A new steakhouse has landed in Avalon, New Jersey, bringing hand-cut prime steaks, Japanese A5 Wagyu, caviar service, and fresh Atlantic seafood to Ocean Drive. Amara is now open at 7888 Ocean Drive, occupying a spot on Seven Mile Island.
The opening was reported by FOX 29 Philadelphia, whose Jenn Frederick visited the new steakhouse as part of the station's coverage. According to Resy, the multi-level dining space also features a cocktail program and wine selection to go along with its steak-and-seafood focus.
A Mediterranean Resort Look
Design firm Morrissey Architecture & Interior Design designed Amara for client DAKU Hospitality, giving the space a Mediterranean resort aesthetic.
Social media reporting from regional food commentators, including Bon NAPpetit, indicated that Amara's operating owners are also affiliated with established area restaurants including La Fontana and Polpo, tying the new steakhouse to operators already familiar with the shore's dining scene.
A Town Built for Big Summer Spending
Amara's arrival lands in a borough uniquely shaped for high-end dining demand. Local real estate data from Berger Realty shows that Avalon's year-round population of roughly 1,400 residents can expand to more than 30,000 visitors on peak summer holiday weekends, a dramatic seasonal surge that shore hospitality businesses depend on for the bulk of their annual revenue.
That surge arrives in a town with considerable spending power to match. The demand for fine dining shows up in the job market too — recruitment listings from summer 2026 on Indeed indicated fine-dining server positions at Amara offered weekly compensation ranging between $800 and $2,500.
No Boardwalk, But Plenty of Rules
Avalon occupies the northern half of Seven Mile Island, shared with neighboring Stone Harbor, and maintains its motto — Cooler by a Mile — without a commercial boardwalk, according to Berger Realty. That quieter, more residential character comes with rules that have drawn debate. As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, a band was shut down at 8 p.m. amid a dispute over liquor-license restrictions this past summer.
Long-Term Questions for a Barrier Island Business
Beyond the regulatory and seasonal pressures, Amara is now open in Avalon. For now, the new steakhouse is betting that Avalon's wealthy, seasonal crowds will keep filling tables for prime steaks and caviar well into the coming summers.
