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10000% recommend. One of the best dirty martinis ever (sooo good with the "sexy fries"). It's vibey, classy, classic NJ in all the right ways. Food was excellent! No prettier restaurant in Cape May!
This is definitely a restaurant if you are a seafood/ meat lover! Just a heads up that there aren't too many vegetarian main entree options, but those on the menu are good, such as the soup (I believe it was squash?). We made a reservation in advance and were seated right away and the staff was friendly! I do recommend the banana split dessert!
Happy Valentine's Day to usWe figured 44 of em. So we treated ourselves to yhe washington inn top notch spot with atmosphere and service sean our server to match, glad we chose WI&WB I had Waygu Steak au poivre, potato au gratin, roasted wild mushrooms w green pepper corn and red currant sauce, delicious is an understatement i didnt know i liked that sauce bur cleaned the plate , Robyn got her favorite crab cakes with crisper creamer potatoes and Seasonal veggies, she loved it big hit. Split the best fried brussel sprouts i ve ever had, crispy but done just right. We both went in on dessert!!!! Creme brûlée and a chocolate mousse tower w berries,whip cream and coco vannila raspberry sauces. I can't remember a better dinner w better company. This love endures it allsorry didn't use my flash cause I didn't want to be "that guy."Can't wait to go back
Went here for my MIL's 60th birthday and was treated like royalty! Very upscale place with a great variety of wine to choose from. Service was excellent and food all paired perfectly with the wine/drink suggestions. They have many different seasonal menu items to choose from that span many food groups. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice night out for some good food and great drinks!
Had an early reservation, which was a good idea. It was busy. The service was fantastic. Food was excellent.
WOWWWW! We come to Cape May every. single. year. And this year we wanted to try somewhere different and got a rec to come here- all I can say is wow. I cannot believe we wasted so many years not coming here. Melissa, our waitress, was absolutely amazing. She went above and beyond to make this night perfect. So kind, accommodating, and attentive! She suggested the perfect wine to go with my meal, and as someone that can usually never tell the difference in what white wine I'm drinking, all I can say is wow- she truly hit the nail on the head. It was perfect. All night we kept saying we felt like we had the best seat in the house- we were in one of the closed-in patio sections that had a gorgeous view at every angle (definitely call ahead and see if they can seat you in there!). The food was to die for. We got the lobster salad app (INSANE ), oysters, the blue crab risotto, and the scallops, and everything was divine. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. For dessert we had the choco cello drink- it was the best thing i've ever tasted in my life. Not kidding. We also had the lemon mousse cake and vanilla ice cream.... so so so good. We left feeling SO content, happy, full but not STUFFED. Genuinely a perfect night. Thank you so much to Melissa and all of the staff at Washington Inn! Truly an incredible crew of people- the hostesses, the bus boys who attentively and respectfully cleared our dishes, the manager who checked on us with such a friendly and kind energy... they have something truly special going on at this restaurant!
The Washington Inn always makes us feel special on our anniversary. They seated us and a wonderful table at the patio. Service by Myles was outstanding and his recommendations perfect. We started with the beat salad and the escargot - both delicious! The Seabass was very good but the special Veal Porterhouse was even better. For dessert, the recommended Fromage Blanc was outstanding!
Great atmosphere, excellent service. Nice compact menu usually means they are good at preparing everything. The appetizers and main courses were delicious. The demi glaze for the lamb chops stood out. I liked the escargot but have never had escargot with cheese in the garlic butter sauce. It took some getting use to and diluted the butter sauce taste somewhat. The establishment has an excellent wine list and you can order pairings with the fixe price menu. Cape May pricing averaging $60+ for a entree. Average price/value relationship
This review is specifically for the wine bar (the main restaurant is also fantastic and I've enjoyed it many times over the years) We arrived at the wine bar around 7pm, and although it is small we were able to find a few open seats. They have a nice cocktail menu and a decent variety of wines by the glass. The bartender was friendly and provided great service, and the food we ordered came out quickly. I started with the oysters which were very good. We also tried and loved the sexy fries, but the bacon wrapped dates were the highlight of our meal. This is a great upscale place to go for a drink or to grab some apps or a light dinner, and I'll definitely be back!
After trying to get into the Washington Inn for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, but finding it booked, we resolved to go back one day. We did just that on a recent overnight to Cape May. We started off with a Manhattan, which was not featured on the cocktail menu. There was one while I was researching the menu during the planning phase, so I was disappointed (for the record, it was a Barrel Aged Black Manhattan). I asked for rye from one drink and vermouth from another, and it was excellent. Sorry for the inconvenience! One of my main motivations for trying the Washington was was the escargots. This is a dish, liked baked Alaska and Lobster Thermidor, that you don't see on menus very often, maybe because they're old school, but like my cocktail preferences, classics never go out of style. We both had the escargot, served in the requisite plate and swimming in butter. There was a nice chewy bread with a pillowy crumb that was served alongside. This preparation always puts me in mind of the server at Deux Cheminees in Philly, who would reverentially utter "brioche" when he would put a plate of escargots before you. I hope I'm tucking into a plate of them in my eighties and subvocalize "brioche" to myself. As with the cocktail misadventure, the NY Strip I was eyeing up on the menu I saw during the planning phase of this trip had slipped off (but emerged as a special at a very special price indeed). So Rhonda went with the lamb chops, and I the scallops. We intended to share, and while I very certainly remembering eating a lamb chop, the details of Rhonda having any scallops evade my memory. All of which is to say that both entrées were excellent. The Washington Inn is a quaint, quiet spot for a chatty dinner with someone you love.
Spur of the moment dining decision - recommend making reservations but they have dedicated tables in the bar for 1st come 1st serve. Service was terrific and the food was amazing! Everything we had was delicious.
I have to give full credit to my besties hubby for planning all the reservations while we stayed in Cape May earlier this summer. We dined at Washington Inn on our first night & it was fantastic. Very elegant but never obnoxious. Highly recommend reservations. The food & service were beyond expectations. Huge dining areas & the staff were all so very kind. Located on a lovely street that begs to be walked after dinner. We loved every moment of this dining experience!
Celebrating our 6th Anniversary this weekend, and having had an exceptional dining experience in Cape May at The Washington Inn & Wine Bar. Having the opportunity to watch my wife enjoy caviar for the very first time was an experience I will soon not forget. The Wagyu Steak Tartare was simply a delight. One of the best I have ever had. CAPE MAY SEAFOOD CIOPPINO ® scallops, shrimp, mussels, little neck clams, white wine & tomato broth, roasted garlic aioli, grilled focaccia ~this dish was nothing less of extraordinary! The tomato broth was remarkable and delicious. MEDITERRANEAN SEABASS cherry tomato, caper & taggiasca olive relish, crispy creamer potatoes, salsa verde ~one of the best fish dishes for me in 2026 for sure! Every component on this dish was sensational and so balanced. We highly recommended The Washington Inn in Cape May. The wine list by the glass is very well done and not extremely expensive. The service was polished and executed at a high level and extremely personal & detailed to attention. We both agreed we felt we received good value on every component of the meal. We simply cannot wait to go back! #rushieeats read more
Attended for our anniversary this year -- a Cape May favorite for us. Food remains stellar but dining room was crowded with large parties that were loud, distracting, and many with kids. While I'm a parent too, some kids don't belong at a restaurant like this and can spoil a special occasion dinner. Service was good but noticeably slower as our server coped with the larger sized parties (8-10 people). We were acknowledged for our anniversary which was nice, but the proximity to these large parties was not appreciated. The large dining room area here is loud and the silver walls are tacky. Appreciated a quieter table last year in one of the more intimate, quieter areas of the restaurant. While I still love this restaurant, removing a star for the reasons stated. read more
A truly elevated dining experience in one of the most historic towns in America. Old-school NJ restaurant with great food, great service, and elegant ambiance. We began with Oysters Rockefeller , Escargot and Burrata; all were uniquely prepared and delicious. I chose the Cioppino and it was scrumptious yet laced with subtle flavors and I loved it. Fabulous wine list, very knowledgeable sommelier and phenomenal Bananas Foster for desert. Just go. read more
This is definitely a restaurant if you are a seafood/ meat lover! Just a heads up that there aren't too many vegetarian main entree options, but those on the menu are good, such as the soup (I believe it was squash?). We made a reservation in advance and were seated right away and the staff was friendly! I do recommend the banana split dessert! read more
Happy Valentine's Day to usWe figured 44 of em. So we treated ourselves to yhe washington inn top notch spot with atmosphere and service sean our server to match, glad we chose WI&WB I had Waygu Steak au poivre, potato au gratin, roasted wild mushrooms w green pepper corn and red currant sauce, delicious is an understatement i didnt know i liked that sauce bur cleaned the plate , Robyn got her favorite crab cakes with crisper creamer potatoes and Seasonal veggies, she loved it big hit. Split the best fried brussel sprouts i ve ever had, crispy but done just right. We both went in on dessert!!!! Creme brûlée and a chocolate mousse tower w berries,whip cream and coco vannila raspberry sauces. I can't remember a better dinner w better company. This love endures it allsorry didn't use my flash cause I didn't want to be "that guy."Can't wait to go back read more
8 days ago
4 months ago
Went here for my MIL's 60th birthday and was treated like royalty! Very upscale place with a great variety of wine to choose from. Service was excellent and food all paired perfectly with the wine/drink suggestions. They have many different seasonal menu items to choose from that span many food groups. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a nice night out for some good food and great drinks! read more
2 months ago
Had an early reservation, which was a good idea. It was busy. The service was fantastic. Food was excellent. read more
2 months ago
WOWWWW! We come to Cape May every. single. year. And this year we wanted to try somewhere different and got a rec to come here- all I can say is wow. I cannot believe we wasted so many years not coming here. Melissa, our waitress, was absolutely amazing. She went above and beyond to make this night perfect. So kind, accommodating, and attentive! She suggested the perfect wine to go with my meal, and as someone that can usually never tell the difference in what white wine I'm drinking, all I can say is wow- she truly hit the nail on the head. It was perfect. All night we kept saying we felt like we had the best seat in the house- we were in one of the closed-in patio sections that had a gorgeous view at every angle (definitely call ahead and see if they can seat you in there!). The food was to die for. We got the lobster salad app (INSANE ), oysters, the blue crab risotto, and the scallops, and everything was divine. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. For dessert we had the choco cello drink- it was the best thing i've ever tasted in my life. Not kidding. We also had the lemon mousse cake and vanilla ice cream.... so so so good. We left feeling SO content, happy, full but not STUFFED. Genuinely a perfect night. Thank you so much to Melissa and all of the staff at Washington Inn! Truly an incredible crew of people- the hostesses, the bus boys who attentively and respectfully cleared our dishes, the manager who checked on us with such a friendly and kind energy... they have something truly special going on at this restaurant! read more
The Washington Inn always makes us feel special on our anniversary. They seated us and a wonderful table at the patio. Service by Myles was outstanding and his recommendations perfect. We started with the beat salad and the escargot - both delicious! The Seabass was very good but the special Veal Porterhouse was even better. For dessert, the recommended Fromage Blanc was outstanding! read more
1 year ago
Great atmosphere, excellent service. Nice compact menu usually means they are good at preparing everything. The appetizers and main courses were delicious. The demi glaze for the lamb chops stood out. I liked the escargot but have never had escargot with cheese in the garlic butter sauce. It took some getting use to and diluted the butter sauce taste somewhat. The establishment has an excellent wine list and you can order pairings with the fixe price menu. Cape May pricing averaging $60+ for a entree. Average price/value relationship read more
This review is specifically for the wine bar (the main restaurant is also fantastic and I've enjoyed it many times over the years) We arrived at the wine bar around 7pm, and although it is small we were able to find a few open seats. They have a nice cocktail menu and a decent variety of wines by the glass. The bartender was friendly and provided great service, and the food we ordered came out quickly. I started with the oysters which were very good. We also tried and loved the sexy fries, but the bacon wrapped dates were the highlight of our meal. This is a great upscale place to go for a drink or to grab some apps or a light dinner, and I'll definitely be back! read more
1 month ago
1 month ago
2 months ago
After trying to get into the Washington Inn for our 20th Wedding Anniversary, but finding it booked, we resolved to go back one day. We did just that on a recent overnight to Cape May. We started off with a Manhattan, which was not featured on the cocktail menu. There was one while I was researching the menu during the planning phase, so I was disappointed (for the record, it was a Barrel Aged Black Manhattan). I asked for rye from one drink and vermouth from another, and it was excellent. Sorry for the inconvenience! One of my main motivations for trying the Washington was was the escargots. This is a dish, liked baked Alaska and Lobster Thermidor, that you don't see on menus very often, maybe because they're old school, but like my cocktail preferences, classics never go out of style. We both had the escargot, served in the requisite plate and swimming in butter. There was a nice chewy bread with a pillowy crumb that was served alongside. This preparation always puts me in mind of the server at Deux Cheminees in Philly, who would reverentially utter "brioche" when he would put a plate of escargots before you. I hope I'm tucking into a plate of them in my eighties and subvocalize "brioche" to myself. As with the cocktail misadventure, the NY Strip I was eyeing up on the menu I saw during the planning phase of this trip had slipped off (but emerged as a special at a very special price indeed). So Rhonda went with the lamb chops, and I the scallops. We intended to share, and while I very certainly remembering eating a lamb chop, the details of Rhonda having any scallops evade my memory. All of which is to say that both entrées were excellent. The Washington Inn is a quaint, quiet spot for a chatty dinner with someone you love. read more
7 months ago
4 months ago
I have to give full credit to my besties hubby for planning all the reservations while we stayed in Cape May earlier this summer. We dined at Washington Inn on our first night & it was fantastic. Very elegant but never obnoxious. Highly recommend reservations. The food & service were beyond expectations. Huge dining areas & the staff were all so very kind. Located on a lovely street that begs to be walked after dinner. We loved every moment of this dining experience! read more
1 year ago
Great high end dining experience! It is close to the center of town but they have valet parking which is appreciated. You must make a reservation in advance. Ambiance is high end in an old inn. It is recommended that you dress up, which I like. They have great cocktails but I am pregnant so I had a mocktail Phoney Negroni and it was terrible. It was premade in a bottle which was disappointing. We ordered the gruyere puffs and they were so good. I then had a clam chowder soup which was good but I wouldn't get it again. I had the short ribs which were outstanding. Great date night or special family meal. Highly recommend. read more
3 months ago
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1 year ago
Love this place the burrata Was delish I had the Mediterranean Sea bass I come here every year I highly recommend read more
11 months ago
Stopped at the wine bar for a drink before going out to dinner and yes, I do know they have dinner. We just had other plans got there around 20 of four they open at four place was not open. No one was really to see if we could wait around so we walked out came back at 4:05. There were two seats at the bar remaining and people were seated. It is clearly a popular spot Service was spot on. Bartender was great. Allowed me to try a couple different wines. Notified us of a happy hour special for oysters which of course we did get and I will tell you two dollar oyster is pretty good when you're down the shore will definitely come back and we'll go for dinner. Highly recommend going if you wanna stop in for a drink or or dining, not too far off the main strip read more
10 months ago
Upon arrival early for a 6:45 PM reservation the young lady at the front desk was not helpful and very crude. Rosie, our waitress was good didn't seem authentic. The food was delicious. The one thing notable was I didn't see one person smile while they provided excellent service. read more
5 months ago
Came here for a Birthday/Retirement dinner with my Girlfriend. The place is very cozy with a great Bar. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. We order the Wagu Steak with Potatoes Au Gratin and Mushrooms plus a side of Asparagus. All served in a timely fashion and were delicious. I love eating here when in Cape May! read more
1 year ago
OMGoodness! The best meals EVER! You get what you pay for. We started at the bar with Robin taking great care of us with the martinis! She was fun and excellent! What a great bartender! Then Kylee, the hostess, was so eager to help us with anything we needed. She's an eager young one who understands that the need to work hard. Then, there's Victoria! The bestest and fastest server who made sure our food came out in a timely but not too fast. Our food was the best! I've had a lot of eggplant in my life but OMGoodness! It was the best of the best! Thanks to the chef!!! read more
2 years ago
This place had an absolutely wonderful atmosphere, especially during the holidays. The waiter we had was so nice and leaned into our excitement and fun vibes the night we went which added to the experience. They were always checking on you to make sure everything was good and perfect which I appreciated, it wasn't the overwhelming kind of check in but a genuinely nice we want to make sure you're experience is lovely check in. My husband and I got cocktails to start and I got their Christmas margarita which was like Christmas in a cocktail. We got the steak tartare and tuna crudo to start both of which were phenomenal. The steak tartare was on top of a creamy horseradish mixture and had charred capers around it, both of these unexpected additions completely elevated the dish and blew both of our minds. The tuna crudo came on a bed of this blood orange sauce and it was perfection with the tuna. For dinner my husband and I got the duck breast and it was such a unique take on duck. The duck was marinated in oolong tea and you could taste it ever so subtly throughout. The portion size of the duck breast was pretty great as well. We also got a banana foster dessert which came in an almond brittle type shell. It was delicious. My only gripe with this dish is that the caramel sauce was a bit grainy like the sugar wasn't melted down all the way but honestly it didn't matter because the flavoring was perfect. Definitely a place we will go again when we are in the area because the food and staff were stellar. I highly recommend this place for any occasion or just a drink because their bar looked so cozy. read more
I would just like to start with saying it's practically blasphemy for me to even give this staple of Cape May anything less than four stars, but I will gladly come back and try again/adjust accordingly. Washington Inn has been known for its amazing food and service for years. I mean heck, I still have a Washington Inn cookbook from the 90s that my grandmother bought all those years ago. However, the night my friend and I came, I hate to say that everything was just about average. Now for the service, mind you they were absolutely slammed. So I will give some grace for our server being slow. The food, however, was just a little disappointing. Which was really surprising. The mushroom soup just wasn't what I was expecting, so that part is my fault. I was hoping for a creamier soup. So no points docked there haha. The salad was average as were the entrées. I think the main problem was seasoning. The short rib had literally no flavor. Neither did the polenta it came with. It really just tasted like someone took short rib, got it perfectly tender, but forgot to add salt...or cooked it in water. Maybe the goal was that the sauce they had on top of it was supposed to give that taste, but it did nothing. The polenta may have sat too long, I don't really know. I was expecting it to be creamy. A little bit of salt or Parmesan would've gone. Actually, now that I'm saying all this, maybe that's why service was so slow. The kitchen very well could've gotten backed up and in turn the food quality was affected. Lastly, the bananas foster. I really don't know what was going on with this one. I came out as vanilla ice cream, raw bananas, and a caramel sauce. None of it was working. I think it was the bananas that threw me. Everything was placed in an almond candied dish/bowl which stuck to your teeth haha. You're supposed to have caramelized bananas for bananas foster, not raw. So again interesting, just poor execution. Now listen, I'm just one review out of hundreds of amazing ones. So will this tarnish the good name of the Washington Inn? Absolutely not and it shouldn't. This is simply just constructive criticism of a place I hold dear in my heart. We can chalk it up to just a bad night for the kitchen. That certainly won't stop me from coming back. It was probably just an off night. The ambience is great. Romantic and cozy. I hope this review is not taken with offense, but more so awareness of what I, as well as may be a couple of others that night experienced. It can easily be fixed, I have no doubt! read more
One extra star because our waiter was a rock star. First time in Cape May, what a beautiful town! I wanted to show my wife a nice time so I searched for the most elegant restaurant in the area. The Washington Inn was constructed in 1846. After acquiring their liquor license in 1981, the Washington Inn has grown to be one of the top ranked and most visited fine dining restaurants in Cape May. Let's see what the hubbub is all about. I pull up to the valet and the young man looks younger than my son. I show him the two keys to my car. I explain the round key opens the door and the square key is the ignition key. I say a prayer and watch him drive away my classic car to the private lot. We arrived early and had a drink at the bar. The waitress was very nice, I ordered a Grey Goose martini that was made perfectly. Not too dry with olives. My wife comes back from the bathroom and I order her a cocktail that she also enjoyed. Our table is ready and I placed a starter for Classic Oysters Rockefeller. The restaurant is serving the freshest seafood, this was an excellent first course. Now our waiter comes to the table. I tell him what I'm thinking about ordering and he says the Seafood Cioppino is a must. You get the best of all of our seafood dishes. This guy, what an amazing server. He knows the menu and provides a great recommendation. The seafood was very fresh, I'm impressed so far. He comes to the table and says are you ready for coffee and dessert? I tell him I'm pretty packed but he says nonsense. How about I make you a decaffeinated cappuccino and slide a few biscotti's your way? The service level is simply outstanding. My wife & I left fully satisfied. I highly recommend the Washington Inn. read more
Ordered a delicious swordfish steak, Very thick and done perfectly! The ambiance was very nice. Wait staff was on all the time from filing water to ensuring we had everything we needed, but not overbearing. The restaurant is very clean and well kept also! This was a great 24th anniversary dinner! read more
Amazing dining experience in Cape May. Had a reservation and walked from our BnB. Looks like they had valet parking. The staff was very kind and provided great service. Excellent wine and very generous portions. Ambiance can be a little loud but nice nonetheless. I had salad and crab cakes and both were excellent read more
1 year ago
Had a great meal here! Service was fantastic and both the interior and exterior were incredibly charming and well-decorated. The branzino, seafood cioppino, salmon and tuna tartare app, and fig/prosciutto/gorgonzola app special were all delicious. We were here for a birthday and our server brought out complimentary sorbet and some berries with a candle for dessert. We came by for an early dinner and learned that early reservations during select times on select days are actually 20% off the prices listed on the menu -- a nice surprise when the bill came! read more
I had a wonderful anniversary dinner here! Started off with some wonderful drinks, strong and delicious. Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar before your dinner. It's a wonderful experience. Bartenders are friendly and craft their drinks perfectly. I didn't know it, but it was restaurant week! For starters, we ordered the Burrata salad and the crab and corn chowder. The burrata was creamy and the corn chowder was perfect. For entrées I ordered the short rib and the cioppino. The seafood was an extravaganza of flavor and the shortrib was so tender and melted in your mouth. We ended this beautiful dinner with crème brûlée and an anniversary dessert. Service was excellent and everything was the best I could be. read more
I absolutely adore this place! If I could give it 10 stars I would! Perfection! I was taking my sister out for her birthday and my 15 yr old nephew was joining us. We had to change our reservation from 2 to 4 at the last minute and that was not an issue. I wanted it to be the perfect evening and it was. Yeni, our waitress, and the staff gave the best service! Certainly the best in the 8 meals we had at different places during the week. All our food was absolutely delicious. I loved my meal and everyone else did too. Our seating was inside, but next to the outside seating which I also liked very much. I cannot wait to go back! Exquisite! Thank you! read more
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More info about Washington Inn & Wine Bar
801 Washington St
Cape May, NJ 08204
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(609) 884-5697
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http://www.washingtoninn.com
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Ask the Community - Washington Inn & Wine Bar
Can you make a substitution if you don’t like a side that comes with main entree?
I can't say for sure but I don't think it would be a huge issue unless it's something that compromises the dish. Service was tremendous and they work hard to make sure you enjoy your visit.
Does this restaurant require men to wear coats or jackets? Just trying to gage how dressed up we need to be.
No. A collared shirt would be fine.
Do they have a room to I accommodate a party of 20?
Hi Gail, yes they do. There's a large room that's like a large, enclosed garden porch. Easily large enough for a party of 20. They do weddings so they may have other large rooms for a party of that size.
Are the crab cakes lump crab?
I didn't get the feeling they were lump crab meat. While we'll seasoned, tender, and not much filler, the meat in it seemed a bit stringy/broken down. Again, not to take away from it being a tasty result, I'm just pretty sure it's not lump crabmeat.
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