10 Dishes To Try During Jersey Shore Restaurant Week

It's finally here: an excuse to eat, drink and be merry. No, we're not talking about Thanksgiving; it's Jersey Shore Restaurant Week.

Though the week kicks off with a special event Thursday evening, the real fun of trying new places (with less of an impact on your wallet) begins on Friday, Nov. 3 and goes through Nov. 12.

During the 10-day event, restaurants offer three-course dinners for $22.17 or $32.17, and in addition to Thursday's Dream Dinner there are two other special events as well, according to Jim Flynn, chairman of the event.

Looking for some suggestions? Here are 10 dishes we'd love to try during this week that are on the special restaurant week menus.

Conchigilione, at Aqua Blu, Toms River
Offered as a main dish on the $32.17 menu, it's described as rock shrimp ragout with artichokes and lemon. (And can you ever go wrong with Tiramisu for dessert?)

Short Rib Pizzaiola at Blu Grotto, Oceanport
A main dish on the $32.17 menu, it's short ribs with mushroom farrotto and shaved parmigiana. (Nonna's Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with berry compote to finish. Nonna will love you.)

Seafood Lasagna at Crab's Claw Inn, Lavallette
On the $32.17 menu, shrimp, snow crab and scallops in a cream sauce layered with mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. (Bonus: Maple-Bourbon Bread Pudding for dessert. I don't like bread pudding and I want to try it.)

Pumpkin Seed Crusted Salmon at Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank
A main dish on the $32.17 menu, it's salmon with a delicate squash caponata and rosemary-marsala jus. (Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee? Yes please.)

BBQ Baby Back Ribs at Woody's Roadside Tavern, Farmingdale
On the $22.17 menu, half a rack of baby back ribs in their house-made barbecue sauce, with cole slaw and fries. Get a full rack for an extra $6. Try the Eggplant Tower for your appetizer (fresh eggplant, tomatoes, roasted peppers, fresh basil and mozzarella with a balsalmic glaze drizzle).

Guinness Stew at St. Stephen's Green Publick House, Spring Lake Heights
For $22.17, a hearty combination of sirloin cubes with potatoes and vegetables in a Guinness stout-flavored brown gravy. Start with the Dublin Roll, pulled corned beef, braised cabbage and vegetables wrapped in an egg roll wrapper, with Guinness mustard dipping sauce.

Greggorio at San Marzano Trattoria, Freehold
For $32.17, it's grilled chicken, homemade pesto and bruschetta with roasted potatoes and fresh spinach. (For dessert: Antni's Italian Doughnut, a zeppole filled with cannoli cream with a strawberry glaze.)

Gym-Eats Stuffed Pork Loin at Reels at Pier 281, Brick
For $32.17, it's pork loin stuffed with butternut squash, pomegranate, pumpkin seed and feta cheese, roasted with a fig ghost pepper glaze (!!!) over cauliflower couscous. The Pear and Four Cheese Ravioli appetizer is tempting as well.

Grilled Western Ross Salmon at D'Jeet?, Shrewsbury
For $32.17, Salmon with a red chief lentil stew, fall vegetables, golden quinoa and apple marmalata. Poached Pear Salad with a maple sherry viniagrette sounds wonderful to start.

Sanguinaccio Broiled at Grandma's Meatball, Manasquan
For $32,17, it's broiled flounder in lemon, white wine butter sauce served with saffron risotto medley. Carciofi Francese, baby artichoke hearts in a golden egg batter with a white wine sauce sounds wonderful as well.

There's plenty more choices with more than 30 restaurants participating. The complete list of participating restaurants can be found by clicking here.

Image via Morguefile