New Jersey has its fair share of eateries with breathtaking views and diverse dishes — no arguing there — but one has earned a spot among the best waterfront restaurants in the country, according to a recent ranking on USA TODAY’s 10BEST 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Through flooding and fire damage, this historic, family-owned Jersey Shore restaurant has stood the test of time, dating back three centuries and drawing crowds year-round. Readers of USA TODAY voted to crown the nation’s top 10 best restaurants with exceptional views, whittling down a nomination list crafted by 20 experts who weighed heavily on “outstanding service, meals with high-quality, fresh ingredients and stunning views.”

Here’s what to know about New Jersey’s top waterfront restaurant down the Jersey Shore. Would you recommend it?

The Lobster House, Cape May

There’s nothing like enjoying some freshly caught seafood at the Jersey Shore, and The Lobster House in Cape May is just the place to be, according to readers. The “legendary” eatery was top ranked for its picturesque views of the Cape May Harbor.

The family-owned business is renowned for their whole lobsters and signature seafood pasta, embracing “a casual yet festive vibe, ideal for seafood aficionados of all ages,” according to USA TODAY. Their dockside is usually bustling with its own fleet of fishing boats, serving millions of pounds of fresh catches year-round.

Tourists and locals have dined there for decades; the restaurant was established around the 1950s and its operation includes a dining room, raw bar and a deck, with diners also fond of sipping cocktails aboard The Schooner American, a 130-foot sailing vessel moored alongside the restaurant since 1965. 

Do you need a reservation at The Lobster House in Cape May? Here’s how to eat at The Lobster House

The Lobster House’s main dining room is open for lunch and dinner, and its Raw Bar opened for the season on Friday, April 25. The Lobster House has a coffee shop open early that serves breakfast on the weekends and also has a fish market and take-out. The website indicates the Schooner is closed for the season, so best to check with the restaurant.

Go: 906 Schellengers Landing Road; 609-884-8296, thelobsterhouse.com. They do not take reservations.

Top 10 waterfront restaurants in the U.S.

More a fan of American fare and headed to Florida, or taking in the views of Niagara Falls this summer? Here are the 10BEST waterfront restaurants ranked in the U.S.

1. Beach House Grill: Chatham, Massachusetts
2. Moshulu: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3. The Strand House: Manhattan Beach, California
4. Canoe – Atlanta, Georgia
5. Top of the Falls – Niagara Falls, New York
6. The Lobster House – Cape May, New Jersey
7. Six Seven Restaurant – Seattle, Washington
8. Jetty’s Waterfront Restaurant – Jupiter, Florida
9. Angèle Restaurant & Bar – Napa, California
10. Prost Haus – San Antonio, Texas

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.