Kubel's

No trip north on Bayview would be complete without a stop at the large blue building on the corner of 7th Ave., Kubel's. A mixture of a traditional fishermen's bar, a popular summer restaurant and a year round center of local life, Kubel's has been a central point in our Barnegat Light experience for the past four years. Summer nights, popcorn shrimp, lunch with Santa (who arrives by fire engine), my mother's 85th birthday party, and many other memories will always remain.

The popular "new room", under the striped awnings in this view from Bayview, offers diners a view of the bay, and those spectacular sunsets.

The porch booths, under the awnings to the right in the front view, once smoking territory, have now joined the general dining environment since New Jersey became a non-smoking state this year. And out front is the rock where generations of children have climbed and had their pictures taken as their parties waited to be seated.

And of course there is the bar, also now smokless, where Randy feels at home ordering his Coors Light, they serve an excellent Pinot Grigio, and everybody knows your name. But the best part of Kubel's will always be the people, owners, staff, regulars and visitors; without them its just a blue building by the bay.