Unearth The Voyage
There is a small strip mall in Somers Point, New Jersey, that does not look like much from the outside. The sign is easy to miss, the parking lot is modest, and nothing about the exterior hints at what waits inside.
But food lovers who have made the trip down the Garden State Parkway know exactly what this place is about. This place has built a serious reputation along the Jersey Shore, earning a spot on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and attracting loyal regulars who plan their beach trips around a stop here.
This is not a place that coasts on gimmicks. The menu is creative, the combinations are bold, and the concept is simple enough to explain in one breath but interesting enough to keep you reading every line of the menu twice.
Where to Find This Shore Favorite
Tucked inside an unassuming strip mall at 55 W Laurel Dr, Somers Point, NJ 08244, The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company is the kind of place that rewards people who pay attention. It sits right off the Garden State Parkway, making it a convenient stop whether you are heading to the beach or making your way back home after a long day in the sun.
The location works in its favor. Somers Point sits near Ocean City and Atlantic City, two of the most visited spots along the Jersey Shore, so the foot traffic from beachgoers is steady throughout the season.
The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM and is closed on Sundays. That schedule keeps things focused and manageable.
Getting there early on a busy summer afternoon is a smart move, since word has spread well beyond the local crowd.
The Concept That Started It All
The idea behind this restaurant is straightforward but clever. Grilled cheese and crab cakes are two things that New Jersey does well, so combining them under one roof makes a lot of sense.
What makes the concept work is that neither side of the menu feels like an afterthought.
The grilled cheese options alone could fill an entire visit. The build-your-own approach lets customers choose their bread, cheese, and toppings from a long list of options grouped by price category.
The combinations are nearly endless, which keeps the menu feeling fresh even for repeat visitors.
On the other side, the crab cake offerings bring a seafood element that fits perfectly with the Jersey Shore location. The two concepts complement each other without competing, and that balance is part of what makes the restaurant feel so well thought out.
It is a simple idea executed with real care and attention to detail.
A Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Destination
Being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is not something every small restaurant can claim. The Food Network show, hosted by Guy Fieri, has a track record of spotlighting places that have genuine character and food worth talking about.
A spot on that show can change the trajectory of a small business overnight.
The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company earned that spotlight, and the attention brought in a wave of curious eaters from well outside the South Jersey area. People now make deliberate detours off the parkway just to try the menu items that caught Fieri’s eye during his visit.
The Guy Fieri Crab Melt has become one of the most talked-about items on the menu as a direct result of that exposure. For a small restaurant tucked into a strip mall, that kind of national recognition is a remarkable achievement that continues to draw new faces through the door every season.
The Crab Melt That Gets All the Attention
Few items on any menu carry the kind of reputation that the Crab Melt has built at this restaurant. It combines a crab cake with melted cheese, fresh tomato, and grilled bread into one cohesive sandwich that has become the dish most associated with the restaurant’s identity.
The Texas toast base gives the sandwich a sturdy foundation that holds everything together without falling apart. The combination of the crab cake and the cheese creates a rich, filling result that has kept regulars coming back for years.
The Guy Fieri Crab Melt version, named in honor of the show that put the restaurant on the national map, is the one most first-time visitors reach for. It is a good entry point for anyone who wants to understand what this kitchen does best.
Once you try it, the rest of the menu starts to look even more interesting, which is exactly the kind of pull a standout dish should create.
Build Your Own Grilled Cheese: A Menu Worth Studying
The build-your-own grilled cheese section of the menu is where things get genuinely fun. Customers start with a bread choice, then select from a range of cheese options, and finally add toppings that are organized into different price tiers.
The result is a sandwich that reflects exactly what each person wants.
Some of the topping combinations that regulars keep returning to include bacon, BBQ tenders, onion rings, and various cheese blends. The flexibility of the system means that two people can sit at the same table and end up with completely different sandwiches, both equally satisfying.
For anyone who finds decision-making at a restaurant stressful, the menu is organized clearly enough to make the process feel manageable rather than overwhelming. The staff is known for being helpful and friendly, which takes the pressure off first-timers who are still figuring out what direction they want to go.
The options really are that broad.
Crab Cakes at the Center of the Seafood Side
Crab cakes are a serious business along the East Coast, and New Jersey takes its version seriously. The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company puts the crab cake at the center of its seafood offerings, serving it in sandwich form as well as on its own.
The Supreme Crab Cake Sandwich is one of the more popular choices for those who want the seafood experience without the grilled cheese element. It is a straightforward presentation that lets the crab cake stand on its own merits.
The Maryland-style crab cake has its devoted fans among the restaurant’s regulars, though opinions on the exact style and composition vary depending on what each person grew up eating. That kind of regional debate is part of what makes crab cakes such a passionate topic along the Mid-Atlantic coast.
At this restaurant, the crab cake is treated as a featured ingredient rather than a supporting player, and that philosophy shapes the entire menu.
The Pork Belly Reuben That Earns Its Own Fans
Not everything on the menu involves crab, and the pork belly Reuben is proof that this kitchen has range. The sandwich has developed its own loyal following among people who visit regularly and have worked their way through the more obvious menu choices.
A classic Reuben already has a lot going for it, but swapping in pork belly instead of the traditional corned beef gives the sandwich a different kind of richness. The result is something that feels both familiar and new at the same time, which is a tricky balance to pull off.
Long-time regulars who have been coming to this restaurant for years consistently point to the pork belly Reuben as one of the menu’s most underrated offerings. It is the kind of dish that does not get the same spotlight as the crab melt but earns just as much loyalty from the people who discover it.
Hidden gems on a menu are always worth hunting down.
Shore Fries and Creative Sides
The sides at this restaurant go well beyond the standard basket of fries. Shore Fries are one of the most talked-about additions to any order, featuring fries loaded with crab soup, bacon, and Old Bay seasoning.
It is a combination that leans fully into the Jersey Shore identity of the restaurant.
Sweet potato fries dusted with cinnamon sugar and served with a cranberry aioli dipping sauce have also built a following among regulars who know to ask for them. That combination of sweet, spiced, and tangy is unexpected in the best way possible.
The sides here are treated as real components of the meal rather than filler items added to round out a plate. That approach makes the overall dining experience feel more complete and more satisfying.
When a restaurant puts as much thought into its sides as it does into its main dishes, it shows a level of care that customers notice and remember on their next visit.
Creamy Crab Soup Worth Ordering
Soup might not be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing from a menu built around grilled cheese and crab cakes, but the creamy crab soup at this restaurant has earned a dedicated spot in many regular orders. It shows up frequently in conversations about what to get on a first visit.
The soup is thick and filling, which makes it a satisfying addition to a sandwich rather than just a light starter. The Old Bay seasoning gives it a distinctly Mid-Atlantic character that fits the restaurant’s coastal identity.
Opinions on the saltiness of the soup vary depending on personal preference and the time of year, but the overall reception has been consistently positive among those who order it. Pairing it with the Shore Fries creates one of the more indulgent combinations on the menu, and it is a pairing that the kitchen seems to have anticipated when designing the full experience.
Soup done right changes the whole meal.
The Cuban Sandwich Holds Its Own
The Cuban sandwich on this menu is a reminder that the kitchen is not limited to just grilled cheese and crab. The Cuban has attracted its own steady group of fans who appreciate having a non-seafood option that still feels like a thoughtful choice rather than a menu filler.
A well-made Cuban sandwich requires a specific balance of ingredients, and the version here delivers on that front. Pressed bread, layered fillings, and the right amount of mustard are the building blocks, and the kitchen handles them with confidence.
Some who have tried it have noted preferences around mustard style and the fat content of the brisket, which speaks to how closely people pay attention when a sandwich is done mostly right. That level of engagement from the people eating here is a good sign.
It means the food is interesting enough to inspire opinions, and that is exactly what a creative menu is supposed to do.
Takeout Culture and How It Shapes the Experience
A large portion of the business at this restaurant flows through takeout orders, and that reality shapes how the kitchen operates. The restaurant has become a popular stop for beachgoers who want to grab something on the way home after a full day at the shore, making takeout a natural fit for the location.
Because takeout is such a significant part of the operation, the dining room tends to stay relatively calm even on busy days. That means people who choose to eat inside often find a more relaxed atmosphere than they might expect from a restaurant with this level of popularity.
Ordering through delivery apps is an option, though the best experience comes from picking up the food directly. Sandwiches and loaded fries are always better fresh, and the short drive from the beach to the restaurant is worth the effort.
The kitchen keeps a quick pace, which makes the wait manageable even during the busiest hours of the afternoon.
The Inside of the Restaurant
The inside of the restaurant reflects its location without going overboard on the theme. Crab decor appears on the walls, and the overall feel is casual and comfortable, the kind of place where you can show up in sandy flip-flops and feel perfectly at home.
The space is described as a cute little spot, small enough to feel personal but not so cramped that it becomes uncomfortable. The layout is straightforward, with a focus on function over flash, which suits the restaurant’s no-pretense approach to food.
What stands out most about the atmosphere is how the staff contributes to it. The team is consistently described as friendly, bubbly, and genuinely welcoming, which gives the space a warmth that goes beyond decor.
A small restaurant with good energy is always more memorable than a large one with a polished look but no personality. This place leans into its character, and that choice pays off every single day it opens its doors.
What Makes This Place Worth a Detour
Restaurants that earn repeat visits from people who do not even live nearby are doing something right. The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company has built exactly that kind of loyalty, drawing people who make a deliberate stop here every time they pass through South Jersey, whether they are heading to Atlantic City, Ocean City, or Cape May.
The combination of a convenient location just off the Garden State Parkway and a menu that delivers on its promises makes it easy to justify the stop. It is the kind of restaurant that fits naturally into a beach trip itinerary without requiring any major detour.
What keeps people coming back is not just one dish but the overall sense that the kitchen takes its menu seriously. The creative combinations, the quality of the ingredients, and the consistency of the experience add up to something that feels worth repeating.
That is the mark of a restaurant with staying power, and this one has clearly earned its place on the Jersey Shore map.
