The main dining room of this seafood spot is built around an old beached houseboat. The family bought it in 1917, and they still run the place today.
It all started because a nor’easter wrecked their rental boats. To raise money, they began selling chowder to hungry folks on the shore.
That quick fix turned into a business that has lasted more than a hundred years.
Frank Sinatra, Babe Ruth, and Joe DiMaggio all came here for lobster dinners. I like knowing that the same New Jersey waterfront still welcomes families, boaters, and anyone craving a bowl of chowder.
I believe the best old restaurants feel like stories you can eat inside. This one comes with ship models, whale jaws, and a skyline view.
A Storm Turned A Boat Rental Business Into A Chowder Legend
Bad weather usually ruins plans, but in 1917 it accidentally launched a restaurant. That’s the origin story of Bahrs Landing Famous Seafood Restaurant & Marina, and it’s a good one.
John “Jack” Bahrs and his wife, Florence, first ran a boat rental business in Highlands. Then a nor’easter damaged their boats and left them needing cash fast.
Their solution was simple and smart. They bought a beached houseboat and started serving chowder to anyone hungry enough to stop by.
That houseboat never really left. Its original structure still forms the interior of the main dining room and reception area today.
Think about that for a second. When you sit down to eat, you’re inside the same bones that held the very first chowder pots.
The family kept going through good years and rough ones. The restaurant pushed through Superstorm Sandy and the pandemic, and it stayed open year-round.
In 2017, Bahrs celebrated a full century in business. Plenty of restaurants are lucky to see their fifth birthday, so a hundred candles is a big deal.
I love that the whole thing began with a problem. A storm took the boats, and a bowl of soup brought everything back.
Four Generations Have Kept The Family Name On The Door
Family businesses rarely make it past the grandkids. This one is on generation number four, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Today, Ray Cosgrove and his son Jay manage the restaurant. Jay is the great-grandson of Jack and Florence Bahrs, the founders who started it all with that houseboat.
Continuous family ownership for over a century is rare anywhere. In New Jersey, where shore businesses come and go with the seasons, it’s even more impressive.
That long run gives the place a personal feel. The history isn’t borrowed from a brochure, because the same family lived it.
You can see that pride on the walls. Old photos and write-ups line the space, so a trip to the restroom can turn into a mini history lesson.
The family has also kept the name tied to the land and the water. The marina out front has operated since 1917, right alongside the restaurant.
Here’s my favorite part. The name everyone shortens to just “Bahrs” still belongs to the people who built it.
It’s hard to fake that kind of staying power. You earn it one chowder bowl, one storm, and one generation at a time.
Sinatra, Babe Ruth, And DiMaggio Knew Exactly Where To Find Lobster
Old Blue Eyes ate here. So did the Sultan of Swat, and that’s just the start of the guest list.
Over the decades, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Ernest Borgnine, and Sammy Davis Jr. all came to Bahrs. Lobster dinners were often the reason.
Getting there used to be part of the adventure. Visitors could arrive by steamer, or by train on the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
That railroad had a station right outside the front door. Imagine stepping off a train and smelling chowder before your feet hit the sidewalk.
In 1956, the restaurant hosted a celebration for Gertrude Ederle. She was the first woman to swim the English Channel, which makes a lobster party feel well earned.
The fame didn’t stop with old Hollywood, either. In 1966, Ford Times featured the restaurant’s “Bahr’s Special” recipe.
Later, the restaurant appeared on season 7 of “Man v. Food.” It was also used as a filming location for a Sopranos-themed Super Bowl LVI commercial.
So yes, your dinner table might have a famous past. Just don’t expect it to tell you who sat there first.
Ship Models And Whale Jaws Make Dinner Feel Like A Museum Visit
Most restaurants hang a fishing net and call it nautical. Bahrs went much, much further.
The interior holds a collection of museum-quality ship models. Many were built by Henry Schaefer, and the craftsmanship is the kind you lean in to study.
Then things get delightfully strange. There’s a Diver Dan suit, a pair of sperm whale jaws, and historic photos covering the walls.
Look up, too. An impressive anchor and chain lantern candelabra hangs overhead, which beats a basic ceiling fan any day.
The collection was curated with help from the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association. That partnership is why Bahrs calls itself a maritime restaurant, bar, and museum.
It’s a smart setup for families. Kids who get restless waiting for food suddenly have whale jaws to stare at.
Adults get pulled in just as easily. The old photos tell the story of this waterfront long before anyone had a phone camera.
My advice is simple. Arrive a little early and take a slow lap around the rooms.
Then swing by the gift shop, which carries fun items and old-time imagery worth browsing.
On A Clear Day, Manhattan Shows Up For Dinner Too
Bridge views, bay views, and a big-city skyline all share one window here. That’s a lot of scenery for one lunch.
The restaurant sits right on Sandy Hook Bay, beside the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge. It’s also near the entrance to the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area.
When the weather cooperates, you can spot the Manhattan skyline across the water. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge appears too, stretched out over the bay.
Closer in, the view keeps changing. Boats come and go, and the tides shift the whole look of the waterfront through the day.
You’ll find it all at 2 Bay Avenue, Highlands, New Jersey 07732. The spot is easy to pair with a beach day at Sandy Hook.
Window tables are the prize indoors. If you’re booking ahead, it doesn’t hurt to ask about seating near the glass.
Can’t make the trip right away? A live camera shows real-time views of the Highlands waterfront and the bridge.
Fair warning, though. Watching that camera on a gray workday might make you plan a drive to the shore by Friday.
The Chowder That Started Everything Still Leads The Menu
A century ago, chowder paid the bills. Today, it’s still one of the dishes that defines Bahrs Landing Famous Seafood Restaurant & Marina.
Clam chowder sits right beside lobster as a signature item. The kitchen also serves a distinctive red chowder for anyone who likes a tomato-based bowl.
Freshness is a big point of pride here. The restaurant serves seafood that’s often locally sourced, including scallops, flounder, tuna, and clams.
Prime selections from distant markets fill out the lineup. That mix keeps the menu wide without losing its Jersey Shore roots.
Stuffed flounder is one of the house signatures worth knowing about. Crab cakes and lobster bisque also come up often when people talk about this place.
Ordering a bowl of chowder here feels a little like honoring the founders. After all, it’s the dish that rescued them from a busted boat business.
My strategy would be easy. Start with a cup of chowder, then let the rest of the meal follow.
Red or white is your call. Splitting one of each with a friend might be the smartest move of the whole visit.
Lobster Gets Its Own Deck, And Everyone Else Gets Options
Lobster is the star that pulled in movie legends. It still holds that title at Bahrs today.
There’s even a lobster pound tied to the outdoor area. Mobys Outside Deck & Lobster Pound puts the famous crustacean front and center by the water.
Not everyone at the table wants shellfish, and that’s fine. The menu also covers prime steaks, chicken, German specialties, and vegan options.
Those German dishes are a fun surprise at a shore seafood spot. Potato pancakes on the same menu as lobster?
Somehow it works.
Weekdays bring an Oyster Happy Hour at the front bar. A lunch menu runs alongside the regular one, giving you a lighter way to sample things.
Planning a party at home? The restaurant also offers takeout and catering, so the seafood can travel to you.
Groups with mixed tastes will appreciate the range. The seafood fan, the steak lover, and the vegan cousin can all order without a fuss.
And if somebody insists they aren’t hungry, put a lobster on the table. Watch how fast that opinion changes.
Summer Belongs To Moby’s, The Tiki Bar, And A Scoop Of Ice Cream
From May through October, the outdoors takes over. That’s when Moby’s Lobster Deck opens for 100% outdoor dining.
Two casual waterfront decks give you a relaxed way to eat. Salty air and boat traffic come included at no extra charge.
One tip saves headaches. Indoor dining takes reservations, but the outdoor decks run on a first-come, first-served basis.
There’s also a popular tiki bar plus Diver Dan’s Lounge. Both add to the laid-back, classic coastal feel of the property.
Then comes dessert, right next door. Moby’s Freeze Ice Cream runs seasonally and serves 16 flavors, soft serve, and Italian ice.
That’s a dangerous number of choices after a seafood dinner. Kids will lobby hard, and honestly, so will most adults.
The colder months bring a different perk. Private dining rooms open up during the off-season for birthdays and gatherings.
So the calendar matters when you plan. Summer means deck life and cones, while winter means cozy rooms full of maritime history.
Either way, nobody leaves Bahrs empty-handed or empty-stomached.
Boaters Can Skip The Parking Lot And Pull Right Up To Dinner
Some guests arrive by car. Others tie up a boat and stroll straight to their table.
The full-service marina at Bahrs sits directly in front of the restaurant. It has operated since 1917, the same year the chowder story began.
The Dock & Dine setup lets boaters park and eat. On-board dinner service is available too, which is about as fancy as takeout gets.
The marina offers seasonal slips for smaller boats and transient dockage for vessels up to 130 feet. A 24-hour pay-at-the-pump fuel dock offers both gasoline and diesel.
Anglers have their own reasons to visit. Several fishing charters operate from here, and the marina shop stocks live bait, tackle, and ice.
That shop opens seasonally, seven days a week, from dawn until dusk. Early risers chasing fish will appreciate that schedule.
There’s a hopeful side to the water, too. The Baykeeper raises oysters for reef restoration on the south side of the property, below Moby’s.
I like that detail most of all. A New Jersey family that has fed people from this bay for over a century is now helping it grow back stronger.
