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PRIMAL By Mia Cape May Reviews
Had a really nice dinner here last week.
Service was attentive and the décor was chick and inviting. Unfortunately we arrived after dark so we couldn't see the much lauded ocean view. Food was excellent. Steak was cooked to perfection over a wood fired grill giving it a perfect sear. The restaurant isn't cheap by any means and the $20 plate sharing for a massive $80 steak that I assume is usually shared by more than one person is annoying. I also took exception that an additional shot glass sized steak sauce was $6. Delicious salad and dessert is included as is service of amazing piping hot bread. When visiting Cape May if you're in the mood for a truly delicious meal, if cost isn't an issue, I highly recommend you give them a spin. You won't be disappointed.
Loved it! The service and food were top tier.
The restaurant was beautiful and right on the beach. I enjoyed the spicy dipping oil for the bread, the burrata appetizer, a perfect New York strip, amazing truffle potatoes, and a butter cake for dessert. I look forward to dining here again!
Very disappointing and unprofessional
We had a truly disappointing experience from the moment we arrived, the hostess set the tone with unprofessional behavior that had undertones of racism and stereotyping. Rather than feeling welcomed, we felt dismissed and disrespected. Coming from a culinary family and as world travelers who have experienced fine dining and upscale restaurants across the globe, we know what quality service and food should look like. Unfortunately, Primal by Mia fell far short of its claim to be an elevated dining experience. The service was no better. The waitstaff were unprofessional and appeared poorly trained, adding to the overall sense that hospitality was not a priority here. The food itself was equally underwhelming, the salad was soggy and lacked freshness, and the dessert, a beignet, was nearly inedible, hard as a rock rather than light and delicate. Overall, this was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve had in Cape May. Between the unwelcoming, inappropriate front-of-house treatment, unprofessional service, and the poor quality of the food, this restaurant does not live up to its own claims. We cannot recommend this restaurant and will not be returning.
Not At All What I Expected. Very Disappointing.
On Sunday, 8/24/2025, my wife and I and two other couples went to Primal for dinner. Since I rarely order red meat out, I was looking forward to a Cowboy Ribeye Steak. The three women in the group ordered various seafood meals and were happy with their choice. The men not so much. All three of us ordered the Cowboy Ribeye, done medium rare. The steaks arrived beautifully charred, perhaps too charred. Unfortunately the steaks were closer to well done than they were to medium rare. I pointed out that fact to the server and he apologized. When the bill arrived the server notified us that he had removed the charges for the side dishes from the bill. When you pay $79.00 for a steak you expect it to be prepared as ordered. Needless to say we will not return to this restaurant, and would definitely not recommend Primal to our friends.
We ate dinner there last night and three of us had the
We ate dinner there last night and three of us had the cowboy dry aged ribeye steak at a substantial price. We all ordered medium rare and all three came medium well done. If you are trying to be a major steak restaurant at high prices, at least learn how to cook steaks. Salad and desert were excellent. We had planned on going back in September but have now cancelled that plan. Far too expensive for a poorly cooked steak.
Amazing.
.. amazing... amazing... from the service to the steak... rivals some Manhattan places
Shared New York strip with my sister.
Perfect with Yukon gold mashed with truffle. Onions and mushrooms also. Staff was super, food excellent atmosphere very comfortable. Best 78th birthday for me and my twin sister, we loved it thanks so much
Easily the best restaurant in Cape May.
Venue and service were wonderful but the food was perfect. I was lucky enough to go twice in the past three weeks. Both times I got the lobster Ravioli, the Halibut and side of mixed vegetables. Everything was amazing. I left both times saying that's the best meal I had in years. I can't wait to go back. Pro-tip to the morons who gave it one star because they couldn't get in. Try reading the instructions about how to make reservations in their website. You are as bad as the people from the 1980's who were too lazy to read how to program the clock on your VCR.
Gorgeous Waterfront, Excellent Service.
Primal by Mia in Cape May offers stunning waterfront views and takes reservations -- a big plus! Our three appetizers were delicious and beautifully presented, and the complimentary salad was a pleasant surprise. The Chilean seabass was perfectly cooked, and the steaks. The steaks all came out medium well instead of one medium rare. I'd suggest going lighter on the salt, especially in the mashed potatoes & fish. Service was flawless -- our waitress was attentive and friendly, and presentation was 5-star. The cakes for dessert were the perfect sweet ending. Highly recommend for a memorable meal by the water!
Down in Cape May for a family vacation and researched a
Down in Cape May for a family vacation and researched a good place to celebrate our wedding anniversary dinner. All signs pointed to this place, so I tried my luck and snagged a reservation 10 days prior at 9am ( they were quickly out of slots after that). Our waiter Connor was as attentive and knowledgeable as you could have ever wanted. His recommendations were on point and he guided us perfectly. The food could not have been better. A pickled vegetable salad and a decadent dessert were included with our meal and they did not miss. The hostess stopped by for a great chat and we were even able to catch Mia's ear for a few as well. The place made you feel at home, feel fancy, and surpassed all of our expectations. If you're able to get a reservation, do not hesitate!
Everything was spot on. Top notch.
Everything was fantastic. I would have been happy with just eating the dinner rolls! They were awesome! NY Strip and lobster were excellent! And the desert dish was a nice surprise at the end. We’ll be back.
Have dined at Primal by Mia several times in past years.
The service is only exceeded by the food! Have had both the filet and lobster tails in the past and both were excellent. Looking forward to being able to score a reservation this year.
Outstanding experience! This was one of the best meals I've
Outstanding experience! This was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. We made reservations ten days in advance which I recommend if you want a good time slot. Service was excellent as our waiter knew the menu well, made suggestions and took great care of us from start to finish. The food was delicious with great attention to detail and flavor. You start out with bread with 2 delicious spreads, then a tasty salad on a chilled plate with a lovely house dressing that had just the right amount of acidity. The Yukon truffle potatoes are the best mashed potatoes I've ever had and I'm still dreaming about them. The asparagus side was grilled perfectly and seasoned well. The steaks were tender and full of flavor with your choice of sauce to compliment it. "Complementary dessert" are two of the best words to hear while dining out and it did not disappoint. It was a small cheesecake that was so light and creamy with the perfect crust, and a homemade doughnut and whipped cream, sauces and fruit. The restaurant is decorated well and we loved being able to see the ocean while we dined, creating a lovely ambiance for our meal. The chairs were comfortable. Yes, it is on the pricier side, but it is definitely worth it. I would recommend it for a special occasion because it is truly an elevated dining experience.
FAVOLOSO
Excellent, friendly service. The food was absolutely fantastic. We shared the Crabcake appetizer. My wife had the Chilean Seabass, & I had the Surf & Turf. The homemade bread is second to none. Also, the complimentary salad & dessert were great. Both entrees were cooked to perfection, compliments to the chef. Would highly recommend this restaurant.
Simply the Best!
My husband and I eat here every year, and it just keeps getting better and better! First of all the restaurant is beautiful with an ocean view! It BYOB which we love! They started us off with the homemade bread with basil and olive oil dipping that was incredible. We had crab cakes for appetizer which were amazing! My husband won’t eat crab cakes anywhere else after having it here! We had a tomahawk steak and lobster tails for two! The meat was cooked to perfection the lobster tails as well! Outstanding!! We ordered a side of long hots which were amazing they were with this tomato sauce that had this sweetness to it which was a flavor explosion! This dinner came with an amazing salad and a delicious desert. It was a donut with berries a cinnamon whip cream, chocolate ganache and a raspberry sauce! Our dinner was so amazing I had to compliment the chef. Mia was so nice, she took a picture with me! This steak house is better than a Manhattan steak house! It’s a must try!!!
Chef medium rare steak is not our medium steak
The chef can't cook medium rare steak. His medium rare steak is a medium in the middle pieces of the ribeye and the ends pieces are medium well. It is an $80 piece of steak so we told the waitress that it was not what we requested. First we got seats at the bar, we got the menu and found out that the restaurant has no alcohol license and that if we share our big steak we will need to pay $15 and we will bread, salad and a dessert which we don't want none of it. And we need to pay the 3% fee to use a credit card. We were about to leave to go somewhere else then the waitress said let me ask the Chef if we can just order and share the 22 oz steak. She came back and said yes. We ordered the medium rare 22 oz steak to share. We had to move down on the other side where all the glass was in front of us because there were four people who just came in and needed the four seats together. Instead of us moving down to the other end which has a better view he moves us down to the glass storage end of the bar, WTF! We finally got our steak and it was pretty sliced for us. It was pink as I mentioned earlier. The ends were burnt and medium or well done. Only the middle pieces were pink from medium to medium well. At the point we just want to leave but we wait to hear from the waitress and see what the chef will tell her what to say. She says it to the bad lighting so she uses her phone flashlight for us to see that the steak is medium rare according to the Chef. We told her we know what a medium rare steak looks like and this is not it. We know at this point the Chef is pissed off and will not want to cook us a medium rare steak so he got another waiter to tell us to leave because he is not going to cook us a new steak. Which is fine by us. I certainly don't want to eat what may or may not be on the new steak. For the money we don't think it's worth it.
The most mid steak house there ever was.
Dont go here if you have children. They will seat you in the front next to the register like second class citizens. The food is meh, too much woodfire, steak tastes like charcoal. Sides were cold. The male hostess seems bothered that the costumer's exist. Great place for a wannabe socialite with no family.
Delicious Dinner with Ocean View
Excellent surf and turf with ocean views. We had a delicious meal from starter salad to finish dessert. My steak was perfect as was the lobster. Service was also on point. This was a perfect meal to end our anniversary week in Cape May and a sunny stay at The Seahaven with our children and their families. This is one of the best steak houses in NJ if not the tri-state area. We had a wonderful meal at PRIMAL By Mia! Definitely make that reservation because like most restaurants in Cape May: it is not large. Excellent atmosphere and be sure to request an ocean view.
Primal Was Primo!
Our group of four wanted to celebrate multiple events and a reservation was made. Woodsy smoke from Primal’s oven was welcoming in the cold Cape May air as we approached from the beachfront walkway. A pleasant hostess greeted us and brought us to a corner table with near 180 degree view of the ocean. Since it was about 6PM, we got to see the sunset. Primal’s decor was upscale and interesting. Our server was highly attentive and knew the menu and beyond to ingredients of every food, sauce and side. The menu was focused on meat (beef & lamb), but had a few other options, like lobster tail and Halibut. Their sides were limited to a few veggies. Dessert was unknown until dinner was finished. After eating, all four agreed our meats (like my filet mignon) were cooked exactly as ordered. Our lobster tails were juicy and shrimp were firm, but not over-cooked. Our sides of mashed potatoes were flavorful, as was the asparagus. Our mushrooms and onions were a bit salty. Dessert was very tasty, served on a single tray with pastry, cheesecake and berries. Their coffee tasted rich and fresh. Take advantage of Primal’s BYOB policy. We loved our dinner at this 5-star restaurant! Download the Park Mobile App. and familiarize yourself with it prior to arrival. You’ll want to avoid parking annoyances, connected to this restaurant’s fantastic beachfront location, from delaying your start to dinner (arrive early April to September).
We've had dinner there before and were anxious to go back
We had an excellent dinner at Primal. We started with the sausage appetizer which was very good. We then shared the NY Strip Steak with a side of mushrooms and the Halibut with Shallot Cream sauce, both were cooked perfectly and delicious. Primal gives you a very nice salad with your dinner and dessert is included. Our server was very attentive, and I wish I could remember his name to give him a shoutout.
When you have a menu that works, stick with it.
And that's exactly what Mia does. Oh she'll charm you with delectable, exquisitely created specials to keep us on our toes, but it's the steak and seafood that continue to excel. We dined on the filet and small so African lobster that we're done to perfection. And this was at the end of the evening, when everyone is tired and beat. The corn fritter app was good, although I think the shrimp could have been slightly larger and the tails kept on for texture, but that's just me (and it's not my restaurant). The bread, salad and dessert included were each individually sublime. No doggie bags needed from us. Never felt rushed, however, we didn't feel entirely embraced either. With such a special dining destination, I like to feel special. Because the food says it's so. The ambience is California chic. Soft. Romantic. A tad noisy, but certainly doable. Wonderful overall and I'd highly recommend! Looking forward to future visits.
First of all - the food is very good.
its mostly a steak house. Service is very good and considerate. Ambiance....not impressed. This is the 3rd time we have dined at Primal. We always selected the ocean view seating. and for the 3rd (and last time ever) we were again seated at the table for two next to the grass wall. This is probably the worst table with the waiters squeezing past to get to the other tables. Primal has the lock since very few dining options are available at this time of the year. So for us this was the last time.
Well Done!!
This place was highly recommended and it’s not hard to understand why. The intimate atmosphere of the restaurant and smell of the wood stove is very inviting. Our waitress Madelina was more of a culinary tour guide from the moment we sat down to when we left 1.5 hours later! Mia and her husband are the only ones in the kitchen and cook right in front of you. The food was prepared to perfection and the attention to detail during app/main course/desert plate presentation was impressive. This meal was 5 star + and obviously we’ll be back next time in town.
Best food i've ever had, beautiful location, service was
Best food i've ever had, beautiful location, service was amazing. I absolutely cannot wait to go back this summer. Definitely recommend trying
Wanted to see what the hype was all about.
Had reservations, arrived early. The staff was very friendly. Our waitress gave us the full rundown since we had never been here before. Now as far as seating, I was not a big fan of it. They sat us in between 2 other tables. There was absolutely no room for us to squeeze in on either side so we had to sit on the same side of the table. They charge enough not to have to squeeze people in and give more space. Do better! The only thing saving them from getting 3 stars is that the staff were very friendly. Now the portion sizes are good, steaks were cooked perfectly as ordered. They are cooked over a wood fire. I found that the seasoning was only on the top of the steak where the char was.
Visited again yesterday, third time at Primal by Mia.
Each time we go, is better than the previous. We discover different tastes and new favorites. Attentive service and excellent dinner. Don't pass this up when in Cape May.
Primal never disappoints! Service always on point.
Do yourself a favor and make a reservation.
Great Steak in January
I have steak all over the country. Primal had the absolute best I’ve found. Was cooked correctly. Sides were ample and service was good. Easy to get a reservation in January but quality was first notch!!!
Had dinner at Primal last night.
The service was excellent. We asked to be seated early and they were able to accommodate us by sitting us 30 mins early. For an appetizer we had the pork belly. It was tender melt in your mouth and seasoned perfectly. For our entree my wife and I shared the tomahawk steak. It was cooked perfectly to a medium rare. I love steaks cooked on a wood stove. Such a great flavor from the wood and a great char. For our sides we had the mashed potato and creamed spinach. Both were amazing. My only small critic is no options for vegetables. Steak is heavy, creamed spinach heavy, a ribeye heavy. I like a simple grilled vegetable when eating my steak. To keep it light. For dessert we had the chocolate cake and chocolate moose. So good with a caramel sauce. Primal is my one of our places in Cape May and we're never disappointed.
Overall we were very impressed with the quality of food
Overall we were very impressed with the quality of food here. The places nice cosy and intimate. By the way salad and desert comes complimentary so that's a nice addition. The place is byob. there's not much street parking so that's a down but I would definitely come back again!
We live about 4 miles from primal and have now dined here 4
We live about 4 miles from primal and have now dined here 4 times. Loved it every time. Most recently was a 70 th birthday for a group including 1 in a wheelchair. They were very accommodating with the wheelchair and once again, the food was delicious.
Absolutely delicious.
Our steaks were cooked and seasoned perfectly. Our server Madelina was awesome.
Worth it.
I think I'll try a fish entree next time. The bread was the BEST the dipping oil I could swim in it! The sides salad & dessert were all phenomenal! I had the barrel cut ribeye it was the best piece of meat everrr! It was better than my husband's filet.
A gem overlooking the ocean
I'd had my eye on this place for a while and finally pulled the trigger for a dinner reservation for me and my wife. Reservations can only be made close to the date and following a slight misunderstanding about the timing, enjoyed a superb dinner with some of the best filet we'd had in a long time. While definitely featuring "fine dining" prices, so much was included in each meal, which was a nice surprise in these modern times of restaurants trying to cut corners by making everything a la carte. We had a nice conversation with the owner who is refreshingly passionate about her business and truly cares about her guests' experiences. The steak alone will have us returning, but fortunately there is so much more to love beyond the main courses.
Exceptional Experience
Incredible food, service and atmosphere! Owners truly care about their customers’ experience. The food is very creative and the quality is exceptional. This restaurant checks all boxes!
Surprise surcharge
Interesting menu. Good food. Ok service. Added a surcharge to my bill with no prior notification or explanation. Not rushing back.
Always Amazing
Primal is my absolute favorite restaurant anywhere! Each visit leaves me waiting for the next. Mia and Joe are truly wonderful. The burrata is always out of this world. The shrimp and crab is truly delightful and the filet and lobster is something I dream about. Who can complain about included dessert?!
Amazing Food
Amazing food . . . from the salad course to the dessert course. Everything is delicious. A little pricey, but well worth it. This was our third year eating here (for our anniversary), and we have never been disappointed. I would definitely recommend visiting if you're in Cape May.
Hit and Miss for Costly Experience
After reading the many glowing reviews about the "best restaurant in Cape May" we were very pleased to get reservations for our desired time since we were told how difficult it is to get them in season. Maybe we were expecting too much, but with the prices charged for each course plus sides, a culinary experience at least on par with specialty restaurants on cruise ships we have been on would have been a minimum. Unfortunately, Primal did not meet our expectations with a "barrel cut ribeye" that was cooked as ordered but was not as tender as a normal ribeye; the dry aged ribeye at a higher price might be a better choice we will never have to make, however. The halibut ordered by my wife was actually excellent but the presentation left much to be desired and it was definitely not worthy of a photo as a lump of blacked something........which again tasted great but looked sad. Vegetable dish at $13 was too sweet and contained strange assortment that many must like to rate this restaurant so highly. Kudos for the bread, salad and dessert courses that were included with the meal charge although once again the dessert had an apple layer that was very highly oversweetened. Fortunately for others who love this place, we will not be competing for those table reservations in the future. Not worth the cost and other choices in Cape May will be in our future.
Incredible Cusine
We have dined at Primal since they opened. Each meal has been a culinary adventure of the best kind. My New York strip steak was done to perfection. These are truly prime cuts of meat. The chef doesn’t know try to cover a mediocre steak with over seasoning . The owners keep the menu constantly fresh particularly in the appetizers. It’s a BYO so this makes the meal well worth the price. The decor was fresh and pleasing. Of course having a window with an ocean view capped the experience. All of the servers were attentive, helpful and well trained. This is a dining experience that I will remember. Each meal that I have had there topped the one before.
Enjoyable Meal with great Atmosphere
The service was excellent. Kimberly was a great waitress and also know we needed a carafe for my 10 year old Dunn Howell mountain Cabernet. (It’s BYOB) Our Tomahawk steak was cooked perfectly medium rare. Plus meal came with salad and desert. An enjoyable experience
Connect with users posting reservations for PRIMAL By Mia Cape May
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to PRIMAL By Mia Cape May at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the PRIMAL By Mia Cape May page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
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* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
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* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at PRIMAL By Mia Cape May!
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