The Blue Hen

Great dishes, terrific wine list. Server was very good. Only fly in the ointment was the paneling issue above the table. It was in some state of repair and was distracting, really a decor killer. But we loved the food and service.

Absolutely amazing meal! I was pleasantly surprised by the precise, high end execution of Blue Hen’s dishes. Everything we had was impeccable. The tartare is a must and one of the best I’ve ever had, as well as the lobster pasta. You have to try this spot!

We ended up here when another restaurant had a 2 hour wait, and we’re glad it did! Blue Hen was fantastic. Every app, entree and dessert was delicious. Our server was great. The atmosphere was perfect.

We checked into The Avenue Hotel & Spa on Friday evening and slipped right into The Blue Hen for a late dinner. The atmosphere is always really nice there and so is the staff. We sat at a hightop in the bar area. Lighting was just right, gas fires were running outside but it was drizzling, so we stayed in. Dining room was busy. The crowd is always a mix of visitors and locals with a happy, festive feel. We had hoped to watch the Women's Final Four but the bar crowd was already engaged in soccer and a dog show on the monitors. (note that this is probably not the ideal place to watch a game and the bar team isn't in tune with the current interests in sports).
The food was excellent - really fresh! I had the beet salad minus the cheese and a shrimp cocktail that was accompanied by house made cocktail sauce. This made for the perfect gluten free-dairy free meal. My husband enjoyed his generously sized and yummy burger.
As a Blue Hen alum, this place always gives me the warm and fuzzies with its blue hen adored plates, and beautiful wall art tribute. We always make it a point to stop here when in Rehoboth.

The Blue Hen, connected to Rehoboth Beach’s The Avenue Inn and Spa, is as good as any five-star destination restaurant I’ve indulged anywhere in the U.S., including NYC, Vegas and Palm Springs. The experience was superlative, from resplendent ambiance and efficient team service to the exquisite food. My pal and I started with a half-dozen East Coast oysters, which were petite but delicious; and for entrees, I had the rich and robust Mafaldine, with “pasta ribbons, bacon, artichokes, lemon, cream and pecorino,” while he had seared diver scallops, which were enormous and exceptionally meaty. Utter perfection!

Ate here after hearing good things from a variety of people. We used to, and still do, stay at the Avenue Inn, but hadn't since the restaurant opened. So glad we ate here.

Service was good, server friendly without being overly familiar and was knowledgeable about the menu and wines.

Cocktail was well mixed and tasted great. The fried oysters with basil pesto were delicious (pictured). My wife had the acorn squash soup, also amazing.

The flank steak (pictured) was cooked perfectly medium rare and paired with the red shishito peppers was a surprisingly good combination.

We enjoyed a passion fruit cheesecake where the fruit flavor balanced the richness of the base cheesecake.

Overall a good experience and when we return to Rehoboth next year, we'll definitely eat here again.

Absolute perfection. 1st time, and happily not our last. We had delicious fried oysters, delicate & fluffy biscuits, crab pasta & soft shell crab. Everything arrived at the table hot, fresh & pretty! Our server was Dani, she took great care of us. Definitely get a Frose'.. it was fabulous !

Great find off the main road. Menu wasn’t overwhelming but had something for everyone. The beet salad, tuna tartare, soft shell crab and tarjin pasta were fantastic. The tarjin pasta had so much lobster in it. It was impressive. Service was spot on and the server was attentive. Will definitely return.

Out first visit to this restaurant based on good reviews here. We were not disappointed. We were prompted seats outdoor around 7:30 pm on a Friday evening. My partner had gazpacho soup and I had caramelized cauliflower as appetizers. Both were excellent. For entrees, he had striped sea bass and I had fried chicken. Again, they were superbly cooked and delicious. My partner finished off with a flourless chocolate cake as dessert.

Compared to a couple other restaurants nearby such as The Salt Air or Unwind at the Beach, The Blue Hen's menu is more limited. There are only about six choices for entrees, one of which was actually a burger. I wish it had more choices.

Eaten at this place before while staying in Rehoboth and it’s always been good, but our most recent dinner was just exceptionally delicious. Asked to be seated outside as inside was way too covidrelaxed during omicron for comfort, and that was a good call for us. Loved the fire ambiance and heaters. Waitress was really helpful in suggesting options.

The service could be a little more refined, but our waitress was f’in awesome regardless. She tried her hardest, and it was shown through her dedication.
The food was SPECTACULAR. This food definitely deserved more than its “semi-finalist” James Beard, but the ambiance and service once again could be a little more polished. Highly recommend the biscuits and kid’s chicken tenders. The chicken tenders were delicious. (Or fried chicken if you don’t have any kids.) Scallops had excellent presentation & were melting-in-your-mouth!

One of the best places to eat in Rehoboth. The food was outstanding. The presentation of the dish when it comes out is very professional, your dinner is not just thrown on a plate. It also tasted fantastic. The menu changes often so it never gets boring. They have a very clean and classic drink selection that fits many different palates. Staff is very local, friendly and accommodating. Only thing I didn't like about the staff is they aren't engaged throughout your meal. They like to hangout at the corner of the bar and gossip. Overall it's one of the best places to eat with a great outside dinning area. A must stop when in Rehoboth.

Excellent food, attentive service and fun decor. They even have a fire pit and live jazz in the evenings. We had the burger, lobster toast and heart salad. The lobster toast in particular was amazing: it was toasted like a grilled cheese with a super soft, creamy lobster filling. Also, the way they cook the carrots that come with the burger makes them taste exactly like french fries!

Everything was delicious
Calamari small dish, the sea bass special, & the halibut entree! My son had the kids pasta with green beans and he was happy as well.

We did not have a resevation, so we showed up around 5 and we were seated almost immediately. We were a party of 3 so I guess that's easier to seat than bigger parties.

The inside has a spacious feel with large windows, block tables and well placed art work.

I definitely recommend going for a wonderful dinner experience!

As a chef and a former restaurant critic (out of state), people always ask me what's my favorite restaurant in Rehoboth Beach. With the standards of quality of food and service having improved exponentially in this town over the last few years... that question has become harder and harder to answer. But I have to say, The Blue Hen is consistently in my top three favorites.

They had a bit of a rough start with not-so-amiable management in the beginning, but things have evened out. But, the food has never wavered in its excellence. Whether you are looking for a great happy hour, a special occasion or place to bring out-of-town guests, or just a guaranteed delicious dinner, you can be assured of a great experience at the Blue Hen. It has become my go-to place for all of those needs. I try to find excuses to come here!

Service is casual, friendly, unobtrusive, and always anticipating the guests' needs. Servers and bartenders alike have made the difference between a good and a great experience.

And oh the food...! Tasty and inventive small plates include lobster toast, delectable octopus, and soft shell crab sliders. A nice selection of charcuterie and cheese is also available to create your own board. Can't miss entrees include a perfectly cooked veal chop, moist and flavorful fish (any), more terrific soft-shells, awesome fried chicken, and the best scallop entree in town! Don't get too attached to anything though, because the menu frequently changes . Plenty of well executed options for vegetarians and gluten-free diners too. Small but excellent wine list offered with helpful and knowledgeable direction. And please don't miss the cocktails... Blue Hen has one of the best mixology offerings in town. It's not summer at the beach unless you are drinking a Frozé from Blue Hen.

(Edited to add: As a pastry chef, I am super critical about desserts, and am inevitably disappointed at 95% of the places I go. For two years I haven't bothered to order dessert because of that fact, but Blue Hen has broken that streak. Why did I doubt that they would have anything but well-crafted delicious desserts? So now I have to plan accordingly to make sure I have room to order dessert!)

Reservations are highly recommended... but if the main dining room is booked, don't hesitate to take dinner at a high top or up at the bar. The bartenders take good care of their people as well. The bar can get a bit noisy, be forewarned , but honestly the dining room acoustics aren't perfect either. But you can also eat outside in warm-weather! And let's not forget the awesome fire pit outside in the front courtyard. I've spent many pleasant evenings out there with old friends, or making new friends. One of my favorite ways to spend an evening in Rehoboth Beach for sure.

If this review doesn't convince you to run directly to Blue Hen, then it's truly your loss, you don't know what you are missing!

We enjoyed our dinner here. We got a side a macaroni, the seafood platter, asparagus soup, and the lobster toast to share for dinner.

The seafood platter was good, but a bit steep at $38 considering that they are only giving crab claws instead of lobster now. The crab was a bit overcooked, but everything else was good.

Asparagus soup was excellent and light. Lobster toast was delicious and very rich. The macaroni was also quite good.

Ambience was fun. Service was also pretty good--their little touch of separating the soup into two bowls when we specified we wanted to share showed care. Our server did seem a little inexperienced, but overall did a very good job. We'd be happy to come back.

Charming, unique, delicious and amazing food/atmosphere. We ate here last night. The oysters were amazing, clean, plummy and fresh. The chef came from chicago. She went there for art school and came back to Delaware to take this restaurant to the next level and I can tell she accomplished just that. We like the fact that you can just turn and see her working on the kitchen. Oh oh oh , let’s not forget the olive oil cake. The combination of flavors were an explosion of sweetness and balanced flavors . Highly recommend it

Had a perfect evening here with friends. Food was nicely prepared and presented. Kalee guided us through all the best the restaurant had to offer while always smiling and looking like she loved working there. Definitely add this to your list of rehoboth spots for dinner or a snack at the bar.

Wow I loved the menu, the decor, and the food which is creative and provides for a fantastic dining experience! The lobster toast as an appetizer is a must-try (2 can split it), the crab cakes and the crab spaghetti were excellent. The fried chicken is not to be confused with KFC, it will delight you! The wait staff were friendly and service was timely. Great experience, give it a try!

I always tell my wife not to order the chicken at a restaurant because it's a waste. Well I was wrong. Their chicken is perfectly crispy and ridiculously tender and flavorful. I loved the hot sauce too. We split a pasta dish and the chicken. Biscuits, oysters and ceviche also great. This place was my second choice on the night. It will not be second ever again!