There's a seafood market in the front where you order fresh seafood and sit on their back patio overlooking the harbor - don't miss this! It's a quick and casual spot that's perfect to enjoy delicious and fresh seafood. We ordered the soft shell crab, stuffed shrimp, calamari and clam chowder and loved everything. The clam chowder might have been one of the best ones I've ever had with lots of clams in it. Then, there's the indoor restaurant which is a bit fancier with checkered tablecloths and warm wood interior. My group ordered the baked clams casino (large clams!), lobster bisque (thick and delicious), crabmeat au gratin, crab cakes, lobster house specialty (seafood linguine) and sautéed crabmeat. We loved how much seafood came with every dish and how quick our service was. read more

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Definitely a go-to stop for lunch or dinner in Cape May! There's lots to choose from - raw bar, restaurant, boat bar, or pick up window. Lobster salad with fries, and the fried combo platter is what we ordered from the pick up window and our tummies were very pleased! We ate outside on the dock and enjoyed watching the boats come in. Cannot wait to go back! read more

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We had such a nice dinner, I had to update my review. We come to Lobster House from time-to-time throughout the year. We figured we would get in an off-season dinner before the crowds come and that we did! We arrived just before they opened at 415 and hung out at the bar for a few minutes. Dinner is served at 430pm! The bar is open, so you can get drinks while you wait if you like. There is a full service bar and you can order from a plentiful wine and spirits menu. Our awesome server for our early dinner was Trisha, and she could not have been more hospitable! She was very personable, attentive and provided excellent service! She was just a delight. I ordered the Flounder special which was delicious - - each element in the dinner was great - and you can see all my coordinating photos. The dinner comes with a nice fresh -chilled salad and of course, the yummy hot, fresh onion bread! The flounder was cooked to perfection and those Fried String Beans, kinda like french fries were really good and very creative. They came with a nice "Petal Sauce" that is going to have me coming back again! Thank you, Trisha and Lobster House for a great pre-season dinner. It's nice to have the whole restaurant to yourself without the crowds! Get there before Memorial Day weekend for a nice treat! There's also an incredible fresh fish market attached where you can get anything and everything from a fish market you ever dreamed about. They also have a decadent area with so many drool-worthy desserts that you can take out along with your seafood. All in all, Lobster House is a great local favorite that has consistently great seafood and service. read more

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Lunch for 2 in May. Service was fine. Clam Chowder was delicious! Definitely recommend. The Tuna salad platter comes with coleslaw, tuna salad, and potato salad. Tuna salad was OK but nothing to rave about. The coleslaw is excellent and definitely recommend that side. The potato salad was a big disappointment with bacon in it. A small taste and we were done with it. The soft shell crab was fried. Over-fried would be a better description. Really disappointing. At $20 for one it was over priced. read more

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Over the years I've had my share of great getaway meals at The Lobster House in timeless Cape May. It's a tradition you want to start earlier in life, so you can one day look around and watch as a new generation starts creating those lifelong memories of lively dinners out on the peer. It gives you a whole new appreciation for it, for how it's been able to not only last and stay pretty much the same across decades, making the nostalgia hit just a bit harder. People who have aversion to crowds probably read that and think I'm insane, and I wouldn't blame you. I can't think of a time when that place isn't a mad house. It's frantic, there are multiple queues all over the place, people are shouting, fish is flying, tables are being sniped. There's always some parent yelling at their kid or in-law to get over to some table 100 yards away they just happened to see open up. You have half a dozen poor grandmas sitting at a table all alone, feeling the pressure. The pressure and eyes of every other family waiting for a table bearing down on them. So yes, for certain people, every visit would be a nightmarish hell. Like think about the introverted pescatarians, they must be completely torn on this place. Even with the prominent signage, it's easy to get disoriented in the market-style layout. One time I waited 15 minutes for a softshell crab sandwich in front of a parking validation kiosk. Just remember there are two sets of bathrooms, one near the entrance and one lesser used one in the back. That is one benefit of sitting farther down the pier and not feeling bad about it. There is no such thing as a bad seat at TLH. Eventually once I did locate my softshell crab sandwich, I enjoyed it's soft, crab-like texture. Well, enjoyed is a strong word. Let's just say that will be my first and definitely last time I ever order softshell crab. I like crab, but, while soft, I do not enjoy the texture of the shell. It's like these thin sheets of leather strips. It's probably my fault, it's not like it's called "no shell" crab, but I think maybe they overdo it with the "soft" angle. Anyways, once I pivoted to a classic burger, all was well again. And I got more of those bangin' thick-cut steak fries. On this particular visit my two companions got an assortment of crab claws, fried calamari, clams casino, and the rest of my softshell crab, so yeah, everyone did pretty well for themselves. Also snagged a prime table right in the thick of things, on the pier in front of The Schooner, which doubles as a sailing vessel and outdoor cocktail lounge. Just another fine summer memory to look back fondly on. read more

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The spice is old-school and has been here a very long time. There is a ton of parking, and the restaurant has an incredible view. I might come back just for the views and the feel of the place. Take a moment to walk around and look at all the old pictures to see the history and the massive boats outside of the lobster house. This place is enormous, so I doubt there is ever a wait, but if so, the staff is friendly and helpful. We were here for lunch and began with six salt-bay oysters, which were tasty. We kept looking for a lobster roll, but they only had lobster salad, so we got that because I was here for a lobster roll. Lobster salad was OK, but, as expected, there was too much other stuff and not enough lobster. I should've looked before we picked this place, but I just assumed that they would have the regular lobster roll. I got French fries and a side of their creamy Caesar because I like to dip my fries. read more

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Shrinkflation at the shore. My wife and I have been going to the Lobster house for many years. She always gets the shrimp salad sandwich. It had pretty big shrimp and was so big she often took half home. We went this past Thursday and not only were the shrimp much smaller, there was much less, barely covering the bottom of the roll. I got a spinach salad with about half a hard egg, a bit of bacon crumbles, mushrooms spinach with a large bowl of sweet sauce that could have covered a bunch of salads. read more

The best take out and eat outback ever. Shrimp is amazing and so is the Lobster. The woman taking your order has been there for over 20 years. Thats continuity! Plus im sure the tips are sweet! read more

The Lobster House used to be a solid choice but recently the food was inedible. The soft shell crab and other dishes were fishy and hard to eat. The service has remained consistent and the views are great but the food is disappointing. I hope they turn around because it was a great Cape May eatery! read more

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We've been coming here for well over 30 years and the food has been consistently good the whole time. We do take out and eat in the back, which is much better than the fancy dining in my opinion It's such a nice relaxing summer night to sit on the back door enjoying your seafood meal watching boats come and go. The prices are reasonable, considering how expensive everywhere else is these days. They have not jacked their prices up like most other restaurants have lately. The crab bisque soup from the raw bars to die for. It doesn't matter how hot it is in the summertime, I will always get a cup of soup to start my meal. They sell quarts of it to go in the takeout section of the seafood area. The broiled salmon is always cooked to perfection. Tender and juicy meat with a great flavor. The lobster is always very tender and juicy as well. The scallops were buttery melt in your mouth. Pretty good selection of beer, wine, and other alcohol. read more

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As you can see from my last review I have been here many times before for lunch, when we lived in Bergen County. Cape May was a popular town to visit when we lived in Bergen County. We always enjoyed our lunches here. We were on our way back from Bergen County to the Cape May car ferry to Lewes Delaware so we both stopped here for a light early dinner before driving to the ferry. This restaurant is not too far from the ferry. We were seated at a nice table on the window overlooking Schellenger's creek. Most of the tables on the window were occupied. We were lucky to score a table on the window. I enjoyed my bottle of Yuengling beer for $5.50. I also enjoyed my bowl of lobster bisque for $14.95. See my pics. Lisa served us very well. My total bill was $51, excluding gratuity. After we ate we drove to the ferry in time. We will do this again. read more

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Our yearly visit. This year was a step up from last year. One broiled seafood combo, one crab cake sandwich. It took forever to order in the fish market but not any fault of employees. For the life of me I don't understand some people. You've literally waited 20 minutes to order but you wait until your number is called to look at the menu. We finally order and find a table on deck. 15 minutes later our number is called. Our food was amazing this year. My stuffed clam was outrageous. Baked potato perfect. Scallops and shrimp large and sweet. Fish cooked nicely and mild. The best part, our meals combined was the same price as our dinner the night before in Wildwood for one of us and it was better. Words of advice. Eat from the Styrofoam container and sit outside. It will be half cost of the restaurant, you just get a loaf of their bread. $42 for two and atmosphere is better. Just watch out for the seagulls. read more

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My wife has come here all her life so she was super excited to take me here. I loved it. You come up and just grab a table. Then you go and order from the grill or the raw bar. They call your number and you get your paper plate. I got shrimp cocktail. It was shrimp on a plate in ice. They were delicious. My wife got us a grilled chicken sandwich to share. It was huge. Packed with veggies and cheese. The bread was large. She also got crab cocktail. I tried some of that too. It was so nice to sit outside and watch the water while we ate. This place should be a staple of anyone's vacation in Cape May. read more

The Lobster House - Grilled chicken and veggie sandwich - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We get take out. Lobster roll was epic and the platter has great fries and slaw. Price more reasonable than similar places along Jersey Shore. What didn't work was the rudeness at takeout. Really bad. My daughter handled it was patience. It is almost a deal breaker but we only go there a few times a year. read more

I decided to stop in at the lobster house on a trip to see a friend play music in Cape May. I can say that the server was good and atmosphere was very nice, being right on the water. I ordered the Fisherman's Wharf Platter and clam chowder. I can honestly say that all the seafood on the platter was unseasoned and very bland. It was difficult to finish. The dish had shrimp, scallops, crab cake, flounder, and clam casino. The chowder was ok, but I can say that I wouldn't visit this place again, as they missed on top many areas. read more

We stopped in during peak dinner time on a Saturday and got seated right away. The place was nearly full, probably packed with tourists like us. It was a bit loud, but the old school ambiance made it feel cozy with a delicious bread and butter to start. No beer on draft, so I went with a whiskey straight, while my wife opted for a non-alcoholic beer. We ordered a steamed lobster and got to cracking The lobster was good, and if you're in town, you won't be disappointed. It's got that old-time vibe, which is great if that's your thing. read more

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I had dinner at Cape May Lobster House and thoroughly enjoyed my twin lobster dinner. However, when it came time for dessert, the server failed to clear and / or clean my table, making it impossible to properly enjoy my dessert entrée. This lack of attentiveness and service was disappointing, especially considering how wonderful everything had been up to that point. While Cape May Lobster House isn't a five-star or Michelin-star restaurant, at its high price point, diners should still expect a level of service that reflects respect and professionalism. Unfortunately, that expectation wasn't met during my visit. atmosphere is old and dating. read more

The Lobster House - My Tab... - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

I went to the Lobster House for a luncheon and since it was toward the back in a private room I really got to see how big this place real is! The layout was beautifully spaced and overlooked the docks. The wait staff was fast and courteous. We had a 3 course meal with table bread that was to die for! The soups were pretty good but there was some confusion about the snapper soup. Some thought snapper (fish) others thought turtle. It was turtle- for warning! The chicken dish and broiled flounder were flavorful and a decent size portion. Overall it was a great event and the staff went above and beyond! I wasn't overly impressed with the food besides the bread! read more

The Lobster House - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Fried seafood, fried potatoes can never be bad unless its over fried or way too much breading. It was perfect. The price just made it better. The soups on the other hand was not worth it, even for the cheap price. I could've gotten very unlucky and the person that scooped just wasnt feeling it or something. The clam chowder got a total of 3 pieces of clam and the snapper had just a couple of strains in it. Flavor of the soup was good, so you can tell they are not cheap about it, but it felt like was just given the top of the soup with no substance. read more

The Lobster House - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Definitely a Cape May landmark. You have a few options as they have the Dining Room which has a full menu. The coffee shop with counter seating and smaller menu. The outside deck which has seafood appetizers and raw bar with tables, self serve. Always a busy place. They don't accept reservation. Huge parking lot. read more

The Lobster House - Sautés soft shell crab - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

So disappointed. The Chicken Franchise was on top of a cheese sandwich dipped in batter and fried. Shrimp on yellow rice was so dry. I've been going to the LH for over 50+ years. What going on? read more

If you're into cold french fries served in a styrofoam tray then consider The Lobster House for all your fried fish needs. I hate to write three start reviews, The Lobster House was actually a hoppin' spot. The dining restaurant was packed with a 30 minute wait so we decided to order take out and sit outside. I grabbed a cold beer on tap while sitting by the dock of the bay. Lots of picnic tables with umbrellas, folks had their dogs on leashes, its a real casual, local spot. I'm not going to judge, if you like hanging here then bully for you. I must point out, there are a lot of aggressive birds. I had to shoo away a few of them when they were slowly making their way towards my fried delights. Look at my picture, lots of french fries and a few pieces of shrimp and fish. My platter came with pre made tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. Like I said earlier, there were more cold french fries than fish. 3 stars is the best I can give, it was just an average experience. read more

The Lobster House - Beer - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This place is huge and a local staple for a reason! They do not take reservations so we put our names down and waited roughly an hour. The ambiance inside is cozy, warm, and feels nautical. Warm loaves of onion bread (tastes like EBTB seasoning to me) and softened butter were set in front of us very quickly upon seating. I started with the clam chowder which was perfectly seasoned, rich, and had an abundance of clams. The lobster pasta house specialty is a must try. The seafood is generous and cooked perfectly. It comes with a veg and carb side too which makes for a filling meal. read more

The Lobster House - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Having grown up in South Jersey, the Lobster House was always a stop when my parents took me down the Shore. As a kid it's a fun place to walk the boardwalk and see the fishing boats and sightseeing boats, and still seems the same today. We ate in the main restaurant, very dark, old school, with a large bar area. Dining Room tables face the Schooner boat and dock area. There was no wait and David provided us with the daily specials. We stuck with our favorites- Crock of delicious Clam Chowder (Cream- $8) and a Chilled Stuffed Lobster ($25.95), a nice half lobster with your choice Shrimp or Lobster. Sometimes it's nice to go back and see things haven't changed, great food and service at a reasonable price. Most lunch entrees range $16 and above...Dinner menu about $10 more. read more

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Food was good, great restaurant. Staff was pretty attentive. Very large restaurant but I liked the set up.

Great food Great service it is right on the water the fish market was very popular the turtle soup was really Great read more

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4 stars EXCLUSIVELY for the takeout - absolutely delicious. The waitlist for the restaurant is ridiculous. All items - calamari combo, 2 seafood combos, shrimp, & chicken tenders - perfectly golden and crisp. Arguably the best fried seafood I have ever had! Cape May vodka lemonade is amazing as are the oysters. The staff at the raw bar & takeout are so kind. I do not recommend putting your name in for a restaurant spot unless they are not busy. Look at the other reviews here & you will see - rave reviews abt takeout and varying reviews of the restaurant itself. Cut your losses. We were told to expect 45 mins - 1hr, ended up being way over 1 hour. Was told there would only be 5 more minutes and then no further updates. At that point, we had already gotten a round of drinks, oysters, & clam chowder at the raw bar & figured to just go get takeout. I do wish it was a little clearer as to what your options are here. Maybe some updating would be beneficial? They seem to attract a good crowd of people but for a first timer I had to look at reviews to understand the situation. But overall delish takeout, good drinks, & good views read more

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Food was awesome!! Service was great!! Ambience was fine. All the seafood was fresh and delicious. Highly recommend. The seafood market is always great as well. Reasonably priced and a big selection. 8 out of 10 read more

The food is good and I really appreciated the flavorful bread and butter that came complementary. The interior is quite dark so keep that in mind if you are coming after the sun goes down. I had a bit of trouble reading the menu. My husband loves the lobster here and I recommend that if you are looking for a splurge. read more

The Lobster House - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Everything was great ! The server was great . Bread , salad, apps and the freshest flounder ! read more

The Lobster House - Flounder francais DELICIOUS - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

..can't believe I've never reviewed the Lobster House before - first visit was ~'79 and for the first 10 years or so visits were always during the busy season, putting your name on a list and waiting for an hour or so either walking around the area or swilling drinks on the schooner (which is fun BTW)....so it was probably more for the 'experience' that everybody had to have. However, at some point I learned to visit Cape May when it wasn't high season - as a matter of fact, for the past few years, I haven't had to wait at all to eat here. I think it has made my visits to the Lobster House even better - this time I stopped in the day after Memorial Day. We were seated immediately, & drink orders put in (place was busy but nowhere near full summertime capacity). We also had some bread to nosh on & we split a Shrimp Cocktail which was excellent. For the main course we both went with the Port & Starboard - the tail & steak were done to perfection! Pacing of the service was perfect & I've always enjoyed looking out over the water...especially when close to sunset. Ambiance is pretty much the same as it been since the late 20th Century - standard nautical;) - the giant record-breaking lobster mounted on the wall has moved a few times over the years, but that big boy's still there - if you do have to wait, there are historical articles & photos to check out. The Lobster House may still have a reputation as a tourist spot, but it is definitely worth a visit - especially for the seafood! read more

The Lobster House - Port & Starboard - Seafood Markets Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Quite the buzzy Cape May restaurant and how could it not be when the word "lobster" is in its name, but the hype certainly didn't meet reality for us. We showed up for lunch at 11:55 AM on the Friday of Labor Day weekend and the private parking lot (across the street) for the restaurant was already full of cars. You would have thought 200 people were already inside from the number of cars parked. Immediately, expectations were sky high as we knew we were going to pay a pretty penny for this meal. At the time we walked in, there were still plenty of available tables though, but within minutes the restaurant was full of seafood craving customers. The restaurant itself was very old school and quite charming actually, from the artifacts on display to the steakhouse-style bar you have to pass through before making it into the actual restaurant. I won't go into the whole menu, as you can easily find that online, but, as you probably already know, anything seafood is the name of the game here, specifically LOBSTER. For our family, we ended up ordering the following: Escargots - We were quite disappointed with the escargots as we didn't really like the flavor of it in that it was quite plain tasting. All of the escargot was sitting on top of a garlic bread and oil, but we agreed that we've definitely had better escargot in the past. Fried Calamari - Really crispy and crunchy and what you would expect for good calamari. Fisherman's Wharf Clam Chowder - Another winner here as the clam chowder was solid. Good texture, not too thick, but not too watery. Good consistency. Fisherman's Wharf Platter (Shrimp, Scallops, Crab Cake, Fillet of Flounder and Clam Casino with Tossed Salad) - Could've used a bit of a larger portion here as there was ONLY 1 shrimp and 4 scallops. How can they include just 1 shrimp????? The flounder was also a bit overcooked. Unfortunately, nothing about it was spectacular. 1 lb Broiled Lobster with Roasted Bliss Potatoes and Cole Slaw - I should have gotten the lobster steamed. The broiled lobster was just OK. It didn't look great when it came out because it was all dried up from the broiling, but it's still lobster after all. The roasted bliss potatoes and cole slaw were good though. For the money we doled out and the number of people clamoring to get a table here, we expected a lot more. Maybe we got caught up in the hype train from seeing so many people here and the numerous reviews written for them, but the food wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. We've had much better seafood in the past for way less money. Ultimately, unfortunately, you don't get what you paid for here. read more

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Amazing food and service. We ate at the bar, Chuck was awesome, great attention to detail! We had the steamers, lobster and flounder! Would definitely go back! Also reasonable priced red wine, and not bad! read more

It kills me to write an unfavorable review about anything in Cape May because I love Cape May so much, but I have to be honest. Maybe something like this will be taken with constructive criticism. I don't think a place like the Lobster House is going to be hurting for customers, good or bad reviews aside. So take this as you would like. This place is the first restaurant you see when you cross over the bridge into Cape May. Directly to the left. So if you're a hungry traveler, it automatically will lure you in. You also can't beat the view if you decide to sit outside. The food here is average. Now I do believe there may be some things on the menu that people truly do love. Obviously, I haven't tasted the whole menu. I have been going here since I was a kid, though, and even then I don't have any memories of tasting something and going "Wow that's amazing!". The last time I went there, maybe we just came on and off night. But the bread served was rock hard and both the fish and scallops were undercooked. They also give you a lot of scallops which normally I wouldn't complain about, but that also is usually a telltale sign that something weird is going on. I've never been to any restaurant that serves you 12 scallops on a plate and nothing else haha. My friend and I left there unsatisfied, and then later in the night I ended up feeling sick. Just wasn't a good time. I think as legendary as this place is, it's become a bit of a tourist trap. People will go there, and I'm sure there are things on the menu that are good. The last couple times I've gone it just has been supremely average. This is a place to go to get regular seafood without expecting anything fancy... Or flavorful. I personally think the best part of the Lobster House is going there on a sunny day, sitting out side, watching the boats come in, and having a cold drink. That's the best way to spend your time there. There are better places to eat in Cape May if you're looking for seafood. read more

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A pre-Memorial Day visit finds Cape May's The Lobster House in fine form highlighted by a tasty South Jersey favorite Snapper (turtle) soup and a superb stuffed flounder. The service, as always, is impeccable and the vibe is relaxed and unrushed -- without the crush of summer crowds. The shroud of fog just adds to the experience. Five continuing stars. read more

Always on point. It's a must stop for us when we're down there. Very nice place for dinner. Just go early if you go there during "season"

5 stars goes to Juan the bartender who made the best cosmo and martini that I have had in a long time I also had the wharf platter and fries which were delicious. The lobster and scallops were my favorite but all the seafood on the platter were very good. The waitress was very nice and I loved the ambience of an old, fraditional, shore restaurant. I would definitely come back here again! read more

On 10/10/25 my husband & I had dinner at Lobster House. The place was dark but still very nice & cozy. I will be honest, the drink selection was quite small & I wasnt a big fan of my mixed drink, & I got a simple vodka & cranberry. We sat at the bar & our bartender was very attentive to our needs. For appetizers we ordered a jumbo shrimp cocktail ring which we did not get a picture of. We also both got a soup as well, I got the snapper soup which was delicious & my husband got the lobster bisque which he quite enjoyed. For dinner I got the Crabmeat Au Gratin as my main meal with a side salad & option of 2 sides. I picked the baked potato & stewed tomatoes. The crab & baked potato were so yummy & super delicious but I felt the stewed tomatoes were too sweet for me. My husband wouldn't stop talking about his grilled swordfish he said it was to die for! If we are in the area again wed probably stop back in! read more

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This place is a solid 3. What?! Let me explain. This place is a Warfside seafood place right on the dock. Ambiance is its big draw and it plays the part. The letdown is the food. All four of us felt the food wasn't seasoned. Now, that wouldn't necessarily be bad if you are talking seafood but not the case. Most of the seafood lacked the super fresh taste you'd expect at this price. The scallops are kind of smallish and dry without any of the sweetness you'd expect. Same for the fish and shrimp. The chowder was pretty good but the lobster was also kind of dry. At $35-$45 a plate, the food was a solid 2 star. I don't know if it's better in the summer. With the fleet of commercial boats tied up outside, I'd hope so. But February was a dud. Why all the rave? Couldn't say but I'd expect the ambiance and the rocking bar. A few drinks couldn't hurt. Service was a brighter spot as it was pretty good and fairly quick. This place is a one and done. read more

since 1922 best seafood spot in Cape May NJ had dinner at the Raw Bar hot combo sampler cold combo sampler oysters 2lb lobster dinner, corn, baked potato (ask for sour cream) bread pudding (save room) cold beer everything is excellent classic shore food and ambiance can't be beat, including the service, love the staff enjoy read more

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