My friend and I stopped in at the Rusty Nail yesterday after having spotted it from the beach. It is a cute little restaurant that offers indoor seating, outdoor seating on the patio, or outdoor seating in a sandpit. There is a bandstand with live music. All of this added up to very Island vibes, without having to leave New Jersey! For dinner I got the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. It was delicious! All the flavors and textures mixed well together. My friend got Mac n cheese balls and buffalo chicken dip. They were also great! Our only problem was we had to ask for utensils and napkins, probably a mistake by the waitress, but still strange. Overall, it was a great place! read more

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We really wanted to like the Rusty Nail. The place has a great atmosphere and the kind of setting that makes you think you're in for a memorable meal, which is exactly why we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the food just didn't live up to the potential. We started with the nachos, which were probably the biggest disappointment. They tasted more like something you'd find in a school cafeteria than an appetizer from a restaurant. The wings weren't much better. Instead of being crisp on the outside, they arrived soggy and lacked the texture you want from a good wing. The burgers were the real low point. More than one person in our party described them as a hockey puck placed between two pieces of bread, and honestly, that assessment felt pretty accurate. The patties were dry and lacked the flavor you'd normally expect from a good burger. It's a shame because the Rusty Nail has so much going for it from an atmosphere and setting perspective. Unfortunately, the food left us feeling like the experience didn't match the potential of the place. Maybe we caught it on an off night, but based on our meal, it's not somewhere we would running back to in the future. read more

The strawberry hot wings were really gross. Soggy, way too sweet and not hot at all, had strawberries cut on top of them, and had a strawberry dipping sauce. Just way too over the top. The crab cake sandwich was really good though, I would get that next time. The service was great, make sure you ask for the wifi password as the restaurant is in a dead zone. read more

The meatballs in this white sauce was really good unfortunately the white sauce was too much for me. I think it was a truffle sauce and I got sick. The lobster roll with out the roll was excellent dipped in sauce they provided. read more

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Had a really nice afternoon at the Rusty Nail. Decent food (pub fare), good drinks, nice atmosphere (sat outside in Adirondack chairs w a beach umbrella) AND we were able to park at the restaurant for free! There was also live music... acoustic(we were there on a Sat afternoon). The service was TERRIBLE. We actually had to ask to be waited on and then every time we needed something, we needed to go find our waiter/ask someone else to find our waiter/or just resolve what we needed on our own. Restaurant was dog friendly. The restaurant had dog bowls for water (of course our waiter didn't offer us one) and there's a dog food menu. Will definitely be back! read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Chicken salad sandwich - upgrade to fries for an addl $3 - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Great beach restaurant... stopped by for quick snack and drinks. Enjoyed the place atmosphere a lot. Good drink and decent beer selection. Had the mozzarella sticks ; balls actually), they're good. The pesto chicken panini was really good. Overall, not a bad place to have a beer, snack and soak in the beach air. read more

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Beach bar- bar food- indoor and outdoor sand seats. Live music. Service was excellent! Had the nachos, clams casino, crab cake sandwich and quesadilla. All came out quickly and was great for price and portion. read more

It's a cool setting, the food is not good, ordered the crab cake sandwich and it came out dry, wife order the nail wrap no fish in it, it was all breading and also dry. Service was good. Good deals on beer, if they fixed the food would be a super cool place read more

Food was gross. Restaurant is dirty. They need to hire a cleaning crew and do a deep clean. Drinks were nasty as well we literally did not even eat the food and sent back the drinks. There is nothing rememberable about this place read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - We didn't. Even try it looks like it would make us sick - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Watching the Kentucky Derby with friends at the Rusty Nail, great local spot down on the beach in Cape May! read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Date of Visit: Aug. 2, 2025 This again was another stop on my road trip during my stay in Cape May, what a nice town. I was actually wanting to go to a place on the other island that served Blue Crabs, I really wanted those. However where I was staying didn't have many parking spots and was afraid I wouldn't have one when I came back so I forgo the crabs for now. After having a grand breakfast to start the day and so-so slices of pizza it was time for dinner. I had stopped in here earlier in the day to have a beer and was able to check the menu, all looked good. Earlier I sat at the outside bar, for dinner I decided to sit at the inside bar which over looked the outside area. This place is set up for everyone from solo travelers like my self to couples and families. The families mostly sat out side in the sand (beach) area. As I looked over the menu I settled on the bacon wrapped scallops and a summer salad. I did make the mistake by not ordering one of the local beers, dang. The scallops and salad arrived and looked great. I needed something light and somewhat healthy since I have been eating on the road the past couple of days. The scallops were done right and the salad fresh and crisp. Unlike the pizza I had earlier that day. If your in the area and looking for a place to eat with your family or solo you may want to give it a try. Peace. read more

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Very disappointing experience. I'm not someone who typically writes reviews, but this experience warranted one. We arrived around 10:52 AM and waited nearly 40 minutes for a cold soup and salad, while customers who arrived after us were served first. I understand the breakfast-to-lunch transition, but the wait and lack of communication were unacceptable. Our waitress was extremely kind and apologetic, and this was not her fault. She said the manager would come over, but the manager never came to acknowledge or apologize for the situation. Very disappointing and unprofessional. I would not return. read more

A great place for people of all ages. Food is excellent, staff are great. Outside seating area has firepits for those chilly evenings, so you can sit comfortably and listen to live music. Visiting Cape May NJ? Then this is a must visit place. read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We love coming here but I cannot figure out why. The location and setting are nice but I leave disappointed every time. This time, I ordered the egg white omelette and it came saturated in oil or butter or simply whatever may have oozed from the cheese, so it sat untouched. It was virtually floating on the plate. When I placed the breakfast order, I asked for it to be cooked without added salt. Ciara read our order back to us, adding an eye roll of sorts at the 'no-salt' part, and the food was delivered as if the kitchen staff felt the same. The side potatos were smothered in salt. Just strange really. At least the kids got frisbees on the way out when I asked, whether or not their dad actually got an edible breakfast on Father's Day. read more

This was across the street from the beach with lots of seating. There was a bar both inside and outside along with lots of tables in the sand. There was also a fire pit with seating available. The menu had a range of different choices while the service was appreciated. For appetizers, the strawberry hot wings ($19) and local oysters ($21) were ordered. The wings came with a strawberry dipping sauce. I never saw something like this, so I had to order. There were about eleven or so good size wings with plenty of sauce. The cook on the wings was okay. I would have preferred them to be cooked longer. The strawberry sauce was tasty. It had a very slight kick to it, but nothing ridiculous. It balanced the sweetness from the strawberry aspect. There were a half-dozen oysters with a mignonette. These were fresh and tasty while the traditional mignonette enhanced the oysters. For an entrée, the Baja grilled mahi tacos ($25) were ordered. There were two tacos with a mango marinade on the mahi, shaved lettuce, pineapple salsa, avocado crema, and chipotle aioli. Each taco was stuffed with an ideal piece of mahi. The mahi had a nice cook but lacked a little seasoning. The other parts of the taco made up for that. The avocado crema and the chipotle aioli made for an appealing combination of flavors too. Will I go back? Yes. read more

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The rusty nail was fantastic!! Live music, tasty food, great service... I would recommend for sure! I got a pina coolada and it wasn't too strong (which was good!!) and the fish tacos were absolutely AMAZING! read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Pina coolada and fish tacos - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Spacious restaurant with bar & grill type food. The outdoor seating area includes picnic tables and Adirondack chairs on the sand. There are also a couple fire pits outside with seating for the colder months. I sat outside and enjoyed the end of the sunset. Zucchini sticks for app was surprisingly good. Per server recommendation, I tried the rusty wrap which contained fried flounder, and also got the mahi tacos. Between the two I liked the wrap better! There was live music when I came which was a nice addition. read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Mahi tacos - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Food is okay. I had the flounder. It was a little thin and dry. Vibes, live music, and beach fire make it a good time. read more

If I could rate this place as a negative 10 I would and here's why: overpriced and terrible cocktails, poor service when you can get it, greasy and poorly prepared food and lastly, not very clean. There are plenty of great bar and grills in Cape May. read more

Every September my friends and I come here. We love Chef Jimmy's food! The fried shrimp are our favorite. We were shocked that they were removed from the menu but shrimp cocktail remained. The butterfly shrimp are well seasoned and fried to a golden brown color. They come with cocktail sauce and homemade horseradish sauce. I like the ambiance so I stayed and ordered the nachos and salsa. The chips were stale and salsa lacked flavor. We were craving our second favorite. The Mac and cheese balls are well seasoned, good crunch and filled with cheese. The cheese pull is video worthy. We need the fried shrimp back on the menu. read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Mac n cheese appetizer - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Came here with my family for dinner and had such a nice time! We decided to sit in the sand and my toddler loved dancing in the sand to the live band. I got the locals special of clam chowder, flounder francaise and a brownie melt and had such a good meal. The flounder francaise was cooked perfectly and had such good flavors. Definitely recommend! read more

The foods really good if u go there will be good food the service is good u get ur food fast

Run, don't walk from the outside bar on a Sunday night. The two bartenders couldn't be less interested in working. They ignored customers, served drinks in dirty glasses and stared at the ceiling. Every place else is upping their game and this place is backsliding. Someone's losing a boatload of money! read more

Very disappointing dinner experience. Under staffed and not prepared for summer time customers. Food came out so slow, shrimp cocktail and chicken wings took 50 minutes to arrive at the table. Shrimp cocktail the ice was melting and came out in half ice and water. Wings were smothered in BBQ sauce. Dinner also was underwhelming and expensive at least that came out a bit quicker. Overall disappointing and won't be back for food. This place should just focus on bar, music, smaller menu if they can't handle the summer time heat. read more

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This place is so neat! Love the beach vibe with the sand area but live music is super loud! The sandbox is fun for the kids but because of the loud live music, we couldn't really sit by the sand. But we were able to enjoy the sand area after the kids were done eating and it was fun! I got the beach plum farm pull pork sandwich and it was delicious! The kids meal came on a frisbee which is super neat! The kids were playing with the frisbee after dinner! I highly recommend! The servers and the hostess were super friendly as well and I appreciated the huge bathroom!! read more

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CAPE MAY: The Beach Shack & Rusty Nail Rusty Nail is a must see while visiting the area! Well-known since the 1970's as a locals favorite where lifeguards and beachgoers would enjoy a meal and great vibes at the end of the day, leashed dogs are allowed to join you at the outdoor space. The outdoor space is unique as there is outdoor bar seating and also seating in the sand in adirondack chairs, tables with umbrellas, firepits, and an ocean breeze. You can order anything from the bar for self service or choose to be waited on. In addition to American food, there is also a doggie menu with treats, chicken/veggies, burger, and a hot dog! The adjoining hotel, Beach Shack, also has dog friendly rooms! read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - a dog on the beach - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

The bevy of three star reviews scream "shore tourist trap!" I'm going to agree with this rating but what makes this place tolerable is the happy hour deals. Buffalo chicken dip was solid at the happy hour price point as well as the beer and margarita specials! read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Menu - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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The food was terrible. Like someone opened a bag of tortilla chips ( good) threw on some leftover pork (ok could be ok) topped with fake plastic cheese product (oh please no) and squirted generic no-brand barbecue sauce around. Everyone -me included- loves some nachos. Why did you do this?!?!?! read more

Fun casual plaice - good for all. 10 min wait on a Sunday eve in high season - not bad. Beautiful evening with the sun and sand all around the outside tables. Service was friendly! Best appetizers: hot wings, shrimp cocktail and tempura zucchini sticks. read more

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We have moved down here and have been to the RN years ago when we stayed at the beach shack. We walk by on the promenade all the time. Last night we decided to give it a try. When we went in we were offered option inside or out. It was a cooler evening so we picked inside. We still had a nice view of the fire pit and outside. They had a huge tv by our table unfortunately wasn't on I could dtill see the ballgame in the smaller ones further away. I think if I had asked they would have turned it on. It's nothing fancy but we weren't looking for fancy just something quick and easy, a couple of burgers was the choice. Our server Patrick was much appreciated. I always judge on my second ice tea, he did not disappoint. Coming by to refill without having to flag him down. The rest of the servers all pitched in to make sure our food arrived hot when ready. Plenty of people acting as a team. We got the fried shrimp appetizer. Large breaded I couldn't tell if they were frozen or hand made at the restaurant so I think that goes to saying they were good. They were large that's always a plus. The cocktail sauce had a nice bite to it generally a hit with my wife and I. We both got the burger. Patrick was ahead of the game and asked if we wanted the shack sauce on the side which we went for not knowing exactly how the sauce was so why chance on your burger. Side was the way the sauce was delish esp for dipping fries in, had a Russian dressing vibe to me. The fries which come separate and not added to the burger which was not strange but was a way to get a little more money out of us, usually it's add fries for a few extra bucks but at thd RN it's buy a basket for 9.00 kinda much but we spit them and they were great crispy on the outside soft and full on the inside not shoestring but real fries. Wife got coleslaw it was just right for me not to much Mayo but still flavorful. We opted out for dessert the meal was filling. Towards the end of our meal,in the outside area, a musician started playing guitar and singing we didn't get their name but he was quite good and we enjoyed the live music. All in all two thumbs up. We will definitely be back on a warmer evening or during season to sit outside and enjoy the complete experience. We are blessed with many great restaurants in this area and rest assured this is one of them. read more

My husband and I went here to have breakfast around 9 AM. There were some customers, mostly were sitting outside. Our waitress was nice and attentive. The Bloody Mary was pretty good and spicy. I had a bowl of fruit. The bowl was not big, mostly melons and cantaloupes. There were some pineapple, blueberries, and thin slices of strawberries. It was $9. Breakfast burrito was bland. read more

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The seafood here was delicious. I absolutely loved the Crab-Stuffed Flounder. The cocktails were great as well! read more

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The Rusty Nail manages to thread the needle between casual lounge (inside) and full on beach party (outside) and totally nails the carefree summer vibe. That it does so in a totally dialed, organized and professional manner is probably why this place had a 45 minute wait when we showed up for dinner at 7:30 on a Sunday (yes, Sunday) night in August. Yep, the place was packed, with lots of families, plenty of kids and a whirlwind of activity. There was no way we were gonna snag a spot in the wide-open sand-filled outdoor area with fire pits and beach chairs, so we just sat at the indoor bar/lounge area, where our totally slammed but unflustered waitress took care of us without so much as batting an eye. My Whisky Sour was spot on, as was my buddy's Pain Killer, and our meals came out quickly, with speedy servers to run out the goods. Broiled Flounder? Excellent. Mahi Mahi tacos? Delightful, if a bit rubbery. But you get good portions at decent prices, and there's even live music to serenade you while you chow down (the band played outside). It's just a great Florida surf meets the Caribbean vibe (especially outside), but tad more refined, with great service and attention to detail; you can see why it's a popular spot. Apparently it's seasonal though, and the party shuts down sometime in October. (Caveat: Parking anywhere in Cape May is a challenge these days, so good luck with the ubiquitous ParkMobile app.) read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Outdoor area with sand and fire pits at the Rusty Nail - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Went here for lunch today, after a few hours at the beach and had a great meal. The service was fast everyone was very attentive and kind. They place is for everybody, kid friendly and dog friendly. The menu includes pup treats, and there is a sand area with tables to eat and hang out. The clam strips were perfectly battered and fried. The nail wrap was amazing if your in the mood for filet, and the summer salad was light and refreshing. I had the spicy jalapeño margarita which could have used more spice for me but was still enjoyable. My dad ordered the crispy chicken sandwich which also looked amazing and he only h left a few fries on his plate. I would definitely recommend this place read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Mango cart - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Came for breakfast. Best avocado toast I've ever had! Great coffee ( no Bloody Mary). Server was A++++.

This place is very fun for me as a 16 year old and my family. I was able to bring my dog which is always great. The food came quick and the server was funny. There was nice music in the background which was great ranging from Oasis to the Foo Fighters which are some of my favorites. I ordered the Seafood Pasta and I loved it. It was probably the best pasta ever had. My sister got the pull pork nachos, I tried them and didn't really like them. read more

Usually a consistent option for lunch or dinner with the family. They have indoor and outdoor and semi outdoor eating options. They have a few beers on tap and a full bar, and have a decent selection of food options as well. The semi outdoor seating is the best as you can feel the breeze, see the sun go down, but be covered. Areas of the outside are also pet friendly as well. The free parking doesn't have a ton of spots so be prepared to pay to park or park further away in a free spot and walk. Will come back. read more

Ridiculous. We made a reservation waited anyway when we got there. We were shown to a table with Adirondack chairs that did not reach the table. Impossible for a person with a disability to eat at. We asked the hostess for one of the picnic tables but she walked away and came back 10 mins later and said nothing ignored or request and just showed us to the same stupid tiny table. Three picnic tables were open for 30 mins after we were seated. We were pretty much ignored by the wait staff. We sat practically on the ground in an area that was essentially a giant playground sandbox where obnoxious unruly children were screaming crying running wild and flinging sand Sand in our food drinks eyes nose all over our clothes. Then our waiter neglected to bring back our credit card and we didn't notice in the rush to get out of there. When we called they said they would not return our card without us driving there in person 2.5 hours away. Nice thanks what a bunch. Did you ever hear of customer service. The food was overpriced and horrible. Better nachos are served at taco bell. Cheese wiz and fake green sauce that was supposed to be guac. Inedible. They have no clue and no class. A bunch of screaming kids and drunk parents tryin to get out of hiring a babysitter. Dump your kids in the sand and go get drunk while your kids scream and run wild manners are a thing of the past. DON"T GO THERE! read more

Strawberry wings. Absolutely f'n gross. Like, inedible... wiped the sauce off just to eat some chicken which was soggy and atrocious. Hubby got garlic parm wings which were equally soggy and gnarly, yuk yuk yuk Do yourself a favor and ONLY order beer here and listen to music read more

Rusty Nail Bar & Grill - Strawberry wings. Absolutely disgusting. Inedible - American Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Best shrimp cocktail, huge, fresh, great sauce Awful steamers do not order trust me, tiny and rubbery but the sauce is just water lol stay away from those read more