The Old Bay Restaurant Gets Total Makeover in New Brunswick

The Old Bay Restaurant in downtown New Brunswick has always been a favorite of mine. Between their New Orleans cuisine, their full craft beer line up, and special events (my favorite Oktoberfest party), you can’t go wrong with visiting this restaurant. So when I was invited to a press event to try new food and cocktails off of their new menu, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

The Old Bay Restaurant has been open for 30 years and is known as New Jersey’s premier New Orleans-style restaurant. With their new menu, the restaurant has expanded their New Orleans cuisine to include more fresh seafood options.

We started the evening with their crispy fried calamari which was tossed in their Asian Sweet Heat sauce:

as well as their popcorn shimp in a remoulade sauce

…and my favorite, their mini crab and shrimp cakes.

For cocktails we enjoy their “Pirate’s Booty” (Captain Morgan’s Private Stock with Orange Bitters and Maple Syrup) and Great Lakes Elliot Ness.

For those who love a New Orleans Po Boy, the Old Bay Restaurant has many to choose from including shrimp, crawfish, catfish, and eggplant for the vegetarians.

Their fresh fish menu is what got me really excited! You can now enjoy ahi tuna steak, catfish, and Atlantic swordfish (to name a few) prepared in different styles like lobster sauce, Bourban glaze, and Tahiatan pineapple salsa.

For those who don’t enjoy seafood, they’ll enjoy the new 50/50 burger, which is 50% applewood smoked bacon and 50% choice ground sirloin, topped with BBQ sauce and melted cheddar cheese. I enjoyed mine with their new “Pasquale Mule” (Ketel One, lime juice, ginger beer, habanero bitters, and jalapenos).

If you’ve got room for dessert, definitely try their Southern Bread Pudding with Bourban Sauce or their chocolate salted caramel ice cream sandwich.

Additionally the Old Bay Restaurant has gotten a makeover from the inside out. They still have the same open flow, but the walls have a beautiful new, light paint color.

Their craft beer menu is something that the restaurant has always taken pride in, and they have redone their bar to accommodate their selection.

I also dug their new logo:

If you haven’t been to the Old Bay Restaurant or you haven’t been in a while, I would definitely recommend checking it out in the near future! Great food, great cocktails, great craft beer, in a fun and easy going environment.

For Additional Information on the Old Bay Restaurant:
Address: 61 Church St, New Brunswick, NJ; (732) 246-3111

Find them on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram