LBI Restaurant Week kicks off Jan. 26. Here's where to eat

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·4 min read

Summer may be the hottest time of year for dining on Long Beach Island, but even in winter, plenty of restaurants are still cooking — especially during Restaurant Week.

Long Beach Island Bites Winter Restaurant Week, which kicks off Friday, Jan. 26, is 10 days of dining deals and specials at two dozen restaurants on and off the island.

Organized in 2017 by the founders of the Long Beach Island Bites Facebook page, Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, Feb. 4.

From restaurants on the island to Stafford, Barnegat and Tuckerton, here's what diners can expect.

More: We can't wait to try these 15 restaurants opening at the Jersey Shore in 2024

Dolce Liberta, Stafford

Jumbo shrimp with peas and mushrooms in sherry cream sauce over fettucine pasta at Dolce Liberta in Stafford.
Jumbo shrimp with peas and mushrooms in sherry cream sauce over fettucine pasta at Dolce Liberta in Stafford.

The offer: $35 for a four-course dinner

On the menu: soup, salad, entrees including osso bucco, crab rigatoni vodka, braised beef burrata, chicken Milanese, pecan-crusted salmon, veal rollatine and teriyaki scallops — and tartufo, cheesecake or tiramisu for dessert.

Go: 100 McKinley Ave., Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-549-3532, dolcelibertanj.com.

Buckalew's Restaurant & Tavern, Beach Haven

The offer: $24 for a two-course lunch and $35 for a three-course dinner

On the menu: Start the meal with salad, soup or hot honey Brussels sprouts; entree options include shrimp tacos, chicken pot pie, lamb gyros, linguini and clams, Sunday gravy, and grilled flank steak with chimichurri, among other options. For dessert, apple and pumpkin pies a la mode.

Go: 101 N. Bay Ave., Beach Haven; 609-492-1065, buckalews.com.

More: Sirens Seafood, serving platters, sandwiches, chowder and more, now open in Middletown

Wally's, Surf City

Vegan tofu scramble at Wally's in Surf City
Vegan tofu scramble at Wally's in Surf City

The offer: $11.95 for lunch (half sandwich with fries, soup or salad), $21.95 for a three-course dinner

On the menu: Lunch sandwich options include barbecue pulled pork, vegan cheesesteak, fried chicken, turkey melt or vegan chicken parmesan, among others, plus New England clam chowder, Rhode Island clam chowder, and wild rice and mushroom, vegan three-bean chili or chicken noodle soups. Dinner dishes include soup, entrees such as blackened chicken alfredo, Thai shrimp fettuccini, Barnegat Light scallops, truffle macaroni and cheese, and fish and chips, among others. For dessert there's rice pudding, Key lime pie, creme caramel flan and crumb cake.

Go: 712 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City; 609-494-1667, wallyslbi.com.

The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House, Stafford

Grilled skirt steak nachos at The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House in the Manahawkin section of Stafford.
Grilled skirt steak nachos at The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House in the Manahawkin section of Stafford.

The offer: $25 for a two-course lunch and $40 for a three-course dinner

On the menu: Caesar salad, Manhattan clam chowder, oysters on the half shell and fried green tomatoes will be served at both lunch and dinner. Lunch entrees include panko-crusted tuna, an oyster BLT and a grilled vegetable sandwich, among other dishes. For dinner, the menu includes oyster Rockefeller pasta, char siu chicken, a salmon farro bowl and hangar steak. Dessert is spiced date cake with sticky toffee sauce or a vanilla ice cream and chocolate chip cookie sandwich.

Go: 1201 E. Bay Ave., Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-488-1327, oldcauseway.com.

More: Warm up and experience a world of flavor at these Jersey Shore tea shops

Latino Flavor Grille, Stafford

Papas rellenas, a potato dish that originated in Peru but is found throughout Latin America, at Latino Flavor Grille in Stafford.
Papas rellenas, a potato dish that originated in Peru but is found throughout Latin America, at Latino Flavor Grille in Stafford.

The offer: $40 for a four-course dinner

On the menu: Start with a first course of grilled octopus and chorizo or tacos al pastor, then a second course of sancocho (Colombian beef stew) or salad, followed by picanha (steak with chimichurri), gambas criollas (shrimp with a sauce of onions and peppers), or saffron chicken. For dessert, try flan or guava cheesecake.

Go: 31 N. Main St., Manahawkin section of Stafford; 609-994-2652, latinoflavorgrille.com.

Russo's Italian Restaurant, Ship Bottom

Freshly baked garlic rolls at Russo's Italian Restaurant in Ship Bottom.
Freshly baked garlic rolls at Russo's Italian Restaurant in Ship Bottom.

The offer: $40 for a three-course dinner

On the menu: Start with Russo's famous garlic rolls and soup or salad, then choose between chicken limoncello, eggplant or chicken parmesan, penne Bolognese, stuffed rigatoni with vodka sauce, and spaghetti with seafood. Dessert is assorted cakes or cannoli.

Go: 1415 Long Beach Blvd. No. 3, Ship Bottom; 609-342-1506, russoslbi.com.

More: Noodles, dumplings, ribs and more served in a stunning atmosphere at Bad Hat in Marlboro

Other participants

As of press time, these are the remaining restaurants participating in Restaurant Week. Find an updated list on the Long Beach Island Bites Facebook page.

  • Anna Bananas Bakery, Stafford

  • The Black Whale, Beach Haven (temporarily closed for renovations, participating is pending reopening)

  • Burger 25, Ship Bottom

  • The Chicken or the Egg, Beach Haven

  • DaddyO, Brant Beach

  • Dune 18, Ship Bottom

  • The Grapevine, Tuckerton

  • Isola Italian Trattoria, Beach Haven

  • Kubel's, Barnegat Light

  • LBI Pancake House, Ship Bottom

  • Nardi's Tavern, Long Beach Township

  • Ott's Good Earth Garden, West Creek

  • Pinto’s Porch, Stafford

  • Robbie's Chicken Shack, Stafford

  • Salt Kitchen & Bar at Hotel LBI, Ship Bottom

  • Scojo's, Surf City

  • Sun Harbor Seafood and Grill, Barnegat

  • Tucker's Tavern, Beach Haven.

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, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore: LBI Restaurant Week 2024 begins Jan. 26