Breakfast Makes Sweet Return At Longtime Barnegat Restaurant

BARNEGAT, NJ — For nearly two decades, Sweet Jenny’s in Barnegat has been known among locals as a one-stop restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

But due to staff shortages and limited help over the past year, the restaurant had to reduce their hours and take breakfast off the menu — to the disappointment of many, according to owner Joe Dringus.

“The demand has definitely been there. People ask about breakfast all the time,” Dringus said. “For 18 plus years, we were known as a breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant. To take it away, our clientele was like ‘We want it back, we want it back.’”

After nearly eight months, people finally got their wish as breakfast returned to Sweet Jenny’s menu on Friday and will continue to be served on weekends.

“We’ve been able to build up a team strong enough and large enough to bring back breakfast,” Dringus said. “We’re certainly moving in the right direction.”

Sweet Jenny's will be open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sweet Jenny's will continue to serve only lunch and dinner on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Currently the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

If Sweet Jenny's continues to maintain enough staff, breakfast may eventually be added to the menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well.

“Our breakfast has always been wildly popular,” Dringus said, noting that a few new items were added to the restaurant’s extensive menu.

“We’ve had a really strong, loyal fan base for a long time. It really feels good to see all the people coming back out,” he said.

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