I have learned to expect a lower standard of service in Cape May County, regardless of the average check amount, so I was pleasantly surprised to see someone raising the bar in the way that The Reeds in Stone Harbor appears to be doing. The last time we dined at "Sax At The Reeds" was soon after they opened, and it had not been good. My entree on that first visit had been so inedible, I took one bite and left the rest. That may have been a first for me. It was that bad. I didn't even ask for something else; I was so disgusted. This most recent experience was considerably improved. My wife and I were celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary a few days late, and when prompted during the reservation process, I had checked the box for "special occasion" without thinking much about it. It seemed rather incidental, but I thought it couldn't hurt. The staff at Sax did not disappoint. When we arrived at the front desk, the sharply-dressed gentleman working the host stand was engaging and personable, and when we answered that we did indeed have reservations, he guessed our name and welcomed us and congratulated us on our anniversary. He asked if we preferred a special table and offered a window seat if we liked. If we'd known they had a fireplace, we probably would have chosen to sit in front of that, but the window seat was lovely. We were soon greeted by Patrick, our server for the evening, and he arrived with two flutes of sparkling wine on the house and wished us a happy anniversary. Patrick was an animated and exuberant server who definitely knew his job, understood the food and wine, and had strong opinions about the menu. We were never in need of anything, but also never felt overwhelmed by his presence. A good balance. My wife began with the broiled oysters, which were phenomenal, and I had the steakhouse salad, which was surprisingly good for being an original take on a simple wedge. It was exactly what I wanted and a perfect size. Not too big or small and elegantly presented. For our entrees, Jane ordered the crab-stuffed flounder with lobster sauce on a bed of risotto, which she thoroughly enjoyed even though it's not something she would typically order. Jane has a very critical palette and is a great cook herself, so she's not easily pleased. She thought it was a delicious, well-balanced dish. I had been craving steak, an uninspiring selection, so I ordered the NY Strip with maître d'hôtel butter. While we enjoyed our wine, Patrick returned to offer me a choice of five different knives, displayed in a wooden box. He explained each one and asked for my choice. I told him I would go with his recommendation, and I got something simple called "The Knife," a hand-hammered piece of fine cutlery. The steak was perfectly cooked, although I personally found it under-seasoned. I like a salty finish on my red meat, so Patrick promptly brought me a small dish of fleur de sel, and we were in business. My sides were whipped potatoes and carrots, both of which were good, but the potatoes were presented as if plated with a large ice cream scoop, which made them appear fake diner potatoes. Even Jane called it out as an unusual choice. The carrots were perfectly cooked and had an almost citrus finish. For wine, we had selected a Chardonnay chosen by the sommelier as a special for the evening, and it was good but not transcendent, while the Chappallet red blend on the menu was absolutely exquisite. Powerful and smooth with a great finish. For dessert, I had planned to order the warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream that I had seen on the website, but it wasn't available. Instead, we ordered something called the Dubai Cheesecake. Dubai chocolate was something I was vaguely aware of, but wasn't entirely sure what it was. Patrick assured us that while the dish was hard to describe in terms of a flavor profile, it was a killer bit of confection. He wasn't wrong. It was crunchy and creamy, complex in its simplicity. A transformative dish, and we're not even big dessert people. I won't pretend that any of this was a bargain, but excellence rarely is. I'll admit to a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrived, so be prepared to drop a few bills. But if you're looking for great service and food, you won't find anything better at the Jersey Shore than Sax at the Reeds. It's worth a special trip. read more

Where do I start? For reference my girlfriend and I order the Chopped Steak Burger with fries for her. I got the 14oz New York Strip ($80+ btw), the grilled asparagus, and the baked potato. The burger was lackluster, not much flavor and fairly dry, not a drop of juice on the plate. My steak I ordered medium rare (pink border with reddish center), it came out grey with a faint pink inside. This steak was upwards of $80 dollars and I feel as if I'd find better at Texas Roadhouse. The Mocktails we ordered were actually pretty good as well as the Chocolate Chip Cookie dessert. Service was lackluster, he was occupied with too many tables to deliver us adequate attention. The atmosphere was nice but loud due to the crowd of people in the ballroom. All in all I expected a better dinner for $160+. read more

FABULOUS food, service and value fro the price fixe menu. Ambiance was great with the fireplace

I made dinner reservations in October for a November event, specifically a birthday celebration for myself accompanied by 3 other guests. When we arrived, we were told that our reservation had been canceled due to a wedding party. Canceled! Really? You didn't know about a wedding party occupying the whole restaurant when I booked my dinner? Then the maitre d, or whoever offered to buy us pizza. What kind of compensation is that? I was never notified of any discrepancies with or changes to my reservation. We then drove home hungry. The management here is worthless. Thanks for nothing. read more

We had a great dinner at SAX! First of all, Patrick was an amazing waiter. We started with delicious, roasted brussels sprouts and fresh bread. Then we had salmon, halibut, and chicken-all were delicious. The side order of cornbread prepared with cream corn was amazing. we shared a delicious Mexican brownie with caramel ice cream and caramel sauce. The setting was nice (except for loud wedding music next-door). All in all, a great evening. Thank you! read more

I went here for a Mother's Day brunch ($48) they were having. This was part of a resort building that was right on the water. It was a buffet style brunch with lots of different items to choose from. The whole presentation of everything was nicely done. Besides the traditional chafing dishes with food, they had an omelet and pancake station as well as a carving station with prime rib and a glazed ham. There was also a whole table of pastries, muffins, cakes, cookies, etc. I did not try any of those unfortunately. Regarding the breakfast, I had an omelet that consisted of bacon, onions, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. It was made quickly while the chef was friendly and sociable. The omelet was on the smaller side but was tasty. I also had some fresh fruit and bacon from the breakfast side of the buffet, no complaints. I also had the shrimp cocktail bar as well as some lox, which were fresh and tasty. The shrimp seemed to be seasoned with some Old Bay. My favorite item of the day was probably the glazed ham. The mustard and apricot sauce really complimented the pieces of ham. My piece of prime rib was a little tough unfortunately, but it did have lots of flavor. Overall, it was a well-presented buffet with lots of intriguing options and I enjoyed mostly everything I had. Will I go back? Yes. read more

We went to the Reeds for the Mother's Day Brunch last Sunday. This was the 3rd year we have gone there. We will not be going again. On the brunch menu, they list a carving station with roast beef, ham, pork and turkey. There was no roast beef. I guess they are saving money. The pork and turkey were dry and overcooked. No more chocolate mousse. No complimentary mimosa or anything else for mothers. The food was mediocre at best. However, the price per person is almost $70 for anyone over 12. read more

We stopped in a drink but also ended up staying for a mid afternoon lunch/dinner. Bartender was very pleasant and she was very helpful. Met some others visiting and some returning. I'd say if there try the Gail drink. Pleasantly decorated and a quick stop for good conversation read more

Amazing food and service...you have to ask for Patrick our server.... He will educate on anything from wines to desserts... well worth it !! We will be back sooooo amazing read more

We stayed at The Reeds, the hotel The Sax restaurant is located. They offered an upgraded room and breakfast package, and since in was January (2021) not much if open. The breakfast was delicious, we ate here both mornings of our stay, the service was fast and friendly as well. Due to Covid The Sax had tables spread apart, and a QR scan for the menu. I would suggest if you are in the area to give them a try, I will be back to try dinner! read more

See all

Ambiance and location are the best thing this restaurant has to offer. Food and service were a disappointment. I ordered a salad with no dressing and cheese. Sadly, my salad came with cheese which I tried to eat around. We were a group of 4 and none of the entrees we ordered were outstanding, especially at this price point. We may be in the minority, but I am sending this precaution. Do not order the calamari. The two from our group who ate it had severe stomach issues afterwards. Stone Harbor has so many restaurant options so I would try another restaurant. read more

Over priced mediocre food. I was completely disappointed in the food we received for the price. I've eaten at much better places with comparable pricing all over the shore points. Our waitress was pleasant as was the hostess and that's the only positive. I got the Amish chicken with the overcooked pirogies and my husband got the dried out halibut. He did say the shrimp was good but they aren't cooking that. This was a one and done unfortunately. read more

SAX at The Reeds - Shrimp cocktail - New American Near Me - Stone Harbor, New Jersey

See all

Nice servers - front of the house was nice - Drink's delicious! Food was sub par and took forever . We had a large group and our food took hours and came out so staggered that people finished before others didn't get their salads . Wedge salad ( which has literally 3 ingredients) was missing blue cheese and came out after 2.5 hours of sitting . Got most of the food Togo because it took so long . Wouldn't go back read more

Hidden gem in a hotel.....classy ambiance outstanding servers, first class bartenders and wine list plus top notch menu with new versions of traditional favorite dishes. Unlike most shore restaurants tables are far enough apart that you can actually carry on a conversation. read more

We had the best time tonighy at the reeds ! Our bartender Tommy was so kind and amazing at making our drinks we had espresso martinis and they were delightful!!! He was so friendly and funny I would recommend this place to anyone ! Especially when Tommy is working! read more

Visited on our last night in Stone Harbor for dinner. We had a reservation for 6:30 and we promptly seated in the small dining room. Service overall was quick, efficient, and generally pleasant. As one of the only restaurants in the area with a full bar, we appreciated starting with a cocktail and wine, SAX has a great wine list! The food was outstanding, huge portions. We started with salads, the iceberg and also the beet salad, but the difference in size was comical. There were about four beets on my plate, and the iceberg was literally a full head of lettuce. The server offered fresh rolls which were warm and well seasoned with an herbaceous seasoning. Our mains were also fantastic, plated beautifully and full of unique flavors. I enjoyed the branzino stuffed with crab and over a succotash. The fish itself was perfectly cooked with a crispy skin, paired with a tomato sauce that I would have licked off the plate of there were more! My party enjoyed the chicken, a surprising underdog that was likewise tender and perfectly cooked. We left with plenty to enjoy after a quick trip to Springers, including nearly half a head of lettuce read more

SAX at The Reeds - Branzino - New American Near Me - Stone Harbor, New Jersey

This restaurant is outrageously expensive. I'm sure some people are willing to pay the prices, but objectively the prices are way out of line. $79 for a NY strip steak, $149 for a lobster. Unless they are proving exceptional service - it was good, don't get me wrong - but they would have to be kissing your toes and giving back massages and more for these prices. Someone is willing to pay these prices but I'm not. I've eaten at many,many restaurants and I can afford a very good meal, but the value here is just incredibly out of line. read more

My husband and I spent our anniversary weekend at the shore, and celebrated at Sax on Friday night. We've both only ever been to the Reeds during the summer, so we were excited to experience the venue in the "off season." When we arrived for our 6:30 reservation, there was a wedding party getting ready for their entrances, so we scooted past them to get to Sax. We were the second couple to be seated around that time, but it filled up shortly after. Our (fabulous) server asked us if we were celebrating anything and we mentioned it was our anniversary. Shortly after, she came out with two glasses of Prosecco to kick off a fantastic celebratory dinner - a gesture that really warmed our hearts. Later we both ordered another drink - my husband a scotch, and the Lavender Blueberry Collins off of the cocktail menu for me. As a starter, we had Narragansette Bay Mussels, which we were surprised (in a good way) to see that they were served out of the shell in a flavorful broth. I definitely recommend asking for/keeping the focaccia bread served at your table if you order the mussels - it was great to dip into the broth. For our mains, my husband ordered the grilled salmon and for myself, the Sax Cioppino. I'm so happy I asked for our servers recommendation when I was between the cioppino and the tuna. The cioppino was phenomenal, with poached monkfish, scallops, jumbo shrimp and large mussels in a tomato confit and saffron crema. I'd never had a cioppino as I'm often not a fan of combining seafoods in one meal, but decided to try something new and this one the perfect introduction. All of the seafood was cooked perfectly and the crema was incredible. My husband also enjoyed his salmon, but was jealous of my dish. To cap off our evening, we ordered coffee and shared a warm bread pudding, which our server brought out with a candle on top - so sweet! The bread pudding was so perfect for the crisp fall evening, but would've been even better if it had been like 5-10 degrees warmer. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we felt very much taken care of here, making our special evening all the more special. Thank you Sax! read more

See all

This review is solely based on room service. My boyfriend and I stayed at The Reeds and decided to order breakfast from SAX to eat in our room. We called in the order and our food arrived about 45 minutes later. It was delivered on a large tray, which was perfect since we were able to eat it in bed. It was covered in plastic wrap which kept the food warm as well. I was so glad that they didn't deliver the food on a rolling cart. Those take up way too much space. My boyfriend ordered the Huevos Rancheros. It looked better than expected. The base of the dish was black beans with chorizo mixed in, then topped with two sunny side up eggs, avocado slices, tomatoes, red onions and came with a few corn tortillas. The only complaint my boyfriend had was that there were way too many beans and wish there was more chorizo. He estimated that it was close to two cans of beans. I ordered the Three Egg Omelette. I was able to pick three fillings so I selected mushrooms, spinach and cheddar cheese. The omelette was huge, perfectly salted and THANKFULLY wasn't a watery texture. Toast and home fries come with it, but I decided to substitute the home fries with fruit instead. Other than there being too much beans in my boyfriend's dish, the breakfast was fantastic. It came in a timely manner and was fresh. read more

See all

Worst service ever. The entire hotel, especially the restaurants... I've had too many bad experiences, including biting into GLASS IN MY RISOTTO (!!! -- they didn't even remove that order from my bill), to keep count. I have heard the same from friends. For the prices that they demand, they really need to increase their standards. They are rude on the phone, their phone operating system sucks, if you ask for help they hang up on you, etc etc etc. I do not recommend. Send your staff to quality control camp!! read more

Food was decent, views lovely. Service was terrible. Took 25 minutes to be greeted at our table, appetizers hit before our drinks and 3 of the 5 entrees came 15 min before the other 2. Overall, not a great night. read more

Great seafood pasta and filet. The ambience and service was a great touch to the experience

We started outside at the bar. The bartender was a little rude when he complained that my friend was ordering the drinks for the group as people arrived. Once a seat opened up, and we staked out our territory. The waitress service was great out there: the waitresses are easy to spot in their flattering orange uniform. If you can have your pre-dinner cocktail before sunset, that is the way to do it. Very beautiful. This bar should be enjoyed by every local and tourist. We pushed our dinner reservation for 9 of us back 15 min and they accommodated us. Unfortunately there was a wedding going on, and as another reviewer stated, we heard the reverberations in the dining room. The noise level is loud in the dining room. Lighting is flattering. Service ok. Our waitress didn't mention the specials but John came by our table and told them to us. I ordered the razor clams appetizer which was a special. There were 5 to an order. I took one of the big ones and It was gritty and sandy. My friend had two and said they were not. I took a small one and it was good. She took the last one and said it was sandy. I tasted my friend 's crab cake and it was good. Another friend had the green salad and he said there was only one beet. A few people got the tuna. I had the Branzino which was good. The wines were reasonably priced. Although we were a large party, they did not add the tip to our check which was nice. read more

See all

My NY strip was so damn good! Cooked perfectly!! Natasha was our server and she was spectacular!!! Fantastic meal fantastic time!! Thank you!!!! read more

Second time visiting Food was excellent. Scallops perfectly seared over risotto. Creamy. Sweet. Salty. Perfect. Dessert was great. Last time I had the filet which was excellent - so was the short rib. Lots of shore places have so much turnover that they can't consistently deliver. Not this one. It's very good - better than it has to be. The kitchen really knows what they're soj Only reason it's 4/5 is because service was slow getting rolling. Bar seemed short staffed - waited forever to try to get an order in. Gave up and just ordered from our table. But that can be fixed and everything else was 5 star. read more

What a great evening we had dining at Sax. Everything was superb from the time we walked in. My girlfriend had the grilled calamari salad as her starter and I had the fluke ceviche, it was out of this world yummy. Our entrees came out in a quick manner I had 22oz Cowboy Ribeye grilled to perfection and she had Branzino such a light beautiful fish. Our server Justin was a wonderful addition to the night explaining all the dishes and specials. Sax has a great wine list as well as awesome speciality cocktails. Enjoyed every moment of the night! read more

Busy holiday weekend - expected things to be crazy. A lot of tables outside were Empty, but were told 20-30 minutes. Lots of tables but not a lot of servers. Very poor with reservations And Follow up. Beautiful location but moved to indoor bar. Two servers cared and were great, nobody else Seemed to care. Food was very good. We finally received our text message that our table was ready - after we ate our full meal inside at bar. This is a missed opportunity- great everything with majority of staff either untrained or not caring. read more

I came here with two others one night and was initially concerned that we were the only ones in the restaurant, however, the service was great. It's often difficult to balance attentive with overbearing when there is only one party, but our waiter was great. I had the hangar steak, which was 5 stars - it was cooked perfectly and the quality of meat was excellent. My husband had the tuna and it said it was good, not great. My mother had the appetizer mac and cheese as a dinner (it's huge) and it was really bland and flavorless. We had two sizes, mushrooms (not too much flavor) and sweet potato fries, which were good. Wine and beer selections were good, can't speak to mixed drinks. The restaurant was decorated beautifully for Christmas and there were people in the bar area with a singer who sounded great. A little pricy for what it is, but I think you are paying for the venue, which is beautiful. I wish it had a water view in lieu of the street. read more

I had high hopes but it as a let down. I ordered miso salmon which was over cooked and had absolutely tasteless rice. Hubs got Halibut Puttanesca which had no capers and lost flavor, as well as tasteless but fluffy polenta. Stars for ambiance and music. read more

Had Thanksgiving dinner at the Reeds Very disappointing Took a while to get a drink order Once drinks came we went to buffet Food on buffet was not refilled like it should have been most pans were fairly empty Food lacked flavor and was very salty and in most cases cold Stuffing was very wet and over seasoned cranberry sauce running and very bitter pasta very dry Carving station but not carving to order meat in chafers cut very thick and was very dry attendants at carving station just leaning up against the wall Desserts just so so I was expecting much more from this place but I don't think I will be back Watching other customers plate pretty full Also as the waitstaff cleared the tables read more

This is a review for SAX Restaurant portion only. We didn't use the valet parking, although there is a sign that says it is "complimentary". If they still have that in the winter time extra star. I called on a friday night at 5:30 to make a reservation. Was told they had 5:30 or 7:30. We were already hungry and our babysitters wanted to turn in early, so we took the 5:30. (not a kid-place) This place had quite a buildup, and my expectations were high given the high-class facility and prices. The dining room was nearly empty when we arrived and gradually filled halfway. I was a little surprised that the high-end dining from was along 3rd ave with a view of the shops across the street. Although I was expecting a water view, after I walked around to the water side and felt the blazing 99 degree sun at the water grill I had more appreciation of that street view. I didn't notice any ambient music. With a name like SAX at The Reeds, I expected a high-end sound system playing some kind of jazz (not kenny G) or maybe Billie Joel. The staff was great and each knew their role and performed it well. We may have been the first customers of the shift. We took their offer of a bottle of sparkling water, which could have been colder. The bread was good. The second one they brought was even better--warm. Started with the oven roasted local tomato, sugar cured berkshire bacon crisp, baby arugula greens, saffron white balsamic garlic vinegar. This would be good if executed well. The tomato and bacon were cold, please refry the bacon in a pan and toss immediately before serving. No grizzly pieces of bacon, please. In addition to being out-of-the-fridge cold the tomato had some broiled cheese on top and was not having that roasted-concentrated tomato flavor. Please do not refrigerate your local organic tomatoes. The baby arugula greens were good. I ordered the pan seared grouper- sesame charred baby bok choy, udon noodles,red curry saffron broth. The grouper was nicely seared of and moist. The two baby bok choy were good, but I detected no sesame or charring. The broth was mild and delicate yet flavorful, and there was enough but not too much. My wife order the cornmeal-fried long island oysters & farm raised shrimp, white truffle buttermilk mashed potatoes, wilted kale & organic spinach, moroccan harissa, sweet chile aioli The shrimp and oysters were tasty, and the mashed potatoes were creamy and flavorful with just a slight kick. The kale/spinach conveniently balanced out the fried. Nice balance with this dish. We got to see a cool presentation with the crawfish & roasted cauliflower bisque as they pour it our of mini tureens into a bowl in front of you. We looked at the dessert menu, and it looked good, but that is all for now. This place should get better as they work out the execution and the menu will make more sense as the weather gets colder. read more

Nice ambiance with solid food and drinks. We've been dining here a decent amount during the pandemic. The Reeds follows all safety protocols and has made us feel very comfortable. You'll likely need reservations for the dining room, but the bar area is first come, first serve and offers the same menu. In the winter we prefer to sit in the bar area near the TV for a more casual environment. During the summer, the outdoor space is definitely worth going to for both lunch and dinner. The service is sometimes slow when it gets busy, but overall we love this place. A great and reliable go-to spot for great food and cocktails all times of the year. read more

A wonderful 50th birthday dinner celebration with family! Steve Mannino from the Reeds helped my husband plan the most wonderful night! Food and service were excellent! Several of us ordered raw oysters, flatbread, lobster risotto (special), cioppino, NY strip steak and short ribs. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal and the ambiance. A lovely night all the way around! read more

I am actually surprised I'm not writing a glowing review. I am so in love with Stone Harbor and felt like this was a great addition for upscale dining. However, absolutely do not (DO NOT) eat dinner here when a wedding is happening. It felt like you were in the middle of a club- super loud music that you could feel vibrating through the wall. Nothing remotely romantic, quaint beach town, fine dining about it. In top of that, the food was spaced really far apart and my fish ended up being really dry and overall jut salty. Not impressed. The overall service was great - friendly and attentive. Great decor and very happy with our cocktails. I'd go back for drinks and appetizers, but never again for dinner on the weekend if part of their main business is hosting events that share a wall with the dining room. read more

I stayed here because I had a business meeting not too far away, and typically this place is very busy/expensive during peak season. We are at the hotel Resturant and it was a great experience. I was a little concerned we were the only folks in the Resturant, but the food was delicious. I highly recommend this place. read more

SAX at The Reeds - Short ribs - New American Near Me - Stone Harbor, New Jersey

See all

This place isn't bad but not as good as it should be for the price. I had the duck breast which was good but the side that came with it were these potatoes that honestly were horrible, they didn't seemed cooked and no taste. My girlfriend got the short rib which wasn't bad either but came out cold. Everything on her dish was cold and I hate sending back food but we just had to. Drinks were great. Overall good place but prices need to be lowered. If prices aren't lowered then food needs to be better read more

We popped in on a rainy Friday evening and were overall happy with our experience here. We were warned before we sat down that there was a wedding going on in the adjacent room and that it would get loud at points, but we didn't mind being a rowdy bunch ourselves :) The restaurant is more upscale and modern that has a very simple menu and an attentive wait staff. For starters, we tried the prince edward island mussels that were a bit overcooked and lacked flavor in the broth, the jumbo lump crab cake that packed some very good flavor with the gazpacho under it as well as the special pumpkin spiced gnocchi that were slightly overcooked but ok. Out of the apps, I would order the crab cake again but not the other items. For entrees, we did an assortment of fish and meats: seared tuna that was cooked perfectly, the branzino that was nothing special, the scallops that were prepared and cooked well for fish. On the meat side, we did the braised ribs that were excellent, the pork chop that was ok and the chicken that also was ok. The majority of the dishes came with some form of potatoes and green veggie that complimented each dish well and I don't think any dish really stuck out other than the ribs. To finish off the meal, we tried several desserts. We went with a couple of scoops of ice cream that were ok, the brownie sundae that was a bit on the skimpy side with only 3 small brownie bites and some ice cream and whipped cream and a hazelnut tart with chocolate ice cream. I would recommend skipping dessert. Overall, the experience was good. It was a bit on the expensive side but the wait staff was friendly and we enjoyed ourselves. The food is prepared in a way that it is presented nicer on the plate than it is prepared for flavor. Our wait staff was also friendly enough to bring over some cookies/desserts from the wedding next door that we indulged in. Buon appetito. read more

1 star for ambiance only service slow w/only 3tbls total of 7 ppl in restaurant order hanger steak MR came out med well at best ordered oyster rockafeller to go n what I got I still have no clue being an exec chef for over 25 years have to say this place needs to rethink whom they got running the place ...... read more

Very good food for breakfast. Eggs here are perfect. They have very good pancakes too. Not a huge fan of the French toast though. Other than that this place gets a 10/10! read more

This is a chic alternative to the normal 7 mile restaurant options. And it's open all year! Corn bread to die for, excellent cocktails, well constructed menu with varied price points. The service is fine - remember you are in a beach community, not a city. Try the pastas and burger you will not be disappointed. I love a good byo but sometimes it's nice to splurge! read more