Now the locals can come out to play – and eat

It’s not unusual for denizens of the beach to be tempted by the siren song of casual dining. And there’s no shortage of relaxed, yet imaginative menus here in our Cape Region. Case in point: You can be sure of three things at Crust & Craft in Midway Galleria: (1) There will always be unusual pizzas bubbling by that wood fire. (2) The sides and the apps are hidden gems, and (3) GM Katie Sherman is a major value-added. In fact, her delightful smile should be on the specials list nightly.

Directly across Coastal Highway is the doesn’t-get-more-casual-than-this Grandpa Mac. After all, if you’re going to indulge in mac & cheese, shouldn’t it be whipped up by a thrice James Beard Award-nominated chef? Hari Cameron and his brother Orion share this emporium of semolina, cheese, great salads and soups. Back downtown in Rehoboth, don’t miss Indigo Indian restaurant. Father-and-son team Suraj and Raghu Kumar are remodeling and will reopen in a few weeks. EatingRehoboth.com tour-goers all say the same thing when we visit: “Oh, I would never have gone in there!” And then I get texts from guests who returned to Indigo that evening for dinner. On a Mediterranean note, around the corner is Café Azafran. This Baltimore Avenue staple never disappoints. Thursday nights are party nights with singing bartender Holly Lane.

A primary must-do at the corner of First and Wilmington is George Stakias’ every-so-often Greek feast whomped up by his mom & dad – seasoned restaurateurs in their own right. It’s reservations only for that event at Goolee’s Grill, so keep an eye on his FB page. Lawyer-turned-deliman Warren Rosenfeld cracks me up when asked about his award as “best Jewish deli in Delaware.” He leans over and quietly intones, “Well, it’s the only Jewish deli in Delaware.” (Get the turkey reuben.) Don’t miss his brand-new Rosenfeld’s/Big Fish Market co-branding in the former McCabe’s space in South Bethany.

Things don’t get much more casual than Patty’s Deli on Savannah Road in Lewes. She’s in the Hazzard complex across from Bryan Hecksher's Auto Gallery. The egg salad wrap, lemon squares, cheesesteaks and oatmeal raisin cookies are not to be missed. Back down south a bit, I don’t generally think of Bethany Blues as ultra-casual dining, but their Blues Express definitely qualifies. Walk in, point at what you want, they pack it up, and you scamper home to enjoy. See? Casual.

The unassuming Pig & Publican in the Beacon Motel on Savannah Road is the product of the same minds that wowed us with Pig & Fish and Pickled Pig Pub. P&P offers a unique menu and lots of craft beers – with a Belgian accent. Get the meatballs app. You can thank me later.

I like places where you can jump-start the process by ordering at the counter. One of the best around here is Pat’s in Lewes. Two (count ‘em, 2!) kinds of pizza, plus a few sleepers like lasagna, fresh salads and the served-regulation-style club sandwiches. 

My allotted space on this page is winding down, but the great majority of Cape Region eateries do not wind down just because vacationers are otherwise engaged. Even better, you can now park in front of your favorite noshery and not have to take out a second mortgage in quarters. So get out there and celebrate our beach eats while helping our friends and neighbors who are still struggling to stay in this business of eating.