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I usually don't choose which restaurants I go to from national magazines -- the Jersey Shore is very rarely mentioned. But when I saw a piece on a Belmar restaurant in Every Day with Rachael Ray, I had to give it a try.
Boom, a nondescript though very pleasant restaurant in a strip mall in the town's business district, was noted as having the very best onion rings around.
They definitely do.
The beer-battered "black and tan" onion rings ($4.99) start with a traditional beer batter, then a sauce made from reduced Guiness is painted onto the rings in stripes, adding a certain tang. Served with an addicting horseradish sauce on the side, this large serving of
crispy rings alone is worth the trip.
HINT: Have the onion rings served first as an appetizer -- you want to enjoy all of them before you switch your attention to the main course. Then order your burger.
I ordered a classic burger with cheese, lettuce and tomato ($5.88). My dining companion thought he'd give the bison burger (yes, bison) a try -- all-natural buffalo topped with pepper jack cheese, frizzled onions, lettuce, tomato and chipotle sauce ($6.99).
The burgers were great -- juicy, with a fresh-grilled taste, and done just the way we ordered them.
Also available are an ahi tuna burger, kobe burger, turkey burger, lamb burger, and even a veggie burger. There is literally something for everyone.
With the burgers we got an order of sweet potato fries ($3.29). The serving was generous, and the fries were some of the best we've had.
HINT: Ask for an extra serving of that delicious horseradish sauce that comes with the onion rings -- also perfect for the fries.
If you've never had sweet potato fries, give them a try -- but they do have regular fries ($2.69) that I am sure are just as good.
Top it all off with a Hank's root beer float ($3.49) and you can leave happy!
HINT: You might want to save room for dessert. We didn't … but the ice cream sundaes and special banana cheesecake sounded awfully good.
Boom also has soup, salad, chicken wings, and steak or chicken sandwiches.
HINT: It's a burger place, so I would stick with the specialty and, of course, the onion rings.
