Cape May, NJ - revisited
We're planning a quick (last minute) day trip down to Cape May tomorrow, with hopes of seeing some whales on a 3-hour tour (if the boat is called the S.S. Minnow, I ain't gettin my ass on it).
Anyway, we've never been down there and I'm just wondering if any of you have enjoyed any casual dining enough to recommend a good place for an early dinner? We'll be fresh off the boat (around 4:00), wild hair, tender sun kissed flesh, sweaty salt smell, so obviously we're not looking for a romantic candlelit dinner for 2.
I'm interested in a place with a nice view, that's sit down, with the AC cranked and some nice cold drinks preferably the fun kind. ;)
I'm not big on seafood, so it's got to be a place that has a variety of fare.
:)
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18 Comments:
@Southern - As soon as I read Cape May, my first thought was Peter Shields Inn. BUT, that isn't what you are looking for. Right about on the beach is McGlade's, a BYO. Martini Beach is pretty good. They have a full bar with fun tropical drinks. I know you said you are not a fan of seafood, but McGlade's has a fried lobster tail YUM! Have a great time.
izatryt at 9:36AM on 07/11/08
you know izatyt, lobster is the ONLY thing from the sea that I will eat, and I'm very new to eating it, have only had it a couple of times, and it's been at Ruth's Chris, Tristan cold water tails to be exact, I've read that cold water ones are better in terms of not getting a "fishy" lobster, which apparently occurs more frequently in warm water lobsters..
but thank you for your recommendations, I will google the places you listed and peruse the info!
I saw a mention of a place called Yesterday's Heroes, thought it might be someplace that my husband would enjoy because of the baseball crap they supposedly have there, but I'm not sure it's still open as I'm not finding recent info about it, do you know anything about that place?
thanks again!
Southern_bella at 9:46AM on 07/11/08
@Southern - Being from New England, cold water lobster is the ONLY lobster I will eat. As far as Yesterday's Heroes, let's just say.......eh.
izatryt at 10:11AM on 07/11/08
@iz - hehe, your comment on Yesterday's Heroes is noted and I will take the joint out of the possibilities (I still think it might be closed anyway). ;)
back to lobsters for a minute, we took 2 Tristan tails down to visit my family, my father picked up 2 frozen warm Nicaraguan tails at SAM'S CLUB because he was adamant that there's no taste/texture difference between them.
Can I just gloat a minute or two at the fact that he was forced to admit that there was a notable difference?
Southern_bella at 10:20AM on 07/11/08
You gloat sista! That ranks right up there with receiving a toast from a sommelier for "calling" them on serving an incorrect vintage.
I just checked for you and YH is now the Atlas Inn and the restaurant is Bloody Mary's. They also have a south seas "style" bar. Don't know a darn thing about it.
izatryt at 10:34AM on 07/11/08
Im going to cape may in august...my bf's family has a condo there so I've been a few times. Honestly, I'm not super familiar with the restaurant scene, but if you are looking for a view you can go to the Lobster House. they have an outdoor deck area where you can sit, and its much more casual than inside. I've never eaten inside at the nicer restaurant, but I *think* it's more expensive than if you go outside. Still, Im pretty sure they specialize in seafood so it may not be your thing. since you like lobster, you can also get some cooked lobster in their fish market and taken it down to the beach??
Another recommendation is Henrys on the Beach. Its really really casual, and they have awesome views. I only went for breakfast and it was the typical diner type fare, but I know they have tons of selections aside from seafood for dinner and I think they are open all day so it may be right up your alley. have fun!
banana at 10:52AM on 07/11/08
Oh, I too am going down to the Shore soon--any other reccomendations around there (Wildwood/Ocean City etc.)? I thought I read that there was an outdoor lunch place where you could buy fresh seafood...
NYminknit at 10:56AM on 07/11/08
@iz - yep, I also saw the mention of Bloody Mary's just a few minutes ago and will look more later!
that's what happens when you make a last minute trip, not a lot of time to plan. I haven't had much time today at work, preparing for a trial doesn't leave a lot of down time, but I'll have time later this afternoon and evening to look a bit more once I am home.
@banana - I saw a lot of reviews on the Lobster House, a lot of negative, so I'm skipping it this trip, but thank you for the info on Henry's, I'm adding that to my list of places to get more info on (when I have more time tonight to research)
Southern_bella at 11:04AM on 07/11/08
Looks like my question will help a few people going down there soon, so I'm glad I made the time to ask, hope you Banana and NYminknit enjoy your upcoming trips and find some good food :)
Southern_bella at 11:06AM on 07/11/08
@Southern - Don't waste your time on Lobster House. Way overrated.
izatryt at 11:17AM on 07/11/08
@iz - that's the overall impression I was getting from reviews. ;)
Southern_bella at 11:32AM on 07/11/08
Try the Blue Pig in Congress Hall. The food is good and they have a really cool bar in the hotel as well.
VerasTastyFreeze at 12:12PM on 07/11/08
honestly, I kind of agree about the Lobster House...my bf has been going there since he was a kid and raved about their clam chowder. I was underwhelmed, to say the least. But imo they do have good, fresh live lobsters if you have somewhere to cook them. I only suggested it because I knew it had a view :) let us know if you find somewhere delicious! Im much more well versed in the ways of the west coast, but I would love to know some great places in cape may, if only to show off in front of the bf's family ;)
banana at 12:13PM on 07/11/08
For those who were interested, we ended up grabbing a couple of drinks and lunch at Cabanas off of Beach Ave. Nice place, right across from the beach, nice breeze, nice atmosphere and I highly recommend a drink from the bar called the "Hawaiian Punch".
sadly we didn't see any whales, but saw lots of packs of dolphins, some had cute little babies sticking close to their mommies.
also saw loads of big jellyfish and schools of sea nettles (I think that's what they were) and even some horseshoe crabs had wandered up to the surface for some sun and air.
I was surprised to read/hear that 3 people drowned that morning while we were on the boat, because the ocean was eerily calm out offshore, it was so smooth that you could see the wind ripple the waters.
As many jellyfish we saw while we were pulling away in the boat, during the voyage, and returning, you wouldn't catch my ass in that water. YIPE!
Southern_bella at 10:07AM on 07/14/08
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad you had a good time. How was the food at Cabanas?
izatryt at 10:15AM on 07/14/08
it wasn't bad, I had a burger, my husband had a crab cake sandwich, which was popular, a lot of people around us ordered it too, he said it was pretty good.
it was just hot, and very crowded down there, I started to just get annoyed and we hung around for a little bit and then just decided to drive home, we were both tired and a little sunburned.
I won't get into the noise the kid behind us insisted on making almost the entire boat ride, I'll just say to the people with kids, your kid making that noise loudly at the back of people's heads isn't something that's cute. Little brat sounded like a damn bullhorn.
ok, I guess I did get into it... a little. :P
Southern_bella at 1:51PM on 07/14/08
If you are new to New Jersey and you will be in Cape May for more than one meal, be sure to try New Jersey's unique food, Taylor Pork Roll. For breakfast, order a Taylor (sometimes called "Taylor ham") and egg sandwich on a hard roll. For lunch, a Taylor Pork Roll sandwich on a hamburger bun. I know there are several places in Cape May, most right along the beach, that sell this New Jersey specialty. Also try mussels marinara, available at most pizza places.
JerseyWarren at 5:42PM on 07/14/08
oh no, JerseyWarren, I've lived up here for 12 years, I know all about the pork roll ;)
Just never drove further south on the parkway than AC. :P
Southern_bella at 7:26PM on 07/14/08