These are the 5 best things we ate this month at the Jersey Shore

Sarah Griesemer and Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
·4 min read

Looking for something tasty to eat? We've got you.

We gathered the best dishes we ate this month, which come from spots in Matawan down to Long Beach Island.

Fancy food, this is not: We are connoisseurs of good pizza, delicious coffee and summer's favorite treat: ice cream.

Sound good? Dig in!

Pizza from Manzano's in Waretown

A large plain pizza from Manzano's in Waretown.
A large plain pizza from Manzano's in Waretown.

This pizza was a long time coming, both for those of us waiting to eat it and owner Tony Crapanzano, who for over a year has been building a pizzeria next to his Italian market and restaurant, Zano's of Brooklyn.

Manzano's finally opened in late July, and the kitchen is putting out pizzas, calzones and rolls (you may know them as stromboli) fired in a 1,200-degree brick oven. There are 18 pizzas on the menu, from the "Festa," which has sausage and cherry peppers, to the "Romana," topped with anchovies, capers, olives and oregano, to the "Manzano," with hot soppressata, hot sausage, jalapenos and hot honey.

We ordered our usual at a new pizzeria: one plain and one specialty, the "White Diablo," which is a white pie with mozzarella, dollops of ricotta, pepperoni cups, red pepper flakes and hot honey.

Both were delicious, with thin, crackly-edged crusts that managed to stay pillowy and chewy around the edges — and the dough tasted good on its own. We favored the plain pizza over the other (a matter of personal taste; next time we'll ask for a little less ricotta) but both were very good and definitely worth the wait.

Go: 360 Route 9, Waretown; 609-660-0432, manzanosnj.com. Pizzas cost between $18 and $33.

More: Here's the scoop: NJ ice cream shops team up for summer ice cream tour — with prizes!

Apple cider donut ice cream sandwich from Emery's Farm

An apple cider donut ice cream sandwich from Emery's Farm in the New Egypt section of Plumsted.
An apple cider donut ice cream sandwich from Emery's Farm in the New Egypt section of Plumsted.

A disclaimer: Eating this treat is a two-person job, and don't forget the napkins.

Emery's, famous for its blueberries, has a farm store filled with jams, pies and other baked goods, including donuts. For this treat, an apple cider donut is split in half and stuffed with creamy vanilla ice cream ($8). It's the best of both worlds.

While you're there, pick sunflowers in the fields (blueberry picking is closed for the season, but frozen berries are available in the store) and feed the farm's goats for a day that's truly sweet.

Go: 346 Long Swamp Road, New Egypt section of Plumsted; 609-758-8514, emerysfarm.com/blueberries.

More: New restaurants at the Jersey Shore offer pancakes, pizza, wraps and more

Sesame seed crust from Esposito's Pizza

This pie is unlike any other we've tried at the Jersey Shore, with a fluffy but firm sesame seed crust covered in delicious toppings.

The classic pie (#1 on the signature sesame seed pie menu) features plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozzarella and housemade pesto. It's similar to an authentic pizza an Italian nonna would make, but shakes things up a bit with the pesto and sesame seeds.

A signature sesame seed crust pizza with plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozzarella and housemade pesto from Esposito's Pizza in Matawan and Manasquan.
A signature sesame seed crust pizza with plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, fresh mozzarella and housemade pesto from Esposito's Pizza in Matawan and Manasquan.

The seeds also make for a satisfying texture, and the pizza is laden with a salty but fresh garden-esque tomato sauce — just the way we like it.

Go: 930 Route 34 in Matawan, 732-583-0001, and 233 E. Main St. in Manasquan; 732-528-1111; espositopizza.com.

A cortado from Port Coffee Roasters

A cortado, which is made with espresso, steamed milk and foam, from Port Coffee Roasters in Bay Head.
A cortado, which is made with espresso, steamed milk and foam, from Port Coffee Roasters in Bay Head.

After Gaby took a deep-sea fishing trip on The Gambler in Point Pleasant Beach last week, she was a bit tired.

Parched and in desperate need of caffeine, she stopped at Port Coffee Roasters to see Greg and Grace Mazzatta, who made the perfect cortado (espresso, steamed milk and foam).

This strong drink packs a punch but has sweet, warm notes with a cinnamon sprinkle. If you like it even sweeter, stir in the cute rock candy stick served with it.

Go: 519 Main Ave., Bay Head; 732-589-1605, portcoffeeroasters.com.

Watch our video: Deep-sea fishing off the Jersey Shore is memorable adventure for kids, adults

Bacon, egg and cheese (bonus: hash brown!) from Bagels & Beyond

A bacon, egg, hash brown and cheese sandwich on a cheddar bagel from Bagels and Beyond in Beach Haven West.
A bacon, egg, hash brown and cheese sandwich on a cheddar bagel from Bagels and Beyond in Beach Haven West.

A classic bacon, egg and cheese on a toasty bagel is a classic here in New Jersey.

But when you add a hash brown, ketchup and extra cheese on a cheddar bagel, it's a cheesy delicacy.

Order exactly that (or ask for pork roll instead of bacon) at any Bagels & Beyond location in the Long Beach Island area — we went to the one in Beach Haven West.

Pair it with a freshly brewed coffee, and don't sleep on the fresh-baked muffins, either.

Go: 853 Mill Creek Road, Beach Haven West section of Stafford Township, 609-978-2901; for details on other locations, visit bagelsandbeyond.net.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore dining: Best things we ate this month include pizza