Food and Fun on the Boardwalk and Beyond
There’s nothing like having houseguests to make you appreciate the resort flavors of our hometown. With our nieces and nephew (young adults), we took to the town last week and got a big dose of Rehoboth’s iconic food and fun.
First stop, lunch at Grottos. I admit I haven’t been upstairs there in the daytime, maybe ever! Occasionally, I’ve joined Pete Schwartzkopf and others up there to watch election returns come in, while enjoying a slice, but that’s at night. But it was a busy Friday afternoon, and we were led upstairs, where the bright sunny day lit the room and gave us a view of bustling Rehoboth Avenue.
The kids chose the Meat Lovers Pizza, with pepperoni, sausage, and ground beef. How had I not had this before? It should be a new food group. Seriously, it is more than worthy of their slogan, “Legendary Taste.” I will go back for more!
Following an afternoon at the beach (my first in a long time), showers, and a little rest, we did the crab feast thing for supper. Back out on “the highway” as the local vernacular goes. We didn’t do the Boardwalk, but we did hit the beaches. We went to Beaches Seafood Restaurant on Route One (it used to be Jimmy Lynn’s Carry-out Crabs). We devoured two dozen large crabs, which were perfectly seasoned and heavy, heavy, heavy. If you are going to open the wallet wide for crabs, Beaches crustaceans are worth it…and may be priced a little lower than other spots.
For Saturday breakfast time, I suggested Robin Hood or Crystal (my favorites for a simple breakfast) but the kids wanted IHOP…so despite my fears of long lines and so-so food, we had cooked-as-ordered eggs, their famous 2-2-2- with eggs, bacon, and pancakes, and an especially good order of blueberry pancakes. We got great service, in and out quickly, and good food. Win, win, win.
The gang (without me this time) hit the beach again, survived a ten-minute torrential rain by hiding under the umbrella (thankfully, there was no lightning or they would have been off the beach fast!) and had a blast in the water. The jelly fish are just coming in up at Gordon’s Pond, but that day they stayed away.
Saturday night was time for the traditional boardwalk buffet. By some miracle, a table at Louie’s opened up just as we got there, and we all chowed down on their toasted grinders. This, I must admit, is my very favorite boardwalk food in all of Delaware. I got the Special Italian Grinder, with ham, Genoa salami, cappicola, onion, tomato, provolone cheese, and oil and spices, all toasted to perfection. If you haven’t tried this, treat yourself. Louie’s has great pizza, too (but we’d had our weekend allotment already), and the Grinders, accompanied by icy-cold authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer, made a perfect meal.
But of course, the kids wanted Thrashers Fries. So we got a community bucket and walked the boards. I warned them about swooping seagulls noted for stealing fries, but as it was late in the day, there were few. I had my two crispy, salty, exquisitely cooked fries, and walked away from the bucket. How lucky we are to have this iconic vendor!
We were just in time at the bandstand for the Elvis impersonator—a great show and a great band. The benches were packed, and the whole area was alive with music, laughter, family fun, a crowd that looks like America, and so much more.
Next came Funland, and all I can say is it was a madhouse! A happy madhouse. All the pleading from the kids, and my spouse, did not work. I refused to go on the rides. Yes, our youngest niece did the new 360 turn-you-upside-down ride, and she survived. I could barely watch. I did do a few moments of whack-a-mole, and I don’t know what I love more, the name or the game.
Wrapping up the night, we hit the Ice Cream Store with its zany flavors and long but fast-moving lines. I kept my mouth shut and did without. No gold medal deserved. I’d already eaten enough calories in two days for the entire week.
Sunday morning the kids went out early and brought back donuts. Yes, I indulged. And now I’m on a strict regimen of lettuce, and vitamin water.
I love our beach town. Can’t wait until Bonnie and I have more visitors.