|
The Buttery Parrot
In this issue, we feature two very
different restaurants: The Buttery and The Purple Parrot. If there was
actually a restaurant called The Buttery Parrot, we would dine there as
well.
 The
Buttery Restaurant
The Buttery is housed in a huge
yellow mansion in Lewes at the corner of Second and Savannah. The landmark
building, known as “Trader Mansion,” provides a wonderfully Victorian
entrance to the downtown Lewes historic district.
It was a cool fall evening last
week as my honey, Sharon, and I walked up the front steps. The building
was so beautiful, that I paused and tried to take it all in: the subtle
bands of color on the columns, the rounded porch and the twinkling lights.
I can only imagine the painstaking work that went into restoring this
amazing manor. It’s the kind of building that makes one want to study
architecture. It’s like a complicated friend whom you’d like to get to
know better.
Our arrival coincided with that of
two other couples, and there was a moment of minor confusion in the cozy
foyer as the host deciphered who was with whom. One of the couples did not
have a reservation, but the host found them a table in the bar area. Who
would have thought that a reservation would be needed on a Sunday night in
November in our sleepy little resort area?
Luckily, Sharon and I had made our
reservation and were seated in one of the side dining rooms looking out
onto the covered porch and Savannah Road. It was a lovely spot, and our
server, Michelle, took great care of us all evening.
We started our meal by sharing the
soup of the day and the special salad of the day. The soup was really good
with duck sausage, wild rice and Swiss chard in a lovely broth. It was
light and flavorful, but hearty at the same time. The salad was baby
greens with pumpkin seeds, blue cheese, Mission figs, and Marion
blackberries lightly dressed in apple cider vinegar. Both the soup and the
salad were absolutely delicious.
For entrees, I ordered Chef Gary
Papp’s special lamb loin dish and Sharon ordered the venison. The lamb
was dense and bold, as lamb should be, but it was served with a delectable
demi-glaze of apricots, sherry and molasses. It added a sweet contrast to
the lamb, and I enjoyed it. Just when I was thinking I had ordered the
better dish, I tried some of Sharon’s venison. Wow. It was like a battle
of the meats. The venison was delicious! It was a lean venison tenderloin
that was so tender you could cut it with the side of the fork, served in a
port wine sauce with cranberries and figs. Both entrees were served with
perfectly cooked fresh green beans and mashed potatoes. The flavors were
wonderfully seasonal.
All the desserts offered at The
Buttery are homemade. We tried the molten warm chocolate cake and the
special pie of the day. The chocolate cake looked like cake, but when I
slid a spoon into it, I found the cake to be just a thin layer on the
outside filled with warm chocolate gooeyness. Lovely. The pie of the day
was called Potpourri Pie and turned out to taste nothing like potpourri
(thank goodness). It was filled to the brim with apples, pears,
cranberries and strawberries, and had a sweet crumb topping. It was served
warm with vanilla ice cream. There’s nothing like warm pie.
What a lovely meal in a lovely
mansion. The good news about dining at the Buttery is that they work hard
to offer economical options for those of us trying to stay within our
budgets. They have a year-round three course prix fixe dinner for $28
offered from 5-6:30 p.m. every evening. They also have a fall bistro menu
for $22.95, Monday through Thursday, 5-9 p.m. in the off season. Each
evening of the week features a different bistro-style entrée. I have
heard that the Seafood Paella Risotto (on Monday nights) is excellent.
The Buttery is also famous for
their Sunday brunches starting at 10:30 a.m.
Whenever you decide to go to the
Buttery, I’m sure you will enjoy the elegant surroundings and delicious
food, just don’t forget your reservation.
The Buttery, located at 102
Second St. in Lewes, is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Reservations can be made by calling 302-645-7755.
Purple Parrot Grill
From one mansion to another…. The
Purple Parrot’s building in downtown Rehoboth has received several
Cottage and Town Awards and other local accolades. It’s a large
cottage-style building with an entire front that lifts up like a garage
door. It is a welcoming place designed to feel like one big porch. The décor
is bright colors and tropical murals everywhere. Next time you’re there,
take some time to look at the murals closely, they will make you smile.
The Parrot is a longtime favorite
of the GLBT “family.” This is the kind of place that makes you feel at
home. Heck, everyone calls the manager “Mom,” and I’m not sure
anyone actually remembers her real name anymore. She is “Mom” to us
all. Owners Hugh Fuller and Troy Roberts have worked hard to create a
relaxed atmosphere.
Last week, a co-worker and I popped
into the Parrot for lunch, and the meal was so delicious, I decided I’d
write about it here. The lovely and funny server, Violet, took care of us
as we perched on our stools at one of the high top tables by the large
front window. The last time this friend and I went to the Purple Parrot,
we indulged in their Parrot Poop Dip—a yummy bean dip with a silly name.
Many items on the menu have imaginative names.
For example, on this dining
adventure, I tried a “Wimpy.” It’s the smaller of the two burgers on
the menu. My friend had the special of the day, which was the Parrot’s
famous meat loaf. My burger was huge, even though I ordered the Wimpy,
which is “only” a half a pound. The sandwich was delicious, though,
and I managed to finish every last ounce of that cowardly burger.
All my friends know that eating out
with me means sharing, so my friend was not surprised when I slid my plate
over and requested a bit of her meat loaf. It was divine! It had chunks of
onion, bell pepper and tons of flavor. It was served with a little gravy
and some rich creamy mashed potatoes.
For vegetarians at the Purple
Parrot, there is quite a bit to choose from: soups, salads, a Portobello
mushroom wrap, and other offerings. For meat lovers, take note that
burgers are on special on Monday nights.
The Purple Parrot, located at
134 Rehoboth Avenue in Downtown Rehoboth Beach, is open seven days a week
for lunch and dinner and can be reached at 302-226-1139.
|
Back to Top of Page 