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The Asbury Park boardwalk was the subject of two stories in the Sunday New York Times today. The coverage comes on the heels of another Sunday story in June about emerging creative businesses in downtown Asbury Park.

Times writer Karla Cook gave Cubacan restaurant [shown above] the second highest rating — “Worth It” — that the paper gives in its restaurant reviews. Cook praised both managing chef Ken Mansfied’s cuisine and the restaurant’s boardwalk atmosphere.

From the Times review:

I can pinpoint the moment that Cubacàn made my list of beach favorites: My sister and I were sitting at an umbrella-shaded table on the Boardwalk, looking through the summer haze to the Atlantic. In the lull that often occurs after a good meal, I was studying the view: the parade of people, the range of tattoos and my favorite, one of those street performers who collect tips for holding a pose as long as possible, dressed in a spray-painted golden business suit, standing atop an overturned box. I thought of the discipline required for such motionlessness on a steamy late afternoon.

And then, unbidden, our waiter brought us two fresh glasses of iced tea.

Cubacan is the sister restaurant to Stella Marina with the same ownership. Both are located in the southernmost pavilion on the boardwalk across the street from the Empress Hotel. Also in the pavilion are Watermark lounge, Robert Legere Beach and Just Another Days ice cream.

Another article in today’s Sunday Times Magazine raised the question whether Red Bank native Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem is the heir to Bruce Springsteen. The magazine article by Lizzy Goodman features George Tice photos of the band in Convention Hall and on the Asbury Park boardwalk.

To read the full Cubacan restaurant review, click here. The Gaslight Anthem article on Brian Fallon can be found here, and the Sun story in June about the Times coverage of the emerging downtown businesses is yours with a click here.

 

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