ONCE ON THE BRINK OF PERMANENT CLOSURE, THIS NEARLY 200-YEAR OLD LANDMARK HOTEL AND EVENT SPACE IN FREEHOLD IS NOW BOOMING, AND IT JUST CELEBRATED YET ANOTHER MILESTONE WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW SIGNATURE RESTAURANT DRIPPING IN AMERICANA BY AMANDA McCOY  PHOTOS

BY ALEX BARRETO

Having grown up just up the road in East Brunswick, restaurateur Rob Kash always had an affinity for the American Hotel in Freehold. Set on a historic block in the center of town, the landmark building was born as a stagecoach stop in 1824, its prime location an important stopover between the major hubs of New York, Trenton, and Philadelphia. Nineteenth century industry tycoons and politicians stopped here to rest along their travels (including Abraham Lincoln in 1861), and the structure became a favorite haunt among professional horsemen in town for racing season. But by the turn of the 21st century, the once-flourishing hotel had mostly fallen into disarray and was set to be sold at auction. Its glory days, it appeared, were set far in the past.

“It was still such a great facility,” noted Kash, who opened his first restaurant in the area in 1992 before launching Great Restaurants Corporation with his business partner Joe Mosco. “Before the auction, I walked through the hotel and saw that the bones were still there. There was so much history and potential.”

When his longtime friend introduced him to retired architect Steven Goldberg, who purchased the property, Kash immediately asked him to meet. “Steve was thinking of perhaps turning the building into an adult daycare, but I was able to convince him to bring it back to its former glory,” said Kash, noting several years had passed since the property had last operated as a hotel (its most recent purpose was a catering facility).

Goldberg originally hired Kash as a consultant, tapping his vast hospitality expertise that spans more than 30 years of restaurant ownership (the Great Restaurants Hospitality Group now operates eight eateries, including Metropolitan Cafe in Freehold, Nonna’s Cucina in Englishtown, Tre in Brick and Freehold, Rosalita’s in Marlboro and Brick, and Skratch Kitchen in Bradley Beach). It wasn’t long before Kash graduated to minority owner, and together the duo employed a sweeping restoration and rebuilding initiative to reimagine the American Hotel for its next chapter.

The rebuild was no small undertaking, taking place in stages over the next few years. First, the team rebuilt the right wing of the building, which had been damaged by a fire in 2005. Next, they gutted the entire interior and put in 21 modern hotel rooms – including five palatial suites – plus four stylishly dressed banquet rooms: the Parlor (capacity 40 guests), the Royale (capacity 80 guests), the Lenox (capacity 120 guests), and the flagship Majestic (capacity 220 guests). Design choices reflect the property’s long-standing grandeur, including coffered ceilings, large crown mouldings, and dramatic wrought iron chandeliers.

In 2022, Goldberg approached Kash to take over the entire hotel operation.  In the summer of 2022, Kash, along with his partners Joe Mosco and Dennis Tafuri, added the entire American Hotel (banquet rooms, restaurant, and boutique hotel) to their Great Restaurants Hospitality Group portfolio. Just last fall, the hotel celebrated another exciting milestone: the unveiling of its new signature restaurant, The Standard at the American Hotel. From the décor to the menu, the restaurant is pure Americana. Graffiti-style artworks of cultural icons cling to the walls, including a colorful mosaic of Marilyn Monroe holding an apple pie. Kash described the dishes as modern takes on American classics, from meatloaf and lobster pot pie to prime rib and center-cut pork chops. Dinner specials span pan-seared American red snapper alongside mushroom risotto, New Zealand rack of lamb topped with a house-made cabernet rosemary demi glaze, and Maryland blue crab-stuffed ravioli in a dill cream sauce. There’s also a variety of steaks on deck, including a juicy 42-oz porterhouse for two that’s served with three sides, Manhattan steakhouse style.

“The menu comes from a culinary team that’s been in the business for more than three decades,” noted Kash. “This level of experience and knowledge truly sets the food, service, and dining experience apart.”

The hotel also offers full-service catering in its banquet halls, for events that range in size and scope from intimate parties and corporate events to large-scale weddings and fundraisers. Clients have the option to book out the entire hotel for an event.

“We’ve been lucky to host just about every type of celebration under the sun: sweet sixteens, bar mitzvahs, corporate gatherings, weddings large and small, you name it,” said Kash. “For weddings, we offer one-stop shopping for everything from the rehearsal dinner to the main event, including the wedding ceremony and a next-day brunch. The bride and groom can invite their guests to stay overnight in the hotel rooms, and they are given a complimentary suite. Metropolitan Cafe is located only two doors down the road, so if clients want a change in scenery, we can also do brunch or the rehearsal dinner there.”

Today, as the American Hotel approaches its 200th birthday, the property maintains its legacy as a gathering hub. The Lobby Bar, attached to the restaurant, serves global wines and classic American cocktails, while the Living Room features a large-hearth fireplace and cozy sitting area for swapping stories late into the evening, just as guests have done for centuries.

The American Hotel

18 E Main Street, Freehold

732.431.3220 / americanhotelnj.com