Do you remember these Jersey Shore restaurants? We wish they were still here

As much as people enjoy talking about their favorite restaurants, they love sharing memories of the ones they miss even more.

More than 600 people reached out when we asked about restaurants you wish were still open, like Old Time Tavern in Toms River, Doris & Ed's Seafood Restaurant in Highlands, and Keyport's Cornucopia Restaurant.

Some of the memories go back decades. George Woolley of Beachwood remembers Sternlight, a restaurant on the Barnegat Bay in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township that later became Martell's Water's Edge and B2 Bistro + Bar.

"I remember going to the Sternlight for $2, $3 or $4 steak," shared Woolley, who visited the restaurant in the late 1960s." It was the place to go for good food back then, (and was) somewhat of a shack compared to what is there now. You could enjoy your meal on a wooden porch closed in with wooden screens."

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Ray Sheehan, a chef and cookbook author from Plumsted, remembers The Bayou Cafe in Manasquan.

"Loved the BBQ shrimp, crawfish popcorn, Creole Cordon Bleu," he said. "So many great dishes there."

Chef Mike Jurusz of Chef Mike's ABC in South Seaside Park, who has been cooking at the Shore since the '90s, remembers quite a few restaurants.

"The Bluffs in Bay Head, Southern House In Point Pleasant ... these places were in my younger days growing up and I loved them very much," he said. "(It brings back) a lot of great family and friends memories, and the food was awesome."

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Many people chimed in about Southern House in Point Pleasant Beach, which was lost to a fire in 2003.

Lynne Wooby shared that she liked everything about the barbecue restaurant, "but the ribs and onion loaf (made with onion rings) comes to mind. I even had them cater my wedding."

"They had the best ribs," said Sarah Woodman of Point Pleasant Beach. "I’ve always hoped they would rebuild after the fire, but the lot is still empty."

Here are some other missed restaurants at the Shore.

Peterson's Sunset Cabin, Lakewood

Open from the early 1940s through 1997, Peterson's Sunset Cabin is remembered by many. Diners mentioned the prime rib and baked potatoes, and some tried frogs legs for the first time there.

"My grandparents, George and Lillian Peterson, operated the restaurant for many years," said Lisa O'Neill of Brick. "Their restaurant was quite famous in the state as Lakewood was a resort town back in the day. Prior to the parkway being built, Route 9 was the main road between New York and Atlantic City."

"The Sunset Cabin was one of the best restaurants in New Jersey and on the East Coast," Tom McConville shared. "I went here with my family on Thanksgiving 1971: We had their turkey dinner cooked on their fireplace, I recall. I ... trucked down from Old Bridge to get NY sirloins cooked on that fireplace — delicious! Wish it never went away."

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Freedman's Bakery, Belmar

Freedman's, known for baked goods and Kneip hard rolls, closed in 2014 after more than 60 years in Belmar.

"The best baked goods all around (and) breakfast sandwich specialists," Anthony Fossani shared. "(The bakery) supplied rolls and bread to many restaurants around, so the whole area took a hit when they closed down."

Giamano's Ristorante, Bradley Beach

Readers have lots of love for the family-owned Giamano's, which closed in 2017 after three decades in business. Steffan Manno ran the kitchen at the restaurant, which his grandfather, Joseph Manno, opened as Balducci's in 1984.

"It's myself and my brother in the kitchen and it's always been that way, so there's no variation," he told the Asbury Park Press in 2015. "Things come out the way they're supposed to."

"(Giamano's served) the best Italian food I have ever had from a restaurant," said Joe Grasso of Long Branch. "(The) chicken Savoy made by (head chef) Peter Petegano was the best, and any other dish was amazing."

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Circus Drive-In, Wall

This beloved drive-in — which served hamburgers, hot dogs and milkshakes under a striped big top with its mascot, a smiling clown, looking down — was demolished in 2018. But after more than 60 years in business, memories remain.

"It was where we ate often," shared Sandra Wolfe of Howell, who visited in the 1960s. "(I) loved their crab sandwich. (It was a) favorite place on our way home from a day at the beach, and later in life, shopping."

Gail Schoenberg, of the hospitality-focused public relations firm Gail PR, remembers the drive-in's "burgers, shakes, fried food (and) pie, and the best neon sign ever created."

Ground Round

In its heyday in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, Ground Round was a popular dinner spot for families, thanks to a menu of pub food (I ate my first potato skin at a Ground Round restaurant) and a casual atmosphere. A 2004 bankruptcy closed most of the restaurants nationwide.

"I loved it there when I was a kid," shared Patricia Baker. "I used to go to the Ground Round by Monmouth Mall and would throw the peanut shells on the floor! Good memories."

"I miss watching Popeye cartoons over dinner," Asbury Park Press reporter Amanda Oglesby remembers about a popular Ground Round feature: big-screen televisions in the dining room.

Other restaurants we miss

The memories continue, with recollections of these shuttered restaurants:

• Mike & Nellie's, Ocean Township: "Our go-to place for great Italian food. We'd always see people we knew there. A neighborhood favorite," shared Leslie Belle Posnock.

• Top of the Mast, South Seaside Park: "Oceanfront, unique bar, old school, classic seafood menu and great entertainment. It was a real night out," shared Karen Kleinfield Peters.

• Manhattan Steak House, Ocean Township: "The filet medallions with onion strings was my favorite dish ever. Buffalo calamari there was also a crowd favorite. I miss it and What’s Your Beef (Rumson) so much," said Kelly Jean.

• Sal's Tavern, Red Bank: "Loved Sal's. Best veal parmigiana and garlic bread," shared Ann Wallace Filiatreault.

• Eurasian Eatery, Red Bank: "Miss their roasted red pepper hummus! And their rice noodle dish with the thick brown sauce ... amazing," shared Isabelle LeFleur.

• Charles' Seafood Garden, Beach Haven Crest: "Hands down some of the best seafood and best people that I ever came across in the restaurant industry," shared Corinne Topoleski. "That would be my pick, too," said Barbara Smith. "We have been vacationing on LBI for more than 40 years, and back then, there were fewer dine-in, 'fancy' restaurants. We were sad to see them close."

• Casey Jones, Long Branch: "You dined in ... old rail cars, and they had excellent ribs, chicken and fries back in the day," shared Christopher Hammer.

• Harvey Cedars Tavern, Harvey Cedars: "(It) was a gem. Lots of my family members worked there," shared Chris Eastburn. "... The owner made amazing food. All the locals would go there. Surely missed."

• Wida's, Brant Beach: "Loved the large room set-up, the steaks that would have the plastic cows in them stating the temperature of the steak, Wally K on the piano for happy hour, and Mike Byrnes, too. A great place," shared Kerry Darrow Falcone.

• Coleman's Old Fashioned Restaurant, Beach Haven Terrace: "I want Mrs. Coleman’s fried green tomatoes," shared Jennifer Rackow. "Such great memories of going there with my grandparents."

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], follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants we wish were still here