Grain breathes new (night)life into the Lewes ferry terminal. OMG!

There aren't many better views of the Delaware Bay than from the Lewes Terminal of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. But it always seemed sort of wasted, because there wasn't much to do there other than to get yourself onto the ferry, buy a few souvenirs or order something (re)heated from a concession-stand microwave. 

Several years ago, the ferry powers-that-be changed that with the addition of On the Rocks, an outdoor restaurant, bar and entertainment venue facing the Cape and the bay - quite literally on the rocks. It wasn’t fine dining. It was straight-ahead bar food, but most everything was prepared fresh to order. And they featured the full line of brews from none other than one of our favorite hometown breweries, 16 Mile. 

But, in the oft-quoted words of songwriter Benard Ighner (debuted by producer Quincy Jones), “Everything must change. Nothing stays the same…. 'Cause that's the way of time.” Alas, 16 Mile Brewery is no more, and the original On the Rocks is no more. But the idea was still good - it just needed solid on-site management, a defined concept and perhaps even a bit of brand recognition to help draw customers down Kings Highway. 

Things started looking up in spring 2019 when Dogfish Head brought their brewery-based food truck to the terminal to create Off-Centered on the Rocks, a community-oriented space that served up Dogfish Head brews and spirits along with a variety of beer-infused bites. They carved out a park-like area adjacent to the dock with a flickering firepit, benches, a pergola, games and cozy nooks where one could sip a frosty Namaste or a Sea Quench Ale. Tom and Bev Rosella, the bosses at our local Freedom Boat Club Delaware, even got into the act, creating a nearby docking complex teeming with various vessels for their members’ use. The stage was set for that scenic location to attract customers for its own sake, and not just as a quick stop before a ferry ride. That is now about to happen. 

Lee Mikles, Jim O’Donoghue and their families are the creators and operators of the Grain Craft Bar & Kitchen restaurants. Grain on Main is in Newark, Grain KSQ is in Kennett Square near Longwood Gardens, and Grain H2O is at the Summit North Marina on the C&D Canal near Bear. (Freedom Boat Club also maintains docks and boats adjacent to Grain H20. A wise pairing if there ever was one.) 

These hands-on guys keep their restaurants hoppin’ with a clever menu, live entertainment just about every day, contests, events and specials. The new Grain on the Rocks in Lewes will be no different as they take over all the food and beverage activity at the terminal, both inside and outside. 

Nowadays in this Business of Eating, it’s got to be more than just food on a plate. Guests want to be engaged and entertained; whether it’s with an attractive physical plant, live music and/or nearby attractions like a popular boat club, a famous botanical garden or a new, modern design and a ferry ride across the bay. 

The family orientation of their establishments is not lost on Jim and Lee. In fact, the name of their parent company, OMG Hospitality, was conceived by Jim’s young twin daughters: “O” and “M” for their last names, and “G” thrown in for “good food.” Allusion to the social media acronym wasn’t lost on them either. 

Mikles and O’Donoghue make a daily effort to be good neighbors. To that end, much of their nighttime entertainment at the ferry terminal will be indoors, out of earshot of nearby homes. The Dogfish Head park will remain, and the existing On the Rocks building will be integrated into a larger bar that will extend both inside and outside. The focus of Grain on the Rocks is to make the terminal a year-round destination for locals as well as the thousands of ferry passengers who pass through there. 

This venture promises to bring new life to that area of Lewes, as well as new (and hungry) faces to the Lewes area in general. A rising tide floats all boats, and everyone benefits.