If you prefer your food from the ocean, a new restaurant in Clifton is sure to please. All Surf No Turf is a takeout spot that serves, surprise surprise, an all-seafood menu. You won’t find any land mammals here, instead, they offer fresh-off-the-line marine cuisine. If the eatery sounds familiar, that’s because you may have actually tried their food before.
All Surf No Turf was previously a mobile food business. Their tent would set up shop at local street fairs and festivals, as well as private events. “Every outdoor event we did had customers asking us where our store was because they really enjoyed our food,” says co-owner Antonia Membreno, who owns the spot with her husband, Christian.
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Setting Up Shop
Their success had the couple searching for a storefront, but the 2020 pandemic put a halt to those plans. In fact, it put a stop to their mobile business as well. “Products were so hard to find and the lines to buy groceries were insane,” Antonia recalls.
Despite the challenges, the couple found the right opportunity to bring All Surf No Turf back to life. “I’m sure glad we did,” Antonia says about opening a brick-and-mortar location. Now, the 400-square-foot takeout only (for now) spot offers a “small, comfy, and cozy” ocean fishing vibe.
Fishy Favorites & More
The menu at All Surf No Turf features fresh, quality, and flavorful ingredients. You’ll find your favorite dishes, but the owners love thinking outside the box; in other words, they offer a hip, new spin on traditional cuisine. “We are passionate about cooking with real flavors; and we are testing the traditional boundaries and recreating new traditional dishes,” Antonia says. For instance, “Everywhere you go you see lobster rolls,” she adds. “So, we decided to create lobster sliders instead.”
Fan favorites include New England clam chowder (without bacon) as well as shrimp with cheese empanadas with spicy cilantro sauce. The tuna melt empanada with cheese is also a hit. As for Antonia, she loves the all-surf combo. This All Surf No Turf signature dish includes one shrimp taco, one crab cake slider, and one lobster slider. (Plus your choice of chips, coleslaw, or a pickle as a side.) “Then you decide which you liked better and can order your favorite next time you visit,” Antonia suggests.
You’ll find All Surf No Turf at 752 Clifton Ave in Clifton. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Surf No Turf FAQs
No, they do not accept reservations.
Yes, there are Gluten-free options.
Yes, they have vegetarian menu options.
All Surf No Turf offers takeout, yes.
Yes, they offer delivery via ChowNow.
No, they do not serve alcohol.
There is not a kids’ menu, no.
All Photos: © Antonia Membreno / All Surf No Turf
