Where to Eat in Townsends Inlet

Trying to decide where to eat in Townsends Inlet? This community is small but it offers much in the way of dining. Here, we give you information on Townsends Inlet restaurants. If you are looking for romantic restaurants, kid friendly restaurants, ice cream or deli in Townsends Inlet, we have the info you need on finding the best restaurants.
Townsends Inlet is a neighborhood located on the south end of Sea Isle City, but one that has put itself on the map as its own distinct community. It is not certain whether that distinction comes from its name – the inlet here is quite famous in the fishing and boating community as the main conduit through with many commercial boats and personal craft pass to enter the Atlantic. Or maybe it’s because its residents have mindfully established a small-town environment to give the community a personality of its own. One thing is certain: with the new development going on in TI, it will no longer serve just be a pass-through between Avalon and Sea Isle, but a destination location of its own. Come here for great restaurants in which to watch the sunset over dinner.
While there are not many culinary offerings here, the fact that TI is separated from Sea Isle’s commercial area by at least 20 blocks warrants its own listing here. Oh, and because the offerings here are quite impressive. These are the establishments that we think are best in categories that are important to us when we travel. Bon Appetit!
Coffee Shop / Pastries / Grab-N-Go
Nickelby’s General Store (8301 Landis) This combo eatery has been a favorite tradition in Townsends Inlet since 1983. Billing itself as a “Deli – Bakery – Café – Grille – Coffee House”, Nickelby’s certainly is a one-stop shop for all things culinary. It has an espresso bar, serves breakfast handhelds and lunch items from the deli, grill or bistro, scoops up gelato treats and offers other goodies. Live entertainment is provided in a coffee house setting weekends throughout the summer. Open Monday through Thursday 7am – 11am; Friday 7am – 3pm; Saturday and Sunday 7am – 7pm.
Breakfast / Waterfront Dining
Sunset Pier (86th Street and the Bay) This cozy waterfront favorite is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a beautiful view of the bay. Eat inside or outside on the deck next to docked boats. There’s an expansive menu of food items that are sure to please every taste, and a newly added juice bar called Sunset Squeeze features acai bowls, smoothies and fresh squeezed juices. A tackle Shop is open daily where back bay boats for crabbing, fishing or joy riding are available for rent. Open daily 7 am – 2 pm; 4:30 pm – 9 pm.
Lunch
Hank’s Sauce (8605 Landis Ave) This unique eatery restaurant actually started as a hot sauce business between college friends. The business finally morphed into a restaurant serving huge burgers, fresh seafood, loaded tacos, made-from-scratch soups, and pinchos (which are various meats on a stick stacked atop a piece of artisan bread). Their signature hot sauce is available for sale here as well as various places along the southern Jersey coast, and original recipes using the sauces are available online. Hank’s is worth the bike ride or drive from Sea Isle, Avalon or beyond – as they say on their website, “Go the extra mile – we promise to do the same”. Open daily in summer; hours vary.
Seafood / Romantic
Beachwood (8600 Landis Avenue) Beachwood at the Dunes, which opened in 2019, offers a modern shore-chic dining experience, including a lounge, raw bar, cozy dining room and a glass wall that opens to let in fresh bay breezes when weather permits. This restaurant offers a global selection of exquisite dishes using locally sourced ingredients where possible as well as live entertainment. Opens daily at 3 pm.
Ice Cream
Scoops Ice Cream (8305 Landis) Scoops Ice Cream is a tiny shack along Landis Avenue that is big on ice cream flavors. Family owned and operated for over 20 years, Scoops always has a long line in the summer of folks waiting to savor over 30 flavors of soft serve and 45 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream. Sugar-free and lo-carb cones are available. Open daily 12 noon – 12 midnight.
Where do you like to eat in Townsends Inlet? 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.
To learn more about Townsends Inlet, please follow the links below:
Find out why Townsends Inlet is considered “Southern Sea Isle At Its Finest”
History of Townsends Inlet
Townsends Inlet Beach Information
Where to Stay in Townsends Inlet
Things to Do in Townsends Inlet