Bites Nearby: Ocean Cafe

I have been going to since probably my freshman or sophomore year in college, when it was just the original location on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch.  While seemingly just a sandwich place, their food has gotten me through many midterms, finals, and winters in Long Branch.  The comfort in this food has me still going back there even though I don't live there anymore, and to boot, they opened a location in Shrewsbury, about 5 minutes from my parents house on Route 35.  They have a wide variety of fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, that can be paired with any wrap or salad for a nice refreshing summer meal, as well as an extensive list of gourmet soups that save me during cold winters. 

My favorite sandwich, which I opt to get on a whole wheat wrap, is the BBQ chicken, grilled and served with mozzarella, tomato, lettuce, roasted red pepper, a tangy BBQ sauce.  I also enjoy the Thai Chicken wrap and the Teriyaki Chicken, all served with the same ingredients, but with Thai Peanut Sauce and teriyaki sauce, respectively.  For vegetarians alike, they have an Avocado Wrap, Grilled Eggplant, Grilled Portobello, and Teriyaki Tofu.  This restaurant is notoriously vegetarian friendly, but the chicken, ham, London Broil Strips, Grilled Tuna Steak, and Grilled Shrimp can satisfy any meat or fish lover as well.  For their traditional sandwiches, you can order a whole, or a half. With the half sandwich, you can get a cup of soup or a half of a cafe salad.  The sandwiches include vegan options of course, along with Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey, Roast Beef, Shrimp salad, Eggplant, grilled chicken, etc. 

I enjoy the salads as well, notably the Buck Wheat Noodle Salad, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Pepper, and Tomato, a Vietnamese Salad, and the Mediterranean Salad.  When I am not getting a wrap, however, I usually opt for one of the soups -- or often I will by a quart to keep in my fridge for the week.  My all time favorite option on this menu is the Chicken Chili.  It is spicy but so filling and satisfying that there were many times during winters in school that I felt I would not have survived had it not been for this chili.  Ground chicken is cooked in this with carrots, celery, onions and kidney beans.  Other soups I do enjoy are the Pasta Fagioli, carrot and ginger, and split pea (if they have it).  I have friends that enjoy the Portobello Mushroom soup, which has smelled delicious, but I have just never been a big fan of mushrooms.  There is always a soup of the day, and all of their soups are made with vegetable stock with the exception of the "famous" Chicken Chili.

The appetizers they offer are also delicious, including the Chicken Satay, grilled chicken on skewers, smothered in their delicious Thai Peanut sauce.  They also have a small sushi roll menu, and an entree menu (as they are open until 7pm).  These dishes can be good for an early dinner: traditional Thai dishes of Pad Thai, Vegetarian curry, Sweet Chili Chicken, Satay Shrimp and Chicken, etc.  Although small little restaurants, Ocean Cafe is always bustling as both locations.  I think if you are going there for the first time, go and sit down and have lunch, with a sandwich and a cup of soup.  They are also great for takeout. 

Visit www.oceancafenj.com, call 732-222-2221 (Long Branch) or 732-933-1188 (Shrewsbury) or just stop in.