The Black Duck

We have dined here for many years, and the experience is consistently superb. The appetizers, like the Stilton salad, and the entrees like the crab cakes, the tuna, the hangar steak, and all the specials are made with local ingredients and fresh delights. The chef is a Culinary Institute of America graduate. Waiters are a steady group of excellent veterans of the Cape May restaurant scene. Desserts are wonderful, like the fruit cobblers with real whipped cream, chocolate torte with fresh berries, all tastey and filling. Bring your own wine, and enjoy a sensational cuisine, good atmosphere, too.

One of Cape Mays finest restaurants does not disappoint. Starters, salads and entrees are very good, and the service as well. Only complaint some would say it has a very limited menu.
Not to miss when in Cape May.

An absolutely flawless dining experience. Food, service, ambience all top drawer.

Everything was amazingly prepared. Appetizer, dinners and dessert were all amazing! Best meal during our week long stay here.

Chef I truly salute you!!! Thank you for such an incredible culinary experience. I came into town today thinking I would dine on the typical run of the mill fare of a beach town (sorry never been to cape may before) and I stumbled upon the black duck on Unilocal.Immediately I needed to go. I had high hopes for such a brave menu which is a complete blend of cuisines. Some call it fusion, but here is the pinnacle of amalgamation. Asian meets Mediterranean with a new American beauty. Let’s break this down… A Pu-​Pu platter which of often a smörgåsbord of cheaply made Chinese appetizers, but here I saw an elevation of this simple concept that floored me. Duck confit spring rolls! Silky confit wrapped in a crispy shell with a multitude of dipping sauces is just one example of pure genius. Entrée arrive and my wife had the crab cakes… Huge pieces of fresh sweet crab with bits of celery, she stated that it was one of the best crab cakes she has ever had. I had the lamb special which was a true show stopper. Rack of lamb, homemade lamb sausage with a tomato chutney/​jam, on top of gnocchi stuffed w asparagus, all finished with I believe a wine Demi-​glaze. Not a single morsel was left. Last but not least, the desserts! I have written too much already, but I will attest as a non sweet lover, these do not disappoint in flavor or presentation.
A few reviews mention the prices, considering the quality, presentation, and creativity of this food i find this place a bargain!!!
My only disappointment is I don’t live closer.

Have been to this location on 2 occasions now, both have been amazing. Great food and service. Highly recommend.

Quality food with great flavor. I recommend trying their early bird menu for your first try so you can get some variety since that menu includes an appetizer and dessert. BYOB

It’s difficult to stand out in Cape May but Black Duck on Sunset succeeds. Generous portions abound and our party loved the chilled tomato crab soup, pu pu platter and arugula salad followed by well prepared sesame crusted tuna, soft shell crab, sautéed crab cake, honey roasted duck and hangar steak. The Crème brûlée got rave reviews and the blueberry crumble with butter pecan ice cream were forced into overstuffed mouths. The only oddity was the servers refilled waters after what seemed like every sip. A little more space would have been perfect.

Amazing food and great service! Will be going back next summer!

Definitively the best meal I’ve had in a long time. We went during off season and when the weather was not very good so we were the only ones there for a while. Soon two other couples came in. We had our infant with us, who is very well behaved, but they didn’t mind at all.
We were there for the early bird and both ordered the lobster bisque to start. It was very good but could have had some more lumps of lobster.
Next I had the duck fried rice. It was amazing! The flavorings and spices were so wonderfully balanced out. I had hints of ginger in every bite and my plate was clear by the time I was done.
My husband ordered the shrimp & grits. He loved it. I had a bite and the smokey flavoring of the chorizo was again in perfect balance with the dish. I usually find the smoked taste to overpower, but they managed to have a hint of it without it being a smack in the face. The shrimp and grits were cooked to perfection.
Lastly we had the chocolate mousse. Now usually I don’t get the mousse because it often is not very good. I never in my life had such amazing chocolate mousse. My husband doesn’t even like chocolate mousse and he was wishing there was seconds.
Another thing that I loved is that the portions were perfect. We had 3 courses, bread and at no point did I feel stuffed, rushed, or too slow. It was a great pace, great portion size.
Then there was the atmosphere. Despite the weather being less than ideal the outside and inside were very nicely decorated. A lot of natural light came through the many windows and it felt very open.
The service was also very good, but being one of the three couples there I can’t say I’m surprised. But I think even if it was a busy night I’m sure they would be as attentive as they were when we were there. Checked in the appropriate amount of times and made sure everything was to our liking.
I would go as many times as possible and as many times as my wallet would allow.

Our second year going to Cape May for a few days, and second time visiting the Black Duck. Availed ourselves of their early bird dinner deal — which, at 25 bucks, is one of the great deals to be found anywhere. Made reservations a couple of days in advance (it was off-​season). A great meal. Service — excellent and professional. Me: Lobster bisque, crab cakes, and chocolate mousse. My wife: the same, except a salad in place of the really rich bisque. The crab cakes were among the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few. Such a lovely dinner!
Cape May has a lot of terrific restaurants and we’ve tried our fair share of them. The Black Duck is among the best…

Went there with a party of 4 service and food all spot on.
Even though they were extremely busy we were never rushed.
It is a byob so that is a huge plus.
If I could find any fault my appetizer was only luke warm.
Have followed Chef Huber in all his restaurants he was one of the best chefs at the Ebbit Room.

This place had my attention from the word go! I mean I love duck and seafood, how could I go wrong! Well first I came with two dates, one my wife and the second my adorable two year old mother reincarnated. It seems like this is the place not to bring your kids and anyone darker than a paper bag. Why? Oh how can you say such things it’s 2015 and we have a black president… Well they sat us in the back away from everyone else, next to a cleaning closet and the bathroom, our waitress didn’t smile at us not even once and she didn’t even bat an eyelash when my two year old waved at her. They didn’t not have anything on the menu remotely kid friendly, and we got the WTF look when we asked for a straw for «my mother»… I mean daughter’s apple juice which I had to go across the street to the liquor store to buy and don’t you damn dear ask for a straw… But hell I wanted my duck and scallops! Well the duck was good the scallops were over cooked and the appetizers were so bland I will be on another pill for the amount of salt I had to put on them… the best part is my wife did not enjoy a single bite of her food, you know I had to hear about that! Happy wife happy life! But at least I got my duck…:-/

Excellent service. Try the duck, of course! The confit and goat cheese eggrolls are a win. Crab cakes are to die for!!!

Simple décor. Great food. It’s BYOB, but there’s a liquor store across the street! I highly recommend the early bird dining option.

Came for the prix fixe menu (25 for 3 courses). I chose the lobster bisque, shrimp and grits, and vanilla mousse. All were very delicious but the grits had an oily sauce around them which I could have done without. The lobster bisque was very creamy but didn’t have the chunks of lobster I like to see in my bisque. The vanilla mousse was the perfect end to a meal: light and palette cleansing. Service was great and very efficient. The waiters and waitresses quickly filled water, changed plates, and our food was very quickly brought out. Overall, would come again for a casual meal out in Cape May.

I came with a party of 30 for a family reunion. We all were very conscientiously seated in a wing off to the side, as to not disturb the rest of the patrons. Our party included two very young children, one child who was deathly allergic to shellfish, and two dozen very very very chatty adults. That the service could handle any of this at all along with the two cases of wine that we brought, and birthday desserts, was an incredible achievement of theirs! The food was very subtle and delicious.
Really wonderful evening with so many people, I would highly recommend this place to either couples or large groups, wonderful ambience, incredibly elegant food, and a very professional staff. Yes

Food was amazing! Our party shared several appetizers and also had the excellent lobster bisque. All outstanding! All of our entrees were exceptional.
The service was not as good and was disappointing. Our food was rushed to us but was not delivered at the same time with minutes in between. The bus staffed cleared but did so haphazardly with little concern where crumbs were being dropped…, like on our laps. It took our waiter over 10 minutes to return after our entrees were cleared.
So, we were rushed through dinner but then a long wait for coffee and dessert. The waiter had little concern for our satisfaction.
We’ll return for the great food and the hope of better service.

Had a very nice experience with great attentive staff, delicious food and a good atmosphere. I would definitely go back especially for the early bird special.

Nice setting in an old Victorian house.
Promptly seated for our reservation time. Place was somewhat noisy but tolerable. The air-​conditioning however was cranked to the max and I normally do not get cold, but I was cold.
Food was excellent. I ordered the duck and the wife ordered filet. My only issue was when I asked to have the side for mine switched to potatoes I was told ‘no’ without even asking. I said to please ask and when she returned I was told it was fine.
When you are in the hospitality industry ‘no’ should not be in your lexicon.
All things aside I would return here as the food was fantastic.