Bottle of red, bottle of white. Billy Joel may be from Long Island, but he could have just as easily written his classic sitting in the corner of Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant in Asbury Park. This vintage Italian restaurant opened in 1982 to rave reviews and has been popular ever since.

Inspired by great New York eateries, Diane Marrucca and her late husband, Jimmy, wanted to run a small establishment where each dish is made with the best ingredients available. Their motto, “Where good friends meet,” is true, and it’s not rare to see a happy celebration, a business deal and even the occasional celebrity slip in for a quiet meal. Jimmy’s doesn’t bang its drum. It has the kind of confidence that takes years to build.