By Tracey Hall ~
I grew up in Elberon in the late 70’s and was a regular at the beaches in West and North End. The Long Branch boardwalk had so many fun things to do, especially The Haunted Mansion on the Pier and of course, all the great pubs and restaurants.
There was no better place to hang out with your friends then the upper level of The Windmill on Ocean Avenue. They had THE BEST Hot Dogs, burgers and cheese fries anywhere. Even better, this family run Shore landmark continued to grow over the years and now has 7 locations in Monmouth and Ocean County.
The newest Windmill debuts in the Ursula Plaza in Long Branch (444 Ocean Blvd North) and has a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, April 16th at 9:00am. This comes after 30 years spent at the Seven Presidents Park location where a new Condo complex is in the works. Look for vintage signage and photos at this new location.
I spoke with Rena Levine Levy, CEO of The Windmill and was thrilled to hear that the “Old School” traditions are still in place at all locations. There is no deviation on the menu from the original best sellers, but it’s been enhanced with several healthier options like a veggie burger, grilled chicken, salads AND … The Impossible Burger! What’s that you ask? A “burger” made entirely from plants. It’s meaty and delicious and grilled separately from the other meat products.
Rena discussed the importance of staying true to their core values but also being able to serve anyone who enters with any dietary concerns.
It’s a recipe for success here at The Jersey Shore and one we all know personally from visiting The Windmill and enjoying their food. I was lucky enough to grow up here at the shore and took full advantage of having The Windmill right in my backyard. This long time local gal is so happy to see a local family owned foodie institution staying true to their old school values and thriving here at The Jersey Shore.
http://www.windmillhotdogs.com/