The Jersey Shore's culinary landscape has never been more dynamic, stretching from an unassuming Oaxacan taqueria near Atlantic City to one of the most ambitious live-fire tasting menu restaurants the Shore has ever seen in Stone Harbor. While sticker shock is real with some entrees reaching well past sixty dollars, LaBan's guide proves that extraordinary meals are still available for those willing to explore beyond the obvious. This summer's standouts span everything from a family-owned clam shack in Beach Haven and a generational barbecue institution on the Ocean City boardwalk to a stunning new pair of waterfront restaurants in Cape May offering some of the most spectacular views on the entire Jersey Shore.
- Polly's Dock and Clamhouse in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island offers an al fresco clam bake experience directly overlooking the bay, with clams harvested from the very waters surrounding the restaurant
- La Porteña in Stone Harbor delivers a seven-course live-fire Argentine tasting menu featuring house-dry-aged steaks, fresh empanadas, and locally sourced seafood for an exceptional value at $90 per person
- Cape May's Port Marina and Restaurant and Fish House represent the Shore's most ambitious new restaurant group, with locally sourced ingredients from a private fishing fleet, a working ranch, and a consulting farm, all set against the most spectacular waterfront views at the Shore
- Hidden gems across Atlantic City and Ventnor include Gouté Creole for slow-braised Haitian oxtails, Tacos La Fe for authentic Oaxacan family recipes, and Remedee Coffee Roasters for small-batch Colombian roasts made by two local sisters
Whether you are chasing the perfect lobster roll at sunset or hunting down the Shore's best new taco, this summer's Jersey Shore restaurant scene rewards the curious and the hungry in equal measure. Make your reservations early and come hungry.
By: Craig LaBan | The Philadelphia Inquirer | June 25, 2025
Photo: Courtesy of Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
