Today’s APP has an article behind the paywall about the Manzo brothers taking over the F&B and entertainment spaces at the Berkeley. I figured I’d share some of the details here:
"But the (Manzo) brothers are all in, and their newest additions – Cenzo, a coffee shop, and Rewind Pizzarama, a pizzeria, opened Friday. These follow the quiet fall opening of Bang Bang, an Asian-inspired gastro pub, and a pop-up from Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in New York City, and precede the introduction of Johnny and June, a lounge and event space dedicated to Johnny Cash, who once invested in what was then known as The Berkeley Carteret Oceanfront Hotel.
He (Albie) and Chris are calling on a lifetime in the hospitality industry – their family owns The Brownstone in Paterson – and on television (their mother is Caroline Manzo of “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” and both brothers appeared on the show), to bring their vision to life.
Cenzo is a coffee bar and breakfast, dessert and grab-and-go spot, which shares space with Rewind Pizzarama where (Chef Peter) Fischbach is making 12-inch Roman flatbreads called pinsas.
Next is Bang Bang, where “we took a pub menu and applied different (Asian cuisines) and just made fun, funky food,” Fischbach said. Think wings with sambal aioli and pickled carrots, bahn mi and beef bulgogi burgers, sweet and sour mushroom tacos, and Kobe strip steak with yuzu butter.""
A quick Google finds that Chef Peter Fischbach has a long Monmouth/Ocean history, so I’m wondering if any of you HOs know him/his food. His resume includes:
Owner of Good Stuff Catering/Toms River
Exec Chef/Owner of Cask 591/Long Branch
Joe & Maggies Bistro/Long Branch
Exec Chef at The Metropolitan Cafe Bar & Grill/Freehold
As a full-time resident of AP, I can honestly say that while I had heard about the Patsy’s pop-up, I don’t personally know anyone who went. I haven’t heard a word about Bang Bang being open until I read this article, but I know they’ve taken a big bite overall. I’ll be curious to see what sticks, as the hotel has seemingly been a place to stay, but not a place to hang for the 5+ years I’ve been living here.
)) I’m a pretty big Johnny Cash fan, so I will go to check that out, but it’s really going to irk me to support them.
