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Your Guide to Delaware Restaurants With Great Outdoor Seating

Delaware Today May 10, 2023
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Constitution Yards in Wilmington./Photo courtesy of GWCVB

From rooftop decks to spacious patios, these Delaware restaurants offer great spaces for outdoor dining throughout the season.

For those looking to enjoy a meal outside this season, Delaware Today compiled a list of restaurants across the First State with al fresco dining.

Outdoor Dining in Delaware

The Backyard Milton

 

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The Backyard Milton specializes in a mix of classic breakfast, lunch and dinner plates, including a wide array of sandwiches, burgers, and salads, plus a bakery and market for desserts. With its quaint, comfortable backyard patio, it’s a welcome break from the home kitchen table.

211 Broadkill Rd, Milton | 684-3440

Banks’ Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar

Located adjacent to the Wilmington Riverwalk, Banks’ specializes in fresh seafood. The Delaware restaurant’s covered patio gives guests a spectacular view of the water—and the Kalmar Nyckel, when it’s in town.

101 S. Market St, Wilmington | 777-1500

Bardea

Featuring neo-Italian fare from pizza to pasta at Bardea and upscale steak and accompaniments at Bardea Steak, these two Wilmington staples share outdoor seating at the beautifully landscaped “Bardea Garden” between the two eateries.

620 N. Market St, Wilmington | 426-2069
608 N. Market St, Wilmington | 550-9600

BBC Tavern and Grill

A true neighborhood bar and grill in Delaware, BBC Tavern offers soups and salads, sandwiches and a variety of different entrees, from petit filet mignon to homemade meatloaf. The restaurant also has a spacious outdoor area.

4019 Kennett Pike, Greenville | 655-3785

Big Chill Beach Club

This oceanfront restaurant is nestled in Delaware Seashore State Park and is open and ready for the 2023 season. The main dining area boasts a 200-seat rooftop deck and umbrella bar, complete with 360-degree views of the ocean, the Indian River Inlet and Inland Bays.

27099 Coastal Hwy, Bethany Beach | 402-5300

Bluecoast Seafood Grill + Raw Bar


Customers far and wide come to Bluecoast for local seafood, great happy hour specials and an award-winning wine list. They stay for a stunning view that overlooks Bethany’s scenic salt pond. The Rehoboth location also has a large outdoor dining area (with a nice bar, too) that somehow disguises all the noise from busy Route 1.

30904 Coastal Hwy, Bethany Beach | 539-7111
300115 Veterans Way, Rehoboth Beach | 278-7395

Buckley’s Tavern

 

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Enjoy a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, comfort food, seafood and steak on Buckley’s lovely outdoor terrace. Then head to the rooftop bar for an after-dinner drink and stunning views of Centreville.

5812 Kennett Pke, Centreville | 656-9776

Cavanaugh’s Restaurant

This Delaware eatery is known as a great spot to grab lunch on a busy workday. Now that it’s warming up, you can enjoy a midday break on the gorgeous patio.

703 N. Market St, Wilmington | 656-4067

Chelsea Tavern

 

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This Delaware gastropub offers a wide selection of menu options including pizzas, salads and sandwiches, along with a hearty beer, wine and cocktail list.

821 N. Market St, Wilmington | 482-3333

Columbus Inn

 

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Grab lunch, dinner or brunch underneath twinkly lights on Columbus Inn’s covered patio, which overlooks the bustling Pennsylvania Avenue.

2216 Pennsylvania Ave, Wilmington | 571-1492

Constitution Yards

Constitution Yards is a staple spot on the Wilmington Riverfront during the summer months. A seasonal beer garden, it’s perfect for a local beer or cocktail with a river view. And don’t forget the pub-style fare.

308 Justison St, Wilmington | 407-5192

Crooked Hammock Brewery

Toes in the sand with a beer in hand. That’s the laidback vibe at this Lewes brewpub, which specializes in backyard brews and food. Relax around a fire pit during those chilly spring evenings or snag one of the hammocks when the weather warms up.

36707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes • 644-7837
316 Auto Park Dr, Middletown • 601-7837

The Cultured Pearl

Gourmet Japanese and American cuisine is the star at this downtown Rehoboth restaurant. The iconic rooftop deck is a staple for tourists and locals and is complete with a 5,000-gallon Koi pond.

301 Rehoboth Ave, Rehoboth Beach | 227-8493

Del Pez

 

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With its specials fitting into Mexican cuisine, Del Pez Mexican GastroPub allows for entire families to sit down and enjoy round after round of enchiladas, fajitas and tacos, alongside variations of side dishes and cocktail drinks. The eatery has a spacious porch on the side of the restaurant where customers can enjoy a view of the busy riverfront.

400 Justison St, Wilmington | 691-7974

Docklands Riverfront

Offering a riverfront view, Docklands Riverfront provides visitors comfort food, cocktails and live entertainment. Take it all in on the spacious enclosed patio.

110 West St, Wilmington | 658-6626

El Diablo Burritos

Enjoy fast-casual Tex-Mex in the form of burritos, bowls, quesadillas and tacos. With multiple locations, there’s a variety of different outdoor seating from which to choose. Each location offers takeout and dine-in.

Various locations

Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen

Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen has many spots in the First State with great outdoor seating options. On Newark’s Main Street, enjoy the outdoor patio and fire pit. Trolley’s location has the perfect ambiance for night-life lovers. The Bear location has stunning views of the C and D Canal, which can be reached by car, bike or boat. Grain on the Rocks boasts breathtaking views of the Delaware Bay.

Various locations

Half Full

 

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Evocative of a neighborhood cottage, Half Full brings to life classic dishes such as pizza, soups, and salads with its own little, unique touch of extra, all while providing wide indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy.

125 Second St, Lewes | 645-8877

Hamilton’s on Main

This Newark eatery offers approachable fine dining in a cozy and inviting setting. The patio is risen off of Newark’s Main Street, so you can enjoy the liveliness of this charming college town while still feeling separated from the pedestrian traffic. Bistro tables and top-notch service make this an unbeatable outdoor dining experience.

Plus, bring your dog to enjoy a fine-dining experience of their own with a vet-approved dog menu full of $5, nutrient-packed options for your furry friend.

102 E. Main St, Newark | 358-8533

Heirloom

 

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With the everyday familiarity of your neighborhood house, Heirloom grants patrons the chance to dive into new and unknown dishes alike, made from ingredients sourced locally and responsibly.

212 Savannah Rd, Lewes | 313-4065

Home Grown Cafe

 

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This restaurant is a crowd-pleaser with a variety of menu items for vegetarians, pescatarians and carnivores alike. The patio offers views of Newark’s bustling Main Street.

126 E. Main St, Newark | 266-6993

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

 

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With a brewery feel along the riverfront, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant grants customers a voluminous abode for sitting down for a meal, ordering a drink or two and taking in the urbanite view seen right from outside. Newark’s location features a covered and enclosed patio on Main Street. The menu features both beer-inspired and vegetarian options.

Various locations

Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House & Saloon

With modern twists on classic brunches, dinners, and everything in between, such as cheesesteak sandwiches, self-made omelets, and charcoal-grilled burgers, as well as an enclosed porch recollective of any neighborhood barbecue, Kid Shelleen’s grants customers the chance to reconnect with the familiar while also becoming familiar with the new. Enjoy outdoor dining at both locations.

1801 W. 14 St, Wilmington | 658-4600
1812 Marsh Rd, Wilmington | 308-3560

La Fia Bistro

 

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A little bit of classic European cuisine brought to the First State, La Fia introduces Old World-style signatures, including handmade pasta and fresh vegetables, to those looking for an escape to simpler times. With outdoor seating along downtown Wilmington’s Market Street to set the mood, you’ll feel transported to a Parisian café.

421 N. Market St, Wilmington | 543-5574

Le Cavalier

 

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This French-inspired cuisine offers a brasserie experience featuring thoughtfully sourced classics and inventive riffs on French staples. Le Cavalier’s menu changes frequently but patrons are guaranteed a delicious array of French-inspired dishes. Along with indoor dining, the outdoor patio is fully available for an open-air brasserie dining experience.

42 West 11th St, Wilmington | 594-3154

Makers Alley

 

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Makers Alley delivers a quaint, communal experience to all, matching the aura of a backyard gathering with family and friends. Enjoy a free, reaching space to move around, along with a variety of favorites from burgers to tacos crafted inside an Airstream converted to a kitchen.

804 N. Orange St, Wilmington | 482-1299

Nalu Surf Bar

 

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For outdoor dining and drinking, it’s hard to beat a tiki bar! Nalu has locations in both Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach, each with fun tropical cocktails and delicious beachside eats.

1308 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach | 227-1449
41 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 278-7960

The Quoin Rooftop

 

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Featuring Wilmington’s first rooftop lounge, The Quoin offers artisan sips, local beers, wines and small plates in a cozy yet swanky setting atop its historic Wilmington building. Snack on charcuterie, shrimp cocktail, oysters, steak tartare or deviled eggs with some cocktails on the roof.

519 N. Market St, Wilmington | 446-5600

Striper Bites

Matching its oceanside climate, Striper Bites grants a variety of seafood options for lunch and dinner, as well as an in-house bar for drinks to rival customers’ appetites. With an outdoor porch overlooking the nearby coastline, as well as an open indoor space to replicate that same outside vastness, Striper Bites promises a memorable experience.

107 Savannah Rd, Lewes | 645-4657

Stone Balloon Ale House

 

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On the site of the former music venue of the same name, this pub offers American fare with an expansive wine and cocktail list, not to mention lovely outdoor seating.

115 E. Main St, Newark | 266-8111

Taverna

Enjoy classic Italian dishes, pizzas and more at this eatery. Taverna offers a top-notch outdoor dining experience in both Wilmington and Newark.

121 E. Main St, Newark | 444-4334
3549 Silverside Rd, Wilmington | 384-8552

Related: 14 Delaware Crab Houses to Visit for Mouthwatering Crabs

Tonic Seafood & Steak

 

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Enjoy upscale seafood and steak options with outdoor seating at this enclosed patio in the middle of Wilmington’s bustling downtown.

111 West 11th St, Wilmington | 777-2040

Park Café

 

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This Wilmington eatery serves up lunch, Saturday and Sunday brunch and delicious specialty cocktails with a gorgeous outdoor dining area.

2510 West 5th St, Wilmington | 543-2233

Piccolina Toscana

Sit back on the patio and enjoy hand-rolled pastas, hearth-baked pizzas and more at this neighborhood Italian eatery.

1412 N. DuPont St, Wilmington | 654-8001

Victoria’s Restaurant

If you’re looking for fine dining with a side of oceanfront views in Delaware, Victoria’s in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel is a perfect match. Outdoor seating on the boardwalk patio is a solid option when things start to heat up.

2 Olive Ave & the Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach | 227-7169

Olivia Montes, Kaydee Jones, Sydney Kerelo and Sydney Livingston contributed to this article.

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