It's time for the locals to come out and play!

You need a program to keep up with the openings, closings and restaurant construction projects around here! No sooner do we find out about The Blue Hen under construction in The Avenue Hotel, but The Vineyards Wine Bar & Bistro takes over the old Espuma space at the corner of First Street and Wilmington! Then, Hobos restaurant on Baltimore Avenue closes! Such is the business of eating.

Another construction project that morphed into a restaurant just last week is the brand-new Grandpa(MAC) sharing the Harbor Square Center on Coastal Highway with Pickled Pig Pub. Multi-James Beard nominated modernist chef Hari Cameron and his brother are already enjoying full houses just about every night. The emporium of fresh pasta couldn’t be more different from Hari’s eclectic a(MUSE). Speaking of Pickled Pig Pub (and construction projects), the Pig & Publican is preparing to open in the Beacon Motel in Lewes. In addition to what we are sure will be a great menu (not unlike P3 and Pig & Fish) there is virtually unlimited free parking. A rare in-season treat in Lewes. 

Even the casual dining chains can often wow us with their menus. Case in point: You can be sure of two things at our Rehoboth Beach Panera Bread: (1) There will ALWAYS be a line inside, and (2) you can wait in line in your car. Our Panera is one of the few with a drive- through. Say hi to manager and longtime local restaurant maven Brooke Wells when you drop in for a bear claw. 

Back on Rehoboth Avenue, moderately priced dining can certainly have an international flavor at Semra’s Mediterranean Grill. EatingRehoboth.com tourgoers all say the same thing when we visit: “Oh, I would never have gone in there!” Don’t let yourself fall for that. Semra’s rice and tzatziki are the best I’ve ever had. 

Hardworking restaurateur Leo Cabrera has given his tiny yet tasty Modern Mixture a new menu angle. Fitness instructor/chef/entrepreneur/bartender Leo is as creative with the cocktails as he is with his modern mixture of tortas, tacos, burritos and appetizers on Rehoboth Avenue. 

Keep an eye on Goolie’s Grill! Goolie is working on his dad (a Greek restaurateur in his own right) to bring his talents to the corner of First and Wilmington with a few deliciously ethnic offerings for dinner. Nothing is engraved in stone, but keep an eye on my column for all the latest updates. If Goolie decides to make it happen, I’ll be one of the first in there! Construction continues on Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli No. 2 on Coastal Highway, as the barely-open-a-month Matt’s Fish Camp settles into Lewes. 

Meghan Lee’s Heirloom is doing a chef switcheroo in Lewes. But it’s all good: Salt Air Executive Chef Matt Kern is taking over as kitchen boss and is looking forward to stretching his fine-dining muscles. America’s Pie in the ocean block brought their tried-and-true menu to Rehoboth at the beginning of last year, and pretty much everyone has their favorite. My pick hit is the Brooklyn-style pizza, though there’s a lot more than just pizza at this upstate-based carryout, with chicken salad, soups, tacos, dogs, sliders and a creative little list called Beach Snacks. And who else was delivering food during last year’s semi-hurricane! 

Directly across the street, you will want to try the calamari and the burgers at Blackwall Hitch. The Rehoboth Beach location of this Annapolis/Old Town Alexandria-based operation is still busy, even as the season winds down. But have no fear: the great majority of Rehoboth Beach eateries do not wind down. So grab your knife and fork and enjoy everything our beach eateries have to offer.