Stepping through a foliage-covered trellis, we left the busy center of Sea Bright outside and entered a hidden, enclosed outdoor garden space with trees, shrubs, hanging lighting and live music, which provided a serene escape into a world of its own. In a town with only .72 square miles of land and about 1,400 residents, Sea Bright has quite a large number of restaurants. They range from breakfast spots to pizza to fine dining and almost every iteration in between.
Thus, it takes a good degree of optimism to open a new restaurant in the middle of everything already there, but Brothers Daley was up to the challenge.
Located in the former Rory’s, they have created a beautiful new ambiance and an interesting new menu with Irish influences to match it.
From the Raw Bar offerings, we opted for Chebooktook East Coast Oysters from Canada ($4 each), served chilled with a cider mignonette. They were plump and delicious with a flavor profile that was salty, sweet and nutty. We did not try the Mintersweet Oysters from Washington state, which were also offered at the same price. Both varieties are hand-farmed in pristine waters.
Citrus Cured Salmon ($22) was ser ved with orange, fennel, pistachio, avocado and trout roe and was equally fresh and tasty. The Tuna Crudo ($22), plated with slices of summer melons, basil, sea beans and horseradish, was a unique and refreshing take on a dish frequently seen in many restaurants. All the appetizers we tasted were creative, flavorful and light.
Don’t miss the Irish Soda Bread and Brown Bread ($8) served with Kerry Gold butter from the Appetizer section of the menu. It was crusty and delicious and far too easy to wolf down with the other appetizers.
Salad & Vegetables offerings included a Tricolor Beet Salad ($18) with smoked yogurt, endive, raspberries and watercress, which was appealingly plated. We also ordered the Mixed Greens ($16) which included shaved vegetables, pink peppercorns and a light coating of Green Goddess dressing. The generous serving was ideal for sharing. One of our guests liked it a lot and had only wished for a bit more of that creamy dressing on it.
There was also an interesting-sounding Grain Salad ($20) which consisted of farro, quinoa, basil, pepper and artichoke and was tempting, but we needed to save room for the entrees and dessert.
The Entree menu had something for everyone. Confit Black Bass ($42) arrived with mussels, potato, artichoke, fennel and saffron. The large serving of filet was perfectly cooked and very enjoyable.
An equally generous portion of Grilled Branzino ($36) was plated with succotash, bacon lardons, Madras curry butter and a citrus-based sauce. Those accompaniments paired well with the mild flavor of the fish.
Our meat lover at the table chose the BD Burger ($25), which was topped with smoked cheddar, caramelized onions, bacon and “BD Sauce,” and shared the plate with french fries. The burger was cooked medium rare as requested. If you are craving a burger, this is a good choice. Although we vowed we were not going to indulge in more than a taste of the french fries, none of us could resist going back for more after the crunch of that first “sampling.”
Brioche Crusted Halibut ($44) was served over spinach, with brown butter, lemon and capers. The nicely seared fish had a subtle crunch to it from the brioche coating and was moist and tender within.
There is a broad drinks menu with nine “BD Originals” Cocktails ($16 each), a dozen draft beers, nine beers in bottles and cans, an assortment of wines by the bottle and glass, and even a group of non-alcoholic juice blends and 0% ABV beers. There are both inside and outside bars available for seating.
From the wine list, we chose a glass of Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc ($18). This organic white from New Zealand was crisp and had a touch of acidity to complement most of the dishes. A glass of Gold- schmidt Singing Tree Chardonnay ($14) from Sonoma, California, had a nice buttery mouthfeel and was not overly oaked.
The Dessert Menu offered an assortment of temptations, but we were very well sated by that time. However, one guest insisted we try the Pistachio Ice Cream ($10) with Bailey’s Irish Cream and we were not disappointed. The creamy ice cream and crunchy nuts were an ideal combination. There was also Grandma’s Classic Cheesecake ($14), Chocolate Whiskey Cake ($14) and Lemon Basil Sorbet ($8) offered, but sanity prevailed and we opted to save room to try them on our next visit.
Our server was gracious and knowledgeable. The restaurant was full, which possibly accounted for the rather leisurely pacing of the courses; however, sitting in that outside area was pleasant and relaxing. She mentioned that charming section of the restaurant might be adapted for cooler weather usage in the future, but did not share any further details. However, do not wait to go.
If you are looking to escape to a serene getaway in a charming, low-key setting, with good food and without having to travel a great distance to find it, Brothers Daley in Sea Bright is an ideal destination.
Brothers Daley
1124 Ocean Ave., Sea Bright
732-230-6056 BROTHERSDALEY.COM
Bob Sacks, longtime food and wine buff, writes about food, wine and restaurants in this column. Follow him on Instagram @dinnerwithbob.
The article originally appeared in the September 19 – September 25, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
