"There are some things New Jersey does as well as anywhere in the country: be the set of HBO shows, house the stadiums of other states’ sports teams, and serve great Italian food. Combine the bit about the Italian food with the fact that LBI has great seafood, and you get Stefano’s. This upscale spot in Beach Haven does straightforward Italian dishes really well, like eggplant parm and housemade meatballs, as well as seafood dishes, like crab-encrusted salmon over lobster mashed potatoes. But our favorite things here are the combinations, like local scallops over tomato risotto, and penne vodka with shrimp, scallops, and lots of crab meat. Bring some Chianti or barbera (it’s BYOB), and try to get a table on the outdoor patio if it’s nice out." - alison kessler, regan stephens, matt tervooren, tonya russell
