By Carrie Paul Group
Ocean City, New Jersey earns its title of "America's Greatest Family Resort" through eight miles of guarded beaches, a Boardwalk stretching from 1st to 23rd Street, and a dry-town policy that sets it apart from every other Jersey Shore destination. The dining scene has kept pace with a real estate market that has become one of the most sought-after on the East Coast.
We work with buyers and owners throughout this community, and the outdoor dining options come up in nearly every conversation about what a summer evening or a slow Saturday morning actually looks like here.
Key Takeaways
- Dockside Kitchen: One of the only true waterfront dining experiences in Ocean City, on Bay Avenue with direct views of the bay and public docks
- Cafe Beach Club: Oceanfront institution on the Boardwalk, covered patio, farm-fresh scratch cuisine since 1989
- Cousin's Restaurant: Neighborhood Italian and seafood spot on Asbury Avenue with outdoor patio seating and scratch cooking daily
- Jon & Patty's Coffee Bar & Bistro: Pet-friendly, year-round Asbury Avenue bistro with covered outdoor seating and a devoted local following since 2008
Dockside Kitchen
Dockside Kitchen at 228 Bay Avenue sits next to the public docks with bay views from covered outdoor seating, one of the only true waterfront dining experiences on the island.
- Bay views from the covered porch: Overlooks the water, the public docks, and the adjacent kayak and paddleboard launch
- Lobster Eggs Benedict: The most frequently cited menu item, made to order during brunch
- Espresso bar and takeout market: Full coffee program and market takeout for those heading to the beach
- Location: 228 Bay Ave, next to the free public parking lot and Ocean City public docks
Dockside is where outdoor dining Ocean City NJ residents claim as their own tends to happen. The bayfront setting and membership dinner model make it one of the more distinctive experiences on the island.
Cafe Beach Club
Cafe Beach Club at 1282 Boardwalk has served oceanfront meals on a covered patio since 1989, with a chef-owned kitchen that makes its own stocks, soups, sauces, and desserts across a breakfast, lunch, and Sunset Dinner Menu.
- Covered oceanfront patio: Faces the Boardwalk with ocean views, usable in light rain and through the shoulder season
- Scratch kitchen: Homemade soups, stocks, sauces, and desserts since 1989
- Sunset Dinner Menu: Evening options that extend the kitchen well past the typical Boardwalk lunch window
- Farm-fresh ingredients: Sourcing consistency that separates Cafe Beach Club from the majority of Boardwalk options
The covered patio faces the Boardwalk and the ocean beyond, with gluten-free options throughout the menu and a coffee program that runs to espresso and cappuccino.
Cousin's Restaurant
Cousin's Restaurant at 104 Asbury Avenue occupies a converted cottage near 1st Street with an outdoor patio in a neighborhood setting removed from the Boardwalk.
- Veal Oscar: Sautéed veal, crabmeat, asparagus, and housemade béarnaise, the dish reviewers mention most
- Scratch kitchen: Italian and seafood made from scratch daily, with gluten-free options throughout the menu
- Patio seating: Outdoor dining on the porch of a converted cottage on Asbury Avenue, one block from the beach corridor
- Neighborhood atmosphere: Off the Boardwalk corridor, drawing locals and vacationers who book ahead
The cottage setting, the scratch Italian kitchen, and the outdoor seating on Asbury Avenue give it a character unlike anywhere else on this list.
Jon & Patty's Coffee Bar & Bistro
Jon & Patty's Coffee Bar & Bistro at 637 Asbury Avenue has been a year-round fixture since Jon and Patty Talese opened it in 2008, with a pet-friendly covered patio that is one of the most casual outdoor seating options on the island.
- Pet-friendly covered patio: One of the few patios in Ocean City that welcomes dogs year-round
- Surf & Turf Burger: Beef patty topped with a crab cake — one of the most discussed items on the menu
- Specialty coffee: Espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, and named specialty drinks alongside the food menu
- Year-round hours: Stays open through the off-season, unlike most Ocean City restaurants
Jon & Patty's earns loyalty rather than chasing it, and the year-round availability is a genuine differentiator on an island where most restaurants close in October.
FAQs
Which of these restaurants is best for waterfront views?
Dockside Kitchen sits on the bay with water views from the covered porch. Cafe Beach Club delivers ocean views from the Boardwalk patio, a different character but equally direct access to the water.
Are any of these spots open year-round?
Jon & Patty's is the standout for year-round availability. Cafe Beach Club typically reopens in late April, and Dockside Kitchen and Cousin's follow the island's seasonal calendar — confirming current hours before an off-season visit is always advisable.
Do any of these restaurants require reservations?
Cousin's takes reservations and fills quickly on summer evenings. Dockside Kitchen's dinner club requires a membership and reservations. Jon & Patty's and Cafe Beach Club are walk-in friendly, though weekend mornings draw early crowds at both.
Contact Carrie Paul Group Today
Ocean City, New Jersey is one of the most consistently desirable real estate markets on the East Coast: a dry, family-oriented island with a 127-year-old Boardwalk and a dining scene that improves every season. We help buyers find homes that fit both lifestyle and investment goals.
Reach out to us at Carrie Paul Group, and we will walk you through what is available, what the neighborhoods look like from Northend to Strathmere, and why the people who buy here rarely leave.
Reach out to us at Carrie Paul Group, and we will walk you through what is available, what the neighborhoods look like from Northend to Strathmere, and why the people who buy here rarely leave.
