Delaware is an underrated foodie state, but we take our signature dishes seriously. From the blue crabs that watermen catch in the Delaware Bay, to the fresh vegetables grown on Delaware farms, we take pride in the food that each farmer and fisherman brings to the table. Eating local is easy in Delaware with so many small restaurants that really take pride in serving the freshest, most delicious meals each and every day. On top of that, there are certain dishes that represent our small wonder state, and you just can’t replicate them outside of Delaware. Each iconic Delaware meal below is woven into the history of the First State. How many have you had?
- Crab cakes from Woody’s, Dewey Beach
Facebook / Woody’s Dewey Beach Not only are these considered some of the best crab cakes in Delaware; these meaty, fresh, crab cakes are some of the absolute best in the entire region! They rival the famous Maryland crab cakes for sure.
- A Giant Bucket of Thrasher’s Fries on the Boardwalk
Flickr / BigBirdz Okay, so this might not be a “meal”… wait, who am I kidding? An entire bucket of fries is absolutely a meal.
- The “Nic o Boli” from Nicola Pizza, Rehoboth Beach
Flickr / Steve Snodgrass This is the ultimate Delaware pizza experience - the Nic O Boli is so delicious that there’s usually a line out the door in the summer.
- Chicken and Dumplings from Jimmy’s Grille, Bridgeville
Please note, Jimmy’s Grille has permanently closed. The most iconic Delmarva dish is best done at Jimmy’s Grille in Bridgeville. Slippery dumplings are the only way to have dumplings.
- The “Bobby” from Capriotti’s, any location
Flickr / Brian Child This sub with stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and turkey is like a Wawa Gobbler, except a thousand times better.
- Shrimp Scampi from the Stone Balloon Ale House, Newark
Facebook / Stone Balloon Ale House This one might throw you for a loop, but it deserves inclusion because the Stone Balloon’s chef Robbie produced this amazing dish that beat Food Network Chef Bobby Flay’s dish in a blind taste test. It’s incredible - the homemade pasta makes all the difference in the world.
- Muskrat from Southern Grill of Ellendale
TripAdvisor / BHicks105 Yes…really. If anything says “Slower Lower,” it’s the muskrat dinner on Wednesday nights at the Southern Grill of Ellendale.
- Clinton Street Benedict from Lewinsky’s on Clinton, Delaware City
Facebook / Lewinsky’s on Clinton Please note, Lewinsky’s on Clinton has permanently closed. Cordelia’s biscuits and fried Rappa Scrapple with poached eggs and an amazing Sriracha Hollandaise makes this an iconic Delaware meal…particularly the “scrapple” part of it!
- King or Queen Cut Prime Rib from Walter’s Steakhouse in Wilmington
Yelp / Walter’s Steakhouse - Mahogany D. Walter’s prime rib is the one Delaware meal you really cannot live without. It’s the best in the state and seriously one of the best I’ve had, anywhere. The Queen Cut is usually enough for me, especially if you top it with crab imperial.
- Grotto’s Pizza - at ANY location.
Yelp / Grotto’s Pizza, Wilmington Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that a few slices of Grotto’s Pizza is an iconic Delaware meal.
- Cioppino from Big Fish Grill, Rehoboth Beach
Facebook / Big Fish Grill / Richard D Chiemingo Is there anything better than fresh-from-the-bay fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and scallops simmering in a garlic tomato wine broth over pasta? Nope. Nothing better. And Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach does the best Cioppino in Delaware.
Do you love eating at these small, famous Delaware restaurants? If so, you might really enjoy the Delaware Culinary Trail – if you complete the “passport”, you’ll be gifted a cookbook filled with the recipes for these famous Delaware meals.
Facebook / Woody’s Dewey Beach
Not only are these considered some of the best crab cakes in Delaware; these meaty, fresh, crab cakes are some of the absolute best in the entire region! They rival the famous Maryland crab cakes for sure.
Flickr / BigBirdz
Okay, so this might not be a “meal”… wait, who am I kidding? An entire bucket of fries is absolutely a meal.
Flickr / Steve Snodgrass
This is the ultimate Delaware pizza experience - the Nic O Boli is so delicious that there’s usually a line out the door in the summer.
Please note, Jimmy’s Grille has permanently closed. The most iconic Delmarva dish is best done at Jimmy’s Grille in Bridgeville. Slippery dumplings are the only way to have dumplings.
Flickr / Brian Child
This sub with stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and turkey is like a Wawa Gobbler, except a thousand times better.
Facebook / Stone Balloon Ale House
This one might throw you for a loop, but it deserves inclusion because the Stone Balloon’s chef Robbie produced this amazing dish that beat Food Network Chef Bobby Flay’s dish in a blind taste test. It’s incredible - the homemade pasta makes all the difference in the world.
TripAdvisor / BHicks105
Yes…really. If anything says “Slower Lower,” it’s the muskrat dinner on Wednesday nights at the Southern Grill of Ellendale.
Facebook / Lewinsky’s on Clinton
Please note, Lewinsky’s on Clinton has permanently closed. Cordelia’s biscuits and fried Rappa Scrapple with poached eggs and an amazing Sriracha Hollandaise makes this an iconic Delaware meal…particularly the “scrapple” part of it!
Yelp / Walter’s Steakhouse - Mahogany D.
Walter’s prime rib is the one Delaware meal you really cannot live without. It’s the best in the state and seriously one of the best I’ve had, anywhere. The Queen Cut is usually enough for me, especially if you top it with crab imperial.
Yelp / Grotto’s Pizza, Wilmington
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that a few slices of Grotto’s Pizza is an iconic Delaware meal.
Facebook / Big Fish Grill / Richard D Chiemingo
Is there anything better than fresh-from-the-bay fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and scallops simmering in a garlic tomato wine broth over pasta? Nope. Nothing better. And Big Fish Grill in Rehoboth Beach does the best Cioppino in Delaware.
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