Food service and ambiance EXCELLENT ! Went for restaurant week Had the tuna dish and roasted oysters and crème brûlée. read more

The Magnolia Room - Tuna special. Very very tasty ! - Diners Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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We went during restaurant week. Amazing service and delicious food! We sat outside on the porch, the ambiance was so peaceful and relaxing. For appetizers, we ordered the pimento cheese dip, oysters and deviled eggs. The roasted oysters were incredible! For entrees, we had the crab cakes and steak. Dessert was the candy bar and Mom's apple cake. Highly recommend coming here! read more

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Wanted to love this because the vibe was quaint and the service was great, but the food just sucked so much. We ordered the fried chicken, the steak, and the chowder. The chicken was dry and flavorless while the side coleslaw was inedible. The cheese biscuit was good. The steak was ordered medium rare and served medium well. It was incredibly flavorless. The side green beans were completely bland and the potatoes were dry. The chowder was decent. The service was super friendly, although not particularly attentive. I loved the interior vibe and the hotel is super charming, but I would not recommend the restaurant at all. read more

The Magnolia Room at Chalfonte Hotel is a great place to eat when you want something a little more special. The location and the ambiance of the dining room is perfect for a special occasion. But now onto the food. The crab and corn chowder was a very tasty appetizer. It surprisingly had generous lumps of crab meat too! The shrimp and grits was delicious with a sauce that reminded me of gumbo. The fried grits in the middle was interesting, I don't think I ever had grits made that way before. My personal favorite was the duck breast. That dish was made very well. The duck was cooked crispy and tender, the blueberry glaze went perfectly with the duck, and the grits in this dish was cheesy. It was such a great plate of food! All of the food here had very good flavor. They all had sufficient seasoning or sauce to give each dish a unique flavor. Service was very good. Our server Sam was very accommodating and very attentive. She was very knowledgable about the menu, establishment, and the area. Just a note about my pictures, my fellow eaters wanted some of their entree's sides to be placed on separate dishes which aren't included in the photos. The restaurant accommodated them but I just wanted to make sure the record was straight with what comes with the entrees. There are some sides included with each dish. The food arrived very timely and just as we ordered. The only criticism I would have of this place is that the portions are a little smaller. I think increasing the amount of proteins in each entree by 50% would make it the perfect amount to make it commensurate with the prices on the menu (it's not a cheap place to eat). I would recommend checking out this place. We had a good dinner with well seasoned food and a great atmosphere. read more

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The food is amazing. The service is on point! I was told by my server Sam that there's a new Chef. The Chef has changed up the menu a little. The staff here runs like a well oiled machine. The charm of the establishment takes you back in time. Live music outside on the porch. The food was fresh and very pleasing to my palate. Keep up the great food and service! If you're ever in the neighborhood. GET SOME!!!! read more

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Should have known when we had two servers trying to take our order and confused on whose table it was. Food wasn't great and service sucked. Waited 45mins and got the wrong food. Another 20 mins went by and I was over the poor service/ runner establishment. Place is dirty and bugs flying inside including fruit flies. read more

Went during restaurant week and had the pre fixe menu, crab and clam soup was seasoned perfect and delicious, swordfish was cooked perfect and also delicious. My wife had the fried pork cutlet which was also amazing. For desert we had the Apple cake and also the peanut butter bar, both deserts were great. With the impeccable service from our waitress Karli , the amazing food and dining on the porch made for a great night. read more

The food and service is amazing every time I go. I had their catch of the day recently and it did not disappoint. I always love sitting on the porch for dinner, but due to colder weather I had the chance to dine inside and it was just as great! read more

The power went out so the restaurant, understandably, could not honor our reservation. Unfortunately, how they handled it left a lot to be desired. While one staff member said this happens all the time, the staff seemed flustered & dismissive. They offered no solutions or suggestions but instead said "I'd go somewhere else if I were you" . So we did - shout out to the Blue Pig for quickly accommodating us! read more

We had our wedding here two years ago and everything was amazing the owners and staff treated us like family. We came back tonight for our anniversary dinner on the porch and we had the server and bartender both checking in and accommodating us and the food was outstanding. It's always the best feeling visiting the Chalfonte. It's a must visit in Cape May and we can't say enough good things about it! read more

The Magnolia Room - Diners Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Came for the fried chicken but did not expect grand experience of dining on the porch with live music on a beautiful evening. Service was friendly, but painfully slow and inattentive. In addition to us, I watched a table turnover for 6 while people waited on the front lawn of the hotel that took easily 30+ minutes with no sense of urgency. Ditto for our dinner. I guess they are suffering pandemic help shortage, as the hostess was also helping out, but even so it was not crowded, and the wait staff could have been more attentive it seems. Fortunately, we ordered drinks and our dinner the first time the waiter stopped by. They have a very limited wine list and so we went with spirits. My wife had their special cucumber gin cocktail (it was ok she said) and I had a Makers' Bourbon on the rocks. Took a while to get these, but not terrible. It got worse. They brought cornbread and butter to the table with our drinks, but unfortunately, the cornbread was cold and did not taste fresh. We let it go as by the time someone came back by we had forgotten. For entrees, we had the scallops (which were not the best and not very sweet as they generally taste) and the fried chicken. The fried chicken was pretty good, with a nice crust and juicy. They serve you a half chicken, so expect to take a piece or two home. The broccoli was cooked perfectly as were the new potato wedges. Again it took forever to our entrees and a very long time to get the bill. Once the bill arrived, I noticed they charged me $1 for the ice for my bourbon on the rocks! Are you kidding me? I asked the waiter and he apologized, but said it was the bar and others complain as well. Why leave such a bad impression with charging customers $1 for ice - obviously the principle of the thing, but we won't be back. If the food had been better, we would have come again and skipped the bar possibly. It is always amazing to me how people who run places like this step on themselves with poor service and stupid $1 charges for 4 cubes of ice; hacking off customers for no good reason. read more

Three stars. One because the staff was awesome (TJ) The apps were ok.. we got the Ham Croquettes and Pimento Cheese Puff Pastry. Not the best and passable but you can get way better diverse food elsewhere. The dinner: I got their signature dish (the fried chicken) which was so dry that I had to ask for ketchup. I felt bad because I think KFC could deliver there and produce better chicken... My wife got the crab cake... bland and fried and shaped like an oval egg. The meals came with potatoes (which tasted like it was leftover potatoes from breakfast reheated.) The green beans were the best thing on the plate. Perfectly au dente and not over salted or anything. Will not go back unfortunately. I wouldn't take my family there because when your in Cape May, you need to go to places that make a memory. The vibe was cool, but the drinks were drinks you could get anywhere. read more

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Had dinner Cape May restaurant weekend 1st time dining here, restaurant was freezing, rolls & butter were Not part of dinner, Crab cakes were dry, no fancy sauce, just cocktail sauce & tartar sauce in diner type containers, yet they refer to this restaurant as fine dining, no way, they put zero effort into this experience. read more

The only thing missing from a wonderful evening and a spectacular dinner was my white linen suit, some atomic blonde arm candy and an unsanctioned debutante ball. Rhett Butler would certainly approve. The outdoor dining veranda was slanted at a cool 45 degrees after decades of normal settling at the venerable Chalfonte Hotel... meaning my cocktails and dinner literally rolled right up to me all night long, as did the conversation which flowed gently downstream as well. Magnolia's signature fried chicken was delectable and juicy as were the southern fried oysters. This was a meal to be savored and with no time constraints the 150 minutes passed in no particular hurry. A Cape May classic and an enthusiastic five stars. read more

I wished I had better phone reception while we were at the beach to dissuade my husband's cousin from dining here. But she mentioned the menu seemed good and made reservations for 7:30. So I'm going to tackle this review for the restaurant (as we didn't stay at the hotel- but managed to peruse the grounds anyway). Place is huge and stretches almost 1/2 a block with Chalfonte Hotel on one side and Magnolia next to it. You can actually enter Magnolia from the hotel side with no problem- just ask front desk and they'll guide you to the dining room. Magnolia is straight up Victorian and it's like you stepped back in time. Charming with dark wood floors and dramatic chandeliers. Host sat all of us at a spacious round table then placed orders for Cocktails immediately. I'll give Magnolia that extra credit for preparing them with full strength! For $39 you get Soup or Salad, (no Appetizer- even when the menu clearly calls for one), Entree and Dessert on their Prix-Fixe menu. Garden Green Salad had a light Balsamic dressing but some of the greens tasted old and left 1/2 behind. My Seared Scallops were cooked medium and ingredients in my dish were all excellent. But at least three of us at the table complained about them being really salty. Hubby enjoyed his steak and Auntie-in-Law partly liked her Fried Chicken Dinner. Desserts were a sad story. Hubby and his cousin both complained about their Peach Cobbler and said it was off. When I tasted it, the crust had this uncooked/raw flour taste and he left a lot behind. My Chocolate Pie was gross and stiff. Service wasn't completely off but when we wanted another round of cocktails- no one came around. I just thought that for this type of restaurant, service would be outstanding but that attention to detail we all love- lacked. Listen...Magnolia's $39 Price Fixe menu isn't all it's cracked up to be. Food here needs a super major overhaul- especially given their 'National Historical Landmark' status. Spending the evening with my husband's family was a treat- but the truth of the matter is, the restaurant needs an upgrade. Seems like the folks at Chalfonte want to hold on to the integrity of the Victorian style- I get it...but it would also be nice to keep up with the current trend. read more

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I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately it is a tourist trap :( I'm giving them 2 stars because the service was awesome and the atmosphere was beautiful, but the food was less than mediocre. We got a ton of food and all tried each other's entrees as well, and there was not 1 thing I'd come back here for. It reminded me of food from a wedding venue where all of the sides are the same and it lacks flavor/uniqueness. I'd have rather gotten fried chicken from Popeyes instead of here. The taste would have been better for about 5 percent of the price. read more

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June 26, 2020 Forget all the old reviews of the food & service at the Chalfonte's Magnolia Dining Room. Many of those reviews are too old to have any value as both staff and chefs have changed. Welcome to 2020 and the Chef is John Siuta under whose direction the menu has been redesigned and guided by his experienced hand. Last night we dined on the porch and I had the sea scallops, seared to perfection. Absolutely the best scallops I have had in recent memory. No question that THIS is the place for scallops in Cape May. My partner had the portobello which was perfectly prepared. She reports "delicately prepared and served with just the right touch of sauce". As to the service....our server was Brooke who was, well informed, polite and non-intrusive. Plus it was Thursday night with live entertainment by the Howard Street Ramble....a wonderful evening!!!!!! An A + rating!! read more

I hate to give poor reviews since I try to find at least something positive in a meal. I'll start with those parts. For the shrimp & grits appetizer, the shrimp were pretty good. For the main course of the fried chicken meal, the chicken wasn't too dried out and the asparagus was fresh. Servers were attentive, checking in frequently. The rest, I want to keep it brief and to the point. I felt that every other aspect of each dish was that it had no flavor to it. The grits, even with cheese and bacon in them, were incredibly bland. The breading on the chicken may have had some pepper in it, but equally it had no seasoning or flavor. The asparagus and rice & peas had no salt/pepper/any kind of seasoning either. For the price they are charging for the prix fixe menu, it's an incredible disappointment. read more

We picked this restaurant because it was in an iconic Victorian hotel. The restaurant had a very limited menu so we assumed that whatever we chose, it would be top-notch. My husband chose their special which was shrimp stuffed with crab meat. He was completely unimpressed. I had their vegetable lasagna. I've honestly enjoyed the Stouffer's frozen white lasagna more than this. We found this place disappointing both in food, quality and terrible service. read more

Fried chicken is absolutely the best around. Not a big fried chicken girl...but I have to say the Chalfonte delivers. Also was able to try the scallops which were some of the best I've had in town. The staff was welcoming and our server went above and beyond. Highly recommend. read more

I am not a fried chicken person BUT after hearing the story about five generations of people from Cape May working at this hotel I had to see for myself and also celebrate my friends birthday. This is food made with love. The ambiance southern gentility. The servers were very very busy but attentive. We talked with a kind gentleman who told us some of the Magnolias history. It was truly a memorable evening. One I plan to add to next year. read more

First let me give the positive review. We were running late this past Saturday for our reservation and called them to let them know, they were very accommodating and held our table on the porch for almost 30 minutes! Service was good, not excellent but good. They had live music on the porch which was a lot of fun. The band was great! Now for the negative: the food was awful! We were shocked that it was so bad. The apps were okay, we shared Ham Croquettes (actually these were really good) and the Pimento Cheese Puffs. We all had the fried chicken which we were told we had to try. So disappointing! Extremely salty and no seasonings. It came with mediocre mashed potatoes, again too salty and broccoli. For dessert we shared chocolate pie and peach cobbler. The peach cobbler was raw. The chocolate pie was good, very rich, it was a chocolate ganache pie not a chocolate mousse pie. Unfortunately, we will not be returning to the Magnolia Room for dinner. We might go for a drink and listen to live music because the vibe was great, loved the porch! If you're looking for fried chicken, save your money and go to KFC! read more

Warning, you are captive in a beach town with mediocre food service. So live in the moment. Historic hotel with charm, great beach town, I had to eat in the old dining room. Who knows what famous person sat here and ate fried chicken? The chicken is really good. They pan fry it in a huge cast iron pan. I had to live the experience and enjoy the moment with such great company. I am sure that is why I am always happy and can write positive reviews. I was with a group of 12. Everyone ordered different entrees. The appetizers and entrees were all excellent and enjoyed by all. Yes, it was pricey after all you are in Cape May during peak season. I liked the small bar opposite the check in desk. Very quaint and romantic. read more

Had the Sunday buffet supper last night. As expected, the fried chicken was the star of the show. Brought out to the buffet table fresh and hot. That's where the good news ends. The other entrees were just ok. Same with the sides. The real issue was the service. My wife had to stare at a server to get him to our table. It is self service, but you still order drinks, etc. We had to bus our own dirty plates and refill our water glasses from a pitcher. So did the party sitting behind us. Coffee? Never offered. The building is charming and the chicken is great, but the service was poor at best. read more

So glad we finally got a chance to have dinner at the Magnolia Room. We were seated outside on the porch which was a great touch. They have a fixed price three course menu for $39, but you can also order any of the selections a la carte. I had the Caesar Salad, NY Strip and chocolate cake. The dressing on the salad was delicious - definitely homemade - and the croutons tasted like they were made of cornbread. The steak was amazing!! Served with a garlic puree and mashed potatoes - you cannot go wrong with this choice! The cake was average, too dense for my liking but others at the table seemed to enjoy it. Our waitress was very attentive. Overall we had a great experience and look forward to coming back read more

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I honestly wanted this to be a higher rating but sadly it was not. After hearing the legend of the fried chicken at the Chalfonte's Magnolia Room I was a bit disappointed that it was not spectacular. I am a bit of a fried chicken freak and will order it whenever I see it available. I have numerous recipes I prepare at home and I liked all of mine better than this. It was rather bland, not super crunchy and really expensive for what you get. The stingy waitress would not even get me another biscuit. read more

Tonite it was a beautiful evening so I was seated on the very pleasant porch. Ordered Fried Chicken ($30), glass of Rose' wine ($8). Chicken: inevitably if the thigh and leg portion is cooked in the same pan for the same time as the breast and wing portion, the white meat is going to come out dry. Which it did. Bland and nothing special at all. Honestly, I have enjoyed KFC Extra Crispy a lot more , and at a fraction of the price. A small mound of mashed potatoes tasted good but: a nice gravy would have helped the dish a lot. None available. Garlic green beans were very good. Two small corn cakes were not particularly soft and fresh. No " famous" roll offered. Real butter pats accompanied dish. Now we can turn to dessert. Chocolate pie sounded good ($8). It came out looking good, covered in whipped cream. As I stuck my fork in I encountered a rock- hard filling AND rock-hard crust. The fork actually SHATTERED the pie filling. I forced myself to have a few bites but left the rest. When my (excellent) server Erica came by and asked how everything was, I told her the pie was not good, it is supposed to be SOFT! She tried to explain that it was like a mousse and supposed to be firm, but I told her no, that's not how a mousse or a pie is supposed to be. ( I know because I worked in a French restaurant and made many chocolate mousses). She apologized, but the price of the pie was still there on the check. I'm not blaming her, and I didn't ask to remove it from the bill. I'm guessing that if the kitchen has the gall to make and serve such a dessert, they're not gonna take it off the bill either, without a fight. So: two stars for ambience and service. Wine good. Vegs good. The rest, not worth it. read more

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After passing by year after year on our trips to Cape May, we finally decided to go to the Magnolia Room at the Chalfonte. I have to say, I built up this place in my own mind as a great restaurant without reading reviews. We made reservations for 5 people for 7:30 PM on a Sunday eve. We arrived on time and were initially greeted by a hostess and asked to wait a few minutes until she was free. Then the same hostess (lady with short gray hair), came over rudely told my family to wait outside, without explanation, while she checked our reservation. She asked my name, looked on her tablet and saw it pop up and then questioned my reservation time (it was right on the tablet), then said she would need to check to see if a table was available. I saw her walk over to the fully set up table, walk back to me, where she informed me to wait outside while they got the table ready. After 15 minutes she called us in. The Food: Not worth the visit. The signature dish, the Fried Chicken, was flavorless and dry. It was served with a very small dry portion of mashed potatoes, and a small portion of carrots and broccoli doused with garlic powder. The skin was soggy and in no way great fried chicken. Next the Flank Steak, tasted like it was covered with soy sauce. It almost had a plastic taste to it. Again, the only option for sides were the same mashed potatoes and carrots and broccoli. The other dishes my family ordered were equally uninspiring. The waiter was nice and courteous and the only nice thing about the evening. Oh, by the way, as one part of the restaurant began to empty out, the same hostess came in and started turning out the lights in that area. What a joke. There are so many other great places to eat in Cape May, you should avoid the Magnolia Room at the Chalfonte. What a disappointment... read more

Probably the oldest continuing restaurant in Cape May because it is in the oldest continuing operating hotel is the Southern-influenced Magnolia Room at the Chalfonte. This is in the heart of the historic district and the hotel is filled with charm. The Magnolia main dining room looks much like it always has but the real treat here in summer is eating on their wonderful outdoor porch. Prices in Cape May for dining out are def on the high side and the Magnolia is no exception although it is totally in line with other restaurants in the historic district. This place however has history - and a long one at that. It's where one family of African-American women has over seen the kitchen for almost a century. As a result if your grandparents or great-grandparents ate here they would know Miss Helen and be glad that her risen rolls are still served, Your parents might know Miss Lucille and her crab cakes which are still on the menu. But the most famous dish of all is Miss Dot's fried chicken. This is tasty fried chicken with a very light coating - not my favorite type of fried chicken in comparison to Korean or Austrian - but still a summer signature dish in the Magnolia Room. An appetizer of the Philly classic - fried oysters and chicken salad and a generous wedge salad with bleu cheese & bacon completed the meal. Service by a summer wait staff from Bulgaria was friendly. Overall, eating here could have been a bit more polished. Tartar or cocktail sauce should be served with the fried oysters, more of Miss Helen's risen rolls could be offered than one per person, extra settings should be taken away - little things that would elevate the Magnolia Room dining experience. But still - dining on Miss Dot's fried chicken on the porch at the Chalfonte Hotel on a perfect summer evening in America's oldest seaside resort is a most pleasant experience. read more

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Excellent meal. Live music every night, great cocktails cucumber vodka martini was perfect for a hot day, food was excellent and takes call in reservations. We have 2 kids and crayons with kids food was ideal to allow us to enjoy the 3 course meal. Will do again as the musicians change. read more

This review is specifically for the Sunday Dinner Buffet. We came for the price fixe menu a few months ago and had such a great experience and were excited to return with friends. We didn't realize Sunday night was buffet only, but decided to stay and give it a try based on enjoying ourselves the last time, but that was a mistake. It was less a buffet and more a serve yourself dinner with very few options and subpar dessert. It was nowhere near our previous experience and was such a disappointment. We came for the fried chicken and chocolate pie and the pie was not available and the chicken was dry from sitting on the buffet. On top of that, the buffet was incredibly over priced at $29.95 per person. Giving 2 stars because the Mac and cheese was good and the service was pleasant. Would never do the buffet again, maybe we'll return for the price fixe eventually, but not anytime soon. read more

The Magnolia Room at the Chalfonte Hotel has become a weekly standard for our family this season. The three course meal under $40 has excellent options for the most discriminating pallets. I am always up for their shrimp and grits, wedge salad, and steak of the day or fish of the day. To top it off they have an abundance of gluten free options, which make my taste buds and belly happy. Outdoor dining is fantastic on the side porch. I only wish we could dine along Howard Street for the people watching. The wine selection is descent, and the service is among some of Cape Mays finest. As a regular diner at many local restaurants I can say the Magnolia Room staff caters to your every need and are extremely attentive. If you have kids this restaurant has no problem. We like to eat early and the kitchen opens at 5:30. Another great fact is chef Lucille has worked there for 80 plus years. Talk about loyalty. When you meet the staff you'll see why we keep coming back for more. read more

I had an excellent meal at the Magnolia Room Restaurant at the Chalfonte Hotel on a Saturday evening. The hotel and restaurant are dripping in old southern charm, you feel like you're transported back in time. My fiance and I had made reservations and upon arrival were able to score a table out on the porch. We opted to do the $35 three course menu. I went with the fried oysters and chicken salad as my appetizer, the garden salad and then the crab cake for my entree. My fiance ordered the shrimp and cheddar grits for his first course, followed by the cucumber salad (which was a special for the evening) and the fried chicken. We ordered a bottle of wine with dinner (most of their bottles are priced around $30) and finished off the meal with two coffees and the red velvet cake to share. Here is the list of noteworthy things: 1. The dinner rolls - OMG they are addictive, warm, buttery, fluffy puffs of amazing bread. Screw whatever diet you're on, you're going to need to eat at least three of these with butter! 2. The crab cake was unlike any other I've ever had. It was basically a big ball of crab meat deep fried. There wasn't much filler but there was a ton of flavor. The outside of the cake had a nice crispy shell... it sounds weird, I know. But there's no other way to describe it. It came with a kicking tartar sauce that had a plentiful amount of dill and pickles in it - the perfect companion to the crispy crab cake. 3. The red velvet cake was incredible. The frosting was light and complimentary to the moist cake which had a hint of cocoa flavoring. 4. The fried oysters were delicious but the chicken salad seemed a little random on the plate. The only disappointment of the evening was the fried chicken. It was lacking in seasoning for the coating and it was a bit dry on the inside. I think we both just expected a little something more. Both of our entrees came with green beans and roasted potatoes, both of which were delicious. In fact, my fiance was eating my leftover potatoes dipped in the tartar sauce when I was too stuffed to continue on. I would highly recommend the Magnolia Room for a nice romantic dinner. read more

Regardless of what the Chalfonte Hotel might be as a place to stay, dinner in its Magnolia Room restaurant circa 2011 amounts to highway robbery. A $34 prix fixe dinner gets you three courses of food you do not want to eat. The salad was drenched in dressing, possibly to cover up the fact that it was absolutely nothing special. These days, I expect more from a good restaurant salad than green leaf lettuce and a few cucumber slices. The galling touch, though, was a pink tomato! In southern New Jersey! In August! Honestly, in the bosom of tomato country in the heart of the season, I'm pretty sure they served a California tomato. The pulled pork sliders - another first course option - were passable but nothing special. Given a choice between New England clam chowder and chicken & rice soup, I chose the latter. OMG. It couldn't have been less appetizing if they'd heated a can of store brand soup on a hot plate at the table. The soup was flavorless. It felt like a waste of calories. That was true of the whole meal, in fact. We'd come for the fried chicken, and the whole table ordered it and....pffffft. It was dry and unremarkable. The potatoes that were served with it were ok. The veggies were church supper grade and communicated nothing like freshness. The dining room is lovely; the wait staff in their white shirts and bow ties provide a certain charm. The food that's being served, though, is unconscionably bad. Surely, there must be better sources of old white man food in Cape May. This place gives the notion of "Old Cape May" a bad name. read more

I have to admit that I have had mixed results here. Generally, the food is very good (the scallops and fries chicken are highly recommended) and the service is very friendly. Try to dine on the expansive porch where you can enjoy the live music and the ocean breeze. I recommend avoiding the weekends, as service can suffer a bit on busier nights. Be sure to make a reservation. read more

Unbelievable atmosphere, love the live music and food was perfect. Great for families! Staff was awesome. PS try the scallops

Brunch buffet was awesome. Catfish was amazing. Bacon was perfect. The spoon bread was yummy. Homemade yogurt was super good. Loved the experience. Totally worth the price if you're hungry. read more

Best Fried chicken we ever had. (It was so good we boxed what we couldn't eat and had it on the beach the next day). The freshly made rolls were outstanding. The corn bread was outstanding. read more

We went to the Magnolia Room for my birthday on 4th of July. I grew up in the area and have never been but that amazing porch beckoned me. The plan was to eat and walk to fireworks. The servers were very attentive and thoughtful, the red clam chowder was delicious and the crab cake was a ton of crab meat and no fillers.. Wonderful . My partner got the fried chicken and said it was pretty good but the veggies were a little high school cafeteria for my taste. The ambiance and history of the place are so charming that it's definitely worth having a meal here. You can have a drink on the porch after you eat and imagine being in Victorian times. I would do 3.5 stars if I could. Oh, it rained so no fireworks! read more

Looking at the reviews before coming to this place, I expected a good enjoyable meal. As we walk into the casual restaurant we are "greeted" by a quite rude employee. We a party of 8, were disrespected by this employee demanding we all leave except one person from the party with no reason. She had a rude attitude and didn't feel very welcomed at all. We were further seated and handed a short menu with few items. Everything on this menu was overpriced and unreasonable. I had ordered the "Black Diamond Steak" which was a little over $30. I ordered Medium well to get that perfect brown to pink ratio in the center. As the plate was handed to me it looked very brown and it was even worse when I bit into it. It was dryer then the Sahara desert and close to flavorless. My cousin had gotten a better meal for a fraction of the price off the kids menu. I am disappointed and quite angry. The one thing good I can say about this place was our waiter. He was nice and respectful unlike the employee that was waiting for us at the door. All together we left this restaurant with empty stomachs and sad faces. Disappointed. read more