The care and feeding of your houseguests at the beach

When I first moved here, a longtime resident warned me that I’d suddenly hear from all sorts of “friends” now that I had a home at the beach. She was right. But given what I do around here, I admit I do like to show off our Cape Region restaurants. Well, ‘tiz that season, so I’ve come up with a short list of pick hits that do a good job representing our beach towns. Note the words “short list” – I’m only allowed a certain amount of real estate on this page, so not every one of our 400+ eateries can be listed.

Restaurants in a seasonal resort like to adapt to the time of year, so some of the dishes that follow might be on the menu, and some might be history. But I promise you’ll find something to make your guests’ palates smile.

Tom, Tammy and Johnny’s 1776 Steakhouse in Midway combines quiet elegance with expertly prepared steaks. I can never get past the New York Strip, but I have to tell you that the crab cakes with cranberry relish are one of the sleepers at 1776. Belly up to the bar and ask Johnny, Tattoo or Matt about the Trappist beers.

Just up the road a bit is the award-winning Raas Asian/Indian fusion restaurant. Chef GG is the master of ceremonies there, and in many cases he’s happy to advise you on what to order. Rehoboth Foodie pick hits include the garlic/cheese naan, the fried water chestnuts, the Keema Pao and the Lamb Rogan Josh.

One of the best brunch deals in Delaware is at Bethany Blues in Lewes. The a la carte menu has all the usual suspects, but don’t miss the French Toast Bake, the BBQ Skillet and their Sausage Biscuits & Gravy.

In the last year or so, a trio of restaurants has taken Rehoboth by storm. They’re all different from one another, and they’re all quite good. Reservations are a must at Theo’s Steaks, Sides & Spirits on Baltimore Avenue. (Get the Thanksgiving 365!) Just a hop, skip and waddle east is Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar. The Detroit pizza with pepperoni is a slam dunk there at the corner of First Street and Baltimore Avenue. Out on the highway in the Safeway center is the just-opened Hammy’s Burgers & Shakes. The jerk spiced and Thai Asian wings are exceptional. You can cool the heat with an adult milkshake.

If you’re looking to splurge a bit, get reservations at Michy’s Relaxed Dining. I suggest the chardonnay-poached pear salad to start, and then chef/owner Richard Davis’ amazing Forever Braised Short Ribs with caramelized fennel. Again – life is short and menus change. But you will not leave Michy’s unhappy.

One of our newest restaurants in downtown Rehoboth is UnWined at the Beach, at the corner of Second and Wilmington. The star of the show is the rooftop treehouse deck with a full bar and full menu service. The fettucine entree is a must, along with the nicely overstuffed Carolina burger.

Minh’s Bistro at Route 24 and Coastal Highway is our only Vietnamese at the beach. Thank goodness it’s good! Absolute must-gets include the Crispy Lime Wings, the summer rolls (pass the Sriracha, please…) and the Lemongrass Chicken platter. Owner Thinh Pham mixes up a very nice martini. Just sayin’….

When Touch of Italy owner Bob Ciprietti bought a vacation home here, he pined away for the authentic Italian food from his childhood in The Bronx. So he took matters into his own hands and put together Touch of Italy’s wood-fired pizzas and straight-ahead Italian dishes. (Don’t miss the lasagna and the chicken parm!) It now has three busy locations, plus a fine-dining steakhouse in the Bally’s Dover casino. Keep an eye on the Rehoboth location – it’s expanding!

What’s the beach without crab cakes? Your guests might never visit you again (could be a good or a bad thing…) if you don’t take them to Woody’s Dewey Beach Bar & Grill. Jimmy O’Conor whips up a fine ‘cake at his tiny storefront on Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach.

A downtown Rehoboth landmark on the ocean block of Baltimore Avenue is none other than Café Azafran. This Mediterranean-flavored, tapas-centered spot has great cocktails. If your guests are lucky, Chef Richard will be doing one of his reservations-only paella feasts. Keep an eye on RehobothFoodie.com to see the announcement.

Well, as threatened, I’m running out of real estate on this page, but I can’t stop without urging you to take your guests to Mariachi at the ocean end of Wilmington Avenue for Mexican/Salvadorean treats, and Confucius Gourmet Chinese at the other end of Wilmington for Shawn and Danielle Xiong’s crispy whole fish. I also have to mention Blackwall at the Beach for Sunday brunch and that amazing burger. They even have a jazz brunch with live music on the first Sunday of every month. Get the Shrimp Blackwall. You can thank me later.

So many restaurants, so little ink! But before you try my suggestions, be sure you’re OK with your friends moving here full time. Some of our eateries are just that good.