Coho’s Market & Grill: Delicious Decisions!
Our latest Dining Out assignment was something different, and no less delicious! Coho’s Market & Grill at 305 Rehoboth Avenue has so many options: Eat in, eat outside on the patio festooned with market umbrellas, or take out? Breakfast sandwich, lunch sandwich, salad, or panini? Curry or regular chicken salad? Fresh iced tea, Gaia coffee, or cocktail to go? Pick up or get delivery via Door Dash? Oh my!
Coho’s convenience and wide variety of selections definitely fill a need. The concept was the brainchild of original owners Rick Coho Hardy and Dave Lyons, who purchased the former Grub Grocery. In December 2021, they sold the market to JAM Holdings, co-owned by Mark Hunker and Jeff McCracken. (You know, the Eden Restaurant/JAM Bistro/Red White & Basil guys.) JAM retained the Coho’s name and kept much of the existing menu and the existing Coho’s team. This is their second summer and business is on a roll.
We visited Coho’s at noon and pulled right into the free parking. We were warmly greeted by co-owner Mark Hunker. We decided to sample three popular sandwiches made by manager Jack, who has been with the JAM organization for eight years. While we waited, Mark also provided samples of their house-made curry chicken salad, regular chicken salad, Asian noodles, and Italian pasta salad. Both chicken salads were to die for. The noodles were adorned with a nice mild sesame dressing, and the penne salad came with sun-dried tomatoes and a flavorful Italian dressing.
Now for the sandwiches: We started with the Olive, a spinach wrap filled with house-made hummus, feta cheese, black olives, cucumber, lettuce, and roasted tomatoes, finished off with a lemon dressing. We both declared it had excellent flavor.
Next was the St. Lawrence, one of Dave and Rick’s favorites, and a Coho’s signature sandwich. This had thin-sliced rare and lean roast beef, Havarti cheese, and horsey sauce with lettuce, tomato, and red onion on a sub roll. It was chock full of delicious roast beef. Loved the kick of the sauce too!
Lastly, we sampled one of their most popular paninis—the Cuban. Tavern ham, thin-sliced pork slow roasted in-house, Swiss cheese, pickles, and honeycup dijonnaise was served up on a pressed ciabatta. Wow, soooo good!
What else does Coho’s offer? A super-friendly staff—Allyson, Sidney, Ella, and others who were busy in the kitchen. There was great teamwork and camaraderie.
Coho’s also offers breakfast sandwiches including the Kent Bennie—two eggs, grilled ham, tomato and hollandaise on a ciabatta; the Pine Reach—creamy avocado toast topped with pico de gallo, and lox and bagel. They also have healthy fruit bowls, yogurt, and a daily quiche.
From the grill there’s a Philly cheese steak made with beef or chicken, an Impossible Burger, or tuna melt. Additional signature sandwiches include a turkey club, BLT, crowd favorite curry chicken salad with cashews and golden raisins, and a specialty called the Delaware, Coho’s take on an Italian hoagie.
And what else from the press? Next time we will try the Brooklyn panini with prosciutto, pepperoni, sopressata, and more. Sounds yummy! And there are more enticing selections.
If you’re looking for prepared foods to go, we should note that Coho’s offers items from other JAM restaurants, such as mac & cheese or key lime pie from Eden, edamame guacamole or short ribs from JAM Bistro, and fresh pastas and sauces from Red White & Basil.
Coho’s also offers a selection of specialty cocktails like strawberry lemonade from Fifer Farm’s strawberry-infused vodka, and the peach margarita with Bennett Farm’s peach-infused tequila. (We refrained since it was only noon!) You can get assorted wines and beers as well, and fresh-brewed specialty coffees by Gaia. (You can buy Gaia by the bag and freshly ground in the store.) We can testify it’s delicious!
We haven’t mentioned the deli section! Salads, seafood, other prepared foods, Boars Head cold cuts, cheese spreads by DeBruno Brothers, and gourmet cheeses, charcuterie items, and assorted beverages are all here.
There are lots of Delicious Decisions to make. Coho’s has everything you need whether you’re having last-minute hunger pangs, you’re on your way to the beach, or you’re hosting an impromptu party. Coho’s caters, too, for those parties that allow more planning.
Watch for daily specials and keep in mind Meatloaf Mondays and Pot Pie Fridays, available off-season. For convenience, order ahead online at cohosmarket.com or call 302-227-2646 (COHO). ▼
Leslie Sinclair and her wife Debbie Woods are longtime fans of the Rehoboth Beach dining and entertainment scene and have been fulltime residents since 2009.