50 Best American Restaurants near Surf City

“We always have a great experience at Wally’s. The staff is wonderful and the food is fresh and tasty.“

“Great expereince!! party of 9 for a 12 year old birthday lunch with friends!! staff was awesome. very attentive and accommodating!! 9 very happy customers“

“Pompano Beach HYB was our go to every morning on vacation. Smiling staff knew our name and our order every day. Yummy coffee, too! Highly recommend.“

“The best quesadillas and tacos we’ve had in a very long time. Fabulous everything!“

“We absolutely loved our first breakfast experience. By far best omelette I have ever had. Awesome home fries cooked to perfection! Fast and super friendly service 5 stars for sure. We will be back :)“

“Had the #6, blue cheese burger and fries for Fathers day dinner delivered. Wow!!! Double meat patties cooked perfectly, heap if crispy fried onions, 2 thick fresh tomato slices, fresh chopped lettuce and a heap if blue cheese. The fries are addicting, I had to stop myself from eating them so I could take a bite of my burger, lol. Other places would charge $15.00 or more for a burger this big but it was only $10.00 and bogo, which my wife unfortunately did not take advantage of, I most likely would have have had it for breakfast the next day. Burger n fries 10/10, delivery 7/10, it was starting to get cold, the restaurant is 10 minutes from my house.“

“Beth is hands-down one of the best servers I’ve ever had. From the moment she greeted our table, her energy, professionalism, and genuine personality stood out. She was attentive without ever being overbearing, and she anticipated what we needed before we even had to ask.
My order was perfect, the timing was smooth, and she checked in just enough to make sure everything stayed on point. On top of that, she was friendly, patient, and made the whole experience feel effortless.
Beth is truly an asset to the restaurant, and you can tell she takes pride in her work. I’ll absolutely be returning, and will be asking for Beth every time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Review for Beth“

“I Just wanted to thank the staff at TGIF today. Came in today with my family (4 kids) and the hostess came out and said sorry it took awhile but I figured the kids would like to eat in the room and I set up a movie for them! Then the same lady came in towards the end and gave them all cups filled with small goodies. The kids had such an amazing lunch there and the atmosphere the way it was decorated was so nice. It was just such an unexpected experience and I wish I knew the woman’s name to thank her more but I just wanted to let her know how much we appreciate her time, effort, and how much the kids really had a great time!“

“Great spot! We come to the area for a few days each year, and this is our go-to lunch stop. Everything we’ve tried has been great and perfect to take with us for a day at the beach. Consistently fresh, quick, and reliable. Highly recommend!“

“First time here this past Tuesday. The food was phenomenal. I took a friend from Brooklyn and she was very impressed also! We got the local oysters, New England clam chowder, Flounder picatta and the roasted chicken dish. All excellent!!“

“We love all that Mainland has to offer! So much family fun, delicious food, and great atmosphere.“

“I have to give it to this place, it does not look like much sitting inside Fantasy Island Amusement Park in Beach Haven LBI, however with the expanded seating area and some pretty cool menu items like ribbon chips drizzled with bacon and sour cream and cheese and pulled pork sliders, it really hits the spot! I was pleasantly surprised how good it was and how clean the seating area is as well. Staff is really friendly as well. Make it a point to grab something to eat here while visiting!“

“Love this place, but was very disappointed in the happy hour oysters on 7/9/25….. very small….. other than that, everything else was great“

“Fair sized restaurant/bar. Three sided bar with really nice bar seats. A parallel dining room. Local oysters were really good. Has a big draft beer list. Brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday’s offers $10 mimosa or bloody Mary’s for the first one then they’re $2 after the first one. Brunch is from 11am to 230pm.“

“Doyle’s Pour House Barnegat is an awesome spot to relax and enjoy good food and drinks. The atmosphere is welcoming and lively, making it perfect for hanging out with friends or unwinding after a long day. The food is consistently delicious, and the drink selection is impressive with plenty of options on tap. The staff is friendly, attentive, and makes you feel right at home. Overall, Doyle’s Pour House Barnegat offers a great experience every time—highly recommended!“

“Great dinner with my husband. Lovely server!!“

“I celebrated my birthday with my sisters at The Gables last night. It is clear that this restaurant knows that a dining experience is more than just about the great food. The ambiance and charm of the restaurant with its meticulous attention to detail translates to understated elegance. Their staff—my experience felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant and they had nothing else to do but take care of us! Our server, Cathy, was so warm and unshakable on a rather busy evening. The room managers strolled throughout the room making sure that every person was seen and noticed. It’s the nicest place I’ve ever dined. Thank you for a truly lovely evening!“

“This was a popular place, lots of people waiting but we were seated in a timely manner considering. The restaurant has a lot more tables than it appears from the outside. Everything was delicious, from the Caesar Salad to the entrees of Duck and Steak to Chocolate and Orange Cake. I don't live in a area but highly recommend this place, it would be worth the trip.“

“Went for dinner. Food was very good. Pretty quick service. Out of season. Was a bit cold inside even though it was in the 60s outside and the front door was opened. The acoustics are bad. Kids screeching resonate through your ears and down your spine.
My dish was meant to have asparagus risotto, but it was white rice. 😣 Service was excellent.“

“Had a great stay for our first time here. Professional and extremely nice staff. Beautifully decorated for Christmas! Kids loved the pool.“

“My wife and I enjoyed a quiet, cozy breakfast on a Tuesday in the off season. Our server, Kelly, was very attentive and friendly. For any LBI visitors looking for a delicious and filling breakfast, we highly recommend LBI Pancake House!“

“Our go to place when we go to the island.“

“What a gem on LBI! Great establishment! Awesome food! The staff are a bunch of hard working fun folks! Stop in for a latte, lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed!! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟“

“I tried lefty’s for the first time tonight and ordered delivery. The food arrived fresh and hot and the burger was out of this world along side of their wings. Highly recommend to everyone one next time I will be dining in.“

“Food and service very good“

“Had a great dinner, pistachio crusted halibut was one of the best pieces of fish I've ever had out at a restaurant , Ryan was an excellent server. Drinks alittle on the pricey side, but a great date night!!“

“We have been going to Black Eyed Susan's since their prior location across the street when it was BYOB and I can't believe it's actually gotten better in terms of menu and the cocktail menu is amazing too. With the addition of Marigold this summer they've reached the next level. We hope to rent it out next year for a private event. Could not recommend it enough if you're on Long Beach Island (or even if you have to drive the bridge)“

“Had a wonderful retirement party there on 06/07. Everything was perfect. From the table settings to the personalized menu. The servers were excellent and the food was outstanding and got rave reviews from our guests and family. Calloways has always been a favorite of mine and now has many more. Thank you to the owner and all your amazing staff. And I think you have a few more converts to your Paul Bunyan Bloody Mary’s. They were yummy.“

“Always great food and cold beers!“

“customer service was excellent and food was very good“

“My husband and I had a wonderful meal for our 10 year wedding anniversary! Nina, our server, was fabulous, friendly and explained each dish well. The food was seasoned perfectly, large portions and the pace of the meal felt leisurely and not rushed. Thank you for a wonderful evening!“

“Excellent food, excellent service“

“We have been coming here for years and are never disappointed. The food is amazing, the service is great and the owner is wonderful. We will continue to enjoy our weekly visits and will always recommend to our friends and family.“

“Food is superb! Service is excellent! Very clean & nice atmosphere. I’ve never had a bad meal there!“

“Great food ,great people“

“Consistently wonderful, a quintessential LBI restaurant. A favorite meal is the prime rib, always done to perfection.“

“Great food & service by Kate💕“

“I wish I lived closer. 1st time here, it was best cheeseburger club and best french fries I have ever had. Fantastic waitress, and service too.“

“Food and staff are always impeccable! It’s been our go-to place for years! Highly recommended!“

“The best decision we have ever made was to have Joe and his staff at Touch of Elegance cater our wedding! Joe was totally hands on from day 1. Our tasting was a phenomenal experience! Joe answered every one of our questions and even gave us information we didn’t even think to ask. When the wedding got closer he was so amazing with working with me to help me chose everything for our wedding. And the food- AMAZING! It was so amazing that we used him for our wedding and rehearsal dinner. I cannot say enough about our experience with Touch of Elegance, Joe, and the rest of his staff. We had the wedding of our dreams because of him and the Brant Beach Yacht Club! Our guests can’t stop talking about the food! And the amount of food we were sent home with?? Insane! Thank you Joe for EVERYTHING!“

“well run and YUM! Highly recommend!“

“Had the best experience tonight at dinner!! The food was great and being on the water never better. Our server Izzy made our night so positive and fun!! She was sweet and attentive and having a great server really makes the night special!!“

“Just a seriously good meal in a very friendly and comfortable spot. The chowder is not to be missed and my usually very picky 4 year old (seriously, sometimes he rejects pizza) absolutely loved the chicken finger kids platter.

We will absolutely be back!“

“Great food! Great pricing.! Staff is phenomenal! Always so pleasant ,attentive, and accommodating!! Love to Pardi Hardi w/Nardi's!“

“My wife said she though the California wrap was delicious. She has never said that before about take out food. My chicken tacos and the kids food, pizza and a hamburger was great. I thought it was a bit expensive, but not worried about that if they keep the quality as it was. Everyone ate everything. Fresh and not greasy. Good job.“

“Food was great!! Service was excellent!! We will be back! Thank you“

“Delicious food, great service, friendly atmosphere and the bloody Mary is the BEST. My husband's and my favorite date place to go ***** 5 stars.“

“Fun atmosphere, great desserts, wide variety. Highly recommended!“

“WOW! Truly what a great time at the Marlin!! The food was fantastic and the staff was even better!!!! The bar back, Evan, was such a nice person and worked super hard. The kitchen expo Mike was extremely helpful and answered our questions with the ut-most confidence. What a great establishment!!!! We will be back!!“