Ventura's Greenhouse Cafe

Ventura's Greenhouse Cafe Restaurant Review:

This Jersey Shore spot, located in the shadow of Downbeach landmark Lucy the Elephant, boasts a spacious beach-view upstairs deck (open during the late spring through summer) that features a raw bar with clams on the half-shell and peel-it-yourself shrimp. In addition, the downstairs deck and cozy café, which is in full-swing year-round, serves up decent pizza, the best of which is the white version with fresh steamed spinach, garlic and sliced tomatoes on a buttery crust. There's a selection of Italian dishes, such as the usual spaghetti and meatballs, and mussels in red or white sauce heavily spiked with garlic. In the restaurant dining room the menu is more sophisticated with dishes such as veal Ventura---a hearty meal of sautéed center-cut medallions along with jumbo shrimp, fresh spinach and capers in a lemon, white wine and butter sauce.