Overboard Pub & Grill
New to Seabrook Beach this summer, Overboard Pub & Grill (186 Ocean Blvd., Seabrook, overboardpubandgrill.com) is the brainchild of owner Jim Censabella, who wanted to provide a year-round spot for the locals to come hang out and enjoy quality food. “There are a lot of bars down in the St. Petersburg area of Florida, where I go down to often … that are similar,” Censabella said. “They’re for the locals … and so I thought that Seabrook Beach needed something like that.” The eatery boasts a menu of fresh seafood in the form of lobster rolls, haddock tacos, crab cakes and fish and chips, along with a variety of other sandwiches, starters and burgers, plus a beach-themed bar with a full line of cocktails, an outdoor deck, surfboard-like tables and a regular schedule of live music and themed events. Censabella, who had a longtime career in the corporate world, said that Overboard’s concept was something he’d “been wanting to do for a long time.” When the space formerly housing Sharon’s Sea Grill was up for sale, he jumped at the opportunity, ultimately recruiting longtime industry veteran John Nemr as executive chef. Nemr most recently worked at Whiskey & Wine in Concord, but also has experience working in restaurants in Manhattan. “He’s done a magnificent job with the type of menu that I wanted to put out, [with] the tapas the stars of the menu and some really cool entrees,” Censabella said. The Scene recently caught up with Censabella to talk about some of his personal favorite menu items at Overboard Pub & Grill and what diners can expect when they visit.
How long has Overboard Pub & Grill been around?
I started building it in January, gutting it all out and rebuilding everything inside, including the deck. We opened May 20.
What makes Overboard Pub & Grill unique?
Our starter food menu is key. Things like the avocado sushi rolls, the Wellfleet oysters [and] the tuna tartare … have really set us apart, I think, from the rest of the beach. … People are like, ‘I can’t believe I’m having sushi rolls on the beach,’ but yeah, you are. … Nothing’s frozen in our place, either. Everything’s fresh. … We accommodate vegan and gluten-free folks as well. We even have gluten-free Frialators.
What is your favorite thing on your menu?
I’m a seafood guy, and I love a good lobster roll. Our lobster roll is $9.99, and you get a big honking amount of lobster on a hot dog bun with fries or onion rings. I also love our sushi rolls. … I mean, I’ve tried pretty much everything on the menu, so it’s hard [to choose]. Our po’ boy sandwiches and our steak bombs are amazing.
What is something everyone should try?
I’ve had people tell me that they’ve been all around the world and have had mussels … and that our mussels are some of the best they’ve ever had. We offer them two ways — with a red sauce or with a white wine butter garlic sauce. … As far as entrees, we have an item called the New England Creole, which is haddock with a special white wine sauce, and you have fresh spinach on the side with rice. You don’t see spinach a whole lot [as] a side, and people love it.
What celebrity would you like to see eating at Overboard Pub & Grill?
I’d love to see [comedian] Bill Burr walk in. That guy cracks me up. He’s a New England native and a true Boston guy. So, Bill, if you’re out there, come on and stop by. If you come in, I’ll name a sandwich after you!
What is an essential skill to running a restaurant?
I treat my employees like they are family. … Everybody that works at my place has different things going on in their life, and so you have to treat your people like you want to be treated. You have to lead by example. … I always say nobody is bigger than this business, including me.
What is your favorite thing about being on the Seacoast?
I’m a beach bum at heart. I’ve been coming to the beach for years, prior to having my children, and now they’ve grown up with me, and we go to the beach together.
— Matt Ingersoll
Courtesy photo.
