Michele’s Restaurant at Dover Downs//Photo by Ron Dubick
Key
*: 2015 Best of Delaware winner
fb: Indicates that the restaurant does not have a Web site, but does have a Facebook page.
B, L, D, SB, WB: Indicates that a restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, and weekend brunch.
The dollar symbols indicate how much you can expect to pay for an average dinner entrée.
$ Most entrées under $15
$ $ Most entrées $15-$22
$ $ $ Most entrées over $22
Dover Area
33 West Ale House and Grill (American)
33 W. Loockerman St., Dover, 735-9822, fb
Gourmet salads, sandwiches, wraps and burgers fill the bill at this amiable gathering place. The bar offers the best selection of craft brews in the area. L, D $$
266 S. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 736-1606
The chefs keep it real, but they also ride the cutting edge by creating unusual entrees with foods from cultures beyond Asia. L, D $$
25 W. Loockerman St., Dover, 678-8999
This popular café specializes in breakfast and brunch items and hand-crafted burgers, all made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Carter’s Restaurant (American)
2 S. Governors Ave., Dover, 674-4772 fb
Miss Mary Carter, the grande dame of Dover soul food, opened the restaurant in 1970. Consistency, cleanliness and the deft touch developed over years of practice are what make her fried chicken, chitterlings and from-scratch sweet potato pie the stuff of legend. L, D $
* Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant (American)
2463 S. State St., Dover, 698-1955
Award-winning chef Dennis Forbes’ cutting-edge and classic seafood dishes, plus excellent beef, are served in a contemporary dining room. Cool Springs has been a favorite since it opened. D $$
1036 Lafferty Lane, Dover, 264-9322
If country is your thing, Cowboy Up serves bar fare in a saloon atmosphere complete with line dancing. It offers happy hour specials and a good late-night menu. L, D $
Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House (American)
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, 1131 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 857-3223
Seafood, steaks, chicken, pork and a raw bar with 16 types of oysters, of course, all served in a richly paneled room, harken to an era when demand for oysters could cause wars. There is a good selection of craft brews and wines. L, D, SB $$$
348 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 677-0121
This Dover original serves authentic favorites such as chicken makhanwala and chicken tikka masala, plus beef, lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes, delicious hot naan and meals form the tandoor oven. L, D, WB $
Fraizer’s on the Water Restaurant & Bar (American)
9 E. Loockerman St., Dover, 741-2420
Excellent crab cakes, steak, salads and sandwiches are served in a friendly atmosphere. The patio overlooks Mirror Lake. L, D $$
Franco’s Pizza and Pasta Restaurant (Italian)
1708 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, 677-1946, fb
Franco Loffreda opened Franco’s more than 20 years ago, and it’s still going strong. He is known throughout the area for his rich zuppa di pesce and the popular shrimp fra diavolo, which is spiced not with red pepper, but with jalapeños. L, D $
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, 1131 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 857-3775
Frankie’s serves delicious, affordable Italian cuisine, including brick-oven pizza, homemade pasta, sauces and desserts, in a room playfully decorated with images of Italian-American celebrities. L, D $
Frederica Pizza & Pasta House (Italian)
1491 Frederica Road, Frederica, 335-1222, fb
The owners of this local favorite are committed to the art of making fine pizza and Italian food. L, D $
Hall’s Family Restaurant (American)
108 N. Railroad Ave., Wyoming, 697-7448, fb
Down-home cooking, daily specials and friendly service. B, L, D $
800 N. State St., Dover, 674-0144
A vast selection of craft brews complements nachos, wings, burgers and other pub favorites, all served in a beautiful dining room or, in season, on the patio overlooking Silver Lake. L, D, SB $$
* Michele’s Restaurant (American)
Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, 1131 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 857-2120
Upscale steak and seafood, family setting. Classics include prime rib, surf and turf, and shrimp stuffed with crab. Full wine list. D, SB $$$
Piazza Mia Italian Bar & Grill (Italian)
492 S. Red Haven Lane, Dover, 387-1870
Bar and grill offers family dining, carryout and catering. Specializes in pasta, chicken, seafood, steak, risotto and traditional brick oven pizza. L, D $
2461 S. State St., Dover, 535-8102
Hearty, unique gourmet burgers—made from the freshest beef—and craft beers make the perfect combination. L, D $
Rice (Chinese-Japanese)
45 Greentree Drive, Dover, 678-1328
Healthy cuisine. Specials are rotated frequently. Delicious sushi is a main attraction. L, D $$
Roma Italian Ristorante (Italian)
3 President Drive, Dover, 678-1041
A fave for 40 years, it’s known for perfectly executed Italian standards. Chef Joseph Garramone’s family recipes are big among lovers of fish and veal. L, D $$
Sambo’s Tavern (Seafood)
283 Front St., Leipsic, 674-9724, fb
Local crabs are used in crab cakes, soups and imperial. Steamed shrimp, clams and other seafood are also fresh and tasty. They go great with a spectacular view of the Leipsic River. No one under 21 allowed. Seasonal. L, D $$
Shucker’s Pier 13 (seafood)
889 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, 674-1190, fb
Serves seafood, surf-and-turf combinations, and pasta with seafood in a nautically themed dining room. L, D $$
224 N. State St., Dover, 678-2226
Tea for Two offers Oliver Pluff & Co. teas from Charleston, S.C., the only tea plantation in the country. The menu features some combination of tea, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts served in a beautiful Victorian home. L, $
617 E. Loockerman St., Dover, 678-0586
This is the place for Southern-style hickory-smoked pulled pork and babyback ribs, smoked chicken and side dishes such as Memphis fries and coleslaw. L, D $$
Milford/Harrington
249 N.E. Front St., Milford, 491-6736
This casual place offers seasonal fare such as homemade butternut cavatelli pasta, herb-grilled salmon, bone-in pork chop and classic steak Oscar—all with a distinctive twist and prepared with farm-fresh ingredients from local growers. Also offers on- and off-site catering. L, D $$
4 E. Liberty St., Harrington, 398-4337
Pizza made from scratch, plus wings, classic pasta dishes and other Italian standards. Also, beer and wine. L, D $$
* Bonz Restaurant & Lounge (American)
Harrington Raceway and Casino, U.S. 13, 398-5348
Bonz offeres intimate unscale dining at granite-topped tables. It features pasta dishes, seafood and sizzling steaks in creative preparations such as char-grilled filet mignon with lump crabmeat and asparagus in béarnaise sauce, and an excellent raw bar. Enjoy patio dining in season. D, SB $$$
664 N. Dupont Blvd., Milford, 422-2661
This sister of the original in Dewey Beach serves classic Italian fare in a cozy room. Friendly and family-oriented. L, D $
3697 Bay Road, Milford, 335-3944
This family-owned and family-friendly restaurant features cream of crab soup, more than 10 preparations of crab and spicy Cajun-style jambalaya. Twenty bottled beers and 12 types of wine. L, D $$
Milford Diner (American)
1042 N. Walnut St., Milford, 422-6111, fb
Friendly service and good home cookin’ in a classic setting that includes part of an old steel diner. B, L, D $
Rudy’s Family Diner (American)
17064 S. Dupont Hwy., Harrington, 786-2766
Rudy’s serves traditional diner fare, including an assortment of omelets and a handful of breakfast specials, plus burgers, sandwiches, entrees and more. B, L, D $
Smyrna
The Boondocks (American)
825 Lighthouse Road, Smyrna, 653-6962, fb
Down-home cooking and seafood. Enjoy steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, steaks, chicken wings, fries and corn, as well as the house drink, Swampwater. Seasonal. L, D $$
Karibbean Grill, 3114 S. DuPont Blvd., Smyrna, 423-0839
Customers clamor for the jerk chicken and pork chops, which chef Lincoln Notice marinates for two days before adding a secret blend of seasonings and throwing them onto a hot grill, where they’re basted with a peppery homemade jerk sauce. Try the stewed oxtail and jerk ribs. L, D $
The Odd Fellows Café (American)
34 S. Main St., Smyrna, 514-9008, fb
This charming spot is exactly what a main street place should be: cozy, friendly and really delicious, from the giant pancakes served at breakfast through hearty sandwiches during lunch to no-filler crab cakes offered at dinner. L, D $
42 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, 659-5566
Find American fare, plus Irish standards such as shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew and roast beef boxty. The St. Patrick’s Day celebration is a rolicking good time, naturally. L, D $$
99 S. Cory Lane, Smyrna, 653-9980
Still the place where the locals meet every day, the diner offers classic American fare that ranges from blueberry pancakes at breakfast time to juicy burgers to comfort food such as chicken and dumplings and homemade pie served by a cheerful staff. B, L, D $
53 E. Glenwood Ave., Smyrna, 653-6800
This full-service restaurant offers traditional pasta dishes and entrees of chicken, veal and seafood. The lighter side features homemade soups, salads, good panini, hoagies and other sandwiches. There are also pizza and calzones baked in a wood-fired brick oven. Order from the menu or create your own combination of toppings. L, D $
