highly highly recommend!! the absolute best italian food i've ever had. chicken was cooked to a crisp and tasted amazing with the vodka sauce. pasta of the day was delicious. paired together it was the absolute perfect bite. spicy seafood was doable not too extreme, very very saucy. great amount of food for the price. the ambiance was gorgeous, beautiful stone kitchen on display with flowers and candles. highly recommend coming here! will def be back!! read more

Panico's Bistro - spicy seafood - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

I would definitely give them a solid 3.5 stars. I'll start with going from the parking lot to the entrance. They seriously need to trim the trees. You have to almost walk in the street just to get around the corner. We were greeted upon arrival and seated almost immediately. Hostess was very pleasant and the service was decent. I wish they checked in on us a little more. I had to ask another server for a spoon and extra dipping oil. For an appetizer we ordered the squid and calamari. Both were very good, but the calamari was only the rings and didn't come with any sort of dipping sauce which I think would have been nice. Everything ordered was good and so was the portion size. All the plates came in around $40 each. I had the spicy salmon. The salmon was cooked perfectly. IMO, it wasn't that spicy. It seemed like they used a crunchy chili oil to give it the heat. It was serves with rich which had no taste and asparagus which was fibrous and undercooked. The bread and dipping oil was absolutely delicious and the mini pumpkin cheesecake was rich and velvety. In addition to the 1 dessert, we had 2 cappuccino's and 2 coffees, No drinks or alcohol. For 5 people, tax and tip (20%) ended up coming in at just under $350. A bit much, but it is Cape May. read more

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Had a great meal from start to finish! What a lovely setting and inventive menu. We also love Secondos which I believe is the same owner.

Another amazing dinner at Panicos. The staff are so good and the food is VERY good. I'm currently obsessed with the gnocchi appetizer. It's the perfect bite of soft pillowy pasta. Sweet and a touch of earthiness with the whipped pesto on top. It can be a bit loud as the kitchen and dining are all in the same room- it's an old church. But it's part of the charm of the place. Ps Most of the time a byob is annoying but here is so excellent at making sure you have an ice bucket asap when you arrive. read more

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Traditional Italian night, owl. Service and food was again excellent. Sunday dinner. Salmon excellent eggplant Parm, outstanding read more

Panico's Bistro - Excellent! - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Came here last year, main dining room for our yearly family dinner. Service was great, good food as well. Came back this year (2026) and we ended up in the basement with Duane. This gentleman is a charismatic and knowledgeable and a great example of what service should be. Thank you again for the great evening. read more

Panico's Bistro - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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We have been to Cape May several times, but we've never been to this restaurant. It is a little bit on the outside of Town in an old converted church so the ambience is very unique and really special. There is a parking lot in the back, which is always a plus in Cape May. We made reservations in advance and there weren't many times available. The place was very busy when we got there. They give you some bread to start with and the bread was absolutely delicious. We had a burrata appetizer, which was just OK. Next time I would try something else. Someone in our group had the New England clam chowder soup and I tried it and it was outstanding one of the best that I've ever had. All of our entrées were good. The place is BYOB. The menu is very large so there should be something for everyone to find. read more

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First time trying this restaurant and we were amazed. The ambience, service and food were wonderful. We had the octopus appetizer which was great-- maybe just needed a pinch of salt. The halibut special and the char-grilled pork chop were out of this world delicious. The gnocchi that came with the pork chop were like little pillows in the most delicious sauce. We will be returning customers for sure! read more

Amazing food. First time there with group of friends. We set up the dinner a few days before and easily got reservations. Reservations are recommended. Panico's is only open from 5-9pm. Was Hungary so for starters got a Caprese Salad. Basaltic and fresh mozzarella was great. For entree I got Sweet Corn and Crab raviolis in a cream sauce. SO GOOD. My wife got the Eggplant Pesto and I also had some. Again delicious. For desert the offerings were several Devine cakes. Forgot the exact descriptions but I got a bourbon cake and the wife settled on a chocolate cake. Very delicious and a great way to end the meal. Will definitely have this place in mine when I am in the area. read more

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Very good food and service. However it was the loudest restaurant I was ever in. If you want a quite dinner and need to relax this isn't the place. read more

I just want to say, I love eating at Panico's! The caprese salad this time of year should be made with Jersey Tomatoes, that was the only disappointment! There's plenty of farm market's in Cape May that the owner can support to make it better! read more

Panico's has been one of our staples when we go down the shore! They have a pretty decent sized parking lot in the back of the restaurant which made it easy! I did make a reservation for 7:15, however we did not get seated until 7:30. There are some stairs you have to walk up to enter the restaurant. There were five of us in our group and we all decided to order something different. Of course we were very excited for the delicious and warm bread they serve before the meal! I ordered the linguini with clams which was amazing. They put so many clams and a lot of crab meat in the linguini, and that's exactly how I like it. The other people in my group ordered the cavatappi with sausage, pasta with shrimp and crab, the burrata pizza, and the chicken parm. Everyone absolutely loved their dishes. The red sauce on all the dishes was very tasty. The dishes are also very big, so make sure you come hungry! We also got the Oreo cake and tiramisu for dessert. The Oreo cake was moist and the perfect size. The tiramisu was also very tasty, with a bit of a unique twist on the classic dessert. Our waitress was very kind, although we did have to remind her at some points to bring something we had asked for! I would definitely recommend this spot for a nice Italian meal! read more

Panico's Bistro - Cavatappi with sausage - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

After entering with my disabled mom the hostess staff insisted we sit in the "second dining room" just a few steps away but it was down more than a flight of stairs in the basement. We were greeted by easily 20 scented candles that set off her asthma (and mine... as a pregnant women). We dragged our pregnant and disabled bodies back up and in, the hostesses said we had to go back downstairs and wait for a different table. When I asked if mom and I could stay in the a/c (it's 90 out) and just pull up a chair they said no and got snappy. Outrageous. ADA compliance must not be something they are interested in, I guess. Such a shame - we've been coming for years. Hire better hostesses, respect your customers, and maybe don't use 20 scented candles that we can still taste even long after leaving. read more

Service 5/5 stars we had Jeanette and Maureen Octopus- Rating 5/5 chargrilled then sautéed, simple olive oil, parsley, lemon Pork Shank Osso Bucco - Rating 5/5 oven roasted, marinara, rosemary, carrots, celery, tomato, parpadelle. Not a big pork eater saw that many reviews recommended this dish. It was one of the best dishes I have ever had. It was out of this world. Salad - Rating 3/5 It was missing something. Desserts - I'm not big on desserts but I came for my Moms birthday it was very good. I feel like I can't properly rate. My Mom loved them. read more

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Great food and service! Have enjoyed dinner over 5 times. Sometime just wife and I, sometimes as part of a larger group. Everytime a great experience! Place is small so reservations are a must. BYOB read more

The atmosphere was nice! It was our first time there! I didn't like how it was BYOB. There was no option to buy any cocktails since many places in Jersey don't have liquor licenses and are BYOB. The server forgot to put in our order and didn't realize she missed one entree until all the food was served. We had to wait additional time for our last entree to come out. My pasta was okay. If I go back, I wouldn't order it again. I should have ordered it without the peas. I was not a fan of it . The brick oven pizza was delicious despite having to wait extra time to receive it. The calamari was delicious and a great appetizer! Definitely would order that again! read more

Panico's Bistro - Shrimp and Lemon Bianco - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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5/5 all around. I went with my parents for the first time and we were delighted with the food, our friendly and attentive server, and the warm ambiance. We started out with fresh, warm bread with olive oil and herbal mix. For our appetizer we ordered the caesar salad which came out almost right away despite it being crowded for a Monday night. I had the ravioli with the sauce of the day which was hot and honey marinara, and I would say it was best marinara I've ever had. My mom had the rigatoni alla vodka and my dad had the crab and shrimp. Both were very happy with the their meals and we all agreed to make a trip back here. read more

Panico's Bistro - Top/Left: Rigatoni alla Vodka Middle/Right: Crab and Shrimp Bottom: Ravioli - Pizza Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Sorry to say this was an average visit. I had the rigatoni with chicken, hubs had crab & pasta. His was much better but the overall taste was just missing something to bring it together. My dish was bland, and the chicken had such an odd taste. It had far too many herbs but also it had the taste of precooked chicken you would get a grocery store. The manager did notice that i didnt eat it and was super happy to accommodate. I really had no intention of saying anything. I gave them a fair rating since they noticed. read more

Yesterday was our first visit and we were not disappointed. Our food and service were top notch. An irate customer yelling and getting in the face of the manager next to our table. This situation could not have been handled any better by the staff. Apologies were offered to our table by the manager and our waitress. We are excited to go again. read more

Thank you Max and Savannah for a wonderful evening. Excellent food, service and conversation. You made our Birthday celebration extra special. Panico's NEVER disappoints!!! read more

Great BYOB in Cape May! Wonderful service and delicious food. My husband had the pork chop and gnocchi- the gnocchi was the lightest and the best we've ever had! read more

Love their pizza, chicken parm, service, atmosphere. Converted church setting is pretty cool - lots to choose from and reasonably priced

"Old school Italian ready for you to mangia" I had been meaning to go here for years and finally got a reservation on a Sunday night. And now I know why it is popular . What's to cheer - Wide ranging menu - Good pizza which is difficult in South Jersey surprisingly - Very tasty and fresh pastas - Friendly and personable service with a personality ! - Large, open and well decorated dining space - reasonable prices What's to jeer - I've had better octopus This is a great Italian option in Cape May! read more

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Phenomenal spot. I had the burrata and the pork osso buco. The burrata was a wonderful balance of flavors served with grilled focaccia that was soft enough to soak up the wonderful honey-balsamic glaze and olive oil. Speaking of olive oil, the dinner bread can be an appetizer in itself with the robust herbed dipping oil they give you. The pork osso buco was amazing - tender and delicious, topped with their house made marinara and served with perfectly al dente pappardelle pasta. Everyone in our group loved their food and my son, who is not big eater, ate three pieces of pizza. The desserts were special, I was able to taste the dark side of the moon cake, and the s'mores cheesecake. Both were fresh, rich, and large enough to share. Our server was friendly and attentive and the atmosphere was very laid back and pleasant. This was our first time at Panico's and we've decided to add it to our Cape May restaurant rotation. read more

Love this place... Offers whatever you're in the mood for...Pizza is off the charts...Pork Shank Osso Buco is a favorite and.Sunday Dinner may be the best value downashore...and the BYOB makes it a great destination.. read more

Our most recent experience at Panico's left much to be desired. We've enjoyed dining here for the past 7(?) years and have recollections of many good meals (some outstanding). While we had made reservations ahead of time, our being seated was delayed by 30 minutes. Our waiter, Tim, was great - kudos to him. We ordered fried mozzarella and gnocchi appetizers. The fried mozzarella were uncooked, the center cheese was still chilled. Tim corrected that promptly. The gnocchi weren't gnocchi at all, more like mini ravioli. Their sauce was honey flavorful, though it was hard to square up that we were eating gnocchi when we in fact were not. For dinner we had ravioli (good, though only 6), eggplant with pasta (good), penne with vodka sauce (good), and Bronzino (whole fish, overcooked/burnt) with a side of garlic mashed potatoes (marginal). Couple the late start, the food missteps, and loud indoor environment, and this was a forgettable meal bringing Panico's down a notch in our minds. read more

We sat outside and there were fans blasting on us and making loud noises. We asked if they could turn them down and they said there was only one speed. They obviously didn't understand the wind tunnel we and other guests were experiencing. There was also a plant blowing bugs on our table. The service was slow. The food was just ok. I ordered the raviolis and they didn't give me enough sauce. The inside of the ravioli was very dry. I would not recommend. read more

Dinner at this BYOB restaurant was amazing. For starters, they bring you this delicious homemade bread and herbed olive oil that is to die for! We started off with a margarita pizza which was crispy, perfectly cooked with sweet, fresh San Marzano tomatoes Yum!! For entrées, I ordered the pork osso bucco and my friend ordered the grilled pork chop with gnocchi. OMG! When these entrées arrived, they were gorgeous. They were not only beautiful, but they were so delicious. My pork osso bucco was so beyond tender it fell right off the bone. The Pappardelle pasta that accompanied it completed this masterpiece. Now, about the grilled pork chop dish... The pork chop was so tender and juicy but the gnocchi that accompanied it was incredible! Definitely the showstopper of the dinner. We loved everything about this meal and the service was excellent. I can't wait to go back and try something different. read more

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We have loved this place for years! Huge portions, consistently good menu. We can no longer recommend this spot. While the service is still good, the food has really gone downhill. Bread undercooked and under seasoned, pasta dishes swimming in too much sauce. Dish components were missing or lackluster. Menu is definitely overpriced for the quality. Something is way off here, and wondering if the focus is on their other business instead. read more

We had a great meal at Panico's. Starters were mozzarella fritto and battered Jersey. Both were decadent, but a bit heavy. The fresh jersey tomatoes and blue cheese were spectacular together. BF loved the baked tortellini and sausage...I opted for a salad. The Greek had amazing feta with chopped cukes, tomato and onion. Not a greens salad, but great flavor. We opted for dessert which was delicious as well. Service was great. Restaurant was clean and nicely spaced. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. DON'T FORGET ITS A BYOB!!! read more

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Loved the food!!! I had linguine with clams and crabmeat - it was soooo good! And the gnochi's were like little heavenly clouds of pasta, and I don't usually eat gnochi, but these were amazing. I have been so ready to go back there!!! A friend got the pork chop which looked amazing and she confirmed that it was delicious! Love this restaurant! read more

The serving sizes here were insane. We got the seafood pasta and crab ravioli and barely made a dent into the seafood pasta. It was incredible and loaded with enough seafood to be a meal on its own. Highly recommend! read more

Went to Panico's for dinner and we enjoyed a memorable meal. For starters, the restaurant is gorgeous inside. They have long, narrow, floor to ceiling windows, beautiful ceiling fans, and very clean interior. They also have plenty of parking, in the rear of the restaurant. Our server, Lizzy, was exceptional. She smiled, from start to finish, kept our glasses full, recommended great items, and made us feel like we were her only customers. The complimentary garlic bread, and oil, was beyond delicious, warm, and was gone in seconds. The salad special was soooooo good. The warm pear, greens, cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette was mouthwatering. The Margherita Pizza was perfectly charred, fresh, and throughly....and entirely......e.n.j.o.y.e.d. Our daughter gladly stated, that not only was her cheese ravioli delectable, but also, that Panico's was one of her favorite restaurants. The chocolate cake dessert was moist, scrumptious, and the presentation was so nice. The double espresso came in the nicest espresso cup that I've ever seen. The espresso was the perfect cap to the meal. I cannot recommend Panico's enough. You will, MOST DEFINITELY, enjoy a great meal and will agree with my review. read more

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My boyfriend and I dine here at least once during our visit to Cape May, sometimes more than once. The staff is very accommodating as my boyfriend is on a low salt diet and neither of us eats meat. read more

Ate here last week. Seating was efficient, especially given it being a Saturday night in the busy summer season. Hubby loved the Sunday Dinner. My penne ala vodka was good, but it would have been better with less sauce - a bit too soupy. Service was very good. VERY loud inside - difficult to have a conversation. All in all, would return but probably at a less busy time. read more

The Food Was Delicious I Enjoyed It. I Give It Five Stars. The Waitress Was Very Nice. read more

We've been dining here for years and tonight was an experience that quite literally left us with a bad taste in our mouths. It started with us waiting 20 minutes just to have a server come to our table to tell us she would be right with us. A few minutes later we had to flag her down just to bring us water. Our food came out pretty quickly after we ordered, but we were not brought plates or silverware with anything, which prompted us to wait. Once she brought us the plates she did not hand them to us individually, but instead left them on one side of the table for us to do ourselves (twice). The server unfortunately had a terrible attitude and no common sense when it came to waiting on a table. The restaurant was understaffed and they had no food runners which was not efficient at all. While the food was as good as always, the service was entirely disappointing. read more

Been to this restaurant several times, food and service have always been good. This time, despite making a reservation almost 2 months in advance, they wanted to sit our party of 2 in the basement. The restaurant is an old church so part of the experience ( and increase in price) is for the atmosphere. Basement has a low ceiling and was noticeably hotter and more humid than upstairs. We decided not to stay, called another of our favorites and they were willing to squeeze us in later in the evening. They really shouldn't use the basement other than for private parties or, at a minimum, confirm before arriving you are willing to be there. Unfortunately how this was handled soured us to one of our formerly favorite spots going forward. read more

Love all of the BYOB places in Cape May! My girlfriend and I ate outside, be aware of the mosquitoes!!! We had the fried eggplant and zucchini as an appetizer. For our meal we had the penne a la vodka with chicken and branzino. Everything was delicious. We were pretty full but after looking at reviews and seeing the picture of that chocolate peanut butter cake I had to get it. It was delectable!!! I loved it! It was just a little pricey but other than that, really nice restaurant! read more

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We Love this restaurant! Never disappoints! However I do enjoy anchovies for my Caesar salad, maybe next time read more