In 2012, the devastating Super Storm Sandy hit the New Jersey coastline. The beach community of Seaside lost practically everything. There was one spot that actually withstood the storm and that was The Sawmill. Located right on the boardwalk since 1977, The Sawmill stands as a symbol of New Jersey’s resilience.
5 years since the storm, I was able to visit and see how much the area has bounced back. I had to make a stop by The Sawmill to get some famous boardwalk pizza. They are known for their 27″ jumbo pizza but luckily they also sell them by the slice.
I got a classic slice of just cheese. It was so big I had to fold it in half in order to eat it. The crust was nice and crispy. There was the perfect proportion of sauce and cheese.
I washed down the pizza with a Mai Tai. It was the perfect blend of light and dark rum, amaretto, triple sec, pineapple juice, and orange juice. The drink was sweet and it went down smooth. It was a great choice to enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean. Unfortunately it was raining the day of my visit so I could not enjoy it outside.
I ended up staying at The Sawmill longer than I expected because I was enjoying the company around me. Instead of getting more pizza I decided to check out the rest of their menu. To my pleasant surprise I saw Polish kielbasa and potato pierogi listed. I was not expecting this and was excited to try these.
They sliced open the kielbasa which allowed it to be grilled on both sides. I loved the crispy grill marks because it added additional smoky flavor to the meat. The kielbasa was tender and did not have an abundance of fat mixed in which can sometimes make it chewy.
The pierogi were pan fried perfectly. The outside dough was slightly crisp which is my favorite way to have them prepared. They were stuffed with a ton of potato filling. They were cooked with a huge helping of caramelized onions. Having the onions always adds additional seasoning to the pierogi. I also loved that they sliced the onions super thin – julienne style.
I had a blast visiting this 40 year old establishment. The food was amazing. I can see why it has been around for so long. If you are headed to the Jersey Shore, you need to make sure to stop by The Sawmill. Whether it is for a slice or a cold drink, you will have a great time.
Visit their website at http://sawmillcafe.com/
Enjoy!
T
