Stewart’s Root Beer in Toms River a Jersey Shore Tradition

Toms River, NJ  -  Each year, millions of visitors drive down Route 37 in Toms River on their way to sun in the fun on the barrier island.  Whether they are going to Seaside, Island Beach or the more secluded beaches of Ortley and Lavalette or the nightlife along the boardwalk strip and the boulevard, they all have to pass the historic Stewart’s restaurant on their way over the bridge.

It may not look like much.  In fact, it may not even look inviting to vacationers from Brooklyn, North Jersey and Staten Island, but for local residents like myself who grew up at the shore, not going to Stewarts is like a Brooklyn native never having pizza at Grimaldi’s.  It’s like a Staten Islander never going to Denino’s or a North Jersey native never tasting a ripper at Rut’s Hutt.

There’s nothing particularly special about the restaurant either.   Aluminum picnic tables overlooking gridlock traffic from a sand and gravel parking lot, but there’s something about Stewarts that our whole family enjoys.  It all started back in the 70’s as a young boy on the way to Island Beach or Seaside, which was a 3-4 times a week occurrence for us in the summer.    Most times, my dad would pass right on by telling 3 screaming boys in the back seat that “we packed sandwiches for the beach today”.  After all, it was the 70’s.  Kids and families didn’t eat out as much as they do these days.

But those times when he would steer his truck over in the right lane going south on Fischer Blvd, we knew what was coming.. Stewarts hot dogs and root beer.. in the car!     Back then, like now, the waiters, dressed in referee style uniforms came to the car, take your order and place the number of glass mugs on a ticket on your window.   Ours of course always had 5 back then.  Today, we have 4 as we carry on the tradition to the 4th generation in my family.

They mark the number of mugs they give you because they serve their trademark root beer in heavy glass mugs, which probably grow feet and walk quite often.     Back in the 70’s and 80’s they used to give you wooden french fry forks, but those days are long gone, I guess.

While many people line up for hours at the new Sonic in Howell for manufactured fast food chain burgers, there’s rarely ever a wait at Stewart’s and it’s one of the few remaining old fashioned restaurants at the Jersey Shore.  Not much has changed here in the 30 years I’ve been going and not much will probably change until one day somebody realizes that perhaps that high traffic corner might be served better as a Super Wawa or McDonald’s drive through.   It will be a sad day for the Jersey Shore when that happens, but until then, make sure you treat the family to ice cold mug of Stewart’s Root beer in 1950’s car hop style on your way to the beach.