A recent story in Food & Wine Magazine about BYOBs and what to expect, with suggested etiquette, painted a picture of BYOBs as somewhat unique restaurants that you may encounter in your travels. I tend to forget that for much of the country, they are a bit of a rarity. Living in South Jersey, I am spoiled, living amidst a slew of wonderful BYOBs. I decided to share several of my favorites, as well as a few wine recommendations to complement the meal. The four pictured above would be great with the meals I have enjoyed at these BYOBs. I will note that I am writing about South Jersey BYOBs. They don’t seem as commonplace in Central or North Jersey. Across the river in Philadelphia, while they have several exceptional BYOBs, they are few and far between. Many of our New Jersey BYOBs also have outdoor seating, which is great for warmer weather coming our way. There are so many good BYOBs, but I will only discuss two of my favorites this week and in part two, next week, I will share two or three more.
Our favorite BYOBs are located in Collingswood (a real foodie town); Cherry Hill; Haddonfield; and Cape May. Cape May is a historic landmark with more great restaurants than you can shake a stick at (and most of them are BYOBs)! I’ll start with a couple in Cape May.
Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant
Located in Cape May, PSI has been one of our favorites for over 30 years (despite changes in ownership and chefs). Consistently great food, exquisite service, elegantly decorated, and views of the ocean (across the street)-who could ask for more? Add live piano music a few nights a week during much of the year with Kahlil Gunther masterfully playing nearly any tune in a very eclectic playlist (and open to requests). There is only a small outside seating area on the front porch, but tables are not elbow-to-elbow, and many have an ocean view. The food is so good, with fresh seafood, steaks, and much more, all beautifully prepared and presented. Peter Shields is also an Inn, but I wouldn’t count on getting a last minute room (especially in summer).
For the white wine, try a Hawk Haven Reserve Chardonnay. The 2021 Clone 76 & 95 is pictured below. It offers a bit of Meyer lemon on the palate, with lively acidity, and an elegant and refreshing finish. You can’t go wrong with this wine paired with seafood dishes or chicken dishes. Fo a red wine, you might want to try William Heritage Winery BDX. The 2017 is shown below. The BDX is a Bordeaux-style red blend. It has been winning prizes and acclaim from near and afar for more than a decade now. This wine is bold and full-bodied with cherry and vanilla notes on the palate, and a long smooth finish. We often get an appetizer that will pair well with the red, when we know we want to do the seafood main course and white wine. This is an easy and satisfying way to try two great wines at the same meal. Staff will gladly bring two extra wine glasses.
You can read more about this wonderful BYOB restaurant here: petershieldsinn.com
Tisha’s Fine Dining
Tisha’s is located in the Cape May Mini Mall on Washington Street. While they have seating in two nicely appointed rooms indoors and out front where you can watch the shoppers go by, we always try to get a seat on their beautiful patio, surrounded by flowers and greenery. Their specialty is definitely seafood. Truth is, we almost always get a seafood entree here, despite the other dishes looking and sounding very good. I love the local scallops when you can get them. It is a tossup between Cape May and Cape Cod for who has the best scallops (in my opinion). If you like fish, you can’t go wrong here.
For your white wine, I suggest a bottle of Grillo from Turdo Vineyards. Grillo is a white grape that originated from Sicily. Turdo Vineyards is the only winery in the United States growing this grape and making this very good wine, which goes incredibly well with seafood and grilled dishes. It is medium-bodied with a nice citrusy taste and good acidity.
For your red wine choice, consider a good New Jersey Cab, like the Cedar Rose Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2019 bottle below was made with grapes from the Ashenfelter Vineyards in Vineland, NJ. It is excellent and will complement grilled meats and a couple of pasta dishes that they do very well at Tisha’s.
You can read more about Tisha’s here: tishasfinedining.com
Bon Appetit! Cheers!
Coming Attractions
- New Jersey BYOBs Part 2
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