Spring Lake for the weekend
 

My husband and I will be spending a 3 day weekend in Spring Lake in August. We are staying at The Sandpiper Inn. Any suggestions for lunch and dinner? Could be in near by towns too. Thanks.

What state?

That would be NJ.

Excellent food at the Shipwreck Grill in Brielle. Great ice cream at The Blarney Cone on Morris Ave. in Spring Lake.

I really like the Sisters Cafe in Spring Lake for lunch--not gormet, but good fresh ingredients.

For breakfast, I'd make sure I had a Pork Roll, Egg, and Cheese sandwich anywhere for a real NJ treat, (I always visit Freedmans Bakery in Belmar) there is a nice breakfast place on main street in Spring Lake, but I can't remember the name, your hotel will know.
For lunch, I'd have a Windmill hotdog, also in Belmar.
For dinner, Maria's in Manasquan is great, and Carmens Pizza in Neptune has incredible thin crust pizza. Both places are packed in the summer, but they're worth it.
For dessert, Hoffmans Ice Cream in Spring Lake.

Dine at Whispers. It is considered by some as one of the top fine dining restaurant in the state.

Agree with the Sisters recco, but I am pretty sure that the restaurant is closed, you might want to check with your hotel.

My favorites would be:

The Grenville
345 Main Ave.
Bay Head, NJ 08742
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (732) 892-0599
Fax: (732) 892-0599
http://www.thegrenville.com/

An excellent restaurant inside a charming B&B. They have their own vineyard inland and feature wines from it. I think this is one of the best restaurants on the shore.

Matisse
13th & Ocean Avenues
Belmar
732.681.7680
matissecatering.com.

This is a very nice restaurant right ON the beach (almost unique for New Jersey). They have a dining room with huge windows looking onto the beach, with a small outdoor deck which is nice for dining if it is not too hot. I have eaten there several times and love the food and the views. You can park right along the boardwalk here for restaurant. They have a Sunday brunch that is supposed to be good too. The restaurant is BYOB I believe, but call to check as they may have been able to get a liquor license at this point.

Also agree with the Shipwreck Grille, this is more casual than the Grenville:

Shipwreck Grille
720 Ashley Avenue
Brielle
Tel: 732.292.9380
http://www.shipwreckgrill.com/

Kelley's Tavern for lunch on Rt 35 in Neptune, just after the bridge as you are leaving Belmar - you have to make a U-turn to get back to it -- it's on the left as you are heading North. They are famous for their rubens. Order a half of one unless you are extremely hungry.

Rod's in Sea Girt is also a nice place for lunch or dinner. Great bar crowd - upscale.

Harrigan's Irish Pub in Sea Girt is also a nice place for either dinner or a couple of pints.

If you want to venture down to Point Pleasant, Frankie's is a casual place for burgers or dinner, and down the street, Europa South for Spanish/Portuguese. Both are on the one-way street heading South on Rt 35, not too far after you cross the bridge from Brielle into Point. ((b))