We stopped by while in the area as we were up for some Mediterranean cuisine and this place did not disappoint! Environs were nice - nice view of the water outside. Service was was excellent and pacing of apps/entrees/desert was perfect! Salads were fresh, entrees were great - mine was Salmon which was cooked perfectly, and dessert was awesome, too. Next time in the area, we will add this venue to the dining rotation! Highly recommended! read more

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This is a nice restaurant to take somebody for a special occasion. It's pretty fancy looking, the lighting and other decorations makes for a good ambiance. All of the food we got was pretty good. I really liked the seasoning on the calamari and on the chicken parmagiano. The strawberry lemonade mocktail was also made pretty well and is very photogenic. The lava cake is probably my favorite part of the meal. The service could've been a little more attentive but it's nothing to complain too much about. All of the food we got was good, but doesn't really stand out from other establishments. read more

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For starters...we did not have reservations. The hostess offered us a seat outside on a 100* weather day. I inquired about the bar area-and she said we could sit where there was not a linen table cloth. Yay! The bar area was the perfect t place for me and my friends. It had good entertainment-a man singing and playing a guitar. We enjoyed the pineapple sangria and were allowed to order from the dinner menu that's offered in the fine dining area. Our service when we sat down was quick but then became slow because the bar got crowded. We ordered the chicken parm and a burger. Both were delicious. The most outstanding garlic rolls with a garlic olive oil accompanied the chicken! Our servers were overwhelmed but I would still go back and sit in the bar area again. Who needs a tablecloth? read more

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A great vibe in Cape May right on the Bay. We were meeting friends for a night out and had my 2 kids with us (10/12yos). We chose this spot because of the wood pizzas on the menu but found out this was the bar area only. But that's ok because my kids still thoroughly enjoyed the garlic bread for the table and their meal options. It was a great night out and experience! We were well taken care of by the server and support team! Stick with the meat options - my kids enjoyed the crispy fish and lemon chicken but the pasta dish I ordered left much to be desired for the price point (literally tasted like a frozen lean cuisine dish). I liked the experience but for the price point...the food was just meh. Not bad...but not great. read more

Secondo Panico's - Outdoor seating with a great ambience - Italian Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Our first time at Secondo Panico's although we've passed it many times on our way from North WIldwood to Cape May. I've also heard many rave reviews and decided to try it for our anniversary. We arrived early for our reservation and a table wasn't ready so we headed to the outside bar for a drink as we waited. The atmosphere inside and out is beautiful. The outdoor bar is nestled off to the corner and a great spot to take in the beautiful views of the fishing boats and the water. The cocktail menu was extensive but I stuck to my classic vodka martini with blue cheese stuffed olives which was perfect and a full glass too. We were texted when the table was ready which was right on time for our reservation. The server brought us 2 complementary glasses of champagne and wished us a happy anniversary. She also told us about the menu and all of the specials. She was very knowledgeable about every dish and answered all of our questions. The meal began with a fresh baked focaccia bread and garlic infused olive oil to dip. It was excellent. We started with the octopus appetizer and the seafood soup. The octopus was cooked just right but a very small portion. The soup was not so good and overly salty. For one entree we chose the goat cheese, scallop, and seafood ravioli. The dish was on the small side and also very salty. It was just ok aside from the salt. Don't get me wrong I love things on the salty side but this was a bit too much. The other entree we ordered was the fra diablo seafood spaghettini. This was a nice sized portion and the pasta and seafood cooked well but also extremely salty. Overall the food was average at best outside of the saltiness. The service was 5 stars as was the ambiance. Will we go back? Likely yes but only for cocktails at the bar and maybe try the pizza. read more

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This is our go to restaurant, we go in August for my wife's birthday and October for our anniversary. The crab soup appetizer was great as was my wife's scallop dinner special. I ordered the pork chop thinking it would be the pork chop florentine on the menu but was served the pork chop special which I didn't like. The pork chop was cooked perfectly however I didn't like the "sauce" or gnocchi. Perhaps I should have specified the pork chop on the menu or our server could have asked which one I wanted...just some miscommunication. Our server was pleasant and the ambiance is relaxing. We will definitely go back next August and October. read more

No point making a reservation because you still have to wait a half hour or longer. Ridiculous .

I really hate to leave this review, as we have had such great meals in the past here. However, the way that they manage their reservations is so awful and unfortunately does not make up for the food/overall experience. We had reservations and waited almost an hour to be seated. There were probably about 10 parties just standing around waiting to be seated. We finally went up to ask what the ETA was and no one could give us an answer. We ended up leaving, finding another restaurant, and having a great meal elsewhere. It was extremely frustrating. While I don't blame the hostess, this restaurant needs to figure out how to turn over tables and take reservations better. This experience was the worst it has been, but I have probably had to wait 30 or more minutes for reservations at least 4 other times in the past. There are much better restaurants in the area that are run efficiently. I would skip this restaurant on your next trip down the shore. read more

The food is average at best. Beautiful setting by the water and good drinks. Appetizers are small. The service is good but their specials should be written down somewhere...too many! read more

Cute restaurant on the water behind fisheries with inside, outside and bar seating. You can only get brick oven pizza at the bar, according to our menu and waiter. The appetizers were mediocre. The mozzarella salad (Caprese everywhere else) needed salt. The tomato feta bruschetta had too much honey and not enough salt. We found where they used ALL of the salt - the cream of crab soup. So salty it burned going down. There were so many off menu specials, they should have printed a specials menu. Our waiter rattled them off so fast, we could barely hear him and comprehend what the dish was. We stuck with the regular dishes. The chicken parm and Cavatappi pasta dishes were the best of the meal - worth coming back just for those two dishes. Our waiter was as green as they come. He didn't know how to uncork a wine bottle at the table next to ours - the patron had to help him fix his mess and then wait for glasses. Who brings a bottle of wine to a table and no glasses!? The staff should have had more training. Other servers seemed on the ball. It's possible we might return. read more

We had another wonderful experience at Secondo. The combination of wonderful, delicious and creative food, plus sitting outside in the marina, plus attentive service keeps us coming back. read more

We had large group of 12 No issues at all Had reservations on holiday weekend and we were sat on time Food and drinks excellent We go at least 3 times in summer read more

A boomer paradise at the shore. This Italian place served good enough Italian food and we were able to snag a reservation during the summer only a few days in advance. The food was mid at best and it doesn't help they charge $6 for a soda. I will say there was a great bay/water view and nice ambiance for dining al fresco. When your boxed into a lot of overpriced tourist traps this is a good alternative. read more

"I'm sorry" is all that can be said. Sorry you didn't get the table you wanted after two months of making a reservation. I'm sorry the dishes are dirty. I'm sorry for the poor service. Sorry we don't have seltzer but we were able to order it at the bar (huh). I'm sorry for being out of menu items. I get it. Staff is low but this was just poor service. My sister brought all her friends together and I booked this trip months in advance. It was a total disappointment. We didn't make it past ordering appetizers. We didn't get drink menus (huh??). It was just a mess. We left feeling disappointed and no attempts were made to make it right. read more

Secondo Panico's - Bread...cold and late...like the service - Italian Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

The Food was delicious..we were with another couple and everybody enjoyed their meal..The variations of items were amazing. salmon Steak linguini and clams and lamb chops.. all were superb read more

Good food. Bad service. We have come here for my sister's birthday for the past 3 years. There are certain dishes that are good but that's only if you can get past the mediocre at best service. We came in for our reservation on time and were sat almost immediately. However, after sitting for at minimum 20 minutes (I started counting after it took a while, so it was more) no one had come to our table. As someone in the industry previously as a server and now review dining services/experiences as a profession, I completely understand a server being in the weeds, when the hostess either sits a table and you're not ready. These sections usually are preset before dinner service begins. Even in that event, there is still a order of service that should continue. Either the servers assistant, the hostess or floor manager should "water the table." At the very least, the server should come by to greet the table and ask for extra time. A simple "Hello my name is Chad, I'll be right with you," goes a long way. For the most part, people are understanding because you see that the restaurant is busy. I have been there. Plenty of times. I get it. But to walk by the table multiple times and not say anything and continue on without any contact is unacceptable. Perhaps they need to redesign their dinner service from reservation to dessert. Needless to say, we won't be coming back. read more

We stopped in tonight for dinner was seated immediately. Ordered appetizers the shrimp cocktail had a yellow color and very slimy. Had to send it back. For dinner we both got the chicken Parm at the Best OK. They had a lot of flies in the Restaurant. The best part of the whole dining experience was the waitress was awesome. Couldn't ask for better service. read more

False Advertising and Poor Customer Service!! We went to Secundo to celebrate a birthday yesterday and arrived early prior to our dinner reservation to have drinks and some 1/2 price oysters as advertised on the menu prior to dinner. When we received our check the oysters were not 1/2 price. We questioned the bill and showed them their menu and the on site manager contacted the owner to get permission to honor the online menu. The owner declined to honor the pricing clearly stated on her menu and indicated the decision was due to inflation. False advertising and poor customer service!! How long does it take to update your online menu? We payed our bill and decided not to stay for dinner. We had a lovely birthday dinner at a local Cape May Italian restaurant. We will not be returning to Secundo and would not recommend it to anyone ever!! read more

Secondo Panico's - Secundo Online Menu (9/18/23) - showing 1/2 price oysters in the bar between 4 and 5 - Italian Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Made a reservation before hand for 6pm, we were still waiting 40 minutes later. Staff was rude especially the female owner who tried to start a fight with me and when she couldn't get me going decided it was a good idea to get in my 15 year old daughters face and start taunting her. When I told her if she doesn't leave my daughter alone we are going to have a problem she then told me I was acting like a toddler. Highly inappropriate and unprofessional. Any time we asked how much longer we were given the run around and lied to. When we wrote an email to them about our treatment they informed us we were no longer welcome there. read more

Wow. From the moment we were "greeted" by the young and inexperienced hostess to the wrong check at the end of the end of our timed experience, this was a huge disappointment. We were influenced by other reviews to try this restaurant. I have to wonder how could so many folks be so wrong?! The highlight of the meal was the focaccia bread and the spanakopita. Every plate set before us was taken away (or attempted to be) before we were through. My husband had the lobster and shrimp special. The lobster was puny, and overcooked. Shrimp was rubbery as well. I had the clams over linguine. Took two or three bites, and was done. Dessert was ok, but not special. The check was delivered post haste, as we felt we were on a 1.5 hour limit. As we were getting up to go, our waitress informed us that she mixed up our check with the neighboring table. (The difference was a few dollars, but had to rerun it anyway.) There are so many other wonderful dining experiences here in Cape May. Will not be returning. read more

Best restaurant in Capemay. Will & Jodi are the best behind the bar. We loved our sever Devon. He took really good care of us. The music was great and the outdoor patio was such a vibe. I'll be back read more

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Don't overlook this hidden gem in the back bays of Wildwood/Cape May. Incredible menu - highlights seafood of course, but they have incredible Italian-centric dishes, and boast some fan favorites coming out of their brick oven. This sounds simple, but I feel like I have to always call it out when it is good...their house bread is unforgettable. They are situated right on a marina, and have a nice outdoor seating area with firepit. Great spot to go for dinner, or even just for drinks! Service is always friendly and not top tier. read more

First it was 2 hrs between the apps and main course. After 90 minutes they said people were short in kitchen??Lack of customer service when apps out at 840 and main course served at 1020??This USED to be one of our go to places now it's a stay away place. After waiting orders were not only wrong but cold at 1020...No manager on to speak with and our party of 8 was less than happy. Went to boardwalk for pizza.. read more

We have been going to Secondo since it opened. The last few meals have been very disappointing. And I have spoken to others who say the same thing. I order the Lemon chicken most of the time, which is $29.00 and it was half of what it used to be. We said something to the owner and she was downright rude to us. She literally lied to our faces and said their portions have not changed. I posted pictures of the meals I ordered in the past and it definitely has gone downhill. I would not recommend this place any longer. There are too many delicious places in Cape May and Wildwood to eat. Don't waste your money here. See the pictures below - you can clearly see that they are not giving you the same dinner for $29.00 - the owner doesn't care about her customers. She only cares about her money. We WERE regulars there but will not go back. She was rude and basically said go somewhere else cause she gets enough customers and doesn't need us. Well if you don't take care of your regulars your restaurant usually goes down from there. read more

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This restaurant is tucked next to the bay right before the bridge into Diamond Beach, NJ. I've driven past it countless times & finally made it in to dine! It's adorable with many different dining spaces & a great outdoor patio & bar with live music. A great spot for sunset! They have an expansive menu & we decided to go with a variety of apps/small plates to try more options. Burrata with pear & arugula: good, hard to go wrong here, would have liked a few more pears. Crab bites: not my fave, too much filler for my taste. Watermelon salad: perfect for summer! Crab bisque: the highlight for me (aside from cocktails), rich, creamy & delicious! My husband arrive for the weekend from Pittsburgh while we were there so we stayed & enjoyed a couple more cocktails. He had a pizza but didn't like it...too much crust. The cocktails were fun so I definitely want to get back and try more! Be There in a Prosecco: my least fave but nice if you want something super light. Would prefer it in a champagne glass without ice. Strawberry Margarita: perfect! So fun to be served a Marg in the actual glass & they remembered a salt rim! It's Always Honey in Jersey: tasty & fun with the little honey dipper! read more

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Been to many Italian restaurants and this was by far the worst. The server never check up on our party of 8. The specials were on a separate menu. The proper way is for the server to know all the specials and explain them. The octopus was just one small arm for $23. I've always received 2 or 3. The branzino was the whole fish throw on a plate. You have to fillet it yourself. For around the same price, all the branzinos I've had were presented whole and then filleted for you. The bottle of wine is all I had here. That was also a joke. The server poured a tasting pour and walked away. I had to pour me and my wife's first glass. First and last time. read more

Food does not live up to the price. Meat was over done not cook to chef recommendation. Overall food not good. Waitress was good.

Fast becoming my favorite "higher end" restaurant in Cape May! It's gourmet Italian at its best! The daily specials are usually the play but you can not go wrong with the menu lamb chops or any of the traditional pastas! I highly recommend the stuffed meatball appetizer or the fried Jersey tomatoes. Complete out your dinner with a chocolate martini for desert! If you are lucky enough to be there on a night where the grilled bone in pork chop marinated in apples & brown butter.....that's a MUST order!!! read more

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I have to start off by saying the service and flow of the restaurant is tremendously better than the year before. Any flaws Secondo had, seems to be very fixed. Because of this, Secondo has become one of our staple dinner spots when we are at the shore. The extra seating towards the bar is so comfy and inviting and I am always excited to sit up there when it is available. The past couple of times we have been here our waitress/waiters have been tremendous. On the ball and friendly. Another big change from last year. Now, the food + drinks. Secondo usually always has a ton of specials and because of that I hardly ever order off the menu! However, the Sunday dinner is no joke and the calamari app is one of my favorites. Portions are a perfect size and I am still dreaming about the scallops special from a few weeks ago. The bar area is gorgeous with plenty of seating! Secondos margaritas are top notch and when I was pregnant the bartenders always whipped me up a NA drink with no problem! I definitely recommend Secondo for a nice night out with family + friends. read more

Secondo Panico's - Scallop Special - Italian Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Absolutely amazing! The food is so good and the place, ambience is overall just beautiful. We absolutely loved the appetizers. We started with a special, a sausage and pepper dip, and the truffle burrata. They were both to die for. I was licking the plate clean on the truffle burrata! For entrees, we got a pork chop special, spaghettini, rigatoni vodka, and Mediterranean crab pasta...everyone absolutely loved their dish! We will 100% be back. The service was wonderful and the ambience is just great. The place is beautiful and the view is amazing. Just know that you will need reservations and they don't take reservations for outdoor seating. read more

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Had a 6:00 reservation. Arrived at 5:58 and were told they were running a little behind with seatings. Went to the bar for a cocktail, bartender made a good martini. Was finally seated at 6:25. Ordered the calamari which was served with no marinara or other sauce. It was over cooked, dry and chewy. Sent it away. Got a Caesar salad which was good. For entree ordered the Pork Chop Florentine. Seemed to be a decent quality meat, but was rather flavorless and the rice was very dry. I think the best part of the meal was the bread that was served with infused olive oil. After plates were cleared we sat there for 25 minutes with nothing. Opted against coffee/dessert at that point and just paid and left. The server was working hard but seemed too busy to provide adequate service. One and done for this place. Side note: this place is also very loud. read more

Secondo Panico's - Pork Chop Florentine - Italian Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

A disappointing dining experience. Wish we could give more stars because the food was capably prepared, waitstaff was attentive and pleasant BUT the volume level was excruciatingly loud and ruined the entire meal. Conversation nearly impossible. We will not be returning. read more

As a loyal recurring customer, my last two visits in the Summer of 2024 was disappointing and underwhelming. The first Summer visit 3 individuals within my party of 5 order the Pasta Special. After 15 minutes we were surprisingly informed by our server that the kitchen was NOT able to fulfill our main dish order. At 5:30pm during the July 4th week, I find that difficult to believe. Our 2nd visit during the 4th week in July, we had ordered apps and our main courses. Similarly, as in our 1st visit 3 weeks earlier our server informed my son that his zucchini chips appetizer could NOT be made in the kitchen. I have been patronizing this establishment for the past 4 years. It seems that the Chefs and table servers have changed over and not for the better. The food flavor is below par for the price point of this restaurant. I will be seeking other restaurants in the Wildwood Crest and Cape May areas going forward. read more

We absolutely love this place. Hard to get into- definitely not a walk in type of place, and we would almost dock a star just because the music is always absurdly loud- but the service, ambiance and food otherwise is deserving of 5 stars. The service is always great, and the food is excellent. I just pray they read this and turn it down a notch. When you are 35 years old and cant talk to the person directly next to you, its too darn loud. read more

As local homeowners who have dined at Secondo regularly over several years, we never had a bad experience until last night. We had a reservation for 2 at 6 pm and arrived a few minutes early. The young woman at the desk informed us that we would have to wait for a table and that we should go to the bar. She was very brusque and didn't clearly reassure us that she had our reservation. We checked in again after 10 minutes waited for about 20 minutes when we were informed by text that our table was ready. When the woman came to get us she offered us a table in the bar. Whenever we have booked a reservation we have always understood that the table would be in the main restaurant, and never dined in the bar, which is extremely noisy. We asked if there were no other options and the woman just said we could wait, without seeming to care that we were dissatisfied. My wife told the woman that she was rude and unhelpful. We sat at the bar table for a few minutes, discussed our options and then walked out and went to another restaurant. We were very disappointed and surprised that the restaurant did nothing to assuage us. Seems that many customers have a problem with the staff at the front desk. Sorry to have to write this. read more

Service was not good at all. Bartender ( Eric) great! Food - mediocre. Good feta app and bread. Salmon very bland We did not have dessert. Opted for ice cream elsewhere. read more

Very disappointing experience. We waited more than 30 minutes past our reservation time. The server was not apologetic and the food was mediocre. This place is overrated and unprepared for summer crowds. There are much better places in Cape May. read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 3.5/5 Atmosphere: 3/5 To start the dinner, we had a reservation through someone working in the restaurant, and they forgot to put our name down, which was a bit of a cluster. We sat outside, and the atmosphere was pretty and relaxing. There was a mini bar area and live music playing with a view of the bay. One recommendation, in my opinion, is to put the live music off to the side and turn down the volume a little. We sat in front of the guy playing, and it was deafening. I couldn't hear any of my family members, even the ones sitting next to me. The service was excellent; the waiter who had our table took the time to answer our questions. One thing I'd say about the service is nothing seemed to come out constantly; it was all scattered, and when our entrees came, everyone's all came out at a different, but given that there were a lot of us at a table. It was starting to become very busy; it wasn't a big deal; everything was still very delicious. My fiancé and I started with the Zucchini Chips, which were very good loved the tzatziki sauce; it was so refreshing and complimented the dish well. Then the Mozzarella Fritos, (there are usually 3 per plate; my niece couldn't wait any longer haha) they were good, very, very cheesy light breading on them. The Bruschetta was my favorite; it was so fresh between the tomatoes, onions, and basil, and not too much balsamic vinaigrette. The Crab Fritos was ok; not a lot of crab meat inside, there was a lot of filler (stuffing) inside, and it came with a side of marinara which I didn't think went with it. I was expecting cocktail sauce or something similar. As for the entree, it was great; the alla vodka sauce was flavorful and creamy, and the pieces of chicken throughout it added a pleasant salty element to the dish. Overall, I would definitely come back and try out other things. If you're in the area, you should definitely make a reservation here. read more

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We had delicious food. Service was good. I have the eggplant. My partner had the salmon. Both dishes were cooked very well. They even acknowledged special occasion for us, which was nice. Thank you. read more

The restaurant was beautifully decorated Service was outstanding. Food was delicious. Four course prix fix on New Years Eve We went early. We loved the whole experience read more