Best of the Shore
Harvey Cedars
Only a mile-and-a-half long, Harvey Cedars has just 365 residents in peak summer season. Its small retail strip consists mostly of gift and sundries shops, but also houses one of the island’s hottest new restaurants, Plantation. The quiet town hosts weekly outdoor concerts in Sunset Park.
Best of Harvey Cedars
Upscale restaurant: Plantation. From the owner of Passerelle in Radnor, this upscale eatery draws sophisticated crowds all weekend long, coming to nibble the ahi sashimi rolls (tuna sliced paper-thin, rolled with lump crabmeat and set atop avocado salsa) and sip Goombay Smashes (fruit juices and rum in a tiki mug) (7908 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-8191).
Bagels: Fat Cat’s. A bit of New York City, right on the beach. Served plump and steamy (Long Beach Boulevard and 78th Street; 609-494-7800).
Clam chowder: Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company. Brothers John and Mike Garofalo have been ladling up the creamiest chowder in the Cedars for the past 32 years; get yourself a pint to go, or saddle up to a picnic table under the cool of A/C (7904 Long Beach Boulevard; 609-494-7112).
Bed & beach
Average 2004 home price: $959,265
AVERAGE 1999 HOME PRICE: $334,303
Recent listing: A three-bedroom, 1.5-bath completely renovated condo on the bay, $599,000.
Cost to rent a three-bedroom beach-block house: From $6,000 a month.
Where to stay: No hotels.
On the beach: Narrow, and suffering from erosion over the past few years — especially the blocks in the early 80s, where last summer there was barely room for a beach chair. Conditions do vary by season, though.
