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Schellenger’s Restaurant at Schellenger and Atlantic avenues in the heart of Wildwood, has been catering to families for the past 27 years. The restaurant is best known for its extravagant nautical novelty displays on the restaurant’s roof top and its large seafood-oriented menu.
Tony and Valerie Trivelis and Tony’s sister, Irene Karros and her husband, John, purchased the restaurant in 1978 when it was a steakhouse called El Rancho. The restaurant at one time featured cooking in the front windows to attract potential diners walking past on the avenue.
The two families purchased the business and transformed it into a seafood house where diners could enjoy the freshest of seafood prepared in a variety of recipes.
Schellenger’s menu can take the prize when it comes to offering the largest menu in the area. The owners and chef at Schellenger’s make it a point to amend the menu each year to keep their customers satisfied. “There is always something new out there people want to try,†said Valerie. “We like to update the menu and add new items and even take off items.†Tony and Valerie travel a lot and pick up on different menu items, décor ideas and even new cocktail drinks. “You can’t just sit at home and think of it,†Valerie added.
Tony, Valerie and John are involved in the kitchen while Irene is head of the front dining room. Together with Chef Glenn Dunleavy, who has been at Schellenger’s for at least 16 years, the trio has created some great recipes to offer this year’s diners. One of the new appetizer items this season is the Oyster Rockefeller with creamy spinach and crabmeat,topped with Alfredo sauce.
The main menu has pages of entrees to choose from including seafood, poultry, pasta, steaks and sandwiches. Valerie said this year is the year of seafood. “Everyone wants seafood,†she said. “Just last weekend we sold over a 100 whole, live lobsters. One night we even sold out of lobster. We just didn’t have enough.â€Â
There are a variety of lobster dishes to choose from on the menu. There’s “Lobster Bake†which includes a whole lobster, clams, peel-n-eat shrimp, snow crab, Dungeness crab, corn on the cob and potato wedges. There are a variety of other combinations that include lobster, crab and shrimp, as well as steak [for the meat eaters].
Other featured meals include the Fisherman’s Feast served with a whole lobster with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and fresh fish sautéed in olive oil, garlic and white wine, served over linguini. There is also the Special Filet Mignon dinner; “Maryland Style†Crab Cakes; a Shrimp Bonanza of fried shrimp, stuffed shrimp and coconut shrimp with shrimp scampi; and dozens more to choose from.
Everything from filets to any type of seafood is served together with special ingredients creating a dinner only deserved on a vacation.
Each entrée is served with a crisp garden salad with house dressing served family style; a choice of potato and a daily vegetable or a side of spaghetti; bread and butter.
Desserts, too, are plentiful at Schellenger’s. There is a selection of “Classic†cake or pie du jour and Bindi desserts offered in peach, lemon, and coconut flavors.
If you don’t feel like ending your dining experience at Schellenger’s with dessert, then head to the small lounge area for an after dinner cocktail. We are well known for our specialty martinis. Our Captain's or Mate's Specialty is served in a nine-ounce signature glass. Some new ones to hit the menu this season are the White Cosmo, Ripe Raspberry, Chocolate Covered Cherry, Tangy Tea and the Schellenger Glass Combo that can be taken home but not until you’ve enjoyed the “Wipe Out†inside first.
Not only are the cocktails creative, but the appearance of the restaurant is indeed interesting and unique. The story behind the rooftop décor began in 1999 when Tony wanted to hide the air conditioning units which are on the roof of the restaurant. He began by camouflaging them behind nautical figures and apparatus such as old buoys, wooden boats and carved sea captains just to name a few of the dozens of items that adorn the rooftop.
The Trivelis’ and Karros’ have been adding to their collection over the last few years and have picked up their props through their travels up and down the coast. Some items came from Massachusetts and Maine. New to the rooftop décor last season is a comical lobster trying to escape a boiling pot of water. It was custom made in Florida and is located on the southwest corner of the roof.
The busy rooftop has attracted so much attention throughout the years. It has even served as a wedding back drop a few years ago as well as a movie set ["The Shore"].
Visitors have come to enjoy the character of the restaurant, especially the children. The little ones have been known to approach the hostess asking how to get upstairs to play miniature golf.
The nautical theme continues inside the restaurant with murals on the walls and wooden carvings of sea life hanging throughout the dining room. The rear of the dining room has been updated with a new seating area. A dock-like setting has been designed so diners feel like they are dining right on a pier which is fully equipped with pilings and working buoy lights.
Schellenger’s Restaurant accepts all major credit cards, has free parking across the street and is handicap accessible. For more information call 522-0433.
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