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    Cottage Cafe

    4.0 (789 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood, Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cottage Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    COTTAGE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Cottage Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dune Fries SM and muffins
    Courtney C.

    I'm going to start off by saying that I got very sick after eating here and the only thing I can attribute it to was the fried flounder. It didn't smell bad and it didn't taste spoiled but it had a very peculiar taste - I don't know if they soaked it in something too long so it wouldn't taste fishy but it definitely was not a good taste. Aside from the fish everything else was good. I was disappointed that happy hour was only at the bar and not a single person mentioned that to us or asked us if we wanted to sit at happy hour. We ordered mostly items from the happy hour menu so we definitely paid more just to sit at a table. Our waitress was nice but didn't check on us too much. It definitely was busy. The cocktails were good, the fries we got were good. My fiancé enjoyed his burger and he did not get sick. Again we paid $12 for dune fries that should have been $7 at HH. The sandwich was $16 and I threw out all my leftovers- which was half a sandwich and all of my fries. Again it was only a $12 sandwich at HH. The place was overall nice but I'm definitely hesitant to go back after the way the fish tasted and then having such an adverse reaction. The little muffins were good - I enjoyed them. The cocktails - some of them came in glasses you got to keep too and I thought mine was one of them but no one said anything. They're just not overly communicative. I really wish I had just gotten a dinner or the crab cakes. But you live and learn. It seems like this is a local spot that people really enjoy and it definitely could have been but between the odd fish and paying more for stuff just because we were seated at a table - rubbed me the wrong way.

    Soft shell crabs, fried with fries and Cole slaw.
    Kelly D.

    Still a great choice when in Bethany. Food, service and atmosphere are very good. Last night, my hubby & our friend ordered the Twin Jumbo soft shell crab entree from the daily specials menu, which was excellent. Both were completely finished along with the delicious fries. I ordered the beef BBQ sandwich, again excellent in flavor and portions. We had a great waiter, but everyone that works here are talented and provide excellent service with a smile!

    Mozzarella pies.   So good.  They are not called Mozzarella pies but that's what they look like. Yummy!!
    Jessica J.

    So cute. Friendly staff & great food. Definitely reccomend this cute place if you're in Bethany Beach.

    Mean Bloody Mary
    Amy P.

    We were a large party of 14 people which is never easy on wait staff but they rose to the occasion and handled our table very well. Even dealt with splitting checks. The food was good, the service was good and the atmosphere was very family friendly. We always come back here when we visit Bethany.

    I highly recommend the cottage cafe here are a few reasons why first of all excellent service the staff are extremely friendly and the food is on a whole new level it is the right size and you will leave satisfied and it is affordable and I would love to give a shout out to my waitress Brittney she was very helpful and kind

    Stuffed scallops with broccoli, Mac & cheese
    James K.

    We ate here for dinner earlier tonight and enjoyed it. We came in around 8pm on a Monday night and were seated immediately without a reservation, which was nice. Our waitress Brittney was quick & attentive, and did a solid job. As for the food, both the cream of cream soup & my stupendous stuffed flounder entree were delicious! I also tried some of my moms stuffed scallops, and those were good as well. Their sides were okay. Overall though, good soups & entrees. We would come back again.

    Gary D.

    Very nice place to eat if you're in the area took my family there for lunch. Food was OK and normal. Typical American food services very nice and easy. No issues at all. Establishment was very welcoming and staff was very nice. Had no issues here we come here again.

    Happy hour vibes
    Sandy M.

    Great first time at the Cottage Cafe. Happy hour I think from 1 till 6 everyday ~ a very nice menu and good deal .We snagged the last 2 bar stools, had a great Bartender Tracy, friendly and efficient. We each ordered a drink, a cup of their cream of crab soup which was devine, and a burger to share. The burger was excellent, perfectly cooked and tasty. It came with house cut fries and a small but good coleslaw. This is a locals place ~ we eventually earned our spot and ended up chatting everyone up. It was a really great environment- especially when looking for a low key old school vibe. A DJ came on around 5 and played some great classics - not to loud but just added to the setting. We really liked the entire experience and will be back. We are always looking for a local spot- and this fits the bill.

    Stuffed Flounder

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    Photo of Tony J.
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    20 days ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 7
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    Love this 7
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    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
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    9 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 2
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    9 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 1
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    6 months ago

    Food was delicious as usual, however the crab bisque as well pumpkin soup were lukewarm

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    Photo of Amy P.
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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    4 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    7 months ago

    The food was really good and the service was great! Cozy spot in Bethany Beach -- definitely worth a visit.

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    1 year ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    10 months ago

    Great selection of food. I ordered the fired shrimp. The cornbread muffins they give you in a basket were good!

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Photo of Thomas H.

    Thomas H.

    Helpful 0
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    Photo of Trish P.
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    1 year ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    1 year ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    11 months ago

    Great Food! The service was very good. The crab cakes were also very good. Would definitely go back again.

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 0
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    8 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 0
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    Photo of Allie A.
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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
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    Love this 5
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    8 months ago

    Cottage Cafe is part of So-Del and is very good. They have a great variety in their menu and the food is always delicious!

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 0
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    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    9 months ago

    Fried chicken, crab cake sandwich both very tasty. The fries were amazing. The patron relaxer was light on the patron.

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 0
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    Photo of Amy L.
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    11 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 0
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    Photo of Connie T.
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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
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    Photo of Tom M.
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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Helpful 1
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    9 months ago

    Great food, friendly service! The blushing crab soup was delicious, as was the crab cake platter.

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

    Thanks so much! We hope to see you again soon.

    Helpful 0
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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    1 year ago

    The restaurant is bright and the staff is welcoming. We ordered wraps which were generous portions and delicious.

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    Caroline J.

    Thanks so much for the review and for the kind words!

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    1 year ago

    Service was great, I got the tuna wrap with fries. Delicious! Happy they were open on New Year's day!

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    Photo of Caroline J.

    Caroline J.

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    11 months ago

    Service was great! I had the special which was crab stuffed shrimp with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Great portions for the money!

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    Caroline J.

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    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
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    10 months ago

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    Caroline J.

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Cottage Cafe

    Do you have a breakfast buffet on weekends?

    Hello Howard, no, we don't

    Are you open on Thanksgiving? Any specials? Thanks

    Hello Andrea, we will be closed on Thanksgiving so our team can spend the holiday with their families.

    Any vegan options?

    Our full menu is available on our website. Www.cottagecafe.com

    View All 5 Questions

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    A hidden gem! This very quaint costal vibe beach restaurant is worth a try! The food was…read moreDELICIOUS, the server, Dia was on top of her game for a crazy busy night. We had the shrimp tacos and crabcake sandwich. The flavor was spectacular! Highly recommend!

    14 Global - YELLOW FIN TUNA CRUDO / habanero sesame oil. radish. shallot. jalapeño. herb salad. avocado mousse . pistachio dust. crispy wontons

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    What an amazing place. Had blackened shrimp tacos and sliders both were delicious. The staff and…read moreowner Tia were very friendly and welcoming. Do yourself a favor and stop by this local treat!

    We were in town for the MDW holiday and were looking for a close and walkable restaurant from…read moreour hotel and we found a winner! We also totally lucked out without having a reservation and got two seats at the bar. The hostess was super nice and gave us plenty of time before a reservation was due at 7pm. Shout out to the two, super-awesome bartenders who made our dinner even more enjoyable. For a small restaurant, it seemed like they made 1000 drinks while we had dinner! I wish my phone didn't die and I would have had more pictures. But I'll tell you that the food here is amazing and you can see they really put a lot of work and care into every single ingredient. My husband even noticed the micro cilantro in the carrot tahini hummus! The ingredients are all busting with flavors. I had the swordfish, which was brown butter basted and very tasty and prepared with caramelized baby turnips & fennel- so good! My husband even noticed enjoyed his caesar and steak salad and we both ate every last drop. While we were kinda in the heat of everything.. busy bar and right next to the kitchen, the energy in the restaurant was amazing and you could tell the whole restaurant was working hard for the busy holiday crowd. I'm grateful we got those two seats at the bar. 14 Global is a wonderful restaurant with a scrumptious and ecletic coastal cuisine. Next time I will definitely make a reservation!

    Off the Hook - TOWN DOCK CALAMARI

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    The crusted tuna and the pot roast were delicious. Our…read morewaiter John and the chef worked with us to avoid certain food allergies and offered slight modifications to the menu that met everyone's needs. The smallish dining area offers privacy and the quietness to carry on conversations. We still look forward to going there after many years.

    As you can see from my more than ten past reviews over 4 years and my last review in August 2025…read morethis is now one of my top three happy hour restaurants during the off season. I will summarize my four most recent happy hour off season visits. We were first here at the bar with my six family and friends. Well finally the off season happy hour half price dinner entrees have finally returned here starting around mid October with pretty much the same entrees and menu as last year. They subsequently updated the half price entrees in early November. All items have pretty much returned here except for some new entrees. The good news is that at least two new half price happy hour dinner entrees were added including the surf and turf with espresso encrusted 4 ounce demi filet mignon with two skewered shrimps, yukon mash, tomato garnash with blue cheese in the middle of the tomato for $40 or half price for only $20. I never had espresso encrusted filet mignon, therefore I ordered and enjoyed mine medium rare. I could barely taste the encrusted espresso. I ended my dinner with my favorite Fiddlehead's draft honey porter for $6. My total bill was $111 with half price discount of $36.50 so my final bill was $77. On my second return I enjoyed my ahi tuna rice bowl with broccoli, ginger fried house rice, sprouts and ginger vinaigrette for $36 or half price for $18. My total bill was $72 excluding gratuity. On my third return I again enjoyed the espresso encrusted 4 ounce demi filet mignon, which I had ordered medium rare, but was over cooked to medium. I did not complain about returning my filet for a replacement, however I did show it to bartender Dennis. Next time I will order my filet rare. On my fourth return I enjoyed my usual cosmos and my ahi tuna rice bowl which was always properly cooked ahi style. Bartender Dennis always remembers I prefer a little extra spice, without me even asking for my Sriracha. Dennis recommended both of the above entrees. See my most recent pic of the new menu. Chef Cowan waved to me at the bar. Bartender Dennis served us very well supported by our usual excellent recommendations and conversations. Chandra and Cameron also said hello. The staff here are very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. On Black Friday I purchased another $1k in gift cards for the off season from Off The Hook and Hooked in OC. Needless to say we will continue to return here for happy hour to spend our $1k.

    Cottage Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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