REVIEW

Pizza, cheesesteaks, frozen custard, Italian sausage sandwiches – that’s been our Jersey boardwalk menu for as long as we can remember. And that menu has served us well. Today, however, the honor roll will have to make room for a fifth member of the fat and salt brigade. The pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich at Jersey Roll, towards the north end of the Seaside Heights boardwalk, is not only worth saving precious boardwalk stomach real estate for, but can compete with any in the Garden State.

There is inside dining, if you must, but this is the boardwalk, so …

For a first visit, we recommend requesting the classic configuration: sliced pork roll cooked on the flattop in front of you, fried eggs, and processed cheese on a hard roll. The effulgent, hefty sandwich is handed to you almost too hot to eat. Locals have been known to dress it all with ketchup. We don’t know why. It’s perfect as is. If you plan to do some serious eating, it may be wise to split it with a friend. Be forewarned, however, that you may resent that friend, just a little, after your first bite.

Jersey Roll is one of the first eateries heading south from the north end of the Seaside Heights boardwalk.

Need some variety in your pork roll diet? Jersey Roll will do all sorts of things to the humble sliced sausage. Get it breaded and fried with melted cheese and red sauce (pork roll parm?!), or topped with Tater Tots and/or mozzarella sticks, or cut into sticks and deep-fried for, yes, pork roll fries! Pork roll is good any time of day but it really shines at breakfast. Know that Jersey Roll opens for the day at 8AM, two to three hours ahead of most other boardwalk dining spots, so it’s a good choice for your opening salvo. It’s open late on weekends but during the week it closes at 2PM. There’s also a food truck that makes the rounds of the Jersey shore festivals and parties.

LAF TRAK: 

FOOD: 

BEST THING TO EAT: #1 – Pig & A Yolk