Long Beach Island Food and Fun

Thank you to Fearless Restaurants for treating me to an overnight visit at Long Beach Island, NJ. All opinions are my own and I know I will be back with my family this summer for more food and fun!

I knew the Moshulu and White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia were excellent establishments but I didn't realize they were operated by Fearless Restaurants until several weeks ago when I was invited to spend some time at their Long Beach Island hotel and restaurants. All I can say is wow! It was a real treat to experience their boutique hotel Daddy O as well as their other restaurants located at the Jersey Shore.

Daddy O Hotel

I checked in Daddy O Hotel  to find a wonderful posh hotel with the most adorable lobby sitting room and a guestroom which included a flat screen TV, comfy bed, wireless internet and a natural wood and marble decorated bathroom with a rain shower. There were chocolates left on my pillow too. Boy, did I feel pampered!

Photo credit: Daddy O Hotel[/caption]

Our group met at the Garden Rum Bar for drinks and to learn more about everything the Daddy O Hotel had to offer. It's such a colorful but relaxing place. I could hang out there all summer!

We also took our drinks upstairs to see the rooftop bar. They were both great spaces to unwind with a tropical drink. When I think of rum cocktails, the first thing that pops into my head is the strawberry mojitos I make, but this bar had a really large selection of cocktails with rum.

I don't know the exact name of the cocktail I had, but I do know it contained rum and was extremely pretty. It was especially nice sipping it with a beautiful breeze and view.   

The Daddy O Hotel also has a nice modern restaurant open for lunch, dinner and happy hour. I had lunch there the next day. I enjoyed the warm decor as well as the wonderful casual dining. My group shared several delicious appetizers and I ordered the Cobb Seafood Salad. They have an all day menu that is served for lunch or dinner. 

Plantation Restaurant in Long Beach Island

On our first night,  we visited the Plantation Restaurant in Harvey Cedars and had a wonderful dinner. Their menu consists of  lots of local seafood, seasonal entrees and vegetables as well as plenty of small plates and appetizers.  I ordered the local scallops and bacon as an appetizer and had a taste of their tuna nachos. Bother were super delicious. As an entree, I ordered the local tuna. This perfectly cooked piece of fish came with a crispy rice cake, mango salsa, and green onion-soy vinaigrette. I have been dreaming of the medium rare tuna and can't wait to go back and order it again. I also had the best creme brulee for dessert.  It was smooth and creamy with a crackly crust served with a delightful scoop of raspberry sorbet. The service was also impeccable! 

Ship Bottom Brewery

The next day we visited  Ship Bottom Brewery in Beach Haven. The hand crafted beer was really enjoyable and we had a nice tour of the place. It is a small brewery but it reminds me that small businesses do great things. I ordered a flight of 4 beers so I could get tastes of a few different kinds of beer. I have a love for fruity beers so my favorite was the Freshly Baked Pie Series - Peach Cobbler. The Local Stout was also great as it had a creamy coffee flavor which I loved. 

Tuckers Tavern

Tuckers Tavern in Beach Haven was my last stop before heading home. After having dinner there, I went home with a full belly and a happy heart. The restaurant has a gastro pub inspired menu with beach favorites and a raw bar, and live music many nights of the week. Again, I decided to order local and had the Flounder Francaise . It was a great choice as well as the Spanish Octopus and Roasted Lamb Tacos which I shared with others as appetizers. 

Since I was driving home, I wanted to skip the alcoholic beverages and ordered the Peach Palmer mocktail. The ice tea lemonade was really refreshing especially with added peach nectar. If you are staying on the island or are not the designated driver, they have some really creative cocktails that I must try next time I visit. Tuckers Tavern also has 51 ounce fishbowl drinks that are very shareable.  

You can also read more about the LBI food experiences at Fearless Restaurants. Check them out:

• Marilyn at Philly Grub

• Briana at In Between Rivers

• Her Philly

If you have a chance, check out the Fearless Restaurants in Long Beach Island this summer. You will be delighted with a foodie experience right at the NJ shore!