Wednesday Addams would love to try these dark dishes and drinks at the Jersey Shore

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·4 min read

Don't want to be Barbie for Halloween? Be Wednesday Addams. Thanks to the mega-popular Netflix series "Wednesday," the princess of darkness is a popular Halloween costume this year.

But why stop at dressing in black? Dine in darkness at the Jersey Shore with these dishes and drinks:

Bagel Nook, multiple locations

An orange and black, hand-rolled Halloween special bagel from Bagel Nook locations.
An orange and black, hand-rolled Halloween special bagel from Bagel Nook locations.

Wednesday could start her morning with a Halloween Special bagel at Bagel Nook, swirled with black and orange, and perfectly paired with Monster Mash purple 'scream' cheese (filled with candy). Also check out The Scream (black and white bagel with cream cheese and red velvet muffin) and Beetlejuice (black, white and green bagel with purple cream cheese, sprinkles and sugar cookie).

Go: For information on Bagel Nook locations in Freehold and Princeton, visit thebagelnook.com.

Bubbles07, multiple locations

Monster Mash rolled ice cream (tarro Oreo vanilla rolled ice cream with whipped cream and candy corn) from Bubbles07 locations.
Monster Mash rolled ice cream (tarro Oreo vanilla rolled ice cream with whipped cream and candy corn) from Bubbles07 locations.

Whether it's brain freeze or a lobotomy, Wednesday's into it. Try the Monster Mash rolled ice cream (tarro Oreo vanilla rolled ice cream with whipped cream and candy corn). Other Halloween specials include the Graveyard Shake (chocolate Oreo milkshake with whipped cream and gummy worms), Spider Slush (Thai tea slush with chocolate syrup and tapioca) and Witch's Brew (matcha with whole milk, crushed Oreo and tapioca).

Go: For information on all Bubbles07 locations in Brick, Toms River and Beachwood, visit bubbles07.com.

Cookman Creamery, Asbury Park

A grave-themed vegan ice cream cake with pumpkin, cookies and black whipped "scream" with activated coconut charcoal from Cookman Creamery in Asbury Park.
A grave-themed vegan ice cream cake with pumpkin, cookies and black whipped "scream" with activated coconut charcoal from Cookman Creamery in Asbury Park.

Cookman Creamery has whipped up a vegan, grave-themed ice cream cake that's half pumpkin and half cookie. It's also loaded with black whipped "scream," made using activated coconut charcoal.

Go: 711 Cookman Ave., 732-361-5215, cookmancreamery.com.

Dolce Fantasia, Asbury Park

Squid ink risotto, to which sea scallops could be added, at Dolce Fantasia in Asbury Park, NJ Wednesday March 22, 2023.
Squid ink risotto, to which sea scallops could be added, at Dolce Fantasia in Asbury Park, NJ Wednesday March 22, 2023.

Owner John Djombalic's Dolce Fantasia serves inspired Northern Italian cuisine. Try the squid ink risotto, which scallops can be added to, or the Tonnarelli and Nero di Seppia (squid ink pasta, New Zealand mussels, wine, bay scallops and cherry tomatoes).

Go:  521 Cookman Ave., 848-372-1341, dolcefantasia.us.

Flavia's Cucina Romana, Asbury Park

Homemade Tartufo Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce from Flavia's Cucina Romana in Asbury Park.
Homemade Tartufo Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce from Flavia's Cucina Romana in Asbury Park.

This dish isn't mainly black, but for there to be darkness, there must be light. Flavia Peterno's homemade Tartufo gnocchi is drenched in a truffle cream sauce, and sprinkled with truffle.

Go: 550 Cookman Ave, Suite 101, 732-361-5080, flaviascucina.com.

More on Flavia's: Flavia's Cucina Romana is a true Italian family kitchen in Asbury Park

Half Moon, Keansburg

A Beetlejuice blood orange martini with charcoal-infused vodka from Half Moon in Keansburg.
A Beetlejuice blood orange martini with charcoal-infused vodka from Half Moon in Keansburg.

The name's Beetlejuice — but be careful, don't order it three times. Wednesday probably would. This festive blood orange martini uses charcoal-infused vodka for an added mysteriously black hue. Pair it with a seasonal special, the Muenster Mash burger (an all beef patty, muenster cheese, mash potato patty and black garlic aioli, served with boardwalk fries and a pickle).

Go: 2 Beachway Ave., 732-787-3560, halfmoonkb.com.

More Spooky Cocktails: Boo-zy punch and Candy Corn-Tini: Shore restaurants, bars create fun Halloween drinks

Il Nido, Marlboro

Squid ink cavatelli with baby shrimp, Calabrian chili and rosemary at Il Nido in Marlboro.
Squid ink cavatelli with baby shrimp, Calabrian chili and rosemary at Il Nido in Marlboro.

Il Nido has another squid ink pasta dish, but this time it's got a little kick — kind of like Wednesday herself. Try the Squid Ink Cavatelli with baby shrimp, Calabrian chili and rosemary.

Go: Willow Point Shopping Center, 184 Route 9 North; 732-851-6347, ilnidonj.com.

The Local Market & Kitchen, Ship Bottom

Charcoal lemonade from The Local Market and Kitchen in Ship Bottom.
Charcoal lemonade from The Local Market and Kitchen in Ship Bottom.

Wednesday might stop for a freshly squeezed charcoal lemonade before making her way down to Barnegat Lighthouse to visit the LBI Massacre of 1782 plaque. Or maybe she'd visit the wreck of the Sea King, just a few blocks away on 10th Street.

Go: 604 Central Ave., 609-342-0061, localmarketlbi.com.

Lucille's Candies (OH FUDGE), Manahawkin and Beach Haven

An assortment of black licorice candies and jelly beans from Lucille's Candies in Manahawkin and Beach Haven.
An assortment of black licorice candies and jelly beans from Lucille's Candies in Manahawkin and Beach Haven.

This shop survived the Great Depression on candy sales alone, and has many candies Wednesday would love: black licorice wheels, shoe string black licorice, and licorice jelly beans.

Go: For Manhawkin: 156 East Route 72; 609-597-7300 or visit their website here. For Beach Haven: 4105 Long Beach Blvd., 609-494-3700.

The Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House, Manahawkin

A Black Espolon Margarita with fresh lime from The Old Causeway Steak and Oyster House in Manahawkin.
A Black Espolon Margarita with fresh lime from The Old Causeway Steak and Oyster House in Manahawkin.

This one honors Wednesday's high class and Mexican heritage. Try the Black Espolon Margarita with fresh lime and "a little hocus pocus." But hurry, it'll vanish after Halloween.

Go: 1201 East Bay Ave., 609-488-1327, oldcauseway.com.

Safu Sushi, Toms River

A Dom Julio roll with yellowtail and scallop, topped with squid ink tobiko from Safu Sushi in Toms River.
A Dom Julio roll with yellowtail and scallop, topped with squid ink tobiko from Safu Sushi in Toms River.

This hip sushi hub has two rolls that embrace deep sea-level darkness. Try the Dom Julio with yellowtail and scallop, dramatically topped with squid ink tobiko. Or a Halloween special, the Black Widow roll with tempura soft shell crab, spicy tuna and avocado inside, nori on the outside, and topped with peppered tuna, spicy eel sauce, squid ink tobiko and sriracha.

Go: 10 Washington Street, 732-867-2800, safusushi.com.

Tramonto's Pizza, Ocean Township

A black olive pie from Tramonto's Pizza in Ocean Township.
A black olive pie from Tramonto's Pizza in Ocean Township.

This new pizzeria has a couple pies Wednesday would enjoy. Try the classic black olive pie, or the Sexy Italian with fried chicken cutlet, ricotta, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, basil and balsamic glaze.

Go: 3311 Sunset Ave., 732-807-1111, tramontospizza.com.

More on Tramonto's: Tramonto's Pizza in Ocean Township serves specialty pies that are out of this world

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: Wednesday Addams: NJ restaurants offer dark dishes, drinks