Restaurant Report

Cape May: An open and shut case
I have never understood the Cape may restaurant scene. There are some terrific restaurants in this community, but it seems that almost all of them are seasonal.  They close after the “shoulder” season presumably because there is little or no business. But is it possible that the lack of business is because the restaurants are closed?  If you create a ghost town in the off season (and without restaurants you will have a ghost town), Cape May has created a culture where a delightful and relaxing destination has the word "closed" stamped all over it. They've been behaving this way for so long, it's difficult to imagine turning this around.

Destination Dining
That t leads me to the new Ventor/Margate corridor that has developed into a incredible restaurant destination, and for the most part, it stays open all year long. Show me an area where there are a solid group of chef-driven, independent restaurants, and I will show you a potentially great restaurant destination that will attract people who appreciate good food, and will even attract more like-minded restaurants which will makes things even busier and better.

The quality and the talent is amazing, and, at the risk of forgetting someone, how about the likes of Steve & Cookies, Tomatoe's, Manna, Red Room Cafe, Sage, Barrel's, Gertrudes, Sofia, La Fontana, Johnny's, Ventura's Greenhouse, and Hannah's? It's another Collingswood with even more diversity. You have small BYOB's, lots of liquor licenses, and great spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is so much great food and a delightful lack of the predictable and boring chain establishments. And it's open all year round! You gotta love it.

Chain Reaction
And speaking of chains (and in all due respect, there are some outstanding ones), have you been to Cherry Hill lately?. This may come as a total shock, but Cinelli's has closed. In point of fact, the Garden State Racetrack is nowhere to be seen. And I do worry about the health and survival of those independent, chef-driven spots when you wake-up and see a Cheesecake Factory, a Season's 52, and yes, The Capital Grille, just to name a few. But not that there's anything wrong with that.
 More later, because time is an issue. We're on our way to dinner at the fabulous Hawaiian Cottage.