Very good Bar/Restaurant
The service is quick and friendly. Food is very good, presented with no fanfare, just a hearty meal. Burgers are cooked right at the bar and are excellent. Specials are usually very tasty and are a little more exotic than the standard menu. If you are the type of person that likes to eat at the bar this is a great place, thats where you'll get the best service. The bar seats about 40 people and overlooks the Manasquan River. The TV's are not good quality or located very well, so if you're there to watch a game pick your seat carefully.
The Bathrooms are the only drawback. They are old and in need of an update. The mens room is very small and very cold in the winter. There is a handicapped bathroom that I see the employees use.
Parking is no problem at night, they have a parking lot, theres on street parking, and the lot of another building accross the street.
It's a very nice atmosphere overlooking the Manasquan River. In the summer its nice to watch the boats go by.
I recommend Harpoon Willys highly. Good location, reasonable prices, good atmosphere. And if you participate in Upromise they return ten percent of the total check.    []

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Recommended Dishes: Burgers and specials

     ­njbob, Point Pleasant   jmtfo at hotmail dot com

Comfortable Atmosphere
The atmosphere at the bar is very friendly... they make the best burgers around, and I know my burgers! The bathrooms are kind of seedy, though. Great place to sit in a snowstorm with the huge wall of windows overlooking the river.    [16 Apr 2004 15:48:10]

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Recommended Dishes: Burger at the bar

     ­jrsycoll   jrsycoll at hotmail dot com

Best decorated and coziest fireplace
Harpoon Willy's is the place to be in winter with the fireplace going and a wall of windows to watch the snow falling on the Manasquan River as you eat a great meal with friendly service. In summer, we watch the boats go by. At Halloween, the staff dresses in full costume -- lots of fun. But, no matter what time of year, the fireplace is decorated to the season.    [29 Dec 2004 21:32:06]

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Recommended Dishes: specials, burgers and a great grilled chicken salad

     ­Anonymous   

New Owners
Harpoon Willy's just reopened after Christmas of 2007. They remodeled the dining room, bar and bathrooms. Great atmosphere, great food. Still serves burgers and nachos while seafood and filet mignon (my favorite) are also an excellent choice.
Tonight I had Martinis, Lobster Fennel Salad, Risotto with Wild Oyster Mushrooms and the best Creme Brulee I've ever had! Oh my God, the food was wonderful!!
Waitress and busboys are professional and very friendly. A few flaws but they are working through them since they just opened.
Chef Christopher Ross, formerly from Mahogany Grille, came out to greet customers, as did owner Jim (don't remember last name) Nice touch.
Last Friday was a 1.5 hour wait, so I suggest you call ahead for reservations.    [23 Jan 2008 21:40:37]

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Recommended Dishes: Try different dishes each time you go!!

     ­LoveNJ   

The New Harpoon Willy's
Harpoon Willy's is under new ownership & new management. It has been renovated and is meticulously clean... a cozy atmosphere, whether you are seated at the bar, near the fireplace, or on the loft. The service is efficient and friendly, and the food is fantastic! A very pleasant dining experience!!!    [03 Feb 2008 12:38:47]

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     ­Anonymous   

Typical Waterfront Restaurant
We visited Harpoon Willy's after the reopening in January. Although the renovation of the building was magnificent, the charm, good food , and hospitality were gone. Small portions of what seemed to be unfinished plates were served, course on top of course. Is this Fridays? The person behind the bar informed us that this is the "New" Harpoon Willy's, then walked away literally cursing us.    [20 Feb 2008 10:37:10]

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     ­Dissatisfied   

Just the Place
Delicious food in a great atmosphere. The new owners fixed the place up nicely and the new menu is fantastic. I love this place.    [21 Feb 2008 17:26:09]

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Recommended Dishes: Fish soup

     ­WeekendWarrior   

Rude Rude Rude
We dined at Harpoon Willy's last week for the second time since the new owners took over. The first time was quite the disaster. We blamed it on them just opening and in the midst of working out the kinks. Last week, our experience with the food was much better. We did find it a bit pricey for what was offered.
We sat at the bar as we almost always do. The bartender who served us was short with us and seemed to have an attitude right from the start. She got our drinks, never offered us menus and threw our bill right up in front of us like she wanted us to pay immediately. I noticed everyone elses was on the inside rail of the bar. I noticed this bartender must have been some kind of manager because we saw and heard her yelling... yes, yelling about the staff being a bunch of "morons". That is not something I need to hear as a customer. Now attentive to this "show", we heard a barrage of sexual comments about customers she obviously knew. The last straw was some kind of "hillbilly" statement that seemed to be directed at us! Who does this person think she is? I own my own electrical construction company and dress properly and consider myself overly polite and well-mannered. I will not go back to a place where I am not wanted. Talk about negative advertising!
We stayed and had dinner - in the dining room- and did enjoy it as well as the service. Unfortunately, we won't go back and recommend folks staying away from the bar and going directly to the dining room if they do choose this place.    [04 Jul 2008 12:42:09]

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     ­Anonymous   

First Class Bar
My wife and I visited Harpoon Willy's this past weekend on a Saturday afternoon after seeing an advertisement in the Coast Star. We like to sit at the bar, but were a little hesitant seeing how busy it looked at the time. We took a chance, and let me tell you, I'm glad we did. The bartender had it down to a science! Our drinks and beer were served to us almost immediately -- beer in chilled pints. Nice touch. We looked at menus but were looking for a recommendation being it was our first time in the place. The bartender, as busy as he was, helped us out describing some of the menu items and specials and then pointing to the grill at a slew of burgers cooking. That sold us. Needless to say, the burgers were delicious and the attention given to the presentation while tending the rest of the bar was unbelievable. We asked if this fellow was a manager or an owner. He made a joke and said "No. I'm your bartender!" We believe in rewarding places who are doing things right and we give the place and this guy kudos! Did not wait for a drink, great attitude, and a "get it right at all costs" mentality made this place a winner on our list. Only bad thing was I couldn't convince this guy to come work for me as I own a restaurant in Ocean County.    [07 Oct 2008 16:03:19]

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Recommended Dishes: Hard to beat the burgers!

     ­DvrDeep66