Washington Inn & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Cape May

We have been going to the Washington Inn when we're in cape may for the better part of 30 years and until recently never had a bad experience. We've always had a memorable experience and felt very well taken care of there. Our previous visit in 2021 wasn't memorable and the food was just OK. We chalked it up to post-pandemic restaurant staffing issues. Our most recent visit (Sept 2022) was most likely our last. My husband has a garlic intolerance which has NEVER been a problem here. The menu has gotten extremely limited but beyond that, we were told that "everything" on the menu contained garlic - every dish & sauce. What?

There were no specials in addition to the regular menu and all of the delicious appetizers we anticipated had been removed from the menu. Several tables around us were brought an amuse bouche which we weren't offered (possibly because I didn't mention any special occasion when I made the reservation?) There is no bread basket offered (this used to be a highlight with specially house baked flatbread and several types of delicious rolls and a slab of butter with sea salt on it). We asked for a bread basket (expecting to pay extra for it and I'm not sure anything was added to the bill). We got plain italian bread and olive oil.

The only dinner option for my husband was a plain broiled branzino whole fish. It was served with mashed potatoes and steamed string beans. No flavor (because they couldn't load it with garlic - in my opinion the sign of a chef with little imagination). My $65 filet mignon ordered medium arrived on a screaming hot dish which I believe had been left under the salamander heater way too long - resulting in an overcooked piece of meat where only the very center was close to medium. Our server never came back to check on our food. I honestly didn't want to wait for another filet to be cooked as I know we would be waiting while my husband had finished his dinner already. By that point, my appetite was all but ruined. We tried to salvage the disappointing dinner by ordering a fromage blanc over a mango puree - again, disappointing at $14 no less. No chocolate mousse tower (on the menu forever) to be found.

A manager finally checked to see how our dinner was and we were honest with our disappointment in my meat not being cooked properly and not being checked on or offered another option. He apologized. When the bill arrived, only the cost of the $14 dessert had been taken off the bill. The total with tip came to approximately $180 for two people. We don't mind spending that amount on dinner if it's going to be something special. It wasn't and we can't see ourselves going back which is a shame because we really liked this restaurant. I'm noticing that the WI is spending a lot of time promoting their "wine bar". They've even changed the name of the restaurant to include "wine bar" on their social media. My guess is this is more of a money maker for them as they can turn tables over more quickly than the...

My family and I have been dining at the Washington inn for years and this past May the food was spectacular. Tonight just a few months later, the food was terrible and so was the staff except for our waitress who was exceptional and very sweet. We had a reservation for 715 and when walking in at exactly 715 the hostess looked at my mother and I and said “you are going to have to give me a minute until I can seat you” and gave us an extremely dirty look. They then sat us a few minutes later at a table in a corner that was set for 4 people when we were a party of 5. This table was extremely small and was a four person table with a chair at the head. Not only was the table crowed and crammed, but it was on a slant and my chair was directly in front of a step that if I were to back up the chair would fall. We asked for another table but the hostess told us “not at this time” and brushed us off. Despite the rude hostess we had a positive attitude because the food had always been fantastic before. We ordered 5 appetizers plus an entree for an app to all share and then all ordered our own entrees. The appetizers were very good except for the 42$ gnocchi which was not worth the price at all. When our meals came out two people’s meals were hot and the rest were cold. My filet was cold and the potato cake that it came with tasted like it was sitting out for hours. The two people who ordered halibut was also cold as well. We ordered two sides for the table which were potato’s and broccoli rabe and they were also cold as well. We never send meals back but for the price we asked the waitress to send them back for us. When the meals came back out, they were the same exact meals just placed on new dishes and the filet was now ever colder than before! The two halibut entrees were a little hotter than before but felt like they had just put them in the microwave. The waitress was extremely apologetic and she handled it very sweet and professionally. The manager came over and said he would “make it right” but was very rude and smug and was not apologetic at all. The waitress had gave us two deserts on the house which was very nice and the filet and sides were taken off the bill and the bill still came to 600$. For the price of the food, it isn’t worth it. Our waitress was amazing, but the rest of the staff was terrible. Between the prices, management, and 60$ cold filet with a stale potato cake, I would not be back again which is sad to say after dining here...

It pains me to write anything less than a stellar review for a place so highly rated but I have to be true to my experience. My friend wanted to take me to the Inn to try it as it is noted as one of the best restaurants in the state. I have been to the other tops ones in NJ and they are some of my favorite all-times. I liked another place’s menu better but she really wanted to try this place out during our vacation. I give two thumbs up for their pear martini (the best pear martini I have ever had) and the quickness of the valet and hostess staff especially on a busy Saturday night. That is why I gave this place 2 stars rather than one. That is where our positive experience ends. Our waitress although attentive was very rushed and tossed us our silverware and food instead of taking her time to make a nice presentation. I have never been tossed my silverware at a bar before, let alone a place that is supposed to be classy. The appetizer we ordered was mysteriously canceled as the Inn couldn’t make it and my roasted beet and asparagus salad was bland. I ordered the grilled scallops special and was very disappointed when I cut into each of them to find they were cold and raw (gray, jelly centered). I had to spit out the one bite I accidentally attempted to eat. When I sent back the scallops I was disappointed to see that I was given back the same scallops, instead of having them replaced, and it appeared as if they were simply heated up in the microwave or oven. The desserts, chocolate bombe and crème brulee, were bland too. The chocolate bombe was to have a hazelnut taste and it simply tasted like chocolate cake. I am not a picky eater and overall was very disappointed with the way my food was handled and the taste. It was not worth the almost $200 we paid for our meals. I found the local cafes had better food. Due to my uncooked, cold scallops incident I would not recommend this place. I know, I am in shock too, yet there is no excuse for the less than okay service and serving raw food and not replacing/cooking...