Week 10 - August 21st
This blog is your insider guide to everything edible on LBI. No tourist traps, just good food, local tips, and a little buzz from the beach. Whether you’re here for a week or a whole season, I’ve got you covered with where to eat, what to drink, and how to order like a local!
🍕 This Week’s Bite
Buffalo Tuna at Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company
I’ve been making a point this summer to explore the ‘other’ end of the island, and try some spots that aren’t in the typical Beach Haven round-up. And while there are some classics on the South End that will always be near and dear to my heart, I prefer them much more in the shoulder season when the crowds have died down.
If you’re looking for a spot that perfectly embodies that laid-back, North End vibe, you have to try Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company. The food here is classic LBI comfort food. Sometimes, the best food isn’t gussied up with elevated sauces or fancy garnishes, all it needs is a squeeze of lemon.
One of the standouts here is the buffalo tuna. Instead of the usual rare tuna you see on every menu, they flash-fry it just enough to give the outside some texture while keeping the inside soft and tender. It’s light, flavorful, and has that signature buffalo kick without being greasy or heavy. If you’re ordering appetizers, make sure this is on the table.
A Little History
When the Garofalo brothers, Mike and John, started the Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company in 1974, they had no idea their small, simple seafood stand would become a Long Beach Island landmark and a summer tradition for so many. The original focus was on what truly matters: serving fresh, local seafood from the ocean and bay.
What makes the place so authentic is that it’s still a family affair. As the next generation, Mike Garofalo and his sister Julie Warren were raised on the island, growing up inside the restaurant. It’s a place that generations of families have either worked at or eaten at, and its steady presence has made it a true LBI landmark.
The Catch
The atmosphere at Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co. is as authentic as the food. It’s the kind of place that other restaurants try to imitate but miss the mark on because it feels like a kitschy theme. This place feels less like a restaurant and more like a neighbor’s home with an open-door policy. It’s a perfect mix of a coastal cottage and a fisherman’s hangout, with picnic tables outside and a casual first-come, first-served system. You see the same faces week after week, and that sense of community is what makes the North End of LBI so special.
The market is right there, selling the same super-fresh fish, clams, and oysters they use in the kitchen. Being able to see the day’s catch before it ever hits your plate is a huge part of the experience and a guarantee that you’re getting the freshest seafood possible.
🌟 Must-Orders
Grilled Shrimp & Scallop Caesar Salad
Honorable Mentions
- Baked Shrimp Stuffed with Lump Crabmeat — three jumbo shrimp filled with lump crab stuffing
- Jersey Tomato Pesto — thick slices of Jersey tomatoes topped with basil pesto & grated parmesan
- Sauteed Soft Shell Crabs — over linguine sauteed with fresh Jersey tomatoes, garlic, herbs & parmesan cheese
- Calamari Vera Cruz at Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co. is a locals’ favorite—tender, lightly fried calamari tossed in a Veracruz-style tomato sauce built on peak-season Jersey tomatoes, garlic, loaded with hot cherry peppers and seasoned with fresh herbs and parm cheese. Bright, briny, and just enough heat—classic LBI comfort with a coastal twist.
There’s something comforting about a place that’s been around this long and hasn’t lost its stride. In a town where new spots pop up every season, Harvey Cedars Shellfish Co. holds steady as the kind of restaurant that won’t change like the tides, in the best way. The line outside most summer nights says it all; a clear sign that it’s earned its spot as a tradition for both locals and vacationers alike.
Get here while you can, they close after Labor Day Weekend!
📍 Located at 28 W 7th St, Barnegat Light
Daily: 11:30 am – ‘Close’
🌊Weekend Washashores: Three More Dive Bars Worth the Trip
Nothing says Jersey quite like a classic diner. They are a Garden State institution and the perfect start to any day. On LBI, we take that classic feel and serve it up with an island twist, trading the highway for the sound of the ocean and truckers for sea-dogs. Here are a few spots serving it up coastal style.
Wally’s
Must Try: Breakfast Burrito
Mustache Bill’s
Must Try: Cyclops
Dockside Diner
Must Try: Breakfast Nachos
🤙 Order Like a Local
While September on the island is arguably the best month, I can understand wanting to hold onto summer as long as possible. With August drawing to an end, I recommend checking in with your favorite restaurant to see when, or if, they close for the season. Some stay open past Labor Day, while others have a hard close on the first. If you happen to find yourself on the island during ‘local’s summer’ I recommend checking out this article to plan your eats –Best Year-Round Restaurants on Long Beach Island.
🍹This Week's Sip
It’s officially peach season, and La Riva is embracing it in the best way possible. This week’s Jersey X Blooms drink special is a perfect ode to summer’s juiciest fruit. It’s made with house-pressed NJ peach juice, vanilla bean syrup, Italicus, lemon, and a touch of aquafaba.
The drink is definitely on the sweet side. If that’s not your thing, be sure to try their savory Olive Oil Martini, a clean and bold option for those who prefer their cocktails on the dry side.
👂 Word on the Beach
Start Saying Goodbye to Seasonal Spots
It’s that time of year again. The sun sets a little earlier, the air gets a little crisper, and we have to say goodbye to a few of our favorite spots. This week, Pearl Street Market let us know they are is closing their doors for the season on September 1st, and will be rolling with reduced hours for the next week or so.
For years, this place has been a true Beach Haven institution, a go-to spot for everything that makes summer simple. It’s the home of those incredible grab-and-go meals that are made for dusk dinners on the beach.
The seasonal goodbye is always tough, but before they close up shop for the winter, make a point to stop by one last time. Go grab your favorite breakfast wrap, that crab cake you’ve been thinking about, or, better yet, one last Lobster BLT. It’s the perfect way to cap off another great LBI summer.
📍Located at 587 Mill Creek Rd., Manahawkin
Monday-Thursday: 10 am – 4 pm
Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Closed Sundays
About Me
Hey, I’m Hannah! I’ve lived just over the bridge from LBI for the past 25 years and if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to order the perfect after-beach meal like a local. I’ve spent every summer either working in restaurants or hopping between them, chasing the best cosmo, returning for a tried and true classic, exploring new weekly specials, and looking for the thrill of a just-opened spot that’s already getting some island buzz. From takeout in your beach chair to white tablecloths under string lights, I’ve got the inside scoop on where to eat, sip, and celebrate all season long. Let’s dig in!