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| Photo by Jack Reynolds The Shack co-owners, Ken and Laura Muha, thank Frank Almodovar, one of their five local investors, for helping them open the eatery. |
The owners of The Bagel Shack in Beach Haven have opened a new restaurant offering fresh fare from sandwiches and salads to flounder franรงais and rib-eye steak. The Shack, located next door to the bagel shop on North Bay Avenue, opened for lunch and dinner just a few weeks ago and already “people are loving the food,” said Ken Muha, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Laura, and their ex brother-in-law James Brennan.
So far, some of the most popular menu items at the casual, rustic, beach-themed restaurant have been the broiled crab cakes topped with dijon mustard aoili, which have “rave reviews,” as well as the acai bowls made with organic sambazon acai, organic granola, honey and bee pollen along with fruits and juices.
“They’ve just gone off the charts. I can’t keep them in here,” said Muha, noting that he uses the real acai bowl recipe from Hawaii.
The restaurant’s full, sit-down menu also includes fresh fish caught daily, which Muha suggests ordering early since he sometimes runs out. Of course, there are plenty of other tasty food items to choose from, including appetizers, soups, burgers, tacos, burritos, specialty pizzas and pasta dinners.
Late-night fare such as sausage and peppers, meatballs and other “greasy foods” is also available at the front window on weekends.
Patrons can sit at the outdoor front counter, and will eventually be able to eat outdoors in the back of the restaurant.
“We have so many things we got to do, but The Bagel Shack is having a record year. So we’re very busy,” said Muha, who has owned the bagel shop for the past four of its 32 years in existence.
Desserts such as traditional ice cream and waffles along with tin roof sundaes with homemade ice cream from The WooHoo should be available soon.
Wine through Working Dog Vineyard is expected to be available at some point as well. The restaurant is BYOB.
Early bird specials as well as breakfast may be offered “down the road,” said Muha.
“Whether you’re 2 years old or 102 years old, we’re going to have something for you,” he stated. “You can come in your flip-flops or you can get dressed up. You don’t have to dress well to eat well. It’s just about Beach Haven, the community.”
Only local artwork is featured inside the restaurant. Some items by Beach Haven resident Jessie Temple, who owns Bunkerfish, are currently on display. Although the owners said the name of the restaurant is a play off The Bagel Shack and does not reference the former Causeway Shack, a picture of LBI’s beloved welcoming symbol captured by local photographer-hobbyist Frank Giardina will find a place at the restaurant, too.
While the owners hope to keep the restaurant open year ’round like The Bagel Shack, which closes only on Christmas, Muha said “whether that’s achievable or not is yet to be determined.”
Muha, who’s also a member of the Beach Haven Land Use Board, said he normally votes in favor of people opening new restaurants.
“We believe in Beach Haven. The more people that come down here and see what Beach Haven has to offer, the higher probability this (restaurant) will work year ’round,” he said, noting residents and visitors don’t normally eat at just one restaurant. “I believe and I practice the more the better. Give people a reason to come down.”
“That will help all of the businesses in the area,” added Laura Muha. “The more the merrier, we feel.”
The Shack is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Late-night fare at the front window is available Thursday through Saturday, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. House accounts are available. For more information, visit theshacklbi.com or call 609-342-1221.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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