Panini Bay, Tuckerton, NJ: A Restaurant Review

Panini Bay, Tuckerton, NJ
Panini Bay Waterfront Restaurant
 101 Parker Rd
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
(609) 294-4281
Website

Restaurant Highlights

Fare: Italian

Price: Moderate - Expensive

Noise Level: Moderate - High

Dress: Casual

Food Quality: 2 1/2 Stars

Service: 3 Stars

Decor: 3 Stars

Overall Rating: 3 Stars

Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to Four stars = Best in Class

Awesome,  sunset and waterfront views of Great South Bay with Atlantic City in the distance

Recommended For: Diners who enjoy a BYOB with awesome scenic waterfront views serving creative dishes using locally sourced ingredients

Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer a casual family setting with a traditional American menu

Recommended dishes: When available, The Melanzana Ricotta Quattro Formaggio with eggplant & four cheeses. Crispy coated eggplant, topped with creamy ricotta cheese, melted mozzarella, provolone & pecorino romano cheese with or without marinara sauce; The Salsa Di Vongole E Salsiccia Piccante with clams and hot Italian sausage & fresh local little neck clams from parson's, simmered in extra virgin olive oil, white wine, garlic & tomato sauce. Served over garlic mashed potatoes or linguini pasta: and the Bolognese with ground veal, pork & beef slowly simmered with white wine, prosciutto, onion, carrots, cream & parmigiana reggiano cheese

Liquor: BYOB. Local wines are available.

Restaurant Review

Located on the Tuckerton Inlet, Panini Bay Restaurant is popular with diners who come to enjoy awesome waterfront, sunset views with a creative Italian menu using fresh, locally sourced seafood and produce. One of the best restaurants in the Tuckerton, NJ area.

Owned and operated by Chef Ivar Johnson. Chef Johnson oversees the kitcnen that prepares a creative menu using fresh, locally sourced seafood and produce, as well as his own herbs grown on site at Panini Bay. The seafood is sourced from Sally's Seafood in Barnegat and Parson's in Tuckerton, with produce sourced from B&B Produce in Tuckerton.

Panini Bay features awesome views of Great South Bay with Atlantic City in the distance

The restaurant is raised onto 9-foot high pylons, with walk up access via two flights of stairs. For the less hardy, there is an elevator to the restaurant that is also handicap accessible.

Arrive by land or sea, the restaurant sits on a dock

The interior is done up attractively with a small dining room featuring walls of large windows looking out over Great South Bay, hardwood flooring, and light earth toned trimming. Tables are placed closely apart. Tables near the windows have an unobstructed view of the Bay.

However the acoustics are poor. With hardwood flooring  and no curtains or acoustic panels to buffer the sound. When the dining room is full the noise can get to be very loud, limiting quiet conversation.

Service is professional, friendly and attentive without being intrusive.

Outdoor dining is available on the enclosed porch

To get the full experience, when making a reservation request a table near the window for the best waterfront views.

Panini Bay is open four days/week: Thursday-Sunday for lunch & dinner. The hours are Thursday & Sunday 11:30am - 8pm; Friday & Saturday 11:30am - 9pm

(updated September, 2019) 

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