Steve & Cookies By the Bay, Margate, NJ - Restaurant Review

p align=”left”>In about a four-block area on the bay in Margate, located on Amherst Ave, you will find several fine dining restaurants and bars. One such establishment, Steve & Cookies By the Bay is known for its American Cuisine of fine foods. I’ve heard about this restaurant and a few others along this area and decided to give it a try. It was highly recommended by friends or ours and we were very excited to be able to get a reservation on a Saturday evening in the winter. We had to eat before 6:00 PM or after 8:30 due to the demand of customers. We chose to eat at 6:00.

My wife and I arrived about twenty minutes early for our reservation, and the parking lot was almost empty, as was the restaurant. We were seated immediately, close to the fireplace in a comfortable atmosphere that was very welcoming. After being seated, our waiter for the evening, Carlos, welcomed us and took our drink order. He asked if we had ever dined at Steve & Cookies, and when we told him that we had not, he came back and offered an explanation of the specials along with his recommendations of the menu. Carlos was very friendly and wanted to help us in every way.

Our cocktails were delivered along with bread. We always feel that the bread in a fine dining establishment should be hot and very good. The bread was hot, and good, but not fantastic good. We’ve had better bread.

We decided to share an appetizer called Suppli, which was a risotto fritter filled with fontina, mozzarella, peas and basil, with a plum tomato sauce. We had never heard of such an appetizer and its taste was as good as the mouth-watering description. Both of us thoroughly enjoyed this tasteful treat. It was served hot and moist and full of flavor.

The house salad, available as a small or large plate, came ala Carte. We both ordered the small house salad, which consisted of baby greens, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese and a roasted shallot vinaigrette. The size of the small was plenty and the salad was excellent. Neither my wife or myself is a huge fan of any kind of onions, but Carlos assured us the shallots did not have a strong taste, and he was correct.

After our salads were finished, our entrees were served. We both ordered off the specials for the evening. My wife ordered crab cake stuffed shrimp, smashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, tomato relish, in a lemon caper butter. I had pan seared Hiramasa (Yellowtail Kingfish) filet, shrimp fried rice with Chinese pork sausage and Chinese broccoli, all served in a ginger teriyaki vinaigrette.

The crab cake stuffed shrimp, although good, was not the best my wife has had. The shrimp seemed a little over cooked, and the crab cake filling was good but not WOW. The grilled asparagus was crisp and fine, and the smashed potatoes were good.

I was not sure about the Hiramasa. I told Carlos that I liked white flaky fish such as yellowtail snapper, and flounder, and Carlos assured me if I liked those kinds of fish, I would like the Hiramasa. Carlos was correct. The Hiramasa came out in two pieces that were pan seared and the ginger teriyaki vinaigrette was served on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the fish with the vinaigrette. It was very moist and did not have a fishy taste.
The shrimp fried rice with pork sausage that accompanied the fish was good, but not great.

After eating our meals, Carlos brought out the dessert menu and told us his favorites. We were both full and could have easily been persuaded to share a dessert, but after looking at what was available, there was nothing that grabbed both of us as a must try. We opted to have a coffee and the check.

Before, during, and after dinner, there was nice jazz music being played throughout the restaurant. The atmosphere was great with a real fireplace where you could actually smell the wood burning, and Carlos was a pleasure to have as our server. He was knowledgeable, efficient, and made some great recommendations.

When we arrived, the restaurant was almost empty. By the time we finished our meal and was ready to leave, the restaurant was full. When I called to make reservations, I asked what the dress code was and I mentioned not wearing jeans, and I was given the impression that jeans were not acceptable.

I was surprised to see many in jeans. A table for five next to us had three children who were dressed like they just came off the basketball courts from playing a game of hoops. Two of the children had on hooded sweatshirts with jeans that had rips in them and sneakers. The front door of the restaurant states “Proper Attire Required”, so I’m curious what “Proper” is? I know it is difficult to turn away business during the winter months, but I’m surprised at the restaurant and the parents of the children for not dressing a little nicer for a fine dining establishment.

Overall the restaurant was a great treat for us and although there were a few food related items that were good but not great, I say Steve and Cookies By the Bay was an enjoyable evening and the food met my expectations. My wife thought some of the food was very good, but her main course was just good, but not great.

The total cost of our bill, with appetizers, drinks, but no dessert was $120.00 for two. This is average for a fine dining establishment. Steve & Cookies By the Bay has been in Margate for many years and has been visited by tourist and locals with its excellent reputation. On a scale of one to ten taking into consideration the value of the meal, the atmosphere, the service, the taste and presentation of the meal, and overall satisfaction, I would recommend this fine dinning experience and give it a seven out of ten.