The Diving Horse

An incredible dinner at Diving Horse in Avalon! Everything from start to finish was outstanding. We started with the fresh beets appetizer, which was light, vibrant, and perfectly seasoned. The halibut with cannellini beans and saffron broth was cooked to perfection — so flavorful and beautifully presented. And we couldn’t resist the homemade Kit Kat dessert, which was the perfect sweet ending. The service was just as impressive — Travis was attentive, friendly, and made the night extra special. Diving Horse never disappoints — easily one of the best dining experiences at the shore!

Drove from the city just to get a second taste at this restaurant. Exquisite composition of scallops, to die for cornbread, refreshing salad and inventive rendition of fried green table. Happy to say this is one of the best restaurants at the shore and beyond. Excellent service with knowledge of the menu. Don’t miss out on outside dining in the beautiful courtyard.

Went for dinner while we were vacationing and it was absolutely amazing. Best roasted chicken I’ve had. The atmosphere, staff and overall presentation was by far top rated. Our server was so sweet and so friendly definitely recommend. We heard it was difficult to get a table by just walking in so we had made reservations prior to being in the area and was seated immediately, but while there so many folks walked in and was also seated promptly.

My wife and I spent Labor Day weekend down the shore, and The Diving Horse was once again the highlight of our trip. We had first gone earlier in the summer and loved it so much that we knew we had to come back. It was just as amazing the second time. I ordered the steak, which was perfectly cooked, tender, and full of flavor. My wife had the Chicken Milanese, and it was just as incredible. The breading was light and crisp, the chicken was juicy, and the whole dish felt fresh and balanced. The atmosphere and service made it even better. The restaurant has that perfect mix of relaxed shore energy with a touch of sophistication, and the staff was so welcoming and attentive. It’s rare to find a place that makes you excited to return within the same season, but The Diving Horse has become exactly that for us. It’s a true gem and one we’ll make a tradition every summer.

Our dinner here was absolutely delicious. It was one of our favorite restaurants we visited in Stone Harbor/Avalon. Everything was so fresh and the service was amazing! The cornbread was seriously one of the best things we ate our entire trip - it is a MUST! We talked about it for days.

The portions were very small and VERY expensive. I was with my family and some of us were still hungry after we ate our meal. We chose this restaurant based on their reviews of others who have Celiac disease and they did do a good job of making sure that the food was prepared properly. Based on the expense of the meal, I do not think I will be going back again.

Farm to table at its finest! Dine indoor or out! anything but pretentious ambience and best of all, BYOB! If you’re looking for the best server (in our opinion) ask for Anna. From tuna to steak and the catch of the day, the chef here will keep you guessing but trusting them will be the tastiest decision you’ll make all week! Avalon is home to some incredible eats but if you frequent and haven’t yet checked out this spot, stop in and pig out!

We ate dinner last night and everything was fabulous!! My husband and I both had the halibut entree, gorgeous presentation and the taste was perfection! We also had the corn appetizer and the tomato salad and of course the delicious fries for the table! We will be back soon!

Went to Diving Horse on a Monday night date night and it did not disappoint. I feel I have always strayed away because it is hard to get a reservation, but with just two people they had a walk in table ready for us! BYOB so don't forget your favorite wine! The food, service, and ambiance were all top notch. It's hard to find food in Avalon other than your typical Italian spot. Diving horse packs fresh and delicious taste into each one of their specially curated dishes. We started out with local Sea Isle oysters and a garden salad. The oysters, although skeptical, were absolutely amazing. The salad (not pictured) was perfectly prepared with fresh veggies and a delicious citrusy dressing. Following that, we ordered the chicken Milanese and a wagyu short rib. The chicken had a breading and crunch to it that I have never experienced in a fried chicken cutlet. It was mouth watering at every bite and was complimented with pickled veggies and a delicious sauce smothered on the plate. The wagyu short rib also did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked, you could taste the smoke from the grille in every bite. Truly one of the best meals I have had in Avalon in many years. Will definitely be back in the near future! Thanks to Patrick our server, we had an incredible experience.

Not only is it that good but TDH is my favorite restaurant down the shore! Saturdays dinner was fantastic. The "service by Travis", "hospitality by Emily" final "plating by Donny" is the "hat trick" to go along with delicious food and great vibe . Well done, again and again!!!!

Always a phenomenal meal and experience. This is the best restaurant on the 7 Mile Island. Food is always outstanding as is the service. Get the short rib anytime it is on the menu. Their scallops are plump, sweet and always perfectly cooked. Oysters and bluefin tuna are always on point, fresh and delicious. Their signature Kit Kat bar dessert is always a fan favorite. All in all, this place cooks.

Shocked at how amazing this place is. But the I realized it's partners with Pub & Kitchen. Not really much fine dining DTS but this place is clearly the star. Entire meal was great and the service was excellent. Definitely making a reservation when we go back to Avalon.

TDH is a go-to every year we stay in Stone Harbor/Avalon. It's our obligatory "fancy" dinner. But by fancy, it's not stuffy. It feels like you're having an elevated dinner with REALLY amazing sophisticated but hearty food at an old friend's house. The menu changes, I believe frequently. I got the scallops and lentils this time around -- and will be dreaming of it ALL year. One of the best meals I've ever eaten. My husband got the golden tilefish and my mom got the halibut. Both perfectly cooked. Our waiter, whose name escapes me, was a sweetie -- gave great recommendations (Sea Isle City oysters!!! Delish and briny! Who knew?!) He was attentive and really sweet to my three kids! Love TDH and will see the crew again next year.

My fiancé and I came here for dinner last night and had a great time. We got the baked clams and the crispy rock shrimp for appetizers. They were both pretty good but if I'd come again I would probably try something different. In my opinion the entrees were way better than the appetizers. We got the house made bucatini and the waygu short rib, which was incredible and definitely the highlight of the dinner. It also always helps that the restaurant is a byob. The one callout I do have is that the service was minimal, the server only came around to take our order.

one of my favorite places in the world.. I've just realized that I've never reviewed the Diving Horse before - been coming here for about 10 years now, and we absolutely love it The food at the Diving Horse is divine. I recommend you explore, you will find things here that aren't typical - they are exciting and new and delicious. If something looks or sounds strange - i recommend you try it, it's probably amazing The Diving Horse is easily one of the best restaurants South of Atlantic City - full stop. I think I neglected to review this place in the past because i didn't want to draw attention to it.. we love this place and didn't want to see it becoming a tourist haven. We come here early in the season May-June and then later in September. We don't come near the shore in the summer - so i cannot comment on what your results would be "in season" When we come here the food is divine. Everything. I'm not afraid of eating or trying anything they put out - it's all spectacular, artisnal, thought out, respectfully created and executed perfectly. Portions are a little small, i recommend a starter, a main and ordering a complementary side. Oh - and desert, cant forget that, the kit kat bar will roll your eyes inside your head - the home made sorbets and ice creams are simply juicy and delicious with fresh fruit flavors The restaurant can be a little loud - and by that i mean it can be crazy loud sometimes. When its full here and every table is occupied - this place is as loud as it gets. That's a bit of a detraction.. unfortunately. When its not so packed it's less of a problem - but in all fairness its a bit loud. It doesn't necessarily bother me though, i love this place with its great food and service and location.. i come here when its crazy busy and i just let myself go to the noise and the commotion.. were down the shore, i remember growing up eating at the old school places and the wild,chaotic -frezzy was intoxicating - so let yourself go and embrace the crowd a bit. The service here is top notch. They do it right. Whoever owns this place understands service and its done properly. Its not 5 star.. no. But its easily 4 star. Its not a 5 star restaurant and i wouldn't want it to be, it's approachable and comfortable. The restaurant itself is simple and beautiful - very well appointed and decorated h but not to detract from the food or servive - just simple and elegant. Your server will give you fresh cutlery with every course, they will open and fill your wine (byo) thoughtfully answer your questions about the menu and give informed recommendations - all while being friendly, delightful and adorable. And fast - things move quickly here. You will not be sitting around for long waiting for anything. Maybe a bit too fast?.. hard to savor the wonderful everything when you are in and out of here so quickly I want to thank everyone here, in the last 10 years or so, ive enjoyed some of the most memorable meals and experiences of my life, with my mother and my family - the Diving Horse has been a place of exceptional beauty for us - so many of the wonderful places we grew up with here are gone.. but this place did manage to grow in their place - yes its sad some of our "old school" favorites are gone - but the Diving Horse has grown and blossomed into a magnificent addition to the Jersey Shore, a spectacular jem here in Avalon Just bravo! - and thank you...

Made a reservation for four at 9:45pm on a Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. That was the only time available. They called that day to say they could get us in earlier at 8:45pm. I was thrilled and asked to change to 7people. I was impressed they could accommodate us. Checkin was quick, easy, and friendly. Place was loud. But the lighting was flattering. Chairs were comfortable. Service excellent. Place is BYOB and Ryan quickly got our white wine on ice. Service was excellent and Ryan took good care of us. He was also very personable and chatted with the table later in the eve when things died down. They served bread with a delicious sweet butter. I started with the baked oysters. They were delicious. But they should have been served with an oyster fork instead of a large regular fork. Ryan said they were in order. Also, the chopped peppers on top were way too spicy for me. But I was able to easily remove them. I loved that there were only three. This left room for future courses. Highly recommend this appetizer! I tried a friend's cucumber salad and it was outstanding and very refreshing. I'd recommend that also. The tomatoe dish was well-liked by those who ordered it. But it was a heavy appetizer. For my main I got the tuna special with coconut rice. It was good. We also ordered all four sides for the table In terms of sides, the greens (collard ?) was the best with asparagus second. A bit disappointed in the Mac and cheese. The spicy fries with aoli went fast too but I prefer them plain. For dessert we got the popular "Kit Kat" bar. I personally liked all the ice cream flavors. Vanilla with peanut butter, and other interesting names. Bathroom was huge! Loved the wallpaper. One odd thing: No espresso- there should get a machine.

Been coming to Avalon for 5 years and never knew this hidden gem existed! Wonderful experience sitting outside at their community table. We sat close to another lovely couple. Inside seating is always full unless you want a 5pm dinner. Wait staff was super friendly and carried themselves well. Can't wait to come back next year!

Presentation | Roasted Chicken | Service Presentation - The overall visual, vibe, and ambiance of Diving Horse is first class. The vibe is open and airy. They have a good amount of open space, white table cloths, with indoor and outdoor space. The ambience is upscale Montauk, so be sure to wear your best cocktail beach party outfit. White paints are highly encouraged. ;-) Roasted Chicken - I had the Roasted Chicken which is easily top 3 chicken dish I've ever had. It comes with fingerling potted and a creme kale. The chicken was marinated with some type of smokey marinate or was roasted with wood fire chips. The taste was exquisite and consistent with every bite. Will definitely get it again. Service - Our service was primo. The waitress was extremely knowledgable and helpful when we had questions. No water glass ever went below 1/4 full. The entire staff was very attentive and everyone treated us as if we were their customer. Whether it was the bussers, other waitresses, or the Maitresse whenever anyone looked around or had a puzzled look, someone came by to ask if we needed anything. Pro Tip: The establishment is BYOB. So be sure to bring your favorite bottle of Red or White. Pro Tip: There is not a great deal of parking around the restaurant. So be sure to take an Uber or be prepared to walk. Pro Tip: It has an upscale Montauk vibe. It is the ideal spot for a date night or whenever families/friends reunite and want to reminisce.

We returned to The Diving Horse and remembered why it's been a couple years since we have been back. First I want to say we really enjoyed the ambience, and the service was excellent by Christina. She did a fantastic job, was very responsive, friendly, and attentive. We also love the BYOB. However, we came for the food. We honestly felt like almost everything was way over priced even for a vacation spot. Six tiny oysters were $24. They were so small. It would take two of them to make up a normal size oyster. We also had the shrimp cocktail - four jumbo shrimp ($16) that were perfectly cooked. However, I will say the oysters and the shrimp were fresh and delicious. For entrées, we had the scallops and the short rib. Only four scallops and a bunch of arugula for $46, quite honestly is way too much. The scallops were good but not great; two of them were slightly under done in the middle. My wife had a short rib with cream and cheese mashed potatoes. The short rib itself was very smoky, but tender and pretty good flavor. However, the gravy they poured on the potatoes was so salty, it was inedible and ruined the dish. We don't send food back normally, but this time we had to ask the waitress about it. She immediately took care of it. She substituted it for the chicken Milanese and mentioned that she had received some complaints about the saltiness of the potatoes before. I guess a known problem, but I think it was the gravy. Anyway, she handled it perfectly. The chicken was tender and pretty good. We skipped dessert as none really were appealing to us.

We have been here a couple times over the years. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside is very nice with a simple and farm chic design. We had reservations and were immediately seated at our table. Our server, Ryan, was very friendly and helpful in discussing the specials. The food was very well plated and cooked to perfection. I empathize poaches tuna salad along with the short rib main course. Our friend had the avocado Ceaser salad which looked amazing. She had the catch of the day which was fluke while the others had the big eye tuna. Everyone was very happy with their dishes. This is a great place for adults to enjoy fine dining. My only knock would be as others have shared, slightly larger portions.

Diving horse is always a byob staple at the Jersey shore with excellent food. Menu changes with the seasons. The only thing I will say is that last time I was there, on a Friday or Saturday night, I felt like I was rushed out the door and food came so quickly. We hardly finished a glass of wine. Food makes up for that (will always recommend it) and, could have just been the night!

Our overall experience was wonderful and we look forward to our next visit! Our waitress (Kate) was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. All staff was welcoming and helpful. Great atmosphere and incredible food. We had 4 adults and ordered oysters, chop salad, tuna tartare as apps- all delicious! We had the steak special, the catch of the day, the scallops and short rib- all outstanding! Our daughter's children's meal was even great. We were full so we didn't plan on having a dessert, but since the food was great we decided to split the Diving Horse Kit Kat and it was decadent. Overall it is on the pricier side, but you're getting what you pay for- food, atmosphere and service.

Food was outstanding! We ordered the cucumber salad as a starter and the scallops and bolognese for our entrees . Love that it is BYOB! Service was good. Ambiance was quaint. Definitely coming back soon

This restaurant is one of my favorites! If you are looking for great ambiance, great food and great service...look no further...The Diving Horse exceeds expectations! Friendly staff and very accommodating! I can't wait for my next visit. Make your reservations today!

I don't understand why they have a good reputation. The food is mediocre at best. Our server, Kate, was devoid of any personality, or interest in taking care of us. The baked oysters for about $21, included 4 small oysters. My tuna tostada lacked any flavor. The jersey creamed corn, was a joke, as it was 98% grits. It was outright comical when we asked our server about it. She said, yes, it is grits. No where on the menu does it say the creamed corn includes grits The funniest was the local catch of the day, as it was halibut. There's no halibut local to Avalon or Stoneharbor. I've been fishing here for over 40 years, please show me one person who has ever caught halibut off South Jersey. I always say, would I go back here.? No. This place is not worth it.

I've been coming down to Avalon for years..the food used to be acceptable. The food is inedible now..Tuna Carbonara? Are you kidding me? Absolutely awful..the rest of the menu is no better and the service is a joke..awful (and expensive) experience.

Another excellent meal! Julie, the server extraordinaire! Salad to entree done to perfection!

We had an excellent meal and service last night. Tough getting a reservation and tables are a bit close together- but each dish was excellent and super fresh. It's a hidden gem - just found out about them last year and they've been in business since 2009. Will definitely be back!

I really enjoyed our meal here. The restaurant has great ambience and a cute outdoor courtyard- service was top notch as well. We started the evening with oysters that were tasty and fresh. The mignonette sauce was so unique- great flavors. The Caesar salad was simply prepared and not overdressed. Perfect way to start our meal. My husband got the short ribs- they were tender and came with delicious polenta and pickled carrots. I got the yellowfin tuna with Cajun rice, andouille and étouffée. I loved the spice with this dish. What a pleasant surprise. Every bite was outstanding. We would definitely come back again.

Return to the diving horse for a second evening with a group of seven this time we sat on outside under the lovely string-light draped and tented outdoor dining space. I had the two varieties of oysters (Massachusetts and virginia, I believe). They were fresh and delicious. My dining partners had the wedge salad with avocado which and looked wonderful and the chilled cucumber gazpacho. Myentrée was the scallop chaat masala which was plated with a cold pickled baby zucchini "salad". my husband had the short ribs of beef which were very tender.

It's not every day you get to eat at a five star restaurant with the one you love. The only (THE ONLY) minor complaint we have is that the prices are extremely high here - maybe a little overpriced based on the portion sizes, but you're getting what you paid for! Chef is truly amazing and knows what he's doing. Also, for a restaurant during COVID, this place is being extremely safe and flexible with outdoor seating (as of today seating was not available indoors but you can wait inside, socially distanced, for your table to be ready). We even enjoyed our meal under an umbrella as it drizzled on us. That really only made the experience more impressive. I can only imagine how enjoyable the experience would have been if everything was normal! Let's talk about the food. This place is BYOB, which is definitely a plus given the menu prices. Though I'm sure if they do ever get their liquor license; they'll be able to whip up a smart, healthy cocktail. The food is farm to table, and you can taste how fresh the ingredients are as soon as you dig in. The bread and butter, served at the beginning of the meal, is light and satisfying. It's simple, but the butter tastes almost freshly churned. We got the wedge salad and ahi tuna for apps - both were delightful, though I think the wedge salad is really what hit the spot. It comes with crab meat and just the right amount of bacon. The kitchen even went so far as to split it for us and give us separate plates. We cleared all three instantly. And BTW, I never thought ahi tuna would taste so good over ratatouille but hell yes it does. For dinner, I got the swordfish and future husband chose the seafood pasta special in a "blush" sauce. Incredible - but the star of our meal was the balsamic and Parmesan brussel sprouts side. DO NOT GO HERE AND FORGET TO GET THIS!!!! Who knew brussel sprouts could be this good, seriously? Future husband told me to slow down on them the way I tell my cat to slow down on her Meow Mix. He suggested I "take them home." Psh, what a riot he is. We finished every last drop of this meal. We didn't get dessert, but should have. We did ask for espresso, but they only have coffee. I guess you could consider that another "slight" disappointment, but the fact of the matter is this isn't an old school Italian joint -- sorry Tony Soprano (aka future husband).

A favorite at the Jersey shore primarily for the outdoor ambiance. The menu feels very farm to table. Best for special occasions as it is priced like a steakhouse with expensive mains and skimpy expensive side dishes. Carrots for one, $13, not enough to share but beautiful presentation. Delicious but modest scallop entree. Short ribs were good. Sausage pasta was good. Pork chop was not available. Luckily we brought our own bug lantern and bug candle, although the industrial fans do help keep insects away.

The diving horse never disappoints!! Food service. A bit noisy but I can live with it

Food is Great, Service is excellent, Ambiance is a little bit loud. The consistency of the food is what keeps me coming back for me. Extremely consistent delivery every time.

We had an exceptional meal here in May. The service was great, ambiance was classy, and the food was wonderful. Although it is pricy, it is well worth it! I will certainly be recommending, and going here again this summer.

Hidden gem. We called and scored a same day outdoor dining reservation for 8. The round "chef's" table was secluded with a view of the kitchen. It was like being in our own private dining room. Our server was amazing. I wish I remembered her name. She happily poured our BYO adult beverages and catered to the little ones. Kids portion wagyu short rib was a hit. Baked Oysters, Cucumber Salad, Dayboat Scallops, Mac and Cheese, Yellowfin Tuna, and Catch of the Day were all exceptional. The kitchen took care of our peanut, treenut, and lactose food allergies. Thank you for a memorable evening.

Went to the Diving Horse a few weeks ago and ordered the short rib, as did a couple of others in my party. I love the short rib there and that's often my go to dish. I was very disappointed with it this last time. I was served a very fatty cut of rib. Somewhere between 20-25% of the portion was one big piece of fat. I noticed that one other person at my table had a large portion of fat on their plate as well. 2 out of the 3 short rib portions served to my table had large portions that were inedible. For almost $40 a plate, I would expect a much nicer cut be served.

Very interesting experience. We had read reviews and were excited to do our weekly Wednesday date night at the Diving Horse. We showed up and were instantly shocked at the noise inside and amount of loud children. Tables on top of each other and absolutely no ambiance. Maybe this was on me for not looking at pictures online. OK - my bad. THEN we were seated and our waitress, who was very monotone read the specials. We put in 3 appetizers to start (which seemed to annoy them that we didn't want to order everything all at once. NO - we don't want to be rushed through our dinner.). We ordered the baked oysters, tuna tartare toast and the tomato/burrata salad. We are admitted foodies but the quote "tuna tartare" was nothing even resembling tuna tartare. It was more like a smelly mayonnaisy pickled herring on bread with small potato chips on top. Absolutely inedible. The baked oysters were unbelievably fishy and just terrible. We LOVE oysters, all types, Cape May Salts, etc... and I don't know what these were but, "ugh" I was actually worried I would have stomach issues later. The tomato burrata salad was very basic. I make it better at home. At that point we just wanted to get out of there. To their benefit - they comped our appetizers (I paid anyway with cash I left on the table) but the weird thing is - they "cancelled" our reservation on Open Table. I'm assuming it was so I wouldn't leave a negative review. I wonder how often this is a tactic available to restaurants? Overall - would never even think of returning but give them credit for comping the appetizers. I could see they didn't really give a damn whether we liked the food or not, obviously the place was packed and 2 people on a date night won't make or break their profit margin. Just posting my experience. Guessing nobody will care, but I was sort of dumb founded that a place this very very unremarkable is making it in Avalon.

Really disappointed with our meal. Had the fish special. Halibut. Tasty. But a bit dry. Also had the sliced ribeye. medium rare. Was. Ok. Too much sauce. Tuna tar tar. Not good at all. Bread was dry. Loved our wine. But we brought that. Service was not bad. But nothing outstanding for the lack of reservations. Great ambiance. Won't come back. Not as good as it used to be. Bummer.

One of my favorite restaurants in Avalon, great atmosphere, service, and amazing food!

I may have to call this place my favorite restaurant! Food never disappoints and always taste very fresh. Their homemade pasta is amazing!!! Service has always been friendly and attentive. The aesthetics of the restaurant are really cool too! This place is definitely worth the visit.

Very expensive, hard to get in. Not a big menu. Parking in the town is a problem. Other place off shore to choose from for good food and pay less.

We had a delicious dinner with excellent service. The hostess was very helpful and our waitress was friendly and attentive. However, it is very noisy even with 18 empty seats in the restaurant. Very difficult to have any sort of conversation. I don't think we will be going back.

Honestly I could eat here every night except well my wallet would begin to hate me. However with the outside communal dining my wallet might have to take a back seat. Everything we have had this year has been delicious. The portion sizes are not huge but they make up for it with inventive flavor combinations and if you get an app entree and side you will be stuffed. It's BYOB so that helps. this year we have had from the apps: heirloom tomato salad, the wedge salad, the mussels and their special smoked trout appetizer. My favorite was the smoked trout and it came with a beet hummus which was so nicely prepared it was like sherbet . The mussels were also a favorite- they are out of the shell so it looks small but you get a dozen and they are awesome. The wedge is one of their standards so you will love it too I've gone with their fresh fish catch over seafood chowder which has been ridiculously great . It's usually got a nice crunchy top and it's over a delicious chowder. Also off the menu you have to get their grilled pork chop - that is a great sized portion and it's smoked so if you close your eyes you'll think you are eating a lean pork belly. For the sides - get the fries, the grits but you must get the Brussel sprouts - they are the best Finally finish off with the Kit Kat bar- it's the best dessert around.

Just three stars - perhaps barely. A few flaws that need to be addressed here as outlined below: Folks raving about this place, calling it the best on 7 mile island....well, I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, it was "ok." My short rib was good, my wife's pork dish was tasty. Appetizers were good (if not a bit over salted) and our server was freindly and informative. Here is where it all goes wrong: INSANELY SMALL PORTIONS AND NOT CHEAP! Yeah, I get the whole "presentation" thing, but this is ridiculous. The Swordfish dish at $35 is an insult. Not a steak, not a "piece" but a SLIVER of Swordfish as if they took one steak and sliced it into multiple tiny baby peices. That would be an appropriate portion for an appetizer, not an entree. All portions were small, but the Swordfish was pathetic. As mentioned, our server was great. That is, until our entrees got served and she disapeared as if we never existed. Unfortunately, this is a trend I am seeing more and more at many restaurants. Why is that? And finally, this place is LOUD. Like High School cafeteria loud. Expect to scream over the din to be heard. It's obvious this place tries real hard, but they are failing in those key areas. For these prices, portions simply need to be more substantial and servers trained to not disengage when they think the job is done. They can't do anything about the noise, but my other gripes are firmly within their control.

I grew up in Cape May County, so I am a local South Jersey Shore person who knows that the restaurants in the Avalon/Stone/Harbor/Sea Isle/Ocean City areas are only really in operation for about three months out of the year. They hope to retain staff year after year and to perfect their kitchens for these three intense months each summer, but it is next to impossible to run a high-volume restaurant in a vacation town without having all year to iron out the bugs. Luckily, however, all of the competition faces the same problem. Outside of Atlantic City and Cape May, the reality is that you are not going to find flawless service and a high-level dining experience consistently anywhere around here, because the staff is going to be untrained and the kitchens are going to be grappling with sheer volumes and lack of practice. I made peace with this. But the Diving Horse has somehow found a way around all this. Their staff lives on the premises during the summer, and return to Philadelphia in the fall, and for whatever reason, their chefs are producing some of the most thoughtful, intriguing, and complex dishes I have had anywhere, including New York and Boston. You can eat outside. They take reservations. It is BYOB. But the service is (!) flawless. Each time I come here, these servers outdo themselves. They are knowledgeable about food and the culinary arts. They will tell you where to find the best cheese steaks. They don't just clear your plates, they clear everything. They make sure the courses are paced correctly. They serve ladies first. They try to make the experience at Diving Horse memorable and enjoyable. They have perfectly shucked local oysters that are cold. COLD. They have a Duroc pork chop with grits, paprika, and braised peppers. Their seared scallops have a sunchoke sauce on them. Their Brussels sprouts are incredible--and though I have not yet tried it--I heard they have this cool Kit-Kat dessert. Anyway, if you go here for dinner, imagine there are no screaming children throwing food at seagulls and there are no waiters who are going to bring all of your courses at the same time while they auction off your plates. They will not give you coleslaw in a plastic cup or serve you watered-down soda with a bendy straw. They will give you a dining experience, and you will forget that you are at the beach in South Jersey.

The Diving Horse is my favorite restaurant on seven mile island. I dream about the TDH edge salad and the off season and want every special moment to be celebrated with the kit kat dessert. Always delicious. Always great service. Always the best part of dining in Avalon.

Picked this restaurant for our date night at the beach. Ambiance was awesome very clean classy plus outdoor seating! It was a byob which was awesome with no corkage fees. I really wanted to love this place but the food was just good. Not bad not amazing just average. I ordered the pasta special which was a stuffed shell with crabmeat. Appetizers were probably actually better than the entree's. I would highly recommend the Brussel sprouts! I am going to give it another shot just hoping we were there on a off night or ordered the wrong thing

Came here with my family for dinner as a belated birthday celebration. We called to make a reservation a few days in advance, and were told that only 5:00pm was available. So we took it, and got our choice of beautiful outside tables. Throughout our meal we couldn't help but notice we were one of the only groups there, and wondered why we couldn't get a slightly later reservation. To start, we got an order of brussel sprouts and the shrimp tartine. Both were delicious but very small portions for our family of 5. This trend continued when we got our main dishes: pork belly, fluke, mahi mahi, and short rib. All very solid dishes but considering the price, we were expecting a more memorable meal with at least slightly larger portions. For dessert we split two of their homemade kit kats, each the size of half of a real kit kat. They were delicious and very sweet with touches of peanut butter and a blueberry sauce that my sister loved. Loved the BYO option and the service was very attentive.

We ordered take out from the diving horse and this is what we got for 100$. A 30$ lobster roll with a bag of chips?

This restaurant came highly recommended by several friends, and Yelp reviews. We were not impressed. When I made the reservation, I specifically asked for a quieter table, as we were celebrating a special anniversary. So we were seated next to a table of 8 that were doing their own wine tastings. Needless to say, after a few tastings, they were NOT quiet, becoming loud and boisterous. Okay, so, we were willing to overlook that in anticipation of an amazing meal. Hubby ordered the Shrimp gnochi special, with a side of Brussels sprouts. He said the main was very good, but the Brussels sprouts tasted burnt, and weren't good at all. I started with the Maine oysters, and what a disappointment. They were tiny, almost miniscule, and the flavor was heavy: definitely not the juicy plump oysters I was anticipating. At $22, they were a ripoff. I also ordered the fresh catch with corn chowder supressetta. The swordfish was excellent, but the sauce just didn't seem to go well with it. The flavor combination was just not right. The service here is very good, about what you should expect from this quality of restaurant, but not exceptional. There was, however, no acknowledgement whatsoever of our special anniversary. Nothing about this place was exceptional, or made us feel special or made us want to return. And it definitely wasn't the amazing meal we were expecting. Not even close.

Very tough to get a rez! But great restaurant at beach! Prob the best from OC to SH.

It took us weeks to get a reservation at a time that wasn't too late or too early, so my boyfriend and I were highly anticipating this dinner. Plus, there are not many places to get a nice, delicious dinner in Avalon. Upon arrival, the rustic decor with beautiful flowers set the mood for us. I love how the outdoor tables are tucked away behind thoughtful landscaping! Our reservation got us a table inside and we were attentively waited on right away with waters and a wine chiller. We looked over the menu for a few minutes, but when our server told us the specials, we both decided to order off that short list! We started with the soft shell crab appetizer. My boyfriend had never tried it before and I told him this would probably be a good place to try it. We were not disappointed. It was served with a light yogurt dill sauce with pickled onions, cucumbers, and potatoes. The potatoes were a little overly salted and didn't do anything for either of us, but the rest was delicious. For my main course, I had the housemade gemelli in a blush sauce with crabmeat, breadcrumbs, and basil. It was simple but perfectly executed. I loved it! My boyfriend got the steak special with parmesan steak frites and a small caesar salad. The steak was cooked to perfection medium-rare, but they cut it for you, which I thought was interestingly odd. (I am oddly particular in the size my food is cut...) He didn't seem to mind. The steak fries didn't do it for us (not a fan of the thick cut) but the salad was good. We also shared a side of the fried brussels sprouts with provolone and long hots (a favorite combo of his). I found them to be a little heavy for a veggie side dish and did not have enough long hots. We were full from the rich and fried foods we had, so we skipped dessert though they sounded enticing. We loved our meal here, and the quality is out-of-this-world for Avalon, though it's pricey for a BYOB. But even compared to the city's restaurants, it was delicious. Our reservation wasn't until 7:45 and we saw a few tables were empty while we were there. Not sure if they reserve some for walk-ins, but we felt like it may have been too big of an effort to make our reservation if that's the case.

Beautiful decor- mediocre food. Tomato avocado cesar salad was bland- no herbs, watery dressing. Heirloom tomato are pretty but not always tasty. Scallops were OK. Small pan fried. Cucumber side was also under dressed- not worth the price. Go for a drink and get dinner somewhere else. Over priced for what they serve.

Best meal I have had in the past year! As Avalon locals, we have never eaten here & by chance got a reservation tonight and were overwhelmingly surprised. Have heard about the great reviews at Diving Horse but we're not able to get a reservation in the past during summer, now I know why!! We had the Mother's Day special menu. I had the crab meat iceberg lettuce with 7 mile dressing followed by my entrée which was fresh tuna that was seared to perfection! For dessert I had & olive oil panna cotta - so yummy!! On my way out I made reservations for 4 in mid July! This is definitely worth going to and I thought the price point was perfect Anna or waitress was adorable and very attentive.

Had a great end of summer meal here. Even with C19 or maybe because of it - this place shines as they were already open air and outside dining. With Fred's across the street the BYOB couldn't be easier. The food itself is always top notch with a technical quality and complexity you don't find to often at the Jersey shore. The wait staff is always nice and even the desserts are great. Really a 4.5 place for us. Blessed that it's within walking distance.

There's so much YES in this review, and for this restaurant! Our group of 8 experienced a fabulous Saturday summer evening outside in the their beautiful courtyard. It was a nice table set away from the other bigger tables, and it was great to have it to ourselves! The menu was fresh, exciting, and filled with many favorites but with a interesting and delightful twist. Our table ordered the following starters: yellowfin tuna tartare and calamari fritti. Our mains were the seared rare tuna special with roasted fennel, Mid Atlantic fish stew, Barnegat light scallops, and the New Jersey fluke with all of the sides on the menu: braised collard greens, smashed bliss potatoes, Chesapeake fries, and the fried brussel sprouts. (Didn't I just make your mouth water?) Not a crumb left on either plate or dish because they were all fantastic! Portions were large enough to share, cooked to the desired temperature (soup not too hot, tuna was definitely rare!), and plated with so much color and texture. Many of us raved about the brussel sprouts, the scallops, the fluke, and the fish stew which was very similar to a bouillabaisse in a tomato-based broth. Of course we had to have dessert! We all shared the "Kit Kat" bar, blueberry doughnuts, and the shortbread cookies. Always, always order the doughnuts! Very, very good, and a great portion to share. Our table had a conversation about long hots earlier in the day, and our server overheard us talking about it again at dinner. He came back with a long hot relish, and other peppery relishes to try! Long hots, shishito peppers, and another pepper mix with poblano peppers. Delicious by itself, they were much welcomed and placed on our side dishes, and on our seafood. Service was absolutely wonderful. I feel terrible that I forgot his name, but our server was friendly, and offered great advice on what to order for our group. I also love that the restaurant is BYO, and is on Open Table to easily make reservations! Good to know: Same team that does Fitler Dining Room and Pub and Kitchen in Philadelphia. So yeah, these people know what they are doing!