It's extremely rare that I eat at the same restaurant twice while traveling, but on a recent trip to Rehobeth Beach, just couldn't stop myself from lunching here twice. A few blocks from the beach, Henlopen City Oyster House seems to avoid the crowd and tourist trap of some of the other eateries in the area and provide elevated seafood and incredible service in an upscale dining room. Focusing on really fresh ingredients and homemade almost everything, I needed the bartender to help guide me in what to pick my first visit: there were just too many incredible options to choose from. Crowd favorites seem to be the salads (particularly the Caesar which comes with a whole anchovy on top!), the clam chowder, the old bay shrimp, and the lobster roll. I was in town for a wedding where I knew we would be having clams, raw oysters, and lobster at the reception, so on both visits, opted for things I wouldn't get at the wedding or in the landlocked state I live. I landed on the fried clam strips, the super fresh and incredible Caesar salad, grilled oysters (topped with Johnsons bays, sumac butter, just insanity), and the crème de la creme: the light fried scallops dish. I could write sonnets about that fried scallops dish. My neighbor at the bar ordered it on my first visit and found it so amazing, he insisted on letting me try it, and oh jeezus this dish is a love letter to the seafood gods. Ordered a full plate to myself on my second visit and it is genuinely one of the most perfect things I have ever eaten: lightly fried scallops and fried slices of lemon, sea urchin aioli, sea beans. No notes, just perfection. The Caesar salad was so satisfyingly umami, crunchy, perfectly lightly dressed. The grilled oysters had the most heavenly sumac butter, herby taste. A total win of a casual lunch, made even better with an excellent wine menu for pairing with seafood (the skin contact orange and alberino were unreal and very reasonably priced!) For dessert, I got the key lime pie which was completely homemade, huge (required saving leftovers for a late night snack) and just the *chef's kiss* way to end my meal. Took a nap after each lunch here and had my friends at the wedding asking about this place, I raved about it so much. This restaurant will forever live in my mind as the Meals You Dream About from Vacation.
Judy Luo
Classy casual, featuring a large menu of amazing food/drinks, and friendly service. Maybe the best gumbo I've ever had?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood, Fries
Dan O'Banion
Best oyster poboy I’ve ever had. Incredible service and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jorge D Agueda
Amazing staff and wonderful delicious food ! Never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joe Dillingham
Fantastic place. Great food. Great drinks. Exceptional vibe. Fried cornichon in the calamari. Fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, Fries, Rockfish
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: No
Delivery: No
Curbside pickup: No
D R
Went in search of a better seafood menu than the typical crab/flounder/salmon and was not disappointed: tilefish, monkfish, rock, grouper, crab/lobster louie...the food choices are a step above the common seafood house but prices are not. Added to regular list. Nice choices of sipping whiskeys too, if you're so inclined.
Best place in town to get a dozen oysters, in season better get there early!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters on the Half Shell Delaware Delicious
Suzanne Madanat
Just the best restaurant in Delaware. I just went for birthday lunch with my son. Everything like everytime was perfect!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David Richardson
Their happy hour is always a highlight to a day in Rehoboth. Make sure you arrive at least 20-30 minutes before opening, though, because the bar fills up fast after the doors open. The Rum Punch is an excellent go-to drink if you need a recommendation!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters on the Half Shell Delaware Delicious
Jason Lankford
Every time I come home I only walk up we hope that the Avenue had never ventured down the side streets so I've missed this place and had no idea it was here.Today I wandered in because what caught my eye was the cod cheeks on the appetizer's menu.I started with an oyster stew and finished with the bouillabaise.I wasn't disappointed in any of it, it was all excellent!There's also a great selection of beer and wine to compliment any meal. Now that I know this little gem is hidden back here I'll be certain to return each time I come home to visit mom.
We came to Henlopen off-season and the restaurant was still super packed, luckily we didn’t have to wait for long. The food was really good, we got the Oyster Sampler two for each, the New England Clam Chowder, and the Bouillabaisse (this dish is huge). Highly recommend and will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Seafood, New England Clam Chowder
Carlo Carlini
Love the lunch menu as it includes the gumbo (not available in the dinner menu)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
nick polise
Great place for some oysters and a pint. If you're lucky you can watch em shuck the little devils right in front of you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cindy Souza
One of my favorites in RB! Love sitting at the bar...the best seat in the house!
It's extremely rare that I eat at the same restaurant twice while traveling, but on a recent trip to Rehobeth Beach, just couldn't stop myself from lunching here twice. A few blocks from the beach, Henlopen City Oyster House seems to avoid the crowd and tourist trap of some of the other eateries in the area and provide elevated seafood and incredible service in an upscale dining room. Focusing on really fresh ingredients and homemade almost everything, I needed the bartender to help guide me in what to pick my first visit: there were just too many incredible options to choose from. Crowd favorites seem to be the salads (particularly the Caesar which comes with a whole anchovy on top!), the clam chowder, the old bay shrimp, and the lobster roll. I was in town for a wedding where I knew we would be having clams, raw oysters, and lobster at the reception, so on both visits, opted for things I wouldn't get at the wedding or in the landlocked state I live. I landed on the fried clam strips, the super fresh and incredible Caesar salad, grilled oysters (topped with Johnsons bays, sumac butter, just insanity), and the crème de la creme: the light fried scallops dish. I could write sonnets about that fried scallops dish. My neighbor at the bar ordered it on my first visit and found it so amazing, he insisted on letting me try it, and oh jeezus this dish is a love letter to the seafood gods. Ordered a full plate to myself on my second visit and it is genuinely one of the most perfect things I have ever eaten: lightly fried scallops and fried slices of lemon, sea urchin aioli, sea beans. No notes, just perfection. The Caesar salad was so satisfyingly umami, crunchy, perfectly lightly dressed. The grilled oysters had the most heavenly sumac butter, herby taste. A total win of a casual lunch, made even better with an excellent wine menu for pairing with seafood (the skin contact orange and alberino were unreal and very reasonably priced!) For dessert, I got the key lime pie which was completely homemade, huge (required saving leftovers for a late night snack) and just the *chef's kiss* way to end my meal. Took a nap after each lunch here and had my friends at the wedding asking about this place, I raved about it so much. This restaurant will forever live in my mind as the Meals You Dream About from Vacation.
Classy casual, featuring a large menu of amazing food/drinks, and friendly service. Maybe the best gumbo I've ever had?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood, Fries
Best oyster poboy I’ve ever had. Incredible service and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing staff and wonderful delicious food ! Never disappoints!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic place. Great food. Great drinks. Exceptional vibe. Fried cornichon in the calamari. Fantastic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, Fries, Rockfish Dine in: Yes Outdoor seating: No Delivery: No Curbside pickup: No
Went in search of a better seafood menu than the typical crab/flounder/salmon and was not disappointed: tilefish, monkfish, rock, grouper, crab/lobster louie...the food choices are a step above the common seafood house but prices are not. Added to regular list. Nice choices of sipping whiskeys too, if you're so inclined.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Seafood, Seafood Chowder, Oyster Stew
Best place in town to get a dozen oysters, in season better get there early!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters on the Half Shell Delaware Delicious
Just the best restaurant in Delaware. I just went for birthday lunch with my son. Everything like everytime was perfect!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Their happy hour is always a highlight to a day in Rehoboth. Make sure you arrive at least 20-30 minutes before opening, though, because the bar fills up fast after the doors open. The Rum Punch is an excellent go-to drink if you need a recommendation!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters on the Half Shell Delaware Delicious
Every time I come home I only walk up we hope that the Avenue had never ventured down the side streets so I've missed this place and had no idea it was here.Today I wandered in because what caught my eye was the cod cheeks on the appetizer's menu.I started with an oyster stew and finished with the bouillabaise.I wasn't disappointed in any of it, it was all excellent!There's also a great selection of beer and wine to compliment any meal. Now that I know this little gem is hidden back here I'll be certain to return each time I come home to visit mom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Oyster Stew
Restaurantji Recommends
We came to Henlopen off-season and the restaurant was still super packed, luckily we didn’t have to wait for long. The food was really good, we got the Oyster Sampler two for each, the New England Clam Chowder, and the Bouillabaisse (this dish is huge). Highly recommend and will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bouillabaisse, Seafood, New England Clam Chowder
Love the lunch menu as it includes the gumbo (not available in the dinner menu)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place for some oysters and a pint. If you're lucky you can watch em shuck the little devils right in front of you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorites in RB! Love sitting at the bar...the best seat in the house!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Csn’t be beat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5