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August 27, 2004 August 27, 2004 Exit Zero
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FOOD & DRINK
AN ALL-IMPROVED, EXPANDED AND, GASP!, ORGANIZED GUIDE TO THE FINEST TREATS IN TOWN
FINE DINING
A CA MIA
A superb northern Italian restaurant on the Mall,
where the menu is as alluring as the location itself
– it’s the perfect people-watching spot as you dine
al fresco. Try the smoked fish sampler, a wonderful
appetizer, served with horseradish, mustard, sauce
and roasted pepper. A Ca Mia recently expanded
and now has a little market next door where you
can buy gourmet cheese, salads and wines from
the local Turdo vineyard and go on a beach picnic,
even though you’re technically not supposed to do
that. 524 Washington Street Mall. 884-6661.
ALEATHEA’S
This restaurant is found inside the Inn of Cape
May, an imposing and intriguing off-white (it’s
kinda purply-white) hotel that sits on the oceanfront
at Ocean Street. The inn has a fascinating
lobby with lots of knick-knacks for sale and a very
cool little bar with a porch that’s fanned by the sea
breeze. So make your reservation, turn up early,
browse the lobby, sit at the bar and soak in the vibe
from this classic old seaside hotel – the only thing
that will make you think you’re living in this century
is the food, which is excellent. Highlights include
the crab and penne pomodori, the grilled flounder
and the pork chop. 801 Beach Ave. 884-5555.
BLACK DUCK
Visit executive chef Christopher Hubert’s latest
restaurant (his other is Union Park – see the other
listing) and tuck in to the fresh local and global
seafood in a cool and casual environment. It’s all
white-painted woods and lots of plants – a perfect
place to park yourself after a hot day on the beach.
Chris calls the style “casual dining,” but that’s a
tiny bit misleading. A good meal at the Black Duck
is among the finest dining experiences in town.
Everything is excellent. But for a change, try the
PuPu Platter or the Raw Bar Tray – both serve
two. There’s plenty of onsite parking and a nonsmoking
dining room. BYOB. 1 Sunset Boulevard.
898-0100.
COPPER FISH
A beautifully-designed restaurant, which is in only
its second season. White leather chairs sit on polished
dark wooden floors, and the walls are adorned
with cool copper ornaments. (Sophisticates from
New York, Philly and D.C. will approve.) There’s
also a large brick fireplace to keep you nice and
toasty during breezy fall nights. But forget that
– right now it’s hot in the city, and Copper Fish
is fanned by the breezes that come off the harbor.
It sits on the bridge, just along from the Lobster
House. The crab cakes are great, as is the Mojo
Pork. Open Tue-Sun. 1246 Rt. 109, 898-0354.
CUCINA ROSA
NJ Monthly said that it’s the “best casual dining
SWEETS, IT’S ALMOST
LABOR DAY, CAN YOU
BELIEVE THE SUMMER
WENT BY SO FAST?
PRETTY SOON IT’LL BE
BACK TO SCHOOL FOR
THE KIDS.
in south Jersey,” but we think it’s a little on the
fine side, too, especially when you consider a dish
like tenderloin Tuscany, a 9-ounce filet mignon
stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese, roasted red peppers,
caramelized onions, then grilled medium.
Like the taste? Go on their website and purchase
Cucina Rosa’s specialty sauces and spices. Open six
days for dinner from 5 pm, closed on Wednesday.
BYO, but house table wine can be purchased by
the bottle. 301 Washington 898-9800. www.
cucinarosa.com.
DANIEL’S
Chef/Owner Harry Gleason’s restaurant was voted
by The Food Network as one of the five best BYO
restaurants in America and most recently took
home the prestigious Five-Star Diamond award.
The taste is modern American with some Asian
and Caribbean thrown in, resulting in amazing
fusions, sometimes made up right on the spot.
Acclaimed dishes include the pan-seared diver
scallops, macadamia-crusted lamb and sesameand-herb
crusted mahi mahi. 416 S. Broadway.
898-8770. www.danielscapemay.com.
EBBITT ROOM
Honored as one of only four restaurants in Cape
May to win the Five-Star Diamond award (only
YES, DARLING. I
MET MR. RACINE
LAST WEEK IN THE
TEACHER’S LOUNGE.
HE TOOK ME IN THE
NEW CLASSROOM.
I GIVE HIM AN “A.”
10 were awarded in all of New York City!). Bring
someone you want to impress to this spot at the
Virginia Hotel. Chef Andy Carthy serves up superb
dishes such as fennel-dusted local scallops and
grass-fed veal T-bone. And the calamari is the best
we’ve ever tasted. What more could you ask for?
Philadelphia magazine calls it “easily the town’s
most sophisticated eatery.” 25 Jackson St. 884-
5700. www.virginiahotel.com
410 BANK STREET
Fresh from winning the internationally-recognized
Five-Star Diamond award, this New
Orleans French and Caribbean restaurant has
received other props from several notable publications
including New York Times, Fodor’s
and New Jersey Monthly, who once again
gave their “Best of the Best” award to the
restaurant. Let chef Henry Sing Cheng whip
you up New Orleans Voodoo Shrimp while you
dine by candlelight or outside on the veranda.
BYOB. Located, not so surprisingly, at 410
Bank Street, 884-2127.
FRESCOS
Dining al fresco is so inviting you may want to
eat out on the porch every time you visit this
charming eatery, which shares the same own-