Last Updated on August 19, 2023 by Christopher G Mendla

Morrison’s Restaurant was a classic LBI restaurant. It had been serving great seafood since the 1940’s. It’s position adjacent to the intercoastal waterway and large windows provided a parade of boats for diners. The volume of boats dropped off significantly as time progressed. In the earlier days, you would see a continuous procession of  everything from well worn garveys to expensive sport fishermen while you enjoyed great seafood.

If you were in a boat coming back from a trip offshore, Morrison’s was a landmark. It wasn’t just the sight of the restaurant and hitting the first slow speed zone on the way home, but it was the aroma of seafood and the faces of the diner’s watching the boats. Boaters and diners would wave to each other as the boats passed.

Morrison’s was one of the few restaurants on Long Beach Island that offered waterfront dining and was one of the few restaurants you could visit by boat. The side of the restaurant facing the bay was lined with huge picture windows. There was a fresh seafood market inside the restaurant.

2005 Fire – Morrison’s is destroyed

Unfortunately in 2005, the landmark suffered a fire and has not been rebuilt as of 2017.

From the ashes

While it does not have the views of the bay, the Queen City Market is still an interesting place to grab a bite to eat.

Current Controversy

A developer wants to build a large hotel on the property and a restaurant. Local residents and businesses are objecting

• Plans for a hotel and restaurant
• Development planshttps://www.tapinto.net/towns/barnegat-slash-waretown/sections/business-and-finance/articles/proposed-beach-haven-marina-hotel-and-restaurant-begins-application-before-beach-haven-s-land-use-board
• https://www.app.com/story/news/local/redevelopment/2020/02/04/beach-haven-controversial-hotel-proposal-hearing-begins/4645701002/