The View of Sandy Hook fantastic, fantastic, fantastic The Food, terrible, terrible, terrible Don't bother looking at the menu online as many items listed are no longer available (the chef died last year and now under new ownership). 80% of the menu is sushi. ??? Jersey shore restaurant, you want seafood not sushi. we had the clam strips (all batter no clams) and the fried calamari with sweet and sour sauce. why fry the calamari to make it crispy and then drench them in the sauce making it a soggy mess? To top things off they add a surcharge for using your credit card but don't inform you of this fact if you miss it on the printed bill. My advice is buy a couple of fish sandwiches at MickyD, drive out to Sandy Hook and enjoy. you will save lots of $$$ and have a great meal and view. read more

We stopped here for dinner after learning of their Thursday and Friday Specials. May I say that the service was much improved, our waiter this time even though you could tell he was kind of inexperienced, was very attentive and came by a few appropriate times to check if we needed anything. As per the food, just fantastic!!! The Tuna Tacos appetizer was delicious and plentiful!! It could easily be a meal by itself!!! The chowders as usual very tasty and fresh... The lobster special was perfect!! Included in the Lobster Special was a soup or salad, main dish is the lobster served with a starch and vegetables and of course dessert, if you are capable of fitting it in!!! Great food and value for @ $23!!! read more

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We went to Inlet Cafe on a Monday, I expected the place to be crowded- only a few tables. To give a background- I've been coming here for close to 40 years. The waiter was slow and uninspired. We had to keep asking for drinks when he finally showed up. I understand that there are new owners- they need to get on the staff and take pride in their place. The Proving Ground next door was rocking, Inlet was just surviving. It's sad to see such a wonderful location going down hill. We probably will not be back; Barnicle Bills does it much better. read more

I can't say enough good things about Inlet Cafe. Absolutely the best happy hour in Highlands. The food is always fresh and delicious. Service is attentive and friendly. AMONG THE BEST WATERVIEWS ANYWHERE. Prices are great and portions are good. Highly recommend the cod fish sandwich. **Order a Rum Bucket!!!** Side note - the accessibility for people with mobility issues cannot be beat. If you have a member of your party who can't walk long distances well but wants to sit outside and enjoy the extraordinary view of the water and the NYC skyline, you can't do better. Drop them off by the door before you park. You may also be able to valet. read more

We went to Inlet Cafe for dinner with guests from out of town over the holiday weekend. We expected slower-than-usual service (this was NOT the issue) but we didn't expect subpar food. The sandwiches were downright skimpy with a tiny piece of chicken on the club sandwiches. Literally to the point that my husband who never complains about anything pulled off the bread to show me how little was on there. The rest of the food was meh including the burgers which our kids typically will gladly eat. Most left theirs largely uneaten. The service was fine and the view was nice but won't go back as food was not good at all. read more

The prices are insane for the quality. Crab cakes had freezer smell and flavor. Mussels were mushy and mealy (not fresh). The fries were clearly re-fried. We had to ask for silverware and napkins after the food arrived. We waited a long time to get service and the place was half empty. The prices would be fine if the food and service were amazing, but $7 per shrimp, $4 per oyster, $23 for a single (bad) crab cake and $40 for a fish entree? Yikes. read more

Lunch was a huge disappointment. Chicken sandwich and chef's salad were skimpy and overpriced. View is great,

Waitress provided good service. However, I ordered the Sandy Hooker Combo. Not what I expected!! Seafood was all BREADED! I couldn't distinguish from all the breading what was fish/Shrimp/Scallops or Clams. The presentation of the dish needs to be revisited and probably even reinvented for a better delivery. Fish was not worth $30... I could have had this at a local diner back home read more

I really wish the service could be as good as the food. The soup sampler is my absolute fave, especially the lobster bisque. Even before quarantine the service wasn't great, but it's only gotten worse. read more

Horrible service we had to ask for for everything the food was cold not good at all we had a table of 10 and everyone did not like what they order it was so dirty all bar area and tables do yourself a favor go somewhere else the waiter was terrible not friendly at all we didn't even get plates for apps how to wait 10 minutes by that time food was cold read more

No more bar. Food was terrible. Fish was charred and dry. Very disappointing.

Teach the staff to not be angry due issues in the kitchen and sit show anger to the customers. Bartender showed angler when we tried to order food. read more

Food was insanely overpriced and very low quality. The grilled chicken was seasoned with thyme which was overpowering, random and unpleasant. Don't get the lobster roll - it's cheap old "lobster meat".. the service was mediocre and unorganized which I can give a pass on because they were short staffed. Liquor license was in the process of being renewed so we couldn't order drinks. This restaurant has potential given the location but they either need to significantly lower their prices to match the low quality of the food, or bring In better quality food and hire an experienced new chef so that the outcome of the food may ch the prices they are charging. And don't season grilled chicken with thyme! Definitely won't be returning. read more

We have been here several times for the lobster special...hard to beat...includes bread, slaw, choice of potatoes, soup or salad (I chose the New England chowder as anyone who has read my other reviews could guess), whole lobster with fresh veggies, AND dessert! They were fairly crowded but could not be more accommodating...in fact, the owners made a point of welcoming us back! This is rare anymore, so it was appreciated...our server was also very sweet and as attentive as she could be (they appeared to be a little short-handed)...the only drawback was trying to find a parking place, so get there early!! Nolan-great waiter! read more

HIGHLANDS: For a great meal and drinks with relaxing views, check out Inlet Cafe! Right across the river from Sandy Hook, they have a varied menu in a comfortable setting. Dogs are allowed at their outdoor tables on the right hand side. read more

Inlet Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

We visited Saturday around 8:30p. The restaurant is right on the shoreline directly across the inlet from Sandy Hook State Park. We were seated right away outside in the deck. Devon, our waiter, was phenomenal - personable, knowledgeable of not only the menu but the area as well. He let us know about the upcoming Annual Clams Festival in Highlands 8/7-8/8 at Huddy Park which we will surely attend. Back to our experience at the Inlet Cafe, the menu selection is great. Apps, raw bar, fish and seafood however you want it, fried, broiled, blackened. We knew we wanted the fried calamari ( that's a standard app for us). Cole slaw and bread is complimentary - both were very good. Hubby went with his standard fried seafood platter, my son choose the seafood pasta, and I was torn because everything sounded delicious. So I asked Devon for recommendations. He said everything was delicious but said several patrons that night ordered the crab encrusted grouper off the special menu which came with mashed potatoes, asparagus. It had a lobster cream sauce/gravy. I decided to with that choice and let me tell you, I was I in Heaven! Each of us enjoyed and demolished our meals. The meals were truly decadent! We were all blown away and that says a lot because my husband and son will criticize a meal in a heartbeat but not here. The seafood and fish were cooked to perfection. I raved about my mashed potatoes which were homemade mind you, they had the red skin mixed in them which I loved! My son kept saying how good his seafood and pasta were. Hubby thoroughly enjoyed his deep fried platter even down to the fries which were lightly seasoned crisp on the outside and soft inside. Calamari app was truly on point - lightly breaded and tender beyond belief. Often you can get calamari that is over breaded and tough, but that definitely was the case here. For drinks we order pina colada and mango daiquiri- both delicious and refreshing. As we sat and ate and looked out over the inlet we got a glimpse of the finishing sunset. Please patronize this establishment. You won't be disappointed. Thank you again Devon for the conversation and exceptional service! read more

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I called at 8:15 to ask them if they had a 830 reservation. They said they do. I went there and told them I had a reservation and they looked at me like I was crazy. they told me the kitchen was already closed and they didn't have my reservation and no one there said I called them. I showed them my phone log. So they basically said we had to get up from the table because they put all the food away already. I heard there's a different owner there now. Are used to go there and it was excellent but not anymore. read more

A great restaurant with a great view!! The Sangrias are amazing!! I had baked flounder with a crab stuffing! It was pretty darn good! I don't care for calamari but I liked Inlet Cafes! read more

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Love the Inlet Cafe! Beautiful restaurant right on the water with delicious, quality seafood. If it's a nice night, you can expect to wait an hour or so for a table, however they do accept regular and call ahead reservations which help cut down your wait time. Definitely recommend calling 30-40min ahead of time if you know you're coming. My favorite entree is by far the Seafood Linguini on the specials menu. It's full of fresh seafood in a light sauce that isn't too rich or creamy. The seafood assortment dish is also great if you're not feeling pasta. Highly recommend trying this restaurant one night in the summer! read more

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Came here for dinner and was very impressed. We had the bang bang shrimp and calamari for appetizers. The shrimp was okay but the calamari stayed on my mind for days. Our entrees were the seafood linguini and mahi mahi fish. The pasta was very tasty and so was the fish. Our only problem was that the fish portion was very small and the rice pilaf that it came with was dry. I gave them four stars because the service was great, nice scenery, drinks and food. I'll visit this place again and we will try something other than the fish. read more

Inlet Cafe - Seafood linguini - Seafood Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

I wish I could write something positive about our experience here but I have to say, the meals we ordered were gross!!! And not to mention expensive. The stuffed flounder should be condemned from the menu. For $32 I should have at least had a decent piece of flounder included with cheap stuffing. And the shrimp that's used in the Jambalaya is a joke!! The shrimp couldn't have been smaller. Overly priced for such a place. $12 for a glass of Sangria?? You gotta be kidding me!!! All I can say is NEVER AGAIN! Management should be ashamed and so should the Chef!! I should have gone next door to Proving Ground!!! read more

This was a family mainstay for years, but tonight's experience was horrible! A reduced menu at way way way higher prices, and my $38 salmon was so dried out I considered sending it back. The drinks were also shockingly bad. Flavorless and really expensive. So sad to be this disappointed by this place. I understand why it was so empty now. read more

Food was terrible, service didn't care. Unfortunate that there is a new menu / possibly even new owners. Restaurant once was great, now horrible. read more

Severs are wonderful and very good are what they do. We ordered a Florida Grouper (Blackened) however we did not know that it would be too spicy for my who was here on vacations, I guess the chef told the manager that we did not like the fish she came to our table with an attitude an told us that if we didn't know what blankeded means I apologized and told her No.. She gave me this look and asked me what would we like and we ordered a grilled fish with fries. The server came to our table and apologized. Food was very good we dont have anything else to said just the attitude the manager had toward to us because the dish was too spicy for my dad. read more

Inlet Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

And you don't deserve that!!! You totally messed the place up food not good and overpriced

What a terrific place. Ate here in April on a relatively windy night but wanted to sit outside for better social distancing. Their outdoor setup is the best I've ever seen--private, transparent, three-sided enclosures that protect against the wind but preserve the view of the bay and the colored sky as the sun sets behind the restaurant. So we're pretty darn strong on setting. The food was also spectacular. Highlights include the tuna wanton tacos, the the bang bang shrimp, the salmon, and the soft shell crab. Also, the brownie a la mode for dessert was very tasty. Service was very attentive. The waitress was funny, helpful, and easy to find whenever we needed something. Only criticism is the fact that they charge 4% to use a credit card. Leaves a bad taste after a delicious meal. Just raise the prices 4% and you'll irk people less. That mild irritation did not detract much from the otherwise fantastic experience, however. read more

Boy were we disappointed. The live music and water views hardly made up for the lackluster meal. We waited 45 minutes for a salad and tacos. The pricey salad arrived with 2 grilled scallops and 4 overcooked shrimp atop limp mixed greens and unripe tomatoes. My so called Bang Bang Shrimp tacos forgot the Bang. The tacos consisted of 4 -5 over breaded rock shrimp atop a cabbage mixture and corn tortilla. The taco was so bland I was looking for salad dressing to dip it into. My husband said the beer was really cold, so I guess the 83.00 bill was worth it ? read more

It was my moms birthday and we came here with a party of 8. They told us the wait would be about 30mins, we waited an hour and a half. Ok no biggie that happens. The food was not good my fish was dry. What really was unacceptable was the way we were treated by one of the owners. When playing a game of corn hole she was sitting watching and said, " There goes the neighborhood.." our bill was very high we were good paying customers doing nothing wrong. We were baffled that such a comment was made. If this is how they treat paying customers I will never spend another cent in this restaurant. Go to proving grounds next door instead. read more

I travel with my family from Hamilton New Jersey as usual to try something new as every week, all very well with the person who did not receive and the waitress. the food is not something that I would repeat and we had inconvenience with one of the dishes, which did not specify that it was spicy and my father-in-law because of his age and health issues can not eat anything with spicy: finally we told the waitress what which she very kindly agreed to replace the dish with another one to which the administrator or owner went to our table with a very bad attitude, something of very bad taste and annoying for us. if you plan to come to this business personally I do not recommend it and the restroom are next to the kitchen read more

Inlet Cafe - Lugar - Seafood Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Used to be excellent! Now, I'll never return. The hostess never acknowledged us, didn't say hello back when I said it to her, the server was miserable and ineffective. The fried fish was clearly frozen and so over cooked, the lobster was raw (and insanely overpriced), the sides were not what we ordered, no one was helping us, food was dangerously inedible. Manager was absolutely awful. Every single employee was rude. Never. Again. read more

The food was underwhelming, although the service does seem to have improved since earlier this summer. We had bottled beer so no complaint about the drinks. My biggest disappointment is that this establishment is clueless about the Skip the Straw Law (and also uses lots of plastic cups -- even inside). It's right on the water and has a nice view, for now. I hope they are interested in keeping it that way and limit their plastic waste. read more

Sadly, our last experience was a huge disappointment. We have been coming here for years. Unfortunately, our last visit was a disaster. The food was horrible. Obviously, new owners are cutting corners. Staff was nice and tried. Incredibly disappointing for a Jersey shore institution. read more

Nice little place with a very nice menu. The outdoor seating is great but the dinning room by the bar still gives you a great view of the water. My girlfriend, who'd not a big fish eater had the salmon as did my buddy. They both gave it a thumbs up. I had a broiled combo platter and everything was cooked perfectly. My buddy's girlfriend had a grilled shrimp platter. This is my 2nd time eating here and from those two experiences I can honestly say that there's no need to go to the overpriced place just down the street. read more

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It's ok. Not fantastic, but not horrible. Atmosphere is great and no doubt what you are paying for. Everything is VERY expensive. $12 salad, ok... to add shrimp it's an extra $18. So a $30 SALAD? What? Just no. Fish and chips were good but super greasy. No specific gluten free options so you will be left with a burger or grilled chicken without a bun/fries or a salad, which is pretty meh. Drinks were definitely weak. My margarita tasted like straight up mix minus the tequila, so buy a bottle of something. Parking was hard, only had valet. Drive around the block and park on the street, which I'm sure the neighborhood must love. lol Service was ok but one meal was obviously forgotten about and there was no apology. Free bread and cole slaw, nice touch. Cole slaw was garlicky though. Will we be back? Not sure. read more

I've never had a bad meal or experience here. I love everything on the menu, they make great drinks, the staff is friendly and attentive, I could keep going with compliments. The view is spectacular and on a summer night you feel like you are in heaven. Food: I love the oysters Rockefeller. The cuban sandwich on the lunch menu was definitely surprisingly delicious. I could eat one every single day. The lobster bisque is wonderful! I'm a big soup person and I would definitely pick the lobster bisque here over many places in the area. The staff is not only friendly but if you want something they are out of or don't have, they will figure out an alternative for ya! They were all out of summer shandy and the best bartender Adriana made me her own version of it and it was AMAZING! She served it with a smile and made my day! The only downside I would say is parking, but when it's super busy they offer valet. The parking lot is very small & rocky. Sometimes people don't space out their cars properly but a small small issue for something so amazing! read more

After reading the reviews of the past month - I can do nothing else but say the others are not lying . This was not the eatery it used to be very sadly - read more

We picked this place because the line was too long at windansea. Calamari was lightly battered and fried, steamers were huge and the octopus salad was fresh and delicious. The crab cake had lots of crab but not a lot of flavor. A bit over priced but the seafood is fresh. Go on a nice day and enjoy the tiki bar. read more

Inlet Cafe - Crab cake - Seafood Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

My sister, Lori's visit from the Left Coast had me taking her out to my old standbys in terms of getting the most of the "Jersey Shore Experience" as possible. So we hit the Inlet for lunch on a beautiful October afternoon, and finally, the food approached the always stellar service and view. I had the NE Clam Chowder, and this time it was much improved. Lots of tasty clam for a start, and a nice spicier tang this time too. I had a basic Bacon Cheese Burger and Lori had a Grilled Chicken Club sandwich, both very tasty! A couple of Tequila Sunrises and I was once again in that comfort zone that comes with beautiful surroundings, "chamber of commerce weather", good company, and that casual laid back feeling that is part and parcel of the best Jersey Coast establishments. The sky was crystal clear, as Lori seemed to have brought the "San Diego Weather" with her. On every one of her trips East however there is always one helacious storm and sure enough we got that on our visit to the new Meadowlands Stadium for Monday Night Football. But I'll relate that in a separate review. read more

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One of my favorite places to go in NJ. You can not find a nicer spot not only because of the location but because of the food. The staff is great they know what is good and make great drinks. The clams are fresh and so tasty and all dishes are creative and so tasty. If you are looking for a spot for the view and the food then this is the place. read more

Service was horrible. The Manhattan clam chowder had no clams in it and tasted like vegetable broth. We waited almost 2 hours for our entrees and finally just asked for the check. The waiter never apologized and couldn't care less. The manager seemed concerned but the owner also couldn't care less. What a sh$t show. Don't go there if you expect to be fed. read more