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    Cottage Cafe

    4.0 (796 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Cottage Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    COTTAGE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cottage Cafe

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    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.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    The best part of The Cottage Cafe was their breakfast buffet. This stopped when COVID hit but they haven't brought it back and it's a shame.

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food, clean, freshly prepared, fair prices, wonderful service. Impressive! More than I expected. A real gem!

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Been here twice, once for dinner and then a quick stop for lunch. Amazing service and food each time, very impressed.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Easy food menu and a little bit of everything to fit all palates. Sometimes they have live music too.

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    4 years ago

    We love the Cottage! My parents frequent their happy hour and it's just such a great staple restaurant in the area!

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    4 years ago

    Meh. Admittedly I can't eat shellfish and my wife loved the crab cakes. But my steak was just avg.

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great service, nice atmosphere. Sat at the bar for lunch. Ordered the lunch pot roast. It was delicious and cooked to perfection.

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    Page 5 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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    Mango's

    Mango's

    2.7
    (443 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Mangos was a cool place. Great deck and view. Quick stop to a drink and a bite…read more Typical drinks.. but the winner were the Jerk wings. These had decent flavor. And they were well fed chickens ( thick and meaty). Coconut shrimp was good but slight over cooked .. good chipotle dip. Johnathan was a great server. All in all if you're on the beach or in the area this would be a good place for drinks and food.

    huge disappointment. the food was quite honestly repulsive. i ordered the crab and spinach dip and…read morewas instead served straight gruel, and that is not an exaggeration. literally what is this??? the "dip" was the consistency of water, it was cold, no cheese, no cream, and NO SEASONING!! where is the old bay?!?! comically, the dish was served with shredded parm UNDER THE BOWL. you heard that right. not on top the dip, not in the dip. UNDER the actual bowl?!?! what even is the thought process here?? i mean thanks for the laugh i guess. i just don't know. is it so unreasonable to have high expectations ordering seafood from a BEACHSIDE restaurant?? i have never in my life felt so compelled to leave a bad review, but my experience here was absolutely miserable. waitress never came to check on us. i ate the chips and left the "dip" untouched, as shown below, and when she came back to hand us the bill she had the gull to ask if i wanted a box. girl what do you think??? didn't offer to take it off the bill or anything ($17 mind you). to be fair, i was super nervous to speak up so maybe that's on me, but like take the hint maybe? smh i was so consumed by my disappointment i left the restaurant just feeling plain sad. on top of the terrible food, the drinks were weak and unappetizing. the hostess at the stand wouldn't look up from her phone to greet us and so another staff member had to come over to get us seated. i wish i could share something redeemable but unfortunately this experience was terrible all around and there was absolutely nothing that could save it

    Photos
    Mango's
    Blackened yellowfin Tuna
    Blackened yellowfin Tuna
    Coconut shrimp with some type of chipotle dip

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    Coconut shrimp with some type of chipotle dip
    Heidaway

    Heidaway

    3.4
    (115 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Review for Heidaway - Bethany Beach, DE…read more It was the weekend after Memorial Day 2025--when the beach is still buzzing, but you can actually find parking and order a drink without elbowing someone in a straw hat. We rolled into Bethany Beach to kick off our summer, minus the chaos, and Heidaway was the first place that pulled us in with a wink and a steel drum beat. Right on the edge of the boardwalk, this place has big tropical energy. Think Key West meets Delaware--palm fronds, sea breeze, and the gentle background hum of fun. The outdoor seating is shaded but still breezy, like Mother Nature knows you want SPF without sweating through your shirt. And the music? Bright, beachy, and setting the scene for "yes, we are on vacation, thank you." Service? On point. From the friendly hostess to our magical waitress who somehow knew when we needed napkins, another round, or just a smile--everyone brought their A-game. No tourist trap vibes here. Just good, solid hospitality. Cocktails: We kicked off with a Moscow Mule, chilled in a classic copper mug and strong enough to make you forget your group chat's been blowing up since Tuesday. Spicy, refreshing, and just boozy enough to remind you you're off the clock. And the second drink? Let's call it the Mystery Mai Tai of Joy. We don't remember what was in it. We just know it was tropical, delicious, and made us say "we should move here" at least twice. The Food: Oysters Rockefeller - Baked to perfection, smothered in a creamy, herby sauce and topped with crispy breadcrumbs. The kind of dish that makes you lean back in your chair and toss your plate at a fireplace (if they had one) Lobster Roll & Fries - A buttery masterpiece. Generous chunks of lobster, golden toasted roll, and fries that nailed the crispy-soft ratio. They didn't hold back with the portions, and we didn't hold back either. Beet Salad - A beachy surprise hit. Sweet roasted beets, creamy goat cheese spread, and peppery arugula doing a power pose on the plate. It made us feel like we were balancing out the rest of the meal... even if dessert was already a foregone conclusion. If you're heading to Bethany and want to dodge the madness while still soaking up summer magic, Heidaway is a great spot. Come for the drinks, stay for the oysters, and let the ocean breeze convince you that everything is right in the world--even if only until Monday.

    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

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Lobster roll and fries
    Lobster roll and fries
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    Pie

    Pie

    4.0
    (200 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Yum! My husband…read moreloves him some pizza and the reviews and photos are what brought us in here. Cute exterior with lights and even cuter inside, it looks like a bistro. Our server was very friendly and appeared to be hosting and waiting tables at the same time but she was pleasant and prompt. We both ordered salads - mine was the chopped and husband chose Cesar and both were a very generous portion size and super fresh and delish. I really enjoyed it. Great price too. We chose to build our own pizza with just red sauce, cheese and Italian sausage. It was out quickly, piping hot, and VERY good. My husband is from St. Louis so he likes very thin crust and very crunchy (think cracker crust) and this was cooked to crunchy (but not burnt) perfection with fresh and yummy sausage on top. We both actually really enjoyed the meal - more than our fancier date night meal the night before. I'd absolutely come back here if ever in town again. It's charming and delicious. Ample parking outside on the street and very cute and charming both inside and outside.

    The vegan pizza was worth coming back for! It was really good. My daughter is vegan and I am not…read more Even so I thought it was a great tasting pizza, too. This pizza alone would bring us back to Pie. They understand veganism. We appreciated that. It made us have to do less work. Also my pizza was excellent. Different, unique, super tasty!

    Photos
    Atmosphere
    Atmosphere
    Mmmmmmmmmmm
    Mmmmmmmmmmm
    Rum punch

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    Rum punch
    FINS Ale House & Raw Bar

    FINS Ale House & Raw Bar

    3.9
    (289 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    As per my prior reviews this is one of my top five restaurants for happy hour. My last review was…read morein December 2025. I will summarize our two most recent visits in early 2026. We were first here with our friends around 4 PM on Friday for happy hour at the bar. I enjoyed my two pineapple juice with vodka for $5 each. I also enjoyed my whole one pound steamed lobster with drawn butter and a choice of two sides for $30. I enjoyed my two favorite sides namely the asparagus and sweet potato fries. My total bill was $70. I redeemed my $25 Toast birthday credit to my bill so my net cost was reduced from $70 down to $45. I also applied my balance to my gift card from November 2024, excluding gratuity. I returned here again around 4 PM with my friend for happy hour on lobster Tuesday. I enjoyed my two rum and cokes for $5 each. I also enjoyed my two Big Oyster Midnight Kraken draft stout beers in a snifter also for $5 each. I also enjoyed my lobster tail jambalaya for $22, which I was able to finish this time, since the quantity was decreased due to inflation. My total bill was $41.50 excluding gratuity, which again I used my gift card. We agreed we will continue to return here for happy hour.

    Two stars for two seats at the bar that you'll never get. Two stars for two stale beers and two…read morestars for the two bartenders that need to be more aware of keeping the flow of patrons going. Many guests waiting for seats while folks are waiting for their checks. So bad, had to leave. Won't be going back. Go to the Selbyville location where they get it right. Fail!!!

    Photos
    View from my barstool
    View from my barstool
    FINS Ale House & Raw Bar
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    Cottage Cafe - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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