MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill is a successful and rapidly expanding New Jersey chain known for its massive menu, lively atmosphere, and commitment to being a local community sports bar.
Here is a breakdown of the history, unique features, menu highlights, customer feedback, and contact information for the restaurant.
What Makes MJ’s Unique
MJ’s stands out in the New Jersey dining scene due to its unique fusion of a modern sports bar with a vast, diner-esque menu that includes a full-service sushi bar.
- Diverse Menu Concept: While the atmosphere is centered on a classic bar and grill vibe—with ample TVs for sports—its menu is unusually broad, covering American bar favorites, classic entrées, specialty pizzas, and a full range of sushi, poke bowls, and Japanese-inspired cocktails. This variety ensures there is something for everyone.
- Community Hub & Live Entertainment: The various locations often feature daily specials, happy hour, and regular live music and DJ sets, establishing them as key local entertainment spots.
- Awards and Recognition: The business has been recognized as a top spot, including being voted one of the best sports bars in Central New Jersey by the Asbury Park Press and receiving a Best of Monmouth award from Monmouth Health and Life Magazine.
History and Expansion
The concept for MJ’s was born out of a lifelong friendship between co-owners Rob Webster (a former FBI agent and caterer) and Angelo DiCapua (a local pizzeria owner).
- Founding: The first MJ’s Pizza Bar & Grill opened in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, in June 2010.
- Rapid Growth: The duo quickly expanded their vision, opening multiple locations across Central and South Jersey within a few years, including Middletown (2011), Neptune (2011), and Matawan (2013). Today, the chain has over eight locations, demonstrating its widespread popularity.
- Banquets and Special Venues: The Matawan location is notable as it also houses the Buttonwood Manor, a banquet hall available for weddings and private affairs.
Highlight Menu Items
The menu is extensive, offering a wide range of options across multiple cuisines:
| Category | Highlighted Items | Description |
| Appetizers | Jumbo Chicken Wings | Highly praised by customers and frequently cited as “some of the best around.” |
| Fried Calamari, Bavarian Soft Pretzels | Popular bar favorites and starters. | |
| Entrées | Drunken Chicken Parm | A unique spin on the classic, made with a homemade pink vodka sauce. |
| Honey Garlic Salmon, Fire Braised Ribs | Hearty American dishes. | |
| MJ’s Signature Sirloin | A 10oz. center-cut filet topped with garlic butter. | |
| Pizza | Signature Pies and Build-Your-Own | Available in traditional, thin, whole wheat, and gluten-free crusts. |
| Sushi | Specialty Rolls, Poke Bowls | A full-service sushi bar in select locations, offering a culinary choice not typically found in a sports bar setting. |
Significant Events & Community Involvement
Beyond daily operations, MJ’s has been involved in several noteworthy events and community efforts:
- Charity Golf Outings: The restaurant hosts annual events like the MJ’s Golf Outing, which has historically raised money for foundations like the Rainbow Foundation. The owners emphasize a commitment to “donating and helping out.”
- Local Sponsorships: They are known for sponsoring local sports teams (softball and baseball), cementing their role in the community.
- Themed Nights: In the past, they’ve hosted local events like the Long Branch Harley Davidson Bike Night at their Neptune location, indicating a lively calendar of themed nights and promotions.
Customer Feedback
Customer reviews are often polarized, reflecting the nature of a multi-location, high-volume eatery:
- Positive Feedback: Patrons frequently praise the friendly and homey atmosphere, the excellent wings, the thin-crust pizza, and the overall sense of good value, noting that the business “gives a lot for the money.”
- Mixed/Negative Feedback: Common complaints often focus on perceived inconsistency in food quality across different menu items (outside of the noted specialties) and a notorious, loud birthday ritual involving drumming through the dining room, which some guests find disruptive.
Contact Information and Locations
MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill operates multiple locations throughout New Jersey. The primary website serves all locations.
| Detail | Information |
| Website | MJ’s Pizza Bar & Grill Restaurant |
| Facebook/Instagram | Search for “MJ’s Restaurant Bar & Grill” on social media platforms, as each location may manage its own dedicated page. |
Example Location (Original Tinton Falls):
| Detail | Information |
| Address | 1213 Sycamore Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 |
| Phone | (732) 542-3131 |
MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill is a successful and rapidly expanding New Jersey chain known for its massive menu, lively atmosphere, and commitment to being a local community sports bar.
Here is a breakdown of the history, unique features, menu highlights, customer feedback, and contact information for the restaurant.
What Makes MJ’s Unique
MJ’s stands out in the New Jersey dining scene due to its unique fusion of a modern sports bar with a vast, diner-esque menu that includes a full-service sushi bar.
- Diverse Menu Concept: While the atmosphere is centered on a classic bar and grill vibe—with ample TVs for sports—its menu is unusually broad, covering American bar favorites, classic entrées, specialty pizzas, and a full range of sushi, poke bowls, and Japanese-inspired cocktails. This variety ensures there is something for everyone.
- Community Hub & Live Entertainment: The various locations often feature daily specials, happy hour, and regular live music and DJ sets, establishing them as key local entertainment spots.
- Awards and Recognition: The business has been recognized as a top spot, including being voted one of the best sports bars in Central New Jersey by the Asbury Park Press and receiving a Best of Monmouth award from Monmouth Health and Life Magazine.
History and Expansion
The concept for MJ’s was born out of a lifelong friendship between co-owners Rob Webster (a former FBI agent and caterer) and Angelo DiCapua (a local pizzeria owner).
- Founding: The first MJ’s Pizza Bar & Grill opened in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, in June 2010.
- Rapid Growth: The duo quickly expanded their vision, opening multiple locations across Central and South Jersey within a few years, including Middletown (2011), Neptune (2011), and Matawan (2013). Today, the chain has over eight locations, demonstrating its widespread popularity.
- Banquets and Special Venues: The Matawan location is notable as it also houses the Buttonwood Manor, a banquet hall available for weddings and private affairs.
Highlight Menu Items
The menu is extensive, offering a wide range of options across multiple cuisines:
| Category | Highlighted Items | Description |
| Appetizers | Jumbo Chicken Wings | Highly praised by customers and frequently cited as “some of the best around.” |
| Fried Calamari, Bavarian Soft Pretzels | Popular bar favorites and starters. | |
| Entrées | Drunken Chicken Parm | A unique spin on the classic, made with a homemade pink vodka sauce. |
| Honey Garlic Salmon, Fire Braised Ribs | Hearty American dishes. | |
| MJ’s Signature Sirloin | A 10oz. center-cut filet topped with garlic butter. | |
| Pizza | Signature Pies and Build-Your-Own | Available in traditional, thin, whole wheat, and gluten-free crusts. |
| Sushi | Specialty Rolls, Poke Bowls | A full-service sushi bar in select locations, offering a culinary choice not typically found in a sports bar setting. |
Significant Events & Community Involvement
Beyond daily operations, MJ’s has been involved in several noteworthy events and community efforts:
- Charity Golf Outings: The restaurant hosts annual events like the MJ’s Golf Outing, which has historically raised money for foundations like the Rainbow Foundation. The owners emphasize a commitment to “donating and helping out.”
- Local Sponsorships: They are known for sponsoring local sports teams (softball and baseball), cementing their role in the community.
- Themed Nights: In the past, they’ve hosted local events like the Long Branch Harley Davidson Bike Night at their Neptune location, indicating a lively calendar of themed nights and promotions.
Customer Feedback
Customer reviews are often polarized, reflecting the nature of a multi-location, high-volume eatery:
- Positive Feedback: Patrons frequently praise the friendly and homey atmosphere, the excellent wings, the thin-crust pizza, and the overall sense of good value, noting that the business “gives a lot for the money.”
- Mixed/Negative Feedback: Common complaints often focus on perceived inconsistency in food quality across different menu items (outside of the noted specialties) and a notorious, loud birthday ritual involving drumming through the dining room, which some guests find disruptive.
Contact Information and Locations
MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill operates multiple locations throughout New Jersey. The primary website serves all locations.
| Detail | Information |
| Website | MJ’s Pizza Bar & Grill Restaurant |
| Facebook/Instagram | Search for “MJ’s Restaurant Bar & Grill” on social media platforms, as each location may manage its own dedicated page. |
Example Location (Original Tinton Falls):
| Detail | Information |
| Address | 1213 Sycamore Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 |
| Phone | (732) 542-3131 |
Other locations include Neptune, Matawan, Middletown, Long Branch, Spotswood, Brick, and Bayville. You can find contact information for all venues on their main website.
