Some Sunday plans write themselves, and the best ones start with a table near the ocean. Along the Jersey Shore, one boardwalk kitchen has turned a classic Southern dish into a reason to drive across the county.
Fried green tomatoes come out of this kitchen with a loyal following, and they share the menu with cornbread, shrimp and grits, and a raw bar that keeps tables full. The doors open early on Sunday and stay open late, so brunch can easily roll into a sunset hangout.
Stick around to learn where this place sits, what makes its plates worth the trip, when to show up, and a few honest tips that can save your afternoon.
A Charleston Accent on the Asbury Boardwalk
Southern hospitality found a new home on the Jersey Shore, and it picked a spot with a front-row seat to the Atlantic.
Palmetto Southern Kitchen + Bar sits at 1000 Ocean Ave N, Asbury Park, NJ 07712, right on the boardwalk in the heart of this Monmouth County beach town. The restaurant blends Low Country cooking with a lively bar, all within steps of the sand.
The concept leans proudly Southern. Menus feature cornbread, gumbo, shrimp and grits, ribs, boneless fried chicken, and the star of this story, fried green tomatoes.
Diners who grew up below the Mason-Dixon line often call the food authentic. Some even say the cooking rivals Southern restaurants they have tried back home, which is high praise for a kitchen this far north.
The place is more than a lunch counter, too. It runs as a full restaurant and bar with a raw bar, cocktails, live music in the evenings, and space for big groups.
With a price range of roughly $20 to $40 per person, it lands in the comfortable middle for a beach town meal. That makes it easy to treat a Sunday visit as a small celebration rather than a splurge.
So the location is set and the menu has a Southern drawl. Next comes the question of what the room itself looks like.
Garage Doors, Big Windows, and a Charleston-Style Bar
Few dining rooms on the shore open up quite like this one. On mild days, a garage door on the beach side rolls up and the dining room practically joins the boardwalk.
The space is wide and open, with plenty of window tables. Grabbing a seat by the glass is a popular move for lunch, especially on quieter weekdays.
Decor gets a lot of attention. The style is trendy, fun, and tasteful, with a bar designed to channel Charleston, South Carolina.
That bar is large, which helps when crowds roll in after a beach day. The dining room can also handle large parties, so family reunions and birthday groups fit without much fuss.
Outdoor seating adds another option for those who want to stay closer to the beach crowd. Dogs have been spotted inside on some days as well, which is worth knowing for anyone who prefers a pet-free meal.
The room is designed for evening bands, so the layout feels like a stage is never far away. That setup sets the tone for everything after dark.
Before the music, though, there is a plate waiting that deserves its own spotlight.
The Green Tomato Question, Answered
Green tomatoes are simply tomatoes picked before they ripen, and the South has been frying them for generations. Here, they have become one of the most talked-about plates on the table.
Many guests start a meal with them and call the result excellent. First-timers who had never tried the dish often leave glad they took the chance.
Southern-born diners count them among the reasons the menu feels authentic. That kind of approval carries weight when the dish is a regional staple.
Not every plate wins a standing ovation, to be fair. A few guests have found them merely fine rather than memorable, so expectations should stay realistic.
Still, the tomatoes show up again and again in conversations about this spot. They make a smart shared starter for the table, leaving room for heartier plates after.
Pairing them with brunch on a Sunday is the easy play, since the kitchen opens at 10 am that day. A late breakfast with a Southern twist is a fine way to ease into the week.
Of course, a starter is only the opening act. The rest of the menu has plenty of supporting players ready to steal scenes.
Cornbread, Grits, and Other Southern Headliners
Cornbread might be the quiet champion of the whole menu. It comes with honey lavender butter, and some guests call it the best cornbread they have ever had.
Shrimp and grits ranks right behind it in popularity. Many diners praise the dish, while a few have wished for more seasoning or noticed shrimp tails hiding in the red gravy.
Gumbo earns credit for showcasing traditional Southern cooking. Ribs, boneless fried chicken, and steak also appear on tables, with the fried chicken getting especially warm words.
Lobster mac and cheese brings a shore-town twist to a comfort classic. Brunch fans point to the Low Country Breakfast, which piles biscuits and gravy, home fries, eggs, and sausage patties onto one plate.
There are surprises as well, including cacio e pepe and a generously sized chocolate cake. One slice can stretch across three people.
Variety is a big part of the appeal. With so many options, groups with different appetites can all find something to order.
Then again, Southern food is only half the story at a restaurant facing the sea. The raw bar has its own fan club.
Oysters, Crab Dip, and a Happy Hour Bargain
Two-dollar oysters tend to get people’s attention fast. That happy hour deal keeps regulars coming back, even in the off season.
Oysters are tied with cornbread as the most mentioned items here. The raw bar serves them alongside shrimp cocktail, and grilled oysters are also on offer.
Crab dip is another crowd favorite. It arrives with pork rinds and crackers for scooping, which is a fun Southern touch.
Seafood lovers can also find crab soup, steamed shrimp, shrimp ceviche, and a shrimp po boy. The po boy comes generously loaded, though some guests wished the roll had been toasted.
The fried shrimp basket has drawn mixed feelings. One diner felt the portion of shrimp was small for its price, so ordering from the raw bar may be the safer seafood bet.
Mixing Southern sides with raw bar picks makes for a well-rounded table. A plate of fried green tomatoes next to a dozen oysters covers both land and sea.
Food is only part of the fun, however. Once the sun dips, the whole room shifts gears.
Live Bands and a Loud, Lively Crowd
Quiet corners are not really the point here. The dining room can get loud, and that energy is part of the charm.
Live music fills the space in the evenings, and the open layout was built with bands in mind. Plenty of daytime guests leave planning a return trip for the music.
Bar seats are a hit for a quick drink and a small bite. Deviled eggs make a handy snack, and the staff behind the bar often gets praise for being friendly and knowledgeable.
Servers are frequently singled out for being kind, funny, and attentive. Solo diners, couples, and families all find a welcome here.
Groups looking for a big night out will feel at home. Couples hoping for a hushed, intimate dinner might do better at a calmer hour, such as a weekday lunch.
Late hours help the party stretch. On Friday and Saturday, doors stay open until 2 am, and Sunday runs until 1 am.
All that excitement does come with a few trade-offs worth planning around. Timing matters more than many first-time guests expect.
Hours, Parking, and Patience
Smart planning can turn a good meal into a great one. Here are the basics.
Sunday hours run from 10 am to 1 am, and Saturday runs from 10 am to 2 am. Monday through Thursday, the kitchen opens at 11 am and closes at 10 pm, while Friday stretches from 11 am to 2 am.
Expect to spend about $20 to $40 per person. Parking in the lot in front of the restaurant has been free on weekdays, which is a welcome break in a beach town.
Reservations are a good idea on busy nights. Weekday lunches are often calm enough that tables open up right away.
Speed is the main caution. Some guests have waited 45 minutes or more for appetizers, and others have dealt with missing utensils on packed nights.
Anyone heading to a show afterward, such as a concert at the Summer Stage, should leave plenty of buffer time. A relaxed Sunday brunch is a better match for the pace than a rushed dinner.
Mentioning a time limit to the server up front can help. With those tips in hand, only one question remains.
Worth Saving a Sunday For
A good Sunday needs three things, and this boardwalk kitchen checks every box. There is a view, a menu with character, and time to linger.
The ocean view gets nearly as much love as the food. Some guests call it priceless, and window seats make even a simple lunch feel special.
Southern classics hold the menu together. Fried green tomatoes, cornbread with honey lavender butter, and shrimp and grits give first-timers a clear place to start.
The raw bar and happy hour oysters add a coastal side. Live music and late hours keep the fun going long after brunch.
No place is perfect, and slow kitchen times on busy nights are a real concern. Going in with patience, or picking a quieter hour, helps a lot.
Overall, the restaurant holds a 4.3-star standing on Google, which reflects a mostly happy crowd. Many guests promise to return, and plenty do.
So plan an unhurried Sunday, claim a table by the window, and order those tomatoes first. The rest of the afternoon can sort itself out.
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