If you can’t bear to eat inside on a beautiful day or evening, try these spots in Rehoboth Beach (south of Midway Theaters), Lewes (north of Midway Theaters). Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach, listed below in that order.
Click the restaurant name to see the review (if available). Call first in the off season to make sure the outdoor dining is open.
Some places are pet-friendly – sort of. Check out the Rehoboth dog rules here.
REHOBOTH BEACH DOWNTOWN and
COASTAL HIGHWAY SOUTH OF POSTAL ROAD (MIDWAY)
ADRIATICO – large covered porch right on the busy corner of 1st Street and Baltimore – good for people watching. Not open in the winter.
a(MUSE.) – A little side patio with fountains is Baltimore Ave.-central for people watching.
AQUA GRILL – Massive deck for one big party and dinner too. In-season only.
ARENA’S DELI & BAR – Shady tables on the sidewalk in Village by the Sea, an attractive shopping alley between Rehoboth and Baltimore Avenues. Outdoor dining is also available at their highway location adjacent to Big Fish Grill.
BACK PORCH CAFÉ – The two-level outdoor dining complex is the place to be on Sunday mornings.
BLUE MOON – Not really al fresco al fresco, but a unique design lets Blue Moon roll back the roof in the back bar on nice nights or sunny days.
CAFÉ AZAFRÁN – Back patio (enclosed when it’s chilly) for full-service dining.
CAFÉ PAPILLON – Casual self-serve. Shaded seating in Penny Lane, a shopping alley/courtyard between Rehoboth and Wilmington Avenues next to Grotto Pizza on Rehoboth Avenue. In season only.
CATCHER’S – next to the Hotel Rehoboth. Breakfasts and seafood with a view of Rehoboth Avenue.
CELLAR DOOR – The subterranean Cellar Door on Baltimore Ave. in Celebration Mall also has a sidewalk-side dining area. Watch the fun on Baltimore Avenue right smack in the middle of it all.
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL — fun tables in the front afford a panoramic view of the Tanger Seaside Outlets’ parking lot,Touch of Italy and Outlet Liquors. What more could you ask?
CILANTRO — Casual Mexican. Dine on the front sidewalk or in the back on a little secluded patio.
CLAWS – Crabs and seafood on a big front porch facing Rehoboth Avenue.
COFFEE MILL - Tucked away in the Rehoboth Mews, another fun little alley between Rehoboth and Baltimore Avenues.
CULTURED PEARL – Magnificent rooftop deck with wooden gazebos, soft lighting…and fish ponds.
DOGFISH HEAD BREWINGS AND EATS – Enclosed patio with several tables
EDEN – Few cozy tables fronting the sidewalk, plus some balcony seating on the second level
GREEN MAN — The front porch is where it all happens. Amazing breakfasts, too.
GREENE TURTLE — The balcony overlooking the boardwalk and the Atlantic is prime viewing.
GROTTO PIZZA REHOBOTH BEACH – the “mothership” on Rehoboth Avenue has a fun patio next door. Two more Grottos on the boardwalk have oceanfront seating in-season only.
HOBOS – Large covered porch opening onto Baltimore Avenue.
IGUANA GRILL – A big front porch and a full-service menu.
IHOP – a new screened-in dining area is on the left side of the restaurant.
JAM BISTRO — dine out front on the ocean block.
LA TONALTECA – covered patio at the front of the building in Midway.
LORI’S OY VEY CAFE – Casual, self-serve seating for breakfast or lunch in the shady courtyard adjoining CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.
LULA BRAZIL – Latino noshes and dancing in the old Cloud 9 spot. Sit on the back patio surrounded by beautiful landscaping.
MARIACHI – Big second-floor covered deck strung with white lights and in sight of the ocean.
OBIE’S BY THE SEA – on the boardwalk in Rehoboth for 30 years.
PANERA BREAD – on the highway at Midway. Big outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas.
PAPA GRANDE’S REHOBOTH — the Treehouse deck is perched high above the building. Lots of fun on a summer’s night.
PETE’S STEAK SHOP – patio dining in the Food Lion Shopping Center offering a panoramic view of the firehouse.
PIG & FISH – Small sidewalk seating area with patio umbrellas
THE POINT COFFEE HOUSE & BAKE SHOPPE – Where Rehoboth Avenue intersects Coastal Highway. Very good lunches, great coffee and even better pastries.
PURPLE PARROT – Cozy “alley” of covered seating along the side of the restaurant, with a new “sand pit” bar (the biergarten) out back. Enter that from Wilmington Ave.
RIGBY’S — a secluded back patio in the shade. Fun during happy hour.
ROYAL TREAT – Two screened porches for breakfast or ice cream. Seasonal.
SEAFOOD SHACK – Front porch and a back patio.
SHOREBREAK LODGE – a covered side patio is quiet and beachy.
STINGRAY ASIAN / LATINO BISTRO – on the front porch and on a fun outdoor patio on Lake Avenue.
TOUCH OF ITALY I – The original on Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth. Carryout only, but there are some nice benches out front and a little courtyard next door where you can nosh and observe.
TOUCH OF ITALY III – The highway location in Shore Plaza in Rehoboth, next to Root Gourmet and Nage, has a few tables in the front for al fresco noshing.
VICTORIA’S (in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel) – Lovely restaurant and pub seating directly on the boardwalk and the ocean.
ZEBRA RISTORANTE – Romantic, low-light porch wraps around the front and side of this restaurant overlooking (relatively) quiet Lake Avenue
ZOGG’S – A little bit of the islands just steps from the boardwalk. And a steel drum player to boot. An unusual and tasty menu. Get the fish tacos.
LEWES DOWNTOWN and
COASTAL HIGHWAY NORTH OF POSTAL ROAD (MIDWAY)
THE BUTTERY – Wraparound porch on the big Victorian mansion at the corner of Second and Savannah in Lewes.
FISH ON! – In Villages of Five Points in Lewes. Fun outdoor patio with a fire pit and a popular neighborhood happy hour.
THE GATE HOUSE OF LEWES – Off Market St. next to Half Full. Al fresco dining on the patio and also in the quiet and very private herb garden.
GILLIGAN’S – Dine and sip right smack on the canal in Lewes.
GROTTO GRAND SLAM – a few tables with bright red umbrellas afford a panoramic view of Coastal Highway.
HALF-FULL – Tasty rectangular pizzas in Lewes. Sit on the front porch and view the harbor.
IRISH EYES – Smack on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal in Lewes. An entire dockside dining room for tasty bar food and summer sipping.
KINDLE – A tiny patio surrounded by downtown Lewes fills up fast in-season. Burger night is Wednesday and worth the trip.
THE KITCHEN AT PAYNTER’S MILL – a little back patio is quiet and private, just north of Lewes.
LEWES BAKE SHOP / NOTTING HILL ROASTERY - Just a couple of tiny tables out front are prime Second St. real estate for nibbling your ooey-gooey and sipping a dopio.
ON THE ROCKS – at the Lewes Ferry terminal. Watchin’ the ships roll in. And watch ‘em roll away again.
SAVANNAH’S DELI & GRILL – Part of the Liberty Gas Station and Hazzard Auto Repair, this hidden gem has lots of outdoor picnic tables.
STRIPER BITES – Tasty lunch & dinner on Savannah Road in Lewes.
SURF BAGEL – A new outdoor dining area complete with pergola and lots of pretty stone makes for nice-weather noshing of your carried-out goodies. Get the chicken salad on a sesame bagel, or the Taylor Ham, egg & cheese sammie on a bagel.
TOUCH OF ITALY II – The Lewes installation (TOI II) has a couple of small tables on the sidewalk at the corner of Savannah and Second.
THE WHARF – a huge covered and uncovered deck up against the docks, right on the canal in Lewes.
DEWEY BEACH and
FORGOTTEN MILE SOUTH OF THE CANAL INCLUDING INDIAN RIVER INLET
GROTTO PIZZA DEWEY BEACH – The Dewey Beach Grotto Pizza also has a huge patio with a panoramic view of the foot traffic on Coastal Highway.
HAMMERHEAD’S DOCKSIDE – exit off Coastal Highway to the right just before the Indian River Bridge. Follow west to the marina and beautiful outdoor bar/restaurant. 302-227-7325
IVY – Dine on the sand in Dewey Beach as the Rehoboth Bay caresses your tootsies.
JIMMY’S GRILLE – Jimmy’s fried chicken and lots of booze under the pavilion on Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach.
MATT’S FISH CAMP – Just south of the Indian River Bridge, on the ocean side. A few fun picnic tables from which to watch the sun set over the bay.
NORTHBEACH – On the bay side of Ivy at the end of Dagsworthy Ave. in Dewey Beach. Music and beachy bar food on a huge deck overlooking the Rehoboth Bay and Thompson Island.
PORT DEWEY – A screened porch lets the air in and keeps the flies out. Picnic tables make for beachy fun. Tell Uncle Mitch that The Foodie says hi.
QUE PASA – Part of the huge Ruddertowne complex in Dewey Beach behind the Hyatt Place/Residences. A big covered bar and dining area on the Rehoboth Bay.
RUSTY RUDDER – a Dewey Beach tradition. Big outside bar, music and dining deck on the shore of Rehoboth Bay. Plus a huge, family friendly buffet.
TWO SEAS – Enjoy a drink and a nosh on the rooftop deck in Dewey Beach with a view of the Atlantic and Rehoboth Bay. Two Seas. Get it?
WOODY’S DEWEY BEACH GRILL – Great crabcakes on a tiny front patio in Dewey Beach.
BETHANY BEACH and OCEAN VIEW
14 Global – A creative, eclectic menu of semi-small plates. A row of tables on the side of the restaurant.
DiFebo’s - Decent Italian food at this long-established eatery. A fenced-in garden out front is prime seating on a cool evening.
Northeast Seafood Kitchen – a huge patio to the side of the restaurant with a fire pit and low lighting.
Patsy’s – an open front porch where you can get some of the best food in the area.