The vibrant coastal dining scene does not always start at 5 p.m. Thanks to these five establishments’ daytime hours, you can sneak away for a sophisticated lunch while the masses are soaking up the sun. Not only will you beat the crowds, but you’ll often pay less than you would at dinner.
Bramble & Brine at The Buttery
The landmark Victorian on the corner of Savannah Road and Second Street, in Lewes, serves breakfast and lunch dishes in a suite of rooms reminiscent of Charleston. Owner Meghan Kee pays homage to her grandmother with Marge’s crabcake, a Baltimore-style orb with boardwalk fries. You might also spot Coquille St. Jacques, a nod toward sister restaurant La Fable, and a USDA prime burger, a salute to Houston White Co., the steakhouse in Kee’s portfolio.
Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar
Located near the entrance to Rehoboth Beach, the restaurant opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and offers the same menu for lunch and dinner. Lobster cavatappi with bacon, peas and a three-cheese bechamel sauce is a signature dish that started at Bluecoast’s flagship location in Bethany Beach. If it’s too hot for a creamy dish—and you’re sitting on the patio or porch—consider poke, crab salad or one of the salads with fresh fish.
The Back Porch
This iconic Rehoboth Beach establishment, marking its 50th season this year, opens its doors for lunch at 11 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and serves brunch on Sundays. Mainstay lunch dishes include pan-seared fish cake, roast chicken salad with pine nuts and basil and the bestselling bun-less turkey burger, a spicy patty with aromatic spices that comes with roasted red pepper vinaigrette and orzo salad. The turkey burger is so unique that guests often post photos when The Back Porch opens in spring. “First turkey burger of the season!” they write. If you know, you know.
Victoria’s Restaurant
Victoria’s is situated in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and offers indoor and outdoor dining. Lunch is available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and brunch is served on Sunday. Cream of crab soup, shrimp-and-crab salad and pan-seared salmon are some of the refined lunchtime selections served with a Rehoboth Beach seaside view.
Off the Hook
With its colorful octopus mural and airy ambiance, Off the Hook in Bethany Beach, is the perfect place to beat the afternoon heat. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and must-try dishes include the jalapeno corn and crab bisque, smoked fish dip and cacio e pepe with truffle oil.
