Unearth The Voyage
South Jersey has a serious seafood scene, and honestly, it deserves way more credit than it gets. From raw bars on the waterfront to spicy boils that require a bib and zero dignity, there is something here for every kind of eater.
Whether you are chasing Cape May crab cakes or a hidden gem near the Delaware Bay, this list has you covered. Buckle up, because your next favorite restaurant might just be a short drive away.
Dock’s Oyster House (Atlantic City)
Dock’s Oyster House has been shucking since 1897, which means it was serving raw bars before most of your ancestors were even born. That kind of history does not happen by accident.
The place has earned every bit of its legendary status in Atlantic City.
The raw bar here is the main event. Oyster flights let you compare different varieties side by side, and the chilled seafood towers look almost too good to eat.
Almost. Order one anyway and do not apologize for it.
The old-school Atlantic City vibe hits the moment you walk in. Dark wood, white tablecloths, and servers who actually know their stuff make every visit feel like a special occasion.
First-timers should absolutely start with the oysters and work their way through the menu from there. This place is a bucket-list stop for any serious seafood lover in the region.
Knife & Fork Inn (Atlantic City)
Built in 1912, the Knife and Fork Inn started as a private club for gentlemen who liked their steaks thick and their secrets thicker. These days it is open to everyone, and the seafood menu is reason enough to visit.
The building itself is a registered historic landmark, which is a fancy way of saying it looks incredibly cool.
The seafood-forward menu punches well above its weight. Lobster, scallops, and fresh fish dishes share space with the classic steakhouse cuts, giving you plenty of reasons to come back more than once.
Happy hour here genuinely feels like a win every single time.
The energy inside is warm without being stuffy. It is the kind of place where you dress up a little but still feel comfortable.
Atlantic City regulars swear by this spot, and after one visit, you will completely understand why they keep coming back season after season.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks (Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City)
Sometimes you want a seafood dinner that feels like a full production. McCormick and Schmick’s at Harrah’s Resort delivers exactly that kind of night out without making you work too hard for it.
The white tablecloth setting and polished service do most of the heavy lifting for you.
The menu is genuinely massive. Fresh fish, shellfish platters, steaks, and seasonal specials give every person at the table something to get excited about.
The casino-area buzz around the restaurant adds an energy that is hard to replicate anywhere else in South Jersey.
This is a great pick when you want to impress someone or simply treat yourself after a lucky night at the tables. The cocktail program is solid, and the bar seating is perfect for a solo dinner if you are flying solo.
Pro tip: check the seasonal menu updates because the kitchen rotates fresh catches regularly and surprises are always welcome here.
The Lobster House (Cape May)
The Lobster House in Cape May is the kind of place that gets passed down through families like a treasured recipe. People bring their kids, those kids grow up and bring their own kids, and the cycle of excellent seafood continues across generations.
That is not a small thing.
Dockside dining here means you can literally watch boats come and go while you eat your lobster roll. The nautical decor is not forced or kitschy.
It is just genuinely the real deal, because this place has been family-run for decades and they are proud of it.
Lines can get long in peak season, and they are absolutely worth every minute of the wait. The raw bar on the dock is a great spot to grab a drink and some clams while you wait for your table.
First-time visitors should order the lobster bisque and then figure out the rest from there. Classic Cape May at its finest.
Tisha’s (Cape May)
Tisha’s has a way of making a regular Tuesday night feel like a celebration without you even planning for it. The atmosphere is warm without being overdone, and the seafood menu is thoughtful in a way that shows real kitchen care.
Cape May locals love this place for good reason.
The menu leans into elevated coastal cooking. Fresh fish preparations, creative shellfish dishes, and seasonal ingredients make every plate feel considered rather than routine.
It is the kind of restaurant where you slow down and actually pay attention to what you are eating.
This is a solid choice for a date night, a birthday dinner, or any occasion where you want the food to do the talking. Service is attentive without hovering, which is a balance that more restaurants should figure out.
Reservations are a smart move here, especially on summer weekends when Cape May fills up fast and tables disappear quickly.
PRIMAL (Cape May)
Open-fire cooking has a way of making food taste like it was made by someone who really means business. PRIMAL in Cape May is built around that idea, and the kitchen runs with it in a big way.
Local seafood meets live-fire technique, and the results are genuinely impressive.
The vibe is upscale but not uptight. You can show up in a nice shirt or a slightly fancy outfit and feel equally comfortable.
It is the kind of spot where the food is serious but the atmosphere gives you room to breathe and actually enjoy yourself.
The menu changes based on what is fresh and local, so every visit can feel a little different. That flexibility is a feature, not a bug.
Groups tend to do well here because there is enough variety to keep everyone happy without anyone having to compromise. PRIMAL is a strong argument for making Cape May a proper food destination, not just a beach town.
Cape May Fish Market (Cape May)
Roll up hungry. That is the only real instruction you need before showing up to Cape May Fish Market.
The menu is built for people who take their seafood seriously and do not feel like waiting around for a fancy presentation.
The raw bar is the headline act. Oysters, clams, shrimp, and whatever else looks good that day get piled up and served fast.
The casual energy makes it easy to over-order, and honestly, that is kind of the point. Nobody is judging you for going back for a second round of clams.
Crowds are part of the deal here, especially in summer. The lively atmosphere adds to the fun rather than taking away from it.
Grab a cold drink, find a spot, and work through as much of the menu as your willpower allows. This is the kind of place that makes you feel genuinely happy about your life choices for the rest of the afternoon.
The Crab Trap (Somers Point)
The Crab Trap in Somers Point is where Jersey Shore energy and serious seafood collide in the best possible way. Water views, a packed crowd, and a menu built for sharing make every dinner here feel more like a party than a meal.
It is hard to leave without a smile on your face.
The menu covers a lot of ground. Crab, shrimp, fish, and all the classic Shore favorites are represented well, and the portions are not shy.
This is the kind of place where you show up with a group and let the table fill up with plates until there is no more room.
Weekends get busy, so arriving early or making a reservation is a smart move. The bar area is a great backup plan if you have to wait, because the drinks are solid and the view does not hurt either.
Somers Point locals have been relying on this spot for years, and the loyalty is completely earned.
Steve & Cookie’s (Margate)
Steve and Cookie’s in Margate is the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like you have arrived somewhere, even if you just drove twenty minutes down the parkway. The supper-club charm is real, not manufactured, and the bayfront setting gives the whole experience a genuinely polished edge.
Oysters are a big part of the draw here, and the kitchen handles them with the kind of confidence that comes from years of doing it right. The broader seafood menu is equally strong, with fish and shellfish dishes that feel thoughtful and well-executed rather than predictable.
The crowd tends to skew toward people who know good food and appreciate a well-made cocktail. Service is warm and professional, which is a combination that never gets old.
Date nights here always land well, and the bayfront views at sunset are a bonus that nobody is complaining about. Steve and Cookie’s has quietly become one of South Jersey’s most reliable dinner destinations.
Sofia (Margate)
Greek-Mediterranean food and Jersey Shore seafood turn out to be a surprisingly great combination, and Sofia in Margate figured that out before most people caught on. The menu brings a different angle to local seafood that feels refreshing rather than gimmicky.
It is a welcome change from the usual fried platter routine.
Whole fish preparations, grilled octopus, and Mediterranean-style shellfish dishes are among the highlights. The flavors are bright and clean, leaning on olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs in ways that let the seafood quality do the real talking.
Groups with mixed tastes tend to find something for everyone here.
The dining room has a modern coastal feel that works well for both casual dinners and slightly more special occasions. Sofia is the kind of restaurant that gets recommended by people who have eaten their way through the Shore and want something with a bit more personality.
Margate is lucky to have it, and visitors are lucky to find it.
Sweetwater Marina & Riverdeck (Sweetwater / Mullica River area)
Not every great seafood spot is on the ocean, and Sweetwater Marina and Riverdeck is proof of that. Tucked along the Mullica River, this place has a laid-back waterfront hang that feels completely removed from the usual Shore crowds.
It is the kind of spot that rewards people who are willing to drive a little off the beaten path.
The river views are the backdrop for a menu that leans into casual comfort food with a seafood-forward attitude. Cold drinks, good company, and a deck over the water make the whole experience feel like a proper day trip rather than just a meal.
Time tends to move slower here, and that is a feature.
Locals treat it like a summer ritual, showing up on weekends to linger for hours. The atmosphere is unpretentious and genuinely fun.
If you have never been to this part of South Jersey, the drive through the Pine Barrens alone is worth the trip before you even sit down to eat.
The Oyster Cracker Cafe (Bivalve / Commercial Township)
The town of Bivalve is literally named after a type of shellfish, so expectations for the local seafood situation should be set accordingly high. The Oyster Cracker Cafe fits right into that legacy with a small, charming setup that feels like a genuine discovery rather than a planned destination.
Hidden-gem energy is strong here. The cafe is cozy, the menu is focused, and the Delaware Bay proximity means the seafood is about as local as it gets.
This is not a place with a massive marketing budget or a line around the block, and that is exactly what makes it special.
Plan a detour on your next trip down the Jersey shore and make this a deliberate stop. The drive through Commercial Township is scenic and quiet, and the payoff at the end is a meal that feels personal and unhurried.
Not everything great needs to be famous. Sometimes the best finds are the ones most people drive right past without knowing.
The Red Eyed Crab (Port Norris)
Port Norris is not exactly on everyone’s radar as a food destination, and that is precisely what makes The Red Eyed Crab such a satisfying find. Stumbling across a legitimately good seafood spot on a back road in South Jersey feels like winning a small lottery.
This place has that energy completely locked in.
The menu is straightforward and honest, which is a quality that gets underrated in a world full of overthought restaurant concepts. Fresh crab, local seafood, and no-nonsense cooking make every plate feel earned rather than dressed up.
The crowd is local and loyal, which is usually the best endorsement any restaurant can get.
The drive to Port Norris takes you through some genuinely beautiful and underrated South Jersey landscape. Consider it part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.
Bring cash just in case, arrive with a flexible attitude, and prepare to leave with a full stomach and a story worth telling. Some of the best meals happen exactly where you least expect them.
The Boiling House (Cherry Hill)
Forget the fork. The Boiling House in Cherry Hill is a gloves-on, sleeves-rolled-up kind of seafood experience, and that is a very good thing.
Spiced-up boils loaded with crab, shrimp, corn, and sausage arrive in buckets, and the whole table becomes a hands-on project from that point forward. Dignity is optional and highly discouraged.
The spice levels are customizable, which means you can go mild and responsible or absolutely reckless depending on your mood and pain tolerance. The sauces are layered and complex, coating everything in a way that makes it impossible to stop eating even when you probably should.
Bring napkins. Bring extra napkins.
Cherry Hill might not be the first place you think of for a seafood adventure, but The Boiling House makes a strong case for itself. It is a great group dinner option because the communal eating format breaks down all social barriers almost immediately.
Nobody is too cool to get messy over a bucket of seasoned crab legs.
Bobby Chez Famous Crabcakes (Collingswood)
Bobby Chez is not trying to be a full-service restaurant, and that confidence in its own lane is honestly admirable. This Collingswood specialty stop is built around one thing: crab cakes.
And they are very, very good at that one thing. Sometimes that is all you need.
The crab cakes here are the kind that make you question every other crab cake you have ever eaten. Packed with real crab meat, minimal filler, and seasoned just right, they set a standard that most restaurants spend years trying to reach.
You can grab them to go or eat on the spot, and either option works perfectly.
Collingswood is a great little food town in its own right, so building a visit around a Bobby Chez stop and a walk around the neighborhood is a solid plan. Pick up extra crab cakes to bring home, because you will absolutely wish you had more once you get there.
Consider this a standing recommendation with zero reservations about making it.
