A . The Coastericans report today that the A. Park Bierhall will reopen in the future as a restaurant and not a German themed beerhall. That building supposedly requires a lot of rebuilding. Good luck with that since this restaurant will be within a quick walk across the New Jersey Ave bridge in the Grove.
Night life in AP as seen from the New Jersey Ave. bridge. A view of the Bierhall when it was functioning. Photo by Paul Goldfinger from the New Jersey Avenue bridge in Ocean Grove.. Click once to enlarge.
Here is a Blogfinger link about this building:
B, Pagano’s UVA Ristorante in Bradley Beach. 800 Main Street: The best Italian in the area.
UVA is our choice for the best Italian in the area with Jimmy’s (Asbury} a close second. Click to enlarge. Note the kitchen seen from the dining area where we were seated yesterday. 9/20/25. Click once to enlarge.
Chef/Owner Anthony Pagano of the UVA Ristorante has continued a long family tradition in Bradley Beach. He is located at Main Street, about 5 minutes from OG. We have been fans since we discovered them on Ocean Avenue in BB over 25 years ago. Chef Tony has brought with them a wonderful kitchen reminiscent of those that we used to visit in Little Italy in New York. And on the walls are photos of his 3 little girls, but who’s counting?
In UVA we enjoy the quality led by a special chef who has been with them for over 30 years. You can lean forward and compliment him as you leave.
UVA has a main room with an extension for parties in a private area. The wait staff is professional and friendly and they make you feel at home. The main room is presided over by Tony’s mom Rafaella Pagano. She came to our table with a big spoon and insisted on showing me how to share the calamari. Tony enjoys meeting and greeting as he patrols the dining areas.
Also there is a lively bar scene with table and bar seating and with live music. In the summer there is an outside sort-of tiki bar. We had a birthday party there this summer for 10 people, and it was great.
We love their pasta with garlic sauce. Eileen says that the food preparation is expertly done and with generous portions and she is the author of a cook book.*
We usually share their wonderful Caesar salad. I like their lamp chops cooked perfectly with that same garlic sauce. Their pizza is excellent.
Last night we ordered all appetizers: the shrimp, mussels with the usual garlic dunking sauce and pasta, and we especially started out with their fried calamari. That dish is often manhandled in other eateries, but this was great. We took home left overs including some of those rolls. No room for dessert. We actually had a second meal the next night back in the Grove..
They have a parking lot, but last night we parked in front.
*Eileen always orders the same dish at UVA: appetizer shrimp with garlic sauce and pasta, and it is incredible! The trademark Pagano rolls are made for dunking. The wine in the photo is a California Pinot Noir–mild and tasty. Paul Goldfinger photo
So go to UVA if you want to experience Saturday Night fever:
BEE GEES from Saturday Night Fever: