Clemmy's restaurant opens in Waretown, serving a seasonally inspired dinner menu
Allen and Carolyn Walski spent years working in the restaurants of others, so when they had a chance to open one of their own, they took it.
Their dinner-only BYOB, Clemmy's, opened in early August in the Waretown space that for more than a decade was home to The Brunch Spot, which closed in May. Carolyn runs the front of house and Allen is the chef, and the pair is serving a seasonally inspired menu of dishes not often seen in this part of southern Ocean County.
Diners are loving Allen's scallops with stewed eggplant, peppers and yogurt — the scallops are from Barnegat Light seafood hub Viking Village — and his braised short ribs with smoked potato puree and tomato relish.
The produce used in the kitchen comes from Barnegat's Sassafrass Hill Farm, and "whatever they have that I like that's in season, that's what goes on the menu," he said.
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Currently, that means tomatoes, which Allen pairs with burrata and basil in one of more than half a dozen starters. Another is a carrot dish with hummus, harissa and pistachio, "a very labor intensive" plate made with carrots that are cured, steamed and lightly smoked.
Allen loosely defines his food as New American, which to him means he can cook the dishes he likes. Despite the restaurant only being open a few weeks, he already has changed several dishes.
Diners who frequent Long Beach Island restaurants might recognize Allen's cooking: He previously worked at The Arlington in Ship Bottom and its sister restaurant, Daymark, in Barnegat Light. He and Carolyn also worked at Philadelphia restaurants Pumpkin BYOB, Fork and High Street.
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Clemmy's, named for the couple's young daughter, is a small restaurant with a counter and a few tables (the Walskis plan to add several outdoor seats). But its 24 seats have been full each night, Allen said.
"We've always wanted to own a restaurant, and we always ate at The Brunch Spot," he said. "We thought this would be the perfect place."
Go: Open 4 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays, 290 Route 9, Waretown in Lakeside Square plaza; 609-891-4066; instagram.com/clemmys.restaurant. Walk-ins only, no reservations.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Restaurants: Clemmy's BYOB opens in Waretown NJ
