When you visit or vacation in the Wildwoods, leave the calorie counters and diet plans behind; the dining, snacking and noshing choices are just too abundant to resist!
There are restaurants and menus for every appetite, every budget and virtually every taste. From fresh seafood caught daily, Mexican, Chinese/Asian, French, Mediterranean, American and Italian cuisine, to traditional Boardwalk fare such as French fries, frozen custard, water ice, taffy and fudge, the Wildwoods have something for everyone.
Think how wonderful it would be to begin your day with a stack of fluffy pancakes dripping with butter and syrup while watching morning cyclists pedal along the Boardwalk, all the while thinking ahead to a fun day at the beach. Lunch choices include must-have pizza, burgers, Curly fries or subs, all topped off with soft-serve ice cream or powder-sugared funnel cakes or a gelato, and a promise that you’ll worry about cholesterol, and calories later. After all, you’re on vacation and calories don’t count. If you still have room, imagine enjoying a romantic dinner overlooking the water as fishing vessels glide into port with the day’s catch.
The restaurant renaissance that started years ago in Cape May has spilled over into the Wildwoods, and a growing number of gourmet restaurants are located throughout the five-mile island, each of them garnering superb reviews from critics and patrons alike. The Wildwoods’ upscale restaurants offer memorable surroundings, remarkable cuisine and attentive service for a perfect evening touched with romance, candlelight and delectable food.
Outdoor dining overlooking the ocean, the bay or the inland waterway is another unique way to enjoy dining in the Wildwoods. With amazing food and signature drinks, cool breezes, a phenomenal view and great live music to top it off, there’s nothing like it. The backdrop is the evening sunset on the bay while sailboats slowly glide past the vibrant streaks of color in the evening sky.
For families, there are plenty of child-friendly dining options spread across the five-mile island. The Wildwoods Boardwalk offers everything from hamburgers and hotdogs to French fries and pizza, not to mention unique sweet treats like salt water taffy, fudge and custard cones. The many Doo-Wop style diners throughout the Wildwoods offer large menus and a unique setting the kids will love. With classic diner food along with retro jukeboxes, waitresses in poodle skirts and black and white checkered floors, the Wildwoods’ Doo-Wop style diners are a great place to bring the kids for a meal anytime of the day.
For the adults, most restaurants throughout the island offer a full selection of cocktails, craft beers and wines. Wine connoisseurs will find wine lists that reflect a wide selection of vineyards and vintages – including some excellent New Jersey grown choices from area vineyards. A few restaurants even permit guests to bring their own choice of wines to enjoy with dinner.
No matter how full you are after dinner, it’s hard to forget about all of the dessert options offered throughout the Wildwoods. Who can resist a box of homemade fudge or a banana split sundae made with homemade ice cream? It’s not a complete Boardwalk experience until you’ve had a fresh funnel cake or a fried Oreo. There are so many dessert options in the Wildwoods, it’s no surprise some people skip dinner and go right for the sweet stuff.
After a long day of sightseeing, kayaking or beaching, a trip to Downtown Wildwood is an inviting respite from the sensory overload at the Boardwalk. Discover several unique dining opportunities there, and enjoy a libation or two.
Spending the evening in your hotel? Take-out food is always an option in the Wildwoods. Most local restaurants will provide food-to-go with just a call ahead, or you can take a stroll to the Boardwalk, pick-up what your craving and head back to your lodging for a quiet meal in your room or out on the balcony.
For the best recommendations of where to eat and the specialties of area restaurants, ask the local residents for their favorite restaurant, coffee shop or sandwich place, and you’re sure to get a ringing endorsement for some little, out of the way place that you might have missed. Most restaurants accept major credit cards and dinner reservations aren’t always needed.
For more information or a list of dining options, please visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.
