Where to Eat in Avalon
Avalon restaurants offer many culinary choices for diners with different tastes. Whether it is something quick and easy like a grab-n-go, or a sit down romantic dinner you are seeking, you’ll find it in Avalon. While most Avalon restaurants can be found along Dune Drive, many other excellent dining establishments are scattered across the island and are well worth a drive or a bike ride to check out. Here are the most sought-after Avalon dining experiences and our favorites for each category so if you want to have lunch in Avalon or looking for the best restaurants in Avalon to enjoy waterfront dining, ice cream of free wifi, you will find what you’re looking for here. Bon Appetit!
Coffee Shop
Avalon Coffee (2892 Dune Drive) Serving freshly brewed since 1994, Avalon Coffee’s philosophy is to keep it simple and provide high quality products. In addition to coffee and freshly baked bagels and buns, the cozy café serves up salads and sandwiches made fresh daily. Open daily 7am – 1 pm.
Pastries
Mallon’s Homemade Sticky Buns (2105 Ocean Drive) Since 1988, Mallon’s has been serving up sticky buns “the old fashioned” way. Using the finest ingredients and a secret sticky topping, Mallon’s is a favorite place to grab a sweet treat. Although they specialize in sticky buns, they also serve freshly baked, homemade donuts, hand-rolled bagels, crumb cake, glazed cinnamon swirls and more. Open daily 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Duck Donuts (3246 Dune Drive) While Duck Donuts is a chain (originating in Duck, NC), it is a family owned and operated business. Promising donuts that are “Warm, Delicious & Made to Order”, Duck Donuts provides customers with a fun, interactive experience that allows them to watch their donuts being made fresh and then invites them to choose their coatings, toppings and drizzle. Open daily 7 am – 3 pm.
Breakfast
Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (3189 Dune Drive) First established in 1962 in Stone Harbor, Uncle Bill’s expanded to several locations along the South Jersey coast over the years and is a popular breakfast destination for vacationing families and locals. Awarded as being the Best Breakfast at the Jersey Shore, Uncle Bill’s serves up breakfast all day long with over 15 different types of pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelets, farm fresh eggs and meats. Several locations also serve lunch and dinner. The staff tends to return each year, which is another mark of their success. Open daily 7 am – 1 pm.
Grab-N-Go
Beach Burger (2150 Dune Drive) If you’re looking for something simple to grab and go like a burger and fries, this is the place. Located in the Avalon Food Court on Dune Drive, Beach Burger offers a simple menu consisting of burgers, hot dogs, fries and milkshakes. The fries are hand-cut thin and crispy and the burgers are juicy and cooked to order. Open daily 11 am – 11 pm (3 am on Friday and Saturday)
Deli
Seven Mile Island Deli (3101 Dune Drive) This little deli has been around for 7 years and is growing in popularity, due to its delicious deli selections and the fact that it is opened year-round. Sandwiches, soups, salads and wraps and made to order from all fresh ingredients. It’s the perfect place to stop on your way to the beach and grab some lunch to go, although you may want to call ahead to avoid the line. Off season hours are Weekdays and Saturday 11 am – 3 pm, Closed Sunday. Summer hours vary.
BBQ
Avalon Barbeque Company (224 21st Street) Avalon BBQ is an al fresco and take-out restaurant located across from the Princeton, specializing in finger-licking good food for lunch dinner or a late night snack. It offers slow cooked Texas-style brisket, smoked pulled pork, chicken and beef sandwiches, St. Louis Cut Spare Ribs and many other meats, which are delicious when paired with their own southern-style cornbread, grilled pineapple, hushpuppies and other specialties. Open daily 11:30 am – 9 pm (2:30 am Friday and Saturday).
Pizza
Nemo’s Pizza (2542 Dune Drive) This authentic Italian family pizzeria and restaurant with a BYOB option is highly rated on Seven Mile Island for its delicious food, extensive menu and exceptional service. Their pizza, considered “the best” by many people, is made with fresh dough, hand tossed and covered in a tasty tomato sauce and fresh ingredients. Also on the menu are fresh hot and cold sandwiches, crisp salads and wraps, pasta dishes with homemade sauces, and more. Open daily 11 am – 11 pm.
Romantic
Sea Grill (225 21st Street) For Avalon restaurants, this one is top notch. This unique dining experience allows customers to order fresh steaks and seafood directly from the chef who then prepares meals to order. An expansive salad bar offers a variety of fresh items and the a la carte side orders are plentiful and delicious. The ambiance is cozy and intimate, and is the perfect place for date night. Open daily 5 pm – 12 midnight.
Kid-Friendly
Concord Café (7800 Dune Drive) Family owned and operated, the Concord Café is known for its casual family dining in a kid-friendly restaurant and a menu that includes burgers, pizzas, pasta and more. From Pizza to Seafood Pescatore, the café offers a wide variety of options to suite every taste and the service is friendly and prompt. Open daily 11:30 am – 11 pm.
Waterfront Dining
Tiki Bar and Level 3 (Windrift Hotel 105 80th Street). The Tiki Bar is an open-air lounge on the second floor of the hotel, offering cool sea breezes and an exceptional view of the beach. Sip on cocktails and enjoy live afternoon entertainment while dining on their extensive beach bar offerings, which include shared plates, a raw bar, sushi, handhelds and specialty pizzas. Tuesday is “World Famous Wing Night,” with specials on draughts and pitchers. 
Also check out Level 3, a new open-air restaurant offering the same menu items but with a more intimate scene overlooking the Atlantic. Open daily at 12 noon.
Ice cream
Sundae Best (2900 Dune Drive) This popular ice cream shop strives to provide customers with the ultimate ice cream experience by offering a wide variety of flavors and using the very best ingredients. Their ice cream is homemade on site and includes several signature flavors, with new recipes being created every day. They offer gluten-free ice cream and cones, sugar-free cones, soy vanilla and diary-free water ices, as well as a “doggie dip” for their four-legged fans (a portion of profits from which are donated to the Cape May Animal Shelter). Open daily; hours vary.
Where do you like to eat in Avalon? If you have a recommendation or wish to share a story about your favorite eatery, please Leave A Response below or contact us. If you own a dining establishment and would like us to feature your restaurant on this blog, please contact us and give us your name, the name of your restaurant and your email address.
For more information about Avalon, please follow the links below:
Find out why Avalon is “Cooler By A Mile”
History of Avalon
Avalon Beach Information
Where to Stay in Avalon
Things to Do in Avalon
