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Don't put your brother in charge of the summer rental! Need Bethany/Rehobeth Dinner Recs

We've vacationed in Ocean City, MD every summer since 1972, and my brother felt we "needed a change". So he rented a place in Bethany Beach, DE. Without telling anybody until 1 week before we leave our homes in CT.

Now that we're all resigned to the "drastic" change in plans, I'd like some good CH advice re:dining in the area. Not: pizza, Italian food, sandwiches, or chain food (Phillips!). Where to go for upscale, well-prepared dinners (seafood + contemporary American). Oh, and a crab shack for steamed crabs, please.

Also, any advice re: a nice place to have an afternoon drink on the water? I'll be needing one...or two!

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  1. This might help. There's not a great choice at Bethany compared to Ocean City. Good luck and have a great vacation.


    1. A lot of very good choices in Bethany and environs: for upscale choices, stick with Bluecoast in Bethany, Catch 54 in Fenwick or Northeast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View. All these restaurants are owned by the same folks, who also own Fish On, and Lupe di Mare in Rehoboth.

      Crabs: Mickeys, or Blue Crab, in Bethany, or Fenwick Crab House.

      Drink on the water: Mango's, just don't eat there. Or Catch 54 in Fenwick, where you can eat and enjoy a fabulous water view.

      Blue Crab
      4521 Pretty Lake Ave, Norfolk, VA 23518

      Northeast Seafood Kitchen
      29 Atlantic Ave Ste F, Ocean View, DE 19970

      Fenwick Crab House
      Coastal Hwy, Fenwick Island, DE 19944

      1 Reply
      1. re: Felixnot

        I second Bluecoast and have always loved The Cottage Cafe. I think Bethany Beach is awesome.

      2. Sedona in Bethany is also good . . . and I'd rather vacation in Bethany than OC any day. I think you'll like it. Rehoboth also has tons of good restaurants. Zebras, Nage and the Cultured Pearl are my favorites.

        19730 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

        The Cultured Pearl
        301 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

        26 Pennsylvania Ave, Bethany Beach, DE 19930

        1. great restaurants: 1. Blue Coast: great seafood 2. Sedona: southwest american 3. Defebo's: upscale italian 4. Bethany Blues: ribs burgers 5. Capriotti's subs, try the Bobby and the Capristrami...too good 6. 5-guys burgers

          26 Pennsylvania Ave, Bethany Beach, DE 19930

          1. My wife and I are at Rehoboth Beach now and here's the restaurants we've gone to so far:

            Confucious (Chinese): Pretty good. The dumplings and fresh fish special were the best. Cold noodles was way spicier than we expected.

            Porcini House: Strictly mediocre. Very disappointing preparation. I had grilled crab and shrimp pasta (dull and soggy) and my wife had the mushroom risotto (eh).

            Fins: Absolutely rocked. Amazing beer selection, and my grilled red snapper was outrageous. No reservations, but worth it.

            Go Fish: We went here for lunch -- British-type fish and chips place, and thought they were very good. Not greasy. Better than you'd think.

            Go Fish
            24 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

            Porcini House
            210 2nd St, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971