Ambience was intimate yet not pretentious. The wait staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The food was great and our favorite was the dish that had the shrimp, scallop and crab meat. All the dishes were flavorful and fresh. However I thought the bread had a bit too much salt on the top so when I bit into it, it was very very salty for me. I found myself trying to scrape the salt topping off. Other than that it was soft and had a nice crust. We would come back for another date night. Definitely try to book a reservation a week or two before because they seemed to be fully booked the weekend we went, We were just lucky enough that someone cancelled and Mia texted about it. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining here again last evening. We enjoyed our dinner at the bar. (No reservations required!) Kimberly was our server. She could not have been more knowledgeable or friendly. The food here is just top notch. Every attention to detail is thought out. Keep up the wonderful job, Mia and staff! read more

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I was told that this was the best steak in Cape May. So of course we had to try it! My friends swore by it and we got a reservation a long time in advance, because it looks like reservations are hard to come by., Especially this time of year. So plan ahead! What I love about a good steakhouse is that it is simple good dry aged ribeye cooked over high heat to the right temperature, that is it. Keep it simple, very good indeed. And the weight staff was great! read more

Primal By Mia - Dry age 22 ounce ribeye - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Excellent, best restaurant in Cape May, I'm looking forward to coming again - Steak and Twin Lobster tails prepared to perfection

Had the amazing opportunity to experience Primal for the first time on New Year's Eve. It did not disappoint!! Anywhere you sit will have a view of the beach/ocean. The restaurant is well-appointed. You can tell a lot of effort went into the design. It is a BYOB which allows you to bring what you want and focus your spending on the delicious culinary delights. Every aspect of the meal was impeccable and delicious!! The tuna tartare was extremely fresh. The burrata was displayed beautifully and included table grapes. My picture came out blurry so I don't have a great shot of that unfortunately. The homemade bread with homemade olive oil infusion with long hots was incredible! The twin lobster tails were cooked to perfection along with the bone-in ribeye. They also provide a delicious complimentary salad which isn't just iceberg lettuce but instead dark leafy greens and vegetables in fantastic homemade zesty dressing. We tried each of the sides and I have to say the Creamed Spinach was the best I ever had. At the end of the meal you are provided a complimentary dessert for the table. The dessert is rotated and varies which is pretty special. We had homemade churros with homemade chocolate whipped cream, fruit and homemade macarons. Coffee options available to order are an espresso, cappuccino or americano which also is available in decaf. I believe it's Lavazza espresso. Every employee we interacted with were delightful. Bree was our main server and she was very attentive and provided excellent recommendations. Mia and Joe have knocked it out of the park! We were a huge fan of their previous location, Prawn. If you follow Primal on social media, you can tell the passion Mia has for her restaurant. She genuinely cares and is grateful for her patrons and employees, while remaining humble. Mia and Joe are culinary artists!! If you plan to visit Cape May, add this to your must-dine list. Reservations fill up quickly and are currently booked two weeks out via text message. They are open year round with limited days in off-season. I hope your visit is as enjoyable as ours was. I can't wait to go back!! Bravo to Mia, Joe and the staff! read more

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Great food and ambiance! Staff were very welcoming, love the touches like a family style salad and delish desert! read more

We ate dinner there last night and three of us had the cowboy dry aged ribeye steak at a substantial price. We all ordered medium rare and all three came medium well done. If you are trying to be a major steak restaurant at high prices, at least learn how to cook steaks. Salad and desert were excellent. We had planned on going back in September but have now cancelled that plan. Far too expensive for a poorly cooked steak. read more

Phenomenal BYO. Reserve a table with an ocean view and enjoy the sensational food, service and vibe. Can not wait to go back

Toot my horn and tie my shoes this meat joint was tasty as the day is long! I had such a lovely meal here with some ol' pals from high school, it nearly blew my underpants off! Our server by the name of Ana truly was a sweetheart and took care of us throughout the duration of our dining experience. This hole in the wall is, well... a hole in the wall! A small cozy interior with a bussin' (My nephew taught me that word) view of the Cape May beaches! What a spectacular location to enjoy a few laughs and a ginormous, juicy, flavorful steak on a cool Cape May evening. If I could give this joint 6 stars I would! read more

Primal By Mia - The famous Tomahawk Steak for Two! Of course I ate this beast by myself while my wife watched in awe. - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Overall we were very impressed with the quality of food here. The places nice cosy and intimate. By the way salad and desert comes complimentary so that's a nice addition. The place is byob. there's not much street parking so that's a down but I would definitely come back again! read more

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Delicious food, great service by "Ana" and the restaurant experience was very nice. First time at the restaurant and were looking forward to a table with a view but upon request were told that was not possible even though it was an early seating of 5:45pm which was a bit of a letdown but otherwise our booth was fine. Complimentary salad and dessert were pleasant surprises as well. read more

Primal By Mia - Tomahawk steak with lobster tails and mashed potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We went to Primal once before and liked it, but the experience was ok, so we wanted to give it another try. This time I liked the experience much better. My husband stayed up late to get a reservation for our recent trip and he mistakenly picked kitchen and asked for a roomy table as he did not know, kitchen was up front. In any case we got a giant table for a big party by the door. It was not optimal seating for two and the hostess read my face and moved us to a high table by the bar. This was ok when I faced the window, although the best seating is in the back with beautiful views of the ocean. We ordered shrimp cocktail and burrata appetizer. I enjoyed both. I ordered a lobster tail and my husband ordered the ribeye. We also ordered the truffle potatoes. My lobster was spectacular cooked to perfection! My husband's steak the same! We found both very enjoyable! The truffle potatoes are a must! I wanted to lick the bowl. Excellent meal! I am gluten free and everything was perfect for me. The only thing that did not sit right with me was the flourless chocolate cake. Granted it was undeniably one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever tasted and I probably ate more than I should, but I got a stomachache and felt nauseous. The cake was so good it was almost worth how it made me feel. There must of been an ingredient that wasn't good for me as my husband was fine. All in all, I would definitely go back and eat there again. Only changes, I would make is sit in the back, and go a little lighter on dessert. Do try if you get to Cape May! read more

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Really great steakhouse with spectacular views. It's incredibly refreshing to see Mia in the kitchen as well. Not even kidding, there were 3 different parties that stopped to tell her how great their dinner was and how much they appreciate her. read more

This place is amazing! From the moment you enter you feel so welcomed. The decor and lighting are spot on. Then the food arrives! Absolutely the best meal we have ever eaten at any restaurant. The appetizers were full of sweet and salty flavor and the steaks were cooked to perfection. The ambience was nice and the place is beautiful. A must for anyone that loves good food. read more

I cannot say enough great things about this amazing restaurant! The food is above and beyond excellent! We make sure to dine here every year when in Cape May! This last trip I had the lamb and let me tell you, my mouth is still watering thinking about the meal. The service is amazing, the side dishes are unique and delicious. The bread, spreads and desserts....all yummy! The ambiance & the water view is spectacular! Mia and her husband Joe are always so kind and always come out to greet us in the end as we love to see them. Mia, you are so hardworking and always make sure your guests have the upmost care and accommodations. So appreciate you! Keep up the phenomenal work! Until next year! Xoxo Julie Barbagallo read more

We came to Primal because of a recommendation from a friend. It is difficult to get a reservation and we had to do it at midnight 9 days in advance. I was excited that I was able to get a reservation at the time we wanted and an ocean view. We had a great large circle table for our party of 6 that had a perfect view of the ocean. Our waitress was so kind, attentive, and personal. The place is BYOB, which we enjoy and were able to bring a few nice bottles of wine to enjoy with our steak. If you are not a big meat or seafood eater, there aren't too many other options on the menu. They gave you bread with two sauces, a spicy oil and pesto, both were so good. To start, we ordered the calamari and the artichoke appetizers. The calamari was good and different because it was not fried, it was in a sauce that had a nice kick along with sausage. The artichoke was really delicious and had a sauce that was so good. Next they gave you a salad served family style. The whole table agreed that this was probably one of the best salads we have ever had. It was filled with different vegetables (cauliflower, chickpeas, and more) and had a delicious oil and cheese dressing. The salad bowl they gave you was large and we all had double servings of the salad. Then for entree we all ordered steak, and everyone enjoyed theirs. You can tell that the steak was dry aged because it had a nice salted crust on the outside, which I love. For sides, we split the asparagus and the truffle yukon. The truffle yukon was outstanding! The perfect amount of truffle was in them. We had a birthday at the table and they gave us little cheesecakes with lots of fresh berries. The cheesecakes were amazing. Normally for dessert I just have one bite, but these I couldn't stop eating. Overall, the place is pricey, but it is a steakhouse. The quality is outstanding along with the service, view, and the complimentary salad. We will be back! read more

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If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would! Primal is our new special go to restaurant to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or just life itself. Mia doesn't just make food, she and her staff create works of art! There are many times where we felt guilty eating the food because it looked too beautiful to eat...but oh so glad we did because it was delicious! The decor is charming, modern & cozy and the ocean view gives it an extra special something. This place is a must try! read more

After we had a problem with our reservation the staff bent over backwards to accommodate us. The food was outstanding. Love this place

Perfect location, location, location! Request ocean view seating for that great date night ambience. Service was perfect. Food was well prepared and delicious! read more

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Have dined at Primal by Mia several times in past years. The service is only exceeded by the food! Have had both the filet and lobster tails in the past and both were excellent. Looking forward to being able to score a reservation this year. read more

Amazing... amazing... amazing... from the service to the steak... rivals some Manhattan places

Easily the best restaurant in Cape May. Venue and service were wonderful but the food was perfect. I was lucky enough to go twice in the past three weeks. Both times I got the lobster Ravioli, the Halibut and side of mixed vegetables. Everything was amazing. I left both times saying that's the best meal I had in years. I can't wait to go back. Pro-tip to the morons who gave it one star because they couldn't get in. Try reading the instructions about how to make reservations in their website. You are as bad as the people from the 1980's who were too lazy to read how to program the clock on your VCR. read more

Before visiting Primal I checked out the menu. Not a lot of options but I definitely saw a couple that interested me. I knew it was a small place so I figured, "if you're only going to do a few things, do them well." And man do they do them well! My group of 4 started with the lobster, shrimp, and scallop in a phyllo dough roll with shallot cream sauce. Delicious, one of my most memorable appetizers in recent memory. We also got the Buffalo meatball with ricotta and tomato ragu. Just about as delicious as the other app. The house salad arrived next and it was full of fresh greens and a zesty dressing. Very solid and flavorful. We all got the filet and a couple of us added the lobster tails. Steaks were all cooked as ordered and mine had a nice char on the outside, just how I do it at home. I also tried the chimichurri and garlic peppercorn sauces. I preferred the chimichurri. The lobster tails were also great and not dry, an easy mistake when cooking lobster. Sides of Yukon truffle mashed potatoes and creamed spinach and onion were also very good. Our server was great as well. He has worked with Mia for 7 years, coming over from her previous restaurant to Primal. The ambiance is very upscale. The moss wall was beautiful! There's a bar for seating but it's a BYO restaurant and the kitchen is open to the front of the house. Being December it was dark during our dining experience but about half of the tables face the ocean, right on the sandy beach. We sat at one of them and I imagined the view is great during the summer. Overall an excellent dining experience. Presentation of each dish was great. I didn't take any photos so sorry I can't add them. I will definitely return for their next menu, which changes depending on month/season. The current menu is December. read more

Wanted to see what the hype was all about. Had reservations, arrived early. The staff was very friendly. Our waitress gave us the full rundown since we had never been here before. Now as far as seating, I was not a big fan of it. They sat us in between 2 other tables. There was absolutely no room for us to squeeze in on either side so we had to sit on the same side of the table. They charge enough not to have to squeeze people in and give more space. Do better! The only thing saving them from getting 3 stars is that the staff were very friendly. Now the portion sizes are good, steaks were cooked perfectly as ordered. They are cooked over a wood fire. I found that the seasoning was only on the top of the steak where the char was. read more

Outstanding experience! This was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. We made reservations ten days in advance which I recommend if you want a good time slot. Service was excellent as our waiter knew the menu well, made suggestions and took great care of us from start to finish. The food was delicious with great attention to detail and flavor. You start out with bread with 2 delicious spreads, then a tasty salad on a chilled plate with a lovely house dressing that had just the right amount of acidity. The Yukon truffle potatoes are the best mashed potatoes I've ever had and I'm still dreaming about them. The asparagus side was grilled perfectly and seasoned well. The steaks were tender and full of flavor with your choice of sauce to compliment it. "Complementary dessert" are two of the best words to hear while dining out and it did not disappoint. It was a small cheesecake that was so light and creamy with the perfect crust, and a homemade doughnut and whipped cream, sauces and fruit. The restaurant is decorated well and we loved being able to see the ocean while we dined, creating a lovely ambiance for our meal. The chairs were comfortable. Yes, it is on the pricier side, but it is definitely worth it. I would recommend it for a special occasion because it is truly an elevated dining experience. read more

Primal By Mia - Filet cooked medium, yukon truffle potatoes and asparagus. - Seafood Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Would give 6 stars is I could! I mean a BYO steakhouse- amazing! My filet was cooked PERFECTLY! All the apps my friends and I shared were soooo good but the lobster scallop mix was insaneeeee!!!!! Our server was awesome! Can't wait to come back!!! read more

Food is great, service is lacking. Ocean view is recommended over the kitchen view. It is BYOB so be prepared if you're looking to pair your steak with a red wine. read more

We had a excellent experience and our waiter Christian was out of this world fantastic I would highly recommend this restaurant its a diamond in the rough. read more

I regretfully have to say we had the rudest welcome today when we arrived at 5:10. A woman with dark hair on her bike said we don't open until 5:30. My husband and I were ok with that. We knew since we didn't have reservations we were taking a chance on getting in. She kept on going, saying we don't open until 5:30 we are booked until 8/23, we don't don't have salad, we are a BYOb. She didn't let up and I told her not to worry we will NEVER come back. We headed Back to the cricket club, had an amazing bartender with fabulous food. We suggest that Primal gets down off their high horse and take customer services classes.I don't care how good people say the food is, rude welcoming ruins everything. read more

CASH GRAB, SAVE YOUR MONEY! Been trying to get a reservation here for my birthday by online or calling for weeks and got nothing so we finally just decided to walk up on my birthday hoping two people could wait and when we were told "NO! We only want big parties with lots of cash!" Don't you dare ask to wait for a seat at the bar or they'll look at you like you are dumb and desperate when you just wanted to celebrate your birthday. My boyfriend and I were consoled by other two pair couples that were rejected from the VERY FANCY money grab. Ended up going to the ebbit room again cause the food is always great and they'll let you wait for a table of two. read more

Absolutely delicious. Our steaks were cooked and seasoned perfectly. Our server Madelina was awesome. read more

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I must apologize to the owner / Chef who I met the night we dined there. So this was our first, but definitely not the last, time there back in the end of September. Besides me, there was the wife, her brother, and his wife. At first I thought it was going to be tight and uncomfortable based on the space as you walk in. To my surprise as you walked around to the window tables there was plenty of room to enjoy the dining experience. That's what this was a dining experience! I wish I had taken photos of each dish. Besides the food being delicious, the presentation was perfect. Apps, salads, main course, desert and coffee. This place is a byob so I'm glad I chose two of my favorite cabs to support and accent this culinary experience. Our waitress was outstanding and knew every dish and ingredient as if she made it herself. The spacing and timing was spot on. This place is a must when you are in Cape May. I would suggest making reservations in advance as word gets out, it will just get harder and harder to get in. I'm looking forward to our next visit to the in-laws. read more

Negative experience from start to finish. Made a reservation which upon arrival were told they didn't have. They suggested we eat at the bar though there were many table open and still available reservations online. Service was non existent. Food was good but nothing to rave about. Ambience lacking on many levels and there was definitely a dirty feel. Disappointing. read more

Phenomenal food and experience and worth the splurge. -Establishment sits right on Cape May beach, knocking the ambiance out of the park. -Inside ambiance was clean, contemporary, and well kept. -Service was very good overall. -We ordered the tommy hawk and two lobster tail special, along with mashed potatoes and brussels. -Each dinner comes with a starter salad and dessert. Enjoyed the tarragon vinaigrette dressing on the salad and my fiancé enjoyed the picked cauliflower. -The beef was some of the tender and best I've ever tasted. The lobster tail was also prepared very well. The chimmichurri sauce was my favorite paired with the beef, my fiancé preferred the horseradish sauce which delightfully did not carry a strong taste like most do. -Dessert was a delicious end. My only wish is that we each got a dessert to enjoy and not one to split. We'd come back. read more

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Everything here is excellent and by everything I mean everything. Steaks sides appetizers dessert service everything. It's a beautiful place and a was a great way to celebrate our anniversary. Sadly due to a health issue I'm learning to manage I wasn't able to finish my meal there but I did get to eat it later. We will be back here if we can get a reservation every time we are in the area. read more

We stopped by this hidden gem in Cape May with no reservation. Luckily for us they were very accommodating and got us seated. We got a table with a view of the ocean and the atmosphere of the restorant was amazing. We order some steaks, lobster and fish... all came out absolutely well prepared and a Master Chef quality. For the record my wife does not even eat red meat and she loved her steak!! Not to forget the super friendly and professional service by our waitress Madalena. We'll definitely be back again, it is well worth the drive for such a memorable experience. Thank you Primal!! read more

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Unreal. Delicious fresh food in a great atmosphere on the beach. BYO is incredible with a complimentary salad bread and dessert. The truffle yukon potatoes were the best potatoes I've ever had! read more

Went for a special date night and I must say Primal definitely exceeded my expectations. We started our meal with the delicious homemade dinner rolls that came with pesto and pepper oil. Next we shared the pork belly appetizer. The flavors were absolutely perfect and the bite of pork belly with the slaw just sent me into a blissful state. It was a very memorable dish for me. After we finished our appetizer we were presented with a fresh mixed green salad with basil champagne vinaigrette. It was a very refreshing break in between our appetizer and entree. We were both very pleased with our surf and turf entrees. The steak and lobster were perfectly done and the sauces perfectly accompanied the steak. My favorite by far was the horseradish cream. The Yukon mashed also stole my heart. A bite of filet with the mashed potato and horseradish cream was just incredibly delicious, I will definitely be dreaming of it for a while. Our meal was completed with a complimentary dessert spread. The banana whip cream has a hold on me for sure. The chocolate cake and raspberry cheese cake were perfectly done. Our server, Jim, was excellent throughout the whole meal. I would also like to mention how nice the rest of the staff was as well during our time here. The owners have definitely put their all into Primal and it was an absolutely wonderful dining experience. I am definitely planning to return in the future! read more

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so I do not go out of my way to usually write negative reviews but this was warranted. First off- to get a reservation in here is presented to be like winning the lottery its very difficult and theres alot of "rules"- certain times to book, etc. Alot of hype made up about this place. We arrived on time for our reservation at Primal. Upon our arrival- the man (who ended up being our server) looked at us and ignored us standing at the hostess stand. We felt so so unwelcome. We had to then walk directly up and get his attention, they then seated us. We waited about 10 minutes before the man who ignored us to return and introduce himself as our server. For being a "steakhouse" I didnt feel the restaurant matched the price point- my table was sticky. The staff seem very young, inexperienced and are really honestly downright rude. We sat near the hostess stand multiple parties came in and staff were downright rude, berating customers in front of us. And after berating people the staff were talking about it amongst themselves loudly- laughing about it for all the people eating in this place to hear. The owners in the kitchen could care less. For the prices and pitched "ambiance and dining experience"- match it. The waiter then came back- he explained the menu to us, the menu isn't impressive. Very Limited options, very nice they include salad, dessert but you have no options everything is predone. All they are doing is grilling steaks which are mediocre at best. We requested a medium grill temp, it was definitely rare. We ordered a $200 special- the steak was chewy, tough, flavorless. The lobster tails were good. Sauces were good. The sever never checked allergies, my mother informed him of her allergies. He proceeded to say "never heard of that allergy before" Then proceeded to say "oh ill check" and he never came back. They gave us a dish with her allergen in it and never even asked us again if anything came out ok, etc. very very disappointing- this isnt a preference- this is a severe allergy. The waiter was SO RUDE. He came over mid meal and said "want a box to go?" As we were eating. This has to be one of the worst dinners out in Cape May I have ever had. Finally, our "dessert" came out, it was good but overall you have no choice or say in a meal that is proclaimed to be a elevated dining experience. DO NOT DO NOT GO HERE. They are rude, food is mid- the beautiful island of Cape May has WAYYY MORE TO OFFER. Furthermore- every google review is definitely bought. Nothing but 5 stars I dont buy it. This place is a one time hit and NO RETURN. get off your high horse and have some respect. read more

We had an ocean view in a nice quiet corner tonight! The food, ambiance and service was great. I had the surf and turf for 1. A very special treat for me. It was delicious! They really made an effort to give you the most bang for your buck! My two fav things were the homemade bread and the mashed potatoes! So good! I'm giving this 4 stars only because I wish they had more appealing appetizers or typical salad options even tho their complimentary salad was still great! read more