Category: New Jersey

Denino’s Pizzeria – Brick, NJ

If you are looking for some good Italian food that is quick, Denino’s Pizzeria is the perfect place. All the locals are visiting this restaurant.

Thy have a couple of items that are always my go too. The arancini is one of the best (outside of Brooklyn). They are jumbo in size. The middle is loaded with meat and peas and filled with extra cheese. When you slice it open the cheese starts to pour out. I covered it wit the homemade pasta sauce that came on the side. The sauce blended with the cheese which made each bite more filling. You can eat this as a meal, but it is also great to share this dish as well.

The meatball sub is also a great lunch item. I did not eat the whole thing, but I did try some of the meatball itself. The meatball was dense with the meat blend they used.  They did not use too much of the filler like breadcrumbs. The seasoning in the meat was savory, which paired well with the tanginess from the pasta sauce. Each bite was moist from the meat and sauce combo.

For my main dish I ordered the chicken piccata. This is not on their regular menu. This was a special day because chicken piccata is one of my favorite dishes. They cooked two large chicken breasts in an awesome lemon butter sauce. They put in a ton of capers and onions for extra flavor. They also included artichokes. These were a nice addition that I have never had before. The chicken was tender and moist. The artichokes added texture and an extra tangy taste along with the capers. All of this was on a pile of spaghetti. The portion was huge and could easily be shared. Or take it home for lunch the next day.

Denino’s is a great go to place for Italian. They have a great menu of staple dishes plus they always have a few specials. Check them out at www.deninosbricknj.com

Enjoy!

T

Crab’s Claw Inn – Lavallette, NJ

A couple of years ago I got to visit Crab’s Claw Inn near the beach in Lavallette, New Jersey. I was lucky to get to go back recently. The place was packed. I really lucked out and got a seat at the bar right as someone was getting up to leave.

I started off by ordering a red sangria. It was Friday and I deserved to start the weekend off right. It was a big glass and cold which was perfect for this hot summer day. They used a nice, smooth red wine to make the sangria. They also used an assortment of fruits to blend with the wine.

The first dish that was ordered was the Tuna Nachos. This reminded me of a deconstructed tuna roll that was missing the rice and just put on top of a crunchy wonton. The tuna was tender and slightly seared on the outside. The ponzu sauce they covered the tuna with added a fantastic, sweet taste and it complemented the tuna perfectly.

The clam chowder was the perfect size cup. Not too big, but enough to satisfy my taste. The chowder was extremely creamy. They used big pieces of tender clams throughout. There were not too many vegetables in this chowder, so I was able to enjoy the clams.

The Mussels at Crab’s Claw are amazing. They are cooked in a garlic butter sauce. The mussels were tender and full of garlic flavor. There was so much garlic butter left in the bowl that I needed to ask for a little more bead. I could not let this garlic butter do to waste so I soaked it all up with the bread.

The food was fantastic. I am glad I got to make another visit. Check them out at www.thecrabsclaw.com

Enjoy!

T

Wharfside – Point Pleasant, NJ

I have visited Wharfside a few times over the years when I am in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. If you like fresh seafood, this is a great place to visit.

It was a beautiful day, so we got a seat outside. This allowed for great entertainment as boats kept floating by.

While we were looking over the menu, the waitress brought over some fritters. These were like hush puppies. They were sweet and sprinkled with powered sugar. It was more like a dessert based on the taste, but I loved them, nonetheless.

We also got a small bowl of their homemade coleslaw. The cabbage was chopped up into nice small pieces. They used a lot of dressing that was slightly sweet. I like a wetter coleslaw.

I love Manhattan clam chowder and Wharfside is one of those restaurants in the area that serves it. It is a great vegetable broth that is seasoned perfectly with a hint of Old Bay. It is full of vegetables and fresh clams. The clams are very tender. The chowder had a wonderful savory flavor.

I also made sure to try some of the New England clam chowder. The chowder was super creamy. It was also loaded with fresh, tender clams. There was a comforting feeling to this chowder.

For my main dish I ordered the Baja Shrimp Bowl. This was like a salad on steroids. The fresh, grilled shrimp were placed on top of basmati rice, avocado, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, black beans, and cheddar & pepper jack cheese. Then a chipotle aioli sauce was drizzled on top. I could not decide if I should mix all the ingredients together or eat it by each of the layers.

I started off eating all the shrimp. They had a great seasoning on them. There was no need for any other type of sauce. I could not place the seasoning, but it was almost like a mesquite, paprika type flavor. After all the shrimp were gone, I mixed all the ingredients together. The chipotle aioli really pulled everything together. The beans added a nice texture, and the avocado added a creaminess. The rice helped bind it all together and make it filling.

The meal was great. I really wanted more of those fritters as a dessert, however I was too embarrassed to ask for more. They would have been a perfect ending.

You cannot go wrong with the food and the view at Wharfside. I would still recommend visiting them if you are in the area. Check out their menu at www.wharfsidenj.com

Enjoy!

T

Conforti’s Bakery – Brick, NJ

There is a family-owned Italian bakery in Brick, New Jersey called Conforti’s Bakery. They always have a ton of cars in their parking lot, so I decided to check them out.

They make fresh a full line of Italian breads, pastries, desserts, and cakes.

Because of the Covid restrictions that were in place, I was not able to actually go into the shop. That was a disappointment because I did not get to smell all those baked goods in the air. That is the fun part of walking into a bakery.

They did have a walk-up window that allowed you to order. It was a pretty efficient process.

They boxed up the sweet treats and then you are off on your way.

I ordered one of their cream puffs. It was larger than most cream puffs I have seen. They put a decent amount of powdered sugar on top to add extra sweetness.

The pastry dough was light and airy. This allowed for the vanilla cream filling to fill every nook and cranny. There definitely was a lot of filling. It was so smooth and creamy. I loved how the pastry added texture to the smooth filling. Because this cream puff was so large, I had to eat it with a fork. This helped me prevent a huge mess.

This stop for some dessert was great. I look forward to going back and trying something else. I am also looking forward to when everything gets back to normal and I can go inside the bakery.

Check them out at www.confortisbakery.com

Enjoy!

T

Boardwalk Hot Dogs – Brick, NJ

Nothing has made me happier than getting to travel again. The planes starting to get a little fuller, the roads a little more crowded, and the restaurants are opening (even if it is in just a limited capacity). I was happy to be back in New Jersey and getting to visit Boardwalk Hot Dogs, that has been around since 1982.

Now they have more than just hot dogs on their menu, but I was there specifically to try their Italian Hot Dog. I was not aware of what this style hot dog was, so I was anxious to try it.

They took a footlong hot dog and grilled it up on the flat top. Then they placed it inside a roll that looked almost like a pita pocket, but it was freshly made bread. Then inside the pocket they stuffed it with homemade home fries, which were nice big chunks of potatoes that were fried up till crispy on the outside. They then topped it off with sautéed peppers and onions. They were cooked till caramelized, and sweet which complemented the salty taste of the hot dog. This was the most filling hot dog I have ever had. It is perfect for sharing. And because its inside a pocket, it is not that messy to eat.

I could not leave without trying a classic Chili Cheese Dog.  The footlong hot dog was placed on a traditional hot dog bun. They smothered the hot dog with chili (which was meat only, no beans). Then liquid cheese was spread on top on the chili. The smoky taste from the hot dog paired well with the savory taste of the chili. It was extremely messy to eat this hot dog.

I was happy to get to travel and visit a new restaurant. Check out their website at www.boardwalkhotdogsnj.com

Enjoy!

T

Frank’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante – Lakewood, NJ

It was Sunday night and time for dinner. What better dinner than some homemade Italian food. It was recommended that I try Frank’s Pizza & Ristorante. Since their dining room was shut down, I had to get the food to go.

I ordered a couple of things that way there was an assortment of things to try. I got an arancini (rice ball). The size was huge and perfect for sharing. It was crispy on the outside but when I sliced in, the melted cheese just poured out. The cheese blended with the soft rice. In the middle was a great blend of chopped meat, peas, and a little marinara sauce. This filling paired with the cheese and rice made the dish filling.

I got two different calzones. One was just cheese and the other was vegetables and cheese. The cheese calzone was loaded down with cheese. It poured out when I cut into the crispy crust. You must be careful, so you do not burn your mouth. If you like cheesy dough this is the calzone to try. Dipping in in pasta sauce just helps break up the overwhelming amount of cheese.

The vegetable calzone had a few vegetables, including from broccoli rabe. The vegetables helped break up all the cheese. They added a nice texture as well. The dough they used was sweet and complemented the saltiness of the cheese.

I ordered a cup of their chicken noodle soup. There were large chunks of chicken in the soup, but the broth was more like a vegetable soup. There was a sweetness to the soup rather than a salty taste. They loaded the soup with noodles which I really liked. I do like it when soups have lots of noodles.

I did order one main pasta dish to try. I went for the gnocchi in a marinara sauce. These gnocchi were dense but still tender. The marinara sauce was slightly tangy from the tomatoes. However, that eased when I sprinkled some fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.

I was so full after all this food. I ordered plenty so I was able to have lunch the next day. The next time I visit Frank’s I want to order a pizza. That seemed like a really popular item with the customers who kept coming in.

Check out their full menu at www.frankspizzalakewood.com

Enjoy!

T

Shore Fresh – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

I love getting fresh seafood when I am near the beach in New Jersey. I was feeling like some homemade soup for dinner. That took me to Shore Fresh where they make homemade chowders and bisque’s every day.

Because of the indoor dining rules in New Jersey I had to get my order to go. That was ok by me. I was planning on eating down by the water so I could watch the boats and fishermen.

Shore Fresh has a variety of fresh caught seafood all on display. All of which would make delicious meals!

I ordered the Manhattan Clam Chowder. This is one of my favorites. They loaded up with tons on tender clams. They used lots of vegetables as well. All these ingredients worked so well in the savory broth. The chunks of potatoes were my favorite in the chowder because of all the flavor they absorbed. The clams were fantastic and could not be any fresher.

I also tried the Shrimp Bisque. This was extremely creamy. They chopped up the shrimp which made it a little easier to eat. There were a few vegetables in the bisque, but they were more of a flavor accent. They made sure to let the creamy broth stand out.

This fresh chowder and the ocean air were the perfect combination for dinner. It was a relaxing way to end a busy day. You should check them out at www.shorefreshseafood.com

Enjoy!

T

Mulberry Street – Brick, NJ

There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in Brick, New Jersey. But with the shutdown preventing restaurants from opening or allowing patrons to eat inside, I had to find a place I could get food to go. Mulberry Street was a great option.

They have a full deli with freshly made sandwiches, pasta dishes, desserts, fresh bread, and a full market to get Italian specialties. They had it all.

There was even a section of the shop where you can sample all varieties of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. That is not something that I normally see.

Their list of sandwiches was long, and it took me a few minutes to read it over. I finally decided to order the Eldridge Street.

I got my choice of bread for this sandwich, so I went for the fresh bastone. A bastone is a traditional Italian bread. This sandwich had layers of fresh capicola, pepperoni, provolone cheese, and freshly made mozzarella. They topped it off with shredded lettuce and tomato slices. There are lots of dressings to choose to go on the sandwich, but I only got oil and vinegar. I kept it simple.

The sandwich was delicious. They were generous with all the ingredients. The meats were salty, and the cheeses balanced that out. The olive oil added a creamy texture and softened the bread slightly, which made it easier to take a bite. The tomato added some sweetness, while the lettuce added crunch.

The sandwich was very filling. It was the perfect lunch. I look forward to getting to go back to try something else.

Check out their menu at www.Mulberrystreet.net

Enjoy!

T

Klee’s – Seaside Heights, NJ

I was told I had to visit Klee’s while in Seaside, New Jersey. They have a rich history that goes back to 1931 when Klee’s was the first to be issued a license to sell beer. Throughout the years the owner’s have continued to keep the tradition of being a neighborhood bar.

I was told that Klee’s had one of the best bar pies in all of Seaside. I ordered the cheese and pepperoni. It was a lot larger than other bar pies I have had before. The dough had a sweet taste to me and was cooked perfectly in the over to have a crunchy crust.  There was a generous portion of salty cheese and a ton of pepperoni spread across the pizza.

I also decided to try their broiled oysters. I knew these would not be like the char-grilled style I enjoy down South. However, I was looking forward to trying something new. They were sizzling when they came out so they need to cool down a little. There was a large amount of sautéed spinach on top of each oyster. There was a small amount of cheese and garlic too.

They were slightly more filling to me than other oysters I normally get because there was more spinach compared to the size of the oyster. It was a good thing they did not come in a full dozen.

While enjoying my food, there was a great one man band playing. He was positioned right in the center of the bar. I really enjoyed the songs he was playing. He really knew how to work the crowd. He got everyone to start singing at some point.

  

Klee’s is a great place to enjoy food, music, or just watching a hockey game. Stop by if you are headed to Seaside Heights. Read about their long history at http://kleesbarandgrill.com/

Enjoy!

T