Downtown Lewes is dishin’ up some good eats

I have been unjustly accused of eschewing Lewes eateries in favor of downtown Rehoboth. I take umbrage (and a side of fries) with that! If anything, the First Town in the First State is a bit smaller and just doesn't have as many restaurants. But there are some great tastes waiting for you there, so fasten your seat belts:

One of Lewes' fine-dining stars is Heirloom restaurant at the corner of Third & Savannah. Owner Meghan Lee is no stranger to the restaurant business, and the food and service at Heirloom proves that night after night. Reservations are a must.

One should not leave the Rose & Crown restaurant in the elegantly austere Hotel Rodney without chowing down on the cheddar-topped, 16 Mile-infused short rib sliders and the cheesesteak spring rolls. On the Rocks at the Lewes ferry terminal is still the go-to spot for watchin' the ships roll in – and watch 'em roll away again.

Sarah McKeown's Nectar Café is tucked behind Edie Bee's Confections on Neils Alley. Her smoothies are whipping Second St. into a froth. Kindle on Bank St. is a Wednesday tradition where mouthwatering burgers are on special, and right next door is the tiny Half Full with endless pizzas, wine and tasty desserts. Agave continues to attract way more people than it can possibly hold, providing the perfect excuse to sip an ad hoc marg or to slip across the street for an ooey gooey at Notting Hill Roastery.

The fried oysters and fish 'n' chips are must-gets at Jerry's Seafood, while next door The Buttery's pub menu remains one of Lewes' best-kept secrets. Across the street, elbow your way into Touch of Italy for an overstuffed Italian hoagie and the amazing braciole. Just across Savannah, Striper Bites continues to dish up their signature blackened tuna over penne pasta and surprisingly good sushi. Longtime denizens of Lewes still mourn the loss of the original Café Azafran, but take heart: Olive & Oats over on Market Street takes up the slack with all the breakfast & lunch favorites, including that baked oatmeal and impossibly good cookies.

The newly rebuilt-from-the-ground-up Gilligan's still whomps up some of the best crab cakes around. They taste even better at the dock bar. Over the drawbridge toward Lewes Beach are three relatively new kids on the block: the Pig & Publican in the Beacon Motel (brewpub eats with a Belgian accent), the brand-new Harvest Tide Steakhouse (don't miss that Wagyu New York Strip) and the Wheelhouse with live entertainment, views, views and more views. All three are hoppin’ every night – and all three offer ample free parking.

No article about Lewes dining would be complete without mention of the not-quite-so-new-kid, Irish Eyes. They also offer endless views of historic Lewes and tons of free parking with a side of good pub grub and live entertainment.