It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Longstreet Farm gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Little Silver, NJ is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“As we wind down our trip to New Jersey both Megan and I wish to”
“A special shoutout to our primary caregivers: Marie C. and Florette P.. They were outstanding!”
“Terrific company. Management is tops. Very caring staff. I highly recommend them.”
“Always Best Care Senior Services in Princeton Junction exceeded our expectations. Their team was kind,”
“Could not have asked for a more caring group of professionals. From care giver to”
“ABC COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER IN A CHANGING SITUATION WITH TWO TERMINALLY PATIENTS HAVING”
“Always best care took care of my father for about 10 years..Though my father was”
“ABC and their amazing care givers enabled our Aunt to get her last wish was”
“Mom developed an infection in the afternoon that left her too weak and disoriented to”
“Faithful, Love, and Family.”
“Very professional organization and sent the right aide, Sam, to help me with my father”
“I had a great experience with the agency, Always Best Care! I am attending college,”
“Roberto took care of my husband like he was a member of his family. He”
“The aide's were respectful, reliable and friendly and staff responds timely to calls and needs”
“Everyone was great. I’ve come a long way due to the help of your aides.”
“You have a GEM in Mrs. Terry. She is worth so much more than she”
“Very very helpful, I was desperate when I called and that same day I had”
“We had an exceptionally good experience with Always Best Care during my mother's illness. The”
“Thank you Jahima, Esther, Satta, Myra, Kelly & Susan. Carmen should be pleased. Keep up”
“Words cannot express how grateful my family and I am for the kindness, care, and”
“Gimbert & Carmen were very accommodating and knowledgeable with the needs of my father. They”
“You have been outstanding in caregiving and concern for us both. We cannot thank you”
“Gimbert and Carmen Fernandez are very knowledgeable in the area of elder care services and”
“My wife and I are eternally grateful to Always Best Care for the wonderful care”
“Your service was just what I needed. I would not hesitate to use your services”
“As we wind down our trip to New Jersey both Megan and I wish to thank you personally and Always Best Care for taking care of our needs! Your professionalism and support made our experience pleasant. After having experienced three different service providers in Maryland I can say your services are above par! And Ernesta is truly supportive of Megan’s needs. She is calm, compassionate and respectful. Also your on call service is very quick to react to our changing needs!”
“A special shoutout to our primary caregivers: Marie C. and Florette P.. They were outstanding! And extra thanks to Carli, who always came through when we needed backup. Many thanks to the ABC team for all the care you gave to my husband Al H. through 3 years of Parkinson's suffering, and the support you gave me through a hard time.”
“Terrific company. Management is tops. Very caring staff. I highly recommend them.”
“Always Best Care Senior Services in Princeton Junction exceeded our expectations. Their team was kind, attentive, and provided excellent care tailored to our family’s needs. Communication was clear and supportive throughout. We’re so grateful for their compassion and professionalism. Highly recommend them for anyone seeking trusted senior home care in the area!”
“Could not have asked for a more caring group of professionals. From care giver to support staff, they are exceptional”
“ABC COULD NOT HAVE DONE BETTER IN A CHANGING SITUATION WITH TWO TERMINALLY PATIENTS HAVING ALZ AND STAGE IV PANCREATIC CANCER. QUALITY OF CARE TAKER WAS SUPERB AND RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING NEEDS PERFECT.”
“Always best care took care of my father for about 10 years..Though my father was very lucid and managed his own care with the agency, I was at his house alot and participated in his care with the aids. They were all very caring and he kindly spoke of the owners being very attentive and offered very personalized care. They even visited him. I am very fond of many of the home health aids..they were loving and concerned. They took their job to another level. I even formed friendships with some of them. The golden years are a very delicate part of our lives. Always best care not only offered good physical care to my father, but unbounded love and compassion !!!! Thank you and he is looking down at us. I'm sure.”
“ABC and their amazing care givers enabled our Aunt to get her last wish was to die in her home. I can’t say enough about how ABC was able to give her a quality of life that she valued as well as provide comfort to her family knowing that she was in good hands with ABC's Caregivers. From the caregivers that always went the extra mile to the fast response we got 24x7 from folks like Carli…you were there for us!”
“Mom developed an infection in the afternoon that left her too weak and disoriented to care for herself for that night. I called Always Best Care Senior Services (ABC) at the very end of the business day, asking if they could find someone for one night of 12-hour private duty care on pretty much an emergency basis. The ABC team went to work and secured a caregiver for mom within a matter of hours for an 8pm-to-8am care shift at mom's senior living community. We had worked with ABC in the past on a scheduled basis, but this experience was above and beyond the call of regular duty and it truly helped us get through a difficult and stressful episode. We would recommend ABC for any and all of your senior care needs.”
“Faithful, Love, and Family.”
“Very professional organization and sent the right aide, Sam, to help me with my father in day to day activities. Sam helps him with gait training and understands dementia care and how to handle care, the way the client needs it. I would not hesitate using this agency and Sam is excellent.”
“I had a great experience with the agency, Always Best Care! I am attending college, and they always provided me an aide that is helpful, considerate, and hardworking. Thank you for always providing me with an aide like Ms. Colleta!!”
“Roberto took care of my husband like he was a member of his family. He was God sent; thank God for him”
“The aide's were respectful, reliable and friendly and staff responds timely to calls and needs”
“Everyone was great. I’ve come a long way due to the help of your aides. Thank you again!”
“You have a GEM in Mrs. Terry. She is worth so much more than she is paid! I miss her. Her help was timely, professional, and invaluable”
“Very very helpful, I was desperate when I called and that same day I had professional help. Tremendous your service”
“We had an exceptionally good experience with Always Best Care during my mother's illness. The management met with us and assigned caregivers almost immediately. As our needs evolved and increased, they were responsive and flexible. The caregivers were well-trained, kind, hard-working, and truly fine people whom we enjoyed having in the house.”
“Thank you Jahima, Esther, Satta, Myra, Kelly & Susan. Carmen should be pleased. Keep up the good work, and be safe!”
“Words cannot express how grateful my family and I am for the kindness, care, and concern that was shown for my husband by the Always Best Care staff. Thank you for the exceptional attention to his comfort, as well as the wonderful insights, strength, knowledge, and emotional support you showed our entire family. Watching someone you love make the transition out of this life is a really difficult thing, and your wisdom and comfort helped us navigate this challenging time. I will always be thankful for the service you provided for him. I would also like to acknowledge the excellent care provided to my husband by Ms. Marie Louisjean. We thank Ms. Louisjean for her incredible patience, tenderness, and attention to his needs. We thank her for being such a dedicated caregiver. God has given her a very special talent and He has blessed her with a compassionate heart. I could not have asked for a more passionate group of people. May God continue to bless the Always Best Care staff as you continue to care for people in need.”
“Gimbert & Carmen were very accommodating and knowledgeable with the needs of my father. They came out to his house and offered suggestions so that he would be able to get around with his walker easily. Their person took great care of my Dad. It is such a relief to my sister and I that we had someone stay with my Dad that was so reliable. I highly recommend them.”
“You have been outstanding in caregiving and concern for us both. We cannot thank you enough. Thanks for always being there for us in every way.”
“Gimbert and Carmen Fernandez are very knowledgeable in the area of elder care services and how best to provide workable care solutions for aging relatives. They are well informed on current issues and available options. I speak from my own experience here and strongly recommend then and their company to anyone in need of assistance in this area. They are compassionate and caring people which is critical in their business!”
“My wife and I are eternally grateful to Always Best Care for the wonderful care they provided for our Aunt and Uncle as they battled with diminishing health and mental conditions. Carmen and Gimbert were always available to us to answer questions and discuss aspects of care that was needed. Without their help the situations that we faced would have been so much worse. God Bless.”
“Your service was just what I needed. I would not hesitate to use your services in the future if needed. I would recommend you to anyone needing your help. Again, thank you for caring.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Little Silver Nature Trail with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Raven the Peach or visit Twin Lights State Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Little Silver, NJ, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Little Silver, NJ understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Little Silver, NJ 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Tucked in a charming pocket of Monmouth County, Little Silver is a small town with big appeal.Known for its excellent schools, scenic waterfront properties and strong sense of community, it’s easy to see how new Italian restaurant Locale fits into that landscape. Since opening last December, the eatery has quickly become a well-loved neighborhood spot, welcoming guests with that very principle they build the restaurant on.“The name ‘Locale&rsq...
Tucked in a charming pocket of Monmouth County, Little Silver is a small town with big appeal.
Known for its excellent schools, scenic waterfront properties and strong sense of community, it’s easy to see how new Italian restaurant Locale fits into that landscape. Since opening last December, the eatery has quickly become a well-loved neighborhood spot, welcoming guests with that very principle they build the restaurant on.
“The name ‘Locale’ stemmed from the conversations we had in the early days, wanting to embody that homey, neighborhood feel,” owner Tom Ottaiano told NJ Advance Media. “We want people to come in here and feel like family, and feel the love through the food and the people.”
Tom and his brother and business partner, Giuseppe, are no strangers to the restaurant industry. As first generation Italian-Americans who grew up at their father’s Livingston eatery, Calabria Restaurant & Pizzeria, they wanted to bring their passion and experience to an area where they felt something was missing.
Along with executive chef Anthony Palermo and executive sous chef Claudio Pienti, they curated a menu that celebrates the foods they grew up eating.
“Everything about this place is local,” Ottaiano said. “We have our own vegetable garden out back, and source as many of our ingredients from local farms and suppliers as possible. Our meat comes from the Butcher’s Block in Long Branch, seafood from the Highlands, vegetables from a nearby farm. We make whatever we can in-house, like our fresh mozzarella and pasta.”
As the only restaurant in Little Silver with a liquor license, Locale instantly stood out as a place for guests to enjoy an elite complete meal, including craft cocktails and a curated wine list.
“We found out we were going to acquire a liquor license halfway through the process, which really changed things for us, including the restaurant’s design,” Ottaiano said.
I popped in on a busy Friday night, eager to experience Locale’s farm-to-table, hospitality-focused approach first hand.
The eggplant caprese ($24) was a refreshing twist on rollatini, featuring tender eggplant topped with burrata, fresh garden tomatoes and basil. The crispy, breaded eggplant added great texture against the tender tomatoes and creamy burrata. This was a really nice, well-portioned starter that I would absolutely order again.
A pizza oven shipped over from Naples is one of the focal points of the dining room and overall experience, so it was only natural to sample one of Locale’s Neapolitan-style pizzas.
We went with the classic margherita ($20), a 12-inch thin crust pie that was light, balanced and delicious. I would have appreciated a bit more char on the crust, which was also much less puffy than traditional Neapolitan-style pies. But overall, it was a solid iteration of a margherita. Locale’s robust take-out pizza operation features traditional sized, 16-inch, New York-style pizzas which I didn’t sample, but looked very appealing when I caught glimpses of them getting boxed up.
Another one of my favorite bites was the balsamic wings ($24), a pile of sticky, tangy, balsamic-coated and sesame seed-topped chicken wings. Aside from the addictive zing, the wings themselves were moist and meaty. Keep your napkin handy for these. They’re worth the mess.
But the winning dish of the night was the bucatini cacio e pepe ($29). Locale makes all of their pasta in-house, so I was a little concerned that fresh pasta in this dish might end up being overcooked. Luckily the bucatini was cooked perfectly, and the sauce took me right back to Italy. Cacio e pepe is a simple, classic preparation that gets butchered all too often. I would put Locale’s cacio e pepe up against anything you’d find in Rome.
I also enjoyed the fusilli vodka ($29), a creamy, tomato-based dish with a nice kick thanks to Calabrian chilies. The pasta was a touch overcooked, but otherwise it was a delicious and balanced version of what has become a wildly popular Italian-American dish.
Locale has a pretty substantial menu of specials that changes weekly. Almond biscotti ($15) were available the night I visited. They were made by Tom Ottaiano’s wife Sara and served with a coffee mousse for dipping. The combination was perfect, and a nice light way to end the meal.
I had to sample one of their core desserts and went with the tiramisu ($12). Smooth and fluffy with a great ratio of coffee-soaked biscuit to cream, it was exactly what you’d expect. It was nothing out of the ordinary, yet completely satisfying.
At the bar you can sip everything from a negroni bianco ($17) with Luxardo Bitter Bianco to a tiki spritz ($17) featuring Drumshanbo pineapple gin, passionfruit Bergamont and prosecco. The variety is appreciated, especially considering this is the only liquor license in town.
With a long list of beers from as close as North Jersey and as far as the Netherlands plus an extensive wine list that emphasizes reds (fitting for an Italian restaurant with options by the glass or bottle) the liquor license is being put to good use and makes a visit to Locale worth it even if you just want want drinks.
Among the many dishes I enjoyed, there were a few that were misses. The panzanella burrata ($24) felt a little disjointed, and more like a Greek salad with a ball of burrata on top. The salad was crisp and tasty, but the addition of the burrata felt too heavy. The dairy combined with the acid from the red wine vinegar dressing competed rather than complimented. I would have preferred the burrata with just the tomatoes or the salad on its own.
I was very excited for the meatballs with ricotta ($25), but their flavor fell flat. Made with a blend of beef, veal and pork, they were one-dimensional and lacked the necessary aromatics and seasoning. The tomato sauce was also on the thin side and needed needed a bit more salt. The presentation was beautiful, but I was left longing for more flavor.
I had high hopes for Nonna’s chicken parm ($42), a gorgeous dish of layered cutlets smothered in pomodoro sauce and topped with melty mozzarella and fresh basil. Once again the presentation was top notch, but the flavor and texture left something to be desired.
The cutlets themselves weren’t as crispy as some exceptional parms that I’ve had. Plus the dish on a whole was a bit bland, also needing more salt. The sauce, although bright and clean tasting, lacked that “cooked all day” depth of flavor of a classic Sunday sauce.
Locale really nails the cozy, welcoming, neighborhood vibe. Woods and warm tones outfit the space and a long bar area flows seamlessly into the dining area.
The pizza counter is a standout feature — a place where guests can dine while watching the pizzaiolo stretch, dress and bake pizzas. The enclosed patio area is a bit more stark with more of an al fresco feel, and offers options for larger parties.
Intimate enough for a date, but casual enough for a week night meal, Locale has range, making it a great choice for all occasions. The Italian touches — jars of homemade sauce on display and their very own vegetable garden in the parking lot — add elements of nostalgia and a nod to ownerships Italian heritage, which were palpable through each touch of our table and management’s constant engagement with guests throughout the dining room.
For an approachable, somewhat elevated Italian-American dining experience, Locale hits the mark. The feeling of family and elite level of hospitality were standouts, making for a fluid and comfortable dining experience.
While many of the dishes were well-executed, there could be a bit more consistency across the menu. Their liquor license is a major asset, affording guests the option to order drinks in a town whose restaurants otherwise cannot. Locale is open from Tuesday through Sunday for lunch, dinner and takeout. Stay tuned for for their plans for a bigger presence across the state in the near future.
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Chris Gotterup, who grew up playing in Little Silver, competed in The British Open after he won the Scottish Open in July. See details:MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Monmouth County golfer and Rutgers alumnus Chris Gotterup had a one-of-a-kind birthday on Sunday, after he placed third at the British Open Championship in Northern Ireland.Gotterup, 26, earned his spot in the championship after he won the Sc...
MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Monmouth County golfer and Rutgers alumnus Chris Gotterup had a one-of-a-kind birthday on Sunday, after he placed third at the British Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
Gotterup, 26, earned his spot in the championship after he won the Scottish Open earlier in July, securing his second PGA Tour Title and beating Grand Slam Champion Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
On Sunday, Gotterup finished third in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, falling just behind Harris English, who finished in second, and Scottie Scheffler, who finished in first.
Though Gotterup didn’t win the overall competition, he still expressed pride in his performance and received plenty of love from friends, family and his fellow New Jerseyans.
“I really, really did everything well, and I was really proud of how I started,” Gotterup said of the competition in an interview following the championship. “I felt like I had a good head on my shoulders all day and really was trying to focus on being present in my round.”
Rob Shutte, the head coach of golf at Rutgers University, shared in the celebration following Gotterup’s performance, stating in a Rutgers Athletics article that Gotterup is showing the world what Rutgers has always known — that he’s capable of greatness.
"It's fun to see Chris show off that New Jersey toughness on the global scale. His pride, his talent, humility, and work ethic make this fun to watch for all of us,” Shutte said. “The pride and support we have felt from our RU fan base has been amazing. He's showing the world what we at Rutgers have always known — that he's capable of greatness."
In addition to his Scottish Open victory and third-place win at the British Open, Gotterup has also won the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic, according to his PGA Tour bio.
While he was born in Maryland, he grew up and played in Little Silver over the years, and comes from a family of athletes. His father, Morten, has five NJ State Golf Association victories, and his sister, Anna, attends the U.S. Naval Academy and competes on the women’s lacrosse team.
Following his time at the British Open, Gotterup will now return to the U.S. with a third-place victory and around $2.7 million that he earned in eight days, according to the PGA Tour website.
The Monmouth County golfer will also leave the competition with the memory of a unique birthday celebration, as he was surprised at The Open with a birthday cake from Sky Sports Golf for his 26th birthday.
“Appreciate the love from The Open,” Gotterup said in an online post following the championship. “Let’s keep her rollin.”
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