Ahoy! Try these 12 dock-and-dine restaurants at the Jersey Shore

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
·6 min read

You're on a boat near the Jersey Shore, rocking along with the tides, enjoying the fresh salty air and amazing views.

But something is missing.

A refreshing cocktail, a hearty meal — maybe some raw bar bites.

Never fear, there are plenty of places where dock and dine services are available.

Say Ahoy! to these local restaurants.

Channel Marker Cafe, Lavallette

Slide into a slip at this restaurant on Barnegat Bay, which can accommodate vessels of all sizes, from personal watercraft to boats 50 feet long. There are about eight spaces for boats 15 to 25 feet, and two for larger vessels. Docking is by reservation only.Try classic pasta dishes like linguine and clams (chopped and fresh clams with pancetta, Calabrian chili, fresh garlic and EVOO), sandwiches like the flounder Milanese (crispy flounder filet, arugula, tomato and house made cherry pepper tartar sauce), and meaty meals like the pork chop Lola (16-ounce pork rib chop paired with sausage, peppers, onion and long hots, topped with balsamic glaze).

Go: 3245 Route 35, 732-793-7559, channelmarkercafe.com. Find the dock at Channel Marker 27 on the Intercoastal Waterway.

Klein's Fish Market & Waterside Cafe, Belmar

A seafood entree at Klein’s Fish Market and Waterside Cafe in Belmar.
A seafood entree at Klein’s Fish Market and Waterside Cafe in Belmar.

Klein's tiki bar and cafe provides laid back, riverfront vibes and fresh seafood, which the family has been selling for over 90 years. The year-round restaurant and market allows three boats to park at the dock on Shark River.

Try Klein's Boom Boom Shrimp (golden fried shrimp tossed in a spicy cream sauce), the crabmeat stuffed flounder, or pick up your own fresh catches from the market.

Summer Happy Hour takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, with discounted bites and cocktails.

Check out the active live feed of the dockside view you can expect.

Go: 708 River Road, 732-681-1177, kleinsfish.com.

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Parker's Garage, Black Whale, and Bird & Betty's in Beach Haven

The view from Parker's Garage & Oyster Saloon in Beach Haven.
The view from Parker's Garage & Oyster Saloon in Beach Haven.

This is a triple whammy of a deal because some of Long Beach Island's most popular restaurants and bars are all accessible at the dock on Dock Road in Beach Haven. The six first-come, first-serve boat slips are within walking distance of Parker's Garage, Black Whale, and Bird & Betty's, all owned by the Tide Table Group.

At Parker's, have an upscale meal starting with oysters and clams, and finishing with the signature Surf and Turf (dry aged strip, thermidor and whipped potatoes). For similar cuisine, try Black Whale's broiled seafood combo (one jumbo lump crab cake, filet of flounder, shrimp and scallops).

At Bird & Betty's, dine on classics like the margherita pizza, and try cocktails like Nuge's Mai Tai (Papa's Pilar Silver with Mai Tai mix and a Myers floater).

For more on boat slips at Dock Road, visit beachhaven-nj.gov/departments/recreation.

Go: For Parker's Garage & Oyster Saloon: 116 Northwest Ave., 609-492-1066, parkersgaragelbi.com. For Black Whale Bar & Fish House: 100 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 609-492-0025, blackwhalebar.com. For Bird & Betty's: 529 Dock Road, 609-492-3000, birdandbettys.com.

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Salt Creek Grille, Rumson

The private dock at Salt Creek Grille in Rumson, which allows up to four boats to park and dine at the restaurant.
The private dock at Salt Creek Grille in Rumson, which allows up to four boats to park and dine at the restaurant.

Rumson's stunning riverfront views rival the Jersey Shore's many beachscapes, with a much more laid back vibe.

There's room for up to four boats at Salt Creek Grille's private dock on the Navesink, so get there fast because it's first-come-first-serve. There is no dockmaster to tie your boat up for you, and the restaurant advises that boaters mind the tides.

When dining, start with the stuffed jumbo shrimp (with horseradish, bacon-wrapped and drizzled in chipotle honey).

Pair a meal like the Coffee Encrusted New York Strip (with lue affinee cheese, bourbon caramel, arugula and mashed potatoes) with cocktails like the dockside mojito (with muddled strawberry, mint and lime, Bacardi Light Rum, simple syrup, club soda and a spritz of Coke).

Go: 4 Bingham Ave, Rumson; 732-933-9272, saltcreekgrille.com.

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Sun Harbor Seafood and Grill, Barnegat

The deck and dock of Sunset Harbor Seafood and Grill in Barnegat.
The deck and dock of Sunset Harbor Seafood and Grill in Barnegat.

Cruise up any day of the week at this seafood and nightlife hub for live music, refreshing tropical cocktails and craveable bites.

The dock has 14 slips for customers, and the restaurant features both outdoor and indoor dining.

Try appetizers like the tuna tostadas (topped with corn salad, mixed greens, pickled red onions and chipotle lime sauce) or raw bar classics. Meals include coconut shrimp (served with coleslaw, dock fries and raspberry mango sauce).

Pair it all with one of the signature cocktails, like the Side Chick (Titos handmade vodka, triple sec, lemonade and garnished with an orange slice).

Go: 451 East Bay Ave., 609-622-6190, sunharborseafoodandgrill.com

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The Waterfront, Lacey

Outdoor dining at The Waterfront in Lacey.
Outdoor dining at The Waterfront in Lacey.

For dinner with a view, grab a table on the rooftop deck at The Waterfront, which overlooks the Forked River near where it flows into Barnegat Bay.

The restaurant also has an open air lounge, courtyard and patio. The main dining area serves elevated dishes like Seafood Newberg (with shrimp, scallops, jumbo lump crab meat, lobster sherry cream and safron rice), while the outdoor bar serves casual fare like street corn tortillas (with roasted corn, peppers, onions, Colby Jack cheese, honey wheat tortilla, salsa and sour cream, drizzled in chipotle aioli).

The dock has eight boat slips (that can accommodate up to 12 feet), available first-come-first-serve.

Go: 361 East Lacey Road; 609-888-6063, thewaterfrontnj.com.

Water Street Bar & Grill, Toms River

This one has the local tide chart posted right on its website, so you know they've got their sea legs under 'em.

Availability is first-come-first-serve on Water Street's dock, with room for about nine or 10 boats.

Enjoy live music, indoor or outdoor deck dining, and try bites like the citrus calamari (with orange segments, balsamic reduction, ginger glaze and sriracha mayo).

For something more filling, there's the ahi tuna bowl (with sesame-crusted tuna, avocado, heirloom tomato, jasmine sticky rice, sweet and spicy ginger dressing).

Go: 4 Robbins Parkway, 732-240-4800, waterstreetnj.com.

Other spots to try

9th Ave. Pier in Belmar: Known for rum buckets, live music and mini golf. Go: 905 Route 35, 732-749-3800, 9thavepier.com.

The Boatyard in Manahawkin: Also offers boat rentals and an outdoor beer garden. Go: 2304 East Bay Ave., 609-494-1371, theboatyardnj.com.

Sunset Seafood in Tuckerton: Dock and dine services by reservation. This new restaurant took the place of Panini Bay. Go: 101 Parker Road, 609-294-4281, sunsetseafoodnj.com.

Parts of this story were previously published.

Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.

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 restaurants: Dock-and-dine spots offer seafood, more