Between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach
Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar, part of the SoDel
Concepts family, has the same name as the flagship restaurant in Bethany Beach. But they’re not twins. While the Bethany site embraces a minimalistic look—the better to showcase the sunsets over Salt Pond—the Rehoboth restaurant plays up the coastal theme with sea-blue colors, luxe fabrics and tasteful beachy decor. There’s a bar, a raw bar, a patio bar and porch dining. Corporate chef Doug Ruley, who’s cooked at the prestigious James Beard House in New York four times, crafted a menu with some surprises. Anson Mills grits give crawfish gumbo a fresh spin, and deviled eggs are crowned with a scrapple chip, green apple, pickled mustard seeds and smoked curry dust. Fried baby lobster tails are on the menus of both restaurants. Come early for live music on the patio, which usually ends by 8 p.m.
30115 Veterans Way, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-278-7395, bluecoastrehoboth.com
Michy’s is owned by British expat Richard Davis and his wife, Michel. Popular dishes include horseradish-crusted salmon with sesame-soy bok choy, and rigatoni Bolognese with beef, pork and veal. Make reservations. The secret is out about Michy’s, and it’s a favorite among locals, especially at happy hour, when the bar seats and the sofa in the lounge are occupied.
19287 Miller Road, No. 17, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-227-0999, michysrelaxeddining.com
Big Fish Restaurant Group’s empire started with Big Fish Grill, a family favorite. Today, there are three Big Fish locations, but many longtime patrons maintain that the first is the best. Crabcakes, grilled yellowfin tuna, Scottish salmon and pecan-crusted halibut top the list of best-sellers. For a side, try the cheesy, casserole-like Neva’s potatoes, named after the mother of founders Eric and Norm Sugrue. The Rehoboth site’s happy hour is arguably the area’s best. Try the smoked salmon napoleon, served with crispy wonton chips, $1.25 oysters and $6 pots of mussels. There’s a well-stocked market offering fresh fish and takeout next to the Rehoboth site.
20298 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-227-3474, bigfishgrill.com
Downtown Rehoboth Beach
Visitors to Rehoboth Beach love their breakfast. For the traditional, head to Robin Hood, which opened in 1968. Still owned by the Tsoukalas family, the restaurant is known for Greek omelets made with spinach and feta. Don’t forget the scrapple.
54 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-227-0770
Go to The Royal Treat in the morning for hefty omelets and light-as-air pancakes. Return in the afternoon for an ice cream sundae crowned with a maraschino cherry. The Royal Treat occupies a Victorian building with a sweeping front porch, so you’ll get a taste of old Rehoboth along with your meal.
4 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-227-6277
Missi Moore Postles tweaks the traditional breakfast at Egg, which hatched in 2017 just past the drawbridge. Outfitted with French country/cottage decor, Egg offers such distinctive breakfast fare as “The McQuay,” which honors the former occupant, McQuay’s Market. The dish includes barley sauteed with fresh spinach, roasted beets, carrots and panko-crusted goat cheese—topped with a sunny-side up egg and served on toast. Postles is a former salesperson for a wine and spirits company, so the bar is well stocked. Don’t miss the bloody mary garnished with sriracha-candied bacon.
510 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth, Delaware, 302-227-3447, eggrehoboth.com
Louie’s Pizza is named for Lazaros “Louie” Gouvas, a Greek immigrant who opened the pizza place in 1974. While Louie’s is best known for pizza, its tagline is “Home of the Grinder.” The Gouvas family is proud of the subs, which are toasted in a special oven. The “Special Italian” is packed with ham, Genoa salami, capicola, olive oil, onion, green pepper, tomato and provolone.
11 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 302-227-6002, louiespizzarb.com
