Harvest Tide
About the closest thing to a NYC steakhouse in Bethany Beach and Lewes is Harvest Tide, offering various butcher block cuts along with impressive seafood and raw bar selections. The menu is a pledge of allegiance to classic steakhouse with a hint of geographic awareness – coastal seafood, and many, but not all dishes notable in preparation, delivery, and price. While plenty expensive, Harvest Tide remains populist enough to give customers the chance to keep tabs on sporting events and news on its bar TVs; still, Harvest Tide has the look and feel of a country suburban restaurant that takes its cues from formal dining rooms typically forged in big city downtown locations, even though you are mere steps from the ocean (at the Bethany Beach location, the more enchanting of the sister restaurants). Steaks are USDA prime and sizzled to expected steakhouse quality, but the choices are plenty, with sizes (ounces), sauces, toppings, and other add-ons creating an annoying multiple choice dinner order. Of course, the line between freedom of choice and the tyranny of too many options isn’t such a fine one. Seafood has fewer options, and is equally well-presented, as are the appetizers, many large enough to substitute for a meal. Contrarians sometimes chirp about the uneven service, including the ‘auctioning’ of appetizers and entrees, an annoying service feature unbecoming of expensive restaurants, which should observe who ordered what without having to inquire of the patrons. Interestingly, cocktail and wine orders seem to find their respective diners, but the food is auctioned by your non-server runner. Speaking of drinks, don’t overlook the best bourbon-lemonade cocktail in Delmarva, along with other inventive drink classics and an impressive wine list not typically found at beach restaurants. Pricing is for the expense account crowd, which is why you will never find a packed house – tables are generously spaced and reservations are bountiful. Beware, parking in downtown Bethany Beach can be challenging, so give yourself extra travel time and around two hours to enjoy Harvest Tide and to locate your car parked a good walk away. The Lewes location has ample parking but a less inviting ambiance. For now. Harvest Tide clings to three stars, but only barely, because its quality has slipped over the years, almost as exhaustively as its service, which, for a fine restaurant is uneven at best. Still, while trending to a reduced star count, the kitchen generally produces, and the meal is well paced and relatively reliable even if not for the feint of wallet.