Shamone BYOB — Restaurant in Cape May

After looking at all the reviews online we were so excited to try Shamone. We love tasting menu restaurants, so we were so excited to see something different than a lot of the seafood and Italian inspired restaurants on the island. We thought it would be a great experience for everyone but unfortunately, we left a bit hungry, overcharged, and unsatisfied.

Shamone is located on the second floor of a slightly run down looking mall on Washington. A short escalator ride up brings you to a curtain with a host waiting out front. The restaurant has one seating at 7pm each night and is reservation only.

After we were ushered inside we sat at a tall, long skinny tables with hard wooden stools. The restaurant has humble bones but is dressed up with lots of candles and string lighting.

Shortly after the dishes started arriving. Hummus with cucumbers and carrots, meatballs with a sauce, then a spinach salad, then another salad with siracha dressing, then a shredded chicken with cold pasta dish, a cold "soup" in a spoon, then finally a marinated bite-sized piece of salmon, tiny piece of tuna, and a single sweet pepper. Seeing as how we were hoping for the 15 courses advertised, we were saving our stomach for what was to come after... except that was the end. Apparently, each individual item on each plate counted as a separate course. I wouldn't have minded this but each person at our table left hungry and the overall combination of flavors was less than creative. They almost worked, but just... didn't. Dessert was extra and look like some type of ice cream with dry ice to make it extra "smokey."

The overall experience was similar to the quality and quantity you can expect taking two sample laps around a local Costco... except you have to pay for this instead, and more than we thought.

We read online that the price was supposed to be $35 per person, but when we were presented the hand written bill for 6 people for $250, we figured they just included gratuity (18%, like lots of restaurants do for parties over 5 people). Turns out (after the waitress chased us out of the restaurant) that gratuity was not included and that the price was $39 per person, plus taxes and then she asked for her tip. To her credit, the service was great, so we gave her $50 extra and headed off to get dessert elsewhere. Not a great cherry on top.

I hate to write negative reviews like this, and I love the overall concept of the restaurant. I was just hoping for so much more and I hope this gives the chef and owners the feedback they need to make Shamone the...

We met another couple here for brunch. None of us had never been here so we placed a reservation for 10am. The inside was small but quaint with a few high top tables. We were surprised that there was only one other couple in there. The fixed unlimited brunch menu was a flat 25.00 per person. Our server ( the only one they had) explained the brunch format which consisted of about 10 entrees. Our server advised you select an entree and if you want another one or something different after that one they will make it upon request. The 4 of us started off with the avocado toast, blueberry pancakes, biscuits and gravy followed by their quiche dish. When the food arrived, this is where things went south. First, the avocado toast entree consisted of a small flat piece of toasted bread on a tiny plate smothered in a Pico de Gallo Mexican salsa. There was no AVOCADO anywhere on the bread. Second, the slice of quiche was approximately the size of a finger of cheese. It literally could be consumed in 3 bites. Two blueberry pancakes came out and looked okay but lacked any real flavor as well. The bisquits and gravy entree consisted of a small soup crock with two little bisquits smothered in a thick gravy. Again, the portion size was something off of a kid's menu. We asked the server what happened with the missing avocado and he went over to the chef ( who we could see ) and he came back with the response, " he forgot it ". So we decided to order something else and give it another try. Two of us ordered the same entree which was the banana foster pancakes. Our server returned a short time later with one plate consisting of two pancakes with cut up bananas on top. He then proceeded to place another empty plate on the table telling us, " this is for you two to share " . We looked at him amusingly and said, " you want us to divide two pancakes with our used utensils and share them ? " . Another person in the group ordered the same piece of quiche hoping it would be larger this time only to be disappointed with it being the wrong kind then what we ordered. At this point, our group's first time " dining experience" at Shamone was complete. The final bill was 112.00. Never again. On a positive note, we managed to score an avocado at the ACME grocery located on the same parking lot for 1.99 so the morning was not a total loss. Shamone was cute inside but play it safe if you decide to make a reservation and eat...

When we came in, we were the first people there, with a reservation. It seemed to start off well, with the Waiter/potentially owner(only waiter there) welcoming us and describing what would occur. He told us to order the tater tot dish first, which was honestly the best dish. It went downhill after this. We ordered coffee, and before we could finish our first cup, he brought a second, which would have been thoughtful, but by the time we got to it, it was cold. He also did not bring additional creamer, or a spoon to stir the coffee.

We then proceeded to order our second round of brunch tapas, and about 20 mins later, the waiter came back and asked what we wanted for our second go around. Finally the second round was served, and the shrimp and grits (probably could have been the best dish) was served ice cold. There was shredded cheese, which was not melted at all. The steak pita dish also came with this round, and the pita was rock hard, could have broken a tooth.

We then tried to put in our third round, and the waiter told us he needed to give the chef a break.

We then had to ask for butter, which he took off the table next to us (with another family) and gave to us. He then cleared some plates and an orange juice jug from their table onto our table. What the hell!

Finally we did not get ANY replacement silverware, even when switching from savory food to sweet food. Whereas the table next to us was getting everything without having to ask.

We also felt shell shocked. The concept could have been great, but it was very poorly executed. Not sure why there was one waiter for the whole restaurant. Also not sure where the great reviews came from.

I went to the bathroom multiple times, and could not figure out where the light was and had to use my cell phone light. Overall...