Get cozy at these romantic Delmarva restaurants
There's nothing wrong with spending Saturday night on the couch, binge-watching your favorite show and wolfing down a box of chocolates. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to put on a nice (not chocolate-stained) shirt and take your favorite person out for a romantic dinner.
Plenty of restaurants on the Delmarva Peninsula know how to make a night out feel less like an obligation and more like the first time you fell in love: giddy and warm, and probably still full of chocolate.
Be sure to check the menu before heading out, as many restaurants along the coast are seasonal and update their menus frequently.
Delaware
Lewes
Heirloom
Why: This 1899 Victorian utilizes the vegetables, meats and mood of each season. It's a modern yet homey restaurant serving up thoughtful dishes like pan-seared venison loin with mustard jus and parsnip puree.
Where: 212 Savannah Rd. Contact: (302) 313-4065. www.heirloomdelaware.com
Honey's Farm Fresh
Why: For folks who prefer brunch over dinner (hello mimosas and fat omelets), head over to Honey's Farm Fresh. Bonus: This cafe just got extra cozy after a recent renovation, and now looks like the tree house of any grown-up kid's dreams.
Where: 329 Savannah Rd. Contact: (302) 644-8400
Half Full
Why: What night doesn't get better with pizza? Half Full is a snug, wine-centric restaurant with limited seating in downtown Lewes, and what some reviewers have called the perfect date night spot.
Where: 125 2nd St. Contact: (302) 645-8877. www.halffulllewes.com
Rehoboth Beach
Touch of Italy
Why: Italian is quintessential romantic cuisine, and Touch of Italy is the place to get it. Drink wine while ordering creamy buratta, antipasti with prosciutto and sweet capicola, focaccia and penne Bolognese. Roam the dessert display case full of cannoli, biscotti and chocolate cream cheese cookies while waiting for dinner to arrive.
Where: Lewes - 101 2nd St. Contact: (302) 827-2730. Rehoboth - 19724 Coastal Hwy. Contact: (302) 703-3090.
Chesapeake & Maine
Why: Beer, seafood and live music lovers should head to this modern, nautical spot on the main avenue for their romantic night out. Dogfish Head's take on a seafood restaurant sources its frutti di mare from — you guessed it — the Chesapeake Bay and the coast of Maine.
Where: 316 Rehoboth Ave. Contact: (302) 226-3600
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Maryland
Ocean City
Fager's Island
Why: It's on the water, it's candlelit, it's upscale — Fager's is the classic Ocean City dining experience for romantics.
Where: 201 60th St. Contact: (410)524-5500, www.fagers.com.
Hooked
Why: If you want to spend an amorous night out in a contemporary restaurant that looks like the inside of a beach house and prides itself in local, farm-to-table dishes, then Hooked is your kind of place. The menu has plenty of seafood, from whole fish to scallops with pork belly and kohlrabi, and raw oysters of course. It also showcases some southern standouts, including Nashville hot chicken and pork ribs in a chili agrodolce sauce.
Where: 8003 Coastal Hwy. Contact: (410) 723-4665, www.hookedoc.com
Sunset Grille
Why: It's romance on the water. New York strip steak, filet mignon, crab cakes, sesame crusted tuna mignon — you can't go wrong with the classic woo cuisine.
Where: 12933 Sunset Avenue, West Ocean City. Contact: (410) 213-8110, www.ocsunsetgrille.com
Shark on the Harbor
Why: Aside from being on the harbor (obviously), Shark on the Harbor will give you and your date an adventurous spin on the typical seafood-heavy Ocean City dining experience, with options like tune poke stuffed avocado, Natty Boh battered blowfish (try saying that three times fast) with buffalo sauce and corn dusted black sea bass with bacon jam. A recent menu showed cheesesteak biscuits — what more can you do to prove your love to someone?
Where: 12924 Sunset Ave. (410) 213-0924
Salisbury
Sobo’s Wine Beerstro
Why: Sobo’s is a good option any night for a date with high-quality, farm fresh food. The eatery focuses on offering customers innovative dishes they can’t find easily at other places in the city.
Where: 1015 Eastern Shore Dr. Contact: (410) 219-1117, www.soboswinebeerstro.com
Market Street Inn
Why: This restaurant along the Wicomico River offers scenic views of downtown Salisbury along with an expansive menu to cater everyone’s date night. The eatery also revamped its menu, adding new items to elevate its classic dishes.
Where: 130 W. Market St. Contact: (410) 742-4145, www.marketstreetinnsalisbury.com
The Brick Room
Why: This cozy downtown Salisbury bar is the perfect spot to grab a glass of wine, cocktail or beer and enjoy candlelit conversation with your partner.
Where: 116 N. Division St. Contact: (443) 358-5092, www.thebrickroomsby.com
Fruitland
Restaurant 213
Why: Chef Jim Hughes runs the kitchen of Restaurant 213 and brings elevated cuisine with an international influence to the Eastern Shore. Expect to find dishes like pan seared foie gras and duck chop salad on the menu. That’ll impress your date.
Where: 213 N. Fruitland Blvd. Contact: (410) 677-4880, www.restaurant213.com
Berlin
Blacksmith
Why: This restaurant’s commitment to farm-to-table is clear in its rich and wholesome dishes. Plus, the ambiance of Blacksmith with its cozy half-booths, candlelit tables and romantic outdoor patio area are the perfect place for a first or 100th date.
Where: 104 Pitts St. Contact: (410) 973-2102, www.blacksmithberlin.com
The Globe
Why: Not only does this restaurant offer an upscale American menu, if you and your date go on the right evening, you might be able to catch a live musical act to serenade you to true love.
Where: 12 Broad St. Contact: (410) 641-0784, www.globetheater.com
DiFebo’s
Why: This family-run Italian restaurant has multiple locations along Delmarva. The Berlin location continues to offer that authentic menu with ambiance.
Where: 104 Main St. Contact: (410) 629-0550, www.difebos.com
Other locations:
789 Garfield Pkwy, Bethany Beach. Contact: (302) 539-4550
12 N. 1st Street, Rehoboth Beach. Contact: (302) 226-4550
Think your favorite restaurant should be on this romantic list? Email us at tgoebel@delmarvanow.com.
This story was originally published Feb. 1, 2019.