Week 11 - August 28th
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!
Locals’ Summer Has Arrived
The dog days are officially behind us, and as much as I don’t want to let go, I’m just as excited for the crisp September island days. This is the stretch we wait for all year: the beaches are quieter, the sunsets last a little longer, and the boulevard is a little less crowded. Welcome to Locals’ Summer, the best season on LBI.
Of course, this time of year is always a little bittersweet. Labor Day hits, and suddenly the island shifts gears. Restaurant hours shorten, menus get trimmed, and “Closed for the Season” signs start to pop up. After a summer like 2025, with exciting new openings and unforgettable meals, it’s hard not to wish it could last just a little longer.
This was a summer worth remembering. We sipped at our first Matcha pop-up, celebrated Azzurri’s first full season, and even got the island’s first hot dog shop (finally). The food scene here continues to raise the bar, season after season. And if you’ve been following along with me every week, thank you. From crab fried rice to rooftop cocktails, it’s been a season of bites worth writing about.
More Than Just A Fish Market
But as we slide into September, there’s one spot that deserves its moment in the spotlight because in just a few days, the doors will close until next year. Sitting right on Route 72, the road that ushers you on and off the island, Skipper’s Seafood Market has been a Barnegat mainstay since 1984.
It’s easy to pass by in the rush to the bridge, but overlooking it would be a mistake. Fred and Sherri Rebmann opened Skipper’s with one simple goal: fresh seafood, fair prices, and service that made you feel like a regular. For four decades, that’s exactly what they’ve delivered.
🍕 This Week’s Bite
Skipper's Key Lime Pie
If you only have time to stop for one thing, make it this: Skipper’s Florida-style Key Lime Pie. Tangy, silky, and anchored by a buttery graham cracker crust, this pie is simply heavenly.
It’s so good that other restaurants buy it wholesale, but nothing beats getting it straight from Skipper’s before the season ends. Order a slice if you’re passing through, but trust me and indulge in the whole pie. It’s an absolutely delicious send-off to a perfect summer.
Sea Dogs and Seafood Platters
If you come for the key lime pie, you might as well stay for a meal. Yes, the market is stocked with pristine catches. They’re stocked with local day-boat scallops from Barnegat Light, flounder, tuna, soft-shell crab, but the real secret is their prepared foods.
It’s the perfect place to grab a meal from the market to go or for your family on your way home for the fall. It’s a picnic table and plastic utensil joint, serving up their fried platters in tin foil trays, and it’s exactly what you’d want from a roadside seafood stand.
🌟 Must-Orders
Crab Balls With Cusabi Sauce
Honorable Mentions
- Lobster Stuffed Jalapenos for a sweet treat with a little heat.
- Citrus Grouper that tastes like you’re in the Sunshine State.
- and Crab cakes that are “very crabby.”
- Lobster Stuffed Jalapenos for a sweet treat with a little heat.
A True Summer Send-Off
Skipper’s might be on the other side of the Causeway, but it’s as much a part of the LBI story as any dockside deck or bayside bar. It’s a place you’ve probably looked at a million times and thought, “Hm, I want to check that out,” because of it’s colorful facade. But because they close after Labor Day, now is your chance to stretch these last days of August and the last taste of summer before the season truly shifts.
Get here while you can, they close after Labor Day Weekend!
📍 Located at 647 Route 72, Barnegat
🌊Weekend Washashores: Chowder Season
If summer is for fried seafood baskets and cold beers on the deck, September is for chowder. And while almost every restaurant on the island has a version, a few stand out above the rest.
Corn Clam Chowder at Dock & Claw
This version features sweet Jersey corn in a creamy base, dotted with tender potatoes and just enough seasoning to balance the sweetness. It’s hearty but not heavy, the perfect chowder for a chilly night.
Beach Haven Bisque at Country Kettle Chowda
A local invention and a must-try. This delicious hybrid of rich, velvety lobster bisque and classic clam chowder offers the best of both worlds. While you’ll find lines outside in July, you can finally walk right up and savor it without the wait during the off-season.
Clam Chowder at The Gateway
The Gateway has been a local institution dive bar forever, and their clam chowder is a big part of the reason why. Creamy, briny, and loaded with tender clams, it’s a perfect excuse for a cozy cup on gameday with a couple beers.
🤙 Order Like a Local
If you want to experience Skipper’s at its best, you have to get there early on the last day of the season. It’s a locals’ ritual: the end-of-season sale. This is where they sell off what’s left of their fresh seafood and prepared foods at can’t-beat prices. The line gets long, so the key is to show up well before they open, armed with a cooler and a sense of purpose. It’s the ultimate chance to stock up on all your favorites, from Key Lime Pie to crab cakes and homemade potato salad, and freeze them for a little taste of summer to get you through the winter.
🍹This Week's Sip
Some drinks just taste better with live music and a bay breeze, and the Orange Crush at Bird & Betty’s is one of them. Every Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m., their deck transforms into the Crush Bar, serving up the quintessential summer drink. This drink is the perfect farewell to the warmer months!
👂 Word on the Beach
Isola Goes Inland
Suppose you’ve savored a meal at Isola Italian Trattoria on Long Beach Island. In that case, chances are you appreciate their modern, coastal take on Italian cuisine. Think house-made pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and fresh, flavorful dishes that strike the perfect balance between elevated and approachable.
Now, for the good news: Isola has officially opened their second location in Westfield, NJ. Situated in downtown Westfield, this new restaurant brings all the LBI favorites like fresh pasta made on-site, a mozzarella bar, and a rotating seasonal menu to a beautifully remodeled space with a Tuscan vibe.
That means when you’re back on the mainland and missing Isola’s laid-back flavors, deep-dish pizzas, or their burrata with lemon, there’s a spot you can visit any time of year. Consider it the bridge between summer and the rest of the calendar, and a delicious way to keep the island’s spirit close, even when you’re not here.
📍Located at 35 Elm Street, Westfield, NJ, 07090
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!