Jersey shore report from Seaside Heights !! (heavy on hot dogs!)..7-7, and 7-11-2010

I took 2 separate day trips to Seaside Heights, NJ....
exit 82 on Garden State Parkway, an hour north of my Atlantic City area...
 
Wed. July 7th, 2010...hot & sunny
Note the sign for the "QUE" (BBQ !) Fest in Sept...(I'll be there!!....I'm going the next day after our NJ Hot Dog Tour!)
 
My 1st stop was BUBBA'S DOGHOUSE !!  I was STARVING!
I'd been to Bubba's at their Lyndhurst, NJ location (near the Meadowlands) during our NJ Roadfood Hot Dog Tour, Sept. 2008  
(they temporarily closed that location, and set up shop at Seaside for the summer )
 
I opted for the Double Italian Hot Dog, $8.00 ....
It's a sad reality that the price of Italian Hot Dogs has gotten this high...
...unfortunately, I don't think these are going to go over so well with families... 

A family of 5 could spend 40 bucks if  they all wanted double Italian dogs...
(hopefully some will have the Dirty Dogs for only $ 2.50; 1st topping free, lol !) 
Here's my DOUBLE ITALIAN HOT DOG, $8.00, made with BEST brand all beef dogs ...
UH, OH, the pizza bread roll was STALE !!!!!!!

I did'nt appreciate the stale roll when I'm paying these kind of prices...
I understand the rolls cost more than their standard roll, and they probably hate to have to throw them away,
BUT my feeling is that it is better off NOT to even SERVE a roll like that...
if you can't serve a fresh roll, just don't serve it at all....
give the customer a "regular roll" option, with the explanation...
 
LOTS MORE COMING !!!   Please stay tuned ..........
 

oh ellen- seaside is one of my favorite places,pretty much grew up there in summers  though I have not been back there for about 8 years now- cannot wait to see the rest of your report!! hope maybe you hit marucas which is in my opinion best pizza anywhere 

Ellen,

Great pictures and report as usual. Too bad about the stale pizza bread. Most places throw stale pizza bread out. Some freeze it for use the next day. That's no good as it usually falls apart. Hopefully it was just an aberration, though it put you out 8 bucks. Bubba's also had great hand cut fries. I heard that they switched to frozen.

Eagerly awaiting Part ll.

Ellen,
    On another thread we talked about an Italian Hot dog really needing pizza bread to be authentic. I agree with that, but that said, stale pizza bread is a real turn off...pizza bread get's stale so quickly...At $8,00,they should NOT be serving stale bread. Did you say anything.....complaints from customers might stop that practice!
     Looking forward to more....Went to seaside all summer as a kid,but now, we prefer Pt. Pleasant...less Bennies.

leethebard


Ellen, 
 Did you say anything.....complaints from customers might stop that practice! 
    

Did'nt wanna mess with the BUBBA , lol

Guess I got so caught up with taking the pics, including being grateful that Bubba posed for me ....
 
But, your statement makes a lot of sense...I like your wording on it, too !
Cuz , unless someone speaks up, joints will likely keep trying to get away with it....
so why NOT let them know that someone DOES mind the stale roll ???!?!
 
In retrospect, I would've said real nicely, "Do you have another pizza bread roll? This one tastes like it's a "day old", or something...
 
p.s. My claim to Hot Dog fame is mentioning that I go on the Roadfood Tours with JOHN FOX....
Naturally, Bubba mentioned that "John is a real good friend of mine"....
(cuz,  does'nt everyone wanna feel that way?!?)
 
LOTS more coming!
 

 

   Stale bread is my ENEMY. I can't remember ever sending anything back (in a restaurant) Except for once my Pittsburgh rare strip steak that was wellwellwell done. However I am notorious for begging the server for a fresher bread basket! Don't worry, the tip always reflects that.  I haven't had an Italian dog (yet!) but if Bubba handed me that one,on that bread I would most likely stand there silently weeping until I got hauled away.       
    Can you still ride those ski-lift dealies?  How far do they go? they look pretty cool! 

Looking forward to more....Bubba doesn't look too tough...I think his bread is tougher!!!

AHI MPLS


   Stale bread is my ENEMY
   
    Can you still ride those ski-lift dealies?  How far do they go? they look pretty cool! 

My pet peeve is stale bread baskets, just like you feel!   The Palm Steakhouse should not servie the rolls they served me a few years back...  (and I ask  for replacements, but they were just as bad)
 
YES, the sky ride is still in operation...(just that nobody was on those handful of chairs in my pic....   It goes about 3/4 of a mile, I would say.... estimated guess...
I like the fact it's not up real high, too, no fear factor for anyone!!

californyguy


hope maybe you hit marucas which is in my opinion best pizza anywhere 

I just hit up MARUCA'S for this pic!
Special for you, CALIFORNYGUY, here's MARUCA'S !!

Their pizza does'nt do much for me , personally , but so glad YOU enjoy it so much...
it certainly does have quite a following!!

THANKS ELLEN! ANYOBE WHO BRINGS ME TO MARUCAS( EVEN VIRTUALLY ) IS A REAL PAL!!!!!...AS A SEASIDE VETERAN I WOULD DEFINETLY ( nicely) complain about stale/ subpar stuff- sometimes it happens, and in my experience they are usually happy to replace( as long as its not half eaten haha).....another place I would visit is the midway steakhouse for sausage and peppers or cheesesteak-- ohhh you got my tastebuds hankering now...may have to take a trip `home' next summer! 

Ellen,

Wow! I was just about to post that the guy in the picture isn't Bubba; but then I remember hearing that he lost a lot of weight. It's him. You should check out their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/h...file.php?id=1073859751

If it's ok with you Ellen, I'll put a link to this thread on their page. I'm sure they would like to know that Bubba's is discussed here and that their bread was stale. I plan on hitting Seaside at least once this summer and will stop by.

I'm enjoying your report Ellen, and welcome back to the Trip Reports!

Actually, Maruca's is my favorite pizza in all of NJ, but everyone has different preferences when it comes to pizza.

I guess I'd give Bubba's another shot. I haven't been to the Seaside location, but at the Lyndhurst location they seemed to be very concerned with the quality of the food.

Then again, if what John says is true, that they've switched to frozen fries (I agree with him that thier fries were terrific) then maybe the overall quality has gone down too, including the bread.

californyguy


another place I would visit is the midway steakhouse for sausage and peppers or cheesesteak--

Well, you're in LUCK, again, CALIFORNYGUY!
Cuz I will take you to the MIDWAY now.....!
Virtually speaking , lol

My sister loves their sausage & peppers , just like you do...
she had a sandwich there a few weeks back,
and said it was definitely up to par !!!
 
I have plenty more Seaside pics coming !

John Fox


Ellen

If it's ok with you Ellen, I'll put a link to this thread on their page. I'm sure they would like to know that Bubba's is discussed here and that their bread was stale.

Sure, John, it's fine with me, but if it's not too late, could you wait a few days or so ????
(when I get my complete report on here) CUZ I went back to BUBBA'S on July 11th,
and had a DELISH experience with their BANGING ONION HOT DOG !!!
(the 2nd time was  a charm at Bubba's , Seaside!) 
 
thanks, john for the facebook link....
I might even be a fan of theirs already on FB, (I need to check)

 
p.s. on both occasions, the BEST hot dog was really good !

Plenty of weekend events going on thru the summer and fall in Seaside Heights !
 
I found the perfect BEACH UMBRELLA for JOHN FOX !!
In fact, I had to look TWICE to make sure it WAS'NT John Fox  taking a postman's holiday at Seaside !!
 
Nope; upon closer inspection, it definitely WAS'NT John Fox ....
 apparently just  another passionate hot dog lover...
 
  ...
 

Next, I had a CHEESESTEAK; this one was a steal at $5.50
7/17/2010 223K
It was a real juicy cheesesteak....
although the meat had that "slight cheap" taste to it,
still tasty overall...
My cheesesteak was from this place, on the far south end of the boardwalk, across from
the famed SAWMILL joint...

...

Even if I live down the road, don't go to Seaside much anymore,,,yet your wonderful report is bringing back memories....Hell, I remember when people walked the boards in suits on a sunday....Wow...a midway suasage sandwich, and a few slices from the great Marucca's...I remember it well...people outside the Jersey area, don't know what they're missing!!!

leethebard


Even if I live down the road, don't go to Seaside much anymore,,,yet your wonderful report is bringing back memories....

1st off, thanks for all your continuing comments on my thread, leethebard!   You are helping keep it alive, and keep SEASIDE alive!!!
 
You mentioned earlier that you like Point Pleasant boardwalk better...
I agree with you, that it's a way nicer element there...
However, there is not anywhere close to the amount of food stalls on the boardwalk, compared to Seaside...
 
And the ones that Point Pleasant DOES have, don't really do that much for me...
(the Martell's "just ok" pizza, etc).....not yet and/or lately..
my sis used to like a joint that had great pork roll sandwiches, but it's long closed..
 
Guess I always liked the tackiness of Sleazeside, oops , I mean, Seaside..
I noticed more New Yorkers have discovered it, though...
getting pretty crowded on that boardwalk....
 
and lots more people taking "staycations" this year, so many more families on the boardwalk, even some nice looking families, lol ...
 
I read a funny review on Yelp.com for Seaside, though..
it said that some of the locals look like an "experiment gone awry"....
 

 

ellen4641, Nice report, thanks for taking the time to post.  It's nice to see that not much has changed with the Jersey Shore/Boardwalk experience.   Although the beach and boardwalk crowd does look small.


Keep it coming, and if you don't want to post the bikini pics, you can send them to me directly

joerogo
 

   beach and boardwalk crowd does look small. 

if you don't want to post the bikini pics, you can send them to me directly

this July 7th trip was on a Wed....
the crowds  even bigger in my July 11th, SUNDAY report (COMING UP, including JOE JOE'S Italian Hot Dogs!)
 
I don't wanna get anyone TOO excited with my bikini shots, you know how it is , Joe !
(lol !!)
 
MEANWHILE, I stumbled upon this NEW HOT DOG CART/station on the Seaside boardwalk...

...the "JERSEY GUYS" ...

  The owner STEVE, was espescially personable; we talked for about 10 minutes regarding
his new hot dog cart....
(he used to have a cart in Hacketttown, which he folded up...RIP)
I asked him "Are you doing good, businesswise?"
He said "NO"..... (guess it's a tough racket on that boardwalk; too much pizza slice competition, etc)
 
Hey, JOHN FOX, you'll espescially appreciate the next pic!!
Steve proudly showed me the SABRETTS #11 that he uses for his Italian Hot Dogs..
natural casing, skin ON...
(he said he uses SkinLESS for his pushcart dogs, cuz the little kids don't like the "SNAP"
 
When I first attempted to order the double ITALIAN HOT DOG, Steve was VERY HONEST with me and told me that he did'nt really want to sell the pizza bread roll to me, cuz it was a DAY OLD .....  
but , we agreed that he would try heating it up for a drop in the microwave, to try and "save" it !
 
Anyway, while I was waiting for the production to being, Steve gave me a sample of his DELISH homemade CHILI, and RED ONION SAUCE !!

 
MORE coming!!  My workbreak is over, gotta run back up to the poker room!

    Hooray!  A bread cliffhanger!  Hurry Ellen!  I can't wait!    

Wow...an honest Italian dog vendor...I'd frequent his place, just for that!!!!

AHI MPLS


    Hooray!  A bread cliffhanger!  Hurry Ellen!  I can't wait!    

lol, AHI MPLS !!
 
So you NEVER experienced a "Newark style Italian Hot Dog before!!?! 
I may just have to mail one to you in Minneapolis , lol !!

AHI MPLS


    Hooray!  A bread cliffhanger!  Hurry Ellen!  I can't wait!    

Here it IS ! The Double Italian Hot Dog from the "Jersey Guys" cart !
And the BIG question is : DID the Bread "cut it" or not ????

WELL, as it turned out, nothing could really save that bread, although Steve sure tried...
The hot dog itself tasted real good, though...
 
Unfortunately, the onions and peppers had that "steamed taste", and not the grilled taste,
since Steve had NO GRILL  to work with !
I prefer nice "DIRTY looking" onions and peppers , though!

leethebard


Wow...an honest Italian dog vendor...I'd frequent his place, just for that!!!!

an oxymoron,  I guess , an "honest vendor" on the boardwalk, lol ..
He felt so bad about the bread situation that he did'nt even want to take any money from me, believe it or no...(dog was $5.50)
 
And I was trying to give him $8.00, cuz  I had those nice samples, plus he threw me a bottled water, while I was awaiting the Hot Dog production...
 
I said "You gotta take something..... here ! " And I gave him 6 bucks

as you can see, he's got a microwave, but no grill,,,..
the grill would've been nice for the onions and peppers...

Seaside seems like a place I'd enjoy visiting. It sort of reminds me of the old Savin Rock area of Connecticut.

Thanks Ellen.

  Steeee-rike 2!   Ratznbiscuits!  Well is the bread SUPPOSED to be light and fluffy on the inside with a slight Rrrrip/ chewey factor on the outside? That's how it is in my fantasy... And YES! grill those veggies! poor grill-less Steve.... That onion relish looked pretty intriguing though!  

AHI MPLS
 

And YES! grill those veggies! poor grill-less Steve..

At least he's cute & sweet, huh?!?
And one can tell it's his 1st summer working the "boards", as he was so extra nice...
almost too nice to me ...
(not one of those "burned out" merchants, lol)
 
And he was also honest enough to tell me that he was thinking of taking the Italian Hot Dogs off the menu , cuz he was only selling about 5 or 6 a day....
I complimented him on his low $5.50 price, saying that I had just spent $8.00 on a double, with a stale roll... .
 
Steve then mentioned that he had actually just lowered his price on the Italian hot dog;
he was trying everything he could...
 
Looks like his $2.00 pushcart dogs, and the $2.00 cans of soda are the biggest sellers
for him...(good profit margin on that soda, one would think!!)
Still, a tough summertime racket...
 
Steve said he might just hang it all up after the summer, and go back to doing what he does best..........the stock market ..

stay tuned for my RETURN visit to Seaside,  4 days later !!
JOE JOE'S Italian Hot Dogs, Sawmill, etc !!!

So where are the Bikini shots?

Michael Hoffman
 
It sort of reminds me of the old Savin Rock area of Connecticut.

Thanks, Michael..!
I was'nt familiar with SAVIN ROCK, but I googled it, and I am now wiser!
I wish I could go back in time, and go to that amusement park...
 
I found a great website with old pics of roller coasters at Savin Rock, etc..
http://thistlegroup.net/savinrock/page1.htm
I see it was in the New Haven , CT area...
looked like a  great old fashioned amusement park and beach area....
with swimming pools, as well...
 
ROLLER COASTER, Savin Rock, CT..
(special pic for Michael Hoffman !)

...

Michael Hoffman


So where are the Bikini shots?

oops, not quite a BIKINI shot, but I certainly am looking colorful, huh ?!?
(I'm not gonna get hit by a truck wearing this, lol )
 
Ellen BRIGHTENS up JOE JOE'S Italian Hot Dog joint !!  (in Toms River, just west of Seaside Heights, on Rt. 37)
return to Seaside Heights, July 11th

 
P.S....as soon as I lose these 20 lbs that crept up on me the last few years or so , I will proudly post "Ellen the cougar"
Bikini Shots !   The moderators will have  a field day.....
(but who is really looking at my Hot Dog thread, anyway?!?  Nobody will hardly see it, lol ...)

ellen4641

Michael Hoffman
 
It sort of reminds me of the old Savin Rock area of Connecticut.

Thanks, Michael..!
I was'nt familiar with SAVIN ROCK, but I googled it, and I am now wiser!
I wish I could go back in time, and go to that amusement park...
 
I found a great website with old pics of roller coasters at Savin Rock, etc..
http://thistlegroup.net/savinrock/page1.htm
I see it was in the New Haven , CT area...
looked like a  great old fashioned amusement park and beach area....
with swimming pools, as well...
 
ROLLER COASTER, Savin Rock, CT..
(special pic for Michael Hoffman !)

...

Ah, the hotdogs, lobster rolls, fried clams, and fries that would make Nathan's envious. That's the old Thunderbolt in the picture. Legend has it that at least three people were killed falling out of the roller coaster over the water of Long Island Sound. All three were women. I always wondered whether that meant anything. I used to ride it all the time, and I never managed to find a way to get thrown out into the Sound. It was right next to a restaurant you;d have hated. WIlson's. Nothing but seafood.

You know me well, Michael....enough to know that I'm a beef gal !!!
I mean, who else goes along to Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach, and eats just cole slaw and rolls ??

AH JOE JOE'S! Our house was about a half mile from joe joe's down near the bay...am sure you will understand how dangerous ( haha) it was to be so close to that  italian hot dog haven...great report ellen- though its got ups and downs I think good old Seaside is still a wonderful town!!   

ellen4641


I mean, who else goes along to Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach, and eats just cole slaw and rolls ??

That's funny.

i see that BREAD thing popping up again !!!!!

Ellen, Just my opinion, but I think a single Italian Dog should be offered.
 
1 - The price point would be much better.
 
2 -  Most visitors from outside Jersey probably never heard of an Italian Dog and would be more likely to try a less expensive single version.
 
3 - A double is one heck of a meal leaving no room for much else(unless your name is Ellen, of course)
 
Looking forward to Ellen's Cougar Thread

MiamiDon


I don't know why, but I'm getting a lot of red-X boxes instead of photos. 

Don,
That means I am a red hot babe, lol ....
the computer is just warning you..
 
In reality, why don't you try "right clicking" and then clicking on the "show image" ????
I used to have that problem recently , and that seemed to do the trick...

californyguy


AH JOE JOE'S! Our house was about a half mile from joe joe's down near the bay..

Neat that you know & remember JOE JOE'S , Californyguy!!!!
I'm not sure why it's been getting a BAD RAP among my ROADFOOD.COM and other foodie buddies lately .....
 
Joe Joe's has  been around since 1982;  have'nt had a bad meal there yet...
at least that's been OUR experiences..
My SIS joined me in Seaside on my July 11th visit, (4 days after my previously documented visit)

Unbeknowing to the other, we each had worn our new similar tie die shirts from the OC, MD boardwalk...
she said "Hey, we're twins"...
We met up at JOE JOE'S, before driving across the bridge into Seaside...
 
 
 
 

 

joerogo

Ellen, Just my opinion, but I think a single Italian Dog should be offered.
 
1 - The price point would be much better.
 
2 -  Most visitors from outside Jersey probably never heard of an Italian Dog and would be more likely to try a less expensive single version. 
3 - A double is one heck of a meal leaving no room for much else(unless your name is Ellen, of course) 

GREAT points, my foodie bud, JOE ROGO !!!!
And it's so ironic that you would suggest the SINGLE Italian Hot Dog.....cuz,  that is exactly what I decided to get at JOE JOE'S.... just the SINGLE dog...(and I'd ALWAYS gotten the double one there before)..

 
My theory is  what your #3 stated; (even though my name IS Ellen) I  had wanted to save room for more stuff, since sis & I were just beginning our day...
 
I was curious what the SINGLE was like, and you know something???!?!
I actually liked it BETTER , cuz there was less bread...
it was cut in a triangle shape to conform ...
It may sound wierd, but I could taste the meat better with just the one hot dog...
(the double seems to get more hidden in all that extra bread, IMO)
 
Plus, the "price point" factor, made it more pleasant, as well...
I feel it's a great deal at $5.49, but not so much at $8.25...
plus, I enjoyed the single more, anyway...
 
P.S That a side of homemade RED ONIONS in the pic....in the white styrofoam container..
They were'nt my type....too much of a tomato base...
 
 

 

Looks good!  I've never had an Italian dog, if Jimmy Buffs is part of the NJ tour this year I will try the single.

I heard from a friend that the owner of Joe Joe's passed away recently. His obituary was in the paper earlier in the week. Sad news.

Here is more about Joe Joe's.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/07/where-to-find-new-jersey-italian-hot-dog.html

My opinion is that they serve an authentic Italian Hot Dog, but it's not one of the better ones. I haven't been there in over a year, but when I've gone, I found the dogs to be tiny and the bread usually fell apart. Service wasn't good either. When I went with the Munchmobile, it was the first of a ten stop day. I asked specifically for a single since I knew I would be in for a lot of eating. Because the dogs were small, I was told to have a double. After I explained my situation, I was given a double anyway, and with onions to boot. I did find the peppers and potatoes to be good.

I will say that your sandwich looks good Ellen. Maybe it's because of your photography skills, or maybe Joe Joe's got better. Or you got a good one that day. If the bread was ok (mine always fell apart) I can believe that perhaps they got better. They use Best's hot dogs. Usual size is 8 or 10 to a lb. Joe Joe's used 12 or 13's when I was there last. The bread comes from Calandra's. Calandra's is an excellent bakery, but in my opinion does not make one of the better pizza breads. I once bought one to make an Italian Hot Dog at home. The bread fell apart.

Dickie Dees, which is right across the street from Calandra's, gets their pizza bread from DiPaola's.

Bubba's gets their pizza bread from Calandra's. Ironically, the one time I had an Italian Hot Dog from Bubba's, the bread was fresh and didn't fall apart. Yet yours was stale. Who knows?!

I will hit Joe Joe's next time I go to Seaside.  And maybe Zuka's. And D.A. Barsch butcher shop.

John Fox


I heard from a friend that the owner of Joe Joe's passed away recently. His obituary was in the paper earlier in the week. Sad news.

Here is more about Joe Joe's.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/07/where-to-find-new-jersey-italian-hot-dog.html 

Joe Joe's ...The bread comes from Calandra's. Calandra's is an excellent bakery, but in my opinion does not make one of the better pizza breads. I once bought one to make an Italian Hot Dog at home. The bread fell apart

wow, sorry to hear about THE  Joe Joe passing away...
Could you help me find the link to the obituary, next time you talk to your friend?
CUZ, I sure thought that it was THE Joe Joe I was talking to on July 11th, (a young 60'ish guy, brown hair)...the same guy that I always see over the years cooking up the hot dogs...
and it would be a shame if he passed on a few days or so after ...bizarre, too...
 
I had asked "Joe Joe" if he had used Calandra's bread, and sure enough, he said yes...
but he had been questioning the quality of some of his shipments lately...
He showed me a few kaiser type rolls, and said "They told me these were Calandra's, but it AIN'T
Calandra's!"....cuz that even Calandra's was starting to get some of their items from other bakeries.. (odd)
 
I was thrilled my pizza bread roll was nice and FRESH, and compimented Joe Joe on it..
He said that fresh rolls were important to him

My sis & I both really loved our meals....
the POTATOES were PERFECT (best ever!; we were truly in Hot Dog Heaven..
You may remember my sis from the Roadfood Hot Dog Tour, 2008...
 
Sis had been concerned that Joe Joe's was perhaps going downhill cuz she hardly had seen any cars by it the last few times she drove by...
and questioned why they close so early (7:45 pm), even in the summer..
I told her, I don't remember it ever being a late night place...
 
p.s.  My bread theory is that Bubba's on the boardwalk is not doing the turnover on pizza bread rolls that Bubbas in Lyndhurst was....
hence my "stale" experience on the boardwalk...
 
pps.  STAY TUNED for my RETURN TO BUBBA'S....!!!
Much "FRESHER" experience  with their "10 inch dog" roll !

ok, who remembers the SAWMILL on the boardwalk?
Well, it's still there!
 
My sis & I split a BURGER there.....$7.99, including FRIES..
The burger was pretty decent, nice charbroiled taste; the fries were nothing special..

We do NOT like the fact that the SAWMILL will NOT GIVE out a CUP OF WATER , or sell one for a nominal fee ........they will only offically sell bottled water ....we even talked to the manager...(owner?)...
We don't mind paying for a cup of water, 50 cents or so is reasonable...
however the $1.25 price the counterguy came up with was UNreasonable..
 
I know a lot of the boardwalk merchants do that "bottled water" only cr*p ...
to make whatever $$ they can on that Aquafina stuff....(not even spring water)

<<ok, who remembers the SAWMILL on the boardwalk? >>

The Sawmill is one of my 2 favorite Boardwalk Bars ever.  Just great for people watching and relaxing with an ice cold beer after a day at the beach.

My other favorite: Ruby's, on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

http://rubysconeyisland.com/

ken8038

My other favorite: Ruby's, on the Coney Island Boardwalk.
http://rubysconeyisland.com/

Neat ! I had'nt heard of Ruby's before, but I just clicked on your link ....
I like being able to duck into a boardwalk bar, and perhaps hear some live music.. 
like  I ducked into the PURPLE MOOSE , on the Ocean City, MD boardwalk the other week...
they had the band "Kashmir"there, a  Led Zeppelin tribute band.

Fried EVERYTHING here !!!!

....
stay tuned, more coming !!
(return to Bubba's, etc !)

What, no fried lemonade??

Hey Ellen,
Great report you're making me hungry! I love Seaside over Point Pleasant because of the tackiness/sleaziness. Point Pleasant is like a corporate theme park, it's cleaner, more organized, etc. Seaside is like a carnival or State Fair. I walked the Seaside boardwalk Memorial Day weekend and noticed a few new dog stands, including Steve's and Bubba's as well as one or two other ones I think. I think Maruca's is overrated and I much prefer the huge oversized pizza slices you can get at other Pizzerias. I'll cast another vote for the Midway Steak House. Best cheesesteak on the boardwalk! The prices went up a bit this season and I think the sandwich gets smaller every year. There are also always the same Spanish guys working behind the counter. I've always wondered about the name. Is it because of the carnival midway likeness of the boardwalk? Or because it's midway from one end of the boardwalk to the other? Or because it's midway between the beach and the street on the boardwalk? Whatever the reason they's got some mighty fine cheesesteaks. Wonderful lemonade too.

Dave

DPuro329


Hey Ellen, 
I love Seaside over Point Pleasant because of the tackiness/sleaziness. Point Pleasant is like a corporate theme park, it's cleaner, more organized, etc. Seaside is like a carnival or State Fair. I walked the Seaside boardwalk Memorial Day weekend and noticed a few new dog stands, including Steve's and Bubba's as well as one or two other ones I think. I think Maruca's is overrated
Dave

What a great SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON you just made, DPuro !!!
And you said it WAY better than I ever could !!
I'm with you, as I like a little tackiness, it's more natural than the "corporate theme park" look....
 
And the way you described Point Pleasant is what I'd been feeling for years, but could'nt quite pinpoint it ...
I think it's great for families with young children, though...
 
I also noticed there seemed to be more hot dog choices than in the past ...
including pizza  joints that proudly promoted "Italian hot dog" on their marquees....
 
You & I are definitely on the same wavelength...
as I agree with all that you said..
including the fact that we BOTH think MARUCA'S is overrated .....
 
My bf grew up in Atlantic City area, and he LOVES Mack & Manco's Pizza on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk...
( another place I feel is overrated)...
Well, one gal we work with kept raving about Maruca's; she lives in Forked River..
so he finally tries Maruca's with me, and could'nt figure it out , either ...
(and I've had it about 3 or 4 times , trying to give it yet another shot, to see if I was missing something....)
 
 
 

Oh what a great report!! As to Sawmill I remember the first summer it was open , must have been 75 0r 76. Draft beers were 25 cents for a few hours in the afternoon ,the drinking age was 18 , and wow what a time. I  was about 20 worked on the boards then , money was tight - can still remember digging through sofas and car seats to get change for those afternoon beerfests..... as bob hope would say ,thanks  for the memories (ellen!!) 

  Oops!  I believe I got my JoJo's mixed up. The obit was read to me,  and thus I didn't see the difference in spelling.

  The owner of the hot dog place named JoJo's who recently passed away was Paul Russo, Sr., who owned a hot dog truck, I think it was, in Brick, N.J., and, I believe, was not the owner of Joe-Joe's Italian Hot Dogs in Toms River, N.J. 
  The obit says he owned JoJo's Italian Hot Dogs in Brick. 
   Here's the obit: 
http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=paul-c-russo-papa&pid=144054336

   The Bear


 

Nice report, Ellen! (I got the photos problem fixed, I think)

The Italian "single" doesn't look like it would hold all the potatos on your plate!

as promised, here's my return visit to BUBBA'S, (Sunday, July 11th)
Bubba's signage is not so good; it's EZ to miss, it's  actually inside LUCKY'S ARCADE...

the arcade awning signs stand out way more, so look for LUCKY'S ARCADE ...
and then you will see there IS a BUBBA'S inside there..
(this pic was actually taken on my 1st visit there, on a Wed, hence the less crowded boardwalk...)
 
I was excited about trying their BANGING ONION DOG (and letting Bubba's , Seaside, redeem themselves)
this was a 10 inch dog, BEST brand again....
I was confident, cuz I figured at least it would be on a different type roll...(and probably a better selling one, than the pizza bread rolls)
 
BANGING ONION DOG, $5.95, on a FRESH roll !!  (hallelulah !!)

This dog comes with FOUR types of ONIONS : RAW, CHOPPED, BATTERED, and ONION SAUCE
..it was VERY good ....
 
It was pretty, the way they made the ends of the hot dog look like a flower...
(but it was'nt split all the way thru...
which was good, cuz I prefer UNsplit dogs)
 
I also like the idea of the BOARDWALK DOG (see my page 1 menu pic)...
as it's got the peppers, potatoes , and onions; it's  a  10 inch single dog...
 
It's got all the ingredients of the ITALIAN HOT DOG,  EXCEPT it comes on a long regular type roll, INSTEAD of that PIZZA BREAD ROLL......(so , IMO, more chance to be fresher bread)
And it's $5.95, instead of the $8.00 price for the Double Italian Dog ...
I found my BUBBA'S hot dog for next time !!!!!
 

Great report--thanks!

At the beginning, I had no idea what an Italian Dog was; by the end I was drooling for the one from Joe-Joe's!

You liked the flower effect on the ends of the dogs? Just make a half-inch deep X-cut on each end of a hotdog and put it in the microwave for 40 seconds and you'll have the same effect.

ellen4641 , Love the Bangin Onion Dog!
 
Since today was National Hot Dog Day, I celebrated with a homemade Italian Dog.  No pizza bread in Pittston though.  I had to settle for a portuguese roll.

I believe tomorrow, July 21st is National Hot Dog Day. Joe, you will just have to have hot dogs again.

John Fox


I believe tomorrow, July 21st is National Hot Dog Day. Joe, you will just have to have hot dogs again.

 
Right you are John.  Boars Head all beef tomorrow