Calling All Shoobees Part 2

We’re stealing WiFi from the Margate Starbucks today since the shore house is internet-free until Comcast decides to show up. Not very Comcastic, but this caramel latte is pretty darn good, and we pretty much hate the ‘Bucks. The Shore just puts us in a better mood, and we’re on another scouting expedition, braving treacherous Margate drivers (a whole other breed of Jersey driver known for its sequined hats and sudden U-turns) all in the name of good food.

Margate: The Washington Avenue WaWa needs to watch its Kenya AA back; Cup Cake Café, Too across the street at 9303 Ventnor Avenue has a big-ass La Colombe sticker in its window. Not open yet, but word is ovens will be turning out fresh baked breads and pastries soon.

Ventnor: Opened during the off-season, Nucci’s Italian Ice & Gelato Café is doing the soup-salad-panini thang with a big fat scoop of pistachio gelato on top. We’re psyched that a former newsstand has become Mi Peru, a days-old ceviche bar that looks just divey enough to keep the snotty gringos away but pleasant enough that you won’t need to worry about getting hepatitis. Right across the street, Lisa Savage is turning Joe Tucker’s short-lived Joe Pesce into an Italianesque BYOB/market called Sage. In a recent article in AC Weekly, she declined to comment on the closing of Savaradio, the same-name offshore sequel to her hauntingly good Ventnor Avenue shoebox that closed two years ago, but 85-seat Sage marks a return for Savage to the intimate dining that made Savaradio #1 so popular. Just-opened Manna is not a fat-camp for born-again Christians but a modern BYOB doing a small New American menu including crab cakes and skirt steak. Two doors down, ice cream parlor Cookies & Cream has been morphed into Johnny’s Café, an all-day bakery/bistro featuring American and Italian classics at reasonable prices from Joe’s bro, John Tucker. Save room for dessert: everything from cannoli and old-school ricotta pie to key lime tarts is made on premises.

Somers Point: In other Tucker family news (jeez, these guys get around), we hear Joe has sold his grand Tucker’s Steak & Seafood in Somers Point (with name). Rumors say joint owners just assumed control of Tucker’s share, but a former server told us the new proprietors are the Celebre family of Packer Park’s Celebre’s pizzeria. Here’s hoping the new Tucker’s serves pizzazz. Perched above the bay, Sails is now The Inlet, brought to you by restaurateur Martin Grims of Moshulu. The concept: seafood with a view.

Photo: Blogalicious