Gone in Belmar... :-(

[RGR]

Yesterday, my husband suggested that we have lunch at our favorite fish 'n' chips spot, Thompson's, in Belmar. I called to be sure that they were open only to get the "number has been disconnected" recording. Uh, oh... Their website is still functioning, so we were quite mystified.

We went, instead, to Stewart's, in Pt. Pleasant. My review is posted on a separate thread.

On our way home from Stewart's, we decided to detour to Belmar to see what was going on with Thompson's. Last summer, there was construction going on in the buildings adjoining their building. What we found was that their former space is now boarded up and a wire fence surrounds that entire end of the block. As we had feared, Thompson's is definitely gone! :-(

Worse yet, we discovered that our favorite spot for fabulous homemade gelato, Cold Cream, was also out of business. :-( :-(

[Passadumkeg]

Bummer! All of my old favorite spots on the Jersey shore seem to be victims of real estate development!

[veganish]

I think it was in the Sea Bright area, but as a kid I used to go to a place called Evelyn's that had THE BEST sea food--oyster crackers, chowder, little containers of red and white sauce waiting on the table, individually baked deep dish cobblers, the works.

[nyebaby37]

Where in PP is Stewart's?

[RGR]

Stewart's of Kearny
522 Bay Avenue, Pt. Pleasant
Tel.: [phone]
Website: http://www.stewartsofkearny.com/conta...

Note: In response to your query yesterday, I did post that info on my Stewart's review thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/406453

[nyebaby37]

ok thanks. I meant specifically. I saw the website, I'm trying to place it accordingly, say from the Boardwalk.

[RGR]

I can't help you with that because I have no idea where the boardwalk is located. We came into town via 35 South, turned right onto Arnold Av., then left onto Bay.

[RGR]

veganish, I remember Evelyn's though I don't recall what town it was in. We had dinner there a few times. It was pretty much along the same lines of Ye Cottage Inn which was, back in the day, our go to fish/seafood place.

[Babs16]

Evelyn's was on Main Street in Belmar. They had the best steamers (piss clams as we called them when we were kids).

[RGR]

Thanks for that, Babs16. I also recall going to a second Evelyn's location that wasn't on the Shore.

[OGguy]

There was a branch of Evelyn's on Westfield Avenue in the Elmora section of Elizabeth. It closed in the late 80's or early 90's.

[RGR]

For some reason, I have the vague recollection of the other Evelyn's we went to being somewhere on Route 22.

[ambrose]

I wish restaurants, especially those in close geographic proximity, would not use the same name. I am continually confused by all the Main Street Bistros in central Jersey!

To me, Evelyn's has always meant the place on Easton Avenue in New Brunswick. I never knew there was a seafood Evelyn's.

[RGR]

Now that you mention it, there is an Evelyn's in New Brunswick that serves Lebanese food.

A little Googling reveals there was an Evelyn's Seafood in Somerville, so that settles the question of the other one I remember going to.

Another bit of interesting info. Well-known Chef Tom Colicchio was born in Elizabeth and began his restaurant career at the age of 17 in the kitchen at Evelyn's Seafood, in Elizabeth.

[BoboPolo]

Evelny'S was originally called Dave and Evelyns.....It was on F Street in
Belmar...Near the Belmar Bridge (who remembers Zelby's) THey didn't take reservations and there was always a wait.....The outside front was lined with strap style beach chairs.......YES the Steamers were great.....

When Dave and Evelyn got divorced Evelyn got the restaurant and Dave opened "Daves" also on F Street...it was upstairs.....WE FOLLOWED DAVE

[RGR]

Just to clarify, the construction where Thompson's was located doesn't appear to be classic real estate development, i.e., raze existing structure and replace with condos, since the building on the corner has new windows. So, it's hard to know exactly what's going on there.

In the case of Cold Cream, they just went out of business, and the space already has a new tenant. I think the sign said Roy's Ice Cream.

[Babs16]

Many years ago on Rt 37 there was an Evelyns. It never really had the same hominess the the original Evelyns had. No red checked tablecloths, no picture of Evelyn, just not the same.

[JerzeyShore]

We use to frequent Evelyn's in the 70's and it was located at 507 Main St. in Belmar, which is now the home of a restaurant by the name of 507 Main St. They served the best seafood at the shore and put Klein's, which was lurking in the back ground on the back street, to shame. Those were the day's ...

[ambrose]

RGR, thanks for posting this. We rarely get to the shore but were planning to try Thompson's on our next visit. Perhaps it will pop up at a new location.

And thanks for the separate post on Stewart's. We'll go there instead (and I think I'll phone in advance to make sure they're open!).

[RGR]

Hey ambrose,

Arthur Thompson (second generation) is a really swell guy and seemed too young to be ready to retire. Before opening in Belmar, Thompson's was is Sea Bright. So, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll re-locate again in the vicinity. You can read about the restaurant's history here: http://www.thompsonsfishnchipsofkearn...

We asked about Stewart's hours when were there and, strangely, the ones posted on their website for Pt. Pleasant are totally different from the ones we were given, which are as follows: Mon. 9-4, Tues.-Sat. 9-8, and Sun 9-5. In any event, if you're traveling any distance, I agree it's best to call to make sure they're open.