Take a little walk to get the most bang for your dining buck

In spite of all the challenges facing our restaurants here at the beach, locals and visitors still like to sample places they’ve never been - especially when some of those places have only been open for a short time. And to that end - better late than never - EatingRehoboth tours is finally up and running for the 2020 season. Many vacationers (and even some locals) have no idea where to go for the best taste and value for their dining dollar. So why not spend three hours sampling five of Rehoboth’s best, plus a cute gourmet shop in the process. 

In Paris you can take a “just chocolate” or “just croissants” tour. In New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago there’s a tour for almost every kind of food. Rehoboth Beach is a recognized culinary destination, and seven years of consistently sold-out Eating Rehoboth tours are testament to the wide variety of breakfasts, lunches and dinners here at the beach. 

At this midsummer time (in a normal world) restaurant tours in Rehoboth would be running at full capacity on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. But because of limited seating and concern for keeping everyone safe while still having fun, tours are currently running only on Sundays. Participants gather at either the Bellmoor or the Hotel Rehoboth lobby for a special pre-tour treat, and from there they wind through town. Experienced guides offer a taste of Rehoboth history as participating eateries whip up small plates and sips of whatever makes them most proud. It could be crunchy shrimp and a scallop wrapped in crispy bacon alongside one of Kelsey’s watermelon cocktails from Catcher’s, or perhaps Yolanda’s spicy curtido-topped pupusas with a sopapilla on the side, a sample of the signature shrimp appetizers from Blackwall Hitch, or even a cool and crunchy Brussels sprout salad (and a glass of Italian wine) from Lupo Italian Kitchen. 

One of the values added for the 2020 tours is that guests get to try out Rehoboth’s newest restaurants that still managed to open successfully in spite of it all. Last week, Joe Maggio’s brand-new Port 251 (next door to Hotel Rehoboth) whomped up bananas Foster french toast. EatingRehoboth guests washed it down with an Aperol spritz. Mike and his daughter Yasemin treated us to Aroma’s Turkish tastes that included their own hummus with baked-to-order pita, lentil soup and a mini-chicken kebob. When Chris, Jon and the crew at Theo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits on Baltimore Avenue found out they were the last stop on Sunday, they surprised everyone with fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies topped with caramel and ice cream. Of course it wouldn’t have been the proper Rehoboth Beach restaurant tour without a flute of sparkling champagne. (Tour guests must be at least 21 years old.) 

Other EatingRehoboth tour stops include the tucked-away Zogg’s on Wilmington Avenue (maybe crispy fish tacos and a rum cocktail du jour) or Café Azafran (a variety of tapas served family style accompanied by one of Holly’s martinis). As other restaurants open up and seating restrictions change, there will be even more fun stops. Tour menus often change from week to week, and halfway through the tours, guests get a break with a visit to one of our specialty shops. This season, Spice & Tea Exchange down by the Boardwalk takes center stage. 

If all this makes you curious (or, better yet, hungry), visit www.EatingRehoboth.com for tickets. TripAdvisor has rated the tours as the No. 1 activity downtown, and it’s no wonder: EatingRehoboth’s motto is “Eat. Sip. Walk. Discover,” and for the last seven years tour guests have been enjoying a perfectly scrumptious time doing all those things.