Location: 1 Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Cuisine: American/Seafood
Best Dish: The Lobster Rolls were stupendous. The tender lobster was well seasoned and the sweet rolls were buttery and fresh, absolutely delicious.
Cost: $$
Overall: A great way to beat the summer heat and enjoy beachy vibes.
Enjoy a taste of California style without leaving the tri-state, with a visit to Surf City Bar. This seasonal bar and restaurant is located in Jersey City, NJ just a quick PATH or light rail ride from Manhattan. If you’re the sailing type feel free to sail up and dock at their 400ft dock. Just a few steps from the dock is Surf City’s resort-style bar and grill. Once you arrive claim a seat at one of communal tables or any of the plush beach style seats. Summer is the season for outdoor dining and Surf City has the added bonus of a terrific view. From their location, you can enjoy scenic views of the harbor and the Manhattan skyline. As the sun sets personal bonfire pits are sprinkled throughout to provide ambient lighting and a little extra warmth. We visited Surf City last year, (you can read about that experience here) and such a great night we couldn’t wait to explore their updated menu and expanded space. For this year’s menu, Executive Chef and recent Chopped Champion Franco Robazetti has added a raw bar with fresh sushi rolls, sushi taco, and more. The dessert menu has also expanded including decadent treats for your sweet tooth. Though some new items have been added the bulk of the menu remains the same, with familiar bar staples like burgers and wings as well as an assortment of seafood favorites.
Calamari
Our meal began with a familiar bar staple, the fried Calamari. These crispy rings are hard to resist. Chef serves this on a bed of shredded lettuce with an assortment of pickled peppers for a little extra heat. The Calamari was fried to perfection, with a crispy outside and tender squid inside.
Crawfish Boil
Crawfish can be a messy meal but that’s part of the fun. The crawfish are served up in a brown paper bag with a set of black gloves to minimize the mess. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty, just get cracking and enjoy!
Lobster Rolls
We love a good lobster roll and Chef Franco does it well with tasty well-seasoned lobster and buttery sweet rolls. These delectable bites are addictive and more than worth the trip.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
For this Mac, Orecchiette replaces basic elbows for a decadent treat of creamy cheese and delicious lobster. We were impressed by the generous helping of lobster in this dish. Lobster Mac can be hit or miss, but this one was a big hit. There was lobster in every bite. We thought the shell was just a garnish but there’s even lobster under there!
Dessert
The dessert menu has expanded to include several sweet treats including this delectable red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. The sponge cake was moist with just a hint of chocolate flavor. The dessert was a good ending to a terrific meal.
Cocktails
The frozen drink machine works overtime at Surf City as the bar staff cranks out icy adult beverages all night long. We recommend ditching your usual margarita and trying one of their specialty cocktails. The Caribbean Dream is one of our favorites, it features a tropical mix mango, strawberry pina colada, and rum. The frozen drinks are sweet but potent, a dangerously fun combination. In addition to the frozen drinks, Surf City has a fully stocked bar and a wide selection of local and imported beers.
After a victorious win in Food Network’s Chopped kitchen, Chef Franco has presented a flavorful menu of summer fare. The ingredients are fresh and prepared expertly. Surf City is open for business and will be around until September. Be sure to drop by the hidden jewel and cool off with a frozen cocktail and feast on delicious Summer eats.
For more information on Surf City Beach Bar & Restaurant, head over to surfcitybar.com.
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