Aroma opens on Second Street in Rehoboth Beach

Delaware’s restaurants were upended March 16 when Gov. John Carney issued an emergency order limiting business to delivery and takeout only in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Announced in the middle of the afternoon, the order went into effect at 8 p.m.

For Murat “Mike” Tan, that announcement came the day he opened his new restaurant, Aroma Mediterranean Cuisine on Second Street in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

“We opened for four hours and then we had to shut it down,” said Tan, during an interview April 14. “There were already a lot of unknowns because we were opening an ethnic restaurant. Now, we’re in the same boat as everybody else, but our experience has been a little bit different.”

Tan, whose native country is Turkey, moved to the United States in 1989 and then to Delaware in 1999. He owned and operated Lewes Pizza – where Harvest Tide is now – from 2007 to 2011. He’s been in the transportation industry since then, but he said he’s always longed to get back into the restaurant business.

“I really missed it,” said Tan. “I enjoy food. I enjoy meeting people. Basically, I wanted to give it another shot.”

This time around, Tan said he changed from the pizza, subs, and hamburger business to ethnic food because he wanted more flavorful options. The menu includes traditional Mediterranean mezes, kebabs, stews and seafood. For dessert, there’s homemade baklava and kazandibi.

“I’m Turkish, and the flavor options for that style of food are limited around here,” he said. “It’s the right food, the right way. The original way.”

Tan said he recognizes there’s a difference in running the two different styles of restaurants, but, he said, it’s still the food business, with a different menu. If anything, he said, his experience at Lewes Pizza enabled him to adjust Aroma’s business on the fly to takeout because he knew what to do.

A month into business, Tan remains optimistic about Aroma’s future. Things were slow to begin with, but they’re getting better, he said.

“I’m glad I’ve done it,” he said. “Our popularity is growing. It’s been very encouraging. Hopefully, once the restrictions are lifted, we’ll have a good following.”

Aroma Mediterranean Cuisine, 208 Second St., Rehoboth Beach, is open 4-9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday and Monday; and 4-9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. For more information, go to www.aromarb.com, call 302-212-2488 or email aromarehobothrb@gmail.com. 

Tan said the hours of operation won’t change too much once restrictions are lifted. He said the plan is to focus primarily on dinner, with a possible weekend brunch option.

“It’s hard to keep to a plan because everything has changed,” said Tan.