Welcome, Bluecoast. We’ve Been Waiting for You!
The SoDel Restaurant Group has done it again, and this time it’s close to home. A branch of its famed signature restaurant, Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany Beach, has opened on Coastal Highway near the entrance to downtown Rehoboth, and the lines are already forming…with good reason.
But the lines move quickly, as this is a deceptively large restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating, two busy bars, and a beachy, casual, comfortable décor.
I’ve been twice so far, first for a dinner-time experience seated indoors in a comfy booth, where we ordered drinks, apps, and entrees. That night I had perfectly seasoned, broiled rockfish served over corn slaw. Bonnie enjoyed the lightly breaded soft shell crab entrée. Prices for entrees are in the $24-$32 range. I swear the meal was memorable, but at our table there were many cocktails, with my sampling the Bluecoast Buzz (berry vodka, fresh lemon, and soda), perhaps two of them, and frankly, I’m lucky I remember this much about the meal and the wonderful evening.
This week, Bonnie and I went back determined to keep our wits about us. We grabbed seats at the outside bar, and decided to do appetizers for dinner. We started with one cocktail each. Bonnie loved the white sangria, while I tried a Watermelon Crush—a delicious, and refreshing cocktail consisting of nothing but vodka, crushed watermelon, and lime. It was a-mazing!
It was tough to decide on dinner apps. One bar patron was devouring the Lobster Fried Rice, with a sunny-side-up egg atop ($9), and it looked delicious. He reported he’d been three times in three weeks for this dish.
Another bar stool neighbor had the Jumbo Blue Crab Roll, much like a famed Maine Lobster Roll, but made with a generous portion of crab and complemented by Old Bay seasoned chips. She loved it.
Other choices include Crab and Crawfish Gumbo ($10) with andouille and cheese grits, and the marvelous-sounding Deviled Eggs ($9) with mustard cream, scrapple chip, green apple, curry dust, and pickled mustards seeds.
For us, it came down to the Buttermilk Fried Calamari, ($11) served with tartar sauce, sea salt, and lemon, and the Seafood Waffle Fries ($14) with crab, shrimp, and lobster in a cheddar sauce with Old Bay Seasoning. Decadent beyond all reason.
Therefore, we also ordered something green—the Brussels Sprouts ($9). Of course, they too were fried, and topped with truffle oil, pecorino, and almonds. Delicious!
The gentleman next to me said he was into low fat dining but joked that he was a pharmacist and could get me some cholesterol lowering drugs if I needed them. Then, he, too, ordered the Seafood Fries because ours looked so scrumptious.
By the way, the two appetizers and a side proved to be excessive for dinner so it was lunch the next day. Yes, like many local restaurants, the prices are up there, but just let me say the quality at Bluecoast is more than worth the price.
Nightly specials include market price fish entrees, classics such as Crab Imperial Stuffed Shrimp and Seafood Stew and much more. Landlubbers can have Veal Meatloaf ($19), Pork Ribs, Rib Eye ($36), or Fried Chicken ($19). The Raw bar features enough items to make you dizzy, and desserts include warm cinnamon bread pudding ($7) and key lime pie ($8). Google the menu and you will be impressed. And hungry.
I wonder how many days I can hold out before going back for the Lobster Fried Rice?