2nd Street Tavern Offers Unique Eats and an Extensive Craft Beer List

Longtime Lewes restaurant The Buttery has been revamped and renamed as 2nd Street Tavern./Photo by Danielle Bouchat-Friedman

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We were saddened to hear that the iconic beach eatery The Buttery in downtown Lewes was shuttering its doors earlier this year. However, we were very hopeful for the revamped restaurant that would take its place: 2nd Street Tavern. Still owned by the Gates family, the tavern opened just in time for the summer rush.

My fiancé and I were able to pop in for a few drinks and a bite at the end of July. We unfortunately just missed happy hour, which runs every day from 4-6 p.m. Regardless, we snagged two seats at the large wood and copper bar and perused the extensive drink selection.

With a dozen draft beers to choose from (most of them local) and around 20 options in bottles and cans, you will definitely find something to wet your whistle. The wine offerings are less impressive, but I did opt for a refreshing glass of rosé for $9.

The bacon avocado deviled eggs at 2nd Street Tavern./Photo by Andrew Hoffecker​​

We weren’t that hungry but after staring at the menu for some time we felt it was our duty to nibble on something. With over a dozen appetizer and small plate offerings, the menu is ideal for sharing. The warm pimento beer cheese dip, pork belly bao bun tacos and cast iron shishito peppers piqued our interest, but we opted to try the bacon avocado deviled eggs after our neighbors at the bar insisted that they were very tasty. Three come in an order and the yolk is a creamy, avocado-like mousse, topped with bacon crumbles and a sliver of pickled onion. I am not a huge fan of deviled eggs, but I loved these.

We will be back, and this time I hope it’s for the warm pimento beer cheese dip.

More information:
2nd Street Tavern
102 2nd St., Lewes • 645-7755
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.