It’s the off-season. It’s cold. It’s time to hibernate. But did you know the best place to hibernate is actually down the New Jersey shore? Yep—you read that correctly. Some of the best food and inns are open all-year around Avalon, Stone Harbor, Long Beach Island and Cape May, and they offer ultimate comfort and ultimate comfort food at a great rate. Plus, there’s unspoiled, sunny beaches with fewer people, which feels pretty awesome when it’s just you and your dog on the beach. With so many places open for business, here are just a few of the faves.
If visiting Stone Harbor …
Stone Harbor is a favorite place for families and friends during the summer months, but The Reeds at Shelter Haven is the perfect place to relax and dine any weekend of the year.
My best friend and I took a quick trip on a super-rainy weekend and we were bummed there was no sun. However, our room was upgraded to a suite. We quite happily curled up and read books in front of the fireplace while it poured outside. Later, we headed downstairs for dinner at Sax—and this was quite possibly the best meal we ever had. Our server Mark brought out savory monkey bread (pull-apart Parmesan garlic bread) and Voss sparkling water. We enjoyed fresh East and West oysters and shrimp cocktail with sauce Marie rose.
For our main entrée, we gobbled up brown butter scallops with broccoli atop a cauliflower puree. Chef Tim Hamill brought out a celery root puree and a celery root slaw for us to try—all was impeccably prepared! The ambience is perfect, warm and inviting. For dessert, Chef Tim created a huge dessert tray brown butter ice cream (yum!), caramel custard, gluten-free chocolate torte and an apple crumb pie. Suffice to say, we were stuffed full! It was a glorious meal, and a glorious weekend.
When heading to Long Beach Island …
When escaping to Long Beach Island, be sure to discover Beach Haven’s Engleside Inn. It’s open year-round with great rates, it accepts pets and the dining room offers a fabulous sushi lunch Friday and Saturday. My fiancé and I, with our dog, stayed there over Thanksgiving. We had a great turkey time with our family and then on Friday, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of miso soup, crab rolls, sashimi and more. My favorite was a seafood salad of sliced crab with tempura flakes and avocado on top. Priced quite well and so good—top quality ingredients and their sushi chefs are masters.
If exploring Seven Mile Island…
If you are on Seven Mile Island, you can hit up a bunch of open restaurants and businesses. My favorite stop in Avalon is Circle Tavern—home of the summer-lovin’ Princeton. During the off-season only the Circle is open—go on Tuesday nights and enjoy a bowl of flavorful mussels and grilled garlic bread for under $10. Grilled flatbreads and burgers with weekly happy hour specials round out the menu.
If you are looking to grab a great sandwich, go further south on Dune Drive and stop in at the Seven Mile Island Deli. See owner Josh create delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches any day during the week and you won’t leave disappointed or hungry. The deli is open all year and is always fresh and delicious for a great price. My favorite is the Italian hoagie piled high with fresh meats and cheeses on a fresh roll, or the ham and cheese panini.
When you venture even further south…
If you are looking for true Italian dishes full of flavor and love, Gia in Wildwood Crest will satisfy you. A perfect spot for families, couples, or friends, dine in elegance and enjoy steak, chops, veal, seafood and of course, pasta.
If you are inland at Cape May Court House, head to The Court House Diner. Large portions, small prices, friendly service and open all the time, you can’t beat this diner for a great place for a great meal. My favorite is the roast beef on grilled garlic bread with fresh cut fries—plus soup!—all for around $8.
Have you been to the shore during the off-season? Where do you like to go? What’s your favorite off-season meal?
- Sax photo credits: Christine Tarlecki
- Engleside Inn photo credit: Engleside Inn
- Circle Tavern photo credits: Circle Tavern
- Gia photo credit: Gia
