Ocean City, NJ - Travel & Food
June 5, 2007 8:28 PM Subscribe
Traffic on the shore in Ocean City, NJ and food recommendations.
Posting for a friend of mine:
I’m traveling with my husband and seven month old to Ocean City, NJ from the western Philly ‘burbs and we’re staying a couple of blocks from the boardwalk (on Central Avenue) for a week. I hate sitting in shore traffic so we were planning on taking 73 south to 322 E to some short stretches on back roads. Does this sound like a good way to avoid the traffic? We’d also love some food recommendations – they don’t have to be in Ocean City, although with a baby that’s easiest. I haven’t spent any real time in OC since I was about fifteen, and all I remember is Mack and Manco’s. We also need a dinner recommendation for Sea Isle City, somewhere where two couples can go with three kids under the age of five and eat crabs and something that is neither crabs nor shellfish. Any ideas (including anything else you might happen to love about OC) would be much appreciated!
Posting for a friend of mine:
I’m traveling with my husband and seven month old to Ocean City, NJ from the western Philly ‘burbs and we’re staying a couple of blocks from the boardwalk (on Central Avenue) for a week. I hate sitting in shore traffic so we were planning on taking 73 south to 322 E to some short stretches on back roads. Does this sound like a good way to avoid the traffic? We’d also love some food recommendations – they don’t have to be in Ocean City, although with a baby that’s easiest. I haven’t spent any real time in OC since I was about fifteen, and all I remember is Mack and Manco’s. We also need a dinner recommendation for Sea Isle City, somewhere where two couples can go with three kids under the age of five and eat crabs and something that is neither crabs nor shellfish. Any ideas (including anything else you might happen to love about OC) would be much appreciated!
all I remember is Mack and Manco’s
That's what I was going to say. I guess haven't been there since I was 15 either. But I used to go every summer with my parents when I was very young, and I used to love riding down the boardwalk in a surrey in the morning to the promenade where they had doughnuts and lemonade. And going on the rides at Playland. And getting ice cream from Kohr Brothers.
Well now you've gone and made me all nostalgic.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:40 PM on June 5, 2007
That's what I was going to say. I guess haven't been there since I was 15 either. But I used to go every summer with my parents when I was very young, and I used to love riding down the boardwalk in a surrey in the morning to the promenade where they had doughnuts and lemonade. And going on the rides at Playland. And getting ice cream from Kohr Brothers.
Well now you've gone and made me all nostalgic.
posted by ludwig_van at 9:40 PM on June 5, 2007
322 is really the way to go. You might hit traffic in some spots where a couple traffic lights slow things down but other than it should be pretty smooth sailing. And if not, you can always hop onto the expressway (you'll pass several exits) and try your luck there.
As for food...haven't been there in awhile. But is the Crab Shack still open? That place was pretty good last time I was there (seven or eight years ago).
posted by ryecatcher at 10:49 PM on June 5, 2007
As for food...haven't been there in awhile. But is the Crab Shack still open? That place was pretty good last time I was there (seven or eight years ago).
posted by ryecatcher at 10:49 PM on June 5, 2007
Dinner in Sea Isle: Carmen's, Carmen's, Carmen's. I managed to be reasonably entertained in the relaxed but seafaring atmosphere with bay views there as a child (in fact, in a family that included maybe 4-5 children in these dinner parties), and now that I've returned as an adult the food makes me drool. It seems like a wonderfully kid-friendly place, but great food (big menu) and a fun time for the adults, too. BYOB IIRC. Have I mentioned I faithfully adore Carmen's?
I also remember having a good time as a kid at Chatterbox on 9th in Ocean City.
Anything else I happen to love about OC: If you can stomach the Ferris Wheel at Wonderland on about 6th (I just overcame my phobia over Memorial Day weekend) it's a beautiful view - seeing Atlantic City from the top. The wetlands preservation park more toward the southern end of the island is a beautiful walk. Seeing a free jazz band or whatever show at the Pier on the boardwalk, soft serve ice cream melting in hand. The kids, and even adults too, will LOVE to peek into Shriver's on 9th at the Boardwalk, has the old-timey candy store feel and you can watch fudge, saltwater taffy get pulled - they should be giving out freebies and have a great atmosphere. And of COURSE, riding surreys up and down the boardwalk (remember limited hours - mornings only I believe).
Have fun!
posted by bunnycup at 6:02 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]
I also remember having a good time as a kid at Chatterbox on 9th in Ocean City.
Anything else I happen to love about OC: If you can stomach the Ferris Wheel at Wonderland on about 6th (I just overcame my phobia over Memorial Day weekend) it's a beautiful view - seeing Atlantic City from the top. The wetlands preservation park more toward the southern end of the island is a beautiful walk. Seeing a free jazz band or whatever show at the Pier on the boardwalk, soft serve ice cream melting in hand. The kids, and even adults too, will LOVE to peek into Shriver's on 9th at the Boardwalk, has the old-timey candy store feel and you can watch fudge, saltwater taffy get pulled - they should be giving out freebies and have a great atmosphere. And of COURSE, riding surreys up and down the boardwalk (remember limited hours - mornings only I believe).
Have fun!
posted by bunnycup at 6:02 AM on June 6, 2007 [1 favorite]
Oh one more thing to add: These might be commonplace now - I know there's one in Bucks County (though I remember the elation as a kid when the OC Castle was the first of it's kind I'd ever seen), but there is a great wooden castle playground at 34th and Asbury that I guarantee the kids will adore, if they don't have one at home.
posted by bunnycup at 6:05 AM on June 6, 2007
posted by bunnycup at 6:05 AM on June 6, 2007
I go there every summer. Mack & Manco's is still there and still awesome. For some really good seafood, I recommend Spadafora - it's excellent, especially the fresh flounder and scallops, but totally informal and OK for kids. I've heard great things about the 4th Street Cafe but have yet to try it. It's supposed to be a local favorite.
Other than that, we subsist on boardwalk eats. The breakfast and homemade doughnuts at Ove's are an excellent tradition. There is a crab-cakes place at the Southern end of the boardwalk that's really good.
Also, if you're renting a house, there's a farmer's market on Wednesdays, I think in Memorial Park, and there's a great farm stand just as you cross over the lower bridge onto the island. The farm stand can be counted on for great corn, tomatoes, peaches, and the like. You'll be surprised at some of the development - there's a huge new Stop n Shop and other chain stores on the west side of the island. Basically, there are plenty of places you can cook for yourself.
You may or may not know, remember, or care, but the town of Ocean City is dry. No booze at any restaurants, and no bars. However, if you want beers or margaritas (we usually do!) there's Circle Liquors at the traffic circle at the upper bridge, and a few miles over the lower bridge on the mainland is a bar/restaurant called Yesterday's, and another a little farther on called the Tuckahoe Inn. The Tuckahoe is a little nicer and more formal, but they've also got a deck and live music.
Also, I think your backroads plan is pretty good. I successfully escaped a ridiculous backup once by leaving the island that way, and the bucolic little Jersey-farm roads are pretty scenic. Have plenty of gas, though - it's the sticks out there in places.
Have fun. I'll be there in August. It's a happy place.
posted by Miko at 11:35 AM on June 6, 2007
Other than that, we subsist on boardwalk eats. The breakfast and homemade doughnuts at Ove's are an excellent tradition. There is a crab-cakes place at the Southern end of the boardwalk that's really good.
Also, if you're renting a house, there's a farmer's market on Wednesdays, I think in Memorial Park, and there's a great farm stand just as you cross over the lower bridge onto the island. The farm stand can be counted on for great corn, tomatoes, peaches, and the like. You'll be surprised at some of the development - there's a huge new Stop n Shop and other chain stores on the west side of the island. Basically, there are plenty of places you can cook for yourself.
You may or may not know, remember, or care, but the town of Ocean City is dry. No booze at any restaurants, and no bars. However, if you want beers or margaritas (we usually do!) there's Circle Liquors at the traffic circle at the upper bridge, and a few miles over the lower bridge on the mainland is a bar/restaurant called Yesterday's, and another a little farther on called the Tuckahoe Inn. The Tuckahoe is a little nicer and more formal, but they've also got a deck and live music.
Also, I think your backroads plan is pretty good. I successfully escaped a ridiculous backup once by leaving the island that way, and the bucolic little Jersey-farm roads are pretty scenic. Have plenty of gas, though - it's the sticks out there in places.
Have fun. I'll be there in August. It's a happy place.
posted by Miko at 11:35 AM on June 6, 2007
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I always just eat pizza so I wish I could be more help there!
posted by Blandanomics at 9:31 PM on June 5, 2007