Long Beach Island

Dinner

dinner
Boathouse Restaurant
13015 West Ave
(609) 492-1997
$18-$42
Jun-Aug: Daily 5PM-11:30PM

Overlooking the bay, the Boathouse offers a large menu with a wide selection of surf and turf options. The wait tends to be long on the weekends, so weekdays are a better bet. Reservations are taken, which makes this restaurant a great options for large parties.

dinner
The Chicken or the Egg
207 N. Bay Ave
(609) 492-FOWL
$8-$15
May-Oct: Daily Open 24 Hours

Situated near the southern end of Beach Haven, "The Chegg" is the only 24-hour joint around. Popular with families for the basic three meals, the restaurant has a huge menu with all the typical diner favorites. All meals served all day. The Chegg is also the most popular hangout for intoxicated partiers after-hours. Stop by if you’ve had a few for a good time after midnight. BYO.

dinner
Howard’s
33rd Street and S. Bay Ave
(609) 492-2319
$19-$45
May-Sep: Daily 5PM-11PM

Howard’s overlooks a marina and serves an array of seafood dishes in an up-scale setting. Business casual attire is best; great service. To avoid the crowds, try showing up closer to 5PM; the restaurant does not take reservations.

dinner
Joey’s Pizza
8106 S. Bay Ave
(609) 361-1122
$12-$18
Apr-Sep: M-F Noon-10:30PM, Sa-Su Noon-11PM

Notice Joey’s clever signs that change weekly while driving the boulevard – it’s nearly impossible to miss, as most traffic slows to read and have a laugh. Casual atmosphere with classic Italian favorites: Appetizers, pastas, and pizza. Enjoy watching the pizza slide through their unique oven on the conveyer belt. Avoid this joint after it has rained – its nicknamed “Joey’s Underwater Pizza” because the corner floods like not other place on the island after rain. Of course, the restaurant will still be open, so if you don’t mind wet feet, head on over! Joey’s also provides take-out, which is the more popular option.

dinner
Oasis Grill
8001 N. Bay Ave
(609) 361-0111
$6-$14
May-Sep: M-Sa Noon-9PM

Serving up typical grill fare, Oasis is famous for their burgers. Indoor and outdoor seating; order at the counter.

dinner
The Plantation
7908 S. Bay Ave
(609) 494-8191
$35-$65
Year round: M-F 5PM-10PM, Apr-Sep until 11PM

Styled like a Southern plantation home, The Plantation serves up unique, Southern inspired cuisine. The restaurant is two floors, with best seating downstairs. Reservations are a must-have for anyone who is not willing to wait hours to dine. This restaurant could be considered one of the higher class restaurants on the island. Although business casual attire is appropriate, many dress a bit fancier. The Plantation excels in their great service to their costumers. The restaurant offers a coat check and valet parking.

dinner
Roberto’s Dolce Vita
12907 N. Bay Ave
(609) 492 1001
$21-$43
May-Sep: M-F 5PM-10PM. Sa-Su 5PM-11PM

Authentic Italian food accompanied by great service. Business casual attire appropriate; reservations are not taken. Weekdays are best to avoid the crowds. Parking can be tough – parking on a side street near by is recommended. BYO.

dinner
Tucker’s
Engleside at the Bay
(609) 492-2300
$14-$40
Year round: Daily 11AM-11PM

This spacious restaurant located by the bay in Beach Haven offers a wide variety of all-American cuisine. The chef’s specialty appetizer, fried tomatoes, has become a huge hit with locals and visitors alike in recent years. A kids menu is available. Shuffleboard and popcorn are available near the bar during the summer season. Indoor and outdoor seating available – check out the Black Whale tour boat parked in the bay nearby if seated on the patio. Reservations are taken at Tuckers.

dinner
Yellow Fin
104 N. Bay Ave
(609) 494-7001
$25-$45
May-Oct: Daily 5PM-11PM

A small, upscale restaurant on the northern end of Surf City, Yellow Fin offers an array of specialty seafood dishes. Casual business attire appropriate.

Dessert

dessert
Lainie's
811 Bay Ave
(609) 207-0777
Across the Blvd from Fantasy Island and a block to the left
dessert
Skipper Dipper
9305 Long Beach Blvd
(609) 492-9680
$2-$7
Memorial-Labor: 11AM-11PM

Lunch

lunch
Bay Village Pizza
9th Street and Bay Ave
(609) 492-4484
$3-$6
Apr-Oct: M-Th 12PM-11PM,F-Su 12PM-12AM

Boasting “the biggest slices in town,” Bay Village Pizza really does serve up slices bigger than your head. The pizza has been voted best on the Island three years running by the local newspapers and the fresh-cut, seasoned French fries are a big hit, too. Bay Village Pizza offers take-out. Outdoor seating only, place orders at the counter. Parking is tough because its located in Bay Village – so park, shop, and then grab a bite.

lunch
Bistro 14
9th Street
(609) 492 6100
$10-$22
Apr-Oct: M-Su 12PM-11PM

Located upstairs in Bay Village the restaurant gets its name from the fourteen steps customers voyage up. The spacious restaurant has tons of windows and an outdoor balcony, all which offer great views of Bay Village and the water park. People watchers love sitting outside at Bistro 14. Burgers, salads, and seafood baskets complete with French fries and big hits. Complete raw bar, reasonably priced. The bistro is best for lunch, but also open for dinner and offers indoor and outdoor seating. Park in the Bay Village parking lots.

lunch
Broadway Pizza
1718 N. Bay Ave
(609) 494-7281
$2-$6
May-Sep: M-Su 11AM-12AM

French fries, burgers, hotdogs, pizza and other grilled goodies.

lunch
The Gazebo
Schooner’s Wharf
(609) 492-5811
$6-$14
May-Oct: Daily Noon-10PM
Go all the way to the far end of the Wharf and you will see it.

Burgers and pizza, coffee and soft drinks offered. Full sushi bar, reasonably priced. Indoor and outdoor seating, The Gazebo is a great lunch option during a day of shopping. The restaurant is also open for dinner.

lunch
The Holiday Snack Bar
401 Centre Street
(609) 492-4544
$2-$8
Mid May-late Aug: Daily 11AM-9PM

Take a seat at the giant, singular wrap-around counter in this small restaurant and talk up the other patrons! Home-style burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, fries, onion rings make up the menu. Portions run small, on account of the joint being a “Snack Bar,” but are very reasonably priced. Homemade cakes for dessert; they can be ordered a week in advance for parties, too. The Holiday is great for kids, but not to large parties of 6 or more.

lunch
Inlet Deli
33 W. 4th St
(609) 494-3049
$4-$11
May-Aug: 5:30 AM-6PM

Steps outside of Barnegat Light State Park, Inlet Deli offers casual deli fare and is very popular with locals and tourists alike. Inlet Deli has larger facilities than most other casual dining options and is air conditioned in the summer months. If you're on the far north end of the island, there is no better place to stop for lunch. If you're planning a day on the water, order a few sandwiches to pack in the cooler for later in the day.

lunch
A Little Bite of Italy Deli
1419 Long Beach Blvd
(609) 361-0506
Open all year round.

A local Italian deli that serves pizza, baked goods, soups and salads.

lunch
Country Kettle Chowda
800 N. Bay Ave
(609) 492-2800
$3-$5.
May-Oct, M-Su Noon-10PM

Manhattan and New England style chowder pronounced “chowda”, served in a sourdough bread bowl or not is the only thing on the menu, besides the daily soup option. Minimal outdoor seating is offered, located among the shops in the Village.

Breakfast

breakfast
Fred’s Beach Haven Diner
2404 S. Bay Ave
(609) 492-6202
$9-$20
Mid April-early October, M-F 7AM-2PM. Sa-Su 8AM-2PM, 6PM-9PM

Taking up an entire block on the boulevard, Fred’s is a huge restaurant. Part diner, complete with counter and tiny jukeboxes, part carpeted dining room, Fred’s has a huge breakfast and lunch menu, complete with all the classics. The corn beef hash made Fred famous, and yes, the restaurant is really named after its true owner. To avoid an hour-or-more wait, make sure to arrive before 9:30AM or after 11:30AM. Reservations are not taken and indoor seating only. Parking on the boulevard is always packed near Fred’s, so parking the car up by the beach and walking down to the main drag works best. BYO.

breakfast
Scojo’s Restaurant
307 N. Bay Ave, Surf City
(609) 494-8661
$5-$12
May-January, M-Su 8AM-3PM

Located in a house-turned-restaurant, Scojo’s is possibly the most popular breakfast spot north of the Causeway, offering all the traditional breakfast fare ranging from eggs and omelets to pancakes, waffles, and French toast, though not recommended for the claustrophobics in the crowd. Reservations are not taken and waits tend to be over an hour on weekends. Indoor seating only. Scojo's is known for it's delicious breakfast meals but they also serve a great lunch and dinner course. Once again, this restaurant is usually packed so they do offer a considerably quick take-out option to their costumers.

breakfast
Uncle Will’s Pancake House
3 S. Bay Ave
(609) 492-2514
$5-$17
April-October, M-F 8:30AM-1PM;S/S 8:30AM-1PM, 5PM-8PM

The only thing more famous than Uncle Will’s food is its around-the-block lines. Uncle Will’s serves traditional breakfast fare, and is particularly famous for its Daily Specials, especially the daily pancakes and French toast variations. Muffins and cinnamon buns made on the premises. Say “Hello!” to the giant ceramic pigs seating at some tables – the pig theme is abundant throughout the entire restaurant. Try to count them all! Parking on the boulevard gets full fast, so park up by the beach and walk down for a bite to eat. Reservations are not taken and Uncle Wills possibly as the longest waits on the island, so go early and spend time in the neighboring bookstore while you wait – the hostess will come find you in Atlantic Books!

If you love to eat, you’ve come to the right island! Long Beach Island is packed with restaurants and eateries from Lighthouse to Inlet, with the majority of them centralized in Beach Haven, Surf City, and Harvey Cedars. Many restaurants do not take reservations and some can have waits as long as 3 hours for a meal, so timing is key when it comes to dining on LBI. Because rentals change over on Saturdays, avoid going out to eat Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Optimum days to dine out are Thursdays and Fridays, when most tourists are devouring the leftovers they have in their refrigerators before departing. Bon appetite!