New Jersey is a state that has everything from sandy beaches to cranberry bogs. New Jersey also has a wide range of food options, whether it’s fresh seafood, authentic Italian, or even boardwalk French fries. Everywhere I turned on my visit I found a restaurant. It was hard to make a decision, so I asked some friends who grew up in the area where they recommended. The Cove is what made the top of the list for fresh seafood.
Located in an actual cove off of Barnegat Bay, The Cove has been a hot spot for locals for years. In the summertime you can sit outside on their patio and put your feet in the sand; or you can pull your boat up to their dock after a long day out at sea. There is also plenty of inside seating if you need to get away from the heat.
The bar was hopping when I got there. It felt like the whole town was there. I started off with the red sangria called The Cove. I figured I needed to try the namesake drink. It was a blend of red wine and an assortment of tropical juices and liquors. It was not overly sweet. It also had a slight spicy after taste, which was probably coming from the oak essence in the wine. It was a great way to say cheers to a fun evening.
The group shared a few appetizers. The mozzarella sticks were pretty standard bar food. They were good, crispy, and cheesy but nothing out of the ordinary.
The fried calamari was nice and crispy. The calamari itself was soft and tender – not chewy – so I could tell it was fresh. I started off with the marinara sauce, which is typically how they were served. However, the breading did not have a lot of flavor so it did not taste right with the marinara. Something was missing. So I ordered a side of their Thai chili sauce. This sweet and spicy sauce was what the calamari needed. The sauce coated the breading much better and made the calamari itself more flavorful.
The coconut shrimp was an appetizer that could easily be someone’s meal. The shrimp were butterflied and coated with coconut flakes. They were fried really crispy. The flavor was sweet and when I dipped it in the coconut dipping sauce, the sweetness increased. I loved it, I did not feel it was overly sweet at all. I also loved the crunch when I took a bite.
I wanted to try their New England clam chowder. It was a large size bowl. The first thing I noticed was the soup base was not as creamy as a typical clam chowder. It was more on the lighter side but still had great flavor and a ton of fresh clams in it.
For my main meal (as if I had not eaten enough already) I ordered one of their daily specials – Salmon Piccata. It was a large fillet of fresh salmon that was char-broiled. It was drizzled in a lemon butter wine sauce and topped with a ton of capers. It also came with a rice pilaf and fresh vegetables.
The salmon was so fresh it was flaking apart as I was eating it. They added a generous amount of the lemon butter sauce. It was slightly sour because of the acid in the lemon but creamy at the same time because of the butter. The capers added a nice salty element to each mouthful.
The rice pilaf added a neutral element to the dish. It was not heavy in flavor, but it was great when I drizzled the extra lemon butter sauce on it. The fresh vegetables added a healthier element to the meal.
My visit to The Cove allowed me to enjoy a local band that played in the main dining room. The band FIASCO played a great array of music from the 70’s and 80’s. The really appeared to have a fan following.
While I enjoyed the music I ordered another drink – the white peach sangria. It was Pinot Grigio, peach Schnapps, fresh juices, and a splash of lemon-lime soda. This was much sweeter than the red sangria. I could taste the peach right away. It was a great dessert drink after all the salty food that I enjoyed.
If you are looking for a fun place to hang out and enjoy music or food with friends, then The Cove is a spot to try. You can check out the band schedule and their daily specials at the website http://www.covebarandgrill.com/
Enjoy!
T
