As Seen in the Asbury Park Press, Saturday, June 10, 2006

Reincarnated and better than ever,
Mister C's is a smash
Former Deal restaurant makes a splash
on the water in Allenhurst

Same great drinks, same great bill of fare, now with a great view in a different location: That's all you need to know about Mister C's Beach Bistro.

If you, like me, marveled at the greatness of Mister C's Corner Grill in Deal, then you surely are going to enjoy the different ambience at Mister C's new location, where partners Karen Marzulli and Chico Perrotto (that's Mister C) are still Jersey Shore's finest hosts.

If you, like me, have savored their culinary delights in the past, then you, as I did, will fall in love with this marvelous beach location.

Where else can you enjoy such things? It certainly makes you wonder why previous hosts — and hostesses — were unable to parlay all the things that are so good into a new bistro, as Karen and Chico have in such a short period of time (the new Mister C's opened May 1 and is playing to large audiences nearly every night).

The biggest attraction is the main bar at the water's edge, right there on the beach in Allenhurst, offering a view that is priceless. The restaurant's main dining area is spacious, uniquely decorated to give dining guests the comfort always desired while enjoying the Jersey Shore's finest food (as Mister C's Corner Grill in Deal always did).

I was sure I was going to enjoy my visit at the "new" Mister C's, but just to be sure, I asked High Maintenance's dear friend Barbara Mackey, a professional psychic.

"You're going to enjoy it," she assured me.

I am?

"How do you know?" I asked.

I got a smirk as if to tell me, "That's what I do." (Check out her Web site if you don't believe me — or her. I did.)

With such assurance in hand, I settled in for the night and enjoyed a jumbo shrimp cocktail ($12), Mister C's world-famous and my favorite beet salad ($10) and — for the first time — I selected the veal milanese topped with arugula, tomato and red onion salad ($22).

The Psychic was right about forecasting my night. It was as I expected: simply fabulous, if not fantastic.

"I told you so," The Psychic said, knowing full well I had doubted her.

I shall never doubt her expertise again. After all, she is a professional.

In the meantime, I couldn't resist asking her how the new Mister C's was going to do.

"You are going to do very, very well," Mackey told the owners as I listened in on the brief conversation.

"It's going to exceed their expectations. They are going to have a lot of parties, a lot of weddings," she told me.

I could believe that.

"People are going to come from far and wide," she said, now overwhelming me with more information than I had desired.

That was quite an endorsement, but Mister C's got the highest rating from High Maintenance, who is the toughest of tough critics. I mean, there is very little she likes except herself. Oh, did I say that?

Even Miss Ellie (the code name for High Maintenance) raved about her dining experience, which she enjoyed at a table with her husband (pity this poor man for having to deal with her), and Cindy and Bob Neff (pity him, too).

To say that we all had a great evening is an understatement. It was so good, even High Maintenance has begun to put together a group of friends for a return trip. That speaks volumes for this new Mister C's venue. I've never heard such praise from my colleague.

I figured that high praise from High Maintenance deserved a great finish, so I was talked into the apple gallette dessert. Yummy.

If Mister C's in Deal garnered my highest rating years ago (that of five pretzels when four was the best), where does the new Mister C's rank?

To be honest, it's off the charts, well beyond four or five.

I can't wait to go back and sip a Karen's Delight martini or two, perhaps even inviting good friends Carmen Scharibone and Joe Digilio to join me tableside with Mister C and Karen as we have done so many times before.

It sounds like a plan. I'll check with The Psychic to see if this reuniting of friends is healthy, wealthy and wise for me.

I'll be guided by her expert advice.

Don Wilno's Watering Hole appears Saturday in Jersey Life