Gary’s Dewey Beach Grill
Dewey Beach is one mile long and three blocks wide, with a year-round population of 300, swelling to 30,000 on popular summer weekends. While no count is accurate, locals will tell you that more than one-half of those weekend visitors search for ways to over-eat and over-drink, with plenty of locations to indulge their non-culinary fancy. Gary’s has developed over the years more of a local following, probably due to its healthy-oriented breakfast and lunch offerings from a kitchen that does not focus on cafeteria-style quantity, avoiding the fryer as much as possible. But what does healthy eating actually mean? Food that is low-calorie, low-fat, nutrient-dense? Gary’s is not vegetarian, but may be closer to plant than anything else in the Dewey Beach area, with a menu that also features simple fish and coastal dishes, along with a locally favorite turkey cheesesteak. Now, before you think Gary’s is a carnivore-loving gastronomic and partying wasteland, remember, this is Dewey Beach, and Gary’s also is known for its craft beers and drinks, brewing specialty beers on premises, in addition to other craft bottles and cans. Yes, Gary’s is a laid-back surf bar that still caters to a drinking crowd, but, hey, revelers can be healthy eaters at the same time – remember to order that Rum & Diet Coke or light IPA. The surfing crowd is drawn to Gary’s like that mythical wave nobody ever seems to find on Delmarva beaches, and for good reason, because the drinks can be tasty when the (imaginary) swells arrive, and so can Gary’s kitchen when your appetite needs a healthy respite.