Dining in Lewes

Dining in Lewes

When talk about food and restaurants focuses on Sussex County resort towns, the spotlight tends to shine most brightly on Rehoboth Beach. (And a liquid conversation will almost always zero in on Dewey Beach's party-hardy, woo-hoo baby! watering holes.)

True, some of Delaware's standout restaurants are planted in or near Rehoboth's sandbox, including chef/owner Jay Caputo's top-notch Espuma; Nage, Kevin Reading's Del. 1 fine-dining pleasure palace; the venerable Back Porch Cafe, now celebrating its 35th season; and the Cultured Pearl Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, which moved into the old Quillen's Hardware home on Rehoboth Avenue.

But the quaint, postcard picture-perfect town of Lewes shouldn't be shortchanged as simply a place to catch the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Indeed, Delaware's oldest town, which dates back to 1631, is a culinary destination in its own right. (Dewey, however, remains the playground of boozehounds.)

Sure, Lewes may seem sleepy, but its tastebuds are wide awake.

- Story by Patricia Talorico