Vintage celebrates al fresco dining at Cape May’s lovely Emlen Physick Estate
KARA Restaurant Group launches its newest venture in Cape May — Vintage — an outdoor dining experience with a “wild” menu for brunch and dinner
CAPE MAY — Put aside the last three months of humdrum meals at home and limited trips to the grocery store: an exciting new restaurant, Vintage, has opened on the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate.
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) has partnered with KARA Restaurant Group to oversee its restaurant operation beginning this year. KARA operates some of the most successful and exciting restaurants in the Cape May region — George’s Place, Scola, Shamone, YB — and now Vintage, featuring menu items that are unique, as co-owner Chef Nikolaos “Niko” Goutzouris describes them, and “wild.”
Vintage is open seven days a week from 11am-4pm and 5pm-8pm and offers a brunch menu and select options for dinner.
“I want to appeal to a broader crowd,” said Niko. “To everyone — young and old.”
In that vein, Niko said the menu will appeal to those who like to try something creative as well as those who enjoy the familiar.
“You know you go to a lot of restaurants and you always see the same things. We want to make something that’s different, completely, but with one or two items that are familiar. Our menu is something more unique, more wild.”
The menu includes things like cheesecake waffles. Blackberry, brie, bacon grilled cheeses. Angus burgers with thick spread goat cheese and arugula.
For those who enjoy tea, Vintage will bring a modern take to that classic beverage.
“We are trying to stray away from the tearoom idea — not that it’s bad — we’re just trying to make something new that brings in more of a crowd,” he said. ‘We’re trying to bring a fresh new, hip way of doing it.”
That could mean incorporating infused teas into the menu.
“You chop up some fresh apples or berries and then you mix it in with a select tea then all those fruits and flavors get incorporated together and blend with the tea. You can eat the fruit afterwards.”
The Carriage House Museum Shop is a licensed retail outlet for Cape May Winery wines and they can be enjoyed with brunch or dinner. Stop in the shop when you arrive. Customers can also bring their own. Some light, sophisticated fare like quality cheeses, a bread board or charcuterie are also on the menu.
There’s no shame in salivating over the wild delights that will awaken your palate during your next visit to the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. View the menu. Call 609–224–6064 for reservations & takeout orders. Open daily. Brunch is 11am to 4pm and dinner selections are offered 5pm to 8pm. Vintage is dog- friendly, has plenty of outside seating and take out is available.
