Mayer's Tavern

We had a great first experience here a few weeks back. Excellent shore vibes, friendly hospitality, fast service, amazing food. Especially loved the calamari (perfect texture, great add-ins) and scallops (so sweet lightly fried but not greasy), plus the delicious carrots that were on special. Drinks were on point as well. Chocolate mousse was the cherry on top for dessert! Can’t wait to return again later this summer 😎

Very nice place to stop. Casual but classy. Easy to get a seat. Specials available. Indoor and outdoor seating for 1,2 or groups. Bartenders are attentive. We would go back. Walking distance from South Journey Marina.

Had dinner with the wife and daughter here Thursday night, 9/18/2025... This was one of the best dinners we have ever had. FIVE STAR everything at a very good price. The oysters, the bluefish, the squid, the tile fish....Everything was fresh and prepared and presented perfectly. And the wait staff even better. Will be going back again for certain. Thank you for a great experience...

We dine at Mayer’s a few times each summer and it is a nice, off the beaten track establishment. A lot of the food is fried but they continue to add non-fried items. They’ve added more specials this summer including fresh fish options. The portions are flavorful and fairly priced. The bar is nice and cozy and often packed. The indoor restaurant is small and can get full quickly on inclement days when the outside porch dining is closed. They always have a unique wine list with offerings from many smaller, lesser known vineyards. There is some parking next to the restaurant and usually street parking can be found. We enjoy dining here and think you will too.

Mayers is the best in town. We crave their food. The scallop platter, the burger, the kale salad , the clams……😀 Update on 8/2/25: They took the clam appetizer off, but added this crispy chicken app. Though i was very frustrated about the clam appetizer getting pulled :( , the crispy chicken app blew me away. This chef and crew create tastes that you would have never thought existed. The bread pudding is the best you will ever have. This place is amazing.

Great drinks. Friendly staff. Great food. Let us sit and chat and finish our drinks even after closing time. Can’t wait to go again when I’m back next summer. Kale salad and Cold Front drink outstanding. Wine list really fun and modern.

I always get a burger my first time at a restaurant if I'm unsure if they make good food or not. If they can't make a good burger, the rest of the food is going to suck just as much. I'd rather spend $19 on a burger than $45 on a steak or seafood to find out they use frozen grocery store meat. Not the case here. Really great burger. Obviously ground, not frozen or store bought patty, with a nice blend, great flavor, and well put together end product. My wife's scallops, the fries, and the desserts were also all excellent. Servers were great and were very gracious even with my toddler making a mess on the floor. Prices are reasonable. Nit picks: the bourbon lemonade kind of a foofoo drink (I should have asked beforehand) and is very lemon sour forward and needs a higher ratio of bourbon (for people who actually want to taste bourbon), and they won't split a check, even 50/50. Pretty silly in this day in age. But oh well.

Another fantastic meal at Mayer's Tavern. Tonight I had the yogurt marinated chicken. It was really hard not to get the scallops but I was just there last week so I convinced myself to try something different. Family who I had dinner with both got the scallops and when their plates were delivered I was feeling a little regret looking at the amazing plate of scallops but that quickly changed when I took the first bite of my chicken. The chicken was just as fantastic as the scallops. A perfectly cooked airline breast with crispy skin and tender juicy breast seasoned nicely and served with polenta and greens. Everything I have tried has been really well prepared, thoughtfully seasoned and complimented by sides and sauces that elevate the flavor of top quality ingredients prepared with attention to detail. Can't wait to return and try some more great menu items or specials. If I lived closer I'd be a regular for sure. Very limited menu but what they do they do very well. Great dishes I've tried: Scallops of course, mussels, crab fritters, yogurt marinated Chicken, Zucchini and Squash with green goddess dressing (app special), chocolate mousse.

Mayers boils down to being a pretty great place. It's nestled in the land of the same old same old everywhere you turn, the land of broiled to hell seafood and pizza. Mayers brings a big city dive vibe combined with culinary creativity. Though after about 6 trips here in the summer of '24, the allure started to dwindle, as the menu remained stagnant and lacking of creativity. The specials were great until they recycled the same few ingredients a bunch of different ways- hinging heavily on tomatoes, cucumbers, chicken thighs and the occasional swordfish appearance. All pretty pricey to boot. $14+ for 3-4 bite small plates. I recall a social media post where they admitted to lacking seafood, yet they never really did anything about it. Again, swordfish at $40 done 2-3 different ways isn't saying much. $22 oysters, $29 scallops became underwhelming after 3 months. The staff is helpful when you manage to get someone's attention, though that "hipster too cool for school" vibe remained during every trip. It's like the bar is their catwalk and you're just there to observe them. Not very warming or "tavern on the bay"-esque. All in all, one of better spots at the shore.

Service was wonderful, the restaurant was busy but we were seated right away. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive. The clam appetizer was our favorite item, but everything was delicious! The appetizers are definitely large enough to share. Cocktails were also great and refreshing. A lovely view of the bay and sunset as well.

We had just arrived into town and were starving and we saw this place which was fairly close by. When we were first seated it did not feel very welcoming but towards the end it got better. The place was dark even though it was still light out. The bread tasted tough and chewy, like day old bread. The crab fritters were good filled with crab but the grease was not a pleasant taste. I was disappointed in the scallops which were fairly small in size. I was pleasantly surprised with the special which was the swordfish and cabbage. This is something I would order again, excellent recommendation from our waitress.

this is a really unique and amazing place. Wait staff was friendly helpful, and knowledgeable. We had the scallop dinner on a recommendation from a bartender at another establishment. They were amazing. We also had to smoke bluefish. That was amazing.

A bit of a dive bar with live music, but pretty good food. Small inside dining area with dining at the bar and outside patio dining as well. We chose to sit inside, Service was fine, but not very enthusiastic at all. We started with drinks and the crab fritters. The fritters were pretty good but the sauce really made the difference. I highly recommend the cold front cocktail. It was excellent. My wife had the hibiscus, but didn't care for it much. It's a very limited entrée menu. We both have the fried scallops which come with delicious french fries, and coleslaw. While very fresh, the coleslaw is very vinegary and wasn't our favorite. The fried scallops, are kind of unique in that they had very little breading if any. Very good flavor and comes with your choice of cocktail, tartar, or remoulade sauce.

Stopped in for a drink an hour before close. We weren't welcomed by anyone or anything, which is fine because we knew we were coming late. We sat at the bar only because we wanted a drink each. The bartender said hello, but it was definitely a problem that we sat by the tones of each staff member. After 30 minutes and one drink each, the bartender brought us the bill and put it down with no word. We were younger group of 4, but I was pretty disappointed in the way were were treated. The inside is super cute and I would love to go back if I didn't have such a sour taste from the staff.

What a great night at this friendly pub-like fresh food establishment! Love the small menu. There's something for everyone. All delicious and well-plated. Our server Kelly was awesome. Waited for the crowds to die down, and will be back again soon. Thanks This is such a treasure in Cape May! Everything is fresh and delicious. Nothing disappoints!

Friday evening just opened. Unfriendly hostess( not the first time) male server was half asleep and inattentive. Food portions were skimpy and fries cold. Hopefully just a bad night or a case of "getting too big for your britches!"

I must eat here when I am in the areas. It's just how it is. We stopped in early on Wednesday for dinner. I normally get the scallops although this time we decided to get a bunch of picky food and drinks. The cucumber mule is the perfect summer drink. So good! We enjoyed the pimento cheese, fried calamari, cold pick and peel shrimp, clams and crab fritters. Our waitress was wonderful and the food was awesome, as usual. It's a staple in my summer when I am down here because it is consistent. Great service and good every single time.

Food has never been the issue before -- service and policies were. Was here on 4.19 -- everything fantastic and still think about that Cold Front!

Great atmosphere. Ambiance is perfect especially during sunset. Drink menu was creative and fresh. Fresh whole fish special was cooked perfectly. Scallops are always a hit. Burger was cooked to perfection. Seafood tower and calamari appetizers were a great start. Small menu has been unchanged in a long time but why fix what isn't broken? Check out the live music schedule to catch some local talent.

Limited menu.......food was good.....,,,Drinks were good.......Staff was amazing........Beautiful view........

I love this place! Food is phenomenal, especially the specials from the chef. Food is always fresh and interesting. Drinks are phenomenal as well. Great bar staff and the best is the music, especially blue bones.

The food and location are great as was the entertainment. Where this place falls very short is the hostess and bar staff. They are down right rude. Food server was quite pleasant but the rudeness by bar and hostess will prevent this local from returning.

Lovely casual spot. Excellent scallops. Pleasant staff. Nice outdoor seating. Highly recommended

Great service, great burgers and drinks and a nice comfortable atmosphere. We always enjoy ourselves at Mayers and it's just a really good place to go in Cape May.

In-laws that live here recommended Mayers as the place to go for scallops. Place was busy when we arrived but wait wasn't too bad, had just enough time to get a drink at the bar and start into it. We both ordered the scallops with the usual sides of fries and Cole slaw. The slaw was quite different - less creamy than the usual. God flavor and the cabbage was still crisp. The scallops were deep fried which was quite different from the usual pan-fried. They were cooked perfectly and none of the had any tough pieces. For dessert my wife had the chocolate mousse and I had a peach crumble with vanilla ice cream. Both were very good. When crowded the place can be noisy. Hard to have a casual conversation.

Excellent food. Service by Molly was excellent as well. Only issue is seating for larger groups is problematic. Not sure why they don't take reservations for groups larger than 6 people.

Pretty solid food! Amazing scallops. Bartenders were nice and the service was very good. Had a great seat near the corner of the bar so we had an easy time talking with each other. Cozy little spot!

Heard good things so we thought we would try it ... it is small and quaint certainly comfortable but unfortunately the menu is very limited with not many enticing entrees to choose from . Went with the crab fritters ...they were all deeply fried in a thick breading that had zero flavor and the crab inside was non existent ! Very disappointed ! We also tried the fried scallop dinner ...again disappointing ! It is a "one and done' for us but I did see people enjoying a huge "kale salad dish" ...perhaps if your into that it might be a good choice ! With this spot almost on the water we were expecting more of a variety of great seafood choices ...

Mayer's serves up some of the best cooked scallops I've had to date. These "fried" scallops were much closer to pan-seared, with an exceptionally thin battered crust, and they were juicy and delicious. Don't sleep on the house remoulade sauce, which was an absolutely perfect complement to these babies. The citrus slaw left something to be desired, and I'm not much of a fries person, so the sides didn't really do it for me. But hey, if I'm only paying $19 for essentially six or so perfectly cooked scallops, I really don't need anything else. That being said, we did order non-scallop things. The wild Delaware Bay oysters were okay, but a bit too milky for my taste. The crab fritters mainly consisted of breading with a few small tendrils of crab that, flavor-wise, went practically unnoticed. As for drinks, the Cucumber Mule was perfectly balanced and very refreshing. Less so with the bourbon lemonade, which veered on the strong side. Although the food is always #1, I also thoroughly enjoyed this tavern's casual ambience and the live music. All in all, definitely worth a visit. Pro tip: Mayer's is located right next to a marina, so time it just right and you can catch a glorious sunset during or after your meal.

Just phenomenal - started with lightly broiled oysters with pimento cheese- So great that we ordered a second order. Fried scallops for an entree and this heavenly,homemade bread pudding with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The expresso martinis were on-point as well. Missed this place so much during the cold winter down here.

We came here on a Wednesday night for dinner. Our party of 4 had nearly every shared plate available. The scallops are fantastic, and so is the calamari. You should definitely order both of those. The salad is good, and some had the lamb skewers which they loved. The crab corn fritters were also great. So was the shrimp. And we had oysters on the half shell which tasted very fresh. This was the best restaurant meal I had in Cape May this year. The glorified bar food at Lucky Bones and week old seafood at Rusty Nail rates far, far lower in my opinion. And nothing on the Mall stands out. Go--quick as you can--to Mayers Tavern!

Went here on Saturday night for dinner with friends- we were a group of four. Got seated inside right away- we went early as it was restaurant week and they don't take reservations. We all ordered cocktails and they were quite good. I had the hydrangea which is St. Germaine and Prosecco - very light and refreshing. We all ordered off the special restaurant week menu- and were pleased . The menu is quite limited overall. Two of us ordered scallops- also came with an appetizer and dessert. The scallops were very good- sadly, I got about 10 and my friend only got maybe half of that . Got the bluefish spread appetizer which came with grilled bread . The spread was delicious but I felt the bread was a bit too heavy- some crackers would have been nice. My husband got chicken marinated in yogurt which he said was good and the other friend got mussels which he seemed to enjoy. I think desserts were probably the highest point- three of us got chocolate mousse which was delicious and one got bread pudding which she loved. I would go back- maybe for lunch.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat delicious food, try Mayer's Tavern! The local calamari is to die for and the fried scallops incredible! Top it of with AMAZING Mac and cheese and dinner has been served! Joe was an incredible waiter as well! Beautiful location!

One of our favorites spots! The black Kale salad is the BEST! The clams are a must. Hubby always gets the scallops. This is a must when in Cape May. Also fav drink is Bourbon Lemonade.

Exactly what I was looking for. My wife and I wanted great seafood in Cape May and we were told to visit here. Everything was amazing including cocktails. Can't go wrong. Was told later that the burger is a hidden gem. Will have to go back!

This place was lively and packed considering it was off season still. The service was seamless with the nicest hostess and friendliest staff. The menu is small but offers enough of a selection (nothing healthy though) that you won't be left hungry. The oysters by far were our favorite. They were fresh and ridiculously large. The mussels were equally fresh and large but none of us were fans of the beer broth. The rest of the food was good: fried scallops, mac & cheese, and fried calamari. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations. I suggest coming on the early side, put your name down and grab a drink at the bar.

A bit tricky to find this place as it is set off the road a bit. Good homey atmosphere and got the sense that the bar crowd was frequented by locals. I happened to talk to the owner of Hawk Haven Winery last time that I was there. Limited menu with solid selections and good local cocktails. A nice addition to the neighborhood and local watering hole.

I love Mayer's! It's a low key, local, fisherman-style tavern on the way into Cape May. The location is great, and you can usually find parking easily. The surrounding neighborhood around the tavern on the bay block is lined with cute houses. I've been here twice this summer season, and had an excellent experience! The drinks are delicious, and the bartenders are attentive. As for food, I have shared oysters, fish dip, calamari, house salad, chicken entree, and fried scallops with friends. All that we consumed from the kitchen was scrumptious. The evenings with live music create a truly enjoyable ambiance!

The hostess is so disrespectful! I called before coming to ask if my service dog (with paperwork) could sit outside for dinner. She said that it wouldn't be a problem. However when I arrived she turned us away and lied and told my family that she told me the dog wasn't allowed. I'm injured and I need the dog. I'm a repeat customer and will not be coming back. Which is a shame because the food and ambiance is great. She is the problem.

Our first time here & we went with my son & his family. All of our food & drinks were good except when my husband was eating his burger, he found a piece of wax paper cooked with it. We pulled it off, he ate it & we told our waitress & also the manager & they both shrugged it off & said, we don't use wax paper with our food. We didn't expect anything but an acknowledgement would of been nice. It was as if "we put it there ". They were both rude & they kind of ruined our evening!

Hostess was extremely rude and unwelcoming. She looked at me as if I was supposed to greet her. Will not go back.

Me and my girlfriend love this little gem! Every time we are in the area we make sure to stop in for great food+seafood and to enjoy the pleasant ambiance this place has to offer.

Smoked bluefish spread starter was delicious (should be served with three pieces of toasted bread, not two). Fried scallops were perfectly cooked. And the crab fritters with cilantro dipping sauce was my favorite! Great little find! We'll be back!

Great place with great food. Lady that said general manager very rude and disrespectful from the start. We left and went elsewhere .

Went here for early dinner before driving home at the recommendation of a friend. The food was delicious. We had the fried scallops platter. It was so good! We will definitely be back again.

Delicious food and a cool little place. The seafood tower was great even though the clams were quite salty. Cocktails were hit and miss. The negroni was tasty but the old fashion was far from good.

Everyone said to get the fried scallops and wow! I asked two friends for a non-touristy rec and they BOTH said this place! Loved it

My family and I enjoyed this restaurant during our annual Summer getaway to Cape May. The ambiance was fantastic with live music playing in the backround which you rarely see anymore! Our hostess Molly was fantastic too! She was very professional and made excellent recommendations! Interestingly enough, the menu was quite simple yet had something for everyone. Highly recommend this venue!

Thoroughly enjoyed my scallops with unique and delicious citrus slaw, and the handcut fries on the platter were perfect! My friend liked the mussels in red sauce with a large wedge of garlic bread. She order a side salad which was a spring mix of only greens. She raved about the citrus vinaigrette dressing on the salad.

The scallops and mussels are off the charts delicious. The beer is ice cold too! Great spot!

My boyfriend and I ended up at Mayer's Tavern on a whim and couldn't have been happier. They were very adamant about COVID guidelines which I really appreciated. The atmosphere, drinks, & food were all excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Not to mention that stunning sunset view!

High quality food and drinks and relaxing atmosphere, if you can get past the draconian environment. Feeling comfortable here is likely not going to happen during Covid times, I'm not sure how it has been in the past. The bartenders are nice and friendly, but if you slip up even once (anything mask or social distancing related,) you will be treated like a toddler, told sternly not to move from your designated spot. It's tough because they have good food, perfectly fried scallops and an ample serving of sautéed spinach, pretty good service, and a rustic yet chic atmosphere, but no one wants to feel scared of 'getting in trouble' while paying for the luxury of dining out. If you're super worried about Covid, this is the place for you as it's easily the most strict I've been anywhere. But if you're looking for an inviting and friendly atmosphere, I'd suggest going to, Tisha's, Harry's, or Boiler Room..basically anywhere else with good food.

This place has been on our list to come to since the Summer of 2020 (COVID). Took a chance walked in, and the place was PACKED (Saturday 4/30). As luck would have it we struck it perfectly that there was a table of 2 open in the corner front window. Our waitress was helpful and pleasant. We were looking for a light dinner and she assisted us perfectly. The drink menu is fun and offers many options, loved the Cold Front and Pinot Grigio. Peeled shrimp were delicious, cold and tangy spicy sauce. Very much worth the $12!! The fried Scallops (were not FRIED) more pan cooked with delicious Coleslaw and we chose salad instead of fries. The side order of collard greens D-licious!! If they offer the rhubarb pie and ice cream was absolutely amazing, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IT!! If you are looking for an off the beaten path, fun rustic restaurant put this on your list. Many peeps took Uber, as parking is minimal. Maybe cuz the bar options are so plentiful and inviting.

Food, drinks, service and live music were excellent. We came with our kids and were able to find things that they liked as well.

Mayer's has been our go to first night of family vacation for several years--food is always good. This year was first time without Nana who passed in June. Apps were great--tuna Tartar was delish--and then began wait for meal. Watched as tables around us had app dishes cleared & got meals. Finally asked manager about the long wait; she was shockingly rude; instead of simply saying, "I'll check on it," she gave us a lecture about restaurant timing, and what we can't judge by timing at other tables--as if we had never stepped foot in a restaurant before. Uh, yes lady, we can judge--that's why it's called timing!We then asked for some bread for the 2-18 year olds in our party who had not had apps and were really hungry, and she said, "Why? Do they need bread?" WHAT? It was like she wanted to pick a fight with us. Who in restaurant management doesn't try to defuse a situation instead of poor gas on it? If she's the owner, she needs to hire a professional manager. If she's the manager, she needs to be replaced. Will be a while before we go back.

I hadn't been to Mayer's Tavern since its change of ownership and refurbishment but I can see why it continues to be such a popular local spot in America's oldest seaside resort. I used to describe it as a dive bar - well as much as charming and trendy Cape May can have a dive bar. It still has a large bar area with some good beers and it's menu is still on the small size. But the food it serves on that limited menu is most excellent. Everyone knows about Mayer's and the local Cape May scallops and indeed they are a real treat. They are technically fried but they actually border on pan-seared. They are among the best scallops I've ever eaten in my life.....anywhere! A starter of toast with a blue fish spread was equally as tasty. And a local Cape May IPA complimented all the food. Mayer's Tavern is back and better than ever.

Three out of my four nights in Cape May were spent at Mayer's and that's because no detail is missed. During my weekend, I tasted practically every item on their menu and each cocktail, appetizer, & main dish is well thought out and filled with fresh, unique flavors. Do yourself a favor; Sit at the bar, order a cucumber mule (or 2). Fancy some fish? Order the bluefish appetizer. Burger lover? Get it- or be sad watching the table next to you devour it. Interested in scallops? My husband ordered them 3 days in a row. Need some greens? Get the kale, get the green salad. Hell - get them both. You can't go wrong at this place!