When we’re at the peak of those lazy summer days at the Jersey Shore, and I’ve just rolled off the beach, what I really want is a pile of fresh seafood from a simple roadside shack.
You know the vibe: right on the water, fishing boats docked out back, the salt air peeling the faded red paint off the building as a family of seagulls circle overhead, each hoping to steal a quick snack off the picnic tables below.
There’s a humble beauty to these shacks that surpasses anything a white-glove restaurant experience could possibly offer. Recently, I took a road trip down the coast to find a little bit of fresh-caught heaven on a paper plate. Here are some of my favorite spots:
Point Lobster Co.
Point Pleasant Beach
They have a sit-down restaurant just down the road, but for the most authentic experience, head directly to Point Lobster’s market in the commercial fishing district on the Manasquan Inlet. It fits every stereotype of a local seafood shack that you could possibly conjure up. Head to the counter, order a lobster roll, and grab an outdoor table next to the crab traps. (Seating is surprisingly plentiful here.)
The rest of the menu has its merits as well, but lobster is the name of the game here, and it doesn’t disappoint. They offer both the cold, mayo-y Maine and hot, buttery Connecticut styles of lobster rolls. Opt for the latter: an overflowing pile of fresh lobster with melted butter and a squeeze of lemon on a lightly toasted hot dog roll is absolutely all you need.
Rick’s Seafood
North Wildwood
I found out the hard way how popular Rick’s Seafood was last year when I called bright and early on a Saturday morning and was told that the earliest I could pick up my food would be well after dinner. That kind of demand usually means that greatness awaits, and in the case of Rick’s Seafood, it surely does. Absent nearly any frills, this spot thrives on the pure quality of the product they put out.
The cream of crab soup is a standout: luscious and textured, with sweet bits of fresh blue crab and specks of Old Bay. Their giant butterflied fried shrimp are downright addictive and have a more exquisitely crispy breading that I have not come across in my travels. Ditto for the scallops, which are a must—as they are caught locally, and yes, you can taste the difference.
Oyster Creek Restaurant and Boat Bar
Leeds Point
You’ll have to travel deep into the Pine Barrens that serve as the birthplace of the Jersey Devil to get to this restaurant, but it’s well worth the ride. Upon arrival, the woods give way to a marsh, with a looping road of crumbling fisherman’s shacks bordering the seascape. The crown jewel is the Oyster Creek Restaurant.
It’s one of the rare shacks where I would steer clear of the usual deep-fried suspects (their breading is too dense on its own). Instead, opt for the spicy and addictive Jersey Devil shrimp appetizer, which comes drenched in a deliciously spicy sauce over coleslaw, or the East Coast oyster stew to start, followed by any one of their sushi rolls. Yes, sushi rolls here are totally out of place, but if it ain’t broke…
Shore Fresh Market and Restaurant
Point Pleasant Beach
Generally, when I hear the term bisque, I picture a heavy, cream-forward soup, so I was perplexed when I dipped my spoon into the much thinner suspension of the shrimp bisque at Shore Fresh.
Visually, it boasted the same tomatoey ruddiness of Manhattan clam chowder, but was far more lush and buttery, and heavily seasoned. It made for a stellar opening act to the lightly fried flounder, which was a standout in my seafood combo plate.
For the last 20 years, Shore Fresh has been serving simple, fresh and genuine seafood. It’s worth a stop.
Crab Shack
Brick
Crab Shack is technically in Brick, just over the bridge from and in direct contrast to the stunning oceanfront mansions of Mantoloking. It’s been in operation for more than 50 years, and though its interior and outdoor patio have each been spruced up recently, it maintains the years of gritty charm in its DNA.
The menu regularly includes unexpected items like clams chorizo and lobster sliders, but when you are a stone’s throw away from one of the most popular crabbing sites in the area, it’s hard to resist ordering a crab cake sandwich. I did just that and was greeted with a large and very messy stack of deliciousness, with the subtly spiced crab-cake itself taking center stage among a supporting cast of fresh sliced tomato, leaf lettuce and tartar sauce, all stacked high on a subtly sweet potato bun.
