Where To Have A Meal, And Give Thanks, After Sandy

Some of the restaurants that local residents know well have re-opened after being flooded or damaged by Sandy.

on the Boardwalk in Point Beach, has re-opened its front bar and grill areas and is taking bookings for holiday parties. The end of its pier was sheared off by Sandy, but it's cleaning up and moving on.

Martell's was among a number of businesses that donated food for the "Thanksgathering" held at the Point Pleasant Elks on Wednesday.

Others who donated food for the pre-Thanksgiving feast, and who are open for business in general are: Surf Taco; Hoffman's Ice Cream; Spano's; Longboard Grill; The Spot; Frankie's Bar & Grill; US Subs; Bubbakoo's Burritos; Polka Dot Cupcake Shop, and Joe Leone's. The Beanery.

Also, Martell's is providing meals for seven needy families referred by the G. Harold Antrim School in Point Pleasant Beach. The meals were delivered by Martell's to the families the day before Thanksgiving.   

Thanksgiving dinners are also provided by Martell's to the Point Pleasant Beach Police and to the NJ State Trooper Barracks. The meals for the law enforcement officers are picked up on Thanksgiving Day. Dinners for two families with disabilities from the Toms River/Bayville area were also delivered by Martell's on Wednesday.  

Perk's Cafe on Ocean Avenue is open seven days a week, with extended hours at least until the end of December. In partnership with Jenkinson's, it's offering free Thanksgiving dinners to those affected by Sandy. Jenkinson's is temporarily closed due to storm damage, but is doing repairs so it can re-open.

Other restaurants offering free Thanksgiving meals are:

The Shore House, Route 88, Point Borough; Edgar's Pub, 153 Sea Girt Ave., Manasquan; and Bar Anticipation, Lake Como. For times and more information, as well as information about organizations and churches providing free, hot Thanksgiving meals, click here.

Other restaurants that have opened include The Offshore on Ocean Avenue in Point Beach which escaped serious damage.

Back in 2002, the original Off Shore was destroyed by fire. Due to the building codes that had changed over the years, the new building's foundation had to be much higher.

Ten years later, The Off Shore lost only its power during Sandy, and now looks as good as new. The DiTullio family has owned the Off Shore for over 50 years.

Spike's Fish Market & Restaurant on Broadway is open, despite that it's located in a place where so many businesses and homes took a beating.

The Wharfside is open and taking reservations for Thanksgiving. The Lobster Shanty says it will be open as soon as possible.

is closed after being badly flooded and damaged, as were many of the other businesses and homes, on or near the Manasquan Inlet. Kitty Stillufsen, whose family has owned Red's for years, said she and her parents are researching insurance and other financial information and evaluating their options. Stillufsen's home nearby was also badly flooded.

Jersey Shore restaurants that are open for Thanksgiving include:

• Princess Maria Diner, 2044 Route 35, Wall Township, 732-282-1722
• The Gateway, 227 West Eighth St., Ship Bottom, 609-494-2816
• The Crystal Diner, 2 Route 37, Toms River, 732-244-6262
• McLoone's, 1 Ocean Blvd., Long Branch, 732-923-1006
• Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant, 100 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, 732-870-1200