Staff preps Sandbar Joe's floating food boat for work in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

You’ve heard of food on wheels — how about food afloat, delivered right to your boat?

Check out Sandbar Joe’s, a refurbished pontoon boat that cruises around Cape May county waters, offering hot dogs, tacos and more to boaters passing by.

The seafaring restaurant first set sail in June as the first and only food boat in Cape May county, and has since sparked fandom on the water, with many local vessels sidling up for some grub on the go.

The boat runs its route Thursday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m (Thursday and Friday weather permitting, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine).

Sandbar Joe's floating food boat menu in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

The menu is kept simple: four to six items with rotating specials.

“When a lot of boaters come out, they have coolers and bring their own drinks,” said owner Joe Gratz, of North Wildwood. “Everyone is looking for an easy snack, which is really our business model. How can we get out there quickly and serve people out in the water for lunch or early dinner?”

Gratz collaborates with local chef Michael Farrel to design the menu and cook the items in a kitchen in Wildwood prior to heading out in the water. The most common options include pulled pork, barbecue ribs, hot dogs, chicken salad, sliders and “walking tacos” — a snack bag filled with crunched up Doritos chips, a scoop of chili and nacho cheese, lettuce, and sour cream.

The food prep station on Sandbar Joe's floating food boat in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

The boat’s marine-grade generator allows all the food to be stored properly and held at warm or cold temperatures with a fridge, work table and food warmers and crock pots.

“When I bought this boat, it was a typical pontoon – seats in the front, seats in the back,” Gratz said. “We completely gutted it and did a full DIY to be able to do this.”

Chris Penza, left, and Joe Gratz discuss their route on Sandbar Joe's floating food boat in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

At least three people work on the boat at once: One drives, another prepares the food, and the third interacts with customers and handles money.

Last week, I made the trek down to Wildwood to hop aboard Sandbar Joe’s. While customers usually remain on their own vessels, I was able to snag a spot to observe what this unlikely Jersey Shore business was all about.

Chelsea Merrick, left, and Joe Gratz prep a hot dog for a customer on Sandbar Joe's floating food boat in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

The boat typically starts the day docked at a private slip in North Wildwood, then makes its way up north toward Champagne Island, around the sound, under the Route 147 bridge and south through the bayside sounds and coves, into Wildwood and then rafting up to boats at Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest.

It was a perfectly sunny day and although the waters were a bit bumpy, the atmosphere was just great — prime summer vibes for a hot dog. I was surprised Sandbar Joe’s was stocked not only with simple fixings like ketchup, mustard and relish, but with chili and cheese, too. Nor was I expecting to love their ribs as much as I did; extra saucy and excellently seasoned with a smoky flavor.

Chris Penza serves two hot dogs to a customer from Sandbar Joe's floating food boat in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

But the best part of the day was watching how the team interacted with their customers. They use a cowbell and airhorn to get the attention of the nearby boaters, also yelling “Hot Dogs!” or “Walking Tacos!” like carnival barkers.

When a customer’s order is complete and paid with cash or through Venmo, they deliver the wrapped food via fishing net or even toss it to the customer if the customer asks them to. The experience is akin to the Famous River Hot Dog Man that used to sell on the Delaware River, but has since closed.

When asked why he started the food boat and why in Cape May county, Gratz mentioned an inspiring experience in Florida.

Chris Penza, l to r, Chelsea Merrick, and Joe Gratz pose for a photo between stops on Sandbar Joe's floating food boat in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday, August 6, 2022.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

“I go down there a lot and they have these pizza boats and ice cream boats. I was like ‘we got to bring this to Cape May county,’” said Gratz. “My family and I grew up coming down here. In my opinion, we’re in one of the best spots in New Jersey.”

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Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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