The Cricket Club, Cape May, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
The Cricket Club
106 Decatur St.
Cape May, NJ
Cricket Club: Restaurant Highlights
Fare: Contemporary American
Price: Expensive
Food Quality: Well-executed menu, with creative offerings
Service: Friendly, professional, and attentive.
Ambiance/Decor: Upscale, a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary flair.
Liquor: Full bar service with a moderate variety wines by the glass and bottle, speciality cocktails, and cask beers.
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Note: Four-star Rating System from 1/2 Star = Poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: Moderate to Loud (when music is playing).
Dress: Upscale casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy fine dining, with a well-executed menu, and live music with full bar service
Not Recommended For: Budget-conscious diners who prefer a low-key, BYOB family setting with a casual-style menu.
Recommended dishes: When available, The Ribeye Steak, grilled and topped with roasted garlic and caramelized onion compound butter with roasted fingerlings and green beans; The Crab Cake Entree, baked then topped with house remoulade and served with roasted fingerlings and green beans; and The Cavettelli Pasta with minced lamb in a rich ragu finished with shaved parmesan and orange mint gremolata.
The Cricket Club, located on the former site of the iconic Merion Inn, opened its doors in 2022 and has since joined the ranks of Cape May’s top fine-dining destinations.
Owned and operated by the Kulkowitz family—also behind the beloved local landmark, The Mad Batter—The Cricket Club brings a fresh yet familiar energy to the Cape May dining scene.
The restaurant has undergone a complete renovation, with a newly designed interior that blends traditional charm with modern elegance. Warm lighting and thoughtful details create a welcoming and stylish ambiance.
At the helm of the kitchen is Executive Chef Jon Davies, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University of Culinary Arts. Chef Davies sharpened his skills in Aspen, Colorado, before returning to Cape May, where he worked in the kitchens of both The Mad Batter and the former Merion Inn.
Chef Davies has a deep appreciation for New Orleans cuisine—an influence that began when he first visited the city as a child. While the menu is not exclusively Southern, a standout example of this inspiration is the Southern-style gumbo stew, a flavorful nod to Louisiana’s rich culinary tradition.
The Contemporary American menu is creative, well-executed, and reasonably priced. In addition to full-sized entrées, guests can choose from a selection of thoughtfully prepared lighter fare.
Live music enhances the weekend dining experience, adding to the restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere.
Please note: The Cricket Club is not recommended for children.
Off-street parking is available in a paved lot situated between The Cricket Club and The Tides.
The restaurant is open year-round, with seasonal hours.
Updated March 2025
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