Stephen's Restaurant — Restaurant in Wildwood

We tried this restaurant out as we were looking for a place to grab dinner. We were seated after a wait of about 25 minutes. Our waitress came over (Morgan) and took our drink order she asked if we needed another minute, and we said okay. After waiting about 15 minutes with no sight of her we asked a person preparing tables to please find our waitress for us. She finally came and apologized for the wait, saying there was an issue in the kitchen. So.......we are left to just sit there and wait looking around, thinking we were forgotten? We put our order in, the shareable antipasto salad and the long hots. I asked for the salad with the tuna on the SIDE as my husband does NOT like tuna and nobody, but one of the 3 of us would want it in the salad. She said sure that was something they could do. We also put in our entree order. We ordered the chicken marsala, the broiled seafood, the veal Parmigiano and the fisherman's feast with a red sauce. Now for the broiled seafood I specified I didn't like flounder, so could they please add more of the other things in the dish to make up for it, she said sure. The appetizers come out and you could see that the salad had the tuna on it. They must have taken it off (maybe they forgot) maybe it's already on it? I have no idea, but pieces of tuna were throughout the entire salad. As we ate the apps, our drinks sat completely empty, waiting for a refill for about 10-15 minutes. Morgan came back and asked how it was. I advised her of the salad issue and that it would not have been good had somebody been allergic to tuna. Also that my husband would now not be eating it. Unfortunately we were so hungry before she came over my daughter and myself had already dug in so we kept that salad. She apologized now for a 2nd time. We are eating our long hots (2 for $12) people show pics with 3... Our entrees come out. I look and see a piece of some kind of fish... I'm like what is this? She says salmon, "I'm like I don't do fish just shellfish that's why I said no flounder and asked for you to just add more of what was already offered. She says I'm sorry. I'm like well what are we going to do. Next thing I know the chef is at the table. He says did I do something wrong. I explain. He says well we were out of the clams casino so I threw the Lobster tail ( he thought that was an upgrade for me not everyone likes Lobster ) and gave you salmon. I'm like I don't like salmon. I'm just like whatever at this point chef has left. ( I personally could go the rest of my life without lobster) why didn't they tell me they were out of some of my items and give me options? So I just keep my plate and go on about the meal. The plate came with NO drawn butter, cocktail sauce absolutely NOTHING to make this seafood taste like anything. It was like eating absolute air. My baked potato was hard as a rock. I was starved so I ate the shellfish by dipping it into the red sauce that came with my daughter's dish per her advice.. My husband liked his chicken marsala and my daughter liked the pasta, mussels and clams that came with her dish. She had 1 scallop a Dungeness crab which she states with no butter was flavorless, and was hard to eat as they don't give you a cracker. The veal Parmigiano was chewy and rubbery the baked potato was hard like mine was, the side esparagus was bitter and not good. The waitress stopped by and said they took some money off. I said okay thanks. She leaves we ate again we were starved it's about 9:20 pm at this point. She comes back asked if we would like dessert I said no she brings the check. They took the drinks off the bill and 10% I believe. I literally just wanted to get out of there. There is absolutely no reason for 3 apologies at what should be an hour to an hour and a half dinner experience. Unfortunately, I'd definitely not recommend. Giving 2 stars because 1 and 3 quarter people liked their food.

Ps I was so aggravated I forgot to take pics of my food. YOU aren't...

Our party of 16 adults celebrated my parent’s 60th Wedding Anniversary while on our annual family Wildwood vacation at Stephen’s Restaurant. Mom & Dad were looking for a BYOB that could accommodate our large group, took reservations and got good reviews and found Stephen’s via a Google search. We were not disappointed! The restaurant is a warm, welcoming environment and our server Faith felt like one of the family by the end of our meal- funny, friendly and very attentive. When she learned of a gluten- intolerance with my FDIL she made sure everything she ordered was prepared carefully. Faith made our evening extra special.

The food was fantastic- starting with piles of warm garlicky bread with a delicious bright, fresh chunky marina for dipping. We ordered several appetizers for the table- Mediterranean Salad, Mussels in a sublime white sauce, creamy Honey Ragut, Polenta Bolognese, and Meatballs and Ricotta- all absolutely delicious. You could make a meal out of any of them with the warm, crispy bread.

Each entree was perfect- the homemade gnocchi with crabmeat were like light, airy little pillows of heaven smothered in a blush pink sauce brimming with crabmeat. My husband’s scallops were perfectly seared and nestled on top of a creamy pesto risotto. My nephew’s Fisherman Pasta dish was overflowing with fresh seafood. Each entree was beautifully presented, portions were very good and prices were more than fair for the quality of the dishes. There weren’t many leftovers to take home- not because portions are small but rather because the everything was so delicious everyone ate every last bite.

Owner and head chef Stephen came out to chat with each table several times and even sent out a complimentary parfait for the anniversary couple to share. He made sure everyone was having a great time and enjoying their meal.

Overall, a terrific experience and we have found a new tradition which will surely be added to our vacation plans, hopefully for many...

Title: A Perfect Start to the Day at Stephen's Restaurant!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I stepped into Stephen's Restaurant in Wildwood, NJ, I was instantly enveloped by a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. The cozy and tasteful decor painted a picture of comfort without going overboard, a delicate balancing act.

My breakfast consisted of classic comfort food: eggs, toast, and home fries, all perfectly cooked. The eggs were deliciously fresh, and the toast was a delightful crunch and chew. The standout, however, was the home fries. Stephen's serves them with the skin on—a touch that adds authenticity and flavor. Despite this, they were quickly peelable, a testament to their meticulous cooking process.

The service was, without a doubt, top-tier. From the efficiency of the waitstaff to its polite demeanor, it was a pleasant reminder of what excellent dining service looks like. The waitstaff ensured my breakfast experience was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

Lastly, the proximity to the boardwalk adds another level of appeal to Stephen's. Just a few steps away, it's a perfect spot for a delicious meal before or after a stroll along the boardwalk.

In summary, Stephen's Restaurant exceeded my expectations with its superb food, exceptional service, and pleasant ambiance. It's a gem in Wildwood, NJ, and a must-visit for all food lovers. I can't wait for my next breakfast here!

It is highly...