On a windy and rainy afternoon in May, Asbury Park City Lifestyle visited JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank. Outside may have been damp and dull, but inside the atmosphere, people and food were warm and cozy. Around us tables were full, with friends catching up, tourists hoping to see you-know-who, and a large party of retirees celebrating a birthday, the atmosphere buzzing with community.
After the lunch rush was over, we sat down with Executive Chef, Emily Yasi, and Community Coordinator, Nicole Dorrity. “We welcome everyone and anyone to come in and enjoy an amazing three-course meal regardless of one's ability to pay for the meal.”
JBJ Soul Kitchen operates on a pay-it-forward model. It is a program of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, that accepts donations and grants from individuals and corporations. Paying patrons are equally as important as non-paying guests. “What keeps the doors open are the guests that can afford to make a donation.”
While there are no prices on the menu, the suggested donation for lunch and dinner is $30, which is inclusive of tip and tax, and you are encouraged to leave extra to pay-it-forward, which covers the cost for guests who cannot afford their meal.
“For guests who cannot afford to make a donation, they can come in and have the same restaurant experience as a donating customer, all we encourage in return is a few minutes of volunteer time when they are here.”
The menu changes every two weeks to reflect the in-season ingredients. This frequent refresh benefits everyone. As a paying customer, you can visit the restaurant multiple times in a season and experience a different menu each time, and the kitchen stays engaged with new recipes. Yasi, who studied at Brookdale Culinary Institute, and worked in multiple well-known restaurants in Monmouth before taking the position at JBJ Soul Kitchen, loves that her team and her patrons are never bored, “It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Wherever possible the team uses items grown in their garden at the front of the restaurant. Our lunch featured pickles from restaurant-grown cucumbers, and the mixed salad of the day was served with fresh greens from the garden. Our main courses were a turkey burger topped with red onion jam, and a Nashville seasoned grilled chicken sandwich with zesty ranch, lettuce, and tomato, both served with soul chips, coleslaw, and pickle.
Ms. Dorrity shared that for the vulnerable community who rely on the restaurant for a daily meal, the menu change adds important variety, and upholds the restaurant's mission; dignity and respect are always on the menu. “Menu change day is a hot topic around here, faces light up, people love to try the new different menu items, and (they) really look forward to menu change day.”
Available for purchase at the restaurant is local honey, and online you may also purchase JBJ Soul Seasoning, which is often featured on the menu. The OG spice is similar to a blackening spice and is often showcased on the sweet potato chips, served with lunch (delicious). The Nashville spice, which has a little more of a kick than the OG spice, was featured on the Nashville Chicken Sandwich during our visit (also delicious), and although we didn’t get to try the new Cilantro Lime flavor, who doesn't like the sound of that? Chef Yasi recommends it in particular for fish dishes, on a menu a few months ago she featured it on a dish with salmon with mango salsa (which we are sorry to have missed!)
“We have success stories every day,” Ms. Dorrity adds. Volunteers, food insecure or not, help the vision of the restaurant come to life. “We know our guests that are coming in on a daily basis. It’s a safe place for them to be seen and heard, and know that people care.”
To date, JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River have served 190,745 combined meals and counting. Of those meals, approximately 57% of those meals are in-need and 43% of those meals are for paying customers. In 2023, they served more meals in one year than ever before (incredibly over 22,000 meals!)
JBJ Soul Kitchen is a community restaurant, not a soup kitchen. To support the mission, dine at one of their locations. Although reservations are not accepted, you are encouraged and more than welcome to walk in during restaurant hours. It’s easy to get a table, and waits are generally short.
For more details on the four locations, or to shop their merchandise online, volunteer, or donate at www.jbjsoulkitchen.org.
At the JBJ Soul Kitchen all are welcome at our table where locally sourced ingredients, dignity, and respect are always on the menu.
"We know our guests that are coming in on a daily basis. It’s a safe place for them to be seen and heard, and know that people care.” To date, JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River have served 190,745 combined meals.