Off the Hook
This upscale farm-to-table boutique has been serving Bethany Beach guests for years with creative cuisine and some of the most attentive service around, and is the rare Delmarva white tablecloth coastal seafood restaurant also open for lunch. While the narrow menu adjusts constantly, especially for the seasons, land lovers will find only a few options, but fish patrons will rejoice. There is a southern cooking twist in the kitchen, noticeable when you first bite into the glazed, crusted, or blackened fish, always accompanied with complimentary sides. The appetizers are bountiful and prepared to share, and lean toward coastal seafood favorites mixed with salads and dips. Off the Hook portends that it is “fresh, honest, and local”; that all seems true, and given the constantly shifting specials, “fresh” is a given at this chef-inspired restaurant. Beware, though, parking can be scarce and so can your patience during the wait, because Off the Hook does not take reservations and you may be tempted to abandon the restaurant in favor of Rita’s Ice next door, which may please the little ones demanding ‘Reverse Night’: desert-before-dinner. Still, the wait is worth the family stress because the kitchen, while not offering a wide variety of dishes on any given evening, is tight and efficient, as is the service.
