The ongoing revitalization of the Cape May ferry terminal hit another milestone earlier this week when the third of a planned four new eateries welcomed its first customers.
On May 11, Boat Drinks launched their “fresh spin on bar food” at the newly renovated space at the Cape May – Lewes Terminal. Situated at 1200 Lincoln Boulevard in North Cape May, the restaurant is perched along the Delaware Bay right next to the docks and runs a “shots across the bow” special where guests can buy a $2 shot every time a ferry docks at the terminal.
The food menu at Boat Drinks includes a range of dips and crudités plus innovative salads and soups like a Cajun crab and corn bisque. The grill offers a selection of paninis including a mushroom and goat cheese variety as well as a Cuban sandwich, while drinks include a slew of cocktails and draft beers from local spots like Cape May Brewing Company and Dogfish Head.
Featuring live music daily and opening at 11 a.m., Boat Drinks is the third restaurant to open at the terminal in recent months. The overhaul is being undertaken by Exit Zero Hospitality, who are partnering with the Delaware River and Bay Authority to elevate the generally utilitarian facility.
The company operates Exit Zero Filling Station in West Cape May and signed a ten-year lease at the ferry property before beginning renovations last fall. The group opened a fine dining experience last month on the second floor of the building dubbed The Lookout, an octagon-shaped restaurant sporting panoramic views of the Delaware Bay.
Beside the indoor dining, The Lookout also features a patio with gas firepits and a 50-seat bar. A full raw bar adorns the menu as do prime cuts like a bone-in cowboy rib eye and seafood dishes like a Scottish salmon wellington or a lobster tail with cognac cream.
The new dining options follow the opening of Cafe 64 in the terminal’s former gift shop last September. That spot, named for the 1964 launch of ferry service at the property, utilizes a quick-service model and features egg sandwiches, wraps, and more for those on the go.
The fourth and final eatery slated for the terminal is Exit Zero Ferry Station. Set to open later this spring, the 300-seat restaurant is the “waterfront sibling” of the group’s existing West Cape May business that sports an eclectic menu ranging from their trademark Hot Chick sandwiches, Pad Thai, cauliflower bites, and Thai shrimp soup.
The overhaul of the terminal is the initial portion of a larger project called Ferry Park, which aims to transform the property into a pure destination that better connects with the surrounding area. The plan calls for a new community park with landscaping, recreational games, and a mini shopping village set to feature some of Cape May’s favorite stores.
That phase of construction at Ferry Park is slated to begin during the fall after the summer tourism season, which is slated to include a concert series, yoga and movies on the facility’s lawn, and several art gallery exhibitions.
