Delaware has an astoundingly vibrant dining scene thanks to several factors. Our farms supply our restaurants with fresh fruits, vegetables and meats year-round. Our bays and the Atlantic Ocean give us amazing fresh seafoods. And our healthy economy and low taxes continue to draw some of the best culinary talent around.
Living and working in Lewes gives us easy access to some of the most famous spots for locals and folks vacationing near the beaches. We have fine dining at quaint fancy spots like Heirloom https://www.heirloomdelaware.com/, comfort food bistro fare at Striper Bites https://striperbites.com/ and Kindle https://www.kindlerestaurant.com/, and amazing margaritas and Mexican fare at Agave https://www.agaverestaurants.com/mexican-restaurant-lewes. We also love Eggcellent http://eggcellent.us/lewes#popup:infoblock, Honey’s Farm Fresh https://www.facebook.com/honeysfarmfresh?paipv=0&eav=Afa4LjpuQSngIJEHoZJK3o6kEF870Q4Vztv1-QZMr-A3hBE3un4P7z1wJ6mN6fOjNx0 and Nectar https://www.cafenectar.com/ for breakfast and lunch, and Grain on the Rocks https://meetatgrain.com/lewes-de?loxi_pathname=%2Flist%2Ffuture%2F1 at the Lewes Ferry Terminal for outside dining with a lovely view of the Delaware Bay.
Thanks to a robust and well-researched article in this month’s edition of one of our favorite magazines – Delaware Today https://delawaretoday.com/ – we have a terrific bird’s eye view of more wonderful dining spots all around our state. If you live in Delaware – and especially if you’ve recently moved here – I highly recommend subscribing to this publication for its fascinating feature stories and up-to-the-minute spotlights on our unique dining, recreational, business and historical culture. Here are some highlights from this issue:
FRESH AIR DINING
Downstate locals have always loved Paradise Grill https://paradisegrillde.com/ for its fresh local fare, live entertainment and waterside setting. But if you’re upstate check out Banks Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar https://www.banksseafoodkitchen.com/ for an upscale lunch or dinner, with epicurean seafood at center stage. It’s beautifully sited on the vibrant Wilmington waterfront, and great for special occasions.
APPETIZERS AND LIGHT FARE
Sometimes you just want to nibble a few different things. The magazine spotlights two great spots for that – Thompson Island Brewing Company in Rehoboth https://thompsonislandbrewing.com/ and Big Fish Grill on the Wilmington Riverfront https://bigfishriverfront.com/ (with a second location also just south of Rehoboth) https://bigfishriverfront.com/.
BAKERIES
The edition spotlights two spots for surprising bakery selections – My Sister’s Fault in Milford, which offers Latin American specialties along with sweets and desserts https://order.my-sisters-fault.com/, and Bing’s Bakery in Newark, which is a sweet spot for cakes and pastries https://www.bingsbakery.com/. I’ll add a few of my favorites to this category: Old World Breads Bakery https://www.oldworldbreads.com/, just down the road from Tower Hill in Lewes, La Baguette in Lewes https://www.labaguettede.com/location/la-baguette-lewes/ and Dover https://www.labaguettede.com/location/la-baguette-dover/, and The Station on Kings https://thestationlewes.com/ just outside downtown Lewes.
BARBECUE
Everyone seems to love Bethany Blues https://bethanyblues.com/ in Bethany, Rehoboth and Lewes for its sprawling menu of savory grilled selections and bourbons, and Limestone BBQ & Bourbon is the spice of life up in Wilmington https://www.limestonebbqandbourbon.com/. Both restaurants are also renowned for their live music and fun atmospheres.
VEGETARIAN BOUNTIES
The magazine went big on plant-based fare, spotlighting The Mercury Café and Teahouse in New Castle https://www.themercurynewcastle.com/, Delectable in Wilmington https://www.delectablez.net/ for carry-out for vegan “burgers,” milkshakes, pancakes and pizza, Rooted AF https://www.thechancerymarket.com/rooted-af/ for carry-out at The Chancery Market Food Hall & Bar in Wilmington, Honeygrow in Wilmington, Christiana and Newark, https://order.honeygrow.com/menu/newark?showInfoModal=true, and Seedbod Kitchen in Rehoboth https://seedbol.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv7O0BhDwARIsAC0sjWMLeZR3G5cm7hsrIQBOvuTyXKYXZPIbjTUM_jTmc31PAUU1bm8LHMAaAnOjEALw_wcB. where you can create your own dish, and Home Grown Café in Newark https://www.homegrowncafe.com/ and Our Harvest at Fenwick Island https://ourharvestde.com.
MORE BREAKFAST SPOTS
Delaware Today spotlighted some additional breakfast spots that each offer something special. Down in Lewes, Surf Bagel https://surfbagel.com/ is the place to go for the freshest bagel sandwiches, coffee and other items. Upstate in Newark, The Peach Blossom Eatery https://www.peachblossomeatery.com/ offers great comfort food for breakfast, lunch and brunch.
If old school diners are your thing, you’ll love Rehoboth’s Crystal Restaurant https://rehobothfoodie.com/reviews/crystal-restaurant/ and, if you’re near Wilmington, Lucky’s Coffee Shop https://luckyscoffeeshop.com/ for classic breakfast and lunch fare.
FINE DINING
The magazine spotlights some stand-outs on Delaware’s upscale dining scene, including Lupo Italian Kitchen in Rehoboth https://lupoitaliankitchen.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp, 1776 Steakhouse in Lewes https://1776steakhouse.com/ and Bardea Steak https://www.bardeasteak.com/ and Harry’s Savoy Grill https://www.harryshospitalitygroup.com/harrys-savoy-grill/?y_source=1_NjQ1MDA1MjEtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D in Wilmington.
FARMERS MARKETS
I’m not surprised the magazine selected the Historic Lewes Farmers Market https://www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org/ as a stand-out. It happens every Wednesday and Saturday and never disappoints. If you’re upstate in Middletown, check out the Dutch Country Farmers Market https://delawarefarmersmarket.com/.
Please note: this list is just a small selection from all of the dining spots selected by Delaware Today for this story. Learn more at https://delawaretoday.com/.