Although visitors descend on coastal Delaware all year, Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer season. People pack the beaches, the highways, and, of course, the restaurants. Often, the crowds recede by Tuesday, partly because kids are still in school.
“Everyone comes in for the holiday, and then it’s a slow week,” agrees Carol Everhart, president and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Unless, that is, a restaurant participates in the annual Culinary Coast Restaurant Week, a partnership between the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Gazette.
This year, the promotion runs Sunday, June 1, through Friday, June 6. Participating restaurants offer discounts and prix fixe menus that usually include a choice of appetizers, entrées, and desserts.
Restaurant Week is a boon for restaurants and their customers, but when the last morsel is gone and the forks fall, others benefit too. As in the past, the Dewey Beach Police Department, Home of the Brave, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co., and Tunnels to Towers Delmarva will all receive donations.
A BOUNTY OF BENEFITS
Restaurant weeks are nothing new. For instance, Rehoboth Beach Main Street previously organized a downtown Rehoboth-focused event.
Culinary Coast Restaurant Week, however, isn’t limited to one area. Participants this year include Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar near the entrance to downtown Rehoboth, Lefty’s Alley & Eats in Lewes, and The Lighthouse in Dewey Beach.
There are good reasons why these promotions are popular. For one, everyone loves a bargain, says Rob Wood, who owns The Cultured Pearl with his wife, Susan – board chair of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Another reason? People are more likely to try a new spot if there’s a multicourse deal. Sirocco Food & Drink, which opened in 2023, may not yet be on the radar of residents from Lewes or Bethany Beach. Restaurant Week is the perfect lure.
“It allows us to capture a customer who maybe would never have tried our restaurants before,” says Drew DiFonzo, VP of operations for TKo Hospitality, which owns Sirocco and The Lighthouse. “If we can turn that guest into a repeat customer, it’s a win-win.”
Danielle Panarello of SoDel Concepts, which owns Bluecoast, agrees. “It’s a nice incentive for new guests to come in and try our restaurant. It’s always important to bring in fresh faces.”
Restaurant Week newbies to Lefty’s Alley & Eats will discover that the Lewes business is about more than bowling and arcade games. It has “surprisingly good food,” says owner DJ Hill.
Regular customers can also break out of their usual routine, adds Jennifer Zerby, marketing manager for the Boardwalk Plaza, home to Victoria’s Restaurant. “We enjoy participating in Restaurant Week not only because it brings in new faces but also because it offers a little something special to our regular guests, and we appreciate both.”
THE RIGHT RECIPE
Crafting a Restaurant Week menu takes time. The Cultured Pearl builds in options for sushi-lovers, vegetarians, and fans of curries and Asian fusion dishes. Victoria’s puts a creative spin on its protein entrées, switching up sides and sauces, Zerby says.
“It’s our last opportunity to offer something special to the local community before vacationers settle in,” says DiFonzo, who also serves on the Chamber board.
Hill agrees: “It gives our chef a creative outlet beyond our menu’s normal scope. We love letting him showcase his skills so people know we are serious about food.”
This year, Lefty’s will offer a $39.95 three-course meal. Appetizers include blackened ahi tuna tartare on guacamole. Entrées feature seared salmon and flank steak. Desserts? Think layered carrot cake and turtle cheesecake.
Expect “bold, beer-infused dishes” at Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, plus pub favorites like wood-grilled burgers, says Ryan Schwamberger, operating manager for Dogfish Head. Sister restaurant Chesapeake & Maine will spotlight sustainable seafood – and yes, the $15 Maine lobster special is back.
THE GOOD CAUSE
Pleasing diners is one thing – but for Hill, the beneficiaries are the real reward. “We are always interested in events that benefit military and first responders,” he says.
Participation fees and sponsorships benefit Dewey and Rehoboth Beach police departments, the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co., Home of the Brave, and Tunnels to Towers Delmarva.
Home of the Brave, with two locations in Milford, provides housing, meals, and support services to veterans. Over 585 homeless veterans currently reside in Delaware.
Tunnels to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to families of fallen first responders and builds smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans.
“If we try an event and it’s not successful for the business and the visitors, we don’t do it again,” Everhart says. “If you see it repeat, it’s a success.”
With another strong year on deck, Culinary Coast Restaurant Week checks all the boxes.
GET A BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Restaurant Week (June 1–6) is your chance to try new restaurants or get a deal at a favorite. Reservations are encouraged, and when seated, be sure to ask for the special menu.
If you don’t like what’s being offered, order from the regular menu. And unless you have a food allergy, try not to make substitutions – these are already discounted dishes.
Agave: Modern Mexican cuisine with a stylish atmosphere. Locations in Lewes and Rehoboth. agaverestaurants.com
Blue Moon: Known for its creative fine dining and vibrant entertainment. A Rehoboth icon for more than 40 years. bluemoonrehoboth.com
Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar: A SoDel Concepts restaurant focused on fresh local seafood in a coastal-
modern setting. bluecoastrehoboth.com
Café Azafran: Tapas, large plates, and a Mediterranean vibe in the heart of downtown Rehoboth. cafeazafran.com
Chesapeake & Maine: Dogfish’s seafood-focused spot with ingredients sourced from the Chesapeake and Maine coasts. dogfish.com
The Cultured Pearl: Sushi, sake, and fusion dishes served in a koi pond-lined rooftop dining room. culturedpearl.us
DiFebo’s Restaurant: Italian family recipes and house-made sauces in a Rehoboth landmark. difebosrehoboth.com
Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats: Craft beer, burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and brewery flair on Rehoboth Ave. dogfish.com
Downtown Blues BBQ: Southern-style barbecue and bourbon near the Rehoboth Boardwalk. downtownbluesrehoboth.com
Kiwi’s Kove: Boardwalk views and beachy cocktails from this Atlantic Sands Hotel hotspot. kiwisrb.com
Lefty’s Alley & Eats: Bowling, games, and a full-service restaurant and bar in Lewes. iloveleftys.com
The Lighthouse Dewey Beach: Bayfront dining and signature crab cakes in Dewey Beach. lighthousedeweybeach.com
Outback Steakhouse: Casual steakhouse favorites with consistent quality and a familiar menu. outback.com
Sazio Coastal Italian Kitchen: Seafood-forward Italian in a sleek, modern setting. saziorehoboth.com
Shorebreak Lodge: Contemporary American dishes with a Miami twist.
shorebreaklodge.com
Sirocco Food & Drink: Mediterranean cuisine with modern cocktails in downtown Rehoboth. siroccorehobothbeach.com
Starboard Claw: A lively Dewey seafood spot with plenty of crab-centric dishes.
starboardclaw.com
Thompson Island Brewing Company: Craft beer brewed on site, hearty pub food, and family-friendly dining.
thompsonislandbrewing.com
Victoria’s Restaurant: Oceanfront fine dining inside the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. boardwalkplaza.com/victorias-restaurant
For more info, contact the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center at 302-227-6446 or visit beach-fun.com.
