The 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Cape May
For food lovers, the historic city of Cape May is a great destination. For seafood lovers, it’s paradise on earth. Set on the tip of the Cape May Peninsula where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, it’s in the perfect spot to enjoy the spoils of the sea. Whether you prefer your restaurants to be of the fine-dining variety or the casual, hole-in-the-wall sort, you’ll be spoilt for options to enjoy some of the state’s finest (and freshest) fish. If you’re not sure where to start on your gourmet adventures, check out our selection of the 10 best seafood restaurants in Cape May.
10. Harpoons on the Bay
Where: 91 Beach Dr, Cape May, NJ 08204
If you like plenty of choice, the extensive menu at Harpoons on the Bay should keep you happy, as should the lively, family-friendly atmosphere, the incredibly friendly, efficient service, and the excellent entertainment. The magnificent views over the Delaware Bay, meanwhile, are an attraction in their own right.
9. Lucky Bones Backwater Grille
Where: 1200 Rte 109 S, Cape May, NJ 08204
When it comes to hearty portions of lip-smacking food, Lucky Bones Backwater Grille is up there with the best. The menu might not be the most refined in the world, but it’s full of every kind of seafood dish you could imagine, from Clam Boat Pizza and Crab and Shrimp Cake Sandwich to Crab Fries and Cuban Spiced U-Peel-Em Shrimp Cocktail. Service is fast, friendly, and efficient, while the informal, casual vibe means you can get stuck in without worrying about making a mess in the process.
8. Cape May Fish Market
Where: 408 Washington St, Cape May, NJ 08204
For the best bacon scallop roll you’ll ever wrap your lips around, there’s only one place to head – Cape May Fish Market. The rest of the menu won’t let you down either, offering a wide selection of thoughtfully conceived, expertly crafted dishes that cover everything from Conch Fritters with Sweet Chili sauce and Oysters Rockefeller to New England Clam Chowder and Crab-Meat Stuffed Flounder. And then there’s that bacon scallop roll…
7. Harbor View Restaurant
Where: 954 Ocean Dr, Cape May, NJ 08204
Even if the food wasn’t quite as good as it was, the views from the 2nd-floor dining room of Harbor View Restaurant would be worth the trip alone. Fortunately for hungry diners, the food isn’t half bad either, with a great selection of seafood dishes, egg dishes (the omelets are as fluffy as clouds), and meaty mains that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Prices are reasonable, and service is as friendly and attentive as you could wish for.
6. Ocean View Family Restaurant
Where: 235 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204
If you’re dining on a shoestring, Ocean View Family Restaurant makes a great choice. Despite being one of the most affordable seafood restaurants in Cape May, there’s no doubting the quality of the food on offer. The menu is a dream, offering almost every kind of seafood imaginable, cooked to perfection and served with a variety of sides. The deserts menu is just as impressive, with a selection of homemade pies and cakes that will have you booking your next meal before you’ve finished your first.
5. 410 Bank Street Restaurant
Where: 410 Bank St, Cape May, NJ 08204
What awaits guests of 410 Bank Street Restaurant? A friendly, efficient service for starters, followed by a refined, confident menu full of classics such as Atlantic Swordfish served with a Champagne Crabmeat cream sauce, Chilean Sea Bass Creole encrusted with fresh herbs and ground pecans and served with a Shrimp and Crawfish creole sauce, and Gulf Stream Macadamia Mahi Mahiin served with Vanilla Island Rum sauce and Polynesian rice. It may not be the cheapest option around, but it’s unquestionably one of the best.
4. The Lobster House
Where: 906 Schellengers Landing Rd, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cape May, NJ 08204
If lobster’s your idea of heaven, don’t miss a visit to The Lobster House. As its name suggests, lobster is the name of the game here, with everything from Lobster Bisque to Lobster Salad and Lobster Tail. If you’ve bought an appetite with you, try the hefty Schooner Dinner (one pound of lobster, cherrystone clams, scallops, shrimp and mussels, steamed and served in a kettle) or the hulking Broiled Fisherman’s Wharf Platter, a giant selection of crab stuffed lobster, flounder, scallops, clam casino, and stuffed shrimp.
3. Backstreet Simply Delicious
Where: 600 Park Blvd, West Cape May, NJ 08204-1267
If you’re looking for somewhere that the whole family will enjoy, you won’t go wrong with Backstreet Simply Delicious. The menu is varied enough to suit every kind of taste and appetite and includes a good selection of kid-friendly dishes. While the seafood is good enough to satisfy even the most discerning fish fan, the Key Lime Pie is something else entirely – even if you’d usually skip desert, you’ll want to leave room for this one.
2. Oyster Bay Steak and Seafood
Where: 615 Lafayette St Cape May, NJ 08204
Who doesn’t love the combination of seafood and steak? If there was ever a marriage made in heaven, this would be it. The food at Oyster Bay Steak and Seafood illustrates exactly why surf ‘n’ turf is such a righteous union, with delectably fresh fish from local waters and succulent steaks from Angus beef coming together to create the kind of food memory we could all do with a few more of. Even if we leave the food to one side, there’s a lot to love about this great little restaurant, including fast, friendly service and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
1. Mad Batter Restaurant
Where: 19 Jackson Street Cape May, NJ 08204
Mad Batter Restaurant opened its doors in 1976. 44 years later, it’s still as fresh, innovative and popular as ever. Set right in the heart of the historic district, it makes the ideal place for breakfast (don’t miss the crab benedict), lunch (the Maryland crab cake sandwich is to die for) and dinner (the award-winning lump crab cakes make a fine choice). With 19 beers on tap, a very affordable wine and martini list, and an unbeatable level of service, it’s not hard to see why it’s considered such a local institution.
