New Jersey’s dining scene is a pretty interesting one.
On the one hand, you’ve got more diners than you can count, each with a menu so large it could probably count as a novel.
But for every cheap burger special and fries or omelet served up in a Jersey diner, there’s an executive chef with impressive-sounding credentials crafting menu items with ingredients most locals can’t even begin to pronounce.
In fact, in recent years, there’s been an influx of high-end restaurants invading New Jersey. And some are popping up in odd places.
Lita, a small dining establishment tucked into the corner of a nondescript strip mall in Monmouth County, was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation “Best New Restaurant” category in 2024.
And while good pizza is not a particularly difficult thing to pull off in New Jersey, Jersey City’s Razza was named the No. 2 pizzeria in the country in 2023.
But even the best Jersey restaurants aren’t guaranteed to stick around forever. And now, one popular location is closing its doors for good.
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It’s the end of an era for one Jersey Shore restaurant
The Salt Creek Grille on the Navesink River in Rumson has long attracted locals and visitors from all over the Garden State. Not only is it known for its incredible views, but it also boasts an eclectic menu that caters to carnivorous and vegan patrons alike.
Now, the Salt Creek Grille’s owners have announced that they’ll be closing their doors for good.
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“We have come to the end of our lease, and while this chapter is coming to an end, the memories we created together will last a lifetime,” the announcement read.
The news is an especially hard pill to swallow given that the small chain’s Princeton location announced its closure only about a month earlier.
“Since COVID, we’ve faced ongoing challenges, and despite the dedication of our incredible team and the support of so many loyal guests, it is no longer sustainable to remain open,” that announcement read.
For years, the Salt Creek Grille maintained several thriving locations in New Jersey as well as California. The restaurant’s Valencia location is still open for business.
The Rumson location, meanwhile, will remain open until Dec. 31.
Local restaurant closures deal fans a harsh blow
Losing a local restaurant can be devastating for the people who dine there regularly. But while it’s one thing for a national chain to shutter locations, losing a smaller chain like the Salt Creek Grille is a tough pill to swallow.
For one thing, money spent at small chains is more likely to stay in the community. Small chains also tend to put more emphasis on quality than pumping out orders.
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Plus, smaller chains can tweak their menus based on locally available products. Any Jersey Shore resident will tell you that if there’s one benefit to living in a state with the highest property taxes in the nation, it’s access to fresh seafood. That’s something Salt Creek Grille did a great job of capitalizing on.
But perhaps the biggest blow will come to fans of the Salt Creek Grille’s famous chocolate souffle. The dish, which features rich chocolate ganache and a warm, molten center, eats like a meal by itself.
Fans of the souffle, in fact, tend to flock to the Salt Creek Grille for the express purpose of saving room for dessert. And while other restaurants have their own version of it, the level of decadence will be hard to emulate.
The Salt Creek Grille’s closure also begs another question: What business will pop up in its place?
With its sweeping waterfront views, the space is ideal for another restaurant or event hall. But there’s nothing to stop it from being turned into a warehouse.
That could deal fans of the restaurant a double whammy — no more chocolate goodness, and nothing fun or exciting to take its place.
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