Week 1 - June 19
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
Barnegat Oyster Collective x Haute Feast
- Just off the island, Barnegat Oyster Collective keeps things simple: freshly harvested shellfish, a menu that shifts with the tides, and a view that does most of the talking.
Their new collab with Haute Feast brings the heat — literally — with fire-grilled oysters, crudos, and rotating seasonal plates served dockside in the lesser-ventured marshes of the mainland.
Rooted in a mission to support local harvesters and celebrate the Barnegat Bay, the food here feels local and refined—without trying too hard. It has the bones of a no-frills clam shack: an open-air kitchen, picnic tables, paper menus. But make no mistake—the food is in a league of its own.
It’s got that farm-to-table energy that makes you feel like you just stumbled onto the island’s next best-kept secret.
🦪 The Raw Bar
Featuring some of the best oysters in the area — Laughing Gull, Little Darlings, and more — the lineup offers a variety of sweet, briny, clean, and plump options to suit any craving.
🍽️ The Menu
- Inventive, yet unfussy
- Fresh, with seasonal ingredients
- Perfectly paired with the outdoor, BYOB vibe
It’s a casual dockside kitchen with refined, simple creations that highlight the best of the bay — no frills, just flavor.
👉 Insider Tip: Bring a bottle of white, come at golden hour, and let the view (and oysters) do the rest.
🌟 Must-Order Dish
Freshly shucked oysters with spring ramp butter — hands down, unforgettable.
But truthfully? There wasn’t a single bad dish.
Honorable mentions go to:
- Tuna Sashimi
- Fancy Toast
- The Sea Board
Think light apps, shareable plates, and that perfect middle ground between a backyard hangout and a beach-town dinner you’ll talk about all week.
📍 Located at 483 East Bay Ave, Barnegat NJ
Thursday: 3–8pm
Friday–Sunday: 12–8pm
Monday: 12–7pm
Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed
🌊Weekend Washashores
It feels like it’s rained every weekend in 2025, and June is no exception. When the weather says “stay in,” comfort food and takeout is the obvious answer. But these three bar pies are good enough to get you out of the house and worth putting on real pants for — even if it’s just for a slice and a drink.
🍹This Week's Sip
The Hot & Dirty at Bird & Betty’s tastes exactly how this summer is starting – cold, salty, and just the right amount of spice and excitement. It’s the kind of drink that makes the first warm nights feel official.
🤙Order Like a Local
When you can’t snag a reservation and the walk-in line’s a mile long, skip the hassle and grab takeout from Ship Bottom Shellfish. Just a short walk or drive away, the Ship Bottom Waterfront Park offers some of the best sunset views over the marsh. No wait, no crowd — just dinner with a view.
👂 Word on the Beach
Looking for something new this summer? Check out these recently opened spots and let us know what you think!
🥗 Greenheads Salad Company – Beach Haven
This healthy spot by the Dock & Claw team offers build-your-own bowls and chef-curated salads, all served quick, fresh, and beach-ready.
🍗 Ellis’ Chicken & Crab Cakes – Beach Haven
The Tide Table Group’s latest venture just landed at 208 N. Bay Ave. Expect crave-worthy comfort food like fried chicken and jumbo lump crab cakes reimagined by Chef Kyle Baddorf — plus fan favorites from Parker’s and Mud City.
🍻 The Prop Bar at The Boatyard – Manahawkin
Now open at the Boatyard Marina, this wrap‑around waterside bar pairs draft beers and canned cocktails with yard games, food trucks, and unbeatable bay views — perfect for a sunset pit-stop.
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!