Drifthouse 2024

DRIFTHOUSE Welcomes Executive Chef Rafael Rocha

Chef Rafael Rocha has a strong background in the kitchen. Prior to coming to the Drifthouse this past year, he has spent time at Orchard Park by David Burke,  the Famous Ryland Inn as well as many other smaller venues here in NJ building his craft. We are excited to welcome him to his new role at The Drifthouse!

Read More »
Dinner with Bob

DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke reviewed in ‘Dinner With Bob’ 

Thrilled to be reviewed in The Two River Times – ‘Dinner With Bob’ JANUARY 27, 2022 column by Bob Sacks – local vibe means everything to us! “When we envision a neighborhood restaurant, the frequent image is a small, casual, warm and cozy little spot on a street corner, or a storefront in a small shopping mall. Then how can a large beachfront restaurant in Sea Bright, with floor-toceiling windows displaying expansive ocean views, and a lively, extensive bar area, manage to

Read More »
Date Night

Spice Up Your Pandemic Love Life

How to Revisit Your First Date Your relationship might be sorely in need of attention. Why not recreate the special day that sparked it, with an enhancement or three? For many people, the monotony of the last 160-plus days has depleted just about everything. You aren’t alone if you barely recognize yourself, let alone your partner and the special qualities that attracted you to him or her in the first place. Stress and worries over

Read More »
Berries

Summer Fruits Hit New Jersey Menus

Where to find sweet treats featuring blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more. A lot of summer traditions look different this year, but desserts featuring summer fruits like berries, stone fruit, even tropical fruits are still popping up on time on menus around the state. Here’s a short list of the fruit-driven sweets available for takeout or outdoor dining. —Stuart Marx is doing some refined beach-side pastry at Drifthouse by David Burke. Witness his signature dessert: Coconut Layer Cake with

Read More »
Liz Jeressi and friend at Drifthouse

My First Meal Dining Outside At A Restaurant Since COVID-19

Here’s the restaurant I chose for my first meal out and what my first dinner-out choices were 🙂 By Liz Jeressi. Click here to read the entire article on 94.3 The Point online. I will try to never again take for granted how great it is to dine out. It has never felt better to go out for a drink and a meal than it did yesterday when restaurants in NJ were legally allowed to

Read More »
Dinner with a Mask

Dinner with a Mask

Dinner with a mask: How bacon (and margaritas) helped me overcome my fear of dining out again Monday marked the return of outdoor dining, and this food writer was ready to get back out there. Sort of. As soon as I could find my purse. And my bra. And my courage. We made it two blocks before I realized I forgot my wallet. When we finally hit the Parkway, en route to the Drifthouse in

Read More »
Chef Burke

Talking Television, French Cuisine, and More with David Burke

Which new bourbon are we pumped about? What does it take to be a master journeyman? Where are we excited to travel to next? Each week, The Manual Podcast invites an expert, artisan, or craftsman for a roundtable discussion on what’s new, exciting, and unique in their trade. For this week’s episode of The Manual Podcast, Greg, Nicole, and Sam sit down with celebrity chef, author, and restauranteur David Burke. Growing up in New Jersey, Burke says he’s been

Read More »
Chef Burke

Alone Together: Dispatches from the Jersey Restaurant World

As residents continue to shelter in place, restaurants miss us even more than we miss them. Excerpt from article on njmonthly.com: Early in the crisis, chef David Burke had a laugh at his own expense. His three New Jersey properties (Ventanas in Fort Lee, David Burke at Orange Lawn in South Orange and Drifthouse in Sea Bright) were open, offering takeout and delivery, but he was troubled by the number of layoffs he had had to make. “I couldn’t call my

Read More »
Scallops and Broccoli

Chef David Burke Launches ‘Name Your Price Weddings’

Chef David Burke known for his creative, innovative and gutsy solutions to challenging situations – as seen on season five of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters – has done it again with his “Name Your Price Weddings” campaign available at his three New Jersey restaurants all situated on iconic breathtaking locations, and at his eponymous David Burke Tavern in New York City. It is the perfect remedy for: brides and grooms whose incomes were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic;

Read More »
Lefto

NJ chef David Burke has a new sous chef for at-home cooking — and he’s 3 feet tall

His name is Lefto and he looks remarkably like celebrity chef David Burke of Fort Lee — only much cuter (sorry, chef) and much shorter. And every four or five days you can catch Lefto and Burke giving a casual cooking demonstration on the chef’s social media platforms. You’re in for a good time. Especially since Lefto is a 3-foot tall puppet that Burke, currently stuck at home like the rest of us, uses to “help” him cook dishes that can

Read More »
Lunch Break Volunteers

Unemployment Rates Reach Unprecedented Numbers

PHOTO COURTESY LUNCH BREAK / FACEBOOKLunch Break volunteers Jennifer Anderson and board president John Klein recently delivered food to homebound clients. Representatives of the nonprofit are reporting significantly higher demands from community members compared to last year. By Allison PerrineClick here to read the entire article on TwoRiverTimes.com. Just over 45 days ago, the U.S. economy was booming with high wage growth and record low unemployment rates. That quickly changed with the rapid spread of

Read More »
Mothers Day Dishes

Here’s what NJ chefs make for their moms on Mother’s Day — and their recipes

Cooking is a delicious way to show love. And while there may be more expensive, more pizzazz-y, more creative ways to say “I love you,” there isn’t a more down-to-earth, more nourishing, more doable, tastier way to show your deep appreciation than by taking time to prepare and serve your loved one a homemade dish. Moms certainly know it; they’ve been cooking for us since we were infants. So, come Mother’s Day, why not show how much you care, admire and adore

Read More »
Chef Burke and Steve Bidgood

Dinner with Bob: What’s for Dinner?

Restaurant reviewer Bob Sacks spoke to Two River area chefs and restaurateurs for this two-part article on what restaurants are doing during the stay-at-home order. Chef David Burke of Drifthouse and restaurateur Steve Bidgood of Salt Creek Grille share their fears, frustrations and hope for restaurants and their employees during the new rules of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long ago, humans were hunter/foragers and roamed the land in search of food. It was

Read More »
Feed The Heroes logo

Chef and Restaurateur David Burke Launches Initiative to Feed NYC Healthcare Workers

Chef David Burke, noted for his scrappy, never-quit attitude, has joined the proud ranks of New York restaurateurs committed to feeding healthcare workers on the front lines during these trying times. Burke has launched #FeedtheHeroes, an operation that provides meals to first responders and medical personnel battling the pandemic in the New Jersey and New York City area. The effort arose from the ashes of Burke’s empire of a dozen world-class restaurants, which was decimated by

Read More »
Chef David Burke

Help Feed Our Medical Heroes

David Burke is a world-renowned celebrity chef who is using his Sea Bright restaurant to feed doctors, nurses, first responders and our local hospital workers. Here’s how you can support his efforts. He’s calling it #FeedtheHeroes and is asking for contributions HERE to help feed the doctors, nurses, and first responders like he has been doing from his NYC restaurants. Chef Burke, well known for his scrappy New Jersey, never-quit attitude, has launched this operation to provide meals

Read More »
Nauti Sanitizer

Chef David Burke’s Supplier Turns Alcohol Into Hand Sanitizer

Chef David Burke has an incredible restaurant and bar in Sea Bright. Now the liquor supplies for his bars/restaurant is turning alcohol into hand sanitizer, and you’ll be able to get some! DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke & Nauti Bar by David Burke at the Driftwood Cabana Club on Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright consider necessity the mother of invention. And one of Chef David Burke’s suppliers for DRIFTHOUSE and Nauti Bar, effective immediately, is repurposing its alcohol to meet hand sanitizer shortages

Read More »
Restaurant Table

Chef Burke Talks About Restaurant Mentality

With Coronavirus Shutdowns, Restaurants Are Adapting Menus to Accommodate New Needs Several New Jersey chefs discuss the process of shifting to a takeout and delivery business model as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. Chef David Burke of Ventanas, Drifthouse by David Burke and Orange Lawn Table Hopping: What made you decide to stay open?David Burke: We thought it was important to provide something for the community and keep as much of our personnel employed as we can. It’s very unfortunate we had

Read More »
Asbury Park Distilling Co.

NJ distilleries are making hand sanitizer to combat shortages as state fights coronavirus

Denatured ethanol, water, glycerol to avoid burns and hydrogen peroxide to keep the formula sterile. It may not be the silky, scented hand sanitizer we’re used to, but it’s what distilleries across the state have been authorized to make to help combat the shortage of hand sanitizer. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has loosened regulations on distilleries that usually make spirits for sipping, allowing them to produce alcohol for disinfecting. Hand sanitizer

Read More »
Drifthouse Nauti Spirits Sanitizer

Turning Spirits into Solutions, David Burke and Nauti Spirits Distillery Making a Difference

It is said necessity is the mother of invention. And one of Chef David Burke’s suppliers for DRIFTHOUSE and Nauti Bar, Sea Bright, recently proved this wise adage by repurposing its product to meet hand sanitizer shortages caused by Covid-19. Nauti Spirits Distillery, based in Cape May, has turned some of its very high-proof spirits into sanitizer. The Drifthouse is currently providing a takeout dinner menu Tuesday through Saturday. And after the first batch of

Read More »
Coronavirus

Coronavirus crisis and restaurants — Here’s how we’re going to overcome this: Celebrity Chef David Burke

Those of us in the restaurant industry in New Jersey, New York and beyond are reeling from something we’ve never experienced before — complete silence and nowhere to go. My executive team and I are heartbroken. We’ve closed down and laid off nearly all our employees. My New Jersey locations are still doing takeout – VENTANAS Restaurant & Lounge, David Burke Orange Lawn, and Drifthouse by David Burke — but that’s just a glimmer of

Read More »
TedxAsbury Park with Chef Burke

David Burke Returns to Monmouth County

Chef David Burke and TEDxAsburyPark Founder Brian Smiga talk about how he got started as a chef and his return to Monmouth County. David will speak at TEDxAsburyPark 2021. Brian Smiga: This is Brian Smiga, the co-host of TEDxAsburyPark. We’re producing our eighth TEDxAsburyPark on Saturday, May 2, at the newly expanded Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, when we will consider a much-needed topic: Joy. Right now, let’s welcome our guest and TED speaker,

Read More »
Nauti Bar and Drifthouse Food

David Burke’s Nauti Bar & DRIFTHOUSE

In New Jersey, we are proud to claim David Burke as one of our own. In addition to his extensive list of awards and accolades in the restaurant community, Burke is also known as a celebrity chef from his appearances on Top Chef Masters. Chef Burke has two restaurants in New Jersey, The Nauti Bar and Drifthouse. We started our afternoon at the Nauti Bar, which is located right on the beach at the Driftwood

Read More »
Seafood Dish

NJ Monthly Food Critics Say Drifthouse by David Burke Among New Jersey’s Best New Restaurants

The 28 Best New Restaurants 2019 For rewarding food, atmosphere, variety and value, these new restaurants have earned enthusiastic followings. Drifthouse by David Burke Sea Bright Grilled lobster with lobster dumplings at Drifthouse by David Burke. Photo by James J. Connoly Burke, a longtime resident of Fort Lee, returns to New Jersey as a restaurateur for the first time since selling the Fromagerie in Rumson in 2015. He’s partnered with the Stavola family, owners of Ama,

Read More »
Chef David Burke

N.J.’s best new restaurant has bacon on a clothesline and a celebrity chef

Long before he was a celebrity chef, David Burke was a paper boy who delivered The Star-Ledger on a route near his childhood home in Hazlet. “The Sunday paper was a bear,” Burke remembers. “And every time it rained or snowed, my dad would have to pull out the station wagon and help us.” Now Burke regularly graces our pages and countless others, and his latest venture is another full-circle moment: The Drifthouse, inside the

Read More »
Cheesecake Pops

Restaurant News: North Jersey

David Burke, like a shark, is always on the move. The Jersey-born celebrity chef has had his share of ups and downs in recent years. He broke up, after a public squabble, with his former company and partnered with a new one. And he opened BLT Prime inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., a high-profile move made even more controversial after the president’s immigration rhetoric prompted chef Jose Andres to abandon his plans

Read More »
Sushi

Drifthouse in Sea Bright Debuts New Charitable Dining Option

David Burke’s Drifthouse in Sea Bright recently partnered up with B-Causes, a charitable platform that functions as a discount buyer’s club. Businesses create special deals to attract consumers, who then choose a charity from B-Causes’s roster of registered nonprofits to receive a percentage of the night’s transaction. For its partnership, Drifthouse has created a special $100 gift card for dinner for two for just $65, with 15 percent of the total bill going to the charity of their

Read More »
Drifthouse Exterior

Dining at The Drifthouse Restaurant

Perched above the shore line on the second floor of the Driftwood Beach Club is the newest culinary delight by Executive Chef, David Burke. A native son, who has roots to these very shores, Burke’s eye for detail both in design and menu creation are a treat for the senses. As you climb the stairs to the second floor, local artwork from Detour Gallery in Red Bank adorns the walls and within the restaurant itself.

Read More »
Scallops

Chef David Burke Returns to the Shore with Drifthouse in Sea Bright

At a wine dinner at Ama Ristorante in Sea Bright last year, chef David Burke got to talking with Bill Stavola, whose family owns the restaurant. By the end of the conversation, they had decided to turn Ama into a beachy New American restaurant called Drifthouse. The gist of the discussion, Burke tells us, is that Ama “just didn’t have the right branding.” After a redesign and a menu reboot, Drifthouse opened in late February. Its

Read More »
Sea Bright Postcard

Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke

Celebrity Chef David Burke, owner of award-winning restaurants around the country, will open his latest venture in Sea Bright, New Jersey! Highly celebrated celebrity chef and New Jersey native, Chef David Burke, will open his newest culinary experience– Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke Bar and Grill– this spring at the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright. In partnership with the Stavola Family, owners of Driftwood, the restaurant is expected to launch in March and will be

Read More »
The Burke Brothers

Chef David Burke to open Sea Bright restaurant

For more than 10 years, Chef David Burke was known at the Shore as the creative mind commanding the kitchen of Fromagerie, Rumson’s decades-old fine-dining restaurant.  In 2015, David Burke Group sold the restaurant; new owners reopened it a year later.  And now, Burke is back.  In March, the chef – who lives in Fort Lee – will open Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke in the space currently occupied by Ama Ristorante, which will remain open until the transition is

Read More »

DRIFTHOUSE Welcomes Executive Chef Rafael Rocha

Chef Rafael Rocha has a strong background in the kitchen. Prior to coming to the Drifthouse this past year, he has spent time at Orchard Park by David Burke,  the Famous Ryland Inn as well as many other smaller venues here in NJ building his craft. We are excited to welcome him to his new role at The Drifthouse!

Read More »
Dinner with Bob

DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke reviewed in ‘Dinner With Bob’ 

Thrilled to be reviewed in The Two River Times – ‘Dinner With Bob’ JANUARY 27, 2022 column by Bob Sacks – local vibe means everything to us! “When we envision a neighborhood restaurant, the frequent image is a small, casual, warm and cozy little spot on a street corner, or a storefront in a small shopping mall. Then how can a large beachfront restaurant in Sea Bright, with floor-toceiling windows displaying expansive ocean views, and a lively, extensive bar area, manage to

Read More »
Date Night

Spice Up Your Pandemic Love Life

How to Revisit Your First Date Your relationship might be sorely in need of attention. Why not recreate the special day that sparked it, with an enhancement or three? For many people, the monotony of the last 160-plus days has depleted just about everything. You aren’t alone if you barely recognize yourself, let alone your partner and the special qualities that attracted you to him or her in the first place. Stress and worries over

Read More »
Berries

Summer Fruits Hit New Jersey Menus

Where to find sweet treats featuring blueberries, blackberries, peaches and more. A lot of summer traditions look different this year, but desserts featuring summer fruits like berries, stone fruit, even tropical fruits are still popping up on time on menus around the state. Here’s a short list of the fruit-driven sweets available for takeout or outdoor dining. —Stuart Marx is doing some refined beach-side pastry at Drifthouse by David Burke. Witness his signature dessert: Coconut Layer Cake with

Read More »
Liz Jeressi and friend at Drifthouse

My First Meal Dining Outside At A Restaurant Since COVID-19

Here’s the restaurant I chose for my first meal out and what my first dinner-out choices were 🙂 By Liz Jeressi. Click here to read the entire article on 94.3 The Point online. I will try to never again take for granted how great it is to dine out. It has never felt better to go out for a drink and a meal than it did yesterday when restaurants in NJ were legally allowed to

Read More »
Dinner with a Mask

Dinner with a Mask

Dinner with a mask: How bacon (and margaritas) helped me overcome my fear of dining out again Monday marked the return of outdoor dining, and this food writer was ready to get back out there. Sort of. As soon as I could find my purse. And my bra. And my courage. We made it two blocks before I realized I forgot my wallet. When we finally hit the Parkway, en route to the Drifthouse in

Read More »
Chef Burke

Talking Television, French Cuisine, and More with David Burke

Which new bourbon are we pumped about? What does it take to be a master journeyman? Where are we excited to travel to next? Each week, The Manual Podcast invites an expert, artisan, or craftsman for a roundtable discussion on what’s new, exciting, and unique in their trade. For this week’s episode of The Manual Podcast, Greg, Nicole, and Sam sit down with celebrity chef, author, and restauranteur David Burke. Growing up in New Jersey, Burke says he’s been

Read More »
Chef Burke

Alone Together: Dispatches from the Jersey Restaurant World

As residents continue to shelter in place, restaurants miss us even more than we miss them. Excerpt from article on njmonthly.com: Early in the crisis, chef David Burke had a laugh at his own expense. His three New Jersey properties (Ventanas in Fort Lee, David Burke at Orange Lawn in South Orange and Drifthouse in Sea Bright) were open, offering takeout and delivery, but he was troubled by the number of layoffs he had had to make. “I couldn’t call my

Read More »
Scallops and Broccoli

Chef David Burke Launches ‘Name Your Price Weddings’

Chef David Burke known for his creative, innovative and gutsy solutions to challenging situations – as seen on season five of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters – has done it again with his “Name Your Price Weddings” campaign available at his three New Jersey restaurants all situated on iconic breathtaking locations, and at his eponymous David Burke Tavern in New York City. It is the perfect remedy for: brides and grooms whose incomes were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic;

Read More »
Lefto

NJ chef David Burke has a new sous chef for at-home cooking — and he’s 3 feet tall

His name is Lefto and he looks remarkably like celebrity chef David Burke of Fort Lee — only much cuter (sorry, chef) and much shorter. And every four or five days you can catch Lefto and Burke giving a casual cooking demonstration on the chef’s social media platforms. You’re in for a good time. Especially since Lefto is a 3-foot tall puppet that Burke, currently stuck at home like the rest of us, uses to “help” him cook dishes that can

Read More »
Lunch Break Volunteers

Unemployment Rates Reach Unprecedented Numbers

PHOTO COURTESY LUNCH BREAK / FACEBOOKLunch Break volunteers Jennifer Anderson and board president John Klein recently delivered food to homebound clients. Representatives of the nonprofit are reporting significantly higher demands from community members compared to last year. By Allison PerrineClick here to read the entire article on TwoRiverTimes.com. Just over 45 days ago, the U.S. economy was booming with high wage growth and record low unemployment rates. That quickly changed with the rapid spread of

Read More »
Mothers Day Dishes

Here’s what NJ chefs make for their moms on Mother’s Day — and their recipes

Cooking is a delicious way to show love. And while there may be more expensive, more pizzazz-y, more creative ways to say “I love you,” there isn’t a more down-to-earth, more nourishing, more doable, tastier way to show your deep appreciation than by taking time to prepare and serve your loved one a homemade dish. Moms certainly know it; they’ve been cooking for us since we were infants. So, come Mother’s Day, why not show how much you care, admire and adore

Read More »
Chef Burke and Steve Bidgood

Dinner with Bob: What’s for Dinner?

Restaurant reviewer Bob Sacks spoke to Two River area chefs and restaurateurs for this two-part article on what restaurants are doing during the stay-at-home order. Chef David Burke of Drifthouse and restaurateur Steve Bidgood of Salt Creek Grille share their fears, frustrations and hope for restaurants and their employees during the new rules of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long ago, humans were hunter/foragers and roamed the land in search of food. It was

Read More »
Feed The Heroes logo

Chef and Restaurateur David Burke Launches Initiative to Feed NYC Healthcare Workers

Chef David Burke, noted for his scrappy, never-quit attitude, has joined the proud ranks of New York restaurateurs committed to feeding healthcare workers on the front lines during these trying times. Burke has launched #FeedtheHeroes, an operation that provides meals to first responders and medical personnel battling the pandemic in the New Jersey and New York City area. The effort arose from the ashes of Burke’s empire of a dozen world-class restaurants, which was decimated by

Read More »
Chef David Burke

Help Feed Our Medical Heroes

David Burke is a world-renowned celebrity chef who is using his Sea Bright restaurant to feed doctors, nurses, first responders and our local hospital workers. Here’s how you can support his efforts. He’s calling it #FeedtheHeroes and is asking for contributions HERE to help feed the doctors, nurses, and first responders like he has been doing from his NYC restaurants. Chef Burke, well known for his scrappy New Jersey, never-quit attitude, has launched this operation to provide meals

Read More »
Nauti Sanitizer

Chef David Burke’s Supplier Turns Alcohol Into Hand Sanitizer

Chef David Burke has an incredible restaurant and bar in Sea Bright. Now the liquor supplies for his bars/restaurant is turning alcohol into hand sanitizer, and you’ll be able to get some! DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke & Nauti Bar by David Burke at the Driftwood Cabana Club on Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright consider necessity the mother of invention. And one of Chef David Burke’s suppliers for DRIFTHOUSE and Nauti Bar, effective immediately, is repurposing its alcohol to meet hand sanitizer shortages

Read More »
Restaurant Table

Chef Burke Talks About Restaurant Mentality

With Coronavirus Shutdowns, Restaurants Are Adapting Menus to Accommodate New Needs Several New Jersey chefs discuss the process of shifting to a takeout and delivery business model as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. Chef David Burke of Ventanas, Drifthouse by David Burke and Orange Lawn Table Hopping: What made you decide to stay open?David Burke: We thought it was important to provide something for the community and keep as much of our personnel employed as we can. It’s very unfortunate we had

Read More »
Asbury Park Distilling Co.

NJ distilleries are making hand sanitizer to combat shortages as state fights coronavirus

Denatured ethanol, water, glycerol to avoid burns and hydrogen peroxide to keep the formula sterile. It may not be the silky, scented hand sanitizer we’re used to, but it’s what distilleries across the state have been authorized to make to help combat the shortage of hand sanitizer. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has loosened regulations on distilleries that usually make spirits for sipping, allowing them to produce alcohol for disinfecting. Hand sanitizer

Read More »
Drifthouse Nauti Spirits Sanitizer

Turning Spirits into Solutions, David Burke and Nauti Spirits Distillery Making a Difference

It is said necessity is the mother of invention. And one of Chef David Burke’s suppliers for DRIFTHOUSE and Nauti Bar, Sea Bright, recently proved this wise adage by repurposing its product to meet hand sanitizer shortages caused by Covid-19. Nauti Spirits Distillery, based in Cape May, has turned some of its very high-proof spirits into sanitizer. The Drifthouse is currently providing a takeout dinner menu Tuesday through Saturday. And after the first batch of

Read More »
Coronavirus

Coronavirus crisis and restaurants — Here’s how we’re going to overcome this: Celebrity Chef David Burke

Those of us in the restaurant industry in New Jersey, New York and beyond are reeling from something we’ve never experienced before — complete silence and nowhere to go. My executive team and I are heartbroken. We’ve closed down and laid off nearly all our employees. My New Jersey locations are still doing takeout – VENTANAS Restaurant & Lounge, David Burke Orange Lawn, and Drifthouse by David Burke — but that’s just a glimmer of

Read More »
TedxAsbury Park with Chef Burke

David Burke Returns to Monmouth County

Chef David Burke and TEDxAsburyPark Founder Brian Smiga talk about how he got started as a chef and his return to Monmouth County. David will speak at TEDxAsburyPark 2021. Brian Smiga: This is Brian Smiga, the co-host of TEDxAsburyPark. We’re producing our eighth TEDxAsburyPark on Saturday, May 2, at the newly expanded Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, when we will consider a much-needed topic: Joy. Right now, let’s welcome our guest and TED speaker,

Read More »
Nauti Bar and Drifthouse Food

David Burke’s Nauti Bar & DRIFTHOUSE

In New Jersey, we are proud to claim David Burke as one of our own. In addition to his extensive list of awards and accolades in the restaurant community, Burke is also known as a celebrity chef from his appearances on Top Chef Masters. Chef Burke has two restaurants in New Jersey, The Nauti Bar and Drifthouse. We started our afternoon at the Nauti Bar, which is located right on the beach at the Driftwood

Read More »
Seafood Dish

NJ Monthly Food Critics Say Drifthouse by David Burke Among New Jersey’s Best New Restaurants

The 28 Best New Restaurants 2019 For rewarding food, atmosphere, variety and value, these new restaurants have earned enthusiastic followings. Drifthouse by David Burke Sea Bright Grilled lobster with lobster dumplings at Drifthouse by David Burke. Photo by James J. Connoly Burke, a longtime resident of Fort Lee, returns to New Jersey as a restaurateur for the first time since selling the Fromagerie in Rumson in 2015. He’s partnered with the Stavola family, owners of Ama,

Read More »
Chef David Burke

N.J.’s best new restaurant has bacon on a clothesline and a celebrity chef

Long before he was a celebrity chef, David Burke was a paper boy who delivered The Star-Ledger on a route near his childhood home in Hazlet. “The Sunday paper was a bear,” Burke remembers. “And every time it rained or snowed, my dad would have to pull out the station wagon and help us.” Now Burke regularly graces our pages and countless others, and his latest venture is another full-circle moment: The Drifthouse, inside the

Read More »
Cheesecake Pops

Restaurant News: North Jersey

David Burke, like a shark, is always on the move. The Jersey-born celebrity chef has had his share of ups and downs in recent years. He broke up, after a public squabble, with his former company and partnered with a new one. And he opened BLT Prime inside the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., a high-profile move made even more controversial after the president’s immigration rhetoric prompted chef Jose Andres to abandon his plans

Read More »
Sushi

Drifthouse in Sea Bright Debuts New Charitable Dining Option

David Burke’s Drifthouse in Sea Bright recently partnered up with B-Causes, a charitable platform that functions as a discount buyer’s club. Businesses create special deals to attract consumers, who then choose a charity from B-Causes’s roster of registered nonprofits to receive a percentage of the night’s transaction. For its partnership, Drifthouse has created a special $100 gift card for dinner for two for just $65, with 15 percent of the total bill going to the charity of their

Read More »
Drifthouse Exterior

Dining at The Drifthouse Restaurant

Perched above the shore line on the second floor of the Driftwood Beach Club is the newest culinary delight by Executive Chef, David Burke. A native son, who has roots to these very shores, Burke’s eye for detail both in design and menu creation are a treat for the senses. As you climb the stairs to the second floor, local artwork from Detour Gallery in Red Bank adorns the walls and within the restaurant itself.

Read More »
Scallops

Chef David Burke Returns to the Shore with Drifthouse in Sea Bright

At a wine dinner at Ama Ristorante in Sea Bright last year, chef David Burke got to talking with Bill Stavola, whose family owns the restaurant. By the end of the conversation, they had decided to turn Ama into a beachy New American restaurant called Drifthouse. The gist of the discussion, Burke tells us, is that Ama “just didn’t have the right branding.” After a redesign and a menu reboot, Drifthouse opened in late February. Its

Read More »
Sea Bright Postcard

Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke

Celebrity Chef David Burke, owner of award-winning restaurants around the country, will open his latest venture in Sea Bright, New Jersey! Highly celebrated celebrity chef and New Jersey native, Chef David Burke, will open his newest culinary experience– Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke Bar and Grill– this spring at the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright. In partnership with the Stavola Family, owners of Driftwood, the restaurant is expected to launch in March and will be

Read More »
The Burke Brothers

Chef David Burke to open Sea Bright restaurant

For more than 10 years, Chef David Burke was known at the Shore as the creative mind commanding the kitchen of Fromagerie, Rumson’s decades-old fine-dining restaurant.  In 2015, David Burke Group sold the restaurant; new owners reopened it a year later.  And now, Burke is back.  In March, the chef – who lives in Fort Lee – will open Drifthouse Restaurant by David Burke in the space currently occupied by Ama Ristorante, which will remain open until the transition is

Read More »