The Road to Bethany Beach

The road to Bethany Beach is paved with good concoctions. Beloved local restaurants are found by the dozen along the east-west corridor of Route 26, from homemade ice cream to the perfect cappuccino, from a soul-warming gas station grill to the highest-quality steaks or sushi. We’re not here to say anyone is better than the other because they all hit the spot, whether you’re on Hour One of a road trip or Day Five of a beach vacation.

For this feature, we picked four spots that highlight the range of cuisine found in the five-mile stretch from Clarksville to the Atlantic Ocean itself. At every location, we saw the dedication to quality ingredients, good service, enjoyable atmospheres and really tasty food! Here are some of the impressive dishes served up in coastal Delaware.

BREAKFAST

Morning Buns Bake Shop

Millville

Anyone with a sweet tooth will notice the balance of buttery soft, yet flakey fresh textures in these pastries, baked daily at Morning Buns: Orange bun, Raspberry Danish, Pain au raisins (raisin croissant) and Monkey pull-apart bread.

BRUNCH

Good Earth

Clarksville (Ocean View)

Cured meats & cheeses charcuterie tray; Daybreak Potatoes (sunny-fried egg and shaved parmesan over roasted potatoes and vegetables); and Turkey panini (turkey, gruyere, chili flakes and slaw on toasted sourdough with pickles and chips).

LUNCH

Bethany Blues

Bethany Beach

Smoked St. Louis ribs (brown sugar dry rub, braised collard greens and smokehouse baked beans with molasses and barbecue sauce); Broiled jumbo lump crabcake (“no filler,” with shredded vegetables, fresh cole slaw and creamy sriracha sauce); and Blues Burger (spicy barbecue sauce, cheddar, smoked bacon and hand-cut fries).

DINNER

Zoca

Bethany Beach

Stuffed jalapenos (shredded chicken, onions, queso fresco, lime chipotle ranch), queso fresco, jalapeno, wrapped in bacon with pico de gallo); Mole enchiladas (handmade corn tortillas, shredded chicken, mole sauce, chiles, queso fresco, edible flowers); and Mahi tacos (blackened fish, cabbage jalapeno slaw, pickled onions, cilantro and crispy fried avocado).

Drinks: Zoca house margarita (100% Blue Agave Blanco tequila, sugar-salt rim, lime and orange juice, plus zest of both) and Pomegranate paloma 400 Conejos mezcal, lime, grapefruit, black salt rim and lime zest).