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    The Rook

    3.4 (20 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE ROOK ATMOSPHERE

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    Inside bar
    Pat G.

    Former home of Goodnight Irene's is now The Rook. The owners invested heavily and it's become a much nicer venue. But a very different venue. Don't come here looking for Irene's. That time has come and gone. The new space is really nice. Inside boasts multiple beers on tap, friendly bartenders, big TV screens and a fresh clean vibe. Inside though needs some sound absorption. Too many hard surfaces. Put some cushions on walls or ceilings. Outside is a great place to kick back, unwind and cool off after a day at the beach. I wouldn't change a thing except asking the staff to be a little quicker. Talk to customers but respect the crowd you're facing and pour the drinks fast. Don't make me chase you. I'll visit The Rook again in the future after they mature a bit and figure out a few things. For now I'll pass.

    Kids smash burger
    Jenn C.

    Being a year round resident of Wildwood, I was excited to try The Rook. My family and I frequented Irene's before they sold, and we were hoping to keep this as a weekly place. Unfortunately I don't think it will be that for us. The renovations are mostly good, it feels a little small inside compared to how it was, but I love the choices for flooring and colors. The service was good, Vaughn and another gentleman were running the bar and serving food. Food wise, nothing was bad, but nothing was good enough to have us wanting to come back. The wings were fine, but the blue cheese was very runny and had a strange after taste. The kids smash burger was okay, the fries were good... but neither item was hot. The calamari also was barely warm and very greasy, so only the top layer was crispy at all. Everything needed salt and pepper.

    Dinner menu
    Alexandra I.

    We visited The Rook on their second night open, knowing it was a soft opening. When we sat at the outside bar, the bartender immediately let us know what they didn't have yet due to the soft launch, which was super helpful! The updated patio looks great and has plenty of tables and chairs. We stopped in just for a drink this time, but after looking over the dinner menu, we'll definitely be back. The space got a nice refresh and the drinks were good. A little improvement is needed on their "crushes," but we're hopeful that's just a soft opening hiccup.

    The Rook Wildwood now occupies the iconic Goodnight Irenes space on Pacific Ave in Wildwood. The interior looks great; there's a plan to include upstairs dining as well. The menu and staff (both of which were in serious need of an upgrade while in the dying days of Irene's) have been rebooted. The brick oven is still there. We had the wings, tots, and a pizza. All had me wishing that Irene's had closed sooner. The food is good. Only complaint is the pricing for Pacific Ave. $14 crushes, $9 stateside Ice Teas, $6 Miller Lite Cans? Let's not try to pay for the property in the first year guys.

    Mussels in white scampi sauce
    Jon Z.

    The recent renovation is absolutely beautiful--The Rook is modern, welcoming, and thoughtfully done. Service was friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite match the ambiance. The mussels white were very small and underwhelming. The chicken cutlet sandwich was served on a stale roll, and the cutlet itself was overcooked and tough. $3 for an upgraded side of fries was pointless. They were scarce, cold and unseasoned. Hoping the kitchen catches up to the otherwise impressive refresh.

    Stopped in to watch the game and enjoy some cocktails. Our first time here, will definitely be back. Service was excellent.

    Blueberry lemonade

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    10 months ago

    Food was delicious! Service was good. They had a packed house. Live entertainment outside was great!

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    Stubborn Brothers

    Stubborn Brothers

    2.8(24 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Pricey but what isn't these days? Stubborn Bros is part of the Morey's empire (restaurants, piers,…read moreamusements, and lodging) . Touristy but done right. A pina colada with a floater will set you back $15 but it comes with killer views of the ocean, beach, piers, water parks, and amusements. The beach vibe feels like you're in Key West or some tropical island. You can access the bar from the boardwalk or up the staircase ascending right from the sand on the beach. I would say a stop here is a must stop on a Wildwood vacation and even for a seasonal local like me.

    It wasn't overly busy when we were seated, yet we spent roughly 2 hours here and only saw our…read morewaitress about 3 times. I'm uncertain if they have staff running between tables & cabanas or what, but if that's the case, they should reconsider. Other than that, prices were ok, but drinks are small and seemed watered down, like LOTS of ice is used in frozen ones.. There was also a dead fly buried in my kids' basket of french fries, and lettuce in the bottom of a guacamole bowl. We were skeevd out to say the least, but because of this I wouldn't recommend anyone with food allergies dining here as there's a clear oversight on quality control. If ya need a quick drink at the waterpark, I'm sure this place is fine, but get something bottled or canned to be safe. The view is nice from the top deck, but it tends to be really windy, and everything is served in cardboard baskets which poses an issue. Unfortunately due to all of the above, we won't be returning.

    Photos
    Stubborn Brothers
    Stubborn Brothers - Seagull and the view

    Seagull and the view

    Stubborn Brothers

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    Sabbia Doro Italiano - Grilled octopus

    Sabbia Doro Italiano

    4.3(23 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    I forgot it was restaurant week in Wildwood this last week and we spontaneously popped into Sabbia…read moreD'oro Italiano for dinner last night. The fixed 4 course meal was absolutely delicious and the only menu offered for restaurant week. Side note: I can't wait to go back for their regular menu. Our waiter, Al, worked his tail off taking care of the entire downstairs dining area along with two women who were hostessing bussing and setting up new tables. They were attentive but not overbearing (which I appreciated). I was dining with another individual and we each choose for the first course (choice of salad). We chose the Caesar and it was fresh and could have used a tad more dressing in my opinion but I also wouldn't want it drowning in dressing. Great flavor. Next course was a set 3 pasta sample offering which included a sample of their gnocchi in Gorgonzola, the second was a penne with a very good marina and the it'd a cheese ravioli in a blush sauce. It was difficult for us to pick which one was our favorite. They gave you just enough of each offering to leave you wanting more in the future. The third course was a choice of 5 or 6 (I honestly can't recall because I was too busy discussing how good the pasta and sauces were (I find some times that either the pasta is well executed but the sauce could be hit or miss and let me tell you every pasta and their corresponding sauces were absolutely delicious. I digress, back to the third course ... there were 2-3 fish offerings, chicken parm or a steak each with their own accompaniments. Ironically both of us chose the chicken parmigiana because honestly I had fish the evening prior. This chicken parmigiana was melt in your mouth delicious. My companion agreed! The last course was a dessert offering of tiramisu, lemon dessert which I believe was a cake offering some sort or a cannoli. We opted for the cannolis. Mind you the cost was $40 per meal and honestly I was stunned at the low price per meal in comparison to its the quality. I was told that Sabbia is going to close in a few weeks until the spring We will be back for sure and thank you for the wonderful food and service! PS - I had to revise my foregoing post because the below pix is the chicken parm that was the third course I chose of the restaurant week menu and let me tell you I wound up taking half if not 2/3 of that parm home last night. As did my companion. I reheated it this evening and on day two that parm was melt in your mouth delicious. I would go as far to say that it is the best chicken parm I have ever had at the jersey shore (possibly anywhere). And for me that is saying a lot. I never give a 5 star on the first dine ... typically I update my rating after going somewhere several times. to think I have to wait until spring to enjoy more of the menu. I had been meaning to eat there sooner and now am sad that we had many a meal this past year that fell short of what Sabbia D'oro is offering. Kudos to you, Sabbia D'oro! Keep making excellent food. I am needless to say a huge fan!

    This is a interesting and impressive venue in the heart of Wildwood, New Jersey…read more Located at 3401 Pacific, the number is 609-551-4495. My father is a big fan and we had dinner with my sister and her family. We ordered several appetizers like the Burata and Sausage and all were excellent. The interior is brand new and they have a large bar with open seating for parties large and small. They have an extensive menu and wine list and I opted for a pasta fish course which was tasty while the wait is long, the food and service is worth it. It was an pff the menu special. The bread was also outstanding. You have locals, tourists and regulars for a happy mix of clientele. Seeking an authentic Italian venue with excellent service? Try Sabbia D'Oro in Wildwood. RECOMMEND

    Photos
    Sabbia Doro Italiano - Inside downstairs

    Inside downstairs

    Sabbia Doro Italiano - Pollo Alla Parmigiano w/fettuccine bolognese ($4 up charge)

    Pollo Alla Parmigiano w/fettuccine bolognese ($4 up charge)

    Sabbia Doro Italiano - Outside

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    Outside

    Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille - Lobster Roll

    Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille

    4.1(304 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Very cute space and friendly staff. Decent food…read more I had the fried calamari and sweet potato fries. The calamari was lightly breaded which I loved, but felt it was a bit too overdone. Way too chewy. My husband really enjoyed it though. The sweet potato fries were really good though. Served with this sweet sauce similar to frosting but thinner.

    We came here for our last dinner while on vacation. We waited about 30 minutes before being sat. We…read moreoverheard the hostess saying to a couple that people have paid but they're all just sitting and not moving. Now .. the correct thing would be to have management go up to these tables given the long wait and simply ask, "is there anything else we can get for you this evening? We unfortunately have a long wait of guests. We'd be more than happy to move you to the bar." Never once did I take notice to management throughout the trip here. Our service was subpar. Our server took several minutes before coming to us. I asked her 3 different times for sweetener for my tea. The tea had about 2 ice cubes in it. We had to ask for refills several times. She brought us warm water. We then had to flag her down to get cups of ice. She rushed to get us our check, but then took awhile to come back. The food was average and nothing came out "hot." We split the crab dip, which wasn't flavorful and was lukewarm. We also got the lobster roll, which was chewy. The sweet potato fries were good. The French onion was salty and could have used more onions. We loved the interior as it was beautifully decorated and seemed recently redone. Everything was clean. Overall, wasn't thoroughly impressed.

    Photos
    Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille
    Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille - Grilled Watermelon Salad

    Grilled Watermelon Salad

    Salty Mermaid Bar & Grille - Seafood risotto

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    Seafood risotto

    The Rook - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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