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A longtime Point Lookout favorite is embracing change while holding onto the qualities that made it a community staple for three decades.
Formerly known as JoJo Apples, the neighborhood restaurant at 85 Lido Blvd. is now known as JoJo’s Beachside Cafe, introducing a new name, new menu offerings, new nighttime entertainment and a renewed focus on creating memorable experiences for the community.
The transition comes after a four-month winter renovation that refreshed the restaurant’s interior for its next phase under new operator Jason Barje, a Point Lookout resident of 20 years.
While the restaurant has a new identity, Barje and building owner and partner John Camiolo say the goal is not to replace what made the restaurant successful, but to build on it.
“There have been some changes, but what’s the same is that this is still Point Lookout’s family restaurant,” Camiolo told Greater Long Island. “We’ve been here 30 years, and that won’t change. This place is special, and every town needs a place like this where it’s all about the families and making memories.”
Barje said the focus is on adding new experiences while preserving the familiar atmosphere that longtime customers have come to expect.
“When something runs this well, you don’t want to tweak it too much, but you can definitely add to it,” Barje said with a smile. “The one thing we are trying to add is to make coming here an experience, not just a place to come and dine. It’s a better dining experience by adding layers.”
Those layers include guest bartenders from the neighborhood, weekly live music and trivia nights designed to give residents and visitors more reasons to gather at the restaurant after breakfast and lunch hours.
That also includes some new savory food options like the Fresh Catch Grill, featuring fresh seafood with customizable preparations. There’s also JoJo’s Taco Stand with a choice of fish, shrimp or chicken.
“We wanted to give our guests more fresh, lighter options,” said Barje. “These additions complement our existing favorites.”
One of the most visible additions sits just outside the restaurant’s front door: a giant yellow Adirondack chair that has quickly become a photo opportunity for guests.
Visitors are encouraged to take a picture in the chair, with those memories eventually becoming part of a growing display inside the restaurant.
The idea reflects the restaurant’s vision of creating a place where people build memories that last.
“It’s like a home here,” Barje said. “You feel comfortable when you walk in the door. We have servers here who remember what you ate last summer, and that’s really incredible.”
For Camiolo, that sense of familiarity is what makes the restaurant special.
And he says the same is true of Point Lookout. The small waterfront hamlet sits at the eastern end of the barrier island.
At the end of the southbound Loop Parkway, most drivers turn right (west) toward Lido Beach, the beach clubs and Long Beach.
“Next time you come down the Loop, make the left instead of the right, and you’ll find us,” Camiolo said with a laugh.
Inside and outside at JoJo’s Beachside Cafe in Point Lookout. (Credit: GLI/Andrew Rappaport)
Top: JoJo’s owner John Camiolo in the red, his wife Karen Romanelli, and new operator Jason Barje. (Credit: GLI/Andrew Rappaport)
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