A local couple is preparing to bring a warm, inclusive, and delicious dining experience to Monmouth residents hungry for a night out. Meaghan and Matt Rabinowitz are opening their family-friendly concept, Peel, in Oakhurst later this year.
The couple will be opening their first restaurant at 2001 Bellmore Street in the old Oakhurst Pizza building. Co-owner Meaghan Rabinowitz tells What Now Philadelphia that the pair is hoping to open in early March. “We’ve been working on it for years,” she explains. “It has been a dream of ours for a long time. We are building out our dining room, which will be able to seat 40-50 people.”
Peel’s location will provide the eatery with ample opportunity to draw in new fans. “It’s in a really great shopping center.”, Rabinowitz states, adding “We’re locals-we grew up in Monmouth County. It’s close to the beach, close to the mall, it seemed like a perfect fit.”
Rabinowitz is hoping to create something impactful and lasting for both her family and the local community. “I’m a full time nurse and my husband has been in the service industry. We have 2 children, one is almost 3, one is 3 months. We’ve always dreamed of creating a family business and a legacy for them, and if not now when? We felt ready and we felt like ‘let’s just go for it’.”
The pair is designing Peel to be an oasis for anyone in pursuit of a superior dining experience, no matter their age or family-composition. “ We want it to be family-friendly. We want people to come with their kids and not feel anxiety about them running around the dining room. We want it to be toddler-friendly.”
Peel’s menu will feature an impressive range of sandwiches, salads, and unique pizzas. Future regulars can look forward to original creations like the Oakhurst sandwich, a unique reimagining of eggplant parmesan consisting of fried eggplant, vodka sauce, burrata, and honey. Rabinowitz also recommends the Oakhurst Caesar Salad, made of romaine lettuce, roasted chickpeas, parmesan crisps, toasted bread crumbs, and home-made dressing. The pizza is, of course, the star of the show. Rabinowitz says “Our pizzas are really creative and fun. Everyone will have the ability to build out their own dream pie.”
Additionally, Peel will be makings its dining room available for events. Rabinowitz explains “We are hoping to host parties there-we want to make that dining room really beautiful.”
The restaurant’s website will be going live within the next few days, providing the community the couple hopes to serve with a glimpse of what’s to come.
Rabinowitz explains that the pair’s primary goal for Peel is simple but admirable. “We’re doing it for the community. What we really want is for guests to come get a delicious salad, sandwich, slice. We welcome people to come with their families.”
