Week 8 - August 7
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
The Monte Cristo at Crêperie de la Mer
LBI’s charm is what keeps people coming back year after year. It is an entity of its own, completely different than other coastal Jersey towns. This is why I love the island – it’s fun, familiar, and homey.
Every once in a while, though, a little change is welcome. Crêperie de la Mer is one of the few places on the island that transports you, feeling more like you’re in a French coastal town than in southern New Jersey.
This cozy spot offers one of the island’s most underrated treats – authentic French crepes. While they offer the traditional fillings like strawberry, Nutella, and sugar, Crêperie de la Mer’s silent sleeper is the Monte Cristo.
Served on a traditional sweet crêpe with smoked ham, gruyère cheese, sunny side up egg, topped with maple syrup and homemade strawberry compote – this dish is a unique take on the best of breakfast’s salty and sweet options.
Tucked into a quiet corner of Beach Haven’s historic district, and founded in 2017 by John and Nadia Albright, the café is rooted in both nostalgia and craft. John spent his summers on LBI, while Nadia grew up in Paris, and you can feel both influences in the space.
From the charming decor to the buttery scent of fresh pastry, it’s equal parts seaside and Parisian sidewalk café.
The owners’ culinary training and French roots show up in the details: the galettes are perfectly crisp, the chantilly cream is always fresh, and the fillings are fresh and simple. Sweet or savory, every crêpe is made to order in front of you, making you feel as if you stepped into the Albrights’ living room.
👆 Insider Tip: Crêpes are only served from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but the coffee shop stays open year-round, so you can still get your fix of pastries and strong espresso long after summer ends.
It gets busy, especially on weekends, and the wait for crêpes can take a bit. Everything is made to order, by hand, and with a kind of care you don’t see everywhere. The pace is slower, but that’s what makes it feel different. You’re not meant to rush in and out. You order, take a seat, and enjoy the ambiance.
The owners and staff are warm and welcoming, always happy to chat or walk you through the menu if you’re stuck between savory or sweet. It’s a little piece of that European lifestyle, right off the Boulevard.
🌟 Must-Orders
Nutella, Banana and Strawberry Crepe
Beyond the crêpes, they serve a rotating selection of house-made pastries like thick pain au chocolat, croissants, and fruit tarts.. And the coffee? Some of the best on the island. You’ll find French press, expertly pulled espresso drinks, and bold Italian-roasted beans.
Honorable Mentions
Iced Café Viennois
Their motto—“grandmother style comfort food in a kitchen away from home”—comes through in every part of the experience. Warm, inviting, and quietly transporting, Crêperie de la Mer is truly a hidden gem.
📍 Located at 210 N Beach Ave, Beach Haven
Wednesday – Monday: 8 am – 1 pm
🌊Weekend Washashores
Fresh catches come in many forms, and one of the island’s more under-the-radar fares is sushi. From tucked-away takeout spots to beachfront bites, LBI has a quiet but solid sushi scene. Here are a few local picks we keep coming back to.
🍹This Week's Sip
Some drinks don’t need to be from a secret menu or keeping up with the latest trends. This week’s pick is the Cosmo from the outside patio bar at Daddy O. With that being said, their specialty cocktails are also worth a try, especially with their gorgeous view of the sunset from the rooftop bar.
I’ve had a lot of cocktails on this island, but this one always stays at the top of the list
🤙 Order Like a Local
The Old Causeway across the bridge has one of the best happy hours around. To top it off, their lunch specials are some of the best bites I’ve had around the area. In this week’s lineup is one of their top tier offerings – Bang Bang Shrimp Bao Buns. Only available for one more week, this dish is worth the trip to the mainland.
👂 Word on the Beach
New on the Island: Flour Child Pizza
Flour Child just opened this year in a location that’s seen more failed pizza places than we can count, but this one feels like it’s here to stay.
The owner brings a clear enthusiasm to the place even in the island’s saturated pizza scene, and every detail, from the ingredients to the branding, brings a fun flair to a dish that’s easy to come by. So far, the feedback has been nothing but positive, and we all know the island is home to some of the toughest critics.
The pizza is sourdough-based, naturally leavened, and baked in a wood-fired oven that turns out pies with just the right amount of char and chew. The team behind Flour Child isn’t chasing trends. They’re focused on high-quality ingredients, seasonal flavors, and letting the dough speak for itself.
Sourcing from local farms when they can, growing herbs in-house, and putting serious time into the dough (we’re talking a 72-hour fermentation process), Flour Child is doing pizza the right way.
The standout is the Street Taco pizza, which is one of the most interesting dishes on the island right now. It’s salty, citrus-y, and extremely fresh. It’s weirdly and unexpectedly delicious.
It’s a bit on the pricier side, but this isn’t a grab-and-go kind of slice. If you’re in the mood for a classic bar pie, there are other spots for that. Flour Child gives this stretch of the island a pizza spot worth sticking around for many summers to come. The owner’s energy is all over this place, in the best way. You can tell they care deeply about the food, the community, and the experience.
📍Located at 8201 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach
Open Daily : 11 am – 11 pm
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!