This traditional Italian deli and market originated in Lewes with a mix of homemade products and imported ingredients. Now there are locations in Rehoboth and Ocean City, Maryland. Stop in for a full meal or grab a hero to go from the counter.

The chic Indian restaurant in downtown Lewes serves an assortment of Indo-Chinese dishes, seafood curries, and pan-Asian plates. Standout menu items include chile olive naan, smoked eggplant, and cauliflower Manchurian.

The farm-centric gem relies on a team effort from a group of cooks to dictate what lands on the frequently changing menu. Located in a 19th-century Victorian home in the heart of downtown Lewes, the critically acclaimed restaurant sends out stellar dishes like asparagus and buttermilk soup with crab, a homemade burrata with strawberry gastrique and marcona almonds, and a spinach and ricotta ravioli.

This beachside Mediterranean cafe has been serving standout tapas for dinner for more than a decade. Some dishes, like patatas bravas, stick to the typical tapas canon, while others, like birria tacos, tiptoe away from it. Its Lewes sibling, Olive and Oats by Azafran, opens for breakfast and lunch.

Founded in 1960 in Rehoboth, the regional chain is a member of the Pizza Hall of Fame, according to trade publication PMQ Pizza Magazine. Order the original cheese pie to fully appreciate the signature swirl of melty cheese and tomato sauce. For comparison’s sake, it’s worth trying out Nicola Pizza and Louie’s Pizza on the same trip.

This strip mall sushi spot with a huge rooftop deck full of gazebos is a Japanese-themed oasis overlooking Rehoboth Avenue. There are over-the-top maki, a variety of sashimi options, and edamame topped six different ways. Book via Resy.

Local favorite Henlopen City Oyster House boasts a raw bar selling assorted oysters on the half shell and shooters, as well as steamed, fried, and baked options. There’s plenty of other surf-and-turf fare available for lunch and dinner, too. Reservations aren’t accepted, so be prepared to wait, or arrive promptly when lunch starts at noon or dinner starts at 5 p.m. And check out sibling American restaurant the Blue Hen, which has a fire pit on the patio. 

Locals know that Confucius Chinese Cuisine makes some of the area’s tastiest fish dishes with ginger scallions or black bean sauce. An extensive menu includes American-Chinese favorites, tingling Sichuan-style shrimp, double-cooked Hunan pork belly, and more.

Considered one of the best brunch spots in the area, Egg delivers generous portions of decadent dishes like lobster Benedict, croque monsieur, and biscuits and gravy every day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with bar service starting at 9 a.m.). A kids’ menu includes pancakes and the usual, plus a grilled hot dog — because children know it’s always a good time for a hot dog.

For one of the best (and lengthiest) build-your-own bloody mary bars on the East Coast, consider a stop at Starboard. The beloved Dewey dive, tagged with stickers and party pics, also sends out an array of Orange Crushes and solid bar fare. Be sure to pick up a bottle of its house bloody mary mix on the way out. Bethany Beach sibling Mango’s is a go-to oceanfront spot for local surfers and tourists alike. Starboard’s partners also have ties to D.C. bars 801, Shaw’s Tavern, and Madhatter.

Located at the Delaware Seashore State Park, the sprawling deck at Big Chill is an ideal spot to sip crushes and enjoy views of the water. The menu has expanded beyond tacos to include seafood entrees and poke bowls. Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Serving scallops, crab cakes, and other seafood specialties, Off the Hook is another Bethany Beach favorite for straightforward seafood dishes. The pristine, light-flooded interior features a large, boldly colored murals of cephalopods along the white walls. The seafood standby recently added weekend brunch, too. Happy hour deals run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The restaurant’s farmhouse chic look pairs well with a menu that highlights the mid-Atlantic farms. Groups can share assorted flatbreads or order a family-style meals built around paella pans, whole Amish chickens, or giant steaks. A vegan section of the menu offers grilled squash and “Kentucky fried cauliflower.” Our Harvest also has an extensive wine list and creative cocktails such as a verdant “Chesterfield,” with basil vodka, St. Germain, cucumber juice, lemon, cucumber peel, and basil leaf.