The Penguin

Ordered the Chicken Tinga Tacos. Just happened to be happy hour which was great! Got 4 tacos for…read more$12!

Bartender offered us Jell-O shots But when we got our check…read morewe got charged for his Jell-O shot lol Hello?!?!? Were they free??? Offered

Inside seating

Lobster roll and fries

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The street entrance

The Parkway Restaurant

4.2(103 reviews)

•$$$

First, everyone in the restaurant greeted us when we walked in, it was so nice…read more The service was AMAZING! Not only our main server but the young men that supported her were incredibly helpful bringing extra butter, packing to go and clearing plates It's very difficult to find exceptional service in a seasonal town Food was delicious My peach, tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad was yummy And bountiful My main was salmon with a wonderful coconut sauce our party of six loved all of our food Thank you Parkway for a lovely evening

Excellent food! Located right in the heart of downtown Bethany just a block from the boardwalk…read more Service was amazing. Drinks were very strong. I got the Champagne Supernova.

Jumbo Lump Crabcakes On a Sweet Chilli Remoulade, Mashed Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables.

Pork chop

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Salmon with veggies and risotto

Patsy's Restaurant

4.2(213 reviews)

•$$$

If someone were to try the coconut cream pie from Patsy's and tell me they didn't care for it. I…read morewould cut them out of my life. It's that serious.

Food Experience We…read moreordered the tuna poke, flash‑fried whole red snapper, salad with grilled shrimp, and coconut cream pie. Each dish was excellent -- fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The coconut cream pie was a standout dessert, and the seafood dishes were cooked perfectly. Atmosphere We sat at the back of the outside patio, which was pleasant in terms of seating and ambiance. However, the location had some drawbacks: The dumpster was directly behind us, and the smell carried into the dining area. Flies were present on the patio, and it seemed likely they were attracted by the dumpster rather than the breeze. 14 Global, the neighboring restaurant, had a cook who frequently exited the side door next to our table to smoke. The cigarette smoke drifted into our eating area, only 5-10 feet away. Overall Impression While the food was outstanding and the patio seating had potential, the environmental factors significantly detracted from the experience. The proximity to the dumpster and cigarette smoke made the meal less enjoyable. Recommendation I would not discourage anyone from visiting Patsy's -- the food is worth it. However, I would caution diners about the back patio seating, as the location near the dumpster and neighboring restaurant's smoking area can affect the overall dining experience.

Soft crabs of season

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Caesar don't say no to croutons. Dirty Martini by go to..bartender got it going..many different selections but went on my gin go to.

Ropewalk Bethany Beach

3.0(231 reviews)

0.0 mi

The crab cake egg rolls were good, but a bit salty. I'd recommend the Flounder Roulade had crab…read morecake stuffed in flounder. I'd recommend asking for no salt on the green beans to reduce the sodium overall. The Reda Rockfish Tacos were more on the bland side, more fried batter than actual fish. I don't recommend. The employee there also said that their tacos aren't very good. Ask to sit on the rooftop when the weather is nice to get fresh air and a view of the area. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back.

My friend was looking for a lunch place that had seafood and a nice outdoor view!…read more We saw this place has some rooftop seating and decided to try it. When reading the menu, I didn't realize the restaurant originated in Baltimore which was interesting. I was excited to get my first crush of the season. I got a key lime crush which came with whipped cream on top which was weird but whatever. The crush was okay. A little too sweet for my liking. Our server was very nice and he checked up on us from time to time. We both got crab cake sandwiches. I upgraded my side with $2 waffle fries. The crab cake itself was a decent size and filled with a bunch of crab. You could tell there was a lot of fillers though. The waffle fries were okay. They arrived lukewarm. Service was good and the views on the rooftop is unmatched. It is def. more about the vibes then the actual food.

Lobby

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View from 2nd floor covered deck July '24

Cottage Cafe

4.0(811 reviews)

0.7 mi

Very friendly staff. Food is excellent. We've NEVER had a bad meal at the Cottage Cafe. Will…read morealways return when we are in Bethany -- which is about once a month.

As you can see from my last review in January this is one of my favorite top ten restaurants for…read morehappy hour. We were here in March on a Sunday at 2 PM for happy hour at the bar with our friends. We were able to get 5 bar stools in a row. The bar area is relatively unchanged except for some new paint, however the two adjacent dining areas to the left and right of the bar were totally renovated and painted white with a much cleaner and brighter appearance. I enjoyed my usual 2 rum punches for $10 each and my usual happy hour broiled blackened flounder fish sandwich with tomato, red onion, lettuce, french fries, cole slaw and tartar sauce for $12. I opted for their hot sauce on my flounder and french fries. Bartender Andrea F. served us very well as usual. Consistency is a character of this restaurant. My total bill was $77 excluding gratuity. We agreed we will continue to return here for happy hour.

Bar

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Hot sauce

14 Global

4.3(402 reviews)

Great service, tasty food, tiny location. Trust me, you WANT a reservation for this spot, but it's…read moreworth grabbing. We sat at the bar and spent time trying a bunch of drinks and appetizers. We had Molly as our bartender who was helpful in offering up meal selections and she modified my drink and made it just like one I got to try in the Middle East! We didn't feel rushed, but the space is quite small, so arrive early and get a reservation if you can. Most parking nearby is paid parking through the city so double check or you can get a $$$ fine. The espresso martini style drink had beet shavings on top, something I have never seen before with that drink. It didn't really affect the taste, but it looked cool.

Been wanting to try this place for a while. When we came to town again, we decided it was time to…read morecheck it out. Let's start with some positives. The location is wonderful, located right in the town of Bethany. We sat outside on a nicely done patio that was relaxing and perfect for the weather. The waitress was very accommodating and well trained. She asked about allergies and made sure we had what we needed. When we did not like a dish, they did comp us, which was unexpected. The negatives unfortunately outweigh the positives as we do not intend to eat there in the future. First, it was very overpriced for a tapas place. Each tapa was about 22-25 dollars. These were not a reasonable price for tapas. We ended up leaving hungry. The food was presented very nicely, however, the food lacked in flavor and execution. The tapas all had good concepts but none were great and some were simply bad. The cauliflower was coated in something that made it taste burnt. The gnocchi were not even gnocchi and the dish lacked balance as it was super sweet. The scallops were well cooked but the mushrooms and corn had no flavor. The bison sliders were decent but the buns were hard and burnt and the slider had no sauce. The tuna crudo was probably the best one but it was very oily. Again, good concepts, just poor execution. Cocktails were upwards of 16 dollars and a glass of wine was about the same. I could walk down the street and get a drink for much less. We got other people's food twice as they have people carrying out food that aren't our server. I wish I could rate this place higher but it is not worth the money they are charging.

Inside

Wild Boar Sliders

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Bethany Blues BBQ Pit

3.9(487 reviews)

We were last here in Feb. 2026. As reflected in my past reviews, this spot remains one of my top…read moreten favorite places to enjoy dinner or happy hour. We recently dropped by with friends to sit at the bar for happy hour. Here is a breakdown of our visit: Drinks: I had my standard pair of Maker's Mark Manhattans (now $9 each, up from $8) and finished dinner with an 8-dollar, 20-ounce draft Guinness. Food: I ordered my go-to meal of two NFL brisket sliders accompanied by coleslaw for $13. Service & Experience: Will, one of the managers, came over to greet us at the bar. The total came to $82 before tip for both of us. We all agreed that we will definitely be coming back.

for two people and were told the wait would be about 30-45 minutes. One thing to note: don't pass…read morethe host stand! The host is located outside on the deck, not inside, and we noticed a lot of people making that same mistake. We decided to sit at the bar instead since we saw two open seats, and honestly, it worked out great. The two female bartenders were fantastic--very attentive, friendly, and helpful. They answered all my questions when I was trying to decide what kind of martini I wanted. We also tried the burnt pork belly special, which was really good. I just wish there were a few more pieces that were actually "burnt" or crispy because that's what I was looking forward to. Still, I would definitely order it again! The food overall was amazing. They had TVs playing and a DJ, but it wasn't overly loud, so we could still comfortably talk and enjoy our meal. The atmosphere was fun and lively without being overwhelming. Everything was great, and we will definitely be back!

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Off the Hook

4.3(773 reviews)

0.9 mi

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.

We came back for lunch at the bar with my son and his wife. Both my son and I had the lobster roll…read more($23 each, $46 total), which we both really enjoyed. The bill came to $102 before tip. After applying my $50 gift card letter, the final total was brought down to $52. As always, Chandra provided excellent service. On another visit, we joined my son and his wife at the bar for happy hour. I ordered the happy hour lobster roll for $26. Before gratuity, the total came out to $102, which was lowered to $52 after using my $50 gift card letter. Chandra gave us great service once again. We returned once more with my son and his wife for happy hour at the bar. For this trip, my lobster roll came with a noticeably smaller portion of lobster compared to previous times. The bill prior to tip was $109. Applying my $50 gift letter brought the balance down to $59. As usual, Chandra took great care of us. We all agreed that we'll definitely keep returning for lunch, happy hour, or dinner.

View from my barstool

TOWN DOCK CALAMARI

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Bar area in front

Summer Salts Beach Grill

3.8(143 reviews)

0.8 mi

Fav dish here was the seafood quesadilla which was usually very good though occasionally it seemed…read morelike the cheese was different in a negative way . It's no longer on the menu which is disappointing . My husbands fave is the chicken cheesesteak which is large and flavorful

A complete waste of money. The food was not only awful, but we were genuinely concerned that some…read moreof it may have been spoiled or expired. I ordered the French dip, which was inedible. The meat tasted spoiled, and after struggling to bite through it and tasting it, I had to throw it away. I felt sick later after eating just that one bite. My husband ordered the buffalo tenders and also felt sick after the meal. We also ordered a children's chicken tender meal ($8) and a regular order of tenders ($14). Both came with the exact same amount of chicken! The regular order was nearly twice the price, while the children's meal also came with fries, making the difference even more ridiculous. Overall, this was a terrible experience with awful food and poor value for the money. We definitely do not recommend this place

Bar area

Coleslaw

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Club chicken (fried chicken)

Sedona

4.2(101 reviews)

•$$$

I can't give enough accolades to Sedona! I have IBS, which means I become very ill if I consume any…read moreamount of gluten, cow milk, soft cheeses, garlic, or onion. Sedona was amazing at accommodating my food issues. I ate the most amazing caprese salad with basil, goat cheese, and balsamic glaze followed by a perfectly cooked wagyu burger (no bun) and steak fries. This restaurant should most definitely be on your list of places to frequent often!

50/50 experience. First. The AC was not working. If we knew…read morethat when booking reservations we would not have chosen Sedona. Ceiling was covered in plastic ? Date app and tuna app were wonderful Filet was good but a little overseasoned for my taste. Crab cakes were good not great.

Bar area when you walk in

Short ribs

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16 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Peggy J.

13 years ago

We headed to Bethany for the day when we finally had a warm weekend (yay)! The Penguin Diner was one of the only restaurants in town that was open, so it was PACKED. The food took a while to arrive, but once it did, we agreed it was well worth the wait! It was obvious everything was made fresh in-house (hence the wait, our server said). I had the huevos rancheros - which was AWESOME - and my husband had one of the best pieces of fish he said he's ever had. The waitress said they bring fresh fish in on a daily basis, which we thought was pretty impressive. We heard around "town" the diner is under new management, and most of the food will be made fresh (to order) now. HOORAY for real food, a fun atmosphere, friendly staff, and being at THE BEACH...doesn't get much better than that! We will be back!!! OH and we have a friend who is gluten free, and we noticed gluten free items on their menu. We're glad there are restaurants who recognize and cater to gluten free diners...SMART, in this day and age. ***NOTE: After reading other reviews of this diner I'd like to add - we had real plates, silverware, cups, etc so they must have gone away from the paper products. Much more eco-friendly. I did get a paper "to go" coffee cup with a lid, which was actually great so I could take my coffee with me. read more

Mark N.

14 years ago

My family and I always enjoy the Penguin Diner. The breakfast food is great and we always enjoy the wraps (don't miss the Robin's Wrap) and burgers. My kids love drawing penguins to put up on the wall, and the staff is always efficient and friendly. Despite the informality, the PD delivers high quality food, which is why we keep going back! read more

Terry S.

12 years ago

Took forever to get our food on a weekday lunch. $60 for 4 of us at lunch seems a bit much. Food was good enough but between the cost and the wait, it was not worth it. Some people got up and left after being seated because no one came to take their order after waiting for well over 10 minutes. read more

Tim W.

3 years ago

Well I would have loved to try the place being the proprietors invited me because I am the World's greatest bartender with a severe gluten allergy and this past Friday night they begged me to visit their establishment. However, it's closed while they vacation around Vermont drinking maple syrup read more

Racquel M.

12 years ago

This was totally disappointing. I had heard decent things and then decided to try it out. NEVER AGAIN. The food was cold, and I wouldn't even consider it mediocre and the service was barely decent. Much better breakfast joints in town, including the Froggy and Baja Beach Grill. read more

Lee S.

11 years ago

Been coming here for years. Our kids love the atmosphere and the food. Lots of great choices for adults as well. Great pancakes and waffles at breakfast. Also great milkshakes and smoothies. Service is generally attentive and accurate. read more

Chuck Y.

7 years ago

I can't believe this place is still open. I went there years ago and had such a bad experience that I never went back. The food isn't good and there's nothing that stands out as positive. It wasn't even a mediocre experience, it was bad. read more

Bonnie Y.

7 years ago

I'm surprised this restaurant is still in business. I didn't think the food tasted good, or stood out in a positive way with anything. I never went back after the first time. read more

Seth K.

13 years ago

Service is wonderful!!! Food is great! No complaints! Very clean and kid friendly! Recommend everyone who is in Bethany or near to come eat here! read more

James C.

7 years ago

We stopped in for a quick bite to eat. Seated quickly and great service and food. Will definitely be back!

Laura H.

10 years ago

Returned this year with a group of 10, and everyone enjoyed their food. Fish tacos were great!

Eden P.

3 years ago

oh me oh my this was spectacular! 10/10 recommended to all fellow beachers

Justin W.

12 years ago

Very friendly. Staff is great. Went here for Breakfast and it was great!

Sandra K.

Elite 12

295

101

13 years ago

Kids eat free. The food is lackluster. It's fine but not great.

A. J.

145

110

15 years ago

Not memorable! I've already forgot how tasteless the food was!

BBeachGirl92 T.

15 years ago

Horrible food. Worse service. One and done.

The Penguin - burgers - Updated October 2026

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Egg

4.3

(669 reviews)

Where do I even begin?! First of all, we called from…read moreanother restaurant that told us an hour and a half wait and they made us a table in 30 minutes. Then, we came for our daughters 21st and they were all so incredible towards her! Plus all of our other kids. And then there's the food. Every single thing we had was delicious and a competition of what was best. And of yeah- don't miss their Bloody Mary- it's just enough spice and their bacon in it is amazing!! If we could give TEN stars we would!

Raining day, luckily got in with no problems Service person…read morewas just attentive enough. Clean,

The Dewey Post

4.6

(109 reviews)

Food was dope! Little bit of a wait to be seated, so my honey and I had to lounge until the table…read moreopened up. Music had us vibing and we stayed 2x longer compared to the other guests. We will be back fo show. BR, Pistol

We generally love this place. When we set an egg back to be over hard as we ordered it and came…read moreback with no life left at all. Very disappointing. However The Paper Route and Coffee were very good.

Dirty Harry's Restaurant

3.5

(164 reviews)

I have been to your restaurant many times and have always been happy with the food and service. In…read morefact, I often go alone as my husband doesn't eat breakfast often. When I am alone, I go right to the bar. I realize we were there on Labor Day and expected to wait and understand many employees have left for college or back to their countries. Upon entering, there was no hostess so we waited. No biggie. A few minutes went by and a gentleman came in and asked if I signed in. I told him I didn't realize I was supposed to sign in and was waiting for someone to take our name. A woman who was waiting on someone at the bakery called over and said she'd be right over. A few moments later, she came to the hostess stand and told the gentleman he could head over as she motioned to the bar. She walked away. I asked my husband if he wanted to sit at the bar. There were a few people already there with 3 empty seats, so he said ok. The hostess was chatting with the people sitting at the bar, not serving them. Laughing and paying not attention to anyone who entered. We walked to the bar and seated ourselves. She walked to us and said we could not sit there that the man she seated was a family member. We apologized and got back in line. At that time, another couple had walked in so we stepped in front of them and told them we were sent back to get in line. The couple asked us if anyone was seating people and I pointed to the hostess laughing behind the counter and said we have been here at least 5 minutes. About a minute or two later, the hostess approached us and greeted us by saying, we are short staffed today so I dont know how long you will have to wait. I immediately gave her my name and said table for 2. The couple behind us did the same. Within 5 minutes, the family in front of us was called, followed by us. The couple behind us was seated shortly thereafter. The reason for my message is the way we were treated was very off-putting. I felt like we were being encouraged to leave, not all welcome. I really like it there but this woman was the worst hostess. Maybe she was just having a bad day but I wanted to approach her to say how awful we were treated but was worried we would be made to leave. I sent a private Fb message but did not get a reply.

We've been coming here for years, and it's a place our family looks forward to visiting every year…read more The food is always delicious, and there are so many great options to choose from. Some of my favorites are the homemade creamed chipped beef, which is excellent on either biscuits or toast. I also love Joey's French Toast with peanut butter and banana--it's always a treat. The kids we had with us they order the pancakes and enjoy them. If we're not very hungry in the morning, we'll often stop in for one of their fresh pastries instead. The glazed donuts, danishes, muffins, and cinnamon rolls are all fantastic. This place has such a warm, family-friendly atmosphere and is a great spot to bring kids. The staff is always welcoming, and the food never disappoints. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Breakfast Guru Restaurant & Bar

3.8

(153 reviews)

A new breakfast place for us during our Rehoboth stays. It's a modern, friendly atmosphere. We…read morehad to wait about 10 minutes for a table on a mid-June Saturday morning. Not bad. We each had a veggie omelette, one with egg whites and no cheese and the other with Swiss. The omelette comes with a portion of potatoes (they were fine), a small salad (nice touch, with a decent vinaigrette) and bread. We got English muffin ($1 extra) with one and an everything bagel ($2 extra - no cream cheese) with the other. The omelette was large, with good portion of filling, including spinach and tomato. I don't know if they use an especially good Swiss cheese, but it "popped". The coffee here (Segafredo) was really good. A medium blend, but flavorful and rich. I really enjoyed the coffee and plan to buy some when I get home. The service here is very good. There's one place we go to once whenever we visit Rehoboth, both because it's solid and for nostalgia (Robin Hood). That will remain our first place. But I think we found our place for the second breakfast. It's a bit more expensive than some (by a couple of dollars), but the portions are large, the food is good and the coffee is great.

Best breakfast ever!!! The strawberry sweet cream crepes are the best!!! We went 2 days in a row!…read moreGreat prices & excellent service!!!

Goolee's Grille

4.0

(125 reviews)

•$

Well! My experience gos back as far as 9th street in Ocean City Md , with Goolees Grill,…read more Great place back then ,excellent food, and George was my "Waiter" back then outside at a nice table on a beautiful fall morning. It was a kick your shoes off kinda morning and so relaxing , coffee was perfect, and service outstanding !!! Haven't been to The Rehoboth Location yet , Cant get away from it all here in O.C. But plan on it soon . Cant Wait .

Perfect place to start your day! Friendly greetings, stellar service, and fresh , hot coffee! Love…read morethe decor inside as well! I went with the special , pumpkin French toast. The bread was fluffy and sweet. Also had a side of crispy bacon. Husband had a breakfast platter that came with potatoes, eggs, bacon, and toast. We both really enjoyed our breakfast and would come here again!

Sea Bay Bar & Grille

4.1

(105 reviews)

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We had a great breakfast at Sea Bay Cafe! First and foremost, we had our dogs with us as we were…read morestaying at the nearby Residence Inn, which is dog-friendly. We called ahead and asked if it would be ok to have our dogs with us on the patio and they said yes. Their fruit cup was also perfect for the dogs to share (bananas, blueberries, strawberries). Aside from that, the food was very good! The French toast especially was delicious. We also had a tasty iced coffee breakfast cocktail! The patio and outdoor seating were great, even being on a busy road / around hotels.

If you like karaoke as much as I do, there is family friendly karaoke every Friday from 6pm-9pm…read morenear the bar and lounge upstairs at The Residence Inn by Marriott hotel. It is open to the public. Donnie, the karaoke host, is very organized with song sign-up papers and pens. The karaoke os early so the lounge is bright but still inviting with complimentary coffee and water. The bar nearby so you can order food and drinks if you wish. Happy hour is from 4-7pm and diner is served until 10pm. The service is fast and professional. The ambiance is casual.

Sharkys Grill

3.3

(108 reviews)