26 West On The Navesink Gets Green Light For Outdoor Dining

RED BANK, NJ – After a brief period without outdoor dining, customers at downtown Red Bank’s 26 West On The Navesink can expect blissful breezes and riverside views once again. The return to patio service comes just 10 days after Red Bank mayor Pasquale Menna called the restaurant’s use of a side street “not authorized” and “dangerous”.

The street in question: Boat Club Court, a narrow, steep lane overlooking the water. The road was converted into a dining area earlier this month by the restaurant, complete with fake grass, picnic tables and traffic barriers. Although manager Mikaela Milano confirmed to Patch that the restaurant was given informal approval by a borough official to occupy the area, the mayor seemed to disagree.

“The placement of the tables was a unilateral action presumably by 26 West [On The Navesink]," said Menna in the July 13 post. "It was and in not authorized by the Borough and must be immediately removed. It was done without permission and is dangerous. Further violations will be followed up." Read more: Red Bank Mayor Calls Out 'Dangerous' Outdoor Dining Space

As first reported by Red Bank Green, the Red Bank Borough Council authorized the seafood restaurant’s occupation of the public street for the purposes of outdoor dining at a Wednesday night meeting.

At 26 West On The Navesink, business appears back to normal: the restaurant now touts outdoor service hours Mondays through Saturdays from 3 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 9 p.m.

An unrelated ordinance introduced by the borough last month called for the narrow path sandwiched between cocktail lounge Le Malt Royale and 26 West On The Navesink to be designated as a southbound one-way street. The ordinance was not mentioned at last night’s meeting.

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