A bite-sized guide to the undiscovered foodie communities of Cape May County – Jersey’s Best

Cape May County is home to some of the most popular beach destinations in New Jersey: Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and, of course, Cape May. Those driving there often pass through or see signs for Upper Township, Middle Township and Lower Township, the names of contiguous townships in Cape May County. More than one person has probably remarked to themselves or to their driving companions about those names going to or leaving the beaches. Those in the know will tell you they are not just places to drive past, or names to joke about, but are livable communities with some great places to eat and drink.

The beach communities are, today, not a part of Lower, Middle and Upper, but at one time, the entire area was known as Cape May. In 1723, it was split into the three precincts, or townships, earning them their geographically accurate names. We will start with Lower and work our way up.

Lower is the birthplace of Southern Jersey, settled well before Cape May was a beach scene. In fact, it was not the beach that led to its creation but the waters off of it, first settled in 1635 by whalers. Today, the Port of Cape May remains one of the best and biggest fishing ports on the East Coast, and Lower stretches across the peninsula from the Atlantic to the Delaware Bay. So, its fitting, based on the regions origins and the present day, to mention Budds Bait and Tackle, in the community of Villas. Known for its top-quality blue claw crabs (live or steamed) and shrimp, theres also other fresh hauls, like clams and scallops. If you would rather catch your own than peel or crack your own, a full line of bait, and fishing tips await there.

If life is short, eat dessert first is really a thing, you might want to stop at Flecks Ice Cream in Villas before heading off to dinner. Cooking or eating at home? Gaiss Market is a local institution. An almost 100-year-old business, it is a butcher shop, sandwich shop and grocery store. If you prefer to eat out, Greek-inspired Olive Branch in Villas and Yozu Sushi and Hibachi in North Cape May do some great things with that locally sourced seafood coming into the port.

On to Middle Township. Nummytown is a section of Rio Grande in Middle that sounds like it belongs in a food article. It derives its name from Chief Nummy, the last leader of the Kechemeche tribe who lived in the area. Close to Nummytown, though, now is Menz Restaurant and Bar, another local establishment nearing its centennial, with an old-school menu in an old-school setting that is still keeping it fresh.

Cape May Court House is the county seat, and there are plenty of options to find a seat or to walk away with some fine food. Caf 101 and Carvery is one top option for breakfast and lunch. Try the turkey cheesesteak. Cherrys Natural Foods, also open for breakfast and lunch, is an organic caf and market that bills itself as New Jerseys Favorite Organic Cottage. Sit for a bit there, and you are likely to make it your favorite.

The Two Black Dogs Caf and Take Out inside the Green Creek Country Store (in Green Creek, of course) is another rewarding quick stop for taking out or grabbing one of the handful of tables to eat in. Instead of driving or flying by, park or land at the Flight Deck Diner in Rio Grande for breakfast and lunch with some Southern flair. If you are looking for something more upscale and slower, classic and modern French cooking meet at Provence, a beautifully designed restaurant inside the beautifully restored Peninsula B&B in Cape May Court House.

Now up to Upper. Village Kitchen in Marmora, a 40-year family operation serving breakfast and lunch, bills itself as Upper Townships Meeting and Eating Place. Sushi Ocean View (in Ocean View) is another Japanese restaurant that does well with the nearby oceans bounty. Looking for good baked goods? Blue Dolfin Sweets in Marmora and Frog Hollow Bakery in Greenfield probably have lines because it takes people too long to decide what to have.

It seems there are a lot of breakfast, lunch and takeout places mentioned, and it is intentional. A lot of folks are driving past these communities and sometimes are more focused on their ultimate destination, but Cape May County offers so much more than its beach communities, and its not all that far from those communities. Parks, farms, trails and other outdoor settings are one reason to get out and explore, but these townships also have a rich concentration of some of the best craft wineries, breweries and distilleries in the Garden State. Look for Slack Tide Brewing, 7 Mile Brewing, and Ludlum Island Brewery, among others, for beer; Cape May Distillery and Nauti Spirits for small-batch spirits; and wineries, like Hawk Haven, Turdo and Natali.

Most of these producers allow guests to bring in their own food, and there are many excellent options in addition to those listed here from which to choose from before visiting these great spots to enjoy a drink most times of the year. Some also host some fantastic local food trucks, like Mermaid Mutineer and Bayside Seafood. As always, look up websites or call ahead with any of these businesses to check hours of operation or any seasonal and special event schedule changes.

Remember, the beach is seasonal, but checking out the rest of Cape May County, starting with Lower, Middle and Upper Townships, is year round.

Hank Zonawrites regularly about wine, spirits and a range ofothertopics such as food and culture. Healso hasbeen running wine andspiritsevents of all sorts for over a decade.

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A bite-sized guide to the undiscovered foodie communities of Cape May County - Jersey's Best