Some may say I’m a little biased when I say my favorite restaurant locally is the Anchor Inn, located in Ocean Gate just because I work there, but it has always been one of my favorites since I was a kid and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to work in such an amazing restaurant with the best vibes and people.
The restaurant opened back in 1962 where right off the bat it was a smash and it’s a place where locals can all come together to celebrate various occasions and make more memories. The place still feels like you’re stuck in the 1980’s -which I love- and it’s such a comforting place for anybody who wants a quick bite to eat!
At the Anchor, we have lots of different options that can satisfy anyone and I never get bored of their food; from steaks to clams to burgers to seafood and our famous pizza, the options are endless.
Going back to the pizza, Anchor Inn is most widely known around the area for their crispy, cheesy pizzas that are to die for. So much so that the restaurant was even mentioned in the “Pizza Playoffs,” where people from around the Jersey Shore can vote for their favorite pizza. I always see people buying pizzas when I’m on my weekend shifts.
Along with our regular menu, we have specials for each day of the week, adding extra amazing options to the menu. One of my favorite things about the Anchor Inn is the portion sizes they give you, they give you so much food for a reasonable amount of money, along with that every entree gets a side salad which comes with various dressings.
The service is also top tier where people can expect a quick dine-in and some of the nicest servers in the area that always put the customers first. With that, the kitchen also strives to pump food out as fast as possible at such a high quality; it’s apparent that the staff are always willing to put the customers first and making sure they have that comforting experience that the Anchor is known for.
On Saturdays on our specials menu, we offer a dish called “The Chicken Anchor” and that dish has got to be my one of my favorite meals that I’ve had in my entire life; it’s two giant chicken breasts on top of spaghetti, topped with spinach, bell peppers, and mozzarella cheese with a tangy francese sauce that ties the entire dish together.
On the regular menu however, I usually pick between two dishes, a regular cheeseburger with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes or I just get our famous pizza. The burger is grilled to perfection and has a smoky taste that brings me back to a Fourth of July BBQ with toasted brioche buns and fresh, crisp vegetables which when combined, is the ultimate recipe for the perfect burger. Though I love myself a great plain pizza, my go-to pizza order for the Anchor is a bar pie pizza, which is a personal pizza for yourself, with pepperoni and black olives on top of it. If you are ever in the Ocean Gate area or if you are bored one night and want to try out a new restaurant, be sure to try out Anchor Inn for a casual and comforting dining experience with your family and friends.
