It comes as no surprise the Jersey Shore is a premier destination for ocean-to-table dining. With world-class raw bars, historic oyster houses, and innovative coastal kitchens, the Shore is home to many of Jersey’s best seafood restaurants. To celebrate the spots taking seafood dining to the next level, here are the Jersey Shore’s 10 Best Seafood Restaurants.
Our definitive guide to the best seafood on the Shore covers coastal cuisine of all kinds. From the area’s top oyster bars, to local BYOB seafood restaurants, to eateries with top-quality seafood markets, we’ve gone up and down the coastline to find this summer’s must-visit dining destinations.
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The 10 Best
Jersey Shore Seafood Restaurants
Featured from Ocean County:
Black Whale Bar
Where: 100 N Pennsylvania Ave, Beach Haven
Details: This popular spot is named for the old Black Whale Cruises running from Little Egg Inlet to Atlantic City. As Beach Haven’s neighborhood bar, Black Whale is perfect for families and friends looking for casual lunch and dinner fare. The team has spent years perfecting their menu of specialty seafood dishes. This includes appetizers like wine and garlic clams, buffalo calamari, and their monthly oyster special. Likewise, popular entrees range from clam strips and butterfly shrimp to bacon wrapped scallops and seasonal soft-shell crabs. But for a real feast, order their Lobster Bake for 2. The meal includes two lobsters, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and two steamer bags with potatoes, clams, and mussels. The Black Whale’s intimate bar setting offers ten beers on tap, selected based on the team’s travels across the globe. They also have an assortment of handcrafted cocktails that pair perfectly with any seafood dish.
| Visit their Website | Reserve a Table | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-492-0025 |
Featured from Ocean County:
Mud City Crab House
Where: 1185 E Bay Ave, Manahawkin
Details: Whether dining in or picking up, the Mud City Crab House is the go-to seafood spot in town. In addition to their sit-down restaurant area, they also curate a fresh seafood market. The market offers everything from soft shell crabs and flounder to mussels and more. Plus, they use the same fresh fish they sell at the market at their restaurant. So whether you order the seared tuna, jumbo lump crab cake, or their signature garlic crabs, everything is always fresh. Their house specialty is the Cioppino. This fish stew comes with salad, fresh bread, and a large portion of clams, crab, shrimp, mussels, and fish. Mud City Crab House also has over a dozen cocktails on the menu, along with wines and beers. Popular picks include the Strawberry Basil Lemonade, Pear Martini, and Muddy Mary. Note: Mud City does not accept reservations. Parked on their patio is The Mud City Barstream, a unique outdoor bar offering drink service.
| Visit their Website | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-978-3660 |
Featured from Monmouth County:
Rooney’s Oceanfront
Where: 100 Ocean Ave North, Long Branch
Details: Rooney’s offers an exceptional waterfront dining experience. Their large, bi-level outdoor deck offers ocean views that pair perfectly with their signature seafood dishes. The lobster roll is of course a favorite of vacationers staying along the Shore. But their house favorite Angry Lobster, pan roasted in its original shell, is both a flavor sensation and visual spectacle. Pasta fans are also in for a treat, with options like Lobster Mac-A-Rooney, Shrimp Fra Diavolo, and Cioppino. The latter mixes shrimp, mussels, clams, and mahi mahi with garlic and tomato broth over linguine. A sushi menu is also available throughout the day, and makes for a great beach day lunch option. Rooney’s hosts live music a few days a week throughout the summer, so be sure to check the schedule online. After the summer winds down, Rooney’s stays hot in the off-season by offering a popular brunch, with new menu items added every fall.
| Visit their Website | Reserve a Table | Buy a Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Give them a Call |
Featured from Ocean County:
Parker’s Garage & Oyster Saloon
Where: 116 Northwest Ave, Beach Haven
Details: Parker’s Garage is a seafood haven that shines a spotlight on fresh oysters. In fact, the team invests in a local oyster co-op just west of their docks. This co-op improves the health of the bay, as oysters are filter feeders which help improve the area’s water quality. Besides their marquee dish, Parker’s Garage offers a variety of other seafood options. For instance, the tuna crackers are their most popular appetizer. Other standout starters include grilled calamari (with harissa and chimichurri) and the sharable roasted octopus. As for entrees, we recommend the tilefish (with celery root, black truffle, and caviar) or the Tuna entree. The latter includes tentsuyu, yuzu, kosho, and foie gras to add layered, sophisticated flavors to the dish. Plan a visit during a warm day/evening to take advantage of their wonderful outdoor dining. They have a deck right on the water, which also doubles as a unique option for a wedding reception.
| Visit their Website | Reserve a Table | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-492-1066 |
Featured from Ocean County:
Ship Bottom Shellfish
Where: 1721 S Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom
Details: Ship Bottom is a seasonal BYO spot open every day except Tuesday. They don’t take reservations, but remain a popular hotspot during the summer months thanks to their patio. To ensure a table, we recommend planning a day trip in the area and speaking with the hostess early. It’s also a great option for takeout, as the restaurant is just a block from the beach. The menu features interesting options like Thai Calamari, which comes in a sweet chili sauce with sriracha aioli dipping sauce. Ship Bottom also offers popular seafood-based soups such as New England Clam, Manhattan Clam, and Seafood Bisque. Popular entrees include the Fried Shrimp & Scallops, stuffed flounder, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake + Blackened Tuna. But save room for dessert, especially their homemade Toll House Pie or Blueberry Cobbler with fresh Jersey blueberries. Patrons can visit the Fish Market to bring their favorite seafood dishes home.
| Visit their Website | Purchase Gift Card | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-494-0088 |
Beach Creek Oyster Bar & Grill
Where: Wildwood
Details: There’s nothing like enjoying fresh seafood from a waterfront deck surrounded by palm trees and tropical flowers. That’s exactly the vibe Beach Creek offers, and why locals keep coming back all summer long. Their raw bar is full of favorites like the Oyster Sampler and Shrimp Shooter, but we recommend the Prussian Pearls. This unique dish of freshly shucked oysters is served with chilled vodka, sour cream, red onions, and caviar. For dinner, the Seafood a la Vodka is a highlight, featuring scallops, shrimp, and crabmeat in vodka tomato cream sauce.
Dock’s Oyster House
Where: Atlantic City
Details: The Dougherty family has been maintaining Dock’s Oyster House for four generations. The original owner — Harry “Call Me Dock” Dougherty — first opened the seafood restaurant over 100 years ago, in 1897. In fact, their “Dock’s Classics” section of the present day menu features dishes from the original menu. One example is their signature Crab Meat Sauté. To make it, they cook jumbo lump crab meat in butter, shallots, garlic, lemon, parsley, and chives. Their Raw Bar is also popular with patrons.
FINS
Where: Bradley Beach | Point Pleasant | Sea Girt
Details: FINS brings a taste of the West Coast to Jersey. The restaurant specializes in “TropiCali” cuisine, taking influence from Tropical Island, Southern California, and Pacific Rim flavors. All three locations are BYO and operated by Jersey natives Shawn Ryan and Pat Cuozzo. FINS offers a daily Mahalo Lunch Menu with rotating weekly specials, plus a daily “Aloha Hour” for additional discounts. Menu highlights include the Tiki Twins tacos with seared rare then chilled pepper tuna. We also recommend the S-Turns (coconut sesame battered whitefish).
The Lobster House
Where: Cape May
Details: This family-owned spot in historic Cape May is known for serving the freshest seafood in town. (Go for the House Specialty.) The property is actually several concepts in one: The first is the sit-down restaurant — The Lobster House — and takeout window, the Take out Shop. They also have a separate dockside bar called The Raw Bar and outdoor cocktail lounge dubbed the Schooner American. Finally, their retail Fish Market sells fresh catches as well as their famous Lobster House Clambake, which can ship anywhere in the US.
Mayer’s Tavern
Where: Cape May
Details: This Cape May gem is a neighborhood favorite. Locals swear by Mayer’s Tavern and their seafood-focused menu of small and large plates, handcrafted cocktails, and desserts. From small shareables like the Broiled Skater Boy Oysters and Smoked Bluefish Spread to main entrees like fried scallops and PEI Mussels, their fresh seafood and family-run atmosphere make this tavern a local hot spot for travelers and regulars alike. Don’t sleep on the Brioche Bread Pudding or, for chocolate lovers, the Dark Chocolate Mousse for dessert.
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Jersey Shore Seafood FAQs
Dock’s Oyster House in Atlantic City has been run by the Dougherty family for over 100 years. Meanwhile, The Lobster House in Cape May is a multi-concept property. Visitors can dine in, grab a drink on the Schooner American, or visit their retail fish market.
Mud City Crab House in Manahawkin curates a fresh seafood market, using fresh catches for their restaurant menu. Likewise, Ship Bottom Shellfish on LBI is a BYO spot that offers dinner service and a fresh fish market.
Rooney’s Oceanfront in Long Branch features a massive bi-level outdoor deck directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. For bay views, Parker’s Garage & Oyster Saloon in Beach Haven offers outdoor dining right on the water.
FINS (Bradley Beach, Point Pleasant, Sea Girt) specializes in unique “TropiCali” cuisine, blending Pacific Rim and Southern California flavors. Ship Bottom Shellfish is also an excellent seasonal BYO hotspot famous for Thai Calamari and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes.
Black Whale Bar in Beach Haven offers an incredible “Lobster Bake for 2” packed with lobsters, clams, mussels, and more. For at home bakes, The Lobster House in Cape May sells their famous Lobster House Clambake at their retail market.
Top (Hero) Photo: © Black Whale Bar (Photo by LJ Hepp) / Website
