This place was a great location and a lot of different seating options. They're directly across the street from the beach and it's a heavy residential area where there aren't many other dining options so the wait times can be a bit lengthy. It's a well run operation and they are very efficient at getting people in and out. The Painkiller drink I had was amazing and strong - no notes. The fried grouper sandwich was just ok, I'd try something else if given the chance but I've come to expect more when getting seafood along the shore. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Painkiller - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This is not the first time this has happened. We took people for dinner last night. Always a long wait so we go to the bar. You waiting in a line behind people sitting. No designated area for walk ups. People come in yell over you and get their drink ASAP. Another waited on a person behind 3 people whom had been waiting for 15 min and were up next. Come on!! Pretty place but staff stinks. If you want a tip maybe do your job and wait on walk ups the right way read more

Came here with my family and everything was just ok. The food was ok, not great. It is extremely loud, and hard to talk to the people you came with. read more

I've been here plenty of times through their expansion. This time around I sat in the dining area and was disappointed to be served plastic cups as if I were outside. Their menu is pretty huge with a handful of specials. I went with the cod special which was cooked well but the 3 asparagus and flavorless mashed potatoes didn't do it for me. Their fish & chips has changed dramatically. They went from 2 pretty big pieces of fish to 2 that reminded me of the size of chicken tenders. Pretty disappointing for the price! Hope it gets better! read more

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This place is usually a must when in the area for 10 years. Casual restaurant with great service, food, music and views. Not sure what happened this time. Service and views were still there but the food not so much. Oysters Rockefeller was just an oyster with a heaping tablespoon of cold spinach with a sprinkle of like can Parmesan cheese. I pulled all the toppings off and just ate the oyster. Dinner entree chicken Marsala with mashed potatoes. Hardly any sauce on the plate, chicken was still ice cold inside along with the potatoes. Waiter was kind enough to refund for the entree as he said it was cold. I hope they step up their game with the summer season starting. read more

At the bar! Wow so crowded and lots of fun people! The Snap dog is yummy ( no onions for me) . Alone today but not caring cause the bar patrons are so friendly. Service is great Joe is alert and accommodating! read more

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Friendly service, live music, casual beachy vibe, TVs for sports watchers and great sunsets read more

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We're back, baby! So glad we came back once the summer season started. The menu is huge again and everything on it is delish. I keep coming back for the lobster roll and beet salad. Both are so good. A new fav is the mermaid water. It's in a huge bucket and hits the spot. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

CAPE MAY: Harpoons on the Bay is an awesome beach bar with stunning views of the Delaware Bay and leashed and friendly dogs are allowed in designated outdoor areas. We happened to visit on their last day of the 2024 season and it was a packed house with people watching football, taking in the ocean breeze, and savoring a meal and drink. With a menu of American-inspired food for lunch & dinner, and brunch on the weekends, a large cocktail menu, wine list, and an extensive beer list, there is something for everyone at this happening restaurant. Open from about March-October. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Nice inside/outside restaurant/bar setup. Service is good/friendly, and food is fine; beer selection is fine too. Free parking lot in the back. The wait times to be seated can be ridiculous at times, though, so make sure you have a backup if your party doesn't want to wait. They sometimes go unnoticed, but their bathrooms are nice, having recently been redone. read more

Stopped in the first night we were in town looking for a chance to catch a sunset while having dinner. When we got there we put our name on the list ...about a 40 min wait. We took our pager and went across the street to catch some glimpses of the late day sun without the crowd. We did get to see the sunset a few minutes before our pager went off (about 40 minutes exactly). Place was packed & rather raucous - both inside & out. We were seated in a covered area near the room containing a band - pretty good but really loud. Our waiter came around fairly quickly to take our drink/app order....but took awhile to come. When somebody finally came around to take our food order (2 grilled chicken salads), we decided to get it to-go. Took awhile again and both orders came without dressing. Given that this place was extremely busy & the place was obviously understaffed on this Saturday night (on Memorial Day Weekend) I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. If we were here to drink & party, we'd've stayed, but instead we went back to our rental & relaxed and and devoured our food - was pretty good! read more

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We live right down the street from this place and it has great food, seafood, and the best view!

I liked the vibe of the place. Right across from the beach outdoor covered seating. I had the pork sandwich with broccoli rabe and au jus which I loved (will be back again). The wife had a lobster roll which she really liked as well. Tried to come back on a Friday night with the doggie but they were very crowded with a long wait. Really liked this place read more

I had the Nashville hot sandwich I flavor was not bad but it was spicy at all which I was expecting it to be if it was considered "hot" the chicken was over cooked it was dry and chewy. The service was spot on the food came out nice and quick and the waiter was attentive. The place is very loud but what do you expect on a Friday night nothing to complain about I enjoyed the environment but definitely should just stick to seafood if you don't know how to cook chicken properly read more

Great margaritas, great shrimp, great bartenders. We saw a beautiful sunset from this bar and loved the access to the beach across the road after our visit read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We had a fabulous time at Harpoons. Food was delicious; especially chowder and bisque. The servers were friendly and took good care of us. The location is the star, with spectacular sunsets from your table. Definitely returning often. read more

View and location are excellent. Enjoyed our chicken sandwich and crab cake. The pretzel was terrific too. Our rum buckets were perfect to enjoy watching the local bikers and traffic pass by with the beautiful Delaware bay backdrop. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Ordered the half chicken dinner for 23.00. I was served a chicken leg only. I asked the server why i only got a small chicken leg. He said thats the way its served this year. Watch out when ordering the "half chicken". Wont be going back here anytime soon. read more

Had an excellent seafood lunch facing the water. Great vibe and service, will definitely be back! Get there early as the place fills up quick. read more

Wait was about 20 mins, drinks were slow to arrive, whoever was working the fryer was over cooking the food, our fish and chicken overcooked and the fries were mixed with stale fries. You pay for the view abd ambiance. Good for drinks and meeting friends. Pass on the food. read more

Visited on a Friday in March. The drinks and service were great. The food was not good. Guest 1 -smash burger w/fries ($3 extra) Guest 2 -beer battered shrimp wrap w/fries ($3 extra) Guest 3 -beer battered shrimp wrap w/fries ($3 extra) Guest 1 said the burger was edible. As for Guest 2&3 they both said the wrap was HORRIBLE!! The shrimp were the cheap tiny kind and the wrap looked like my 4 year old son made it. Also in this day in and age fries should be included with all sandwiches. We plan on eating elsewhere next time and maybe just coming here for their orange crushes. read more

Place looked fun and inviting. There was live music and the place was full of customers. Unfortunately, the food did not match up to the atmosphere. The first problem was my Diet Coke. It tasted horrible, it's the taste when the syrup sits in the lines and becomes rancid. I sent it back and drank water. The appetizers of fried pickles and pretzels with bier cheese were good but the cheese had pieces of black pepper that was not appetizing. Our food came and here's where the larger problems began. The tater tots were so overcooked that they were hard and the potato centers were cooked away. I sent them back and asked for new, less cooked ones. I ordered the grouper sandwich which was cooked exactly as the tater tots. I sent that back and ordered the hot beef sandwich which was much better. Tater tots never came back out but the waiter offered me mashed instead with my beef sandwich and they were some of the best mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. Our waiter was awesome and he never complained or rolled his eyes when I complained. However, he kept trying to push that the tater tots were a new brand at that was the reason they were overcooked. The reason the tater tots and fish were overcooked was due to someone not paying attention in the kitchen and burning things. I saw another tables onion ring order and they were almost black from being over cooked and possibly dirty oil. My wife and son's girlfriend had the pork sandwich which they said was good. Those came with fries which they didn't seem to overcook. Older son got chicken tenders and fries which were fine. Youngest son had a burger but he said he didn't like it because the bottom bun was soggy. Nothing I sent back was on my bill but was surprised and disappointed that with all the issues my the food a manager never came to the table to talk. Also, there was no urgency by the kitchen to fix the problem and get the replacement food out immediately. My family was done eating when my replacement meal came out even though I sent it back at the start. For me, this is a nice place to hang out, drink and maybe have apps but the regular food they can keep; except for the mashed potatoes. read more

Many yummy choices on menu. Chose scallops and lobster ravioli. Scallops were served with corn on the cob and grilled asparagus. Guitarist sang songs from the 80's. After dinner we strolled to see the beautiful sunset on the bay. read more

This place has really changed a lot over the years. They have expanded to add additional bars and outside seating, and they are in the process of expanding their kitchen. Still dog friendly, so bring your pups!! Great views of the bay, and excellent place to sit outside and enjoy the summer weather, or take in a perfect sunset. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Great view, right on the bay! - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Ordered oysters coconut shrimp and a burger it was delicious Great food and service and the view was beautiful read more

Hi guys, Rico and Mary Suave here, Thursday night opening for the season. I had the new chicken caprice. Guys you're outdoing yourselves. We've always enjoyed the food but new menu looks great and we're looking forward to more enjoying nights. Thanks read more

Dog friendly place in the water (well, across the street) good food, drinks. Several bars and seating areas

Excellent food and friendly service. Be prepared to wait! However, lots of space to sit at picnic tables and can get a drink from one of several bars to enjoy while you're waiting. Only downside is that the picnic table waiting area would be challenging for someone using a wheelchair or mobility aid as it's not a paved surface. Several items marked as gluten free. Would absolutely go back! read more

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First time Cape May visit for these Virginians. Most of the places on the island are overpriced and have a boujee vibe. After going through many Yelp reviews of different places, I picked Harpoons. Was not disappointed. Right across the street from the bay, the views from the restaurant are fantastic. Standard beach bar fare, but a solid lineup of craft beers on tap. Also have rum runner buckets which are always a hit in my book. Live music, good vibes, and decent prices. Worthy of a family night out for sure. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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The new spaces they have created are great. Love the new bar area and the back yard behind the new bar. Food has always been good. It's a solid place to grab a bite and a beer or cocktail to watch the sunset. it's a low pressure, casual place with great views, good music, and plenty of TVs to watch the games. Bartenders and wait staff are always friendly and on point. I've been coming here for 10-15 years.... Who knows? It honestly gets better every trip down. read more

Stopped by the other night for a cocktail and to take in the sunset. New bar area seems nice and place has a Cheers vibe (everyone knows everyone). Drinks were fine, patrons attempting to train their dogs (yelling S I T ! ! ! S I T ! ! !) while their dogs barked at each other ruined the vibe for us and made it hard to have a conversation . Everyone seems to know each other so maybe OK for the long-standing locals who enjoy watching fellow patrons performing dog training at a business establishment but we skipped the 2nd drink and enjoyed the quieter view of the sunset from the beach across the street. Only show in town along the Bay so either BYOB and sit on the beach with a picnic or deal with it. New renovations look nice and place gets packed in season. We visited for a drink, skipped the food and moved on. Give it a try and see what you think. read more

Harpoons on the Bay - Quieter sunset view from the beach across the street - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Great meal, fun atmosphere and best view. Music every night. Deserts are outstanding and the coffee is great in their general store.

I have been going there for years. The one and only bartender treated me so rudely . He clearly was in a bad mood and took it out on me. I work in customer service and would never treat someone how I was treated. I hope the owner sees this review. He should be talked to or fired. I am beyond upset. read more

6 of us went to Harpoons on Saturday night (2 have never been there) and we were excited to share a cool restaurant experience with them. We had a 2 hr wait which we expected. Great vibe, libations and view. Being quite hungry, we had a fabulous waiter (Ryan I think) who was on top of it. Great service! To our disappointment, the food was not as good as expected! I'm not sure if it was just a bad night or different cook or what? All of the additions to Harpoons are fabulous, a go to for us for years! Having spent $400 between dinner and drinks, I hope the food experience can be improved in the future. I would then give it 5 stars! read more

We were a party of 5. The place has a cool fun vibe and location. The service was mediocre. The food was terrible for the inflated price. We Ordered shrimp scampi and they forgot to put the scampi on it. Just a plate of cold wet noodles with some steamed shrimp on top. All the baked potatoes were cold. Crab cakes were ok but very tiny for the price. The salads that came with the meals came out with the meals not as an appetizer. The waitress did take the shrimp scampi back and had them put sauce on it. The taco salad was delicious and was the only good food item. I didn't ask but we got no discount or dessert for the inconvenience for the 150.00 bill. I would not recommend or be returning. read more

Who is the manager here? Complained about wait for food to get to table. She ARGUED with us. Totally rude. Food when finally served was mostly cold. When we asked for the manager to come back she refused to come to table. Have never been treated like this at a restaurant. No excuses. She was absolutely awful. We would ride a bike here and enjoy sunsets. Awful experience. Stay away. So nice that the owner responded. As you can see by other reviews he is full of excuses. Others from the table have posted reviews- one with more details. He also responded to a review saying we were part of a scam. Really? This is how an owner operates? You can look at my post history- it's not in my habit to post bad reviews. I waited tables all through college and have the utmost respect for those in the service industry. The person who gave a 5 star review who discounted this one (and had the owner comment that we were trying to scam) also inboxed me to call me a "PA shoobie" and to "go home" . Life is too short for this kind of drama but consider spending your money elsewhere. Just look how the owner responds to me and other low star reviews. Speaks for itself. Don't expect the wait for a table will be less for our experience. I am sure this business will continue to thrive. (Location, location, location). But in a world where you can choose to own a mistake and make things right- maybe choose that route instead of doubling down. read more

I have been disappointed with the food here forever but was told that the new owners have improved. Ambiance. Perfect 10. They are on a beach with the most beautiful sunsets anywhere. Service. Local kids doing their thing. It actually adds something to the casual atmosphere. Compliments here as well. Food. Both choices based on seaside location that brags of local daily catch. Look it up. I'm not kidding. There is nothing better than a decent fish and chips until you are served perfect triangular symmetric pieces cut out by a machine, processed, frozen then microwaved "to order." It's also a real culinary treat to enjoy fresh butterflied shrimp made to order as coconut shrimp served with a homemade marmalade sauce. Unfortunately these also were clearly bought frozen and prepared in a microwave at best. The marmalade was grocery store as well. We shared the lobster bisque as appetizer. It would take a local fisherman at the top of his/her game to find more than a teaspoon of shredded lobster in the entire bowl. I guess it's a backhanded compliment to Campbell Soup, but they have a product that runs circles around what we were served. Shame on the owners for claiming to be a restaurant. You have an unbelievable location for a bar. You should stand proud and stay in your lane. To even suggest that you serve food is a gross violation of trust for an area known for great food. read more

I was at harpoons with the table that is getting all the pushback. My burger was cold and the egg was hard and it was nothing as described. I have been coming there for years during all seasons. I was shocked by the managers response. Shocked. read more

I was one of the people at the table in reference to the complaint above that happened 5/3. My mother in law and husband grew up in Cape May County. My mother in law in Town Bank. We have been coming for years. In addition, I have waited tables and was never ever treated by management the way I was last night at Harpoons. We sat at 8:17 We ordered around 8:30. No special order you did not have, just asked if instead of the sides we could have pasta as you have scampi on the menu. The waitress came back and said no around 8:35. No big deal. I ordered a double side of rice. The other person switched to fish. We ordered no apps. Around the same time a table was sat to our left. Then a few minutes later a table to our right. We watched them get apps. Then we watched them get entrees. It was 9:12 and still no dinner for us. So we asked to speak to a manger. After talking to our LOCAL neighbors when we came home last night quite upset, I now know her name is Dottie. She yelled at us. Said our order went in at 8:48. Our waitress said that was her fault. We told her that was not our fault it went in so late. And that we were hungry. She treated us like dirt. Argued with us like it was our fault that it went in so late. She said it was being fired as we spoke. 9:17 food was delivered ice cold except for the scallops. We asked to speak to management. The rice was like paste. I could not even eat it. She REFUSED to come over and talk to us. We did have a conversation at the table about management. There were two past servers and two past bartenders sitting among us. We all talked about how in these situations management should come back. Should comp the cold meals or at least apologize and offer drink or dessert. We were not trying to get anything free. We just wanted someone to hear that there was a HUGE problem first with taking an hour for 6 entrees and then with how cold it was. We ate it because we were starving. And we tipped our waitress 20percent because she was kind and said it was her second day and apologized a lot. If Dottie, who I know has been there forever - through other owners- is who you choose to believe and represent you that is your choice. But as someone who was actually at the two mile landing when it collapsed and was treated better during that and who's family knows the owners of other local restaurants like 5 West and the past Harbor View and people who NEVER and I mean NEVER complain - that is on you. But I wanted you to get your facts straight. And during our long wait we did not complain at all. We were actually having a nice night with nice conversation. For those looking to go here beware- know that management cares about the money they make and not the service provided if they still continue to argue about this issue. Brady- if you would like to talk about this I would be happy to share our side of the story. I actually just created this yelp account to set the record straight. read more

A beautiful setting, great food and a great staff. The individuals in the bar / restaurant are nice family oriented people. I don't believe Harpoons accepts any rowdy behavior which is a big plus. What more could one ask for. read more