Such a hidden gem for brunch. $20 all you can eat plus it's BYOB so you end up spending a fraction of the price you would at the Mad Batter or Blue Pig with no wait time if you make a reservation. The portion sizes are perfect for ordering multiple rounds and taking advantage of the AYCE and sharing is strongly encouraged. The staff is very friendly and fun and strives to make your experience as unique as the food. I definitely don't recommend to picky eaters or children as the menu is not your typical pancakes or scrambled eggs, but if you're a foodie like myself than this place is a must read more

Shamone Bites + Wine - Smooth Criminal - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Eh, missed the mark for me a little bit. First impressions peeked my interest - cool restaurant with one seating in a virtually abandoned building in Cape May. I love pre fix menus where I don't have to think about what's next but just go with the flow - but with 12-15 dishes it's like a never-ending faster-than-you-can-chew parade of mediocre food. Price is right, staff was very nice, but I don't think I'll be back any time soon unless the menu is tightened up. read more

One of my favorite restaurants! it's a must for a date night experience! I love the tasting menu style of eating and it's always prepared with quality, consideration, and creativity! keep it up! we love dining with you :) read more

What an interesting, fun experience! Super cool space, intimate and with lots of character. This was my husband and I's first time at a tasting like this and were so excited! We ended up coming here after another local tasting restaurant was unable to accommodate our dietary restrictions. I have a tree nut allergy and he has a shellfish allergy. They were more than willing, and excellently professional about it as well. Going so far as to bring out our safe dishes first to avoid touching any of the allergen plates before ours. Emily was an excellent server and really helped make the experience great. We did the ten course tasting, and it was definitely an adventure. The starters were all to die for, so flavorful and absolutely delicious. The entree courses weren't quite to our taste and a bit on the salty side, but with a varied tasting menu that's different every night that's just natural. We would definitely come back to see how the experience changes. read more

Visted Shamone tonight with a group of 4, and the food & service was nothing short of amazing! Left feeling full after our 15 course tapa meal, and every single course we were served was even more delicious than the previous. Can't wait to return on our next visit to Cape May. UPDATE: We're going back again tonight! For everyone leaving them a bad review, when you make your reservation they specifically tell you that they are cash only, and dessert is NOT included in the fixed price menu. They are BYOB, but if you choose to have a non-alcoholic beverage while dining, that is at an additional charge. There was also someone in the reviews below who said they were served 7 courses instead of 15. That's not accurate. They still serve 15 tapas, but some are double plated throughout the evening and the waiter told us this. read more

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This review is for the profound rudeness and unprofessional behavior of the owner and his restaurant. We have been looking forward to eating here for our anniversary dinner for a while. The reservation was made over a month ago. However, the morning of the reservation, we get a notification that the restaurant canceled our reservation, completely out of the blue. Who cancels a reservation the same day without any notice? According to the person I spoke on the phone with, "the owner" does that. Really classy job, Shamone. Needless to say, we are now on the hook to figure out a new anniversary dinner on less than 10 hours notice. Thanks, owner of Shamone. I can only hope that each of your guests forever in the future give you the same courtesy that you gave us and cancel all their reservations the same night. read more

Every dish is unique and full of taste. Highly recommended. Additionally there must be some magic in the works to get a meal of this level for the price. read more

Food was delicious! Yummy blueberries in the lemon ricotta pancakes! French toast was just the right sweetness! The portions were large and food kept coming! Chef waited on us personally! read more

There are numerous great restaurants in Cape May, including George's and YB, but Shamone misses the mark for me. But it is brilliantly pretentious. Appealing to the unending parade of foodies created by the Cooking Channel and Food Network, this converted shop on the second floor of the Washington Street Mall is tight, dark, and loud. Which is apparently the way the owner wants it. Greeted at check in by the owner, he admonishes that this is his therapy, cooking what he likes. In an environment he prefers, and even said that many people won't like it, but he doesn't care. (I mean, he is an "artiste" who owns 9 restaurants after all!) He also stated he doesn't hire chefs, he only hires "restaurant managers." But he seemed genuinely amiable, and most of the patrons were eating it up. The staff were very cool and friendly. Are you getting the vibe? "Bites and wine" (but bring your own wine.) Take the term bites SERIOUSLY. If its more than a mouthful, it's probably 2 courses displayed on the same plate. In the food hierarchy, you have Tapas, Appetizers, and then "bites." You might leave hungry if you pass on something you don't like. Dinner started with a "Panzanella salad with squid ink tzatziki." I know its "bites," but this panzanella (bread salad) was literally ONE crouton! Second course was a tiny, roasted pepper to swish around in any left over squid ink. It was tasty, but nothing special. Other courses included a garden salad with siracha ranch dressing ( which you could buy at any grocery), a slice of smoked salmon with raspberry vinegarette, BBQ soba noodles (which were unintentionally cold) and a delicious Korean glazed meatball the size of a quarter( I compared). The final courses were marinated salmon with an okinawan sweet potato ( also unintentionally cold) and lukewarm pasta w chicken and a blush sauce. The bites bit wouldn't bother me IF most of them knocked my socks off. They did not. Coffee and desserts are extra. There were three different types of cake. And they brought out the liquid nitrogen! Not to change any part of the dessert dishes, just to pour into a surrounding service bowl to create a cool looking fog. If your craving a pretentious dining experience, give it a try, but the food itself seemed all show and no substance. I'm really tempted to say Shamone "bites," but your experience may vary so I'll give it 3 stars. Don't say you weren't warned. read more

Shamone Bites + Wine - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Had a reservation in place for over a month and the restaurant had cancelled less then a week before our dinner there. Very irresponsible

Opened at new location on Beach Ave. Went for breakfast / brunch this morning. Did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Shared plates so could sample more options. You can order as much as you can eat. A nice twist on the French toast and tater tots. Highly recommend them. read more

Loud music and pleasant service doesn't make up for fair food... definitely not worth the $50/person for dinner.

We had the most amazing time at Shamone!!! One dish was better than the next. Yum yum yum!!! George and Katie we're awesome!!! Wow! What a great, great experience!!! We will definitely be back!! read more

Like the reviews here I have mixed feelings about this place. I gave it four stars because it's unlike anything I've eaten that I can remember. I commend the owner and the team at Shamone for delivering an interesting and entertaining experience. That said I think people with an experience of a wide range of luxury dining experiences will feel similar to what we left feeling. The food is what we would describe as a parade of American hors d'oeurves across 15 "courses" where two appear on a plate like the deviled egg and bratwurst. Everything was tasty and decently executed especially given the one seating per night but something I would find at a catered experience which makes sense. The highlight was the spare rib that fell off the bone. Lowest point was the kale salad that felt too expected and the oversweet strawberry short cake bite at the end. It's BYO so we grabbed a nice bottle around the corner and they put it on ice for us would was a nice touch. The service was great. And while we left stuffed, I don't know if I would ever return or suggest this to our friends in the city expecting a traditional tapas or multi-course tasting experience. That said, I can't stop thinking about it and suggest other people looking for different experience to consider it-especially if you love American bites like buffalo chicken crostini and mini burger sliders to name a few. read more

Good vibe and menu concept but poor execution... All the plates tasted the same, a lot of purees and weird combinations of flavors. Smoked salmon and mango (tastes just as bad as it sounds). Overall give this place a 4/10. Wouldn't go back unfortunately read more

My wife and I had a wonderful meal at this restaurant. You may be a little shocked my the small plates (in most cases these are bite sized) but by the time you finish you will be full. I was a little disappointed that the chef didn't come out to talk to the people dining. On this Wednesday night, there was only 10 people at this 7pm seating. The presentation of the food was eclectic and the only recommendation that I have is to have the ravioli served on a plate rather than a bowl. It was impossible to cut it in the bowl and I transferred it the my bread plate. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope they catch on and are successful. read more

We had an excellent experience at Shamone last night. The chef was very welcoming and friendly. The staff was fun and efficient. The food was delicious and innovative. We will definitely be back. read more

The ambiance (posters with Anthony Bourdain quotes (RIP wonderful man), curtained off "exclusive" entryway) and the perfunctory, kinda playfully belligerent communication from front of house staff led us to believe we were in for a real culinary experience. Like, if little attention is paid to the comfort of the guests (tall backless swivel stools for a 15 course meal? No knives?) one eagerly anticipates that ALL attention will be on the food. And... well... meh. Sure, some courses were good. Ceviche was rockin'. But the flavors were all flavors we've had before, in combinations that didn't make sense. The order felt arbitrary, as did the grouping of 'courses' on plates. Many ingredients kept showing up again and again (mayonnaise! Pea shoots! More puff pastry!). And you can't include a bite of dessert in your fifteen courses? Lame. It wasn't terrible. The music was good. The sausage was nice. BYOB is appreciated. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. But I don't think I'd recommend it. PS They should update their website - it's $35 per person now, not $30. PPS My friend said the stools made him feel bad about his posture for two and a half hours. He's off to work on his core muscles. read more

There are plenty of decent restaurants in Cape May but few that provide a truly unique dining experience This is the one! Call well in advance on weekends because they sell out much of the time. 15 courses without dessert give you plenty of great bites. read more

My reservation was cancelled late Thursday night for this upcoming Tuesday. Very unprofessional.

Had a "confirmed with CC" reservation for 6/28/21 @7PM for 6 people. Restaurant never opened. Called one of their affiliated restaurants (Georges) to find out what happened. They had no idea and said to wait a bit. They WILL open. Called back @7:30 and I asked the girl in charge if she would be able to get my party of 6 into another restaurant. She NO all booked. Then I asked her for other suggestions and she basically was giggling at me. I really hate to trash I restaurant , after the year we have been through. read more

I am going five because of the uniqueness of the place as compared to most Cape restaurants - of which I have been to most, and many are stellar. But Shamone, what does it mean?, stands out as exceptional, must go. I am from NYC and have eaten at many places. Anyway, service was outstanding, ambiance outstanding, food was really really good. Preparations and dIsplay and some very tasty Large tapas plates. I was FULL UP by nights end. The crowd was great, great music, love the whole setup was spot on. Food was everything from seafood to prosciutto and it's BYOB .... what else can I say......DO IT. By the way it is in no way "brash " service. It was classy NYC quality thank you. And not noisy at all. The negative reviews are full of shite and actually upset me because I almost did not go because of them. Please people, if you dont understand great food and a great eatery - don't write a bunch of bull. Other people deserve honest opinions from people who know what they are talking about. Enjoy - awesome place. And by the way their other restaurant George's is outstanding. And no I do not know the owners. read more

I liked the price of Shamone Tapas and that they allow BYOB. We made a reservation in advance for 4 people. The chef, atmosphere, and presentation of the food was very pretentious. I thought the food was good but not amazing. The portions are small. I might give it another try but not sure. It also was unnecessarily dark. There is mood lighting but this was so dark that the waitress was struggling to see where the plates were to set them down and to take them away from the table. read more

This was such a fun experience. The ambience and decor as we walked in set the tone for a unique date night on our last day visiting Cape May. The servers were super friendly and talked with everyone. We sat at high table with a really nice couple from Philly. The plates of yumminess just keep coming - oysters, salmon, couscous, halibut, pulled pork, squid ink pasta, fresh salad. It was an incredible fusion of tastes. Kudos to the chef!! We were offered cappuccino or espresso plus desserts that were some of the best we've had. The only negative comments are this is cash only which wasn't advertised which could make for an awkward situation. The coffee and desserts were extra which was also not mentioned. I don't think many people like a surprise when settling their bill. read more

Really awesome and original concept for a restaurant. One seating every night {7 pm} in a secretive curtained room where the chef makes whatever his heart desires! The atmosphere is really set with the lack of light other than candlelight and the loud music. The darkness definitely made me try more foods than I normally would, but be level of music was hard to hear the other dinner guests or the servers when explaining what the entree was since each was a surprise. It was advertised to be 15 courses, but we only had 11... not sure what happened there but they were all delicious! Only one I didn't particularly like and I'm a pretty simple and picky eater. I would definitely suggest the last plate to be something sweet to signify the end of the meal. read more

i hoped the negative reviews were wrong (typical online overreactions) and booked a reservation for 2 over a month before our arrival in Cape May but after having our reservation unceremoniously cancelled with no warning and no explanation mere days before our planned night out I have to give those reviews credence. As a result of the belated and unexplained cancellation, we had to scramble to find another reservation with all of our preferred options already fully booked. Guess the early bird didn't get the worm this time. In the future I will not waste my time with Shamone and instead secure reservations at The Ebbitt Room or Peter Shields where I can rest assured that the owners/managers have enough respect for their customers to, you know, honor reservations. read more

the 15 courses actually turned out to only be 12 + 1 dessert. The "example" menu on website was nothing compared to the food we actually received. The server seemed to not know what any of the items we were served were and had to ask the kitchen multiple times and could only provide little to no insight. The courses were mid to say the least consisting of rock hard mango sorbet (palate cleanser counted as a course), a shot glass of broccoli soup, strawberry salad, shrimp with mango dipping sauce, chicken and rice, pork and asparagus. To say the least - this was not a "curated culinary adventure". The other courses we got were a little more interesting- carrot hummus pita bread, lemon posset, roasted tomato zucchini rolls, pastrami rueben wonton bite fried goat cheese caprese ravioli, nutella mouse. On a positive note they were able to accommodate for a food allergy and the food did taste decent, just underwhelmed by the lack of adventurous options especially with the location being at the shore and lack of fish / seafood. read more

What a great evening! Our chef, Yanni, is a master in the kitchen. The 15 course tapas adventure is something to experience. To begin, Yanni is entertaining himself. If he wasn't a chef, he would be in the entertainment industry, a real people person. The parade of tapas was a feast to the senses and each tapas complimented the previous and the upcoming one. I'm not going to name them because they change for each seating. But, you need to gift yourself with this pleasure. After delivering a magnificent dining experience for his guests, he was off to a family wedding. But, as was shown to us tonight, he was a true professional. Truly concerned that we had the greatest time. Also, the waitress, I'm sorry I did not get her name, was just as concerned with our adventure. Tell her "Soba Noodles" said thank you. Please treat yourself to this new Cape May dining wonder. You'll thank yourself on the way home. Enjoy! read more

Went as a party of 4 last week...and it was...fine? First off, keep in mind that while it advertises itself as "Shamone bites and wine" on its signage, it does not in fact offer wine. It's byob. Which is fine! But if you go thinking "I'll get tapas and wine" at a place that advertises both, you'll be disappointed. So hit the liquor store before lining up and awaiting your greeting from the chef. Yes, he drops the f-bomb like it's going out of style. (RIP, Mr. Bourdain.) He drops one last profanity for good measure before seating your party. Ambiance and music are fun. (Think tea lights and Postmodern Jukebox.) And a few bites are really delicious--the moussaka was my favorite by far. But others were again...fine. More than a couple reminded me of the freezer section from Trader Joe's (which isn't unpleasant so much as uninspired). And in the end, you may find yourself having consumed too much wine for the very small bites...calling it a 15-course tasting menu is generous. It's maybe 15 bits of food in sum; for example, counting half of a fig, a morsel of patè, and a tiny dollop of cheese on one small plate as "3 courses". So you may end the meal having drunk way more of (your own) wine than those 15 nibbles could soak up, still hungry and finding yourself tipsily staggering across the street for hot dogs and fries. Or maybe that was just us. But as my husband put it, if you go in thinking you'll spend $75/couple for heavy appetizers in a unique setting--you won't feel like Shamone is "Sham one." read more

Great atmosphere. 35$ price point is a deal. Unreal food. Super hospitable. Accommodated vegan and gluten free exceptionally.

What an interesting dinner. Love chefs Yani and Pete. Everything was Unique, DELICIOUS and beautifully presented. You have no idea what you're about to eat but if my 13 and 10 year olds can do it, so can you. Enjoy!! It's like one surprise after another and at the end the chef comes to hang with you. So much fun!!! read more

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I've visited Cape May numerous times since I was about 9 years old. I am now 33 and can say I know my way around the restaurant scene pretty well. Coming from the New York City area, I would say that when I eat in New Jersey my expectations are that the price will be a bit less, but the food quality or cooking will also bit a bit less (with several exceptions, of course - NJ has a lot of amazing restaurants too). This meal defied any expectation I would have in the Washington Street Mall in Cape May. I've eaten at George's and YB - the sister restaurants of this Pop-Up restaurant - and liked them both very much - especially because I love Greek food. First of all - 15 courses for $30? Why don't they just pay me for the food. How are they making any money off of this? This is fine dining at its best. Fresh ingredients, chef-quality culinary skills... at $30 a person? Are you kidding me? In NYC this meal would easily be $150 a person and they'd slap you on the face on the way out for good measure. So, in my mind, this meal was practically free. Let's get to where they really get impressive. My girlfriend is a vegetarian. I called ahead and told them of her dietary restrictions, but Yanni, the chef, was never given the message. So, he improvised. He came directly to us numerous times and told us that modifications he made - the usage of the ingredients he had on hand. My girlfriend's meal was as delicious as any of the otherwise premeditated meals that surrounded hers. THE BUTTER AT THE TABLE WAS THE BEST BUTTER EVER - NO JOKE. It was a rosemary/garlic infused butter. I am not trying to insult anyone with this compliment - this may have been the best part of the meal. Lamb meatballs, the ravioli, the kale sausage soup shooters, and the empanadas all stood out to me as outrageous - but honestly - there was not a bad dish on the table. Yanni's Greek influence definitely shined - but as a lover of ethnic cuisine, I'd have been saddened if I didn't see a glimmer of his roots shine through his innovations. I cannot say enough good things about this place. FYI: As a Michael Jackson fan - I love the name. As an Anthony Bourdain fan - I love the quote on the wall. read more

Absolute Best hidden Gem in Cape May! The ambiance was great, dim lighting and fun art made the experience truly unique. The food was excellent! Tried so many dishes I would have never tried before. And all were delicious! The staff was entertaining for sure and made my Bachelorette weekend definitely unforgettable! Will definitely be going back the next time I'm in Cape May. read more

Shamone is a unique dining experience, so be prepared. Many small bites, one more delicious than the next. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the food was terrific. I love trying tastes of different things rather than one giant entrée, so this is right up my alley. I thought there was more than enough food, but they do have dessert available for purchase for those who still have room. Also have coffee and tea available at the end of the meal. I would definitely go again and highly recommend. Reservations are REQUIRED! And it is BYOB. read more

We went at five of 7 on s Tuesday night. The entrance was barricaded but the sign said open at 7. Lights were on but we didn't see anyone inside. Another couple was waiting with a reservation they'd made a few hours before. We hadn't made one. There was no one else waiting. At ten after seven the couple called up and were told the restaurant was closed for renovations. There were no renovations going on. No customers either. This is no way to run a business. I doubt they'll be around long unless they figure out a new business model. read more

What do you get when you take your sister restaurant's leftovers, watch a lot of Chopped on Food Network, and black paint? Shamone Tapas! You might be fooling the tourists with your mysterious "call for reservations," line up outside for "seating," and all that black paint and candles, but you ain't fooling me. Salmon tar tar you say? Pretty sure that's the leftover lox from George's breakfast menu earlier that week. Call this placed "Chopped Kitchen," turn up the damn lights (I get that it's a fast turnover in a very old space in a very outdated "mall," but is it really that bad to look at with the lights in?) and get rid of the pretentious "we're hip, we're mysterious" act and I'd probably be back. Or not, a 4 1/2 star rating so it looks like it's working, and what do I know? Think about it though, prix fixe 6-8 course menu for $30? I guess people like my folks need an entry point to tapas, so throw that Hawaiian shirt on and head to Shamones! read more

Chef is a good cook; lousy restaurateur. Apparently someone forgot to teach him that the restaurant business is about more than making good food, it's about service and attitude. To be sure, the food was good, not great. For Cape May, $30 per plate is probably fair, but nothing outstanding. My gripes started with their ridiculous process of making each group that arrived wait outside the restaurant while they seated one group at a time, as if this were some South Beach nightclub. It extended to when my wife asked if her salad had onions on it; the server said "yes" and walked away (not even pausing to hear if that was a problem). When we asked for them to explicitly get her a new salad, they said all they could do is pick the onions off her existing salad. When we asked for the check, that took over 10 minutes--the meal is a price fix of $30pp with no drink menu so the check couldn't be easier to figure. All the while, the staff was obsessed with keeping the curtain that serves as a door closed so people feel they are in an "exclusive" place. That time could have been much better spent being solicitous of the dinners. The insult to injury was when one of the two chefs came out afterward and asked us about the experience, seeming to ask for feedback. But rather than give us an opportunity to talk, he just ran his mouth about how proud he was of his work, fishing for compliments. I eventually grew tired of his shtick and just figured I'd post what I really thought on Yelp. read more

Best meal and part of our vacation! We had such a blast and the food was delicious. It was multiple small plates and each one was unique and amazing. Dessert isn't included but it is absolutely worth getting. This was a great experience with the chef and staff coming around chatting and making the customer laugh throughout the dinner. What an awesome ambiance and music, it's like a nyc speakeasy in the 20's. I can't believe everyone hasn't given this 5 stars! If you're a foodie and enjoy trying small bites of different food this place is a must. Best kept secret of Cape May and maybe even New Jersey. P.S. byob and I think cash only read more

What a wonderful dining experience! We thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Terrific food, enchanting environment, and excellent wait staff. Please don't miss this! read more

Freakin' loved it! Great food and great people. The room has warm family style vibes and a sweet soundtrack. Solid choice for anyone looking for something other than typical beach fare. read more