Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach!

Considering how gross it is outside with NYC setting a record for most rainfall yesterday, I figured a little food porn and sunshine might brighten the day.

Over the last two months, I've made my way down to the Rockaways on my trusty bike on a number of occasions.  I know everyone is calling the Rockaways Hipster Beach or McCarren Beach - but its still a lot of fun and there are some really great eateries to check out.

We usually go for a nice swim before eating, but on occasion I'll have to spoil my appetite for an Italian ice, which vendors sell up and down the beach.

Zac is enjoying a rainbow ice, while I'm indulging in the coconut.  I'm a HUGE fan of anything coconut, yum!

Is there anything better than a sweet, cold icey on a super hot sunny day?  Perhaps a cold and good wheat beer... yes that is definitely better than an ice but alas I didn't have a bar nearby and I think there is a restriction on bringing alcohol on this particular beach.  Not that everyone wasn't doing it anyway.  But I sure as hell don't want a ticket...  

Recently discovered there was a plethora of tastiness to be had on the boardwalk through this article.  Also, this.

Adam enjoying some tasty food!

Sometimes it takes a while to get food.  We usually split up the purchases since there are multiple vendors and not everyone wants the same thing.  

I'm a sucker for anything fried, so I've been hitting up the Motorboat and the Big Banana, which has fresh fried seafood and apparently frozen bananas.  I hate bananas so I would never get one, but I trust they're good for those who like gross, long, mushy yellow phallic fruit.


After eating here a few times, the best thing to get is an order of french fries, since they're fresh cut and truly delicious, along with some sandwiches. 

Here we have the shrimp and fries platter ($7.50).  It's more fries than shrimp, but they're really good shrimp. 

I got the fish sandwich ($7.50), which is out of this world!  The bread is buttered and toasted, as all bread should be.  The slaw on it is fresh, sweet and crunchy.  The tarter they make has a nice kick to it.  Overall, its a superb fried fish sandwich.

Zac to the right is ready to take on this colossal meal!  They give you these fun tooth-pick forks to eat your fries with, which is what is in Zac's mouth over here...

Saw hello to my not-so-little sandwich!! 

Adam didn't feel like eating fried shrimp or fish, so he opted for the thai joint, Ode to the Elephants, which might just be the best name ever for anything.  I super <3.

The only prob with this place was how long it took the kitchen to turn out everything.  Zac and I ordered our food, got our food, got a pitcher of beer and picked at our food longingly until Adam showed up with two items.  It was really ridiculous, but its sunny, warm and they don't serve whine with our food, so we were patient.

I asked him to order me the chicken satay skewers ($4) cause I was afraid my fish sangwich wasn't going to fill me up.  I sometimes have WAY bigger eyes than stomach, especially after biking 18 miles. 


My skewers were really good, actually cooked over a real fire and the peanut sauce was really tasty.  It was a mighty portion for $2 per skewer and more than enough to share.

Adam accidentally ordered the wrong thing.  He wanted to get the Shrimp Summer Rolls ($6) since they looks fresh and light for a hot day, but ordered the Shrimp and Chicken Spring Rolls ($6) which are these above.  They not so healthy but very tasty!


We all ended up sharing and enjoying the food and drinking a couple of pitchers.  I was so full that I could barely walk back to the ocean to beach myself on my towel.  Maybe not the best look in a bikini, oh well! 

On another occasion at the Rockaways, we had some Blue Bottle Coffee drinks, which were good.  I had their hot chocolate, which wasn't my fave since they use a more bitter chocolate than I'm used to.  Adam raved about the coffee though, so if that's your thang definitely try some of their special slow drip brew.

Overall, the food here keeps me coming back for me.  Sure I have my fill of Caracas Arepas Bar in Williamsburg and the East Village, but some of the other options are fun and different from the usual summer fare.  Plus, sitting by the beach is a major plus.   If only they had better beer/alcohol options.  The bar next to The Motorboat and the Big Banana is limited and expensive.  They raised their bud light pitcher from $12 (beginning on summer) to $15 (current price).  Sorry, but at no point is it okay to charge that much for carbonated pee-water that can't give a buzz to save its life.

There are only a few weeks left of summer, so get down to the Rockaways while you can!