Ocean City NJ and surrouding areas

OK, I've never posted a trip report and sadly I have no pictures for this one.  By my wife, kids and I are ALWAYS out and about in the MidAtlantic region.  We seek new adventures, food and fun. 
 
This long trip included:
 
Mack and Manco's:  pizza on the OC boardwalk - hand tossed thin crust, tangy sauce and just the right amount of good cheese.  Worth renting a $1.5m condo for a week to ensure we get a few trips to Mack and Manco's in.  We went twice and got a large plain pie each time.  Some things you just don't fool with.
 
Chatterbox:  9th street, the pink building.  Went for breakfast, starring the Easter Bunny.  Pretty good a la carte menu, got scrambled eggs and other things.  The only disappointment was that the pork roll wasn't Taylor - and I guess I've only ever had Taylor Ham.  This was less flavorful - but still OK.  Nothing remarkable either way and the kids had fun.  I'd go back. 
 
Pancake Bills:  around 20th and Asbury - we've been to Pancake Bills at a number of locations and I have mixed feelings.  One the one hand, as the name suggests, pancakes are where it's at.  On the other hand:
- the prices are pretty steep and it is not easy to order a la carte items.  Like a "bad" diner, there isn't a way to eat for $2.95 and leave.  Now, as a big guy (6'4", 250) I never eat only $2.95 worth.  But I use that as a kind of guage, especially for breakfast spots - if there isn't a $2.95 option, they might have the focus on getting the most money out of you rather than ensuring you return.  Now, granted, the steep prices also meant they were open at a time of year when most places aren't. 
- I always forget and "fall" for the potato pancakes which are greasy.  I guess I expect crisp latkes and shouldn't expect that.  They were hard to swallow. 
I remember liking the Cape May Pancake Bills a whole lot more.  But we left full :)
 
Voltacos:  Got a 2 person Lasagne and something else small and it made a meal for the wife and 2 young kids.  Pretty darn good stuff.  Nice thick pasta and cheese, not drowned in sauce.  We'll be back later in the summer!
 
Johnson's popcorn:  When I was a little kid, about 8, my best friend took me to OC with his family and turned me on to Johnson's popcorn.  Still turns me on :)  Always buy the buckets "open" - you can close them after you eat the few extra mouthfuls :)
 
Sugar Hill Subs:  In May's landing- this place stood up to it's reputation - big subs, boars' head I believe, that have plenty of kick to them.  Like White House in AC, a "half" is really about a foot long and enough to share.  We got a steak and cheese, an italian cold cut and two very plain small subs (one turkey, one ham) for the kids.  A good sub starts with good bread and ends with good meat - and these did.  I'll get the ICC with mayo next time, simply as I was raised on Ollie's subs in Rockville MD and they did mayo - and that is my reference ICC sub.  I'm finding NJ ICC's don't usually have mayo, and that's cool, but a little mayo would float my boat.
 
Lobster House:  In Cape May, NJ - wow, that place is a factory.  I've done the dockside tables before but it was too cold for that.  The food was good and the service efficient.  The prices for the oysters are for 6 of them, not 12 (!) and I got the Cape May salts - little fellas but still good.  I forget my main dish but again, we left full.  It was surprising how the place was "processing" so many guests at such an off time (the Sunday before easter).  But hey, if it's good...
 
Jackson Hole:  In Cape May, NJ - OK, so this place is a typical brew-pub overpriced buffalo-wing and $10 fancy burger kind of place.  It is in the "walking mall" that's a few blocks off the strand in Cape May, and I suspect it is often a second choice to the nicer places and seafood choices in the town.  But we've stopped in a few times and always been pretty happy.   We weren't too hungry so only got iced teas and appetizer - but we did meet and talk to the folks at the table next to us.  I don't know about you, but I'm not one to think that the only source for enjoyment of a meal is the food - I'll take good conversation, abiance, history and all that kind of stuff too.  The boneless wings were quite good and generous, but the highlight was our 5 year old son breaking the conversation ice with the neighbors by saying really loudly "I was born of the Monkey" - guess something reminded him of a chinese food placement, the one with all the years and animals around it.
 
Wegmans:  Somewhere in west NJ, near a Costco.  We needed new tires midtrip, so followed the GPS to Costco.  I have NO IDEA where were were, except that we were an hour from the shore and still in NJ.  The Wegman's had a crab soup that was to die for - and I'm a lifelong Marylander - made with sherry and old bay spice.  I'm sure it was Vietnamese crab, but in a soup - does it matter? 
 
Ri-Ra:  Atlantic City Tropicana - not really "roadfood" but pretty good.  I got the Shepard's pie, a nice version, with no surprises.  Do Irish places try to out do each other to see how hot they can serve shepard's pie?  I swear I burn a few layers from my mouth each time I order one.  We went to the Trop for the Imax and meant to go to the Irish Pub at the north end of AC - years ago I was the DJ at the Irish Pub in downtown Philly - so I wanted to try their food.  But lo and behold, we left the imax and there was Ri-Ra in the same building.  The Irish Pub will have to be next time. 
 
I think that's most of the places we enjoyed.  Next time, more specifics and pictures.   I promise to provide updates to roadfood favorites while also checking out places that might not have been mentioned here. 
Jay

hi Jay,
Your narrative was so good that you don't even need any pics!!!
looks like we were on the OC boardwalk the same time!
I was there Sunday afternoon with my bf for the Flanders Hotel Easter brunch...
they have buffets only for Easter, Mothers Day , and Thanksgiving..

real good prime rib (etc) in a big, classic dining room of a old hotel...
the place definitely has got character!  And it's a real good deal for $24.95 ...
I left my camera in my car, so I just ended up taking a few pics with my cell phone..
Here's some of the desserts from the FLANDERS BUFFET ...a true chocolate loves fantasy!!
the Peanut Butter CHOCOLATE PIE was to die for!


My bf loves Mack and Manco's just like YOU do, Jay..
I had a slice  later in the day, just to see if  I could finally acquire a taste for it..
but I still can't!  (of course, I was'nt even hungry after that prime rib buffet)
The crust is too "cardboard" for me; I like more doughy.. strictly my personal tastes.
and their pizza tastes too spiceless for me; I like more garlicky...
 
Here's my bf, incognito....  his hood is covering all his nice hair, cause it's real breezy out; only in the upper 40's


The Wegman's you went to had to be in CHERRY HILL... !
It is part of a huge new outdoor shopping center, where the Garden State Park Racetrack used  to be...  there is a nice Barnes and Noble, and a Cheesecake Factory Restaurant, etc, etc..
There are only 7 Wegman's in NJ, and that is the only one that matches your clues that you gave us....  as it's one hour west of our Atlantic City/Ocean City, NJ area...
(the next closest  Wegman's are an hour and a half away,  and those 2 are NORTH of here!)

Your GPS probably did not have the newest area COSTCO listed, which is in Manahawkin, right off the Garden State Parkway, Exit 63.
...about 40 miles from Ocean City...,  just a little closer than the Cherry Hill one, which is about 50 miles away ....

Glad you enjoyed your weekend in Ocean City, NJ, Jay!

Lovely writeup Jay--it sounds like a nice trip.  I'm always interested in how people order for little kids/accommodate their tastes in a restaurant.  We were at Charlie's in Greenville the other night and the folks the next table over got some chicken fingers for their little two.  (But there isn't a lot besides hamburger steak for kids there.)

When I've made shepherd's pie, the potatoes just retain heat forever and well, so you can't just eat it straight out of the oven.  Same thing happens when I make them and leave them on the stove on warm.  They're going to be lava in about 10 minutes.

Jay,
 
Nice report; thanks for letting us know what's out there.  You'll find this to be a site filled with great people and all kinds of food.  Looking forward to many more reports.

He said the Wegmans he went to was near a Costco. He was in the Mt. Laurel/Moorestown area. Both are there. Not Cherry Hill as there's no Costco near the Wegmans.

ellen4641


hi Jay,
Your narrative was so good that you don't even need any pics!!!
looks like we were on the OC boardwalk the same time!
I was there Sunday afternoon with my bf for the Flanders Hotel Easter brunch...
they have buffets only for Easter, Mothers Day , and Thanksgiving..

real good prime rib (etc) in a big, classic dining room of a old hotel...
the place definitely has got character!  And it's a real good deal for $24.95 ...
I left my camera in my car, so I just ended up taking a few pics with my cell phone..
Here's some of the desserts from the FLANDERS BUFFET ...a true chocolate loves fantasy!!
the Peanut Butter CHOCOLATE PIE was to die for!


My bf loves Mack and Manco's just like YOU do, Jay..
I had a slice  later in the day, just to see if  I could finally acquire a taste for it..
but I still can't!  (of course, I was'nt even hungry after that prime rib buffet)
The crust is too "cardboard" for me; I like more doughy.. strictly my personal tastes.
and their pizza tastes too spiceless for me; I like more garlicky...
 
Here's my bf, incognito....  his hood is covering all his nice hair, cause it's real breezy out; only in the upper 40's


The Wegman's you went to had to be in CHERRY HILL... !
It is part of a huge new outdoor shopping center, where the Garden State Park Racetrack used  to be...  there is a nice Barnes and Noble, and a Cheesecake Factory Restaurant, etc, etc..
There are only 7 Wegman's in NJ, and that is the only one that matches your clues that you gave us....  as it's one hour west of our Atlantic City/Ocean City, NJ area...
(the next closest  Wegman's are an hour and a half away,  and those 2 are NORTH of here!)

Your GPS probably did not have the newest area COSTCO listed, which is in Manahawkin, right off the Garden State Parkway, Exit 63.
...about 40 miles from Ocean City...,  just a little closer than the Cherry Hill one, which is about 50 miles away ....

Glad you enjoyed your weekend in Ocean City, NJ, Jay!

Interesting, here I am in Blackwood for thr holiday and reading about people visiting my town!

Jay,  you might want to try Voltaco's subs and steaks on your next visit, I hear their pizza is pretty good as well.  Iwould try to avoid Uncle Bill's pancakes it IS pricey and really mobbed in season.

Ellen, next time you are at Mack & Manco, as your server for the garlic powder they will be happy to bring you some (they also don't mind if you bring in an order of Curly's fries)

ellen4641


hi Jay,
Your narrative was so good that you don't even need any pics!!!
looks like we were on the OC boardwalk the same time!
I was there Sunday afternoon with my bf for the Flanders Hotel Easter brunch...
they have buffets only for Easter, Mothers Day , and Thanksgiving..
....
Glad you enjoyed your weekend in Ocean City, NJ, Jay!

Hi Ellen,
 
It was actually YOUR older posts that I culled much of my pre-trip choices.  Thanks so much! 
 
We were there the weekend before Easter - before Ocean Drive (in front of Flander's) was paved.  We stayed through Thursday before Easter.
 
As for the Wegmans - the shopping center was one of those huge "big box" places.  Costco anchored one end, Wegmans the other.  There was an Arby's and a TGI Friday's out on pad locations in the parking lot.  I'll let the experts duke it out on where I was!
 
(Note, a funny thing about a "poor man's" GPS - ie, the phone based GPS - the small screen doesn't give much information about where you are, except to say what road you are on.  Once back, we realized we never really paid attention to where we were.  I think we were about 10 miles north of where the AC expressway crosses the NJ Turnpike.)
 
As for Mack and Manco's - agreed that the crust is cardboardy.  I suppose my pizza prefereces are based on one criterion:  What pizza is LEAST like Pizza Hut?  My parents used to get pizza smut all the time, and it seemed the crust was an industrial sponge dipped in oil.  So I seek the most opposite of that in my pizza.     Mack and Manco is the most opposite I've found yet :)
 
As for the Flanders picture - we stayed just on the other side of the Golden Galleon on the right side of your pic.  There's a building that houses Bob's Grille, Mallomar's, Johnsons and a few small shops.  We stayed in an AWESOME condo above those.  I think you recommended Mallomar's in an earlier post somewhere but it hadn't yet opened for the season.   We were looking at buying a condo while we were there...how nice would it be to have a place IN the Flanders!!!

ChrisOC


Interesting, here I am in Blackwood for thr holiday and reading about people visiting my town!

Jay,  you might want to try Voltaco's subs and steaks on your next visit, I hear their pizza is pretty good as well.  Iwould try to avoid Uncle Bill's pancakes it IS pricey and really mobbed in season.

Yeah, we live between DC and Frederick MD - with a nice dose of places of our own here.  The best info about my local choices sometimes seems to come from out of towners!  :)
 
Yeah, we'll continue to reap the Voltaco's harvest.  My extended family (20+ at times) rents two neighboring houses in the Gardens for 2 weeks in August - and we're often buying whole batches of such stuff.  "Yeah, we'll have 3 cold cut subs, 2 meatball subs, a giant pan of baked ziti, 2 large mushroom and green pepper pies, a stromboli and, oh yeah, 25 cannolis."
The food place we usually go in the gardens area is best known for being, well, across the street from us.  We'll significantly upgrade our culinary experience this year by trekking 10 blocks down to Voltacos.  I'll volunteer to drive :)

Hey Jaybo, the RiRa Pub in the Trop shops is really good. They'll do a burger medium rare for you. It's one of our top casino food spots; quick, good, decent price. I've never had anything bad there, and I've had a lot of meals that I enjoyed immensely.

Mosca


Hey Jaybo, the RiRa Pub in the Trop shops is really good. They'll do a burger medium rare for you. It's one of our top casino food spots; quick, good, decent price. I've never had anything bad there, and I've had a lot of meals that I enjoyed immensely.

Hi Mosca - works for me!  Our food was all good too.  I suppose that being in a casino, I was braced for a rip-off, chain food experience.  That didn't happen. 
 
Having said that, I've had somewhat better shepard's pie, and I didn't see colcannon or soda bread on the menu.  Not that colcannon HAS to be on the menu... Anyway, my mention in the original post was pretty neutral, as if to say "no complaints, seemed OK to me!"  I'd go back if I were walking the AC boards.  I'm not sure I'd drive to AC just for Ri-Ra, unless I was really jonesin' for some irish food and a pint.  
 
Have you been to the Irish Pub at the north end?  I haven't seen any comments on this site.  They advertise fairly low priced specials.  I imagine the place really focuses on beer sales but that can also mean that really good food can be sold reasonably - subsidized by the drunks the night before! 

Nice follow up posts, JAYBO!!
It's really neat to see a Roadfooder, particularly a newbie, who follows up on their reports and or queries....

All too often Roadfooders post questions on "where should I eat?", etc , and never even check back and comment...
and the thread ends up being us veteran Roadfooders debating stuff...
 
I like VOLTACO'S , as well.... (but I wish their hours were'nt so seasonal.... I seem to keep getting there too "pre or post season"...)  (of course, most places in OC are seasonal)
I took a drive to Long Beach Island on Monday, the day after Easter... (Ship Bottom, Surf City)
Most places were not open there, either.... (and whatever might've been open over the weekend was closed)
But there is still a certain charm in going off-season....  
 
There is a small supermarket in Ship Bottom called Difiglio's that has some good hot prepared foods..
I took out some killer chili, and some bbq chicken...
Whatever WAS open you can bet I took advantage of!
 
It's always fun to rent those bicycles on the boardwalk, huh, JAYBO?!?
Do you rent those real big "bike buggy" ones?
My bf lives just a mile or so from the Ventnor boardwalk; we enjoyed a great bike ride 2 Sundays ago during that "perfect weather" day!
 
Hey, CHEESEWIT:   I stand corrected!  I thought I made a logical guess about the Wegman's being in Cherry Hill, but you've got better Wegman's/Costco combo knowledge!  Good info, on your part...
I looked on the Wegmans.com just now, and I see there are locations in both Cherry Hill, and nearby Mt. Laurel......

 

Happy to play along Ellen ;)
 
In fact, I'm not sure why I'm a newbie with less than 10 posts.  No, I haven't posted a lot, but I've "lurked" for many years and thought I'd posted a few dozen times at least under "where should I eat."  I suspect my user name changed somehow recently.  But no, I have not been a regular and actually had never looked at the "trip report" forum until this week. 
 
Anywho...  Yeah, the surreys are fun.  Last year two things happened.  As I went to rent one, I had an older gent ask me if it was worth it.  I responded "All year I look forward to coming here.  Once here, I look forward to getting on the boardwalk.  And once on the boardwalk, I look forward to riding a surrey.  Worth it?  We save and pay about $15,000 each year to come here.  This part costs only about $15 of that but is arguably the highlight.  Yeah, its WAY worth it."  He kind of gave me a funny look and just walked over to the rental guy to pick out his surrey. 
 
Then as we returned one, we watched as another older gentleman returning his.  Up on the boards he had his family get out and he steered the surrey onto the ramp.  He started down the ramp while still in the surrey - and while he never picked up much speed, he panicked at the bottom and flipped it as he tried to turn.  Flipping one of those things can be really dangerous as I'm sure you know - but you had to see this - it was so slow that it wasn't dangerous, rather like watching someone just make some bad decisions and embarrasing himself.  His family was chuckling at the top of the ramp and he tried to play it off like he knew what he was doing. 
 
We used to rent in Harvey Cedars on LBI for many years.  We still go visit old Barney.  Last year I didn't get to eat at Moustache Bills in Barnegat Light but did eat at the seafood place closest to the light house.  I don't remember being impressed but I left full.   
 
We once ate at a shack that was set up at the far end of that street, just as the road would want to go into the causeway and directly west of the lighthouse.  It was a little place that seemed to do really fresh seafood simply prepared and served on paper plates - but I think even the shack itself is gone now.   Too bad - it was good to me. 
 
It has been a few years since we switched to OC - about the only other food memory was that the pizza was better from the place with the columns around the front door than from the company that had 3 or 4 outlets on the island. 
 
Have you eaten at Cousin's in OC, northend?   It is seasonal.  We mean to go every year and never do. 
 
Some more for the report:
I didn't include it in my report above but we also went to Ward's bakery.  We got some kind of danishes or something that were so good they were gone before I even had the chance to see what I was eating.  We also bought a pound of butter cookies that seemed to either be made with lots of shortening or had been sitting out too long in humid air.  Maybe I'm conditioned to eat bad cookies that are too hard!! I dunno.  I made sure to eat them all to protect my family in case they were bad.  :)
 
Also, despite the higher price, Pancake Bill's served real Taylor Ham unlike the Chatterbox.  So I gotta hand it that.
 
I eat out way too much and always tend toward roadfood kinds of places.  I'll start to actually document the trips here, I promise!  I may have to start with a tour of my own town, Damascus MD.  I'm already planning a report for Tom and Ray's, Red Rooster and Jimmie Cone.  I don't believe any have been written up here but I believe all are deserving of a proper Road Food treatment. 
 
Is there a general policy or practice for bad reviews?  I tend to follow mom's advice and not say anything if I have nothing nice to say - but would I be doing a greater service to steer people away from bad experiences by mentioning them? 
 

Also - is it safe to assume your bf works for one of the casinos?

Speaking of bad reviews - a food purchase is more than JUST the food.  We don't shop at Palermo's market (near 4th and Asbury) as one time my father got a flat tire in their parking lot, didn't have his cell phone and asked if he could make a local call to get a tow truck.  Not only did they say no, but they kinda chuckled and toyed with him a bit.  My father had a heart condition and didn't look the type that could just walk downtown to get someone else.  Eventually he got another customer to help him- and we now drive by the store.  I'm sure they don't miss us, and I never had qualms with the food.  Sad, really...

Lastly - have you ever been to the bar Memories in Margate?  To me, listening to the Geator with the Heater is one of the best "shore things".  I hope to go to his club one night this year and wonder if anyone's been and if I should get any food there.

ChrisOC

Ellen, next time you are at Mack & Manco, as your server for the garlic powder they will be happy to bring you some

thanks, Chris ...
but the garlic powder on pizza does'nt really do it for me, though..
I'm a "fresh garlic" kind of girl..!

Jaybo


Also - is it safe to assume your bf works for one of the casinos?

Lastly - have you ever been to the bar Memories in Margate?  To me, listening to the Geator with the Heater is one of the best "shore things".  I hope to go to his club one night this year and wonder if anyone's been and if I should get any food there.

Yes, that was a safe assumption; he is a casino worker....
makes it nice cause we can relate on that level, plus the fact that he loves good Roadfood!
I think I stuck gold here! Him and I talk a LOT about food...
 
Aahh, the "Geator with the Heater", aka JERRY BLAVAT !
Coincidently, I just saw him for the first time !!

I actually saw him for the first time "live" at the Tropicana Casino the other week..
did'nt realize how skinny he was; like a Mick Jagger of sorts..
there was a special "Philly party" with $5.00 meals from Carmine's, Cuba Libre, and all the other Tropicana Quarter restaurants....  your RiRa Irish joint was offering corned beef..
one had to buy $5 tickets at a main booth, like at a carnival..
 
Well, the GEATOR himself was there as a DJ, as well as the Philly Eagles cheerleaders...
(see pic!) I found the Geator very entertaining , with a good sense of humor...!
Like if 3 young guys would walk past, he would say "the Jonas Brothers, here they are!".... etc...
 
I've never been to Memories; it's pretty much a summer hotspot...
maybe I'll check it out with bf...
 
I've never heard anything relating to the food there; my guess it that it's really more of a drinking place..
HOWEVER, if you want a FOOD rec. for that Margate area by the bay, I can suggest "TOMATOES"...
a real classy, hip place specializing in seafood...
as most of you know, I don't do seafood , except for tuna subs...
the bf loves his sushi, etc...
 
We sat at the bar last month at Tomatoe's ;had nachos and wings,("ellen" type food!!)  and martini's, and listened to the band.
You would probably want to check out the more seafood type fare.... it's real close to Memories!
Tomatoes is  a real HAPPENING place, very popular...
 
wow, $15,000 for a vacation in Ocean City?! Did you rent that condo for the whole week?
The $15.00 you spent on the surrey bike is like pocket change then, lol.... (a lot less zeros)
 
Regarding your upcoming potential restaurant reviews , I'm all for writing the good , the bad, and the ugly..
What I do make sure to mention is that this is "IMO".....
 
however, certain things are not "opinion".... like if the waiter takes 20 minutes to greet the table, that is FACT..
but I might say "and IMO, that is NOT acceptable"....
Like if they would only say "I'll be with you as soon as I can....it's extra hectic right now", that would be great...
 
I love reading people's opinions, and I try not to BASH a place, though...
but I will be candid and honest... as much as possible...
I try to be poised in my writing....I'm big on constructive criticism...and lots of "IMO'S"...
 
can't wait to see your first Trip Report drafts, JAYBO!
 


 

Yeah!  That's him... hard to believe he's like 70 years old.  I saw he works out everyday.  I like him because I used to DJ in philly myself years ago, playing oldies and playing the fool with the microphone (with comments like "Such beautiful blonde hair - why do you dye your roots black?") - It really is fun to fill a room with music and smiles.  I miss it - he's one of the few to actually make a respectable living doing it. 

The $15K is to rent two 4BR houses side-by-side in the garden district for the first two weeks of august - and it is split between two main families, so it isn't all out of my own pocket.   The condo we stayed in last week was, I dunno, $100 a night give or take.  My wife booked it, so I don't really know.  But I know it wasn't $15K!

You know, I heard that Geator appearance advertised on the radio on the way to the shore.  With two little kids it wasn't in the cards, but funny that we ended up in the same places.    

Jaybo, I enjoyed this trip report very much, please keep them coming as time permits. Also, Ellen's additions and comments are welcome, as always.

I've been to OC a few times in the last couple of years (more often when I was a stupid 20 something years ago...) and the only place I can offer as another option is the Varsity Inn, an oldschool  bustling spot for breakfast and lunch. Its nice to sit at the outdoor counters to eat (NOT doable with our weather so far this Spring). It's at 605 East 8th street.

Hey,
CHRIS in OC (who's actually in Blackwood at the moment)
While you ARE in Blackwood, check it FAT JACK'S BBQ in next door Clementon..
been there yet?

there are about 5 other locations...
I enjoy their beef ribs ..(don't love them, but I DO like them)
same with their brisket....tasty, but they overcook it just a little, IMO...

Thanks for the tip Ellen, but I am already back in cold, wet,windy OC

ChrisOC


Thanks for the tip Ellen, but I am already back in cold, wet,windy OC

Yes, another miserable cold and rainy day here, just like yesterday was...
 

ellen4641


Hey,
CHRIS in OC (who's actually in Blackwood at the moment)
While you ARE in Blackwood, check it FAT JACK'S BBQ in next door Clementon..
been there yet?

there are about 5 other locations...
I enjoy their beef ribs ..(don't love them, but I DO like them)
same with their brisket....tasty, but they overcook it just a little, IMO...

Before I forget (actually I'm getting ready to go to sleep; it's almost 8 PM!), there was smoke damage at the Fat Jack's you ate at in Cherry Hill! I was getting ready to go there, and a fire started last week (or maybe it was the week before...) in the Ace Hardware in that strip. The Fat Jack's lost I think some ceiling tiles, but also $3,000 worth of meat! This sounds bad, and I really do feel for their loss, but I bet it smelled good...
 
And for jaybo, how'd you end up in Mt. Laurel?? That's the only place in Jersey (seriously, in the entire state) where there's a Wegman's, Costco, Arby's and TGI Friday's in the same shopping center. That's like WAY away from Ocean City!
 
I want to add a must-eat-at place just outside of Ocean City, called Charlie's Bar. You just come out of Ocean City, cross the bridge and turn right at the first road - Shore Road, State Route 585. It's in Somers Point. Love that place. It's a bar-restaurant, but it's ALWAYS packed with families with kids of all ages, from babies on up.
 
It's good and I've got the pictures and Trip Report to prove it!
 
I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Ocean City, jaybo.

harriet1954

And for jaybo, how'd you end up in Mt. Laurel?? That's the only place in Jersey (seriously, in the entire state) where there's a Wegman's, Costco, Arby's and TGI Friday's in the same shopping center. That's like WAY away from Ocean City!
 
I want to add a must-eat-at place just outside of Ocean City, called Charlie's Bar. You just come out of Ocean City, cross the bridge and turn right at the first road - Shore Road, State Route 585. It's in Somers Point. Love that place. It's a bar-restaurant, but it's ALWAYS packed with families with kids of all ages, from babies on up.

 
You know, a GPS can make life interesting.  We had a tire that would slowly lose air but didn't do anything about it before the trip.  Then while in OC it went flat, then was flat again when we woke up the next morning.  It was time to act. 
 
Being on vacation with nothing much else to do, we put "Costco" into the GPS.  We could have bought new tires locally but why spend $300 on a problem that could be solved for free or close to it in exchange for 1/2 a day of our time.   So we put "costco" into the GPS and just started following its orders.  Once there, the only thing I could say for sure is that we were still in the state of NJ.
 
Also, I don't mind driving for the sake of driving.  On occasion we've just gotten into a car and headed in a direction, not stopping until we need to.  We check into a holiday inn, wake up and play "lets figure out where we are".   In this case, landing at a big box strip mall gives absolutely no clue as to where I am.  It was indistinguishable from any other in the US.  So we got tires, got a wegmans lunch and high-tailed it back to the beach.  Two new tires cost only $100 - the warranty covered most of the cost.  So it was worth it. 
 
As for Charlies, that was on our list (probably thanks to your review) but we just never made it.  It looks like the old "sails" (was that the name?) place has changed names again - the big place at the foot of the rte 9 bridge on the Somer's Point Circle.  I don't remember the new name.  The Inlet or something like that.  We ate at sails a year or two ago and had a GREAT time, but mostly due to the view and lovely evening.  Nothing wrong with the food per se, but we were there for that view and because we got a babysitter :)

Another review, this time from my hometown in MD, coming soon.  Had stuffed chops and green beans tonight for dinner at a place that includes liverwurst sandwiches on the menu.  They know our name and bring our drinks without asking what kind.  Now THAT's fine dining!