Casa DiLeo North, Del. 1, Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: Born in June, this is the sister restaurant to the Rehoboth Avenue location.
Try: The thin-crusted New York-style pizza, which wins raves from fanatics ($4 a slice and up.) Note that a slice is larger than many personal pizzas. 644-2256
Delaware Distilling Company, Del. 1, Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: Same owners, same staff. Zack King just changed the name of Old Bay Steak & Seafood to highlight the new attraction: small-batch spirits
Try: The hooch, naturally. Get a shot of DDC Potato Vodka, DDC White Rum and DDC Premium Gin, all for $18. Like it sweet? Try a Jamaica Mule with vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime ($8). 645-8273, delawaredistillingcompany.com
Frank & Louie’s Italian Specialties, Downtown Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: Brothers Frank and Louie Bascio launched Touch of Italy with their mother, Diane Bascio, and brought in partners. The operation quickly expanded. The brothers left this year to do their own thing.
Try: Italian wedding cookies, sliced deli meats and cheeses. 227-5777
Hammerheads Dockside, Indian River Marina, Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: Hammerheads in Dewey opened a waterfront location in June. It gives boaters a convenient watering hole, something Ocean City has in abundance but Delaware beaches lack.
Try: Anything you like at the Dewey spot but with a side of bayside scenery. There’s free public docking, and a shuttle runs between the two Hammerheads during the season. (It will close during the off-season, so call first as the weather gets cooler, or check the Facebook page for hours.) 227-7325, hammerheadsde.com
Kay’s Kitchen, Downtown Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: The restaurant, which touts home cooking, was the dream of Rita Kilgore’s late mother-in-law, who was named Kay. Kilgore is completing her first summer season.
Try: A marinated, fried chicken cutlet served on a biscuit and smothered in honey butter ($6.95). Take a healthy approach with the salmon burger with tarragon mayo ($8.50). 226-5400, kayskitcheninc.com
Nectar Café & Juice Bar, Downtown Lewes
The Scoop: Sarah McKeown opened Nectar this summer in part of the old Cake Bar location on Second Street.
Try: Green eggs and ham, made with gruyère, arugula and pesto ($10), and the “Vedge,” a sandwich stacked with fresh vegetables ($10). 645-5842, cafenectar.com
Papa Grande’s Coastal Taqueria, Fenwick Island
The Scoop: Matt Haley took the old barn/clam house next to Catch 54 and turned it into a Latin delight with a lovely view.
Try: Two tacos of any kind, including roast chicken, goat, beef tongue and lobster tails ($6 for zucchini, $18 for lobster). Chunky guacamole ($10) can serve a table of four. papagrandes.com
Pete’s Steak Shop, 19287 Miller Road, Rehoboth
The Scoop: You might remember Pete Vasilikos and wife Marika from their Wilmington luncheonette, Pete’s Subs, and Towne Pizza. Pete went on to build the Sand Palace Motel in Dewey. Sons Michael and Frank are finishing their first year in business at Pete’s Steak Shop, named for their father, who passed away in 1993.
Try: “Pete’s Ultimate,” packed with ribeye, onions, provolone, green peppers and mushrooms ($6.99). 226-3000, ultimatecheesesteak.com
Sirlae’s Churrascaria, Millville
The Scoop: Named for owner Christopher Lockhart’s wife, who is Brazilian, the restaurant has carved a niche for serious meat-lovers.
Try: For a flat fee of $39 you get all the meat you can eat, carved tableside, plus the salad bar, which has imported cheese and cured meats. Salad bar alone is $29. 616-1045, sirlaesbraziliansteakhouse.com
Table & Taproom, Rehoboth Beach
The Scoop: Jim Bauerle of Stone Balloon Winehouse-turned-16 Mile Taphouse fame has reinvented the Captain’s Table with the help of former Balloon chef Jason Dietterick.
Try: Three Parker House rolls packed with Dietterick’s lobster salad ($10). Several dishes pay homage to former owner Doris “Granny” Lynch, including Granny’s chili ($4/$9) and Granny’s famous crab cake sandwich with tomato jam ($14). 227-6203, tabletaproom.com
The Pint Pub & Eatery, Millsboro
The Scoop: Tom Holmes of 1776 fame opened this corner hotspot in Luca Ristorante’s old space, a former bank.
Try: The “Hobbit Pie”—ground beef and lamb, corn and mushroom gravy topped with roasted garlic potatoes, colby cheese and breadcrumbs ($15.95). 934-5822, thepintpub.com
Touch of Italy, Lewes
The Scoop: This is the bakery outpost for the popular salumeria chain.
Try: Bread, any kind, or coconut macaroons with chocolate ($15.50 a pound). 827-2132, touchofitaly.com
