Food gets 1 star - ordered a chicken sandwich which was this thin piece of dried out chicken on a giant stale roll. Â Drinks were decent but I think they do better at Beach Bar. Â
Reason I'm giving it 3 stars is their Yappy Hour. Â I like that its a place I can bring my dog to intermingle with others while I'm having a drink.
It's pretty crappy, went there last weekend, paid $5 to get in and listen to a crappy, hippie band, that played the same song twice.
Luckily they had ONE bartender that ignored almost everyone. Couldn't get a menu, couldn't order food or booze. Looks like the only pple who really like the Wonder Bar are people who were alive during the 60's and the regulars.....who are in their 60's or whatever.........
They danced to crappy music :-
And i guess its a great place to bring your dog to.....if you wanna have a beer with your dog :-
This place is very sketchy from the outside. A replica of Tilly smiles down at you beckoning you to enter... "if you dare!" But once inside, it's a really cool, cheap, fun Jersey shore beach. Sitting across the street from the Asbury Park boardwak, you're  a stone's through to the ocean. Drinks are cheap, bar staff is friendly and the patrons are, well, diverse. Bikers, old people, pimps and college kids, this place has them all. But the best part is summer time "Yappy hours". Outside bar and a place to bring your dog to socialize. "Honey, I'm talking the dog out for some exercise!" Check it out! It's Asbury Park at it's best!
Review Source:Update: Okay, I originally rated The Wonder Bar lower, but I recently saw a show here and it slightly improved my initial impressions. I still didn't eat there, so I still have that to look forward to...maybe.
Original: The history of AP Wonder Bar aside, I just can't get into this place. I'll partially take the blame because both of my visits weren't at the best times (mostly dead) and I didn't eat here. Draft beers served plastic cups doesn't help either. Maybe it's great to be here when it's busy or during one of their numerous shows/concerts. Eh, I don't know. Maybe we'll see someday.
I attended the Built to Spill concert on Saturday, 9/1/12 with a group of friends. The venue is an acceptable divey rock club, pretty ugly inside, but who really cares once the band hits the stage. The food is meh at best, but again, that's not why anyone goes to a nightclub.
The service, on the other hand, was atrocious. My issue with the waitress wasn't her so much as management, who completely understaffed a sold out show. So, when she accidentally brought me the wrong beer (we were seated at the outside patio area), I waited about fifteen minutes before taking it upon myself to go to the bar to simply exchange it for what I ordered.
Here's where the Wonder Bar gets the one-finger salute. I approached a bartender--a largish, middle aged gent--and explained the situation, asking if I could exchange my light beer for the IPA I ordered (I had taken one sip).
"I didn't serve you," the bartender said.
"I know, I got it from the waitress outside, but she's completely swamped, and hasn't gotten to our table in 15 minutes."
"Well, if I didn't serve you, how do I know you didn't just pick it up from a table somewhere?"
"....wha...?"
Being a surly bartender myself, I know when to fight and when to cut and run, so I just shot him my best "You have got to be kidding me" glare, rolled my eyes, shook my head, and walked away. I took the wrong beer back to my table and eventually the waitress returned and exchanged my beer.
Wonder Bar isn't the worst place on Earth, and this experience wouldn't prevent me from coming to another show there. But next time, I am avoiding that Fat F*$#.
interesting place. Â came here between bands during the ATP event for a quick bite to eat after doing a quick yelp search. Â menu only has a few items, most of them fried and/or greasy; but as others have said, i'm sure the place isn't known for its food. Â the steak sandwich, which was basically a cheesesteak, did the job for a quick bite .. and i'd imagine it's even better late night after some heavy boozing. Â decent beers on tap, and a stage for live music in the corner.
Review Source:The legendary Wonder Bar is a must-see for fans of The Boss making a pilgrimage to Asbury Park. The Stone Pony (which is awesome) gets the notoriety, but Wonder Bar has plenty of aura and history.
Aside from its association with Springsteen, Wonder Bar is a unique establishment (in case you couldn't tell from the outside) which offers a homey-feel and a great place for a few drinks just off the shore.
Although the menu is very limited, (I think there were something like 6-8 total options) the chicken fingers and fries were very good. Certainly not a place you would go out of your way to eat at, but if you're there drinking and need a "sponge" it will do just fine.
Bartender was very friendly, and was happy to share stories of her encounters with Bruce on the occasions in which he's popped in.
Adding to the intrigue was the fact that when we walked by in the afternoon, we noticed that their hours are not posted anywhere on the outside, and their website gives no indication either. We asked someone at a nearby Info Booth by the beach, and he said they open "usually around 7, and closing time varies. They kinda' do their own thing over there." Makes planning your visit a little difficult, but a welcome change from the uber-structured environment of most chain restaurants.
A very cool and unique place which sadly there are fewer and fewer of these days. If you're in the area, check it out.
Popped into Wonder Bar during ATP Fest as it seemed to be a local icon second only to the Stone Pony, plus Wonder Bar was offering a free no-cover show with local bands playing original music that didn't sound like Bruce. Â Let me make it clear I have nothing against Bruce, I dig him actually, but ATP Fest has a totally different head and besides there was enough "Jersey Shore Sound" emanating from the Stone Pony up the street already. Â (I would add that the next day, Wonder Bar was back to having some guy playing "Thunder Road" so loud you could hear it across the street, so maybe the original local bands were just a special touch for the ATP occasion.)
Wonder Bar came off like a cool little place - a big bar, an open area in front of the band stage, some retro tables for eating food indoors, and the food counter also opens onto the street so you can order there and I guess take it back to the beach or wherever you're going. Â The cops policing the street all seemed to be eating here. Â I dunno if that means it's good or if they get a discount. Â I do know that I would rather get food here than on the Boardwalk having possibly gotten some food poisoning from a Boardwalk stand the next day. Â I have a feeling the cops don't eat at places that make 'em need to hit the head 15 times in 8 hours.
I did not eat anything as I didn't happen to be hungry, but did get a drink and the bartenders were quick, pretty and friendly and the drink was good. Â
Only minus was that this is a very open-air place and had both side doors and some side windows in addition to the front food service window open, and it was getting pretty cold outside after dark and the winds whistling through made it sort of like a picnic shelter, so it is probably nicer in the warmer months rather than early October. Â Once it gets cold I would rather be up the street at the Lanes.
Friendly bartenders and a welcoming atmosphere is what the Wonder Bar has to offer its patrons. When Springsteen sings about "those cheap little seashore bars" this place always pops into my head. Only been one time to see The E Street Shuffle, but I danced my ass off and had a ball. Someone ordered a cheeseburger and it looked amazing. I hope to pop in sometime again real soon!
Review Source:Beach Blanket Bingo meets Dog Towel Doozer.
Who knew the Wonder Bar would go to the dogs? They converted the backyard into a lot-sized dog park that hosts Yappy Hour. Bring your dog, chill with friends, and take in the Asbury scene with a closeup view of the boardwalk and Convention Hall.
Beware you and Bowser are paying overhead with cheap beer specials they must charge more for the food, but the food isn't why you are here.
wonder bar outdoors is a disheveled agility course for dogs and some dog people who are dizzily working on bucket drinks in the heat. depending on the person, this can be win or a sorry situation. The food is expensive for pre-packaged frozen deep fried foods that are in the same group of underfunded gradeschool lunch. Based on the reviews, I had higher hopes but like a dog-specific place to hang out in the sun.
Review Source:another place that rehashes anything remotely concerning bruce springsteen. give it up.trying to cater to the generic bar crowd by booking cover bands. ugh.just what a town that has survived on punk rock and original music needs: mediocre, generic 'bands' trying to draw in people that would bolt from asbury park the first sign of trouble.
bets on when the next closing party (they had two in three years) is gonna be.
The Wonder Bar is Wonderful =) The food is ok and a bit pricey for what it is... burgers, fries and chicken fingers. Â However after a few bucket drinks everything will be OK. Â Seriously the bucket drinks are yummy, they are some rum concoction in a small sand bucket. Â Happy times! Â Something you should know is that wonder bar does charge a cover even if you go early to eat/drink without the intention of staying for the band =( Â and if you think you can sneak in before hand or say that you're just coming to eat then think again. We came in to grab a bucket drink and a burger and were charged the cover even though the band wasn't coming on for another few hours! When we left they weren't even setting up yet! That's why only 4 stars. Â Parking near the Wonder Bar is not that hard if you time it right. Â Street parking only so you will have to pay the robot muni-meter. Â
The Wonder Bar has been an Asbury Park staple through all the town's changes... it definitely has it's own share of AP history, just like the Stone Pony.
All in all the Wonder Bar is part of any respectable Asbury Park experience!
It's a dog park with a bar. What more could a dog lover ask for?
They have several staff members scattered throughout keeping a close eye on the dogs and manning the gates. (You'd think people would know not to open the second entry gate while the first is open... but plenty don't!)
I stay away from the food but that's not what I'm there for. I did have a hamburger and fries once. There was nothing terribly wrong with them but they were expensive for being so mediocre.
They have decent drink specials. I like the $5 Cherry Pepsi (Pepsi + Cherry Jim Beam).
The Wonder Bar would be a great bar if they hired more bartenders for nights that they know they are going to be busy. Â Gets to the point that I order 2 shots and 2 beers when I finally get service so that I don't have to worry about waiting at the bar and I can have fun. Â When I decide I want a drink again, I have to give myself at least a half hour. Â If the service wasn't so terrible on busy nights, they would get 4 stars
Review Source:This was a cool bar to duck into when we needed food and a break from our day at the beach. Â Our immediate service was good - we got beers ASAP. Â But, there was a lot of lag time after that to order food and more beers. Â It took a while to get the food but it was worth it because it was pretty good. Â I actually had a veggie burger here, which was good (not just soy veggie - it actually had chunks of carrots and peas in it). Â My friend's hamburger was very good, too, although he did lament about the days when the burger would have cost $3.50 rather than the $8.50 it costs now. Â It also costs an additional $1.00 to add cheese to a burger which is just kind of annoying. Â I also added cheese to my fries and the cheese fries creation was quite tasty.
I would definitely return here to hang out on a beach day and would also like to return here for music, too, if I had a good reason to return, which I don't, so I am sure I won't be back.
"Discovered" this place in December 2005 (actually on 12/26) when I was walking around AP with my sons who were in for the holidays.
We all had sandwiches and beers made even more enjoyable when we convinced my youngest son to treat all of us. This is a good place to go for a burger , beer and onion rings and just hang out. The crowd is eclectic and the age range goes from "just barely legal" to "ready to check out".
I hope that this place can somehow be spared the wrecking ball. Even the people who will be living in the new high rise buildings will need a down to earth local bar.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
