Highlights From the Beach Dining Scene

With a plethora of new and tried-and-true options, coastal dining has never been better.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s a perk when it comes to coastal dining. Along with a bevy of debuts, there are plenty of established restaurants, giving diners a range of choices. Here are a few of the newbies, along with some grand dames of dining.

Foodies lamented the closing of Bramble & Brine. Weep no more. Now the sole owner, chef Joe Churchman planned to reopen in May. He’s renovated the space for a clean, modern look, but he still serves the creative cuisine that made this restaurant so popular. (315 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 227-7702, www.brambleandbrine.com)

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208 Social in the old Stoney Lonen has been renovated and refreshed. It’s owned by Nate and Lisa Leonard, who fell in love with Rehoboth during vacations there. Nate, who has worked in New York and Philadelphia, puts a multicultural spin on American cuisine. Think lobster salad with avocado mousse and black bean purée. Entrées are under $30. (208 Second St., Rehoboth Beach, 227-6700, www.208social.com)

Tried-and-true: Restaurants that remain on the cutting edge include The Back Porch Café, which opened in 1974. The baton here has been passed from the late Leo Medisch to Tim McNitt with nary a fumble. (59 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 227-3674, www.backporchcafe.com)

Kevin Reading started Espuma and Nage, both of which have garnered accolades since he sold them. Espuma is owned by Jay Caputo, who has cooked at the James Beard House. (28 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach, 227-4199, www.espuma-restaurant.com) Nage, now owned by Josh Grapski, is a proving ground for talented chefs, including Sean Corea, who recently took over the kitchen. (19730 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, 226-2037, www.nagerestaurant.com)

Bluecoast Seafood Grill now features the culinary talents of Jason Dietterick, who works under corporate chef Doug Ruley, another James Beard House alum. (1111 Highway One, Bethany Beach, 539-7111, wwwbluecoastseafoodgrill.com)
 

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