A variety of new themes on Cookman Avenue. Larry Cadillac is a hair salon. We have never tried it. Blogfinger.net photo. 11/12/22
Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
Asbury Park has considerable turnover of Cookman shops. If you haven’t been there recently, it’s a nice walk to survey the cast of characters, including down the side streets. The more variety the better for them, and that seems to be happening.
We decided to go back to our new favorite restaurant the Black Swan because we enjoyed our visit there for fish and chips and onion rings.
We went over at about 6 pm on last Saturday night. Even then it was crowded. We hadn’t made a reservation, so the only place to sit was on a high table with high backs in the bar area. As we walked in a young couple held the door and told us that “the drinks are very good.”
We sat down and ordered. The crowd was so large that some were gathered standing around tables. Many people around us were having dinner.
The problem was the noise. It was the noisiest restaurant we have ever attended, and it was unbearable. People were having to shout to have a conversation. A lot of the crowd were young drinkers, laughing and talking loud. The other side of the Swan is spread out with regular tables, but we don’t know how loud that was. We had no trouble before when we went during the week at 5 pm
So, a word to the wise: make a reservation and avoid them on Saturday. The other idea I had in order to speak to Eileen during dinner was to call her on the phone.
PETE RODRIGUEZ: “I iLike It Like That” from the movie Chef
Pegi and I recently had a very similar experience on a Saturday night, 6:30 reservation with another couple. We struggled the entire night to have a conversation. The night was fun due to the company and the food but I don’t think I would go back on a busy night.