Il Riccio Cape May — Restaurant in Cape May

Let me tell you—every now and then, you stumble upon a restaurant so deeply rooted in love, culture, and hospitality that it instantly feels like home. Il Riccio in Cape May is that place. This isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a soulful journey through the Italian Mediterranean, guided by two of the most gracious hosts you’ll ever meet: Luca and Stefania.

From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with warmth and a kind of effortless charm. The décor is fresh and elegant—Mediterranean chic done right. Bright white walls, rustic textures, and curated artwork create an atmosphere that’s both inviting and intriguing, like dining inside a well-loved seaside villa on the Amalfi Coast.

And then Luca arrives—with his passion, knowledge, and undeniable charisma. He’s not just serving food—he’s telling stories, celebrating heritage, and making sure every guest feels like famiglia. He’ll proudly walk you through the day’s offerings, detailing the provenance of every olive, every slice of speck, every curl of pecorino.

The meal begins with a delightful, unannounced parade: Sicilian olives, Tyrolean speck, and cheese to awaken the palate. Then comes the seafood tower—a towering tribute to Poseidon himself—sparkling with the ocean’s freshest jewels. From creative insalate and soul-warming zuppe to thoughtful antipasti and seasonal standouts, each plate is a masterclass in flavor and restraint.

And the pastas? Fatto in casa, naturally—al dente perfection, paired with sauces that whisper of the old country. Whole roasted fish, veal, a show-stopping prime rib, and a medley of contorni round out the savory symphony.

But save room. Seriously—save room. The affogato, prepared with a “secret twist,” is nothing short of alchemy. It’s the kind of dessert that turns skeptics into believers.

Il Riccio is BYOB, so bring that bottle you’ve been saving. Because trust me—this is the table it’s been waiting for. The service is polished, personal, and passionate. In a town known for great food, Il Riccio is a standout—a love letter to Italian cuisine and the art of true hospitality.

Best plate in Cape May. You’ll be back. I...

Il Riccio gets five stars from my wife and I and it deserves it. It was our first time there. As soon as we walked in we were warmly greeted by a gentleman (we found out later he was the owner with his wife.)

He seated us at an oversized table for two which we're usually not used to while we're in shore towns (can't guarantee everybody will get a large two top but it definitely set the mood for my wife and I).

Luciano our waiter came over and introduced himself with a big smile. He asked if we ever dined there before. Since we hadn't. He gave us an overview of the philosophy of the restaurants dishes and motif. He took our wine (BYOB) and left us to mull over the menu options after a few suggestions.

When he came back I told him I wasn't sure if I wanted the signature sea urchin pasta dish or the inky black gnocchi. He went in detail about both dishes to help me decide.

We started with the shrimp cocktail which were so fresh and a bowl of lobster bisque.

A few minutes after we finished our appetizers Luciano brought over my inky gnocchi langostino and my wife's 7-year aged risotto lobster (who knew risotto could be aged?) Trying my wife's aged risotto was an experience like no other. Plus, the dish had a whole lobster in its shell on top and chunks of lobster in the risotto sauce too.

I thought my wife's risotto was special, but my black gnocchi just melted in my mouth & and we're so flavorful. They were so velvety soft & light.

Surprisingly, we were too full for dessert, but my wife and I shared a lemon sorbet which helped our digestion.

During our dinner the owner came over twice making sure we were satisfied with the service and the food.

Our diner truly seemed like a Michelin star experience and it's right around the corner from Congress Hall the historical section of Cape May.

If you're in this area of NJ, this is truly worth going to for the...

Really good service. Food was just okay. Had to pay $13 for bread. The food is good for what it is but it’s like $40 per person value with a $100 per person price tag. Service is great. Sometimes a little over the top with brushing crumbs off the table. The owner is authentically Italian but maybe a little too hands on in the restaurant.

Food portions are okay but honestly when you pay $80 for a gnocchi and crab dish and get maybe 3 forkfuls of crab you kinda feel shortchanged. Sauces a bit oily, not fantastic flavor profiles.

Atmosphere is okay but it’s a small venue that doesn’t wow.

Service 5/5 Portions 2/5 Sauces 2/5 Plating 5/5 Atmosphere 2.5/5 Value 1/5

By comparison I spent $15 more at primal for a gigantic lobster tail, fantastic sauces with an oceanfront view.

My advice to owner is to pare down on the staff, cut prices, serve the bread salad and desert gratis, add some crowd pleasers to the menu to pare with the more unique offerings and expand the kids menu a little bit.

$65 main * 1.06625 sales tax = $69 * 1.2 (20% tip = $83 cost for 3 spoonfuls of crab

My wife did get an oily main with eggplant. She wasn’t impressed. That’s what the oily comments were referring to.

Cleaning crumbs in between courses with a brush is what I’m referring. I would suggest just reducing some of your labor cost and doing the crumb brushing after a guest has left

None of points are inaccurate I would suggest the owner just accept criticism instead of attempting to carefully manage googled reviews by obviously creating fake accounts and posting bogus 5...