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Page 8 Exit Zero
August 27, 2004 August 27, 2004 Exit Zero
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ers as 410 Bank Street, right next door. Frescos has been
named the Best Fine Italian restaurants for thirteen
years in a row by readers of New Jersey Monthly magazine.
Enjoy fresh seafood and award-winning regional
Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Don’t miss the giant
calamari and osso bucco. Also enjoy the 1880 Victorian
cottage that’s been designed to look and feel like a trattoria
in Tuscany. And who wouldn’t want to be transported
there while still sitting in Cool Cape May? BYOB.
412 Bank Street. 884-0366.
MANSION HOUSE
Full disclosure: Executive chef Joe Lotozo lives next door
to the Exit Zero office, and his daughters often exercise
the office puppies (not for free, mind you) when we’re
out “reviewing” local food and drink, so we’re always
going to say particularly nice things about this place.
Luckily that’s easy since it’s a wonderful little joint.
The seafood is as good as any in town – the wasabi
and macadamia-encrusted salmon has rightly become
famous and is as good a salmon dish as you’re ever
likely to find. Our favorite starter is the jumbo lump crab
enchilada. Mansion Street. 884-0200. www.mansionhouseseafood.com.
MAUREEN
Maureen is a fab place to go for a martini and a meal. The
fried olive plate paired with the crab fritter, fresh jumbo
lump crab cakes sautéed and served with mango chutney,
baked cinnamon sweet potatoes, sweet sake slaw and tartar
sauce seasoned with Southern Comfort, sounds most
delicious. If you happen to be in Longboat Key stop in to
the Horns’ other restaurant, Maureen’s Palm Grille. Full
Bar. Closed Mondays. Atlantic & Schellenger, Wildwood.
522-7747. www.restaurantmaureen.com.
MERION INN
Sipping drinks and eating delicious food while listing to
the sounds of George Mesterhazy on his Steinway Grand
Piano is memorable and a must do while visiting this
little island. The dinner menu offers traditional regional
seafood and sizzling steaks amongst other tasty things.
For lighter fare, a café menu is served for an additional
hour after dinner with appetizers, paninis, and desserts.
Check out the $14.95 early evening specials served before
5:30pm. Free parking and a children’s menu. 106 Decatur
Street. 884-8363. www.merioninn.com.
OYSTER BAY
New versions of classic steak and seafood dishes are
served at this contemporary American restaurant. Open
for dinner from 5 pm. Full (and very cool) bar. Order a
martini as an aperitif or just hang around longer and eat
at the bar, which is, in our view, the best place to eat dinner.
615 Lafayette St. 884-2111.
PELICAN CLUB
Chef Wally Jurusz offers a delicious, and diverse selection
of wonderful fish and steak dishes, and the best pork
chop in town. They are also vegetarian friendly, and most
accomodating. All this combined with gorgeous views of
the Atlantic from the tables make this an experience not
to be missed. Full bar. 501 Beach Avenue, 884-3995.
www.pelicanclubcapemay.com.
PETER SHIELDS INN
The inn and gourmet restaurant are both in a mansion
with spectacular ocean views. This could be why Zagat
called it a “don’t miss.” By all accounts, the South African
lobster tail is divine. They’re serving dinner at 5:30 pm
every day but Monday. BYOB but offering local wines
for sale. 1301 Beach Ave. 884-9090. www.petershields.com
TISHA’S FINE DINING
Located right on the beach, this great restaurant
has inspiring and romantic views from every table.
Tisha’s is a favorite in town not only because
of that wonderful location but also because of
dishes on the revolving menu like saffron shrimp
risotto and the stuffed pork Marisa with apples
and Gorgonzola herbed crust. Open seven nights
from 5 pm. If you’re gonna propose, this is one of
the places to do it. BYOB. 714 Beach Avenue. 884-
9119. www.tishasfinedining.com.
UNION PARK
Located in the historic Hotel Macomber this offers
“one of the best dining experiences anywhere in
south Jersey” says the Philadelphia Inquirer. And
we’re not ready to disagree with that. The freshest
and finest ingredients are used to prepare all of the
dishes served, including the award-winning Yellow
Fin Tuna. Open for dinner seven days starting at 5
pm. BYOB. 27 Beach Avenue. 884-8811.
WASHINGTON INN
One of the founding fathers of fine dining in Cape
May is owned by the Craig family and is serving
up dishes to die for in five dining rooms, from
lush summer patios to super-cozy fireside rooms.
There’s an extensive drink menu with over 15
choices of brandies along with the largest wine
cellar in South Jersey. Chef Mimi Wood’s menu
favorites include the panzanella, which is a Italian
peasant salad made with Tuscan bread, fresh
tomatoes, olice oil, capers, and onions, and the
lamb with olive and sundried tomato crust, soft
goat cheese polenta, carmelized fennel, and oven
roasted baby tomatoes. 801 Washington Street.
884 5697. www.washingtoninn.com.
WATERS EDGE
This wonderful waterfront restaurant has been
pleasing the Cape May dinner crowd for years.
One read through of the sumptuous menu and
you will be impressed by the bold and eclectic
choices. The cocktail bar is a great place to hang
out before and after dinner, and not just because
the bartender (who is in the Witness Protection
Program and therefore cannot be named) is
superb. Beach and Pittsburgh Avenues. 884-1717.
www.watersedgerestaurant.com.
CASUAL (BUT STILL FINE!)
BLUE PIG TAVERN
Named after a mid-1800s gambling parlor in Congress
Hall Hotel, the Blue Pig just happens to be on the site
of Elias Hughes’ tavern, the first of its kind to appear
in Cape May in the 1700s. The year-round restaurant
is snuggled in magnificent Congress Hall Hotel
and is as pleasing to the palate as it is to the eye,
thanks to executive chef Jeffery Klova. Indulging
in their chocolate tiramisu while on the outdoor
patio is indeed worth the follow-up workout. Full
bar. Perry Street and Congress Place. 884-8422.
www.congresshall.com.
CAPE ORIENT
It’s the only restaurant on the Cape to serve sushi
and locals flock here because of that and because
it happens to serve some of the top Asian cuisine
offered in south Jersey. Owners Glendy and Jack
Hwang serve up Chinese, Japanese, and Thai
dishes like Seafood Tempura and Crispy Szechuan
Red Snapper with prices that are comparitively
low for the area. Since we happen to have tried
all three different asian cuisines offered, we can
honestly say their same standards of excellence
apply across the board. Washington Commons
Mall. 898-0088. www.capeorient.com.
CILANTRO
The newest restaurant in Cape May features
good food to please many different appetites.
Owner Jim Ragno’s menu includes a range of
options from paninis and mozzarella fritti, to
meals of Steamed PEI Mussels and Blackened
Day Boat Scallops. They serve both lunch and
dinner. If you go for lunch try the vegetarian
sandwich and house salad with avacado, bermuda
onions and homemade balsamic dressing.
There’s also a small deli counter stocked with
various goodies including delicious cheeses. 102
Sunset Boulevard. 898-0111.
DON'T
YOU DARE
GO HOME
WITHOUT IT!
Exit Zero’s
The Insider’s Guide
to Cape May
AVAILABLE IN SHOPS,
RESTAURANTS, BARS,
ALL OVER TOWN.
www.exitzero.us
Fine Oceanfront Dining
714 Beach Ave., Cape May
Reservations: 884-9119
www.tishasfinedining.com
“Food was superb as usual. Chocolate cake to die for. Service was
perfect. Tisha’s remains our favorite restaurant in Cape May”
– Stacey Stokes and Sandy Chiappeni