Seasonal restaurants dot the landscape of Jersey Shore towns like Margate, Ventnor and Longport, many opening just before Memorial Day and serving meals through October.
Salt Ayre Bistro, a three-year-old BYOB along the southern edge of Ventnor (7309 Ventnor Ave., 609-428-6952), is one such place. Serving dinner Wednesdays through Sundays, the cozy French-influenced seafooder stands out among the dozens of Italian and American restaurants on Absecon Island.
 |
| Salt Ayre Bistro's shrimp & grits |
We were largely pleased with our dishes at the cash-only Salt Ayre on a recent Sunday, although service was on the slow side. About half of the items on the
current menu are gluten free (vegetarian and gluten-free options are marked), including the entree salad, oysters and the Prince Edward Island mussels offered as a special. Our sons and I opted for a trio of gluten-free items: mahi mahi, shrimp & grits and BBQ pulled chicken. (My wife's roasted salmon wasn't gluten free.)
 |
| Blackened mahi atop mashed avocado |
Our 13-year-old's excellent blackened mahi ($22) came with a side of jasmine rice and a creamy avocado mash. My cheesy grits were studded with smoky bits of Applewood bacon, complemented by four sautéed Gulf shrimp ($22). The sweet BBQ sauce couldn't save our 10-year-old's chicken dish, however ($18); there simply wasn't much meat, and lean morsels were few and far between.
The absence of a wine-and-spirits list helps to keep a ceiling on the overall tab. With more attentive service and larger portions, Salt Ayre can be a Ventnor staple for summers to come.
No comments: