Our Story
Summer of ’24. Robin Kramer was working 80 hours a week at the very busy Betty’s Seafood Shack in Margate, NJ and was tired and beat-up from the grind of running a restaurant. It was then that, for whatever reason, her husband and co-owner of Betty’s, Steve Marchel, chose to say to her, “I think we should try to get the cookie place next door and do a BBQ/Fried Chicken joint.” After what Steve thought was an expected pregnant pause, Robin said (to Steve’s great surprise) “Let’s do it.” With that statement and a shared high-five later, Betty’s BBQ & Fried Chicken was born and the work to open in Spring of ’25 began immediately.
AUTHENTIC BBQ + FRIED CHICKEN
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AUTHENTIC BBQ + FRIED CHICKEN ★
In previous years, Steve had taken good-sport Robin to some of his favorite BBQ joints across the country. He LOVED good BBQ and was thrilled when Robin reacted to the good stuff as he hoped, as she loved it, too. Together they hit Terry Black’s in Deep Ellum for some great Central Texas BBQ, especially their incomparable Beef Rib, Pecan Lodge in Dallas, for their heavenly ribs and brisket and ZZ Texas Craft BBQ in Richmond VA for their ribs, brisket, pulled pork and their cool Southern vibe.
In earlier years, among many other joints, Steve had enjoyed BBQ at Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX for their world-famous Brisket and Links, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous in Memphis, TN for their legendary dry-rubbed ribs, Rodney Scott’s in Charleston, SC, Joe’s KC BBQ in Kansas City, KS and Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue in Kansas City, MO. Steve and Robin even had a large smoker fabricated by Pits ‘n Spits in Houston, installed in their backyard in Margate. They (especially Steve) loved low ‘n slow smoked meats that much, after having eaten at all of those joints and wanted to duplicate that BBQ at home.
Together, or on trips before they were a couple, Steve and Robin also sought the best Fried Chicken they could find when traveling. They hit Husk in Charleston, SC, Hattie B’s in Nashville, TN, Ad Hoc in Napa, CA, and the Little Goat in Chicago, IL for some great Chicken. They were always frustrated when returning home with the choices for good chicken in our area. They felt similarly re. BBQ. They decided to open a place that features BBQ and Chicken approaching the level of care and quality they enjoyed throughout their travels.
Drawing from the best in their culinary travels, Steve and Robin feature high quality proteins at Betty’s BBQ and Fried Chicken, like Certified Angus Brisket and Free-Range, no-hormone Chicken, as well as old-school sides like Mac ‘n Cheese, Slaw, Corn Bread, Texas Beans w Brisket, and Creamed Corn w Jalapeño. They believe Coastal South Jersey was lacking great BBQ AND Fried Chicken and opened Betty’s BBQ & FC to fill those voids in our community.
Pull up a seat on the bay in Margate, NJ and enjoy the view and some authentic BBQ and Fried Chicken that would make any Southern Grandma proud to call her own. And if your pal prefers seafood and you feel like ribs, just go next door to Betty’s Seafood Shack and eat together while enjoying one of our incredible sunsets over the bay. Steve and Robin had a similar vision for a New England-style seafood shack for Margate and opened Betty’s Seafood Shack next door two seasons ago. Now our diners can have the high-quality and creative New England-style Seafood, low ‘n slow craft BBQ and our 8 -spice Fried Chicken in the same spot!!!! Welcome to Betty’s BBQ & Fried Chicken in Margate, NJ! Life is better when enjoying great food with a great water view. And don’t forget to bring your choice of beverage as we are a BYO!!
