What's for Dinner just got Easier

One Ocean Country resident is on a personal quest to find the best eating establishments in the area and beyond. His approach is lite and fun as he shares images of the establishments, staff, and terrific food.

In July of 2023 Bayville resident Scott Mahnken launched NJ FOOD GUY as a way of sharing his passion for food and appreciation for those that work so hard in the food industry. Mahnken predominantly focuses on family owned and operated restaurants as he hops from one place to another stuffing his face with food. Typically accompanied by his wife Joy who sometimes seems a little frazzled over her husband's spontaneous productions, the two can sometimes be laughable.

Are you looking for a great diner, a deli that makes great sandwiches, a casual place for lunch, or a place to enjoy happy hour, or possibly you want to fine dine. NJ FOOD GUY's Facebook page displays a variety of restaurant and quality food options.

The primary geographic focus is Ocean County, but if you follow NJ FOOD GUY, you'll see images and videos of restaurants in NYC, Colorado, California, Cologne Germany, and even on the airplane as he travels.

Mahnken grew up in virtual poverty and lived on a diet of eggs, American cheese, hamburgers, and boxed Lipton's Chicken Noodle soup as a youngster in Union City. It wasn't until he met Joy, who's Italian that he expanded his culinary taste buds.

NJ FOOD GUY was developed to show appreciation and to help promote small businesses at no cost. Mahnken doesn't charge anything to the places he promotes. The goal is to get every establishment in front of hundreds or thousands of potential new customers, by sharing real time experiences.

Mahnken spends his spare time as a sales and marketing consultant after spending decades in corporate America. He uses some of his marketing skills to expand the awareness of his videos. He's a lifelong fan of Notre Dame football, yet ironically there seem to be no Irish pubs on his page.

"I find nothing more enjoyable than trying a new restaurant or visiting a place where I'm considered a regular. The entire dining experience offers so many benefits. You can get creative, you can be daring and try something you never had before, you'll meet some great staff, ownership, and customers. If everything aligns, you'll have one of those experiences that we all relish and the memories of a great meal tend to linger."

Here are a few places NJ FOOD GUY recommends:

Biagio's Trattoria

Dina's Bistro

A Thyme for All Seasons

Rosie's

Anchor Inn

El Familiar

MJ's

The New Lacey Diner

Diesel's (Ask for cheese on top)