• When a restaurant door closes, a window opens for some hopeful new enterprise. Pizza Pazza Bar & Grill in 2012, for instance, took over Pomodoro’s space. 654-4400, pizza-pazza-bar-grill-wilmington.com
• Morgan & Gower Cheesemongers opened in late 2012 on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. The slim shop’s cases are full of what one happy chef calls “cheese porn.” The selections, which are mostly domestic, will definitely whet any cheese-lover’s appetite. The big cheese here is a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich menu. 727-5566
• Frank and Louie Bascio, who started Touch of Italy, left that business to open Frank & Louie’s Italian Specialties on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth. 227-5777
• Touch of Italy, meanwhile, in early summer was putting the finishing touches on a new two-story restaurant next to Root Gourmet in Shore Plaza on Del. 1 in Rehoboth Beach. This past year, they also opened a location in the Village of Five Points in Lewes. Are you counting? The opening of the new spot will make four locations at the beach. touchofitaly.com
• Nectar Café & Juice Bar opened in early summer in part of Cake Bar’s old space on Second Street in Lewes. (Edie Bee’s, a candy shop, is in the other part.) You can go healthy with a smoothie or dip into some decadent breakfast dishes. The restaurant is open until 8 p.m. with a lunch menu. 645-5842
• Mona Lisa in Wilmington’s Little Italy in May became Mona Lisa Euro Bistro with a change of ownership. As the name implies, the cuisine now extends beyond Italy’s boundaries. German, French, Belgian and even Basque dishes pop up on the menu. The general manager is Jacques Macq, formerly of the Wilmington Country Club. One thing is for sure: The frogs’ leg dish has definitely sparked interest. 888-2201, monalisaonlincoln.com
• As far as names are concerned, Old Bay Steak & Seafood on Del. 1 in Rehoboth is dead. But you can find the same food under the restaurant’s new name: Delaware Distilling Company. The rechristening salutes the establishment’s emphasis on small-batch, handcrafted spirits. 645-8273, delawaredistillingcompany.com
• More than the name changed at the Captain’s Table. It’s now the Table & Taproom, which salutes craft beer and serves gastro-pub food. 227-6203, captainstablerehoboth.com
• This one is more of a revival—or a second coming, if you will. Café Scalessa is back in Wawaset Plaza in Wilmington with its Italian-American cuisine. Don Scalessa opened the restaurant in 2002, sold it in 2011 and in 2012, he made a comeback. All the wise guys—and gals—are thankful. 656-0955, cafescalessa.com
• When a friend told another pal that she’d gone to the Latin fusion place, the pal kept asking: “But what is the name?” prompting a “Who’s on First” exchange. The concept, apparently, is the name. Latin Fusion Restaurant & Lounge primarily features Caribbean and South American cuisine. 777-5712, latinfusiondelaware.com
• Speaking of Latin-inspired food, Pochi, which highlights Chilean fare, opened on Ninth Street in late 2012. Patricia Millan, the executive chef, and husband Braulio Roja have crafted a menu rooted in family recipes. 384-6654, pochiwinebar.com
• El Diablo Burritos this year blessed North Wilmington with a second location next to Culinaria in Branmar Shopping Center. eldiabloburritos.com
• Nearly south of the border, Papa Grande’s Coastal Taqueria debuted this spring in Fenwick Island next to Catch 54. The Mexican theme is Matt Haley’s sixth beach spot. 436-7272, papagrandes.com
• Another prolific restaurateur, Carl Georigi, stormed Newark in 2012 with the opening of Taverna Rustic Italian, his fourth concept. Expect coal-oven pizzas, spaghetti dishes and a Mediterranean take on tuna and salmon. 444-4334, platinumdininggroup.com/taverna
• There’s been a lot brewing on Newark’s Main Street. If all went as planned, the Stone Balloon Winehouse is now the 16 Mile Taphouse. “We’d been looking for nearly a year for the best spot to open 16 Mile Taphouse, and also knew the Winehouse needed a shot in the arm,” says owner Jim Baeurle. “Finally the light went off: Why not here?” Why not, indeed. Craft beer and pub food are always welcome in a college town. 266-8111
• In 2012, Café Ole debuted on East Main Street in Newark. The restaurant is an offshoot of Ole Tapas on Kirkwood Highway, but the price point is lower to appeal to college students, and it’s also more casual. 733-7505
• Tom Holmes and Tammy Mozingo have turned the Luca space in Millsboro into The Pint Pub & Eatery. “The concept is to take people back to a corner bar in the 1950s and 1960s,” says Holmes, who also owns 1776. It’s a little bit Irish, a little bit English and a little bit American. 934-5822, thepintpub.com
• Donny Merrill left Krazy Kat’s (Andy Matulaitis from the Stone Balloon Winehouse is now spearheading the Krazy Kat’s kitchen) to open Skipjack in the old Blackstone’s space in the Shops of Louviers in Newark. Merrill, who grew up sailing with his family, is sourcing ingredients from the Chesapeake area, including rockfish and oysters on the half shell. Merrill received “game” acclaim at Krazy Kat’s, so you’ll also find game on the menu, as well as plenty of pork belly and duck confit. 456-1800
• By now, Arena’s Deli and Bar was to open a location in Milford that offers views of the Mispillion River. The space was formerly occupied by the Pelican Bar. arenasdeli.com
• Grotto Pizza in spring brought its signature swirl to Dover. 678-3278, grottopizza.com
• The Odd Fellows Café in 2012 opened on Main Street in Smyrna. While the menu changes daily, it focuses on American cuisine. Picture turkey-bacon wraps, burgers, prime rib and po’ boys. 535-5275
• Bryan Sikora, formerly of Talula’s Table in Kennett Square and several Philly fine-dining spots, in June planned to open La Fia, a bakery and café on Market Street in downtown Wilmington. The bakery mines a classic Parisian boulangerie for inspiration, and you can also buy charcuterie items and cheeses. The café’s changing menu also draws from Europe. 543-5574, lafiawilmington.com
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