50 Best American Restaurants near Rio Grande

“We love coming here for our weekly night out. Matt (bartender) always knows what we want to drink and is always asking how things are going. It’s our friendly neighborhood place that we need our weekly dose of if not more.“

“We had a great breakfast and an awesome waiter Angelo!!“

“Im telling you this place is outstanding!! I had lived in Philly and been to Pats and Geno's in South Philly among many others. Alfredo's, Claudio's, Jersey Mike's, Erma Deli and so on. This place is so good, that I challenge anyone to try it and if you don't think they have the Best Cheese Steaks you have ever had, I will pay for yours. Whoever owns this place has a gold mine. They should give samples at places like Walmart, ShopRite, etc and their business will boom. Hands down the best food I've ever had from a sandwich shop. Heck, from anywhere. The girl at the counter , Clara was so nice. I went in there 15 minutes before closing and they turned the oven and grill on to make what I ordered. Then I told her to wave at me in the truck parked right out front when it was ready and I would come in and get it , then all the sudden, here she comes running out with my order. Incredible place and the only one I will go to for sandwiches ever again!! Great food, service and atmosphere!“

“Always go when in Cape May…fabulous food“

“Not only the best wings in wildwood but the whole east coast!!!!“

“We dined on Friday, 10.31.25 supporting the Cape May Restaurant Weekend. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her Red Snapper Alla Plancha that was impeccably simmered in a tomato-saffron cream sauce along with the delectable additions of mussels, rock shrimp, creamer potatoes and confit fennel. I had the wonderful opportunity to sample the Grilled Duroc Pork Chop with aged gouda potato purée, ginger glazed vegetables, sherry wine cream sauce and seasonal mostarda that was done to absolute perfection. I haven't cleaned my plate like that for years! My wife echoed that it was one of the top three dinners that we have ever had as a couple....Our service was second to none from the expediters, bussers and our very warm and personable server, Anna, who just added to the overall dining experience. A five star event for sure!“

“This place is the real deal. The food was fantastic, the decor/environment was perfect for the beach. Our family cannot wait to return next year! I wish it was in my town! The staff was outstanding. The table we sat at was a shadow box type,it had shells and things for the kids (and us adults) to look at during our very short wait for food. 10/10.“

“I have used Lucky Bones’s Eric three times in the last five years for catering parties at my home/in my yard. Twice I also booked waitresses with my party. The food is always delicious, the service reliable. We ran out of chicken tenders for the kids once and they brought over a new batch! Everything is set up as ordered and arrives on time. You can’t go wrong with them for your party. My father’s small after-funeral reception was in their back room and my husband and I eat at the restaurant at least once a month. Highly recommend.“

“Beautiful farm and property!“

“our server, jennifer, was so friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, efficient and one of the best servers i ever had. Sean, the manager and sommelier was so knowledgeable about wine and gave us great a recommendation on an exquisite bottle of wine, which paired perfectly with our dinner. this restaurant surpassed our expectations“

“Thank you for an amazing memorable birthday dinner. A true gem of Stone Harbor.“

“The best Beet Reuben sandwich!!! It might be the best sandwich I have eaten in Cape May ever! Thank you!!’“

“What a great diner right on the boards! Hubby and kids went for dinner, brought me back a patty melt - loved it so much we went back for breakfast the next day. French toast and hubby's omelet very good. Kids got - you guessed it - chicken fingers and fries because they were good for dinner the other night. Love the decor and the music, just a fun place to eat. Check it out!“

“We LOVEDDD IT! I was a little nervous about the price of the Mahi Tacos but holy heck- they were INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! We will definitely be back!!!“

“First time in cricket club. Bar has nice vibe they were busy and the bartender was attentive. We all enjoyed our meals and desserts. Service was excellent never waited for our next dish. Will definitely be eating here again.“

“This place has the best grilled cheese and fantastic customer service! My boyfriend goes every year and I finally got the chance to this year. His favorite is the chicken bacon ranch grilled cheese and the day we went they had a smash burger grilled cheese as a special that I got. Absolutely delicious! I highly recommend for anyone in town!“

“We had an absolute perfect dining experience. Each course was outstanding. Peach & Burrata salad, delicious. Scallops perfectly done and chocolate panna cotta so good. Loved every thing about Grana BYOB.“

“Hi I want to sing my praises to two of your waitresses that went above and beyond during our meals while vacationing in Wild Woods. Our first Experience and 2nd we had the pleasure of having “Niki” and truly we could not ask for better service than she offered,her tone,her understanding and the way she treated my toddler is immeasurable and the small details that were paid attention to were not found in other establishments we tried. I hope she knows how valued and appreciated she is by our family! We stopped in for one last meal before heading back to MD and we were cared for. A waitress I don’t re call a name but long curly hair,and a smile that lit up a room and was welcoming,her table side manner was fantastic she joked with us and also treated my daughter remarkably well where again other establishments frowned upon her questions or acted as she wasn’t talking. Furthermore,Noticing the whole atmosphere was a fantastic vibe, Everyone was smiling and working as a team. Can’t wait to return !“

“Great dinner waitresses were great fast service excellent meal“

“Delicious hidden gem in Cape May!“

“Servers were very nice! It’s byob and surprisingly good for dinner! Only a surprise because I’ve always been gor breakfast.“

“My favorite place to grab breakfast when we visit Wildwood Crest, good food, good price, clean and such great staff. They never disappoint, they are warm and welcoming. I look forward to seeing the same faces next season. Thanks!!“

“amazing food at a fair price. owners are awesome! the overall experience is great!“

“We’ve been a few times, and the food is consistently good.“

“We had a great time at Stowaways. Pat was the best!“

“The food is amazing and prepared fresh. Very authentic and the prices are great as well. It’s BYOB . The owners are great people !“

“Such an amazing experience! The cheesesteak,sausage & peppers, gyro, and funnel cake were absolutely delicious, but the hospitality made it even better. Everyone was so kind and welcoming…Truly one of the best memories from our New Jersey boardwalk vacation. We’ll definitely be back!“

“We were drawn to this place because it seemed like a “real” restaurant rather a showplace for the latest trends. And it’s true! There are no “apps” here, and no “handhelds.”” It’s not fancy in the least, though the atmosphere is colorful and relaxing. The food’s not fancy either; instead, it’s simple, extremely plentiful and delicious. It was refreshing to be there!“

“Excellent!! Our only disappointment is that we just discovered this Wildwood gem after coming here for years. Everything was fantastic & the staff were all awesome! The live music was the icing on the cake. Fantastic!“

“Great food and a beautiful setting to enjoy it!!!“

“Food is great, awesome salad bar and amazing service“

“I made an advance reservation and specifically requested a comfortable table with a nice view for my 85-year-old mother. Despite the rainstorm, the hostess strongly pushed for an outdoor table. When I declined, explaining that we had not requested outdoor seating and that it would not be suitable for my mother, she continued to pressure us in front of other guests. She then offered an indoor table but only for 45 minutes in duration, which I said was insufficient. She eventually seated us indoors. We spent over $250 (including tip) for two people. While the meal itself was fine, the hostess's tone left both of us feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome from the start.“

“Grew up 3 blocks from the orginal Texas weiner called the Greeks in South philly. And these taste just like they came from there.“

“Always a fun time at CView! Great, casual atmosphere with good food. Brianna is a fantastic bartender!“

“BELL'S,,love your food,after 5 yrs of going there,,had a burger,, phenomenal 🤘,,3 weeks in a row,,today,,STICKER SHOCK 😆,well worth it though,,,please don't D.O.G.E. the burgers,, their perfect,,as is the entire menu,,“

“Hi my name is Grace, I’m from Philly. I hate to say it l, but I had one of the best cheesesteaks I’ve ever had in Jew Jersey. The workers (especially Michel) were so kind. They even stayed longer to give us green food. 100/10 time, thank u Steve’s!!!“

“The best hot dogs I've ever tried! The hot dogs were perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and served on fresh, soft buns. Every bite was delicious. Great quality, friendly service, and definitely a place I'll be coming back to. Highly recommend!“

“Great place for breakfast 🍳 excellent food friendly for now this is my favorite breakfast place“

“Smashing good burgers! I tried the Cowboy Smash Burger (BBQ Sauce, Cheddar, Onion Ring & Fried Pickles} and it was absolutely delicious! Portions were overly generous and the milkshake really topped it off! (CMCH)“

“Stopped in here for the Summer Mummers after party.We've stopped in a couple of times before over the past few months since they've opened, but never stayed.The (basic bar) food was good. Joanna (the hostess) and Susan, our server, were both lovely and kind.They had no bitters = no old fashioneds.“

“Friendly staff, quick service and food is great“

“The cleanliness, fast service, excellent staff from front to back, food, and prices are quite excellent. We’ve been going to this particular Hotspot for many years and I don’t ever recall anything that we ever received being anything but excellent. I highly recommend. Some of the reviews on here I find just simply mean spirited.“

“Thought I would try an upscale dish (since they were offering it) to see how a Boardwalk Restauranteur would perform. I ordered the Shrimp Pasta with Marinara. Needless to say, I was "Stunned"! This is a favorite dish of mine and I usually reserve ordering it to finer esoteric Bistros and Trattorias I frequent. Yes, I dare say it, BOLDLY that the Chef Olympic Flame not only went "toe to toe" with the finer eateries I am familiar with but actually bettered the lot of 'em!! After this most satisfying experience, I was desperate to meet the Chef behind this most Perfect Pasta dish. The waitstaff directed me to the Chef, who was extremely appreciative when I explained the aforementioned to him. Anyone out there visiting the Jersey Shore and wants to have a truly "Unique" dining experience, I strongly recommend ordering the Shrimp Pasta (or any Pasta Course) "The" Olympic Flame Restaurant. You Will Not Be Disappointed!!“

“Obsesseddd with the seafood carbonara, Green bean fries, southwestern wrap, bang bang shrimp, etc. 🤤“

“First and last stop at wildwood every year !“

“Tried the Jake's famous pork sandwich.
Asked the lady behind the counter if it was sharp provolone and she said it was but once I tried it, it was not sharp at all. Ok no big deal but took a star from the service.
The pork is good but slightly over chopped, The broccoli rabbe was just balanced but not sauteed.
Nonetheless, the sandwich was tasty.“

“Water Star Grille | Waterfront Lunch & Bayfront Dining in Stone Harbor, NJ

If you’re searching for one of the best waterfront restaurants in Stone Harbor, a place to enjoy fresh seafood with bay views, or the perfect spot for a relaxing lunch overlooking the marina, Water Star Grille should be on your list.

Located directly behind The Reeds at Shelter Haven, Water Star Grille offers a true bayfront dining experience where the scenery is just as memorable as the food. Whether you’re visiting for lunch, brunch, cocktails, or simply to enjoy the waterfront atmosphere, this is one of those restaurants that immediately puts you into vacation mode.

We chose to have lunch outside on the waterfront patio, and it couldn’t have been a better setting. Boats cruised through the marina while guests enjoyed the sunshine, waterfront views, and the relaxed coastal atmosphere that makes Stone Harbor such a special destination.

The highlight of our lunch was the beautifully presented seafood tower, featuring fresh lobster, oysters, shrimp, and chilled seafood. It wasn’t just visually impressive—it showcased the quality and freshness you’d expect from a premier Jersey Shore seafood restaurant.

The outdoor seating is spacious and comfortable, making it an excellent choice for couples, families, friends, or anyone looking to enjoy lunch with one of the best bayfront views in Cape May County. It’s also the kind of place where you can easily spend an afternoon enjoying the scenery with a cocktail in hand.

Service throughout our visit was friendly, attentive, and professional. From the moment we were seated until the seafood tower arrived at the table, everything felt polished and well-paced.

If you’re staying at The Reeds at Shelter Haven, spending the day in Stone Harbor, or simply searching for a waterfront restaurant with outstanding seafood, beautiful marina views, and a relaxing coastal atmosphere, Water Star Grille delivers an experience that’s worth making time for.

The Philly Food Fanatic Take: Water Star Grille isn’t just about the food—it’s about the entire waterfront experience. Fresh seafood, attentive service, boats passing by, and panoramic bay views come together to create one of the most enjoyable outdoor dining destinations in Stone Harbor. It’s the kind of place where lunch naturally turns into an afternoon you’ll remember.“

“Our new favorite in CMC. Everything was fantastic. That appetizer that's a big plate of various meats is my new favoritest thing ever.“

“We were down the past couple of weekends in North Wildwood, stopped at one of our favorites and got great-sized Maryland crabs the one weekend and, then, last night some clams & lobster tails. Always a pleasure seeing the staff. Always fast & friendly“

“This is a great spot for parents and kids. Parents can enjoy excellent service, great cocktails and decent barfood while knowing the kids are in a relatively safe environment. It beats going to Disneyland with all those weird middle aged forever kids riding scooters around the park.“