By: | June 25, 2025 | Dining | Monmouth County
By Ryan Loughlin
It’s officially summer, and firing up a charcoal grill and loading it with burgers is without a doubt an absolute must-do at every given opportunity. That said, there will be days when the backyard BBQ method is simply not possible, nor practical, yet your burger craving will persist nonetheless. The solution is obviously to head to a local dining establishment and let the chef handle the grill sergeant duties for the moment.
But you don’t want to end up eating just any burger, you want a great burger, a fabulous burger, maybe even THE BEST burger. And I’m here to steer you down the right path. Here are my picks for three of the tastiest burgers in all of Monmouth County.
1. The Patty Melt, Bond Street Bar
Bond Street Bar oozes Asbury hipster cool vibes so forwardly that they can easily be picked up on from a block away or more. But don’t let that scare you away, as this is easily one of the best bars in town. Look for the sign with the giant eye on it and head in. Order up a beer and a shot and the Patty Melt — a fabulous take on this much-loved classic that feels like a tightrope walk between a burger and a grilled cheese sandwich. Two slices of the bread of your choice (go with the sourdough) get griddled in butter and serve as the walls containing a burger patty topped with bacon, fried onions and melted American cheese. It all melds together like the kind of dream you’ll never want to wake up from.
Bond Street Bar is located at 208 Bond St. in Asbury Park. Go to BondStreetAP.com
2. Bistro Burger, The Bistro at Red Bank
While I may never forgive them for retiring their fabulous sushi menu (seriously, it was the best in the state), The Bistro still manages to knock it out of the park every time I visit with an eclectic Mediterranean-slanted menu that nails everything from Rigatoni Sausage Bolognese to Saganaki. I have been visiting this spot for more than a decade, and despite them boasting an array of other tempting dishes, the Bistro Burger has been a must-order more times than I can count. The impressively thick patty is almost always cooked perfectly (I’m a stickler for medium-rare) and it pairs fabulously with the sharp cheddar cheese that comes whimsically melted upside down on the bun and the layers of lettuce, tomato and crispy onions that round things out.
The Bistro at Red Bank is located at 14 Broad St. in Red Bank. Go to TheBistroAtRedBank.com.
3. Burger, Mabel
The first sit down restaurant at Bell Works in Holmdel, Mabel has been wowing guests since opening last year. They won’t be winning any awards for creative titling with their simply monikered “Burger,” but whatever they lack in snappy naming, they more than make up for in sheer deliciousness with this one. A gorgeously sesame seeded bun holds together a custom-blend 8-ounce beef patty that gets dressed tastefully with sharp cheddar, red onion, pickles, gem lettuce and a tangy aioli that brings it all together. Add in the side of particularly addictive fries and a winner is born.
Mabel is located at 101 Crawfords Corner Rd. in Holmdel. Go to MabelAtBell.com.
