I have learned to expect a lower standard of service in Cape May County, regardless of the average…read morecheck amount, so I was pleasantly surprised to see someone raising the bar in the way that The Reeds in Stone Harbor appears to be doing. The last time we dined at "Sax At The Reeds" was soon after they opened, and it had not been good. My entree on that first visit had been so inedible, I took one bite and left the rest. That may have been a first for me. It was that bad. I didn't even ask for something else; I was so disgusted. This most recent experience was considerably improved.
My wife and I were celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary a few days late, and when prompted during the reservation process, I had checked the box for "special occasion" without thinking much about it. It seemed rather incidental, but I thought it couldn't hurt. The staff at Sax did not disappoint.
When we arrived at the front desk, the sharply-dressed gentleman working the host stand was engaging and personable, and when we answered that we did indeed have reservations, he guessed our name and welcomed us and congratulated us on our anniversary. He asked if we preferred a special table and offered a window seat if we liked. If we'd known they had a fireplace, we probably would have chosen to sit in front of that, but the window seat was lovely.
We were soon greeted by Patrick, our server for the evening, and he arrived with two flutes of sparkling wine on the house and wished us a happy anniversary. Patrick was an animated and exuberant server who definitely knew his job, understood the food and wine, and had strong opinions about the menu. We were never in need of anything, but also never felt overwhelmed by his presence. A good balance.
My wife began with the broiled oysters, which were phenomenal, and I had the steakhouse salad, which was surprisingly good for being an original take on a simple wedge. It was exactly what I wanted and a perfect size. Not too big or small and elegantly presented.
For our entrees, Jane ordered the crab-stuffed flounder with lobster sauce on a bed of risotto, which she thoroughly enjoyed even though it's not something she would typically order. Jane has a very critical palette and is a great cook herself, so she's not easily pleased. She thought it was a delicious, well-balanced dish.
I had been craving steak, an uninspiring selection, so I ordered the NY Strip with maître d'hôtel butter. While we enjoyed our wine, Patrick returned to offer me a choice of five different knives, displayed in a wooden box. He explained each one and asked for my choice. I told him I would go with his recommendation, and I got something simple called "The Knife," a hand-hammered piece of fine cutlery.
The steak was perfectly cooked, although I personally found it under-seasoned. I like a salty finish on my red meat, so Patrick promptly brought me a small dish of fleur de sel, and we were in business. My sides were whipped potatoes and carrots, both of which were good, but the potatoes were presented as if plated with a large ice cream scoop, which made them appear fake diner potatoes. Even Jane called it out as an unusual choice. The carrots were perfectly cooked and had an almost citrus finish.
For wine, we had selected a Chardonnay chosen by the sommelier as a special for the evening, and it was good but not transcendent, while the Chappallet red blend on the menu was absolutely exquisite. Powerful and smooth with a great finish.
For dessert, I had planned to order the warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream that I had seen on the website, but it wasn't available. Instead, we ordered something called the Dubai Cheesecake. Dubai chocolate was something I was vaguely aware of, but wasn't entirely sure what it was. Patrick assured us that while the dish was hard to describe in terms of a flavor profile, it was a killer bit of confection. He wasn't wrong. It was crunchy and creamy, complex in its simplicity. A transformative dish, and we're not even big dessert people.
I won't pretend that any of this was a bargain, but excellence rarely is. I'll admit to a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrived, so be prepared to drop a few bills. But if you're looking for great service and food, you won't find anything better at the Jersey Shore than Sax at the Reeds.
It's worth a special trip.
