Langosta Lounge

     Nothing says Summer more than a sparkling display of fireworks and just recently my friend and I were able to enjoy just that. With the breezy nights of Summer rapidly coming to a close my friend and I decided to head down to the Asbury Park boardwalk for some great food, drinks and Summer fun. Every Wednesday Asbury Park has fireworks on the beach and what better place to enjoy them than my fave spot Langosta Lounge. We arrived later than expected and we were sadly informed that outdoor seating would not be available until after the fireworks. Apparently everyone had the same idea we did on such a beautiful evening. While we waited for our table to be prepared we grabbed a spot at the bustling bar and decided to enjoy an aperitif. On a hot day there is nothing better a chilled, crisp glass of Pinot Grigio. The wine came served in a casual steam less wine glass and was extremely refreshing. My friend opted for a Land Shark lager, a citrusy pale ale, light in flavor and went seemlessly with the beachy atmosphere

     We were seated at our table faster than expected and since neither of us was in a rush we decided to choose a sushi roll to start off and wait a few minutes before settling on dinner. I was ecstatic when my friend mentioned the Gidget Roll, as it is one of my favorites. The Gidget roll is filled with a crispy coconut shrimp tempura and topped with creamy avocado. The roll is an excellent combination of creamy and crunchy textures that meld together well. Langosta Lounge has such an eclectic menu and I always seem to revert back to my usual favorites, however this night I wanted to try something different. I came across the Sugar and Spice Short Ribs and decided I had to give them a whirl. My friend decided on the Sesame Seared Tuna served a cool rare. Another amazing choice and we agreed to share each dish. While we were enjoying our cocktails we heard the first boom of the fireworks go off and could see the sky light up from the tall glass windows. I was definitely not missing the fun so we went outside on the boardwalk to enjoy the display. While we stood there, in the warm Summer nights air, taking in the salty scents of the ocean and enjoying the colors and sounds of the fireworks, I got a great sense of happiness. Life really is all about enjoying the little things and it makes you realize how very fortunate we are to live where we do :) After the display ended we were eager to get back to our table and await our meals.

     The dishes came out presented beautifully and wafting with succulent aromas. My short ribs were sitting atop a bed of diablo mashed potatoes and served with sauteed summer vegetables. The boneless short ribs were so tender and juicy they fell apart to the touch. The sweet and savory glaze had a depth to it that added so many layers of flavor. At first bite your taste buds fill with the sweetness of a brown sugar and molasses glaze but then are greeted by a kick of subtle heat. The sauce was abundant too and went delightfully with the mashed potatoes. The Sesame Tuna was pan seared a perfect rare, with a light searing on the outside and a thick bright pink center inside, exactly how tuna should be served. The dish, as well, came over diablo mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. Tuna is such a light and healthy dish, perfect for a warm Summer night.
     My friend and I had a great beachy evening. Once again Langosta Lounge amazed me with its excellent service, impeccable dishes, and casual fun atmosphere. I am sad to see the Summer ending but I can guarantee I will be enjoying the tropical vibes of Langosta Lounge all year long! 
    

Langosta Lounge Asbury Park, NJ

      It was the perfect end to a hazy, hot and sunny weekend. My friends and I headed over to one of my favorite spots, Langosta Lounge. It was a special night because our friend and his band were playing there. His name is Sam Sims and the music they play has a tropical vibe to it. Really makes you feel like your sitting on an island sipping a cocktail with an umbrella in it. Like usual there was a group of us and we never spare on the eating. We knew it was going to be a long night, as my friend always says "It's a marathon, not a sprint." With that in mind, we started off with a bunch of appetizers. We all just began choosing things and before you know it we had a smorgasbord and everything was delicious. The edamame was my choice. It was so refreshing. Just a hint of lime and sea salt on top made the buttery beans a snack I could eat all day. The best presentation award goes to the Pu Pu Platter which included coconut shrimp, baby back ribs, buffalo wings, vegetable dumplings, and skewered mango glazed steak. All the items were delicious but the coolest thing was it was served with a flaming mini fire pit, just in case you were chatting and wanted to reheat your apps. Really fun! The Mediterrean Platter was a big hit as well, with freshly toasted pita points and two types of hummus, creamy chickpea garlic hummus and black bean hummus served with calamata olives and roasted red peppers. And of course we could not pass up the calamari three ways. Crispy lightly battered rings of calamari served with three different sauces, spicy diablo, Brazilian cashew, my favorite, and sweet chili lime sauce. Perfect for the ones who love dipping, like myself. As we were all quite full from the plethora of appetizers we consumed, we decided to sit back, sip some cocktails and enjoy the island sounds. Occasionally chanting to Sam to play our favorites, of course.
     After a few hours elapsed we decided to move onto dinner. I, still being rather full, decided to go with sushi. Who am I kidding, I was going with sushi all along because it is the best there. I always get the same couple rolls, Gidget roll, which has crispy coconut shrimp and veggies inside and the Dynamite roll, which has lobster, mango and avocado tempura fried topped with a sweet spicy sauce. I like the different textures in the sushi. It really wakes up your mouth when you bite into the soft layer of rice to find the crunchy encased fish on the inside, great combination. I was lucky to be sitting next to my friend who ordered the Hali'iimaile Rigatoni, as I would take fork fulls while she was watching the band. This dish, although I can not pronounce it, was amazing. Shrimp and scallops tossed with asparagus and a luscious cilantro, macadamia nut pesto cream sauce. Heaven! I will be back next week to get it! Also delicious, and to my other side, my friend had the Chu Chee Curry. Most of the choices on the menu come with the option of chicken, vegetarian or fish, which is great for the non meat and seafood eaters. The Chu Chee Curry was very simple, healthy and delicious. It included fresh vegetables, like squash, zucchini, asparagus, served over quinoa laced in a green coconut curry broth. The crunch of the perfectly cooked vegetables, mixed with the buds of quinoa, and coated ever so perfectly with the creamy, but light, coconut sauce. Delicious, and you won't even feel guilty afterwords.
     It was a great night out with great friends, great fare, and great tunes. It is definitely going to be a long fun Summer with many visits to Langosta Lounge. Located directly on the boardwalk they offer outdoor seating with an excellent view of the beach and a great place to sit back and people watch. Perfect location to view the fireworks in Asbury Park every Wednesday night.