Washington Inn

4.8

9082 Reviews

$50 and over

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 24, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Charming

Built in 1840, this Cape May estate is now home to the acclaimed Washington Inn and Wine Bar. The Craig Family has carefully preserved the beauty & essence of this distinctive treasure without undertaking major alterations to its original form. The Inn's welcoming facade overlooks tree-lined Washington Street in the seaside community Historic District. The Washington Inn offers six unique dining areas, from a summer patio to cozy fireside tables. Cocktails are a must in the Wine Bar, where the passing Cape May scene can be best appreciated. Often described as romantic, our easy-going elegance will satisfy anyone's craving for fine dining. Our enticing menu offers the best of American cuisine but with an inventive, upscale edge. Food, Service, and Ambiance, the essential ingredients for dining excellence, are all masterfully blended here at the Washington Inn. Come experience it for yourself!

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
American, Mediterranean, Seafood
Hours of operation
Bar Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(609) 884-5697
Website
http://www.washingtoninn.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Miriam Wood
Catering
The Washington Inn provides off-premise catering at whatever location you desire. We are expert at arranging details, creating just the right look, and, of course, offering your guests the highest quality food & attention available. Our catering staff will help you plan an outstanding event, customized to your needs and budget. The Inn caters early- afternoon wedding receptions for up to 125 people on premises. If your guest list is longer, we can help to arrange a reception at the Cape May Beach Club, the Isaac Smith Vineyard, Cape May Winery, your home or wherever you prefer.

Location
801 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Neighborhood
Cape May
Cross street
Jefferson & Washington
Parking details
We offer Complimentary Valet Parking - simply drive up to the front of the restaurant on Washington Street and our valet will happily park your car, free of charge!
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

South American Wine Dinner
$160.00 per person
Prepaid
Feb 28, 2025 only
6:00 PM
Our Cellar Series Wine Dinners have long been a cornerstone of the Washington Inn & Wine Bar wine program. These seated, small-group dinners take place in a private area of our dining room and consistently sell out quickly, as they are limited to 32 guests. South American Wines: More than just Malbec, get to know our neighbors to the south and the distinctive wine characters of Torrontes, Tannat, and Carménère.
Somm's Table - Sustainable Winemaking
$75.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 16, 2025 only
3:00 PM
Somm's Table, hosted by our in-house wine experts, hosts up to 16 guests in our cozy Wine Cellar. Four wines are paired with four Canapés created by Executive Chef Vincent Celeste. The focus is on enjoying a rare, unique wine alongside fellow wine enthusiasts. Featuring four half-glass pours, Somm's Table creates a relaxed, small-group setting to savor and learn about a luxurious, exclusive wine from our library or cellar. This month, we will explore sustainable, organic, sustainable winemaking pioneers from winemakers Kistler and Flowers Vineyards, from some of Sonoma’s historic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir terroir.
Somm's Table - Left Bank, Right Bank Bordeaux
$75.00 per person
Prepaid
Apr 13, 2025 only
3:00 PM
Somm's Table, hosted by our in-house wine experts, hosts up to 16 guests in our cozy Wine Cellar. Four wines are paired with four Canapés created by Executive Chef Vincent Celeste. The focus is on enjoying a rare, unique wine alongside fellow wine enthusiasts. Featuring four half-glass pours, Somm's Table creates a relaxed, small-group setting to savor and learn about a luxurious, exclusive wine from our library or cellar. Bordeaux can be intimidating and include some of the world's most expensive wines. Let's explore why these two unique subregions are referred to by their position on the river and how to differentiate them like a pro!

Popular dishes

Steak Tartare$22.00
perigueux truffle aioli, quail egg, grilled focaccia
Baked Escargot$17.00
pernod, garlic & herb butter, crostini
Heirloom Beets & Shinko Pears$19.00
hibiscus & beet emulsion, feta cheese foam, calamansi
Pastrami Spice Cured King Ora Salmon Crudo$21.00
winter citrus agrumi, fine herbs crème fraîche
Poached Oishi Shrimp$21.00
traditional cocktail sauce, horseradish, lemon
Savage Blonde Oysters$3.75
raspberry mignonette, traditional cocktail sauce, lemon
Seafood Bisque$19.00
shrimp & crab, sherry gastrique crème fraîche
Truffled Emperor's Salad$19.00
sweet gem lettuce, perigueux truffle caesar dressing, fennel panko, parmesan

Chilled Seafood

Italian Osetra Caviar$110.00
traditional accoutrement, whipped ricotta, house potato chips
Washington Inn Seafood Platter$82.00
poached oishi shrimp, east coast oysters, ceviche, smoked trout pâté

Entrée

Cape May Seafood Cioppino$42.00
oishi shrimp, bar harbor mussels, little neck clams, daily catch, white wine & tomato broth, roasted garlic aioli, grilled focaccia
Creekstone Ranch Short Rib$42.00
aged gouda potato purée, haricot verts, young carrots, cipollini in agrodolce, spiced red wine jus
Farmer's Market Vegetable Risotto$36.00
aged acquerello rice, artichoke, fava bean, zucchini, sweet pea, mint, basil, manchego
Filet Rossini, 8 oz.$64.00
haricot verts, crispy potato galette, sauce perigueux, add seared hudson valley foie gras
Lamb & Ricotta Cavatelli$39.00
san marzano tomato braised lamb shoulder, broccoli rabe, manchego
Maine Lobster Tail$75.00
provencal tartine, ginger & rosemary scented lobster emulsion
Mediterranean Seabass$45.00
cherry tomato, caper & taggiasca olive relish, crispy creamer potatoes, salsa verde
Rohan Duckling Breast$49.00
parsnip purée, ginger glazed petite vegetables, doenjang & brown butter sauce, persimmon mostarda

What 9,082 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.8Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Cape May
Best Overall
Cape May
Best Food
Cape May
Best Service
Cape May
Best Ambiance
Cape May
Romantic
Cape May
Good for special occasions
Cape May
Lively
Cape May
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Washington Inn in Cape May offers a consistently "wonderful atmosphere" with "excellent food and service." Guests rave about the "amazing experience," delicious gourmet meals, and attentive staff. Known for its charming ambiance and extensive wine list, the Inn is perfect for celebrating special occasions. Highly recommended for its classic dishes and seasonal additions.

9,082 Reviews

B
Bernadette
Atlantic City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My husband and I had an enjoyable evening with great food and great service.
Is this helpful?
c
charles
Atlantic City
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service great food very knowledgeable waiter pleasant atmosphere
Is this helpful?
M
Maria
VIP
New York City
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of our favorite restaurants in Cape May. Great food, service and atmosphere. Thank you for another great night.
Is this helpful?
b
bonnie
Philadelphia
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a wonderful experience from the time we sat down. Our waitress, Sarah, was pleasant and attentive. The mixed seafood appetizer exceeded our expectations, and our main courses were cooked to perfection. The entire experience was a solid 10!
Is this helpful?
B
Briana
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food 10/10, Service 10/10, Cocktails 10/10… we will definitely be back!!!
Is this helpful?
i
irina
Los Angeles
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Maybe it was an off night but I wouldn’t say this place is spectacular by any means. The bar area and the bar tenders were the best part of the evening. The host gave off a weird uncomfortable vibe. The menu was significantly smaller than anticipated so it was difficult to find items that my husband could eat. The salmon was flavorless. Main dishes of short rib and NY strip were tasty. The latte at the end was the best Part.
Is this helpful?
S
Sharon
VIP
Washington DC
90 reviews
5.0
90 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We have been dining at Washington Inn over many years. It is a special place for our family. Tonight's dining experience was really great. The menu is a bit different, a little more refined and creative. We appreciate the new menu items... even though we have always loved the older menu. Glad to see the wine and drink list tablets gone, too. Our server, Sonata, was so skilled and friendly. It was a perfect evening.
Is this helpful?
D
Daniel
Atlantic City
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Have been here a few times, absolutely incredible! Wife and I always come here when we come down to cape May without the kids and it never disappoints! So incredible! Thank you!
Is this helpful?
K
Kevin
VIP
Philadelphia
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great night at the Washington inn. From apps, salads, dinner, dessert, everything is A plus!
Is this helpful?
J
Jeremy
Atlantic City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful ambience, great food, priced appropriately.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Washington Inn is rated 4.8 stars by 9082 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 24, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

801 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204

Additional information

Cross street
Jefferson & Washington
Neighborhood
Cape May
Hours of operation
Bar Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
American, Mediterranean, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
We offer Complimentary Valet Parking - simply drive up to the front of the restaurant on Washington Street and our valet will happily park your car, free of charge!
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Miriam Wood
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.washingtoninn.com/
Phone number
(609) 884-5697
Catering
The Washington Inn provides off-premise catering at whatever location you desire. We are expert at arranging details, creating just the right look, and, of course, offering your guests the highest quality food & attention available. Our catering staff will help you plan an outstanding event, customized to your needs and budget. The Inn caters early- afternoon wedding receptions for up to 125 people on premises. If your guest list is longer, we can help to arrange a reception at the Cape May Beach Club, the Isaac Smith Vineyard, Cape May Winery, your home or wherever you prefer.

Washington Inn

Make a reservation

Additional information

22 Atlantic City Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

45 Atlantic City / South Jersey Shore Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

South American Wine Dinner

Somm's Table - Sustainable Winemaking

Somm's Table - Left Bank, Right Bank Bordeaux

Crème Brûlée

Chocolate Mousse Tower

Steak Tartare

Appetizers

Steak Tartare$22.00

Baked Escargot$17.00

Heirloom Beets & Shinko Pears$19.00

Pastrami Spice Cured King Ora Salmon Crudo$21.00

Poached Oishi Shrimp$21.00

Savage Blonde Oysters$3.75

Seafood Bisque$19.00

Truffled Emperor's Salad$19.00

Chilled Seafood

Italian Osetra Caviar$110.00

Washington Inn Seafood Platter$82.00

Entrée

Cape May Seafood Cioppino$42.00

Creekstone Ranch Short Rib$42.00

Farmer's Market Vegetable Risotto$36.00

Filet Rossini, 8 oz.$64.00

Lamb & Ricotta Cavatelli$39.00

Maine Lobster Tail$75.00

Mediterranean Seabass$45.00

Rohan Duckling Breast$49.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Washington Inn restaurant rated?

Is Washington Inn currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

22 Atlantic City Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

45 Atlantic City / South Jersey Shore Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day