Highlights Of The 2019 Belmar Restaurant Tour [PHOTOS]

The 11th annual Belmar Restaurant Tour on March 10, 2019, featured 38 diverse dining destinations throughout downtown Belmar and along Ocean Avenue and on Route 71. Our tasting adventure started at La Dolce Vita Italian Seafood Grill with a generous serving of melt-in-your-mouth braised pork short ribs and butternut squash risotto.

From Ocean Avenue, we headed downtown to Klein’s Fish Market and Waterside Café (New England clam chowder and tuna bites) and to Doughboys Wood-Fired Pizza (penne with pesto-cream sauce, penne with vodka sauce, and pizza). Hot buffet selections welcomed visitors at Comfi of Belmar (fresh kielbasa, pierogies, chicken pesto salad, and French toast bites) and at 10th Avenue Burrito Co. (chicken taquitos, tequila-spiked creamed corn, and chipotle mashed potato pierogies).

Moving on, we sampled butternut squash bisque and pulled pork sliders at Anchor Tavern, followed by smoked brisket chili topped with macaroni and cheese at Jersey Shore BBQ. Patrons lined up outside Stay Gold Café, waiting their turn for small plates of Stay Gold's signature tuna salad, prepared with fresh shredded albacore, chopped golden delicious apples, vegan mayo, and cranberries; the vegan chickpea salad; and the crisply refreshing apple-walnut salad with honey-balsamic vinaigrette.

A sample of Olé IPA whet our whistle at Beach Haus Brewery before we headed to Jack's Tavern to sample artichokes Francaise and potato-leek soup. Next door, Federici's On 10th served thin-crust pizza and New England clam chowder. Beckman's Deli spiced up our afternoon with chicken wings slathered in their homemade BBQ and buffalo sauces. In Belmar Plaza, first-time restaurant tour participant Sonny's Grille, which opened in fall 2018, served over 30 pounds of sausage and peppers, along with pulled pork and hot dogs with various toppings. The panko-fried chicken sandwich samples at Hoagitos were also a huge hit.

The roundup of participating Belmar restaurants this year also included Ragin' Cajun (chicken gumbo and jambalaya); Marina Grille (wild mushroom risotto with shrimp); Surf Taco (fajitas); Cielito Lindo (mixed fajitas, molé sauce, chicken quesadillas, and rice and beans); Jake's Downtown (crispy crab balls with Sriracha mayonnaise); Belmar Bagels and Joe's Bagel & Grill (selection of bagel breakfast sandwiches); Jimmy's Place on Ocean Avenue (sausage and peppers, lobster bisque, split pea soup, pizza, wraps, deviled eggs, and artichokes Francaise); Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co.; Brandl (sirloin bites with bacon); Pizza Shop (your choice of plain pizza or slices with toppings); and Belmar's Corner Bagelry (crumb cake and bagels).

For our sweet tooth, a visit to Main Street Donuts satisfied with doughnut bites in various flavors, while JB Couture Cupcakes provided a decorate-your-own cupcake experience.

Our last leg of the 2019 Belmar Restaurant Tour included stops at Mr. Shrimp Seafood Restaurant, which served chilled shrimp cocktail, mini crab cakes, coconut shrimp, and crab dip with bread sticks, alongside a raw bar with clams and oysters on the half-shell. Across the street, Turnstile Coffee Roasters provided a warm welcome with mini scones and two selections of hot brewed coffee, including their popular medium-roast House Blend.

Before heading home, we circled back to Ocean Avenue, where lines of patrons snaked out the doors of both Playa Bowls (mini superfruit bowls) and Coney Waffle (cannoli waffles and mini ice cream cones). The vanilla baking aromas inside Coney Waffle were amazing!

In all, we made it to about 24 of the 38 participating Belmar restaurants. Thank you to all the places that we visited for their generous and delicious hospitality!

Story and photos reprinted with permission from the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

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