There’s something about a BBQ that turns an ordinary vacation day into an event. The smell of the grill, the kids running around with watermelon-sticky hands, the uncles arguing about the right way to flip a burger — it’s summer (or spring, or a brave winter afternoon) distilled into a few hours. If you’re staying in a Lakewood villa, you’ve got options: fire up the grill at your rental, or head to one of the town’s great outdoor spots.
Here’s where to go, what to bring, and how to do it right.
Ocean County Park: The Classic Choice
The go-to BBQ destination in Lakewood is Ocean County Park, the big county park right in town. It’s got everything a family BBQ needs: picnic tables, charcoal grills, open fields for the kids, a playground, and enough space that you’re not on top of the next family. On a nice Sunday, the grills fill up early — this is a popular spot, and for good reason.
The park works beautifully for large mishpacha gatherings. Got three families staying in three villas? Meet at the park. The kids get a playground and acres of grass, the adults get picnic tables in the shade, and nobody has to clean their own kitchen afterward. Bring a few folding tables if your crowd is big; the built-in tables go fast.
Note: the park’s grills are first-come, first-served. If you’re planning a big cookout, send someone early to claim a grill and a cluster of tables. A cooler full of drinks and a bag of snacks will hold the spot while the rest of the crew arrives.
Lake Carasaljo Picnic Areas
For a smaller, more scenic BBQ, the picnic areas around Lake Carasaljo are hard to beat. You’re grilling with a view of the water, there’s a walking path for after-meal strolls, and the whole setting feels a notch more special than a standard park pavilion.
The trade-off is capacity: the lake areas are better for one family than for a fifty-person reunion. If it’s just your mishpacha — or two families — this is the move. Pack a frisbee, bring a fishing rod for the kids (catch and release, obviously), and time it so you’re eating as the sun starts to go down over the water.
Your Villa’s Backyard: The Underrated Option
Don’t overlook the simplest choice: the backyard of your LakewoodHosts villa. Many of our villas have outdoor space, and there’s a lot to be said for grilling ten steps from your own kitchen. No packing the car, no racing for a public grill, no hauling coolers across a parking lot. The fridge is right there. The bathroom is right there. When the baby needs a nap, the crib is right there.
A villa BBQ also solves the kashrus logistics elegantly. You’re working in a kitchen you already kashered, with utensils you already know, and there’s no question about what was on the grill before you. For families with strict standards, that’s worth a lot.
And the cleanup? Paper plates, one bag of garbage, done. Some of our guests say the backyard BBQ night was the most relaxed evening of their whole stay.
What to Bring: The Kosher BBQ Packing List
Whether you’re at the park or in the backyard, here’s what a frum family BBQ requires:
The food: Burgers, hot dogs, chicken — buy from a kosher butcher in town (there are several excellent ones). Don’t forget buns, condiments, and salads. Pro tip: marinate the chicken the night before at the villa; it makes all the difference.
The grill gear: If you’re using a park grill, bring your own grates or heavy-duty foil to line the public grill (kashrus 101 — you don’t know what was cooked there before you). Bring long tongs, a spatula, and oven mitts. Charcoal and lighter fluid if the park doesn’t provide them.
The kashrus kit: Separate meat utensils, a dedicated cutting board, foil for wrapping. If you’re machmir about the grill itself, a portable grill you bring from home (or buy cheaply and leave) is the simplest solution.
The comfort stuff: Cooler with drinks and ice, paper goods (don’t forget serving spoons), garbage bags, wet wipes (so many wet wipes), sunscreen, bug spray, a first-aid kit, and a change of clothes for every kid under eight. Trust us on that last one.
The fun stuff: A ball, a frisbee, bubbles for the toddlers, and maybe a Bluetooth speaker for background music (keep it tasteful — it’s a public park).
Reserving Space for Big Groups
If you’re planning something bigger — a family reunion BBQ, a sheva brachos cookout, an end-of-summer bash — look into reserving a pavilion at Ocean County Park. The county allows pavilion reservations, which guarantees you tables, cover from sun or rain, and a home base for the day. Book early for summer Sundays; they go fast.
For a truly big event, some families rent a villa specifically as BBQ headquarters — the house becomes the prep kitchen, the hangout space, and the bathroom hub, while the actual grilling happens in the yard. It’s the best of both worlds.
BBQ Season Strategy
Lakewood’s BBQ season runs roughly May through October, with September being the sweet spot — warm days, cool evenings, fewer crowds than July. But don’t rule out the off-season entirely. A brave family can grill in March with jackets on, and there’s something wonderfully rebellious about a November BBQ.
Whenever you go, the formula is the same: good meat, good company, and nowhere to be afterward. That’s the whole point.
Fire up the grill — and if you’d rather skip the park logistics entirely, that’s what the villa backyard is for. Plenty of room, total privacy, and the kitchen ten steps away. Just bring the appetite; LakewoodHosts handles the rest.
