Wow, that El Chico didn't last long at all. Just what we need in Toms River..more empty stores!

Maybe the closings are due to NJ's antiquated liquor license laws. Only big national chains can afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to open a restaurant with a bar. Thus, we end up with the same old Appleby's, Friday's and Olive Garden. Big chains that serve boring food. The laws should be relaxed and let Mom & Pop restaurants serve beer and wine. Then we may have some quality places to eat.

Billabong, there are a finite number of liquor licenses based on population. Existing businesses that have licenses usually covet them. If the business closes it can sell its liquor license with or separate from the business. Supply and demand insures these licenses can not be purchased by mom & pop businesses - only the large nationwide chains can afford them.

El Chico's had the worst Mexican Food we've ever tasted. You have to go to the family places for REAL mexican food. Try Azteca on Rt 9 in Bayville for authentic Mexican Food !!

I won't miss those restaurants. Ate in each of them once and found the food to be of low quality and service equal to the food.

I believe 3 B's Bistro is affiliated with The Sawmill in Seaside Park as well as Villa Amalfi in Toms River -- that may explain the liquor license question. By the way, good food at good prices. It's definitely worth a try.

What about all the folks that bought "Groupons" for El Chico recently. I received the email about the deal and saw that quite a few folks bought them. Personally, we thought the food wasn't that good there and didn't buy one. What a shame, we liked Benihanas as a chance of pace once in a while. It's NEVER good when any business closes....what a shame.

love the food/service/ambiance at 3 B's -- great value and worth the trip out rt.70

The real story here is how terrible both of these restaurants were.

Mr. H didn't pay the rent nor did he inform anyone they were closing . No one had a chance to look for a job. The food was good at el chico its a shame advertising was done about four weeks before they closed.

Neither was above what we could get at a local restaurant , Chinese or Mexican here already..Same as Italian ( Pizzareia 's ) in this area , whey to many already, only a few are good at all, the others just survive...barely.Went to Aqua Blue's there in trouble if this is there best foot forward..food and service is luke warm at best, hope you didn't sink the farm to try this venture...or your in trouble ...next !

Sign of the times and poor economy!

I really enjoyed El Chico but it's a sham what happened.

About time.. Benihana was incredibly overpriced. We went in for lunch one day and the waittress said everything on the menu was DINNER PRICES only. It was 3pm. Seriously? My mother got a steak hibachi which consisted of a strip steak (small), rice, soy sauce, veggies, eggs and a drink.. it was $25. Ridiculous! They also initially overcharged her for filet mignon at $32 instead until we argued! Wait staff was terrible and took forever, sushi was way overpriced and they charge $3 extra for hibachis to use fried rice instead of white rice.. wow, for some soy sauce and egg shavings? ...friggin ripoff place deserved to close.

@getinvolved1: You are probably 100% correct

I would love to see this area of the mall redone to support a REAL food court. Not a former clothing store converted to cram 4 lousy places to eat. Move the 4 food court places, Nathans, Subway, Burger King and bring in a Qdoba Chick Fil-A, and Panda Express and see how good that mall food court could really be!

Qdoba is disgusting. There is one in Brick. Subway is equally disgusting.
There used to be a food court years ago. What happened to that?

Maybe a Cheescake factory or a P.F. Changs, was at the one in Freehold Mall a few times. Not bad at all.

Want a goood local place go to Blue Fountain over by Aldi on 37 W. They use fresh food and give you huge portions. The meal includes soup, salad, dessert and coffee !
Its a major senior hangout, but who cares !

I am going to assume that the rents at the Mall are a bit higher than every where else. There is a lot of maintenance, security, advertising, etc. provided by the Mall owners and that does not come cheap. Large chain stores can afford the rents for a while, than even they have to close and move out. Just a sign of the declining economy which will continue until the USA get's back on our feet.

I can't stand any of these corporate restaurants. I don't frequent them and never will. Mom and Pop places are the better option. Liquor licenses are not necessary w/ byob - IF the food is good. Granted a bar has a certain atmosphere, but I go to New York if I want that. These days, on the rare occasion that I shop, I take a protein bar and call it lunch. I am not into blowing thirty bucks on corporate junkfood. I got stuck like that a few times and refuse to do it any more. Despite what the powers that be say, unemployment for Americans is up as is the stock market. When gas hits five dollars a gallon I predict we will see more of this. It is unfortunate, but I think we had better get used to it.

Bring in a Cheesecake Factory or a Cracker Barrel!!

I wouldn't mind seeing a German / Polish restaurant in their or something different, tired of the same old big box chains, the old Hafbrugh House in Highlands closed many years ago and fritzys in Howell closed awhile ago, bring back some authentic ethnic cuisine.

I was a big fan of Fritzy's as well. I keep hoping the former owner's daughter will decide to go back in the business. I miss the salad dressing, that great German potato salad and the schnitzel. And it was all such value for your money. A beer garden theme would be a great thing I think, also cost a ton of money which is where the corporate giants would prevent a Mom and Pop place like Fritzys did so well..

Well never gonna happen anymore in this town. The demograpics have changed big time in the last decades. Polish/German food is great, not going to draw the masses in this local area anymore.Someone on here mentioned Craker Barrel and or a Cheescake factory they do great for sure.

To Billabong, thanks for the headsup.

I am so glad they are both closed -- horrible food and horrible service at each. At El Chico, there was plastic wrap in my burrito --- gross!!

Buffalo wild wings would do *amazing* there

I know this thread is about the poor food at these two restaurants, but let's face it -- the Ocean County Mall is a garbage dump and getting worse every day. The JC Penney's and Macy's anchor stores are extremely shabby and aren't even in the same league with the ones in Eatontown and Freehold; the smaller stores are more in tune with your basic strip mall; and Sears, which is more useful as an appliance store than for clothing and housewares, may end up closing due to their corporate struggles. I thought when the Simon Group took over this mall several years ago they would do a total renovation (even to the point of razing part of it and starting over), but like their other mall in Livingston, they are just letting this mall sink until it ends up looking like the old Dover Mall.

What Happened to Boston's All the signs are covered up today?? Another closing???

I notced the other day that the sign was new on the Hooper Ave. side. Maybe they are finishing up???

Simons rents have driven away more than a few tenants recently. Malls are to expensive per square foot. Qudoba in Brick has only ok food with a real limited menu and a not so great warehouse style atmosphere and not a huge crowd but it has lasted so far. Has to be the difference in rent. How about a Baja Fresh or Red Robin?

I had dinner at Benihana a while back and was so disappointed by their price schedule, I felt as if I was eating at a MacDonalds, I was asked to supersize my dinner in a couple of ways, a long cry from the Benihana of old, never went back.

For good Japanese hibachi try Umi on Fischer Blvd. It's in the strip mall behind the Burger King.
For good Mexican try Tenampa in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Rt.571 and Rt 9.