Inside the Jersey Shore’s most Instagram-able new brunch spot, just in time for summer | Review

Seaside Heights has always symbolized three things to me — Maruca’s Tomato Pies, Kohr Bros soft-serve and blurred memories of junior prom weekend.

It’s rare I make it down to the boardwalk more than once per summer. But when I heard an adorable new brunch cafe called Mila’s of Seaside was coming to the space on the Boulevard that once housed seafood restaurant Drifters, my interest was piqued.

Owners Mikayla and Johnny Manganiotis are no strangers to the food industry — they are the brains behind the multi-location Jersey bakery Mr. Cupcakes. The opportunity to expand into the restaurant business kind of fell into their laps.

“We knew Rob from Seaside Social House, who was a partner at Drifters, who asked us if we wanted to do something,” Mikayla Manganiotis told NJ Advance Media. “We love breakfast and brunch and find ourselves going up to Asbury and Red Bank. There’s nothing around here.”

Mila’s (named after Mikayla and Johnny’s 2-year old daughter) opened in April and is already a brunch hot spot.

“We’re already crazy,” Manganiotis said. “We don’t take reservations, but will for large parties. We want to be able to accommodate as many people as we can.”

In terms of the aesthetic and menu concept, their inspiration came from Instagram.

“What’s going to draw people in? I want people to come in and take a picture in front of the wall with their awesome lattes,” Manganiotis said. “Of course we want to make sure our food is delicious, but in this day and age, social media is what it’s about.”

Eager to experience it all, I sat down at one of the cozy window tables and tackled the menu.

The good

Mila’s has an impressive beverage menu, loaded with sweet concoctions. As a coffee purist, I was a little worried I’d be in for a sugar coma. Thankfully, I was totally wrong. I went for the tiramisu iced latte ($7) and asked for them to go light on the vanilla syrup. The beloved Italian dessert in drink form hit all of the notes, all the way down to the mascarpone cold foam. I’d order this again in a heartbeat.

I felt I needed to sample at least one savory item, and the Boulevard omelette ($15.50) called and answered. A massive dish filled with spinach, tomatoes, turkey bacon and pepper jack, it was light and flavorful with just the right amount of cheese. There was no detectable kick from the queso, but I didn’t mind. Breakfast potatoes can be hit or miss, and Mila’s taters were smashed and crisped to perfection.

As a sucker for a sweet and salty combo, the chicken and waffles ($16.50) was an obvious choice — especially after my server sang its praises.

This was one of the more unique iterations of the dish I’ve had — the crispy chicken tenders are coated in a dill-forward batter that gave Chick-fil-A vibes. That savory note complimented the sweetness of the maple syrup and powdered sugar-coated waffle. The waffle itself was moist and tender, a strong pairing for the chicken.

But the star of the show was the stack of blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes ($12), an elegant tower of three pillowy flapjacks topped with a generous mound of blueberry compote and a dollop of lemony ricotta.

I savored each crispy-edged bite, and the balance of flavors here blew my mind. Listed as a special, I hope this dish takes a permanent place on the core menu.

I skipped lunch and went straight to dessert, when I sampled an item that is soon to make its debut on the menu. Their Cinna-bunt cake ($7) is basically a cinnamon-flavored chocolate lava cake, with an oozy vanilla icing center. My sweet tooth was tapped out, but the moist cake kept pulling me back in.

The bad

While I didn’t sample any of the lunch items available (a small selection of salads and handhelds), the owners shared that the will be rolling out a larger offering as they continue to find their flow and assess what guests want. But as of now, those craving the lunch aspect of brunch might be a bit disappointed by lack of options in this category.

The vibe

Think pink! A page out of the “Legally Blonde” playbook, Mila’s is a fish out of water in a great way. Oozing with femininity and playfulness, this is the perfect place for ladies who brunch, teenagers and Instagrammers alike.

From the chic, velvet seating to the gilded wall of frames and mirrors to the boxwood wall accented by a “Let’s Brunch” sign, every corner of the place has been thoughtfully curated to make guests comfortable while setting the stage to showcase their creative menu offerings.

Fresh and faux flowers add a darling touch throughout. Aesthetically and culinarily speaking, Mila’s would be the perfect venue for a baby or bridal shower.

The bottom line

Mila’s of Seaside is an exciting new addition to the Seaside Heights dining scene. The borough seems to be in the early stages of what seems to be a renaissance, and this spot is paving the way.

Mila’s is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but will be extending their hours for the summer. They plan to add sidewalk seating, host themed events, and expanding their menu with more fun dishes and drinks.

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Stephanie Rizzolo may be reached at stephanienjdotcom@gmail.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.