Sometimes, the food on campus just doesn’t cut it. When you want to take a break from your studies and switch things up from the food court and dining hall, there are plenty of different restaurants with unique menus near Monmouth.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos is a fast-growing chain and a New Jersey staple. With a plethora of signature dishes, this restaurant offers a unique spin on burritos, quesadillas, and tacos, all within reasonable prices. You can go crazy creating your own entrée, with plenty of meat options and fresh toppings. They even offer vegetarian, plant-based, and keto options for those with dietary restrictions.
Joseph Kurzeja, a junior biology student, said, “Bubbakoo’s has amazing portions, and if you show them your Monmouth University ID, you can get a discount! The staff are super friendly, too.”
Making a stop at Bubbakoo’s for lunch or dinner after classes can be ideal if you want to grab a quick bite that’s both affordable and delicious. This is also a great place to go to eat-in; it’s nicer than a fast-food restaurant but is still very lowkey, making it a perfect location to catch up with some friends after class.
The Bubbakoo’s in Long Branch is temporarily closed but be sure to check it out in a few weeks when it reopens for the spring season!
A senior accounting student, Matthew Goranites, is familiar with quite a few restaurants near Monmouth and recommends Jack’s Goal Line Stand, which is only a three minute drive from campus. He said, “The boneless chicken nuggets are amazing with a plethora of different sauces to choose from. My favorite drink from this restaurant is the pumpkin spice piña colada. I definitely recommend this place for those who want to go out with some friends!”
You may want to visit Jack’s Goal Line Stand to soak in the atmosphere while watching a sporting event with a group of friends and feasting on other delicious foods like garlic teriyaki chicken kabobs, pulled rib and buffalo bacon sandwich, fried zucchini, and quesa birria.
Another restaurant that stands out is Scala’s Pizzeria on Brighton Ave, a few minutes away from Monmouth and just around the corner from the beach. This place is a must-visit if you are craving pizza, subs, wraps, calzones, or strombolis.
They have a variety of pies—such as buffalo chicken, penne vodka, and baked ziti—as well as hot subs, like the meat parmigiana sub, sausage sub, chicken scala sub, and more!
Along the lines of Italian cuisine, Luca Morello, a junior marketing student, mentioned Johnny Piancone’s, a restaurant he recently dined at on Valentine’s Day and claims is his new favorite place to go for special occasions.
He commented, “It was an elegant Italian restaurant that gave off a fine dining experience. The waiters and waitresses were very welcoming and will make sure you have the greatest dining experience possible.”
Johnny Piancone’s is located on 591 Broadway and has numerous delicious entrées on the menu such as the house-made rigatoni grilled veal chops. Although a little pricier, this is the perfect restaurant for those looking for something a little more classy for a nice dinner out.
Morello added, “A dish that I really enjoyed was the eggplant rollatini. It was perfectly cooked and contained the perfect amount of ricotta. I highly recommend Johnny Piancone’s to Monmouth students, especially if they are Italian food lovers.”
If you’re looking for some dessert options to sweeten your mood after a long day of classes, Urban Pops, located at 104 Brighton Ave, is the perfect place for you. This shop has a variety of fun and delicious dairy-free ice pop and ice cream flavors for you to indulge in. The best part is that it’s only four minutes away from campus!
Featured ice pop flavors from Urban Pops include strawberry shortcake, sour watermelon, peanut butter chocolate, vanilla cookie dough, Butterfinger, and plenty of others! It’s also a great place to stop on the way to or from the beach with friends and even has outdoor seating for the warmer weather that’s soon approaching.
There are delicious food options all around our campus for a variety of taste palettes and occasions, so don’t be afraid to try something new during your time here!
