Island Cafe

1611 Route 37 East

Toms River, NJ 08753

732-929-3030
www.islandcafetomsriver.com

John:     Ellen:

Price: $$

Neslted next to Richs II Ice Cream between Washington and Vaughn sits a casual, friendly, family owned and operated BYOB eatery called Island Café. I was told that I absolutely had to visit there to try one of their 18 different wraps. When we first walked in, it looked like every other pizza joint with it’s glass counter showing pizzas you buy by the slice as well as fixing for their subs. To the right, however, is a cute little dining room with about a dozen tables, seating 45. The walls were nicely painted in a seascape mural. One look at their extensive menu of veal, beef, chicken, 20 different salads, pasta, pork and more and any thoughts of this being just another pizza joint went out the window. Not to say they don’t take good care of their pizza customers, with such choices as whole wheat and gluten free pizza.

After being seated, we were pleasantly greeted by our waitress Tara. She and another server, Barry, were the only two servers, responsible for serving and bussing the entire dining room. Quite a task. Fortunately, not all tables were full but as the evening went on, the few empty tables began filling up. Somehow though, they managed to pull it off. And with the exception of the kitchen, which did not share our servers’ passion for speed, service was flawless. Thanks to Barry who was steadily walking around the dining room looking for things that needed his attention, our soda glasses were never empty and our used bread and appetizer plates were removed as soon as we finished our last bites. Even though he wasn’t our server, he didn’t hesitate to take care of whatever needed his attention, regardless of whose table it was.

Tuscan House

1250 Hooper Avenue

Toms River, NJ 08753

732-797-2570

www.tuscanhousenj.com

John:   Ellen:

 

Price: $ $ (free entree coupon)

　
Finally! A restaurant for the “Good” list. Our first visit to Tuscan House, when they first opened a couple years ago, was an extreme disappointment. The menu, consisting of absolutely nothing I wanted to order, was printed on our paper napkin. They’ve come long way since then. Our second visit a year or so ago was much better, but still nothing to rave about. But, we figured, if they get better every year let’s give them another try and see if the third time is the charm. Well, it is! The menu improved, the service improved, the food improved, and Tuscan House has become a new destination of choice.

Dinner started out a little scary. When the bread basket came, instead of the typical big ol’ hunk of Italian bread, or a bunch of rolls, we got a half dozen wedges of pita thin flat bread. At first we didn’t quite know what to make of it, but when we tasted it, dipped in the olive oil/balsamic vinegar dip that came with it, it was surprisingly delicious! We couldn’t stop eating it and when we finished it off in no time flat, we were quickly offered a refill, which we gladly accepted.

Baker's Water Street Bar and Grille

4 Robbins Parkway

Toms River, NJ 08753

732-240-4800

http://www.bakerswaterstreet.com/


John:   Ellen:


Price: $ $ (because two out of three items were half price)

What is it with air conditioning lately? We always bring a jacket into any restaurant we go to because invariably it is going to be too cold inside. However, the last two places we visited, Sixth Avenue Bistro in Seaside Heights (see review below) and Baker’s Water Street Bar and Grille were sweat boxes. Not cool enough is one thing, but down right hot and humid is unacceptable if you’re charging me money to sit in there. Later that evening, after we had eaten, as we were walking out, we passed through some areas that were cool. So I guess it was just the luck of the draw that we got put in an area that the A/C couldn’t reach. Or maybe we were too close to the door leading to the outer deck. Either way, it needs to be fixed. I couldn’t help but feel for the wait staff that was dressed all in black.

The first thing we noticed was the beautiful view of Toms River (not the town, the river) through the huge picture windows alongside our table. (Okay, so actually the first thing I noticed was the way too short, too tight skirt on the hostess.) But getting back to the river view, the problem was, to see the river we had to look through a swarm of flies that were walking on the inside of the window that our table butted up against. So to avoid looking at all the flies by our table, we didn’t allow ourselves to partake of the river view.

Sixth Avenue Bistro

201 Sumner Ave
Seaside Heights, NJ 08721
(732) 250-6430

John:   Ellen:

Price: $ $ $ $

On the corner of Sumner Ave and Central Ave in Seaside Heights, sits a little place inexplicably named, don’t ask me why, Sixth Avenue Bistro. The name is the first of many head scratches to come.

The moment my wife and I walked in the door, I knew this was a mistake, and if we hadn’t already purchased a $25 gift certificate for here from restaurant.com, we would have walked out. It was a hot summer night, and there was no hint of air conditioning inside. It was as hot and humid inside as it was outside. At least outside there was a breeze and didn’t smell of rancid cooking oil.

According to their write-up on restaurant.com they profess to be a “neighborhood favorite” but someone forgot to tell the neighborhood. During our prime weekend dinner time visit, we were the only two customers in the place. Oh wait, should I include the family of five that came in, sat down, looked at the menu, and got up and walked out? But how about the food? After all, feed me a great meal and I could forgive just about any indiscretions.