As summer approaches, Delaware diners begin making a list—and checking it twice. There are always new restaurants to experience at the beaches, and visitors need to plan if they want a seat at the table. Interestingly, many newcomers are on Route 1 or just west of the highway, particularly along the northern beaches. Which will you try first?
Palm Beach Bar & Grill
James Petion and Kathryn Robinson met in Palm Beach, so it’s only fitting they should name their Midway Shopping Center restaurant after the sunny Florida locale. The couple also own First State Corn & More, but this is their first full-service business. The menu includes a Cuban sandwich, crispy corn “ribs” with First State sauce, Caribbean-spiced ribs, and Haitian pork with plantains and a spicy slaw.
18585 Coastal Highway, Unit 23, Rehoboth Beach | 569-9502
Abbott’s Grill at Paynter’s Mill
Abbott’s will be a new restaurant to you if you haven’t been to the beaches since last June. Located off Route 1, the Milton restaurant is owned by Kevin Reading, who started his Delaware career with The Fox Point Inn in Wilmington before opening Espuma and Nage in Rehoboth Beach. He had Abbott’s Grill in Milford and opened one on Broad Creek in Laurel. The former is now Benvenuto. The new location, which was Sydney’s Restaurant & Lounge, is a hit with locals who like the diverse, affordable menu.
16388 Samuel Paynter Blvd #4, Milton | 549-4074
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Veranda Restaurant & Bar
Hotel restaurants are abundant at the beaches, and the newest is in the Cambria Rehoboth Beach on Route 24, close to Route 1. The Mediterranean-influenced menu includes mussels in white wine, crab bruschetta, branzino, and seafood alfredo.
17222 Hood Road, Rehoboth Beach | 644-2200
First State Brewing Company
Cape Henlopen High School graduate Paul Hester has returned to the area with the brewery’s second site. The 11,000-square-foot headquarters in Middletown remains the primary brewing facility. However, the Rehoboth restaurant will feature one-off brews and help test new beers. The Pond and TGI Fridays are former tenants, and First State Brewing is taking advantage of the large kitchen to expand the menu.
9266 Coastal Hwy Unit #1, Rehoboth Beach | 386-2337
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SoHo Slice
Farewell, Atlantic Social. SoHo Slice is the new kid in town. The owners are the same, but the concept now celebrates Italian fare and pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. Each pizza has four slices so you can fold one like a seasoned New Yorker. Start with the smoked burrata salad, which arrives under an eye-catching glass dome. (To compare pies, try Henlopen Pizza Kitchen on Route 24.)
19340 Lighthouse Plaza, Rehoboth Beach | 212-5319
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Surfin’ Betty’s Burger Bar
Born in Ocean City, Maryland, Surfin’ Betty’s specializes in smash burgers made from pasture-raised cows. The meat is dry-aged for up to 14 days. The kids can sip a milkshake while the adults savor a craft beer. The menu also includes chicken and creative hotdogs.
786 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach | 557-1070
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Surf Bagel (Fenwick Island)
This bagel chain has experienced explosive growth, and now there is a Fenwick Island location on the old Dairy Queen’s site. There are other coastal locations in Lewes, Rehoboth, and Long Neck.
1007 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island | 616-7873
Related: Where to Find a Great Bloody Mary at the Delaware Beaches
