By MICHELLE GLADDEN
It had been quite some time since I stepped inside 26 West in Red Bank, so you can imagine my surprise by the changes General Manager Mikaela Milano has implemented since taking the helm in 2017.
From the familial artwork greeting you at the main entrance to the nautical aesthetic that compliments the adjacent tributary’s natural beauty, 26 West on the Navesink in Red Bank has raced to the top of this author’s cherished Monmouth County eateries.
I hadn’t visited their website or read any reviews before dining at this neighborhood favorite that draws loyal patronage from a host of out-of-towners.
For this author, it was the service; after all, hospitality is the name of the industry, and what Milano places ‘front and center’ on the venue’s website seems to be an edict the entire staff ascribes to.
“As a family-owned and operated business, it is extremely important that our personal values are conveyed in your experience dining with us,” the website said. “We have spent years cultivating a staff that truly acts as a family and believes in our restaurant.”
From this author’s first visit in September to the third in January, I found this to be true.
Now, at the heart of hospitality is the fare, so you can probably understand my elation when I learned 26 West on the Navesink was voted Monmouth County Community Choice Awards’ Best Seafood Restaurant. This is an accolade that relies on community nominations and votes, thereby placing the power of choice back in the patrons’ hands.
Since taking the helm a year ago, Chef Dominick Rizzo has curated a menu that truly compliments the venue’s axiom. Their fresh seafood selections feature a truly unique raw bar, lobster rolls, whole and filleted fish, and pastas.
This author’s favorites include the Tuna Tartare, Drunken Clams, Mussels, and Crab Martini from the starter offerings and the Panko-Crusted Halibut, Clam Linguine, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, Sesame-Crusted Tuna, and the Blackened Swordfish from the entrées.
The restaurant is located at 26 West Front St., Red Bank.
