I have waited to write this review. We went there Friday, May 25 for date night and I had high hopes based on the reviews. The entire evening was a roller coaster ride. The Bisque was wonderful, the onion soup was one of the worst we've ever had. The spinach salad and the steamed clams were excellent, except they don't offer bread. Then the dinners.... scallops had a strong fish smell and served lukewarm. My duck was also served cool. What really gave them the 2 stars was the server NEVER checked on us, neither after the apps, nor during dinner, then when he arrived at the end of the meal, I mentioned the food was served lukewarm and there was NO attempt to correct. The place did not seem very busy, as I can be a little more tolerant when there are reasons for mediocre service. We will not be returning to this restaurant and definitely not recommend this place. read more

Always such a pleasant experience specially we live down here and it's one of my favorite restaurants. Small menu but exquisite and plenty of food. Love the porkchops. Had the flounder and shrimp special absolutely melts in your mouth! read more

Just got back from a wonderful dinner at Cafe on 26! Our table enjoyed the filet mignon and the salmon, both topped with crab meat. We started the meal with some excellent bread and good glasses of wine, which were pretty reasonably priced. The pieces of crab were huge. The filet was perfectly cooked, as was the salmon. The portions were generous enough that everyone felt comfortably full, but we didn't have any leftovers. We ended the meal with a phenomenal chocolate and espresso cupcake with salted caramel sauce. It was every bit as good as it sounds. The restaurant was very cozy, with only about twelve tables. The service was good and everyone was friendly. It's a little pricey, but we felt like it was worth it given the quality of the food. We will definitely be back! read more

This is an exceptional restaurant. My husband had the potato encrusted salmon. I had flounder stuffed with crabmeat. We loved both entrees. The side portions were generous and the caesar salad lasted for a few more meals. We split a wonderful chocolate mousse for dessert! Due to the pandemic, we gad this meal by carry out. This was the best meal we gave had in months! read more

Delicious food, pleasant server, very comfortable (clean considerate and spacious) atmosphere. Can't wait to go back!

Excellent! Chef Jason made a superb vegan dish to accommodate dietary preferences. Thank you so much. It was absolutely delicious! The dish was a spicy seitan mushroom onion spinach dish that was awesome. Accompanied by a cinnamon glazed sweet potato and Broccoli carrots coleslaw. My friend had a sumptuous appetizer of clams casino and the winter salad to die for. Cudos to the Chef and Owner for excellent service and delicious fine dining. read more

We had a delightful dinner in a lovely outdoor setting with heaters and a fire pit. We had the duck and flounder Chesapeake. Delicious. Try the crab dip! Service by Josh was also excellent. Will take my blanket and go back again and again! read more

This was a most wonderful dining experience. The restaurant had a great vibe. We had a later reservation, and we were taken upstairs and were lucky enough to sit in the wine cellar . The wait staff was excellent and accommodating. The cocktails were top notch. Our dinners, especially the day boat scallops and the salmon house-special, were just fantastic. We also ordered Keylime pie for dessert and it was delicious. We aren't always easy to please, but our experience was fantastic! Even though we were one of the last tables to leave, we never felt rushed. Thanks for a great time! read more

Five stars!! This was my first time visiting this restaurant -- overall it was EXCELLENT! The food and the service was outstanding! The best crab dip I've ever had. I also had the Signature Salmon entree -- it was delicious. I look forward to coming back and introducing more friends to this wonderful spot. read more

The Wife and I always eat here when visiting and we really enjoy it. The food is really good, super high quality. We would give five stars but every time we come it feels a little, for a lack of better words, snooty. They have a sign right at the entrance that says something along the lines of "please no cell phone use during dinner service". My wife and i, being millennials, sometimes enjoy looking at our phones from time to time. I don't know if it affects our service but it seems like the last couple of times we have received slightly subpar service maybe as a result of using our phones (waters not being refilled, bus waiters checking on us and our main waiter not coming back for a while etc). I may be reading in to it too much but maybe not. That being said, we still love this place. The stuffed flounder and award winning salmon dishes are the best. We recommend this place! Just try not to use your cell phone during service hahaha read more

Ordered Prime Rib and it came out as a bad rib eye! Very tough over cooked and not Prime Rib. When we addressed this to the waiter he was Rude and unconcerned. We had heard this restaurant was the best in area. Our Salmon and crab soup was good. We will not be coming back read more

The food was outstanding and almost everything was able to be gluten free. We were even able to order dessert! The blueberry crisp was delicious. Everyone in our group loved their meal and the service was good. I also loved their no cell phone policy. It's a little sad that needed to be said but it kept everyone accountable and present. read more

Four of us enjoyed a Saturday night out for fine dining. Unfortunately there were only two separate orders place so our variety was limited to the two dishes. The MEN ordered the ribeye steak and both were prepared perfectly. Mine medium well and the other medium - 5 stars on that. On this Saturday a special was advertised to allow toppings for the steak, a normal $4.00 up charge, was free, as was a special for 1:2 priced desserts but I digress. Cafe 26 allowed for a Mediterranean salads as s substitute for two sides which no one at the table explored. The Womenfolk both ordered the blacked salmon with a spinach side. Both rated it between 7-8. The spinach came in a cream sauce which was not rated too high. A Caesar salad was also ordered from two parties and was fresh, plenty of cheese slices, adequate dressing, but was not large enough to split. For an added $8.00 it could have been larger, however this is being picky. My steak had about Six bites that were too chewy to consume, but again that can happen to the best of meats. The flavor was excellent and the portion was more than filling. Service was excellent and we waited for nothing. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and willingly gave suggestions I did feel the pricing should have been more reflective of the casual atmosphere, but again the 4 stars were well earned. The desserts ,one cheesecake and the other key line pie were very good, but nothing to carry on about. Clean, easy parking, their ability to take reservations and a friendly wait staff will bring us back for more. read more

Called for a 7 pm reservation; reservation confirmed. Arrived at 7 pm, host couldn't find reservation. After a few minutes, they offered to have us cool our heels outside (we asked for a drink). Seated closer to 730. Once seated, we were attended to, and ordered. Took 40 minutes to get our salads. Asked for bread in the interim - no luck. Barely done with our appetizers and the entrees arrived - cold. All around, a JV operation. Food could have been good had we been served as they planned. Pretty sure they lost our reservation and scrambled. Overall, not great and not planning to return. And my folks are residents of Bethany. Too bad. read more

We came because of the great yelp reviews and left disappointed. The food was mediocre at best and as the only people in the place our service matched the food. Not a fan. read more

We went in around 1 p.m. on a lazy Wednesday afternoon expecting the place to have, per the outdoor sign, a place to get cozy in with a cup of great coffee. Not. It's a beautiful place, but referring itself as a coffee house is a big, big rubber-sheeted stretch. And the coffee? Thin. Plus the hulking espresso machine had automated pour features, not a sign of coffee craftsmanship IMHO. The service was uneven. The gal who prepared the drink was attentive and quick. The help was slow and inattentive to our request for the check (she disappeared and and a few minutes later reappeared with a bus tray that she used to load up dishes from another table; the attentive one got the already-prepared check to us in two eye blinks. read more

Would not return...everything lacked flavor and there is no excuse for a flavorless tomato in august. Poor value, food, and service.

Took my parents that are visting me from WA State in for dinner. Parents loved the entire place. My parents ordered a chocolate mouse for desert. They said it was the best chocolate they had tried. I thought my dad was going to lick the bowl. Great experience. read more

Tonight's dinner was awesome. We were in the alcove, fits six, so personal and private. Salmon dinner specials, regardless of sides , were perfectly prepared. Crab cake had NO fillers, fantastic! Pork chop was cooked just right for a very particular person. Only issue was minimal desert menu which only bothered desert eaters, not the rest of us. Definitely a repeat location! read more

Our party of seven couldn't find anywhere to be seated Fourth of July weekend, but Cafe on 26 worked to fit us in. Our waiter was great, very attentive to our needs and special requests. The food was outstanding. We'll definitely be returning, and would highly recommend! read more

What a pleasant surprise!! Went here because of the gluten free menu for my daughter who has celiac and was blown away at how good it was. The potato encrusted salmon was great. Mussels were some of the best I've ever had! read more

We had breakfast here but will not be back... I ordered the BLT that was supposed to be on "artisinal bread" instead it was on cold white Wonderbread Toast (for $9!) Also, just to sample, got the $4 side of broccoli and cabbage slaw. It was a VERY small serving, that had a good dressing, but could have been a garnish. Our waitress, most of the time, stood around talking to the hostess, until it was time to deliver the check... Cool Bean, Cottage Cafe and D'Ortone's all have a better breakfast! read more

What has happened to Cafe on 26? It must be under new ownership since we had a romantic dinner there a couple of years ago. NOT anymore! Went there for Sunday brunch with another couple. Made reservations for 10:15. Food was very unremarkable. French Toast was two slices of bread thrown on a plate. Crab cakes were dry. But the worst came after we were only seated for 45 minutes and the waiter came to ask us to leave because they wanted to seat another party at our table. We hadn't even received our check! Nor were we offered to order anything else before bringing us the check. Not even a second cup of coffee. Another restaurant in a very heavy tourist area with lots of people wanting to get in. So they don't have time for something important like customer service, if you come back or there's always someone else waiting for the table. It translates into the food as well. Too bad. read more

Really not good at all. If you can't make a decent BLT, you're in the wrong business. The bread was cheap, tomatoes were translucent and tasteless, bacon was average, and the lettuce was limp and chewy. And this was in August! This place is surrounded by local produce so there's just no excuse for serving up crappy ingredients, especially when you're charging $8+ for a sandwich. I'd happily pay $10, but give me some nice thick-cut bread and a fresh tomato. Honestly. Our party of four, all had different sandwiches, and they were all equally as bad. There's better places to eat than this. read more

Best in Bethany! You can't go wrong with this restaurant. I took a group to celebrate my husbands 55th birthday. We were able to eat in the private wine room which is so quaint and cozy. You're surrounded by wine bottles. Maria, the owner, couldn't be a nicer person and amazing chef. She's hands on making sure your meal is good. Well, it wasn't good....it was AMAZING! 5 stars well deserved. We ate with 7 people and EVERY SINGLE entree was spot on, perfect! I had the skirt steak. I've never really had it and thought it could be chewy? Nope! Flavorful and juicy, tender and cooked to perfection. If you come here, you HAVE to get the hot crab dip as an appetizer. I dare you to say you've ever had better! Our group had the signature salmon, scallops, lamb, skirt steak...everything was amazing. We kept tasting each other's food. The twice baked potato was soooo good. I can't say enough about this restaurant and owner. The chef Jason, has received awards. Do yourself a FLAVOR and eat here!! read more

Go there! Excellent meal for the three of us, from appetizers through dessert. Delish salmon, pork, wine. Attentive service, easy parking, comfortable seating and atmosphere. A true standout in the local sea of duplicative pizza joints. Go there! read more

Really enjoyed Saturday breakfast here. Service was impeccable; ambience very nice. Hubby had "crazy eggs" which he liked and said were very filling. I had creme brûlée French toast which was delicious. Would definitely return. read more

Great service and wonderful food. My wife and I eat gluten free and they cater to this. We had the scallops and flounder stuffed with crab. All excellent! Enjoy. read more

Went here with a large party on a Tuesday night in July. Incredibly friendly staff and very accommodating. Great food and wine. Definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

The Cafe on 26 is a "must dine" place for my family when we make our annual summer trip to the beach. We have eaten at this restaurant several times and the food is always delicious! The menu changes daily to incorporate fresh, local food and it never fails to disappoint us! read more

We eat at the Cafe on 26 at least once a week. While the food is outstanding, what really sets this restaurant apart from the competition is the service quality, and total customer experience. They always accommodate our dietary requirements and show incredible flexibility in their offering. The owner cares about every customer and makes you feel like you are part of the family. We do have our other favorites in town, but always come back to the Cafe on 26 where it feels like home. read more

Cafe on 26 is our go to spot for a special night out. I have never been disappointed by anything that I have been served; lunch, appetizers, entrees, desserts have all been spot on. While the prime rib is my favorite, the fish, lamb and veal are also excellent. In an area where there are many good restaurants to choose from, Cafe on 26 stands apart from the rest both for quality and consistency. read more

Made reservations for their wine room days in advance. When we arrived we were seated right outside of the wine room and was told we cannot be seated in there due to our daughter being too young. Also, who doesn't allow cell phones on top of not taking AMX? They need to get with the times. read more

I was in recently on a busy Sunday night for my birthday. We did not have reservations but they were more than accommodating and we were seated within minutes. I was in with my parents and everything we had was wonderful. My mom had the cream of crab soup and it was delicious. Her and I had the beef bourguignon and it was so good. The meat was perfectly fork tender and just the right amount of potatoes with the bourguignon. My dad was brave and tried the soup of the day--chilled peach soup. I was a little skeptical of this just because the thought had never crossed my mind and thought it might be a little weird. I was so wrong. This soup was AMAZING! It was a great consistency and was topped with, I'm guessing, cinnamon and that gave a little spice to the sweet soup. I cannot wait to go back and have this soup again. He also had the stuffed flounder that he really enjoyed, raved about all the crab in it. Great overall experience and can't wait to go back! read more

While on vacation in the DELMARVA peninsula it was a chore trying to find restaurants able (or willing) to accommodate a Gluten Free diet. We were delighted to find The Cafe on 26 on our last day. We stopped in for lunch at the small cafe inside a house just west of Bethany Beach, Delaware. The service was slow, but there was only one server that day for all of the tables. When we paid our bill the server explained he was the only one there because Mondays are not usually that busy. The food was so good, the slower service didn't matter. I ordered the only crab cake I was able to eat during our whole vacation. No other establishment could (or would) make them gluten free. I was so happy to be able to order anything on the menu and they would make it fresh and gluten free for me. Since we were flying out of BWI later that day around dinner time I also ordered a turkey sandwich to go. While the rest of my family could easily pick something up for dinner at the airport, it is nearly impossible to buy a Gluten Free meal there. While we waited for our flight I opened my packed lunch. The second Cafe on 26 meal of the day was just as delicious. They know how to handle gluten free bread so it was toasted properly. The sandwich bread was not soggy, the mayo was just the right amount and the wrapped pickle was still crunchy. It was the best lunch I had on my vacation, both times. Thanks, Cafe on 26! read more

I went to Cafe 26 several times for carry out. They have a good selection of sandwiches -- all of which can be prepared on gluten free bread with no modifications to the sandwich. It was great to have a crab cake and a ruben again! The quinoa salad is also yum. If you are gluten free and at the beach, the Cafe is a must! In fact even if you are not gluten free, you will love -- my husband did. Next up, breakfast! read more

Aug. 25, 2013 We took the whole family here for our anniversary and had a great time in the upstairs dining room. The food, service and ambiance were great. So much so, that we all agree that it deserves CLOTH napkins. A suggestion: For large parties, place two carafes of water on the table. Then you don't have to run up and down the stairs all the time. read more

Things are a little on the pricey side... but I will tell you. I am a cream of crab expert and they by far have the best cream of crab soup. Another local restaurant is a distant second. But I would choose the other restaurant every time. Cafe on 26 has horrible parking. Not a fan of the lay out. Not impressed with the atmosphere or the service. The food is average at best. BUT the cream of crab soup is the most incredible nectar of the Gods! Because of the soup and the soup alone, that is why they have as many stars as they do. The cream of crab is sheer perfection! read more

Our visit to Cafe on 26 was in the top three restaurant meals we have had this year. From the piping hot and delicious French onion soup, followed by a top quality spinach salad then the excellent crab imperial topped rockfish, all could not have been prepared better. The staff and owner were the best! I usually don't go out of my way to write reviews, but had to this time because this meal deserved to be lauded. read more

Best dining experience ever! Our server Charlie was fantastic, was able to seat us in the best table in the house. Explained to us the specials and presented a bottle of wine. Staff was always alert, ice water never wet empty. Chef Jason cooked an amazing meal, we had the Surf and Turf! The wait time for the food was normal. We just finishing up our dinner when The owner Maria, came out to our table to check up on us and make sure everything was great. Always make a reservation! Great service, great staff, great prices. I love this place. I'm a cafe fan. Definitely recommend this cuisine to anyone. Words can't describe the experience here. Must try!!!! Thank you Cafe for the best dining experience. read more