Modine Asbury Park Opens During Blizzard Aftermath

ASBURY PARK, NJ - New restaurant owners will always have a story to tell: about how they launched the new Modine Asbury Park in the wake of record-setting snowfalls and profoundly frigid temperatures.

But according to postings on Yelp, people came to the soft and hard openings of the new restaurant with the determination of postal workers which seems appropriate given the eatery is situated in the historic Post Building. Those who attended last week wrote of southern hospitality by servers and bartenders and southern cooking from that region's Low Country.

Modine is the latest venture by Talula’s founders Shanti and Steve Mignogna. Since its November 2014 opening, the Cookman Avenue Talula’s has become popular for its pizza, according to a posting in the Asbury Park Sun.

Located at the former Fish restaurant site, Modine’s is an art deco-inspired place as its Instagram photographs attest.

“The restaurant is so bright and open after the renovation,” Shanti Mignogna told the Sun. “It’s the perfect spot for patrons to enjoy affordable comfort food in an elegant but approachable setting that takes you back to a different time and place. For us, it’s all about relaxed elegance, friends, family, conversation, and outstanding food.”

The house specialties include fried chicken made with buttermilk and pickle juice brine – a recipe restaurant principals say it took six months to perfect, shrimp and grits and Frogmore stew. The fried chicken is served with honey and hot sauce.

There is an in-house butchery and the menu includes vegan fare, such as the Hoppin’ John with Carolina peas and rice, chopped onion, sliced bacon or the Not Quite Crabby Soup – a coconut cream-based soup with hearts of palm, celery and sherry. There were a number of online reviews about the vegan macaroni and cheese as well.

Modine also features a lunch counter and takeout section in the back, simply called Mo. The menu features artisan burgers, sandwiches, salads and side dishes.

Modine is located at 601 Mattison Ave. Hours of operation are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 4 to midnight Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 732-893-5300, email hello@modineasbury.com, visit modineasbury.com, or via Instagram and Facebook.

New eatery Modine Asbury Park opened in Asbury Park Jan. 5. Image via Shutterstock.