Veteran Chef David Krasnoff takes the helm at Rose & Crown

The Rose & Crown will host a grand rebranding party with live music from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 11. 

Chef David Krasnoff will be managing the kitchen for the restaurant located in the Hotel Rodney at 142 Second St., Lewes. 

In 1985, Krasnoff opened Kupchick’s, Lewes’ first white-tablecloth restaurant. Located on Lewes Beach near Dairy Queen, Kupchick’s operated for 17 years until a zoning change providing housing units on the beach forced a sale of the property. 

When asked why he would take on the responsibility at this time in his life, Krasnoff said, “I am fit. I love to cook, and when this opportunity arose, I took the plunge. I hope to bring to the Crown the same type of community appeal that we had up on the beach all those years ago. The goal is to integrate what I call ‘Delmarva Rim Cuisine’ into the fabric of the menu.”

The Rose & Crown has been a fixture in Lewes since 1984. Opened on Second Street by Pete Green, the Rose & Crown remained in the Walsh Building under several owners until the building was purchased by Christine Becker, who operated the site as Jerry’s Seafood. 

In 2012, the Rose & Crown reappeared in Hotel Rodney as a gastropub. Upon the retirement of Chef Bill Mount this year, Becker said she decided to go in a new direction. 

Krasnoff plans to reorient the menu, keeping some of the favorites but introducing a diverse selection of fresh fish on the nightly menu, complemented with tasty side dishes and vegetables. 

“There’s a lot of value in fish, and if you shop carefully, you can pass the savings on to the dining patron. That’s the goal ... and through the summer to reintroduce the Rose & Crown as a local, consumer-friendly restaurant,” said Krasnoff.

Nightly specials will offer value, quality and consistency. Prime rib will be the special on Friday nights. Weekend menus will see a minimum of three diverse fresh seafood items. Weekday specials will feature menu items such as crab cakes, roasted chicken or pasta dishes.

Lunch will include vegetarian options plus fresh turkey roasted daily, great burgers, and the time-tested Crown favorite, fish and chips.

The goal is to begin with a new approach that incorporates traditional favorites with an eye toward the local community for long-term, off-season partnering.