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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Only thing good about my experience to this spot was the stunning sunset. Drinks weren't good and didn't stay for food. Very crowded and loud. read more

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The food is about what you'd expect, and the service generally depends on how busy they are. When it's packed, the staff does their best, but it's clear they're stretched thin. The atmosphere is classic dive bar--casual and laid-back--but the place could definitely use a thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. We recently tried to eat here over the Fourth of July holiday. In hindsight, we knew it was a long shot, but we were hoping for the best. The quoted 75-minute wait wasn't surprising, so we decided to leave and dine elsewhere. Between the holiday crowds and people lingering to watch the beautiful sunset, getting a table was nearly impossible. The biggest frustration isn't the wait itself--it's that there are no reservations and no system to encourage table turnover. We watched several tables sit with empty plates while guests stayed to enjoy the sunset, even as others waited to eat. We came for dinner, not to watch the sunset...again. Yes, it's a dive bar, so some of these quirks come with the territory. Still, many of the issues are fixable. A reservation or waitlist management system, better table turnover during peak hours, and some general upkeep would go a long way toward creating a more enjoyable experience for everyone. We've visited when it's nearly empty and when it's packed, and these same issues seem to exist regardless of the crowd. With a few improvements, this could be a much more consistently enjoyable place for families and visitors alike. read more

Best place to catch a sunset and have a cocktail in the area, bar and seating area looks right over the Delaware Bay. Certain dishes and appetizers are decent, but service is consistently bad, although servers try their best. Might be the fact that they don't have enough staff. Bad service and average food don't stop people from coming here as wait times on weekend evenings typically exceed 1 hour. Gold mine location for the proud owners. If you want to catch the sunset while drinking an orange crush, this is your place ($11 as of August 2026). Coconut shrimp might be the best item on the menu and certain sandwiches aren't bad. September is the best time to come, after the majority of Summer visitors have departed. Be sure to visit this North Cape May / Townbank establishment and leave a review. read more

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

Girlfriend's weekend away. This is a perfect place to watch the sun set off the Delaware Bay have great food and drinks and listen to some music. We had the Grilled salmon with a bourbon glaze along with potatoes and broccoli. It was so good if we went back tomorrow we would order it again! Also we enjoyed the Taco salad with grilled chicken but it's more like a salad with grilled chicken, avocado and a cilantro lime dressing. Mmmmmm Lastly the waygu sliders! Everything was so good. The atmosphere was good and a great start to a weekend getaway! read more

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Not terrible but I don't quite understand the rave about this place. Some good and some bad. My husband got the fish of the day which was their macadamia crusted cod. That was good. I got the Italian panini. That was also good. The chips were dry and burnt (I actually asked for fries but got chips instead). The service was so slow. Love how the bottom of the menu says to cap your stay at 90 minutes. We would have been out prior to that but our waitress checked on us once after our food came and it was basically when we were done eating. And waiting for the check took forever. 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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We enjoy Harpoons for the large variety of beers on tap and the Ambiance. The best view for sunsets. The food is good. The chicken wings and the onion rings and the burgers are all good. Nice air conditioned bathrooms and great service. read more

Friendly staff, good service, and cold beer, nice atmosphere too! Shout out to Brad from South Jersey!

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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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

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

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

Great food, Great Drinks, you get your money worth!! Love the crew that stayed with the change over (when Brady bought it). As a local love coming here. Perfect setting. Great for all ages. Burgers are tasty. read more

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

Fun atmosphere amazing service advertisers great food needs some improvement, outdoor bars, great place to watch the sunset and the Phillies's 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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