Stir Terrace - Manalapan

**Parking:** We parked across the street **Price per person:** $30–50 **Food:** 5/5 **Service:** 5/5 **Atmosphere:** 5/5 **Parking space:** Plenty of parking available **Parking options:** Free parking lot

The ambiance is stunning, offering an ocean view just steps away. The staff goes above and beyond to accommodate us, rearranging tables and umbrellas to provide shade from the bright sun. We all loved the food, which was both carefully prepared and beautifully presented. It’s a tranquil and peaceful setting, perfect for enjoying conversations with special guests.

A lovely and serene venue for an evening of cocktails.

Unfortunately, our experience at Stir was far from satisfactory. We waited around for a significant amount of time without anyone greeting us. Eventually, we approached the front desk to inquire about the procedure for dining at Stir. We were informed that we could sit anywhere in the inner lobby since all the bar tables were occupied. We chose a comfortable sofa and waited another 10-15 minutes before we finally managed to catch a server's attention. We ordered drinks along with water, but the unfiltered water we received was unpleasant. The hotel does provide bottled water at the front desk, so our son went to get some, which was a much better option. I enjoyed my blackberry cider, but my husband was not impressed with his beer. Although it wasn’t the server's fault, when my husband asked her to compare it to another beer, she seemed taken aback and simply described it as "light." He found it to be a heavier version of Heineken. For food, we ordered the tempura shrimp appetizer and a cucumber salad, which was described as containing cucumbers, carrots, scallions, peanuts, and Thai dressing. My husband requested it without scallions but received it loaded with red onions, which weren’t mentioned in the description. If someone specifies no scallions, I would expect the server to point out that the salad included onions, being that they belong to the same family. He sent it back, only to be informed by a manager that the ingredients are pre-mixed. He also ordered the wagyu burger, which arrived before our appetizer or salad. We were told that this was because they come from different kitchens. He requested cheddar cheese but received American cheese instead. The lettuce and tomato were served on a separate hot plate, which he found frustrating. To top it off, the wagyu burger was bland. His meal was disappointing overall; the salad was missing, and the cheese and condiments were inadequate. The only thing he enjoyed was the Diet Coke he ordered to replace his beer. On the other hand, my son and I ordered sushi and were pleased with our choices. The filet roll was delicious, and I would definitely order it again—if I could convince my husband to return, that is. Our son had the California and tempura shrimp rolls and liked them very much. The server did a quick walk-by and gave us a thumbs up, but since our mouths were full, we couldn't respond. She didn’t check in with us at any point, only returned at the end of our meal to clear the plates without asking if we needed anything else. We also had to ask for silverware and chopsticks each time food was brought out by different staff. Overall, the service left much to be desired. The aforementioned salad wasn’t removed from our bill, and our server didn’t express any gratitude or inquire about our meal. We had even communicated that we were trying new drinks and had questions about various menu items prior to ordering. Perhaps she was overwhelmed, but this has been our experience at Ocean Breeze as well, where we faced long waits for greetings and food. This is our second visit to Eau as hotel guests, and unfortunately, the service quality has been below par both times. For a hotel of this caliber and price point, we expected significantly better service. We are unlikely to return since we've experienced much better service at similarly priced resorts like The Breakers and the Four Seasons in Palm Beach. It's quite disappointing.

The cocktails are excellent, and the bartenders are highly skilled. The bar area offers a laid-back atmosphere for casual sushi dining. A fantastic guitarist performs all night, adding to the relaxed and indulgent experience.