The Poached Pear

My wife and I went with friends this past weekend. The food and service were all amazing. For appetizers we all shared the calamari, beef short ribs, and lobster bisque. My friend said he had been searching for the perfect lobster bisque, and may have found it!
For our entrees we all shared a bite. We had the Ny strip, veal, lamb, and I had the grouper special. There was not a bad bite. Everything was simply delicious. I always scold my friend for salting food before trying it. First time I did not see him apply salt and pepper to his food.
Everything was so good we had to try dessert. We had cream puffs, crem brûlée, and bread pudding. Again simply delicious. I spent the last few days telling other friends to go to the poached pear.
My only complaint was that everything looked so good I couldn’t eat more. I guess I’ll have to go back a few times, and so should you. My compliments to the poached pear and the chief. You have a great restaurant.

went here the other night to celebrate my birthday with a few of my friends. the service provided was amazing. great customer service and great food. would def recommend the calamari for an appetizer. everyone one was very satisfied and we hope to be back there soon.

Reservation for party of 6. The table was fit us all well it was just a little tight for the people who sat where people walk through because of the size of the restaurant. The waitress was friendly, knowledgable and courteous.
The appetizers were all delicious and the plates were beautifully constructed; our party had the beef carpaccio, Tomato mozzarella special, asparagus fries, calamari, corn bisque and the duck ravioli.
Our entrees included the filet mingon special, the lobster crab cake special, NY strip steak, rack of lamb, salmon and the chicken breast. Everyone enjoyed their entrée except the strip steak was a little overcooked but the staff was very accommodating since it wasn’t made as ordered.
For dessert, we had grandma’s cheesecake, banana foster crêpe, flourless chocolate cake, homemade ice cream and the crème brûlée.
Overall, we where extremely pleased with the food, the staff, the service and the atmosphere. I would definitely go again and suggest others to do so too, just save room for dessert!

Had a great dinner with great service. Menu is interesting. Loved the asparagus fries. Only negative was that room we were in is very noisy.

Seriously don’t get it. Went with friends when we couldn’t get a reservation where we wanted to go. Room is still rediculously loud, even on a cold February night. The redeeming factor of the night was our server, who was great. The food is very busy, with underlying ingredients being a lower quality. Very chewy grizzly steak, served luke warm. Our friends described their dinners as just ok. For the prices charged the food should be exceptional, it’s not!

Great food and service at a fair price.

Food was really good and a great place for a special occasion! Not a bad meal here! We were referred for a birthday celebration and it did not disappoint!

Another amazing meal at The Poached Pear last night. We were able to get a last minute babysitter and we were easily accommodated for a 5:30 reservation on a Sunday night.
Peter, our waiter, was extremely attentive and helpful, making great recommendations and answering our questions.
We started with the asparagus fries, which were nice, crisp and hot! Not a bit of grease to be found. Peter brought us an extra side of a spicier sauce meant for the calamari, just in case we wanted a little kick. It was delicious!
We also had the potato gnocchi appetizer, which was divine. The gnocchi were like little clouds of heaven, and we practically licked the bowl clean.
My husband and I shared the grilled romaine salad, which we always do. Very helpful that they plate them separately for us so we can just dig in. Which we did!
I had the vegetarian risotto which was piping hot, enormous enough for two, and brimming with tomato, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini and fava beans. I’m planning on eating it for lunch today (counting down the minutes).
My husband had the mahi mahi special over risotto and didn’t leave even a bite left over. It was phenomenal.
Desert topped off this incredible meal. Decadent flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream and fresh berries.
We are looking forward to returning to The Poached Pear again, because we always know we will be getting the best quality meal for the money.

For a higher end, high priced restaurant with a generally good reputation, I have now had a total of two out of three really bad meals, both in the form of entrees that included a tough and hard to cut grizzled NY Strip and another that came cold enough to use as a ice pack.
I know… Most people say it’s as good or better than Blend in Manasquan, but either I’m just very unlucky at the Pear, or the chef has a hard time doing too many meals at a time and mine must be the one sitting there waiting for the fresh meals to be served. The first bad steak I wrote off as a bad cut of meat which can happen, but serving another meal later at room temperature with a gone-​cold sauce was the last straw.
Either avoid the NY strip and busy nights, or just skip the generally over-​priced food here and enjoy a quieter, classier and consistently better meal at Blend on Main, unless you’re feeling particularly lucky.

Expensive but certainly worth it for a nice night out. Delicious food. enjoyed every bite!

It took several attempts for us to get a reservation here. We started calling last minute in August but they had nothing available. The owner was so kind and tried to fit is in but they were slammed. We finally got a reservation for October for a party of 6 but even calling 3 weeks early they could only fit us in at 6:15pm on a Friday night. The appetizers were very good, the entrees were excellent and the dessert had mixed reviews depending on what was ordered. I believe I had the chocolate cake and it was delicious!
We will definitely go back!

Rarely do I ever have the pleasure of dining at a restaurant that everything went perfectly. From the appetizers to the entrees to dessert by a renowned pastry chef who was on chopped!, everything was fantastic. This place is a bit pricey but it is worth every penny. 3 apps, 2 entrees (one MP) and 1
Shared dessert came out to $ 130 without tip. Our server whose name eludes me was excellent (he has a really cool accent and is very personable). This is my new favorite spot.

A very pleasant surprise. Although the reviews were great, my expectations were muted. That changed as soon as we entered. The place looks much nicer inside than I had expected. Art on the walls, sound absorbing boards that kept noise levels in check, soothing colors painted on the walls… it all works. I decided to start with the crab cakes after reading about them here and on
. They were as great as everyone said. It almost isn’t a cake, it is kind of wet, but almost entirely crab meat and delicious. My wife started with the beet salad which she said was good, but nowhere near the crab cake. For an entrée, I had the pork chop. It was perfectly cooked and came with red cabbage, spaetzle, and whole grain mustard. I could have done without the spaetzle, but the pork was cooked perfectly. Flavorful and moist and the cabbage was a perfect complement to the pork. My wife and a special of Chilean Sea Bass which she adored. It was served over parmesan risotto that was great, albeit a bit filling.
For desset my wife wanted to try the Carmel Panna Cotta because she had never tried Panna Cotta. Well, needless to say that she is now a huge fan. She loved it.
Our waiter, Pete, was relaxed (but not too much), knowledgeable about the menu, and helpful with suggestions. We will request his table again…
And it’s BYOB, so I get to being some great wines and enjoy them without breaking the bank!
Overall, a new favorite at the shore.

The best restaurant in the whole world! Went there for an anniversary dinner and we were really lucky to get a reservation that evening. The chef was amazing, customized a foie gras appetizer, and came to the table a couple of times to check on everything.
The steak and white chocolate risotto was unique but amazing. I was skeptical, but very happy I got the dish. Hubby got the scallops and we devoured everything.
Love this place.

Living in North Jersey and reading all the hype about Poached Pear lead me to make an early Friday reservation on our way up from Atlantic City. I had high expectations which where definitely fulfilled. I remember enjoying some of the delicious meals Scott Giordano prepared at Whispers, but now as (chef/​owner) at the PP, he brings his skills to another level. I love the clean lines and modern décor-​all tastefully done. Our server knew her menu well and provided good wine service (even though byob). Now onto the most important reason to visit PP– the food.
Appetizers:
DUCK CONFIT RAVIOLIS
sweet potato purée, blood orange butter, crispy sweet potato shoestring
This was a star in my eyes and an amazing combination of savory/​sweet flavors. The crunchiness of the shoestrings was a nice touch. This dish was perfect in every way.
JERSEY CORN BISQUE
applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese croûton, pasilla pepper oil, corn shoots
Bisque had a delicious melding of the sweet corn with the bacon and the croûton.
Entrees:
CRAB CAKES
a duet of jumbo lump crab cakes, haricot verts, fingerling potatoes, basil aioli
Pure lump crab, no fillers and simply delicious. A generous portion.
POTATO CRUSTED HALIBUT
chanterelle mushroom fricassee, truffle veloute, pea shoots, truffle oil.
I loved the thin crust of potato over this flaky, perfectly cooked fish.
I was happy to learn that they have a pastry chef –Teah Evans. She was a winner on Food Network’s «Chopped» in 2013 and her talent/​creativity is omnipresent in all the desserts.
Dessert:
CARAMEL PANNA COTTA WITH POACHED PEARS
traditional italian custard, almond tuile
One of the best I have had. The caramel added a nice dimension to this classic. The poached pear was as delicious as it was pretty.
RICE PUDDING– it was a special and my husband loved it.
I now understand the hype and rave reviews bestowed upon the Poached Pear. It is a destination restaurant well worth the ride. For those who live nearby, consider yourselves blessed.

I can’t say enough good things about this BYOB bistro. It began with the EXCELLENT customer service my friends and I received from the host/​reservations manager. In late August my friends and I headed to Point Pleasant for the weekend and decided to make a dinner reservation there. I called on Saturday about the following Sunday evening and was told that there we no openings. The host said he’d call back the following day if anything opened up. Sure enough, he called and even accommodated the time frame we wanted!
As for the food… everything we ate was scrumptious, from the appetizers to the desserts. We all shared the mozzarella burrata and the pear pizza with gorgonzola, walnuts and radicchio, drizzled with a port wine reduction, which were absolutely delicious! I consider myself a bit of a cheese and pizza snob, and I was extremely impressed with both dishes. For the main courses my friends ordered the seared ahi tuna and the veal (both were more than satisfied with their selections), and I had the diver scallops with risotto. OMG! The scallops were so moist and delicious, and the risotto was extremely creamy and flavorful. My only complaint is that I was already so stuffed from the appetizers (and the delicious warm bread they started us with) that I couldn’t finish my entire meal…
There is always, however, room for dessert! We chose the vanilla bean crème brulee and the Grand Marnier crêpe cakes with white chocolate ice cream. Suffice it to say that there was not one bite of either dessert left over!
The only minor issue was that the service was a tad slow (or perhaps it was just our waitress). I won’t let that affect the rating I give, however, since everything else was stellar. Even the décor, which was clean and modern yet inviting, was lovely.
I wish I lived closer so I could frequent this restaurant more often!

Sometimes food is so good that when the meal is done their is a void in your life. The Poached Pear is such an amazing restaurant I wish my meal never had to end. It is very obvious that the chef and the entire crew pours their heart and soul into these dishes. The maestro is as much an artist as he is a chef… I love how I can just go and enjoy a life worth of study, technique, and skill for a very reasonable price tag.
Prime times looks like you need a RSVP well in advance but we got lucky with a cold call and scored a 8:30 spot. BYOB
Our waiter was super excited about the mission and very very knowledgable. We started with the mozzarella barrata which was so good and light I almost wanted to drink the cheese with a straw it was so creamy. FANTASTIC
Wifey had the seared ahi tuna which was a very generous portion of sushi grade tuna for a reasonable 32 dollars and laid in a coconut-​curry based sauce over a quinoa which literally popped in your mouth almost like a tobiko (i am not doing it justice with my explanation but just want to give you an idea). I had the lobster special, 1 ¼ lb lobster poached and fully ready to eat lying on top of a pure LUMP crab meat crab cake which was wrapped in a wonton over mashed potatoes and silly silly delicious flavors pulled in from the rest of the plate. the lobster was the best I have ever tasted as was the crab cake.
I normally don’t order dessert because I am cheap but these desserts were priced right around 8 dollars so it was too good to pass up. We got to choose two flavors of sorbet. the coconut was so off the charts its hard to describe. You could actually chew it because it was so deliciously gritty with coconut.
We will be back! If I had it my way it would be tonight

Incredible. We had reservations for my birthday, and it was a beautiful night so we sat outside. Service was knowledgeable and attentive, the food was amazing.
We ordered the burrata for an appetizer, which was likely the best burrata I have ever had and the veal, and halibut for dinner. Dessert was wonderful, and clearly homemade. There is so much I could say about how delicious everything was, but I will let the photos speak for themselves. We have gone back at least 4 times since, and recommended to friends and family and no one has had a single negative thing to say.
The topper of the night was getting to meet the chef, who came outside and spoke with us for a few minutes. I’m told he does this regularly, which I love.

For all the hype, this place was ok but not great. Went on a Friday night at 6:00. The dessert was the saving grace– The main reason we might ever go back again.
The great: flourless chocolate cake dessert
The good: the pizzeta app, the service, modern but simple décor, BYOB.
The «meh»: the entrees (NY strip special — was prepared ok but a disappointing cut, not served warm, but the sides & glaze were good; special seafood in a bread bowl — seemed thrown together, sauce and seafood not at all integrated — seemed like plain steamed meat with sauce poured on, The bread bowl was good though and seemed fresh-​baked).
In different but noteworthy: the vibe (50−60s crowd with a few thirtysomethings mixed in, and noisy once it filled up after seven).

My wife and I made reservations for The Poach Pear on the second day it was opened. As we waited outside to be seated, we listened to patrons express just how much they enjoyed every aspect of their dinner service.
Upon walking into this eatery, you immediately notice the ambiance. Even though every seat in the restaurant was filled, the place did not feel crowded, and the establishment still maintained it’s open and welcoming atmosphere.
Our dinner service started with two appetizers, the mozzarella burrata, and the duck confit raviolis. Prior to, and after this dining experience, my wife did not and will continue to, not eat sweet potatoes. So I was a bit surprised when she was unable to resist the duck confit appetizer which was plated with sweet potato purée, and crispy sweet potato shoestrings. Some may call it an unusual combination of ingredients, but the dish was fantastic. After my first bite, I realized why she was unable to resist the well-​crafted combination of flavors.
I become apprehensive when it comes to ordering fish as my entrée when not dining at a seafood restaurant. Even though I wanted to try the sesame crusted ahi tuna, I went with the NY strip steak. Not 100% sure I made the right decision, I convinced my wife to order the tuna instead of the scallops. The flavor of the steak was enhanced by the chili rub. The steak was not the only good thing on the plate. The steak was plated with two incredible side dishes; asparagus fries, and a bed of white chocolate risotto.
Had I not convinced my wife to order the tuna, instead of the sea-​scallops, I would have missed out on such an exceptional entrée. Each ingredient, the crunchy thai quinoa, the bok choy, and pineapple coconut red curry sauce brought its own unique flavor to the entrée but together provided a dish filled with so many flavors. There are so many things I need to try on the menu but it is going to a little difficult visiting the Poached Pear and not ordering the Ahi Tuna.
When the owners of The Poached Pear say they are a fine dining establishment whose mission is to offer familiar dishes presented in innovative ways, you can definitely taste it on your plate.