5 Best Restaurants in New Jersey Shore, New Jersey

Open and run by the same family since 1935, Angelo's in Atlantic City's unassuming Ducktown neighborhood is reason enough to get out of the casino; it's only half a mile from the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Locals flock to this long-time favorite for Italian standards like chicken parmigiana, stuffed shells, and lasagna, as well as steaks and seafood.

In the traditionally Italian Ducktown section of Atlantic City, this restaurant serves family-style beef, veal, and seafood dishes. The braciole (rolled veal stuffed with sausage and cheese) is perennially popular, the wine list is extensive, and the kitchen is open late on the weekends. Its brick exterior certainly doesn't impress, but inside is a welcoming, if minimally adorned, dining room that recalls the mom-and-pop eateries that used to be common throughout town. The surrounding neighborhood has seen better days. It's advisable to drive or take a cab.

Small, intimate, and exclusive, this Italian restaurant draws a seemingly endless stream of regulars. The steak, veal, and homemade pasta dishes earn high marks, as does the service and the homemade cream pies. The only problem is landing a reservation as they give preference to those who have dined with them before, or to those who at least know someone who has dined with them before. BYOB.

It'll be hard to tear yourself away from those amazing ocean views, but when you do, you'll be rewarded with a delicious Italian-inspired menu of handcrafted pasta, fresh seafood dishes such as tagliatelle al frutti di mare (scallops, prawns, blue crab, and clams), and delicious "carne" options like chicken parmigiana or the 14 oz NY strip steak. Be sure to make reservations well in advance, especially if you want a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows. 

You might try veal Parmigiana, a tender New York strip steak, or flounder marechiare (with shrimp). Both service and food are first class, yet the restaurant is casual enough that you may wear nice shorts and deck shoes. Breakfast and lunch are served on a long, sunny enclosed veranda near the pool. Lunch choices include burgers, club sandwiches, and pizza.