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    Ugly Mug

    2.9 (701 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Ugly Mug Photos

    UGLY MUG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ugly Mug

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    Kim R.

    Had a long travel day. Ate a late lunch.... it was about 8:30pm now and we wanted a little something to eat. We decided on the buffalo chicken egg rolls to share. I love all things buffalo chicken; these were good! Cool atmosphere here. I would go back if we were in town again.

    Chris C.

    First time here, great local bar! Gotta love the Ugly Mug! Just visiting, brought here by local friends, love it!

    Hot Roast Beef Sandwich w/side potato salad. It was so big I resorted to eating it with a knife and fork
    Cynde C.

    I grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and consider myself a "South Jersey shore girl" The Ugly Mug is a seashore staple, a "must go to" place whenever I'm in Cape May. This trip did not disappoint. I've actually been there twice and will visit at least one more time during my 15 day stay. For starters I had the lobster roll which was divine. It came with a side of melted butter, the best coleslaw I've ever had besides my dear departed mother's and some amazing french fries! It's not hot chunks of lobster, it's borderline lobster salad but not really. Don't get hung up on semantics just go and get it - it's so so GOOD! I sat at the bar both times and the servers are friendly/attentive/EXCELLENT! It doesn't matter if they recognize you as being local or they've never seen you before, they treat you like a regular or, at a minimum, valued customer. I highly recommend lunch, brunch, dinner, or just popping in for a drink at The Ugly Mug!

    The mugs!!!
    Elisa M.

    Very popular place to eat when going to Washington Street Mall in Cape May. It was getting a bit muggy no pun intended so we ate inside. They have specials menu and regular menu. We started out with wings and they were a good amount, good size and tasted very good. For my entree I went with the beer battered shrimp and my husband chose the special cheesesteak egg rolls. The shrimp were a good size I was impressed . The cheesesteak eggrolls were so good, and the dipping cheese sauce was good too! Our waitress was very attentive and the other staff was nice too. Definitely I recommend this place if you like pub like scenery and if you go in September they have a beer foam blowing contest. Enjoy ! #tastebudadventures #yelpelitesquadmember

    Dan R.

    "Ho, Ho, Ho, there's really nothing better Than a beautiful girl in an ugly Christmas sweater Ho, Ho, Ho, and now I can't forget her That beautiful girl in an ugly Christmas" (Trisha Yearwood) The Ugly Mug is a quintessential neighborhood tavern. It's been a favorite with locals and tourists alike since 1926, so you can expect a helluva celebration for their upcoming 100th birthday. It has a friendly tavern atmosphere, with a big variety of food and drink options on their very deep menu. One unique feature of the Ugly Mug is the "Ugly Mug Club." Members have their own mugs, which are suspended from the ceiling. In a touching tradition, the mugs of deceased members are hung facing the ocean. We had lunch there, and in the middle of the week during the "off season" the place was packed. Every single seat at the bar was taken and we were lucky to grab a table. We knew we'd be having a big dinner that night, so we went easy on lunch with just a bowl of chili ($10.99) and an order of four Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls ($12.99). My chili was excellent! It was loaded with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, and spices and was served blazing hot. It was great. I sampled a piece of the Cheesesteak Eggrolls, and it was excellent as well, full of cheesy, meaty, crunchy goodness. The only bummer was a pricy $3.99 price tag on my soft drink Thanks, Ugly Mug for an overall fun and enjoyable lunch.

    Fried Calamari
    Katie R.

    Ordered a bunch of appetizers and some drinks. Wings were good, calamari was a wide variety in terms of sized pieces, mozzarella sticks were good, chicken tenders were good. Overall, this was an average meal. Same goes for the service.

    French Dip Roast Beef Panini Delicious !!
    G M.

    We went for lunch at the Ugly Mug & wanted shelter & a little pick me up from the rain. The ugly mug has been a fixture in Cape May for many years. It's like stepping back in time each time I go. A little history... it's an old tavern, The ugly mug hangs members mugs on the ceiling. When they pass away, the mug is turned around, I believe there's more to it, but that's the gist. The waitress, Allison, helped me, she gave me the book to look for my Angie and uncle Paul's mugs & I found them, they're not far from each other!! It was a bittersweet moment, I never expected the tears to come down with joy of fun memories & sad we lost my Uncle & my aunt is not in the best of health Allison our waitress was not only quick to serve us, pleasant, personable, and helped us choose what to eat from the amazing menu. She was so sweet & took time helping us. The food, was fresh, plentiful & delicious!! My friend had the South Philly Old Style Pork Sandwich & I had the French Dip Roast Beef Panini. We both enjoyed the food that day & the next!

    Fried Calarnari
    Yu H.

    Ambient: really cozy, cute decor of the ceiling with mugs Service: friendly and nice Price : reasonable *** be aware they charge 2.5% extra if you use non-cash payment. Was a bummer that I was not informed. Good: clam chowder is different from traditional one. It includes the tomato and interesting taste. Fried calamari is really good, it's a big portion and doesn't mix with fried veggies like other restaurants. Fried flounder is really fresh. Overall it's a great experience. Don't mind to come back

    Crab cake sandwich
    Liz G.

    This is a dive bar & restaurant in Washington Street Mall. It's decorated with mugs all over the place & you can purchase one that has your name on it! I had a crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries. They were both great! Our service was great, especially during a busy lunch rush. Their menu has something for everyone, so this is a nice, casual option when in Cape May.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    $11 for a beer made 5 miles away when your neighboring establishments are charging $8? Wow. I'm a local, but still won't be back.

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    1 year ago

    this place had roaches in the food. it was disgusting. and the food tasted terrible as well.

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    3 years ago

    When your charged $11.00 for a Cape May draft beer is totally outrageous. I can't recommend gouging.......

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    2 years ago

    A great place in Cape May to grab a drink and bar food. Great service and lots of locals.

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    Page 3 of 18

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    Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar

    Mad Batter Restaurant & Bar

    3.8
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Food: great they have vegan options too not just regular too…read more Service : is great Ambience: such great places I set in every room in the restaurant and have been really impressed too who well it is

    The worse possible service ever! TO THE OWNER: Please…read moreremind all waitstaff to ask customers about any allergies before serving food, to ensure their safety and prevent any potential harm. I ordered the harvest salad with candied walnuts. I have no idea what candied walnuts are, so I wish the waiter asked if I had any allergies because they can SOMETIMES contain cinnamon in it and I am allergic to cinnamon. When the salad came out I started to eat the salad and noticed my throat starting to feel funny. I didn't mix the salad well so I just ate the arugula with the sauce and the chicken. Half way through I noticed there were walnuts and I took a bite of it and my throat immediately started to swell and I can feel my face and tongue getting itchy. Thank god I have my allergy medications on me, but what if the next person this happens to doesn't... We immediately told the server about my cinnamon allergy and the waiter looked at me like I was joking because I ate half of it and then asked me "So you're done with that?" and I said, "Yes I can't eat it anymore, I'm allergic to it and it's contaminated with everything else. I felt my throat starting to close up, but I am okay because I have my allergy medicine. " He asked if I wanted anything else and I said no just a hot tea to help with inflammation. I appreciate that the server was trying to help us out, but he still came back with the bill and said the owner is still going to charge me because it says candied walnuts on the menu, implying that it's my fault...I really expected this place to have better service, but looking at past reviews I can see how this place has overpriced underrated food and terrible service. They don't care about their customers and certainly just focused on making money. Hopefully after today they include that their candied walnuts have cinnamon in it! Or at the very least ask the customers if they have any allergies beforehand

    Photos
    Inside area
    Inside area
    Double pepperoni pizza; Chicken Caesar (1/3/26)
    Double pepperoni pizza; Chicken Caesar (1/3/26)
    Back seating area

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    Back seating area
    The Ebbitt Room

    The Ebbitt Room

    4.0
    (441 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    What went well? Everything! First, loved the valet parking given there were zero open spaces…read moreanywhere near. Carin was our valet and was great. We also loved the fine dining ambiance. Service by Mickey was wonderful. She was honest, helpful, attentive, let us set the pace, and made our visit great. On to the food. We began with a cucumber, gimlet, and a Hendrix martini. Both were delicious. For appetizers, we have the deviled eggs, Heirloom tomato and melon salad, and the unbelievably delicious Parker House rolls (4 for $8). The deviled eggs ($15) were some of the best we've had but come only three halves to an order (each topped differently, duck, lobster, Cherry). The salad ($20) was OK, but honestly a little bland. I don't think I would order it again. And I highly recommend the rolls and the eggs though. For entrées, my wife had the Cape May Scallops ($49) which were fantastic. I had the duck appetizer ($32) for my entrée. The sliced duck breast was more than enough and very tasty. My only complaint was it wasn't cooked medium rare as stated, it was cooked all the way to medium, which was only a little pink. Still it was delicious. We also shared a side, the special charred snap peas ($12) - very good! No room for dessert tonight.

    I recently dined at the Ebbitt Room, and I have never had such a conflicting experience. While the…read morekitchen and bar are clearly talented, the service and management decisions completely ruined the evening. The Positives: I have to give credit where it is due as the food and drinks were genuinely great. We ordered the calamari, celery root soup, scallops, and the chicken breast. Everything came out delicious and perfectly prepared. The drinks were also a highlight specifically the pomegranate margarita and the winter sangria. The bartender clearly knows what they are doing. The Service: Absent and Unprofessional. Unfortunately, the night took a sharp turn regarding the service. Our waitress was virtually non existent. She spent the entire night chatting with another couple, barely sparing a moment for our table outside of taking the initial order. It got to the point where the bartender had to do the waitresses job. Our drinks were sitting on the bar for quite a while until the bartender finally walked them over to us, saying, "I just wanted to drop these off so they wouldn't sit out." Later, we watched the bartender go into the back and run food to the other couple, the very table our waitress was busy socializing with, telling them he, "just wanted to bring this out so it would still be hot." The bartender was acting more like a waiter than our actual server was. Sketchy Billing & Atmosphere: Things got even stranger when the check arrived. We noticed a $24 charge for a "cheeseburger"--an item that isn't even on the menu. We flagged down the waitress, and before we could even explain the issue, she immediately said, "Oh yes, you are right, there is an error, sorry about that." It was an incredibly odd reaction; she knew there was an error before we even vocalized what was wrong. To top it off, the dining room was absolutely freezing. When we asked why, the waitress claimed the heat was broken. However, upon visiting the restroom, the heat was pumping just fine. It felt deliberate--like a corner cutting measure to save money during the off-season rather than a genuine mechanical failure. Overall: Despite the food being delicious, the terrible service, the suspicious billing "error," and the uncomfortable temperature make this a place I cannot recommend. For the price point, you expect a certain level of professionalism and comfort, and Ebbitt Room failed on both counts. I will not be returning.

    Photos
    Ebbitt Dining Room
    Ebbitt Dining Room
    Lobster Tail
    Lobster Tail
    The Secret Garden

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    The Secret Garden
    Blue Pig Tavern

    Blue Pig Tavern

    3.5
    (855 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Blue Pig Tavern is located in a glassed-in patio area adjoining and contiguous to the Congress…read moreHotel. It is a bit hard to find as it seeming;y lacks its own outdoor signage. The odyssey to finding it was well worth the effort. We had dinner reservations but on a Monday in May, probably did not need them. We both loved our flounder almondine order, despite it being a Monday night (when one does not typically order fish and expect it to be fresh). This really was! Service was top-notch and super-friendly from Jared, who was deeply apologetic when the oyster appetizer we ordered failed to appear - he comped a beer without prompting (and insisted upon it). Even absent this gesture, his attitude and manner made our evening - the excellence of the entrees was a cherry on top. One note and not the fault of the restaurant at all - a number of families with small children were dining at other tables. This is not an especially well-suited restaurant for families with under-5 kids. Their collective noise and behavior was more akin to, well, a Chuck-E-Cheese or MacDonalds. There was nothing anyone could do, of course.

    Dear Yelp, Made…read morereservations here a week before our stay. Arrived about 6 minutes before our reservation time and had to wait. Hostess seemed frazzled. Asked us if we minded sitting on the inside deck. We did mind and were then show to a table inside the restaurant. (If we had our kids with us, then I would have not minded eating on the deck). The table was an awesome tucked away corner table that faced the inner dining room. The decor and experience were top notch. I'm glad I said no to eating outside. The room is absolutely beautiful if you are into vintage looks. I said it looked like Gaston's Tavern. Food and waitress service was good. My sister had the short ribs and they were tasty. I had a burger well done (and it was!) with both fries and a side salad. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and felt it was a good value for the cost. Love, Nicole

    Photos
    Indoor patio
    Indoor patio
    Blue Pig Tavern
    Hallway to restroom

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    Hallway to restroom
    The YB

    The YB

    3.9
    (259 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Service is super friendly. We arrived a bit before opening and chatted with them outside like old…read morefriends :) They are related to the owners of Georges so this is a restaurant family. They were really gracious and service was perfect. The byob element I personally love (bring what you want and pay normal rates for it) but I could see how this could be problematic for vacationers not prepared. The glassware was beautiful - one of my pics shows it. The atmosphere is very pleasant - a little romantic, a little modern but all in all perfect for an anniversary dinner - we had a corner table with bench seating so we could snuggle :) We chose three apps because it was early and we thought we'd hit another place late. These two are the duck wings and the crispy shrimp. Both delicious but the wings VERY good. We also had a swordfish crostini done on a crispy won ton and we both liked that very much. Pricing seemed reasonable. I'd recommend.

    I'd give The YB a 3.5 if Yelp allowed it. The location is great. I love that it's a small intimate…read morerestaurant. Our servers were polite an attentive. We had some ordering confusion which impacted my experience a bit. Overall the appetizers far out performed the seafood, which given were at the beach, was a bit sad. The wings were tasty. The stand out was the K&B salad which had great dressing. Loved the hot/cold contrast between the flash fried Brussels and the kale salad. I had the scallops- average and with quite a bit of grit. The carrots it came with seemed boiled and again relatively flavorless. My husband had the sea bass but unless you got some of the very minimal sauce it was plated with, it was fairly bland. I didn't even sense salt and pepper. For the price point, I wouldn't rush back for dinner but might try another meal.

    Photos
    Store front
    Store front
    Flatbread appetizer
    Flatbread appetizer
    Pan seared Salmon

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    Pan seared Salmon
    Lucky Bones Backwater Grille

    Lucky Bones Backwater Grille

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We had been here before and recall a good experience, so we went again on the Sunday of Memorial…read moreDay weekend around 4:30. First, we were seated in the back where the wait station and door to kitchen was located and staff was just standing around. We asked to move to one of the empty booths and was told they were all for reservations coming in. They were able to move us to the back room. Server was nice and attentive and our food (just appetizers) were good. The issue we had was the overly aggressive bussers who kept trying to take our plates away even when it was apparent that we were not finished. This happened several times. We dislike when dirty dishes are left in front of us but this was over the top and intrusive. With so many options around town, we likely won't be back.

    The food has consistently been good, though in my opinion it's a bit overpriced--but that's become…read morepretty common since COVID. The beer selection is always impressive, with plenty of options to satisfy just about every taste. Service can be hit or miss depending on when you visit and who's working, but that's often the case at busy shore destinations. My family stops here on almost every trip to our home on the Cape May Bay, so we've experienced it at its best and busiest. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a popular shore restaurant. And yes, if you know about the bathroom situation, you know--it really deserves a permanent fix rather than another temporary patch. The menu offers something for everyone. The pizzas are consistently good, the bar food delivers exactly what you'd expect, and there are several signature dishes that are always reliable and full of flavor. When the restaurant gets crowded, you'll definitely notice it in both the service and the overall vibe, but that's just part of the shore experience. Overall, I'd recommend giving it a try. Go in with realistic expectations during peak times, and chances are you'll have a great meal. We almost always do, and I think you will too.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Lucky Bones Backwater Grille
    House Roasted Turkey

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    House Roasted Turkey

    Ugly Mug - beer_and_wine - Updated July 2026

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