Best Seafood Lunch Anywhere Between Here and Toms River

Looking for lunch recommendations for this Saturday. It can be a dive or upscale, but the seafood must be excellent.  

Bum Roger's Crab House, Rt 35, Seaside Park. Just went there today for lunch. Husband had pasta in crab sauce, I had pasta in clam sauce, both were delicious, and they were far from the most exciting things on the menu.

Inlet Cafe, Highlands NJ. If the weather is nice, its very nice sitting out on the deck.

http://www.inletcafe.com

I know, it's a chain, but I think Bonefish Grill does a consistently good job with seafood, and some of their items are excellent (the crab cakes, for example).  They are open for lunch on Saturdays.  There's one in Iselin, just off the Garden State Parkway (exit 130), and there's also one in Brick, also not far off the Parkway.

Search Chowhound for your answer.

Inlet café looks nice.

We ate at Inlet this summer, since our previous favorite divey seafood place (The Clam Hut) was destroyed by Sandy. 

If you like the kind of place where you're actually out over the water, this is a really nice place to sit and enjoy the sun, a cool adult beverage and some seafood. It's our new regular stop.

springgreen2 said:

Inlet café looks nice.

The mariner's at the Highlands and Atlantic Highlands told me about it.

There's good fish place at Pt Pleasant. The fish is very fresh and tasteful but I never ate in their restaurant even though we bought the prepared clams casino which were very good. Its BYOB.

http://www.shorefreshseafood.com

ps - their crab cakes are loaded with crab, not bread stuffing.

According to Inlet Cafe's web site, they're closed until "spring." Whatever that means, in this kind of weather!

tom said:

According to Inlet Cafe's web site, they're closed until "spring." Whatever that means, in this kind of weather!

But they're open today. But you its good to call because they're closed some odd weekday, Tuesday's or Wednesday's.

If you're going to be in Toms River, go to Gregory's Seafood (it's a fish market and restaurant) on Route 37 West in Manchester (right over the Toms River border), 15 minutes west of the Parkway.

http://www.gregorys-seafood.com/home.html

I buy all my fish there and have taken friends from "up north" there for lunch and dinner.  All agree, it's the freshest fish we've eaten in a long time.  Maybe off the beaten path when you think of the Shore, but it's well worth it.

mumstheword said:

If you're going to be in Toms River, go to Gregory's Seafood (it's a fish market and restaurant) on Route 37 West in Manchester (right over the Toms River border), 15 minutes west of the Parkway.

http://www.gregorys-seafood.com/home.html


I buy all my fish there and have taken friends from "up north" there for lunch and dinner.  All agree, it's the freshest fish we've eaten in a long time.  Maybe off the beaten path when you think of the Shore, but it's well worth it.

I was going to suggest Gregory's too. It's a bit dive-y, but the seafood is great. Just expect a really, really bizarre atmosphere and roll with it. The place is like nothing you've ever seen before or will likely ever see again. We've been there a lot as my husband's great aunt lives in Manchester and we take her there all the time. 

Just be prepared for a place filled with messages all over the place that scream, "Look at me! I'm a Super-Patriot!" along with the messages that if you don't like what they say or do you are welcome to get out. They play nothing but 1950s music and proudly serve "Freedom Fries" on the menu. Honestly the rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal are worth the trip...but don't ask for more than one per person and you can only get one if you order one of the dinners.

If you go - bring a cooler with ice packs so you can bring some of the seafood (from their seafood counter) home. It really is fresh and good. 

TigerLilly said:

mumstheword said:

If you're going to be in Toms River, go to Gregory's Seafood (it's a fish market and restaurant) on Route 37 West in Manchester (right over the Toms River border), 15 minutes west of the Parkway.

http://www.gregorys-seafood.com/home.html


I buy all my fish there and have taken friends from "up north" there for lunch and dinner.  All agree, it's the freshest fish we've eaten in a long time.  Maybe off the beaten path when you think of the Shore, but it's well worth it.

I was going to suggest Gregory's too. It's a bit dive-y, but the seafood is great. Just expect a really, really bizarre atmosphere and roll with it. The place is like nothing you've ever seen before or will likely ever see again. We've been there a lot as my husband's great aunt lives in Manchester and we take her there all the time. 

Just be prepared for a place filled with messages all over the place that scream, "Look at me! I'm a Super-Patriot!" along with the messages that if you don't like what they say or do you are welcome to get out. They play nothing but 1950s music and proudly serve "Freedom Fries" on the menu. Honestly the rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal are worth the trip...but don't ask for more than one per person and you can only get one if you order one of the dinners.


If you go - bring a cooler with ice packs so you can bring some of the seafood (from their seafood counter) home. It really is fresh and good. 

LOL!  I didn't want to mention the Patriot thing.  This dyed in the wool liberal almost walked out my first time there, just out of principle, but everybody, including the Patriot himself, was so nice, it was a little lesson in tolerance for me.  I'm at the point where I always get a big hello, and they have me on several "lists", e.g., when they get bluefish in, they have a list of people they call and we get first dibs.  Same for Christmas fish, etc.  And there's nothing like Jersey Shore clams.

If you have time next time you're down, stop by and say hello.  I'm also off 37 but in Toms River.

Inlet cafe is pretty good and has been around for decades.  It's changed locations or been completely renovated, not sure.  I used to go there in the 70s and went back last year for the first time.  It was yummy with lovely atmosphere on the water.

mumstheword said:

TigerLilly said:

mumstheword said:

If you're going to be in Toms River, go to Gregory's Seafood (it's a fish market and restaurant) on Route 37 West in Manchester (right over the Toms River border), 15 minutes west of the Parkway.

http://www.gregorys-seafood.com/home.html


I buy all my fish there and have taken friends from "up north" there for lunch and dinner.  All agree, it's the freshest fish we've eaten in a long time.  Maybe off the beaten path when you think of the Shore, but it's well worth it.

I was going to suggest Gregory's too. It's a bit dive-y, but the seafood is great. Just expect a really, really bizarre atmosphere and roll with it. The place is like nothing you've ever seen before or will likely ever see again. We've been there a lot as my husband's great aunt lives in Manchester and we take her there all the time. 

Just be prepared for a place filled with messages all over the place that scream, "Look at me! I'm a Super-Patriot!" along with the messages that if you don't like what they say or do you are welcome to get out. They play nothing but 1950s music and proudly serve "Freedom Fries" on the menu. Honestly the rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal are worth the trip...but don't ask for more than one per person and you can only get one if you order one of the dinners.


If you go - bring a cooler with ice packs so you can bring some of the seafood (from their seafood counter) home. It really is fresh and good. 

LOL!  I didn't want to mention the Patriot thing.  This dyed in the wool liberal almost walked out my first time there, just out of principle, but everybody, including the Patriot himself, was so nice, it was a little lesson in tolerance for me.  I'm at the point where I always get a big hello, and they have me on several "lists", e.g., when they get bluefish in, they have a list of people they call and we get first dibs.  Same for Christmas fish, etc.  And there's nothing like Jersey Shore clams.

If you have time next time you're down, stop by and say hello.  I'm also off 37 but in Toms River.

Yeah - it's a lesson in tolerance, but I feel like their messages are really intolerant. We have decided not to go there any more. Too many weird experiences. The family who owns it is really nice, but between their grandson who randomly complained to us while we were dining that he was upset his coach didn't play him and the other star players because they were putting the "black" kids in to the in-your-face "if you're not like us great religious patriots, you're not welcome" messages all over the wall....we've had our fill. But, it's really an interesting place that I'm glad to have experienced - for better or worse.

Man...I'm doing a terrible job of recommending this place!! But the seafood really is great.

kmk said:

Search Chowhound for your answer.

I presume this was said with the best of intentions but it comes off quite badly. If the person did what you are suggesting rather than post here then those of us who also might be interested in knowing of excellent seafood places recommended by REAL PEOPLE WE KNOW IRL OR VIRTUAL would not be possible. I personally would rather have various recommendations from people who I can then ask questions of than from some Chowhound site. I gotta think the OP thought so too. And now for better or worse I need to try this Gregory's seafood at least once and the OP clearly got her answer as well. 

Ummmm.  Sorry if I offended you? I was in a hurry but I gave my best suggestion with complete confidence.  

Chowhound is an excellent resource. 

Given the fact that the request was NOT for a local establishment, crowdsourcing the thoughts of other food-obsessed posters - even those that live OUTSIDE of SOMA - is a very good idea.  What you would like, personally, was not at even on my radar.

wendy said:

 I personally would rather have various recommendations from people who I can then ask questions of than from some Chowhound site. I gotta think the OP thought so too. 

TigerLilly said:

mumstheword said:

TigerLilly said:

mumstheword said:

If you're going to be in Toms River, go to Gregory's Seafood (it's a fish market and restaurant) on Route 37 West in Manchester (right over the Toms River border), 15 minutes west of the Parkway.

http://www.gregorys-seafood.com/home.html


I buy all my fish there and have taken friends from "up north" there for lunch and dinner.  All agree, it's the freshest fish we've eaten in a long time.  Maybe off the beaten path when you think of the Shore, but it's well worth it.

I was going to suggest Gregory's too. It's a bit dive-y, but the seafood is great. Just expect a really, really bizarre atmosphere and roll with it. The place is like nothing you've ever seen before or will likely ever see again. We've been there a lot as my husband's great aunt lives in Manchester and we take her there all the time. 

Just be prepared for a place filled with messages all over the place that scream, "Look at me! I'm a Super-Patriot!" along with the messages that if you don't like what they say or do you are welcome to get out. They play nothing but 1950s music and proudly serve "Freedom Fries" on the menu. Honestly the rolls they serve at the beginning of the meal are worth the trip...but don't ask for more than one per person and you can only get one if you order one of the dinners.


If you go - bring a cooler with ice packs so you can bring some of the seafood (from their seafood counter) home. It really is fresh and good. 

LOL!  I didn't want to mention the Patriot thing.  This dyed in the wool liberal almost walked out my first time there, just out of principle, but everybody, including the Patriot himself, was so nice, it was a little lesson in tolerance for me.  I'm at the point where I always get a big hello, and they have me on several "lists", e.g., when they get bluefish in, they have a list of people they call and we get first dibs.  Same for Christmas fish, etc.  And there's nothing like Jersey Shore clams.

If you have time next time you're down, stop by and say hello.  I'm also off 37 but in Toms River.

Yeah - it's a lesson in tolerance, but I feel like their messages are really intolerant. We have decided not to go there any more. Too many weird experiences. The family who owns it is really nice, but between their grandson who randomly complained to us while we were dining that he was upset his coach didn't play him and the other star players because they were putting the "black" kids in to the in-your-face "if you're not like us great religious patriots, you're not welcome" messages all over the wall....we've had our fill. But, it's really an interesting place that I'm glad to have experienced - for better or worse.

Man...I'm doing a terrible job of recommending this place!! But the seafood really is great.

Oh, crap, I'm glad I didn't have those experiences (frankly, we didn't engage in a lot of conversation with the staff).  To tell the truth, when we ate it was in the summer/fall and we were outside and I really didn't see a lot of the signs, just what he posted on the menu.  I was just there Monday to buy clams and didn't notice anything inside, but I will look more closely the next time!  Good golly, I've turned into a seafood whore!  LOL!    

Just a note:  tomorrow is the St. Patty's day parade in Seaside Heights, so keep traffic in mind on 37 if you come down here.

@mumstheword - It's damn good seafood there....we've just been there (to eat in) soooo many times, it starts to wear on you... LOL!

Thank you for all of the great recommendations.  I look forward to going to them all, but I ended up at Shore Fresh today.  It was very tasty!

Ummmm, looks good!  Glad you had a good time, and thanks for the reco -- I'll add it to the list of places to try.