Harpoons on the Bay
You may have been around Cape May long enough to remember the changeovers and transitions that this North Cape May bayfront restaurant has undergone—perhaps you recall the Whaler’s Cove or Harpoon Henry’s. The location now operates under the name Harpoons on the Bay and preserves the maritime theme that its title suggests. Recent renovations have amped up this prime location, giving way for a functional expansion as well as a bit of a facelift.
Because I am a North Cape May native, Harpoons has always been a go-to place for my household, and we find its continuous developments exciting. My mom, who has been a patron at the location since it operated as The Rendezvous in the early 1980s, continues to marvel at the dinner-time sunsets, which we enjoyed together recently.
The dinner rush and wait were worth it for the view, and we timed our meal around a front-row seat to the sunset. We passed three bustling bars on our way to the left-wing dining room, led by a kind and attentive hostess. Large windows line the wall facing the water, offering an outlook to the lovely landscape accessible to anyone in the room.
We started off with a crisp and cold cup of their Kona Big Wave on tap and the atmosphere had us feeling relaxed. We then enjoyed an order of the honey-sriracha chicken wings that had a kick of spice accompanied by a subtle sweetness—plus an extra side of their delicious creamy-yet-chunky house-made blue cheese dressing. These wings are grilled, not fried, leaving a savory charred flavor and still adding a crisp to the skin, while the inside was white and tender. This appetizer comes with celery sticks, perfect for dunking in the blue cheese.
Under “beachfront favorites” on their menu you will find the colossal coconut shrimp, which is reason enough to go here. A perfect blend of panko breadcrumbs and coconut flakes coated the soft and tender shrimp, which really were colossal. Served with a Thai chili orange dipping sauce, this sweet and tangy combination balanced out the spice from our wings. Due to technical difficulties, I could not order a frozen pina colada to pair with the coconut shrimp, but I highly recommend it when the machine is operable, and the summer season is in full swing.
The grouper sandwich is a staple on their menu and called to me this evening. I was served an extremely generous portion of panko-breaded grouper filet that is topped with lettuce, tomato, and a crabby remoulade between two brioche buns that seemed like it was sent from heaven’s kitchen. Because the starters were bountiful, I could not bring myself to finish this grouper sandwich, as much as I wanted to. However, saving it for later gave much delayed gratification. My at-home air fryer maintained the crisp of the fish and the white flakey/meaty texture. A portion that size is enough to split or save for later.
Some other worthwhile Harpoons favorites include the broiled crab cakes, scallops, or the new build-your-own burger option. The upscale tavern fare, casual Key West-inspired atmosphere, unbeatable views, regular live music, and recent renovations make Harpoons on the Bay a must visit this summer.
