Summer is in full swing and that means now is the time for outdoor dining.Many eateries offer a rooftop, deck, or porch to enjoy your meal on if you so choose, but what if your entire dining experience was outdoors? Wouldn’t that be even better? I think so, and the folks at Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck most likely agree…
The Riverdeck is an all-weather tiki bar and grill.
Each Thursday, they switch up the menu and serve favorites from the old Sweetwater Casino menu! One of South Jersey’s hidden gems, you can find Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck at 2780 7th Avenue, Sweetwater (Hammonton). For additional info, click here. For more of the best outdoor dining spots in New Jersey, click here.
Cape May is one of my favorite towns along the Jersey Shore - even if you have to go all the way south to reach it! There's just something magical about this little slice of heaven on the tail-end of New Jersey. It doesn't feel like a big, over-the-top boardwalk town, instead celebrating the beautiful nature all around us and the small businesses that make it what it is - and one of those small businesses might just be the most unique Jersey Shore restaurant. Elaine's Cape May is a longtime town institution, formerly known as the quirkiest dinner theater in the Garden State. While the dinner theater is no more, what's sprung up in its place is no less fascinating and unique. Come with us to discover the restaurant and getaway all of Cape May is talking about!
The visage of Elaine's in Cape May is a famous sight, but it's doing something very different these days. The old-school dinner theater is now an acclaimed small hotel, shopping boutique, and on-site restaurant and patio bar. There's a little something for everyone here.
The dining is at the heart of the place now, with an indoor pub and restaurant as well as a sprawling outdoor patio with a bar. When the weather is still nice, as it is in early fall, you can have an absolutely perfect night out here. The patio is also where events like live music and paint-and-sip parties take place.
The most popular meal of the week is brunch, when Elaine's goes all out to elevate diner breakfast classics with a flair worthy of an iconic spot like this one.
For lunch and dinner, the menu becomes much more varied - if one member of the party wants classics like burgers and soft pretzels, and another wants elevated poke towers or fresh seafood, you're all covered!
And of course, it wouldn't be beachside bliss if the drinks weren't just as worthy of attention as the food. Elaine's has one of the best Bloody Marys in the state, and the mixologists here are always coming up with exciting specials.
Yes, there certainly is a lot to do at this unique restaurant turned beach-town resort - maybe too much for one evening. The good news is, you don't have to leave! You can book a stay in the elegant rooms offered here and wake up to have breakfast and begin a day of shopping.
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Have you visited Elaine's in Cape May before? What do you think of the new lease on life for this unique Jersey Shore restaurant? Let us know in the comments section! You can find out more about all the offerings here on the Elaine's Cape May website, and the Elaine's Cape May Facebook page is a great place to keep tabs on all upcoming events. If you're planning a visit to Cape May, go ahead and check out my previous coverage on why Cape May is an amazing destination for solo travelers. And if you're looking for a place to stay...well, you don't have to go far! Go ahead and book a night at Elaine's and check out the other side of the business!
The Jersey Shore is known as a haven for great fish and seafood restaurants - how could it not be? Only feet from the ocean, the area is full of fishermen who make their living dragging in the latest catch. However, to find the best fried seafood in New Jersey, you'll want to go where the fishermen go. Keyport Fishery, an old-school fish market in Keyport that has been serving the community for decades, is a surprising gem dishing out what might be the best fried seafood in New Jersey. This is a working fish market, selling the catch of the day, but a simple menu on the wall lets you know that you can have that catch crispy-fried and served to you ready to eat. This takeout-only gem is the perfect meal before a day of fun on the water, and it's no surprise that it's maintained a big fanbase for all these years. Let's take a closer look at the Keyport Fishery in Keyport, New Jersey.
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The Keyport Fishery usually has lines outside, and there's a reason this humble fish shack still packs them in after all these years.
Why can't you sit down and eat inside like most seafood shacks? Because this isn't a seafood shack at all - it's a working fish market, running a brisk business in fresh fish.
But most visitors come here for the fried seafood, offered daily for market prices. The fried fish fillets come perfectly fried with a crispy coating. The Keyport Fishery menu has so much to offer.
The Keyport Fishery is a popular local gem, so it's no surprise that it's gained the attention of several food and travel bloggers! This video by Eat Travel Roll took us inside the humble fish market for a delicious meal back in 2021.
Have you been to the Keyport Fishery in Keyport, New Jersey? Let us know what you think about this fish market/takeout restaurant combo, and let us know your picks for the best fried seafood in New Jersey in the comments section. If you're planning to visit, make sure to drop by the Keyport Fishery Facebook page to see current updates and specials. If you're looking for some fun shopping during your stay in the area on your beachside getaway, check out these antique shops in Keyport:
