We were seated quickly upon arrival, which was a great start. The atmosphere inside was lively, though a bit too loud--made it difficult to hold a conversation at times. We started with the seafood tower, which was generous and came with a wide variety of items--definitely good value. For the main course, I had the fried scallops. They were pretty good--crispy on the outside and tender inside. Overall, a solid experience, though the noise level might be a drawback for some. read more

Mayer's Tavern - Seafood Tower (small) - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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So happy you're open again ! We had a delightful meal here as always. The chicken liver mousse appetizer was spectacular! Hubby had the scallops which are always fresh and cooked to perfection. I had the locally sourced burger. So good. The bourbon lemonade drink is hauntingly delicious! Dangerously good! Thank you to Dianne, our server. Super nice! read more

We got to Mayer's when they opened and were able to sit outside on their back patio. Keep in mind they don't take reservations, but they do have a small parking lot on the side. Fortunately, they had happy hour drink specials, so we each ordered a bourbon lemonade which was delicious. Being known for their fried scallops, I decided to order them. I love that Mayer's doesn't mask the flavor with breading. The scallops were more flash fried which allowed them to maintain their delicious taste. I got both sauces, the cocktail sauce and remoulade. I also switched out the fries for a salad. Their citrus slaw, which also comes with the scallops, made for a great side. Mayer's Little Gem Salad was delicious and generously seasoned too. They are not stingy on the dressing. My husband said his burger was equally good. For dessert, we had the peach cobbler which was heavenly. We loved this relaxing and delicious meal on their sunny patio! read more

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I had no idea a place can change so much in a year! Mayer's now serves up more attitude than anything else. The food has taken a significant dive since last season (no longer serve their homemade tarter sauce with the fried scallops, which pretty much made the overpriced portion of scallops worth the money,) their smoked bluefish dip is nothing like it used to be, and the bartenders have more attitude than ever (and they had a lot before!) For a place that is too arrogant to think they need to answer their phone (it says they don't take calls on their website,) take reservations, or show anything other than annoyance that the guests are there spending a lot of money, their prices are way too high. They do seem to have gotten rid of the rude hostess, so at least there's that. Someone needs to regain control of this place because their portions are too small, the place is too cramped, and the prices are too high for the quality of food and service that is provided. Once our go-to for fried scallops, a burger, or a cocktail at sunset, we have taken Mayer's out of our list of restaurant recommendations for guests renting our home. Such a shame that friendlier service can be had at Starbucks, Boiler Room, anywhere really. read more

We had just arrived into town and were starving and we saw this place which was fairly close by. When we were first seated it did not feel very welcoming but towards the end it got better. The place was dark even though it was still light out. The bread tasted tough and chewy, like day old bread. The crab fritters were good filled with crab but the grease was not a pleasant taste. I was disappointed in the scallops which were fairly small in size. I was pleasantly surprised with the special which was the swordfish and cabbage. This is something I would order again, excellent recommendation from our waitress. read more

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Mayers boils down to being a pretty great place. It's nestled in the land of the same old same old everywhere you turn, the land of broiled to hell seafood and pizza. Mayers brings a big city dive vibe combined with culinary creativity. Though after about 6 trips here in the summer of '24, the allure started to dwindle, as the menu remained stagnant and lacking of creativity. The specials were great until they recycled the same few ingredients a bunch of different ways- hinging heavily on tomatoes, cucumbers, chicken thighs and the occasional swordfish appearance. All pretty pricey to boot. $14+ for 3-4 bite small plates. I recall a social media post where they admitted to lacking seafood, yet they never really did anything about it. Again, swordfish at $40 done 2-3 different ways isn't saying much. $22 oysters, $29 scallops became underwhelming after 3 months. The staff is helpful when you manage to get someone's attention, though that "hipster too cool for school" vibe remained during every trip. It's like the bar is their catwalk and you're just there to observe them. Not very warming or "tavern on the bay"-esque. All in all, one of better spots at the shore. read more

Mayer's Tavern - The infamous scallops - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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A bit of a dive bar with live music, but pretty good food. Small inside dining area with dining at the bar and outside patio dining as well. We chose to sit inside, Service was fine, but not very enthusiastic at all. We started with drinks and the crab fritters. The fritters were pretty good but the sauce really made the difference. I highly recommend the cold front cocktail. It was excellent. My wife had the hibiscus, but didn't care for it much. It's a very limited entrée menu. We both have the fried scallops which come with delicious french fries, and coleslaw. While very fresh, the coleslaw is very vinegary and wasn't our favorite. The fried scallops, are kind of unique in that they had very little breading if any. Very good flavor and comes with your choice of cocktail, tartar, or remoulade sauce. read more

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Great atmosphere. Ambiance is perfect especially during sunset. Drink menu was creative and fresh. Fresh whole fish special was cooked perfectly. Scallops are always a hit. Burger was cooked to perfection. Seafood tower and calamari appetizers were a great start. Small menu has been unchanged in a long time but why fix what isn't broken? Check out the live music schedule to catch some local talent. read more

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Great food and service. Had the calamari - while it needed more citrus - the squid was tender and flavorful. Cocktails 10/10. Chicken entree was phenomenal- tender and well balanced. Kale Cesar was fantastic the savory granola was a surprise winner - but wish you could add protein. Desert the seasonal crisp was a perfect end. Please go and support you won't be disappointed read more

Food good despite shrinking portion sizes. Aloof attitude from staff. They don't even answer the phone and seem to take pride in that.

I must eat here when I am in the areas. It's just how it is. We stopped in early on Wednesday for dinner. I normally get the scallops although this time we decided to get a bunch of picky food and drinks. The cucumber mule is the perfect summer drink. So good! We enjoyed the pimento cheese, fried calamari, cold pick and peel shrimp, clams and crab fritters. Our waitress was wonderful and the food was awesome, as usual. It's a staple in my summer when I am down here because it is consistent. Great service and good every single time. read more

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Best meal we had in Cape May, by far. Crab fritters were shatteringly crisp but light and airy. Blue fish spread was very good. Kids loved the burgers and fries. Scallops deeply scallop-y. Drinks were great. Service was excellent. read more

Service was wonderful, the restaurant was busy but we were seated right away. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive. The clam appetizer was our favorite item, but everything was delicious! The appetizers are definitely large enough to share. Cocktails were also great and refreshing. A lovely view of the bay and sunset as well. read more

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Three of us had dinner at Mayer's Tavern on 9/3/25. We've eaten there several times over the years. This time we all had scallops not the same as in the past, smaller. We didn't want the slaw waitress suggested spinach which was fine, but charged us $2.00 extra. The french fries were pathetic like that had been cooked earlier in day and left in fryer nothing like they should have been. I ordered an Arnold Palmer was charged 7.50 for this at the most 4 ounce in an 8-ounce glass filled with ice and when I ordered another one, I was charged another 7.50. Totally disappointed. read more

Food has never been the issue before -- service and policies were. Was here on 4.19 -- everything fantastic and still think about that Cold Front! read more

this is a really unique and amazing place. Wait staff was friendly helpful, and knowledgeable. We had the scallop dinner on a recommendation from a bartender at another establishment. They were amazing. We also had to smoke bluefish. That was amazing. read more

Stopped in for a drink an hour before close. We weren't welcomed by anyone or anything, which is fine because we knew we were coming late. We sat at the bar only because we wanted a drink each. The bartender said hello, but it was definitely a problem that we sat by the tones of each staff member. After 30 minutes and one drink each, the bartender brought us the bill and put it down with no word. We were younger group of 4, but I was pretty disappointed in the way were were treated. The inside is super cute and I would love to go back if I didn't have such a sour taste from the staff. read more

Had a great meal and fantastic service from Greta. The scallops are the best and loved the Gem salad with homemade ranch dressing. Will be back!! read more

Friday evening just opened. Unfriendly hostess( not the first time) male server was half asleep and inattentive. Food portions were skimpy and fries cold. Hopefully just a bad night or a case of "getting too big for your britches!" read more

This place was lively and packed considering it was off season still. The service was seamless with the nicest hostess and friendliest staff. The menu is small but offers enough of a selection (nothing healthy though) that you won't be left hungry. The oysters by far were our favorite. They were fresh and ridiculously large. The mussels were equally fresh and large but none of us were fans of the beer broth. The rest of the food was good: fried scallops, mac & cheese, and fried calamari. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations. I suggest coming on the early side, put your name down and grab a drink at the bar. read more

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Mayer's serves up some of the best cooked scallops I've had to date. These "fried" scallops were much closer to pan-seared, with an exceptionally thin battered crust, and they were juicy and delicious. Don't sleep on the house remoulade sauce, which was an absolutely perfect complement to these babies. The citrus slaw left something to be desired, and I'm not much of a fries person, so the sides didn't really do it for me. But hey, if I'm only paying $19 for essentially six or so perfectly cooked scallops, I really don't need anything else. That being said, we did order non-scallop things. The wild Delaware Bay oysters were okay, but a bit too milky for my taste. The crab fritters mainly consisted of breading with a few small tendrils of crab that, flavor-wise, went practically unnoticed. As for drinks, the Cucumber Mule was perfectly balanced and very refreshing. Less so with the bourbon lemonade, which veered on the strong side. Although the food is always #1, I also thoroughly enjoyed this tavern's casual ambience and the live music. All in all, definitely worth a visit. Pro tip: Mayer's is located right next to a marina, so time it just right and you can catch a glorious sunset during or after your meal. read more

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amazing experience, food was great people were friendly and food came very quickly. this is now my favorite place to eat whenever i return to cape may! read more

We came here on a Wednesday night for dinner. Our party of 4 had nearly every shared plate available. The scallops are fantastic, and so is the calamari. You should definitely order both of those. The salad is good, and some had the lamb skewers which they loved. The crab corn fritters were also great. So was the shrimp. And we had oysters on the half shell which tasted very fresh. This was the best restaurant meal I had in Cape May this year. The glorified bar food at Lucky Bones and week old seafood at Rusty Nail rates far, far lower in my opinion. And nothing on the Mall stands out. Go--quick as you can--to Mayers Tavern! read more

Excellent food. Service by Molly was excellent as well. Only issue is seating for larger groups is problematic. Not sure why they don't take reservations for groups larger than 6 people. read more

Mayer's Tavern - Scallop platter- delicious - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Just phenomenal - started with lightly broiled oysters with pimento cheese- So great that we ordered a second order. Fried scallops for an entree and this heavenly,homemade bread pudding with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The expresso martinis were on-point as well. Missed this place so much during the cold winter down here. read more

Mayer's Tavern - Fried Scallop Platter - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Went here on Saturday night for dinner with friends- we were a group of four. Got seated inside right away- we went early as it was restaurant week and they don't take reservations. We all ordered cocktails and they were quite good. I had the hydrangea which is St. Germaine and Prosecco - very light and refreshing. We all ordered off the special restaurant week menu- and were pleased . The menu is quite limited overall. Two of us ordered scallops- also came with an appetizer and dessert. The scallops were very good- sadly, I got about 10 and my friend only got maybe half of that . Got the bluefish spread appetizer which came with grilled bread . The spread was delicious but I felt the bread was a bit too heavy- some crackers would have been nice. My husband got chicken marinated in yogurt which he said was good and the other friend got mussels which he seemed to enjoy. I think desserts were probably the highest point- three of us got chocolate mousse which was delicious and one got bread pudding which she loved. I would go back- maybe for lunch. read more

Mayer's Tavern - Yogurt marinated chicken with polenta and greens - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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In-laws that live here recommended Mayers as the place to go for scallops. Place was busy when we arrived but wait wasn't too bad, had just enough time to get a drink at the bar and start into it. We both ordered the scallops with the usual sides of fries and Cole slaw. The slaw was quite different - less creamy than the usual. God flavor and the cabbage was still crisp. The scallops were deep fried which was quite different from the usual pan-fried. They were cooked perfectly and none of the had any tough pieces. For dessert my wife had the chocolate mousse and I had a peach crumble with vanilla ice cream. Both were very good. When crowded the place can be noisy. Hard to have a casual conversation. read more

Great service, great burgers and drinks and a nice comfortable atmosphere. We always enjoy ourselves at Mayers and it's just a really good place to go in Cape May. read more

If you are looking for somewhere to eat delicious food, try Mayer's Tavern! The local calamari is to die for and the fried scallops incredible! Top it of with AMAZING Mac and cheese and dinner has been served! Joe was an incredible waiter as well! Beautiful location! read more

I love this place! Food is phenomenal, especially the specials from the chef. Food is always fresh and interesting. Drinks are phenomenal as well. Great bar staff and the best is the music, especially blue bones. read more

Limited menu.......food was good.....,,,Drinks were good.......Staff was amazing........Beautiful view........

Exactly what I was looking for. My wife and I wanted great seafood in Cape May and we were told to visit here. Everything was amazing including cocktails. Can't go wrong. Was told later that the burger is a hidden gem. Will have to go back! read more

The food and location are great as was the entertainment. Where this place falls very short is the hostess and bar staff. They are down right rude. Food server was quite pleasant but the rudeness by bar and hostess will prevent this local from returning. read more

A bit tricky to find this place as it is set off the road a bit. Good homey atmosphere and got the sense that the bar crowd was frequented by locals. I happened to talk to the owner of Hawk Haven Winery last time that I was there. Limited menu with solid selections and good local cocktails. A nice addition to the neighborhood and local watering hole. read more

One of our favorites spots! The black Kale salad is the BEST! The clams are a must. Hubby always gets the scallops. This is a must when in Cape May. Also fav drink is Bourbon Lemonade. read more

Lovely casual spot. Excellent scallops. Pleasant staff. Nice outdoor seating. Highly recommended

Went here for early dinner before driving home at the recommendation of a friend. The food was delicious. We had the fried scallops platter. It was so good! We will definitely be back again. read more

Mayer's Tavern - Fried Scallops platter! Yum - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

My boyfriend and I ended up at Mayer's Tavern on a whim and couldn't have been happier. They were very adamant about COVID guidelines which I really appreciated. The atmosphere, drinks, & food were all excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Not to mention that stunning sunset view! read more

Mayer's Tavern - Our sunset view right across the way- absolutely gorgeous! - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Pretty solid food! Amazing scallops. Bartenders were nice and the service was very good. Had a great seat near the corner of the bar so we had an easy time talking with each other. Cozy little spot! read more

Delicious food and a cool little place. The seafood tower was great even though the clams were quite salty. Cocktails were hit and miss. The negroni was tasty but the old fashion was far from good. read more