This coming Saturday, May 24, co-owners Dan Clark and Ed Hackett will reopen their popular BYOB, The Diving Horse, 2109 Dune Drive, Avalon, New Jersey, for its fifth season.
The partners will also introduce a new executive chef, Palmer Marinelli, who has cooked at their seafood-focused restaurant for the past four years, most recently as Chef de Cuisine.
The Diving Horse, featuring ample outdoor seating, a modern farmhouse interior with reclaimed fixtures and bright, oversized windows, will serve dinner nightly beginning at 5:00 p.m. and will remain open through Labor Day.
“We’re thrilled to have Chef Marinelli leading the kitchen this summer,” notes Mr. Clark, a South Jersey native. “His passion for the shore, our guests and the great seafood we are able to locally source will make this our best menu yet,” adds Mr. Hackett… The duo also co-own three other successful restaurants: Pub & Kitchen, a bar and restaurant combining the sophistication of contemporary European cuisine with the comfort of an authentic neighborhood tavern; Fitler Dining Room, an inviting bistro serving a straightforward, progressive American menu (both located in Philadelphia); and Prime, a fast-casual restaurant in Glassboro, New Jersey, serving all-natural, free-range, grass-fed burgers made fresh to order.
At The Diving Horse, an intimate 70-seat restaurant, Chef Marinelli’s menu of new American fare will highlight coastal ingredients, many sourced from nearby farms and Cape May County fisherman. Menu items, which will change daily based upon availability, may include: The Diving Horse Wedge Salad, with jumbo lump crabmeat, prosciutto, red onion, tomato, and fried herbs served with a Seven Mile Island dressing; Heirloom Tomato & Strawberry, with whipped mozzarella, basil, and crispy shallots; Mussels and Clams, with coconut, beach herbs, and rich crackers; Barnegat Light Bay Scallops, with Oak Grove toasted farro, English peas, wild nettle, and rhubarb; Hudson Canyon Swordfish, with sautéed greens, red lentils, and oyster sauce served in a lemongrass & ginger broth; Braised Short Ribs, served over Parisian gnocchi and spring vegetables; and Lancaster Chicken Breast, with asparagus, roasted potato, hay jus, and summer truffle. Dishes will range in price from $8.00 to $36.00.
The restaurant’s natural elements, including a tasteful display of flowers by the entrance, soft color tones, and its views of Avalon’s quaint main street enhance the comfortable, airy ambiance. An outdoor patio, surrounded by tall, lush landscaping, holds three large picnic tables for communal seating and a private eight-seat round table, which is often utilized to host chef’s tasting dinners.
Since opening in summer 2010, The Diving Horse has become one of Avalon’s best restaurants. Summer after summer, locals and guests from neighboring beach towns return to the charming spot that New Jersey Monthly noted, “Easily Avalon’s best restaurant and one of the better specimens at the shore.”
For more information, or to make reservations, please call (609) 368-5000 or visit www.thedivinghorseavalon.com.
Bon Appétit!
TAD
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