Restaurant openings galore at the Jersey Shore

It has been a busy week of food news!

Here's a recap:

• The owners of Toast City Diner, known for its pancakes and more in Asbury Park and Red Bank (plus two locations in northern New Jersey), is adding No. 5 in Manalapan. The restaurant, which is taking the place of Project Brunch, should open this winter, owner Amy Russo says.
• The sixth location of Sofia's Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant in Bar in Old Bridge and Staten Island, will open by the end of this year in Toms River. The restaurant from Bread & Butter Hospitality is under construction in a former Charlie Brown's Fresh Grill space, which more recently housed Roxy's Bar & Grille.

• Lucille's Luncheonette, a charming, homestyle breakfast and lunch spot in the Pine Barrens of Barnegat, is for sale. Sisters Karen Bates-Flynn and Diane Brown run the restaurant, which was opened by their parents 50 years ago and is known for a 2015 visit from Anthony Bourdain. "Spending most of our lives in this restaurant, as our family has had it for the last 50 years, has been a true joy," the sisters shared on social media post. "But along with that, it has been a lot of hard work. Not that we like to admit it ... no one gets younger, and we have to look to the future." Lucille's remains open.
• Harpoon Willy's, a longtime favorite for burgers, seafood and river views in Manasquan, is expanding. Jersey Shore Restaurant Group, which owns the restaurant as well as Half Moon Point in Point Pleasant Borough, is adding another restaurant in Waretown, hopefully by early 2025. Also, their new concept, Coastal Canteen, will take the place of Max Devros in Manasquan.

Another local spot on TV

Tune into Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" tomorrow night to catch a feature on Seed to Sprout, a vegan restaurant in Avon, and their beet burger

Alex Mazzucca and Cara Duerr's eatery, known for its creative and delicious plant-based food, is the third Shore restaurant to be featured on this season of the show. Cavé Bistro, also in Avon, and Skratch Kitchen in Bradley Beach were featured last month.

The show airs at 9 p.m.

Quick bites

Talula's of Asbury Park and the Barnegat Oyster Collective are hosting an Endless Summer party from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. The waterfront cookout will feature sourdough pizzas, fresh oysters, local seafood and produce, and ice cream, plus music. Tickets cost $100; barnegatoyster.com.

Two big names in the Shore's food scene — Mav's Top Buns and Burger Buff — are coming together for a fundraiser at Mary's Place by the Sea , a respite center in Ocean Grove for women battling cancer. The event, also featuring live music, wine and beer, takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. Tickets cost $75; instagram.com/burger.buff.

That is all for this week! For more food content, visit app.com and follow Jersey Shore Eats on Instagram and Facebook.

Sarah Griesemer is a food writer for The Asbury Park Press and app.com . For more on where to eat and drink, please consider a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Restaurant openings galore at the Jersey Shore