After Labor Day, my friend and I took a quick one-night trip to the shore. The beach was almost desolate; the weather was perfect even though they predicted rain. We packed rain gear that we only needed after we almost finished dinner.

But I digress.

After the morning on the beach, we shared a light bite for lunch — fish tacos ($18.94) and fries ($4.95)  at McLoone’s Pier House, along with one of the best cocktails I’ve had recently. Their Clockwork Orange ($16)  of Tanteo habanero tequila, Cointreau, blood orange puree and a Grean Marnier floater is the right combo of sweet and heat. I highly recommend.

At dinner that evening at Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant with an old friend who brought along her 6-year-old grandson, we started outside as the weather was perfect. She enjoyed a lobster roll with fries; my other dining partner tried their braised lamb shank with mushroom risotto ($36); I had their choice of fish ($39, branzino) with a choice of cooking method (grilled), sauce (chose two: angry style and chimichurri) and sides (mashed Gouda cauliflower and crispy Brussels sprouts).  Ben had their chicken fingers ($30) and pasta ($30) and then ordered the hot chocolate lava cake, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce topped with whipped cream ($12).

The rain clouds and lightning moved in as we were ordering dessert; the quickness of the staff to move everyone inside was quite impressive. We were settled before the cloud burst!

We returned to the friendly Turning Point for breakfast. My friend tried their pancakes, and I ate their unusually light huevos rancheros with poached eggs. They used black beans instead of refried, and I ordered poached eggs instead of fried. Don’t miss their pressed coffee.

Great service.

McLoone’s Pier House
1 Ocean Ave N,
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 795-3493
mcloonespierhouse.com

Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant
100 Ocean Ave N,
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 870-1200
rooneysocean.com

Turning Point
In Pier Village
92 Ocean Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
732-923-1104
turningpointrestaurants.com