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An Insider's Guide to the Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore draws thousands of tourists every summer, making it one of the most visited vacation spots on the east coast. From the beaches to the entertainment, “the Shore,” as the tourists call it, is the perfect getaway. For locals, however, the summer is time to release pent up anger from the year onto what they like to call the tourists, “Bennys.”

An acronym for Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York, the word is used in association with anyone from outside the area, specifically the New York region. How do you avoid being reduced to this less-than-complimentary term? Learn and integrate into the beach community (locals don’t like when it is called “the shore”). This means not participating in “Benny-like” actions, which include clubbing in such attire as wife beaters, gold chains, and berets (FYI: they only look cool on real artists). This also means visiting some of the local’s favorite places and learning the lingo.

This guide will give you some suggestions for avoiding looking like a tourist, and trust me, locals can tell. Familiarize yourself with the area and these places BEFORE you come, which will save you from having to shamefully ask for directions and pull out your oh-so-large folding maps. So leave your large straw hats and way-too-skimpy bikinis at home and read up on these places:

Surf Taco. (Multiple locations) The locals love to chow down on this surf-style Mexican dining year-round as evidence to why they keep building more of them. Originally it opened in Point Pleasant circa 2001 and its popularity has expanded business to Seaside Park, Belmar, Manasquan, Silverton and most recently, Jackson Crossing. How embedded into Jersey Shore culture is this place? So much so that you can see the famous bumper stickers all over the world, including Rin Con, Puerto Rico. Yes, it’s true. The laid-back vibe and quality food make for a great meal that will keep you craving more. My advice? Go for an early surf session then stop to grab a wrap and smoothie from Surf Taco. Now that’s a true shore local-style summer day.

Mustache Bill’s Diner (Barnegat Light, LBI). Sure this place is way at the north end of Long Beach Island (hint: just call it LBI otherwise you’re giving your “Benny” status away) but it’s one of the only places, including fancy seafood restaurants that shall remain nameless, that actually give you fresh fish right off the boat, none of that frozen stuff. Prices are a bit high for a diner but nothing beats stumbling in there on a weekend morning for a fish and chips platter. Plus, most customers are locals, so you can soak up the atmosphere and learn a bit about the place. Just get there early because they close at 3 p.m.

Crab Trap Restaurant (Somers Point). Ocean City locals dine here and claim they have the best seafood menu of all South Jersey. They have live bands on the weekends and a great bar for socializing. Drink to get: Martini. Since Ocean City doesn’t house bars, this place is swarming with anxious partiers from surrounding areas. What do the owners say about their impressive 40 years of business? “Since we are family owned, we are always 'on deck' to try and keep our eye on the operation and make sure everything runs smoothly. We believe that 'hands on' makes a difference. We try to offer great food at a fair price and we think our patrons appreciate this.”

Sawmill Café (Seaside Park). Okay, this place is crazy crowded no matter what time of year you go, but definitely the best among the local bars. The other clubs and bars are swarming with Bennys who like to fight each other in a game I like to call “Who can prove they are really a local.” Unless your idea of a good time is watching older men try and hit on underage faux-drunk girls who dominate the dance floor, then I say go ahead and hit up those other clubs. But, if you just want a good bar with good music and good food, and the biggest and best pizza around, stop by the Sawmill one night or just stop by for a slice and soda right off the beach.

The Ocean Drive (Sea Isle City). There is nothing like “No Shower, Happy Hour” at this place on Saturday nights in the summer. Jen Miller, freelancer and former features editor for South Jersey magazine said, “It is THE place to be in Sea Isle…honestly, it’s like midnight in there at 6 p.m.” Best part: They encourage you to come in sandy right off the beach and start one-dollar drinks and shots starting at 4 p.m. They have live music and the atmosphere is just “insane” according to Miller.

Ron Jon Surf Shop (LBI). Who doesn’t want to go see the original with the largest surfboard ever constructed? This surf shop sells all essentials for a nice day on the waves. Also, it’s one of the only places on the island that is open year-round, so if you don’t live too far, head down there over winter break to score some sweet deals on everything from sandals to hats and clothes. It’s three levels of surf and skate gear, but beware, this place can get overly crowded. You can’t miss it; it’s the big brightly colored building right as you get onto the island.

The Chicken or the Egg a.k.a “the Chegg” (Beach Haven, LBI). In the summer, this is the place that you go when it’s 3 am and WaWa just ain’t gonna cut it. It is open 24 hours, 7 days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is definitely one of the more well-known places on the island. Mark Cohen, owner and founder, says, “I think one of the things that has made us popular with locals, and in particular, the younger crowd, is that we started out as those same people. We built a restaurant around the things we as young people wanted: The funky menu, the wings, the late night scene, the attitude; it all stems from who we were and who we still are.” This family-owned place is famous for its menu and fair pricing, especially Wednesday wing night, so definitely stop by when the late-night cravings are getting to you.

If you are an avid surfer, recommendations from local surfers is key, as you don’t want to get stuck in an area surrounded by boogie boarders, wading elder couples, or even worse, a flat swell. Keri Yednak, a TCNJ student and Forked River dweller, claims that both East Burlington and East Cumberland streets in Harvey Cedars on LBI holds the best surfing location. Since most of LBI holds private beach entrances, another good spot is around 31st Street in Shipbottom, but don’t even bother going at high tide as it tends to look like a smooth lake out there.


Other locals recommend ‘J’ Street in Seaside Park and the jetty at the very end of Island Beach State Park as ideal surf spots, that is, if you can stand the hour-long traffic down Route 37 in Toms River. Also, 8th Avenue and 59th Avenues in Ocean City, as well as 17th Avenue in Belmar have proven to provide good waves. No matter what, definitely call to get the surf report before you go; it might save you a trip. If you are looking for real waves though, go in February during hurricane season as the summer swells can often disappoint.

If you happen to be a college student on a tight budget and don’t have the money to throw away on lots of drinks, here is a little secret: There are plenty of cheap bars, especially in Seaside like Riggers and Razzles. Sure, these places are pretty seedy and you will come across some interesting individuals, but you can walk to the better bars with the more expensive drinks once you have pre-gamed at one of the more reasonably priced bars, even if they do contribute to the infamous title of “Sleazside.” Oh and if you are looking to meet famous people like Kelly Slater, Joey Harrison’s Surf Club is the place to go for that type of scene.

Okay, so this all sounds a little facetious to you and you’re thinking “Does it really matter if I know all this or not?” Just go walk into a local restaurant during the summer and ask for directions to the beach. Trust me, it won’t turn out well. Don’t worry, it’s nothing personal. You want to try and fit in, but not to the point where it seems like you are taking over, and you can start by feeling the vibe of the aforementioned places. Hard to do? Yes. But don’t just experience the Jersey Shore as an outsider; take the advice of this insider.