New coffee bars

Here is an excerpt from Craig LaBan's online chat:

Craig LaBan: Sorry about the two-week hiatus - I was down the Shore doing some serious research on beach eats. You can read the first installment of that annual two-part Shore package Sunday, which features some truly great meals from Cape May to L.B.I., and several noteworthy stops in between.

One is the OC Boardwalk, where a pair of very new coffee bars have given me hope in a coffee desert. The brand-new Three Fish window at the southern end (1322 Boardwalk) is serving up some very smooth Vista Clara espresso from Washington State. On the northern end at 650 B'walk, meanwhile, in the arcade next to Wonderland owned by the 7th Street Surf Shop, the sign for "Locals Coffee Bar" should be going up any day now over the thatched-roof counter where a spanking new Synesso machine is cranking out some serious joe from Rojo's in Lambertville. Both of these shops are still working out the barista kinks - but I already loved what I tasted so far.

What are some of your favorite places to visit at the Shore, both old and new?

Reader: Stopped at the Diving Horse in Avalon last week. I'm happy to say it was just as good as last summer.

C.L.: Yes, the Diving Horse was certainly the Restaurant of Summer '10. Glad to hear it's still rocking this season. I tend to visit the new places each year, so I'll just have to make do with what the P&K crew is cooking up in town at 20th and Lombard this summer. There are worse fates.

Reader: Any suggestions for good lobster-roll places in Philly or the burbs?

C.L.: We covered this territory pretty well last year, and I'm not sure yet if there are any new entries to rival the rolls of Sansom Street - both at the Oyster House and Happy Rooster. Down the Shore, I had a very tasty one (in a top-split toasted bun, no less!) at Harry's Oyster Bar, the new seafood spot on the boardwalk side of Bally's in AC from the family behind Docks' and the Knife & Fork.

Reader: I heard that Sean Weinberg from Alba was involved in a new restaurant near Ocean City. Did you get a chance to check it out?