It was a busy Saturday night at Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach when Holly Monaco, director of operations, filled in for a manager. That night, at least 20 diners requested a special menu. “People had allergies to everything from iodine to phosphate to shellfish to gluten,” she says.
The requests were no problem. Big Fish is just one of several coastal restaurants that accommodate dietary restrictions; below is a list of several more.
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Owner Hari Cameron excels at customization. Just ask your server and enjoy the innovative results.
44 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 227-7107
Big Fish Grill
Big Fish does such a high volume of special dishes that there are several pre-printed menus, including gluten-free, garlic-free, egg-free and vegan.
20298 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach • 227-3474
30415 Cedar Neck Rd, Ocean View • 829-8163
Fork + Flask at Nage
To clarify the differences between vegan and vegetarian dishes, Fork + Flask has separated them on its menu. The restaurant is also known for its vegan brunches and participation in the annual VegFest.
19730 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach • 226-2037
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Both locations of this pasta-centric spot feature dishes for gluten-free, vegetarian and dairy-free diets. The menu has corresponding codes.
33 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 727-5509
18756 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach • 313-4751
Green Man Juice Bar & Bistro
One of the first restaurants in the area to cater to special diets, Green Man has a menu with codes indicating vegetarian (v), vegan (vv), vegan option (vo) and gluten-free selections (gf).
12 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 227-4909
Indigo
This Indian restaurant has vegan and gluten-free dishes, plus a special menu category for vegetarian specialties.
44 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 212-5220
Nectar Café & Juice Bar
There are several items on this Lewes eatery’s menu that can be adapted. One especially vegan-designated dish: cauliflower steak served over rice pilaf with romesco sauce.
111 Neils Alley, Lewes • 645-5842
Mariachi
Like Fork + Flask, Mariachi has made it easy for vegetarians to order with a dedicated category.
14 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 227-0115
Patsy’s Restaurant
A fixture in Bethany Beach, this restaurant—owned by Patsy Rankin and daughter Robin—makes it clear that the kitchen offers gluten-free selections or dishes that can be modified.
121 Campbell Place, Bethany Beach • 537-2433
The Summer House Bar & Restaurant
Part of the Big Fish family, this downtown Rehoboth restaurant has special menus for those who are dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and shellfish-free.
228 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth • 227-3895
