
Long Beach Island is a top choice for anyone who loves to eat well and explore new flavors.
This eight-mile stretch packs in a surprising range of restaurant categories, from casual seafood shacks to upscale Italian-American kitchens. You’ll find fresh-off-the-boat oysters, creative takes on local fish, and classic family favorites all just steps from the sand.
The island’s mix of friendly vibes and unique spots means every night out feels special, whether you’re after fried clams in flip-flops or a white-tablecloth dinner with a bottle you bring from home.
Food lovers won’t have to settle. With such a variety of categories, LBI lets every guest match their mood and craving to the perfect meal. If you’re planning where to eat next, let’s discover the best that Long Beach Island has to offer.
Seafood is the heart of Long Beach Island’s dining categories and nowhere is that more clear than in its standout seafood spots. Generations of fishermen supply local kitchens with the freshest catches, making these restaurants top picks for authenticity and flavor.
A lively Long Beach Island favorite, Black Whale Bar blends coastal comfort with elevated seafood and steakhouse classics. Known for its energy, generous portions, and fresh off the boat flavors, it’s a go to for locals and vacationers alike.
Visit Black Whale Bar website for menu and reservations
Parker’s Garage blends historic charm with modern coastal dining, offering some of the freshest seafood on Long Beach Island. With sweeping bayfront views and a menu rooted in local waters, it’s a standout for both casual meals and special celebrations.
Visit Parker's Garage website for menu and reservations
A beloved Barnegat Light landmark, Kubel’s blends classic shore-town charm with hearty, crowd-pleasing comfort food. It’s the kind of place where locals, fishermen, and vacationers all feel instantly at home.
Visit kubel's website for menu and reservations
Italian-inspired restaurants anchor another core category on Long Beach Island, blending family recipes with shore-style hospitality.
Stefano’s is a beloved fine dining staple on Long Beach Island open during the summer months. Known for elevated Italian American cuisine and exceptionally fresh seafood. With decades of culinary expertise, it remains one of Beach Haven’s most consistently praised dining experiences.
Visit Stefano’s website for menu and reservations
Raimondo’s is a beloved fine-dining BYOB Italian restaurant serving Long Beach Island for more than 25 years. Known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients and refined coastal-Italian dishes, it remains one of LBI’s most sought-after dinner reservations.
Visit Raimondo’s website for menu and reservations
Russo’s Italian Restaurant brings classic Italian comfort food to the heart of Ship Bottom with warm hospitality and generous portions. A beloved local staple, it blends tradition, family recipes, and coastal charm into every plate.
Visit Russo’s Italian Restaurant website for menu and reservations
For relaxed, crowd-pleasing meals, the island’s diners and family eateries are at the center of this category.
A beloved Long Beach Island landmark, Chicken or the Egg is famous for crave worthy comfort food and a lively, beach-town vibe. Known for its legendary wings and all day crowds, it’s a must visit stop for locals and vacationers alike.
Visit Chicken or the Egg website menu
Wally’s is a beloved, family owned Surf City landmark serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Long Beach Island for over 50 years. Known for warm hospitality and an expanded, modernized menu, it remains a nostalgic favorite for locals and vacationers alike.
Visit Wally’s website menu
ScoJo’s Eatery NJ, has earned a loyal following among locals and vacationers thanks to its long-standing presence, family friendly atmosphere, and consistently well executed American comfort fare. With more than 27 years in business, ScoJo’s remains one of Long Beach Island’s most recognized breakfast-and-lunch destinations.
All day breakfast with standout pancakes and house‑made baked goods. Warm, community oriented atmosphere.
ScoJo’s succeeds not by reinventing the wheel, but by perfecting the fundamentals: good food, friendly service, and a welcoming environment.
Tucker’s Tavern is one of Long Beach Island’s most recognizable dining destinations, blending a coastal gastropub menu with the charm of an American tavern and British pub influences. Known for its lively atmosphere, rooftop bar, and yea round service, it remains a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Visit Tuckers Tavern website menu
Every food lover knows that pizza and quick meals are essential categories for fun, fast, and satisfying dining.
Bay Village Pizza specializes in New York–style pies, slices, and classic pizzeria sides. The menu includes traditional cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushroom slices, and full pies such as tomato pie, white with ricotta, clam pie, and specialty options like the “Worles” pie.
Visit Bay Village Pizza website menu
LBI’s food categories reach far beyond tradition—several restaurants serve up international and creative plates that reflect the island’s adventurous side.
Crêperie de la Mer & French Café brings an authentic touch of Paris to Beach Haven’s historic district. Opened by John and Nadia Albright, the café blends classic French technique with the relaxed charm of Long Beach Island, making it a standout breakfast and brunch destination for locals and summer visitors alike.
Cuisine: The menu centers on made to order French crêpes, prepared fresh on traditional griddles. Sweet and savory options rotate seasonally, with favorites including the egg, ham & cheese crêpe, salmon crêpe, and salted honey crêpe. The café also serves fresh pastries, gluten‑free options, and a strong coffee program featuring Italian‑roasted beans and French‑press offerings.
While not explicitly farm to table, the emphasis on freshness and simple, high quality ingredients reflects classic French café sensibilities.
Ambiance: Set in a restored early 20th‑century storefront, the café offers a cozy, vintage atmosphere with nods to 1920s design. Its location among Beach Haven’s Victorian homes adds to the European feel. The space is intimate, with a warm, neighborhood vibe and a casual noise level that varies by season. Outdoor seating is available in warmer months, making it a pleasant stop before or after a beach walk.
Service Service is consistently friendly, welcoming, and family oriented. Staff are attentive without being rushed, and the café is known for accommodating families with young children. Presentation is thoughtful, especially for pastries and espresso drinks.
Good to Know:
Best For: Breakfast & brunch, Families, Coffee lovers, Couples seeking a quaint, European style café, Visitors exploring Beach Haven’s historic district
Not Ideal For: Large groups, Diners seeking full lunch/dinner entrées, Guests looking for alcohol service
Why It Stands Out: Crêperie de la Mer distinguishes itself with its authentic French roots, made to order crêpes, and exceptional coffee, all served in a charming historic setting. In a town known for seafood shacks and beach casual eateries, this café offers something refreshingly different: a warm, Parisian inspired escape on the Jersey Shore.
Visit Crêperie de la Mer & French Café website menu
This beloved Long Beach Island restaurant blends farm to table cooking, refined coastal flavors, and a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere that keeps locals and summer visitors coming back year after year.
Food: Fresh, Seasonal, and Thoughtfully Crafted.
Black Eyed Susans is known for its New American coastal cuisine, with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients, local sourcing, and clean, elegant preparation. Their menu changes frequently—sometimes daily—based on what’s fresh from regional farms, fishermen, and purveyors.
What defines the food here:
Signature Dishes (seasonally rotating):
The food is clean, bright, and deeply flavorful, with a chef’s restraint that shows confidence and skill.
Ambiance: Coastal Minimalism Meets Warm Hospitality. The atmosphere at Black Eyed Susans is one of its greatest strengths. It’s the kind of place where you instantly feel at ease. Clean, modern, and coastal minimalist with natural woods, soft lighting, and unfussy décor. A relaxed, beach-town elegance—never pretentious. Subtle background music that complements the relaxed vibe This is a restaurant that feels equally right for a date night, a family celebration, or a memorable vacation dinner
Service: Warm, Knowledgeable, and Consistently Excellent. The service at Black Eyed Susans is one of the reasons guests return year after year.
Other Factors to Know: BYOB. Child-Friendly? Yes, for well-behaved children. Best suited for families who appreciate quieter, quality dining
Best For:
Not Ideal For:
Parking:
Dress Code:
What I Like About Black Eyed Susans: Black Eyed Susans stands out because it treats food with respect. Every dish feels intentional—never overworked, never gimmicky. The restaurant has a rare ability to deliver fine-dining quality in a setting that still feels like the best parts of LBI: relaxed, breezy, and welcoming.
What Sets Them Apart from the Competition: A true chef-driven kitchen on an island dominated by casual eateries. Farm-to-table integrity that’s not just a buzzword. Seasonal menus that evolve constantly, keeping the experience fresh. A refined atmosphere without losing the charm of a beach town
Consistently excellent service, even during peak summer crowds
Black Eyed Susans is the kind of restaurant that elevates the entire dining scene on Long Beach Island.
Visit Black Eyed Susans website menu
Beyond the names that draw crowds each summer, Long Beach Island quietly celebrates a set of hidden gems cherished by locals. These restaurants might not always top the biggest categories or make flashy headlines, but they earn steady praise for good reasons. Authenticity, passion for food, and a welcoming spirit shape these beloved spots. Each of these eateries carves out its own place in LBI’s dining categories—offering everything from classic seafood to vegetarian and health-focused plates.
Dock & Claw Clam Bar is a beloved Long Beach Island seafood spot known for ultra fresh, no frills coastal classics. A go to for families and seafood lovers, it delivers that quintessential Jersey Shore clam bar experience.
Fare: Fresh local seafood
Best For: Families, Beach day dining, Seafood purist, Quick, satisfying meals
Signature Dishes:
Ambiance: Relaxed, beach casual, and unfussy. Outdoor friendly, breezy coastal vibe,
Why It Stands Apart: Dock & Claw Clam Bar shines for its simplicity: fresh seafood done right, served quickly, with that nostalgic LBI clam‑shack feel that keeps locals and vacationers coming back year after year.
Visit Dock & Claw Clam Bar website menu
Viking Fresh Off the Hook is a beloved Long Beach Island seafood staple known for ultra‑fresh catches and fast‑casual beach town charm. Perfect for families and seafood lovers craving quality without the wait.
Fare: Fresh seafood, grilled platters, fried baskets, sandwiches, and take home market selections.
Best For: Families, beachgoers, seafood purists, quick dinners, and casual outdoor meals.
Signature Dishes: Blackened mahi sandwich. Fried flounder platter. Shrimp tacos. Fresh cut tuna steaks. Homemade crab cakes
Ambiance: Relaxed, coastal, counter service vibe with picnic tables, breezy outdoor seating, and a classic LBI “fresh off the boat” feel.
Special Feature: On site fish market
Why It Stands Apart: Viking Fresh Off the Hook combines market fresh seafood with quick, no frills dining, delivering some of LBI’s best value and consistency year after year.
Visit Viking Fresh Off the Hook website menu
No meal on Long Beach Island feels complete without a sweet finish. Dessert is more than a capstone here—it’s a cherished part of the local dining tradition, woven into beach culture and family rituals. Long after the plates are cleared, the glow of neon ice cream signs and the sparkle of candy shops draw crowds along LBI’s main drags. Whether you crave classic cones, handcrafted donuts, or a jaw-dropping candy selection, LBI’s dessert and treat categories stand as their own lively attraction. Here’s how to add the perfect sweet ending to your island feast.
Ice Cream Parlors: From Nostalgic Scoops to Creative Cones
Long Beach Island’s ice cream shops create memories that stick—sometimes literally, if you’re not quick on a hot summer night. These iconic parlors showcase what makes the island so inviting: family tradition, inventive flavors, and a sense of fun that never gets old.
Some favorites not to miss:
Since 1978) is a local institution with long lines for a reason. They serve both soft-serve and hard ice cream in dozens of flavors, plus classic sundaes and cakes. Fan-favorite flavors like pistachio and rainbow sherbet keep families coming back.
Captures old-fashioned charm with its checkerboard floors and creative sundaes. It’s a top stop after climbing the lighthouse or strolling the north end of LBI.
Blends savory eats with ice cream, but their 24 flavors stand out as essential summer treats. Pair a cone with bay breezes in Beach Haven for pure LBI flavor.
Brings a modern twist, making their small-batch ice cream from scratch with options for every diet. Their rotating flavors, dairy-free choices, and inventive toppings show how the island’s sweet category keeps evolving.
Whether you prefer a traditional cone, allergen-friendly options, or theatrical outdoor entertainment with your scoop (like at Show Place Ice Cream Parlour), you’re never far from a family favorite. These parlors prove that the ice cream category is as much about atmosphere and tradition as it is creamy, cold perfection.
Donut Shops and Bakeries: Sweet Pieces of Island Life
If you love variety, LBI’s donut and bakery categories offer handmade options baked fresh every morning. These shops get creative with both classic and offbeat desserts.
A few standouts include:
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