Brighten your guests’ holidays with delicious beach eats

Holidays mean guests – especially for those of us who live here at the beach. As a dining destination, it makes sense for our friends and family to experience the very best of our culinary landscape. To that end, I’ve come up with a short list of new spots and pick hits that do a good job representing what our restaurants have to offer.

Though upscale hardly ever disappoints here at the beach, delightful dining is easy to find for the wallet-challenged. One of the best breakfast/lunch deals in Delaware can be had at the terminally informal Sunrise Restaurant in Dewey. New boss Rob Holson is doing a great job following in the footsteps of former boss and grillmaster Ismet Bulut. If you are in downtown Rehoboth Beach, a similar vibe and menu can be found at the longtime Avenue staple, Robin Hood.

Speaking of upscale, Tom, Tammy and Johnny’s 1776 Steakhouse in Midway combines quiet elegance with expertly prepared steaks. Do not miss the black ravioli stuffed with lobster! Belly up to the bar and ask Matt or Tattoo about the Trappist beers.

Back downtown, Baltimore Avenue is lit up once again with several new eateries. The newest is Drift, in the historic structure where Seafood Shack (and the original Dos Locos!) used to be. Get things started at the bar with one of their unusual cocktails. Former Blue Moon owner Lion Gardner and The Pines boys have created a cozy yet classy spot. Here’s a hint just between you and me: Keep an eye on the old Dos Locos/Lily Thai/Square One spot on North First next to the original Nicola’s. The Drift team is coming up with something unusual.

Can’t ignore the big news of 2022 – Nicola’s new complex out on Coastal Highway near Lewes. The original spot in downtown Rehoboth will soon be Bethany Blues Express (modeled after their grab-‘n’-go in the Lewes location). The bigger two-story Nicola’s on The Avenue will soon be Tiki Jac’s, brought to you by the Jacona Brothers of Zogg’s, Wheelhouse, Bushels and the Sea Hogg truck.

Just around the corner is the taking-Rehoboth-by-storm Theo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits. Weekends – even in the off-season – require a reservation. Feeling festive? They feature the Thanksgiving 365 – a complete Thanksgiving on a plate available year-round. (365. Get it?) Diagonally across the street is Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar, another member of the Theo’s family. The meatballs, Detroit pizza and white pizza are a few of the stars of the Ava’s show, and say hi to the always-friendly Executive Chef Alisha Knosp.

Move northward, add a bit of curry, and you have Raas in Lewes. Chef GG Gupta glides from table to table as his team toils in full view of the diners. His specials have quickly become the stuff of Lewes legend. While you’re up there, don’t miss the brand-new Lewes Oyster House. Former Nage/Fork & Flask/Nalu chef Sean Corea has teamed up with food-service guru Tommy Little and the restaurant-savvy Tim Bartley in the old Jerry’s Seafood spot. They’ve only been open a short time, and the place already looks and tastes great.

Another hidden gem in Lewes is the don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss it Sticky Rice in the little center near Capriotti’s. Sawanya Conway cooks, greets people, seats people, engages in conversation – all while dishing up authentic Thai food. If you like a bit of spice, get the green curry dish with a side of ... well, sticky rice.

Moving back a bit south is the third hit in the Theo’s trifecta, Hammy’s Burgers & Shakes next to The Pond near the Safeway. They got off to a slightly rough start, but boss Chris Agharabi (aka The Energizer Bunny) took care of all that. The burgers are as close to perfect as you can get. Wash ‘em down with an adult milkshake. By the way, get the Jerk Wings. Trust me….

More big news in Rehoboth just broke last week at the grand reopening of the Summer House, a longtime staple on The Avenue. New boss Regan Derrickson (owner of both Nalu restaurants) wisely kept the same feeling and menu – but with a major remodel. Monday burgers, Mooney’s and Steak Nights are all still there.

I’m running out of real estate on this page, but I can’t stop without urging you to take your guests to Mariachi for Mexican/Salvadorean treats, Confucius for Shawn and Danielle Xiong’s crispy whole fish, and the always-good Café Azafran (watch RehobothFoodie.com for off-season Pop-Up Paella feasts).

So many restaurants, so little ink! If you want your friends to return here (I’ll leave that up to you ...), treat them to our wonderful beach eats. Great cocktails and entrees await!