we ask ourselves -- why didn't we go to Drew'?. We have been eating and loving it there since it opened. The food is always wonderful.. Drew and the wait staff are friendly and helpful, the specials (as well as the seasonally changing menu) are imaginative and delicious. Desserts are home made and sinful, and we are also lucky enough to be able to walk there.
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Review from june g.
Marlboro, NJ
7/31/2010
We went to Drew's this Friday to celebrate our friends birthday! The food was absolutely fabulous! I had the crab cakes and they were "AWESOME"
My birthday friend couldn't stop raving about her Shrimp dish and the Voodoo Shrimp was a major hit too! Thank you Drew and Staff for making her birthday memorable!! We"ll be back!! -
Review from Vince H.
Milton, DE
1/29/2009
Ate here for the first time last week. We tried to get in previously on a Saturday night with no reservation, what a mistake. Place is very crowded on the weekends. During the week you can get a table no problem at all, and the food was great. Very flavorful and not overpowering. Highly recommend it if you are in the Bayshore area, and dont forget to bring your own.
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Review from D S.
New York, NY
6/14/2010
This place is FANTASTIC! I was searching around for a BYO online and stumbled across this. Conveniently enough, it is located right down the street from our place.
The atmosphere is adorable and I love the whole "fishermen town" feel.
My fiance and I both started out with the seafood gumbo, which was nothing short of fantastic. I ordered the soft shell crab entree, but my fiance chose the tilapia. Mine was good, but I definitely had food envy. I forced myself to order the smore brownie sundae since it sounded so good, but I could barely eat two bites of it....I was already so stuffed.
The waitress was amazing and didn't rush us in any way, even after our food was long gone. We continued to sip on our wine and take our time paying the bill and eventually exiting.
The beauty of it all is that you can bring your own wine, so the bill is about half of what it would normally be at another restaurant.
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Dawn P.
Keyport, NJ
9/10/2010
I LOVE this place, I go as often as I possibly can, and have probably had everything on the menu. I can honestly say that I have NEVER had a bad meal from Drew's. I am not sure what JW U. is thinking, but I have personally had both dishes, love the scallops one of my FAVORITES, and love the Jambalaya as well, it is hot, but is clearly explained to you when placing your order. Drew and the rest of the staff could NOT be nicer!!!!! I love this place.
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Review from alan m.
Short Hills, NJ
7/21/2010
This is as good as it gets. Just go! The crayfish and shrimps apps were incredible. Very comfortable, casual atmosphere. They take their food very seriously. I just I lived closer so I can go more often.
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Review from Johanna G.
Keyport, NJ
11/11/2009
nice byob in our little waterfront town. We've been going here since it opened, and are never disappointed. The voodu shrimp and pork d'jour are both amazing. I love his soups and salads. The atmosphere isn't fancy, but it's charming. service is great and we always have a great time.
