We went for lunch at the Ugly Mug & wanted shelter & a little pick me up from the rain. The ugly mug has been a fixture in Cape May for many years. It's like stepping back in time each time I go. A little history... it's an old tavern, The ugly mug hangs members mugs on the ceiling. When they pass away, the mug is turned around, I believe there's more to it, but that's the gist. The waitress, Allison, helped me, she gave me the book to look for my Angie and uncle Paul's mugs & I found them, they're not far from each other!! It was a bittersweet moment, I never expected the tears to come down with joy of fun memories & sad we lost my Uncle & my aunt is not in the best of health Allison our waitress was not only quick to serve us, pleasant, personable, and helped us choose what to eat from the amazing menu. She was so sweet & took time helping us. The food, was fresh, plentiful & delicious!! My friend had the South Philly Old Style Pork Sandwich & I had the French Dip Roast Beef Panini. We both enjoyed the food that day & the next! read more

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Came here a few years ago and enjoyed our meal. This time was not good, food was overpriced and mediocre. $42 mixed seafood platter was ok, fried hard but best things were the fried scallops. $29 fried shrimp platter was decent. The $26 fish and chips were terrible. Couldn't even cut into one of my fish which looked like fish fingers. Tempura batter was doughy. My tourist dollars will go elsewhere on my next visit read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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First time here, great local bar! Gotta love the Ugly Mug! Just visiting, brought here by local friends, love it! read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Had a long travel day. Ate a late lunch.... it was about 8:30pm now and we wanted a little something to eat. We decided on the buffalo chicken egg rolls to share. I love all things buffalo chicken; these were good! Cool atmosphere here. I would go back if we were in town again. read more

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I grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and consider myself a "South Jersey shore girl" The Ugly Mug is a seashore staple, a "must go to" place whenever I'm in Cape May. This trip did not disappoint. I've actually been there twice and will visit at least one more time during my 15 day stay. For starters I had the lobster roll which was divine. It came with a side of melted butter, the best coleslaw I've ever had besides my dear departed mother's and some amazing french fries! It's not hot chunks of lobster, it's borderline lobster salad but not really. Don't get hung up on semantics just go and get it - it's so so GOOD! I sat at the bar both times and the servers are friendly/attentive/EXCELLENT! It doesn't matter if they recognize you as being local or they've never seen you before, they treat you like a regular or, at a minimum, valued customer. I highly recommend lunch, brunch, dinner, or just popping in for a drink at The Ugly Mug! read more

Ugly Mug - Hot Roast Beef Sandwich w/side potato salad. It was so big I resorted to eating it with a knife and fork - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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The Ugly Mug is an Icon in Cape May. I love the feel of the bar and restaurant. Eating outside is always nice. We came for the 11/2 pound lobster and were not disappointed. The salad was delicious with lots of vegetables. The lobster was cooked perfectly and I thoroughly enjoyed the fries and cole slaw. The server was attentive and kind. read more

We love going to the Ugly Mug in off season months. I've also had great service and food during the crazy summer season.

Very popular place to eat when going to Washington Street Mall in Cape May. It was getting a bit muggy no pun intended so we ate inside. They have specials menu and regular menu. We started out with wings and they were a good amount, good size and tasted very good. For my entree I went with the beer battered shrimp and my husband chose the special cheesesteak egg rolls. The shrimp were a good size I was impressed . The cheesesteak eggrolls were so good, and the dipping cheese sauce was good too! Our waitress was very attentive and the other staff was nice too. Definitely I recommend this place if you like pub like scenery and if you go in September they have a beer foam blowing contest. Enjoy ! #tastebudadventures #yelpelitesquadmember read more

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Stoped in for a bite to eat and a drink. Sat at the bar , Joe our bartender was terrific.. made great drinks and made suggestions to accommodate marking my Bloody Mary not as spicy.. he also made great suggestions and recommendations for our food selections! Definitely look forward to returning!! read more

Cool place to hang out for beers and apps.....Friendly staff... Great service....semi divey (which I prefer), Prices are a little high but good food...It seems like back in the day, this place was always packed but so much anymore except for sometimes during the high season read more

Food was OK but service was terrible. The guy at the front door with the beard and long hair was rude, giving me one word answers like I was bothering him just trying to be friendly and get some info. The Lobster seemed to be cooked hours previously, not fresh or warm. A woman customer a few booths over had a long, loud video chat with friends and I asked the waitress to have her pipe down but the waitress failed to do so, she told a manager about it who also did nothing. Bathrooms were not working. Previous times there were good though. read more

"Ho, Ho, Ho, there's really nothing better Than a beautiful girl in an ugly Christmas sweater Ho, Ho, Ho, and now I can't forget her That beautiful girl in an ugly Christmas" (Trisha Yearwood) The Ugly Mug is a quintessential neighborhood tavern. It's been a favorite with locals and tourists alike since 1926, so you can expect a helluva celebration for their upcoming 100th birthday. It has a friendly tavern atmosphere, with a big variety of food and drink options on their very deep menu. One unique feature of the Ugly Mug is the "Ugly Mug Club." Members have their own mugs, which are suspended from the ceiling. In a touching tradition, the mugs of deceased members are hung facing the ocean. We had lunch there, and in the middle of the week during the "off season" the place was packed. Every single seat at the bar was taken and we were lucky to grab a table. We knew we'd be having a big dinner that night, so we went easy on lunch with just a bowl of chili ($10.99) and an order of four Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls ($12.99). My chili was excellent! It was loaded with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, and spices and was served blazing hot. It was great. I sampled a piece of the Cheesesteak Eggrolls, and it was excellent as well, full of cheesy, meaty, crunchy goodness. The only bummer was a pricy $3.99 price tag on my soft drink Thanks, Ugly Mug for an overall fun and enjoyable lunch. read more

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Ordered a bunch of appetizers and some drinks. Wings were good, calamari was a wide variety in terms of sized pieces, mozzarella sticks were good, chicken tenders were good. Overall, this was an average meal. Same goes for the service. read more

Ugly Mug - Fried Calamari - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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My wife and I went in for an early dinner on a slow night as the weather was cold and windy. We were seated far in the back near the wait staff station. We were seated and looked at the menu. We made our selections and waited about 6 or 7 minutes more. A male staff member was standing near the area where place settings are and he seemed to have a skin issue as he was scratching and picking at his scalp. I prayed he wasn't going to be our server. Anyway, this gentleman mentioned to a female server that there was a table for her. She looked over at us, and proceeded to engage in a conversation with another female server who was standing there. We waited and watched for another 5 minutes until we decided to leave because it was clear we would be very disappointed in our service and meal. We walked up the mall to Delaney's where we had a great burger and the service was excellent. We won't go back to the Ugly Mug. read more

Ambient: really cozy, cute decor of the ceiling with mugs Service: friendly and nice Price : reasonable *** be aware they charge 2.5% extra if you use non-cash payment. Was a bummer that I was not informed. Good: clam chowder is different from traditional one. It includes the tomato and interesting taste. Fried calamari is really good, it's a big portion and doesn't mix with fried veggies like other restaurants. Fried flounder is really fresh. Overall it's a great experience. Don't mind to come back read more

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This is a dive bar & restaurant in Washington Street Mall. It's decorated with mugs all over the place & you can purchase one that has your name on it! I had a crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries. They were both great! Our service was great, especially during a busy lunch rush. Their menu has something for everyone, so this is a nice, casual option when in Cape May. read more

Ugly Mug - Crab cake sandwich - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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The servers could've been more accommodating. They seem very distant with my scarf of the United States of America. They catered everyone else. They removed our food before we're finished. read more

Ugly Mug - Location menu - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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My family and I were at the Washington mall and looking for somewhere to eat. The menu looked like it had something for everyone. The food was just okay. Nothing wowed us. We started with cheesesteak eggrolls both beef and buffalo chicken. The wrapper to filling ratio was off. Wrapper was thick. Sandwiches don't come with fries but chips. They were okay. I hated that the drinks came in a plastic disposable cup but I get it. Service was friendly and attentive.As far as atmosphere it had a dark pub feel. As for me this was a one and done. read more

Great, relaxed and friendly environment. Will be down in Cape May in a few weeks and will visit again.

My hubby was here a few months ago and raved about the food so I had to stop in and try it. The decor was unique with all the "ugly mugs" hanging from the ceiling. The staff was friendly. We had the fries and chili which were both amazing! We also ordered the nachos which had potential but was bland. The topping came on the side which was fine. The chicken nachos only had chicken, nachos and cheese. It was missing salsa? Just needed something more. I just checked the menu and my order did NOT have refried beans (see my picture). Perhaps that is it. I'll be back to try again as I love myself some nachos. Grande Chicken Nachos Crisp corn tortilla chips layered with Monterey Jack cheese, chicken and refried beans then baked, served with diced tomatoes, black olives and jalapeños on the side read more

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CAPE MAY: The Ugly Mug, Cape May NJ is a staple restaurant of downtown Cape May and leashed dogs are allowed at their outdoor dining. Technically, the restaurant is part of Washington Street Mall and the staff will know to seat you on the Decatur Street side of the building. Their menu is full of American favorites and we indulged in the Bavarian pretzel. read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Cool spot when going to the beach at Cape May. They have a good amount of outdoor seating. The waiter was very friendly and served us pretty quickly. It was interesting how the kitchen was directly located across the restaurant. I had a coffee which was pretty average. The place has a good amount of sandwiches on the menu. The BLT sandwich was pretty good. It had a piece of crispy bacon with lettuce and tomatoes. There wasn't a lot of pickles (which was kind of a downfall). There were only 3 pickles. The bag of chips was very small (it was mostly air...which was very disappointing). read more

While exploring Washington Street Mall with my friends, we stopped at Ugly Mug for dinner. We were happy that they were able to seat us right away and their menu had a nice variety. The food was all average - we had the crab cakes, fried flounder, clam chowder, and Bavarian pretzel for an appetizer. We're never picky about cheese sauce, but this one had an acidic flavor we really didn't like. I see myself trying other places before I would come back here, though the service was attentive and quick, and the outdoor area was perfect for what we were looking for. read more

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Fast service, wonderful outdoor seating, and delicious food! I had the Lobster roll and it was great! Definitely worth the money as it was full packed with big chunks of lobster meat! We would definitely return! read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

I don't know why only 3 stars! The food was GREAT! Our server, Irene was the very best! Hubby got the calamari and said it was prepared the best he ever had. The sandwiches were LOADED with meat! I had their chili and it was fantastic! read more

Want here during off season it was great service host n mangerment n bar tender too sometimes off season is better read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Solid pub fare and freindly vibes all around - love that they are open late - we go for the fried flounder sandwiches.

The food is good, not the best seafood or sandwiches but good. The problem is the prices, $26 for a crab cake sandwich and you only get a small cup of coastslaw and a bag of Wise brand chips... fries would be $9 extra! Sodas are $5 a cup too! Kind of tacky that when you get chips its in a Wise bag not even spread out on the plate. For such a popular mainstream spot in cape may they could do better value wise especially since its mainly a bar with some restaurant seating scattered around tightly. Yet they charge prices as if they're a premium seafood joint read more

Nice people, great location, and EXCELLENT music on a Saturday night. Also thankful to have somewhere open late to eat dinner. But I have never had such bland food before. My friend and I couldn't find anything delicious for dinner. I ended up with tuna salad and my friend got a chicken breast sandwich. Chicken breast?! REALLY?! That's the definition of bland. The food came out and the portions were huge. Unfortunately, the tuna was absolutely tasteless. I had to drown it in salt, pepper, and ketchup. We also had the crab sauce Ugly Mug fries. SO BLAND! read more

Extremely disappointing experience. Carlos was by far the rudest person I've ever encountered at a restaurant -- completely unprofessional and disrespectful. The rest of the crew wasn't any better; they were impolite and acted like customers were a burden. The atmosphere felt tense instead of welcoming. Definitely not worth coming back. There are plenty of better spots that actually value their guests. read more

We went here because we didn't have a reservation and it was right at dinner time. They took us in right away and we were sat within 5 minutes. The service was great. If give the food a 3 out ot 5. But the area is great, being right in the mall. The fries were great. The chicken fingers were awful. The salad was really good. I probably wouldn't spring for the more expensive $30+ items on the menu, but it's a decent place to go to if you want food and don't want to leave the area. read more

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I have been here over 100 times in last 30 years over the yeas the food in very solid The ambiance is basically always super busy Lots of times me and my love one just eat at the bar But recently been coming with kids and grandkids and I realized the service is rushed and the servicers seem unhappy and create an environment I do not want my grandkids to see I guess it is hard to find people that want to work Will not be coming back and start referring my friends to lucky bone backwater grill read more

Came here Saturday very good food was seated quickly. Great place to get a quick flight. Definitely try the fried clam strips and the roast beef dipped Panini. Service was prompt. Food came out very good. Would recommend when you're in Cape May to come in here. read more

Great service from Mark the bartender!! Always great food! Dog friendly outside and they treat dogs great. Great bar. Friendly atmosphere! They saved our disastrous time at Iccara Bistro. We should've started at The Ugly Mug! The best ever!!! read more

My girlfriend and I recently dined at Ugly Mug and chose to sit outside. Although the table was a bit small and being close to the street was a bit distracting, the excellent food and service made up for it. We started with the fried clam strips, which were amazing. The clams were plump and juicy, covered in a light batter, and the tangy tartar sauce was a perfect match. I had the Fried Flounder, and it was delicious. The fish was very fresh, with a crispy outside and a tender, flaky inside. My girlfriend picked the Maryland burger, and it was the best part of our meal. The burger was topped with very tasty crab meat, adding a delicious twist to the classic beef burger. A special shout out to our waiter Patrick, who was awesome and very attentive. His great service made our dining experience even better. We'd definitely like to be back to try more of their menu. Highly recommended! read more

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Fun night! Visiting through the holidays , stopped for a glass of wine. Staff is super friendly! read more

Ugly Mug - Friendly staff! Photo bomb! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Stopped by 6/21/25 to order a cool drink being we were walking & it was hot outside. The Margarita came in a small milk glass & was charged $13. Insane! Won't go back! read more

Amazing lobster. Well priced. And the overall ambiance is very enjoyable. It is right on the main street blocked off to cars. read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

We had lobster dinner at Ugly Mug. It was ok, service was good but place is not very comfortable and not very clean either, which was surprising as most places in Cape May are pretty well maintained. read more

Ugly Mug - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This is a really bad restaurant, the food is very bad and everything is cold. If this place wasn't on washington street it would be closed and it should be. read more