Neighboring restaurants Stingray Sushi Bar + Asian Grill and Sazio can satisfy your Aperol spritz craving./By Danielle Bouchat-Friedman
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Maybe it’s because of that recent article from The New York Times which boldly stated that the Aperol spritz is not a good drink. Or perhaps it’s because the bubbly, pinkish-hued cocktail is actually pretty low in alcohol and often can’t hold its weight against the popular Orange Crush or local IPAs. Whatever the case might be, if you like the simple drink—made with Aperol, Prosecco and soda water and garnished with an orange slice—there aren’t too many restaurants serving it at the beach—yet.
Although this cocktail is surprisingly hard to find at the Delaware beaches, here are a few we have sampled—some concoctions are slightly more progressive than others but there’s nothing wrong with a conventional preparation. (FYI: Aperol is an aperitif that is slightly sugary and bitter.)
The Blue Hen
The sister restaurant to Henlopen City Oyster House has some of the most delicious cocktails around. On a scorching hot day, order a frosé—a strawberry frozen drink made with rosé, lemon, elderflower and Aperol (the Aperol helps this drink from being overly sweet). It’s not exactly an Aperol spritz, but you get the idea.
33 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 278-7842
Fork + Flask
The menu at this Rehoboth eatery is always fresh and inventive. Try a ‘new school’ cocktail (the strawberry basil mule is marvelous) or an ‘old school’ Aperol spritz, which is made with champagne instead of Prosecco.
19730 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach • 226-2037
Half Full
This under-the-radar Lewes eatery has super salads and unexpected pizza combos (like lump crab meat, Roma tomatoes, fresh corn, a dusting of Old Bay and roasted tomato sauce). But the Aperol spritz is one of the few cocktails on the menu (that is even followed by a helpful description): “a refreshing aperitif of sparkling wine, Aperol (a citrusy, herbal Italian liqueur) and a splash of club soda.”
125 Second St., Lewes • 645-8877
Our Harvest
Another cocktail that slightly resembled the cocktail du jour is Our Harvest’s ‘That Mezcal Drink,’ made with mezcal, sage, Aperol, lime and agave.
1106 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island • 581-0377
Sazio
Right across the street from Stingray is newly opened Sazio, a seafood/Italian restaurant from Big Fish Restaurant Group. The cocktail is a bright orange color, thanks to the addition of blood orange liqueur.
32 Lake Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 226-1160
Stingray Sushi Bar + Asian Grill
This sushi hot spot has what they call a ‘Giggling Geisha’ on its menu, which is made with Aperol, Clementine Vodka, Ruby Red grapefruit juice and sparkling sake. These go down easy, so sip slowly.
59 Lake Ave., Rehoboth Beach • 227-6476
