Shore Eats In the Kitchen
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THE C H AT T E R B OX OC’s big pink beauty has new owners, a new menu, and outrageous shakes Crazy milkshakes are on the menu at The Chatterbox
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N 1922 Chicago, Ivar “Pop” Coulson invented the milkshake when he added two scoops of ice cream to malted milk. Fast forward one hundred years and the milkshake is in the throes of a renaissance with new over-the-top flavors and piled-high toppings being served up all over the country. In Ocean City, another legend from the 1900s has been reinvented and is bringing the modern milkshake with it. The Chatterbox Restaurant has new owners, a new adjacent upscale dining spot, new menus,
Owners Stephen Slaughter and Bill Bonforte 10 OCNJMAGAZINE.COM
AUGUST 2022
and eight new go-big-or-go-home milkshakes. But from the outside, its iconic pink color and tall neon sign are the same, capturing the attention of those driving into Ocean City on 9th Street like they have since 1937. “First thing everyone asks me is, ‘are you changing the color, are you taking down the sign?’” said Bill Bonforte, part owner of The Chatterbox. “No. The sign is staying, the neon is staying, but it’s going to be better, different food.” Bill is part of a team that owns Green Eggs
Fine dining is offered at The Betz Room
Cafe in Philadelphia, a popular breakfast/ brunch spot throughout the city. They took over The Chatterbox in May. While breakfast and brunch are his forte, Bill wanted to add a night-time element to his recent venture at the shore. Enter the Betz Room, a separate restaurant on the east side of The Chatterbox where upscale dinners are served. Chef Geno Betz – who spent the past 12 years working in Philadelphia kitchens, most recently as executive chef at Stateside on East Passyunk – created a seafood-centric menu with Italian and Mediterranean influences. “I brought my experience from everywhere I worked,” said Geno, whose culinary journey also includes stops at famous Philadelphia fine-dining restaurants such as Lacroix at The Rittenhouse and Le Bec Fin. “We have fresh pasta made in-house and a scallop dish that’s a fan favorite. It’s an elevated approach, but one I feel is fun for down the shore.” The Betz Room menu is simple in its options (there are between four to six choices for each course) but not its variety. Dinners include chicken, seafood, and steak, vegetables, and
