Dine-In: Captain’s Inn Brings Sense of Nostalgic Dining, Great Food to South Jersey
Photo by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography.
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
LACEY TOWNSHIP — Those lucky enough to have visited the Captain’s Inn and Tiki Bar over the years, knows the nostalgic feeling of the riverfront venue, reminiscent of days gone by.
For Debbie Abrahamovic Kay, that feeling is much deeper.
Once owned by her parents Samuel and Elsa Abrahamovic, immigrants from of the former Czechoslovakia, Kay has helped create and maintain a restaurant rich in memories and steeped in tradition—and the food is outstanding as well!
The legendary restaurant that sits off the Forked River at 304 East Lacey Road, serving a mostly seafood menu with a dab of traditional American fare, focuses on attention to detail and freshly prepared cuisine.
FRNJ’s Dine-In was seated to the custom of sesame seed bread sticks served with the perfect combination of house cheese dip. Soon after, a cup of hot and delectable, creamy crab bisque arrived. Next, the chosen entree placed was one of the hallmarks of the Captain’s Inn: Chilean sea bass.
Plated creatively and appearing to the table tender and broiled to perfection in citrus butter, this phenomenal choice was served alongside a decorative pineapple boat that was filled with delicious fresh fruit salsa and assorted berries, which was a delicate yet flavorful combination.
Captain’s Inn is no stranger to repeat guests as they have been coming back for generations, and you will understand why when you visit.
“I grew up here and my parents ran it for 35 years,” Kay told Front Runner New Jersey, Dine-In. “I moved away for college, worked in Manhattan hotels, but came back and worked with them for 20 years.”
Kay said her parents, both Holocaust survivors, sold the Captain’s Inn in their later years, but she purchased it back 18 years ago. She said the restaurant predates her parents, operating under the same name since 1952.
The building was family-owned as an annex to a bigger hotel and restaurant next door. The annex, where the Captain’s Inn sits now, served as a casino-like facility where the “riff-raff” would play cards and smoke cigars, Kay said with a laugh.
But when a fire totaled the fancy facility next door, the restaurant eventually moved into the Captain’s Inn, starting its long run as a storied restaurant establishment, Kay said.
The Tiki Bar offers the ambiance of a bygone era with its original charm and a warm, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere. Kay said the Tiki Bar has been around for about 20 years, after converting an old gift shop. She said it has been a hit ever since.
The Tiki Bar opens on weekends starting on St. Patrick’s Day, depending on the weather, and operates seven days a week around Memorial Day through the fall.
“It will be open all summer with live entertainment every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day,” Kay said. “We will usually close it down for the season around Thanksgiving.”
The docks at the Tiki Bar allow boaters and guests to ‘go ashore’ directly from their vessel to the bar for a scrumptious meal, a spectacular view, and a fun, entertaining experience.
Other dishes you may find tantalizing include the “Reef and Beef” meal—twin filet mignons with jumbo lump crab served over hollandaise sauce—and the “Mariner’s Platter,” which features flounder, scallops, shrimp, and clam strips.
Additional favorites include Manhattan Clam Chowder and their famous “She-Crab,” both among the most heartwarming homemade soups in the region.
You can choose from six different salads, including the “Captain’s Salad”—mixed greens, cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and julienne vegetables.
“We’ve always had a large menu,” Kay said. “The first owners did a lot of French cooking, but we’ve been known for our seafood. We’re equally known for our steaks, chops and our prime ribs. We believe everybody can find something on our menu to eat. We are also very accommodating to gluten-free, vegan and vegetarians.”
The Captain’s Inn boasts a full bar that provides an assortment of champagne, wines, martinis and cocktails, as well as juices and coffee.
The restaurant is open 364 days a year, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.—usually. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Captain’s Inn closes at 10 p.m., and on Sundays, at 8:30 p.m.
The Captain’s Inn, with its waterfront views and unique atmosphere, makes it an ideal venue for special events. It is available for weddings and other events by calling to discuss arrangements. Their large event space features a bar designed to resemble a wooden hull, adding a touch of nostalgia and conversation to your celebration.
Kay said she enjoyed the variety of events at the Captain’s Inn. She mentioned that the boat-shaped bar, made by a boat builder, predates her parents and definitely adds to the restaurant’s already nautical charm.
As for future plans, Kay said she is already living them.
“This is my home. Where else can you talk to 100 people on a daily basis?” Kay chuckled. “I made sure my daughter does something different. She’s working as a physical therapist. My staff, though, is like family. We’ve seen many families, from christenings to sweet sixteen parties, to their weddings and then baby showers. It’s lovely to be part of those events.
“And then we have our regular clientele who come out—and they make this worthwhile. It’s so nice to come here and have these relationships.”
Dine-In recommends that you visit the Captain’s Inn, enjoy and appreciate its history and present, and become part of the relationships that continue through Kay, her staff, and their service.
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