Review

Hole in the wall is a generous description of this tiny spot serving hearty Haitian food. There are four chairs at the bare lunch counter and a few tables on the other side of a wooden partition. The whiteboard on the wall lists what’s available.  Five main dishes when I visited – fish, goat, pork, chicken or conch – each served with rice and beans, and sweet plantains. I tried the fried pork, to go, for $11. It’s a huge plate of food, but for me, the pork was too fatty and the plantains too dry. I haven’t found too many places for Haitian food, so Cuisine Creole stays on the map. For the food, I’ll pay a little extra for the Haitian dishes at Le Kiosque.

Cuisine Creole is in the same strip mall on Memorial Drive as Castaway’s West Indian.

October 2011

Fried Pork

Polpetti

Review

The "Atomica" Pizza

For Italian food or pizza with an ocean view, head to Stella Marina in Asbury Park. At the southern end of  the boardwalk (across from the old Carousel House), Stella Marina is an upscale restaurant and bar on two floors, with outdoor seating when the weather is good.

I only had lunch here, so I can’t speak for the entrees, but the antipasti and pizza I tried is worth a visit. The rest of the menu is probably just as good, given the positive web reviews I’ve seen. The Polpetti – tiny meatballs with provolone cheese served with tomato gravy on an iron skillet – are lightly seasoned; a nice antipasti choice. Other small plates include meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables and fish dishes, like Scampi Arrabiata and Cozze (beer poached mussels). Pasta, meat and fish main courses fill out the menu.

The pizzas here are individual, thin-crust, bar pies. The crust isn’t strong enough to pass the fold test, but has a nice flavor. Toppings are fresh and interesting. Fig (dry figs, caramelized onion, goat cheese) tempted me. I couldn’t resist the Atomica, however, topped with what I grew up calling hot Italian frying peppers. Stella Marina calls them “Calabrian chilies.” Whatever you call them, they’re an awesome pizza topping that’s spicy, but not overpowering.

I will definitely return to try more of Stella Marina’s food, or just for another Atomica.

Links

Chowhound
Yelp

Links

Chowhound