LAKEWOOD, NJ – If you’re in your 70’s you might remember it as the Continental, the River 978. Now it’s called Estreia Restaurant, located on Route 9 South in Lakewood. This week, the restaurant caught the eye of Governor Phil Murphy.
The restaurant is an upscale Kosher steakhouse that provides upscale Manhattan dining here at the Jersey Shore. It is owned by partners Itchie Rosenbaum and Shloimie Green.
“In Lakewood, the Estreia restaurant owner was cited for an executive order violation for having residents inside,” said New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan. Accounts of the party estimate an extremely large party with several hundred people.
One reporter at Monday’s press conference with Governor Phil Murphy claims Ocean County Sherrif’s Department officers waited until the party was finished before issuing citations.
“I just wanted to see if you were aware of that and can speak generally to how uniform enforcement of these executive order violations is across the state? Because you’re working with your troopers but also with local departments,” the reporter asked the governor.
“I’m not aware of that,” the Governor said.
“I believe that enforcement is very uniform. We do rely mostly on our local and county partners. But when those incidents are reported and police respond and see large gatherings, no social distancing, indoor dining, from all the reports that we get at the ROIC that those executive order violations are issued,” Callahan responded.
The worst part about this story is that New Jersey is still fining people for eating dinner, regardless of what town in New Jersey we’re talking about. While many in the area cheer places like the Lakeside in Forked River and the Atilis Gym, we’re sure this place will be condemned, because, you know.