Chef James Avery opens The Mainstay bar, lounge at the former Bonney Read in Asbury Park

The Bonney Read may have set sail, but The Mainstay bar and lounge just docked in its place, holding its grand opening on Wednesday.

Owner and chef James Avery made the space more casual, for an evolving dining scene. He removed Bonney Read's raw bar to create an open air, U-shaped bar, lightening up the color palette with tans and natural hues.

He also added live plants like elephant palms, and cleared out the dining area to make way for cushiony conversational seating and coffee tables.

In the spring and summer, Avery will also be adding a "chill" hang out spot outside with patio furniture. "It's a place you can go cocktailing, and hang out in a bar scene," but with chef-inspired bites, he said.

"I don't want it to be this super stuffy mixology bar," he added. "I want it to be fun and youthful, but not a crazy nightclub. Just somewhere you can go to chill ... that's why I kept it very beachy."

The iconic Bonney Read, a seafood restaurant that dominated Cookman Avenue for nearly a decade, closed on Sept. 30. At the time, Avery ensured it wasn't goodbye, just a rebirth to something new — citing a need for less seasonality and more stable hours for his employees.

The Mainstay, by definition, is "the most important part of something, or providing support for everything else." It's also an important rope on a sailboat, paying nautical homage to the Bonney Read.

While the spirit of the former restaurant lives on, with slight nods to the nautical ambiance, there are new bites to try.

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Offerings like edamame dumplings; Korean-style boa buns with bulgogi beef, kimchi and scallions; and jerked chicken quesadillas were top sellers on opening night.

Instagram influencer and mixologist Rachael Robbins (aka Chickologist on Instagram) consulted on the "fun and playful" cocktail menu, according to Avery.

There are returning favorites, like Bonney Read's famous frose (frozen rose), but also some new heavy-hitters like the Ye Olde Salty Dog (a play on a Salty Dog), with tequila, guava juice, pineapple and black lava salt.

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The bar also serves up Root Beer Float Old Fashioned, which Avery said is "a boozy Manhattan or whiskey drink with flavors of vanilla and sarsaparilla."

"We're taking very pedestrian things and giving them a little inspiration from my travels to different coastal areas," Avery said. "I want people to feel like they're on vacation eating this food."

He plans to tweak the menu, as well as certain aspects of the lounge, in weeks to come, he said.

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While Avery has received "tons of positive feedback," the transition was intimidating.

"You take a risk, and step out of your comfort zone when [transforming] a restaurant like the Bonney, that was working for a decade," he said. "It was nerve-wracking, so it was very satisfying to see people utilize the space, and see it in a different light than people just sitting down to eat linguini and clams or lobster.

"Seeing people dance, seeing people laugh, seeing people wave to their friends across the bar ...," that's what the whole transition was for, he added.

Go: 525 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; 732-455-3352, itsthemainstay.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: James Avery opens The Mainstay bar and lounge in Asbury Park