Smyrna is a quaint town in northern Delaware that offers a surprising variety of delicious dining options. From cozy cafes to chef-driven bistros, Smyrna’s food scene caters to all tastes and budgets. This article highlights the 12 best restaurants that should be on every foodie’s must-try list when visiting Smyrna.
Whether you’re a local looking to try somewhere new or a visitor wanting the inside scoop on where to eat, read on for recommendations covering tempting mains, sweet treats, thirst-quenching drinks and more.
Blue Coat Gastropub
Blue Coat Gastropub offers a contemporary twist on classic American cuisine in a relaxed and airy setting. Diners can enjoy starters like crispy Brussels sprouts salad and entrees ranging from burgers stacked high with fixings to shrimp linguine tossed in a lightly spicy tomato sauce.
The restaurant’s specialty is wood-fired pizzas, with creative toppings like pear, blue cheese and caramelized onion pizza baked in a custom Italian wood-burning oven to achieve a crispy, smoky crust. Save room for butterscotch bread pudding or a local craft beer before you leave.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 4–10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 4–11 p.m.
JT’s On the Creek
Located right on Silver Lake, JT’s On the Creek provides a fabulous waterfront dining experience. Famous for steaks and seafood, popular dishes include filet mignon wrapped in bacon, jumbo lump crab cakes and seared tuna with ginger soy glaze. JT’s wine list features over 200 varieties to perfectly pair with your meal.
For dessert, try their famous salted caramel pretzel brownie. Dine inside in an elegant room with magnificent views or outside on the deck. With outstanding food, first-class service and stunning scenery, JT’s On the Creek is one of Smyrna’s premier fine dining destinations.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 4-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Sunday brunch), 4-8 p.m. (dinner service)
The Grand
Housed in a historic 1930s hotel, The Grand is an upscale restaurant known for its contemporary twist on tavern classics. Small plates like stuffed peppers with sausage and goat cheese and entrees like herb-crusted rack of lamb satisfy patrons craving something familiar but elevated. For those feeling adventurous, diverge into more innovative dishes like the Korean BBQ salmon or Moroccan vegetable tagine.
Complement your meal with a unique cocktail or try one of The Grand’s 30 wines available by the glass. With exposed brick walls, chandeliers and white linen tablecloths, the atmosphere evokes the charm of a bygone era.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Two Stones Pub
Two Stones Pub brings a taste of England to Smyrna with its selection of British food and drink. Sip a pint of one of the many beers and ciders on tap including classic English brews like Boddingtons and Strongbow. Savor traditional English dishes like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash in a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of an authentic British pub.
With friendly service and classic pub food done right, Two Stones Pub is a delightful spot to grab a hearty meal or linger over a drink with friends. Don’t leave without trying the sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Painted Stave Distilling
Delaware’s first craft distillery, Painted Stave produces small-batch spirits including vodka, gin and various whiskeys like bourbon and rye right on-site. Its atmospheric tasting room lets you sample these libations alongside charcuterie boards with locally-sourced meats and cheeses. Sip standouts like the flagship Smyrna Vodka or a celery-infused Paloma cocktail made from the distillery’s Saint Anthony’s vodka.
If beer is more your style, Painted Stave serves local craft drafts as well as its own line of vodka- and whiskey-infused brews. Tour the distillery to learn about the production process before settling into the cozy bar area lined with wine barrels aging bourbon. The tasting experience immerses you into Painted Stave’s process and craft spirits.
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday 12 – 6 p.m., Friday – Saturday 12– 8 p.m., Sunday 12 – 5 p.m.
Smyrna Diner
No list of the best restaurants in Smyrna would be complete without the iconic Smyrna Diner. Family-owned and operated since 1981, the diner serves comfort food classics all day long. Belly up to the counter for fluffy pancakes, oversized omelets and other breakfast specialties in the morning.
Or grab a booth for juicy burgers, club sandwiches and blue plate specials like meatloaf and chicken pot pie later in the day. Daily specials like Wednesday’s chicken and dumplings keep regulars coming back. With swift service delivered by friendly waitstaff and reasonable prices, Smyrna Diner offers a quintessential small-town diner experience.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Scalessa’s Italian Kitchen
Warm hospitality meets authentic southern Italian cuisine at Scalessa’s Italian Kitchen. This upscale trattoria crafts handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas bursting with bright, fresh flavors. Traditional dishes like shrimp scampi and chicken Parmesan satisfy classic Italian food cravings while more innovative items such as pear and gorgonzola flatbread appeal to daring palates.
Extensive wine and craft cocktail menus complement the menu. With white tablecloths, ambient lighting and Frank Sinatra crooning over the sound system, the vibe evokes a romantic ristorante in the old country. Scalessa’s versatile venue hosts special wine dinners and other events in addition to serving daily dinner and weekend brunch.
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5-10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (brunch)
Stay Gastropub
Boasting one of Smyrna’s best beer selections, Stay Gastropub specializes in elevated pub grub and craft brews. With dozens of ever-rotating beers on tap spotlighting local Delaware breweries, beer lovers can taste hard-to-find sours, barrel-aged stouts and more. Bar bites like Korean beef tacos, buffalo cauliflower bites and fully loaded tater tots pair perfectly with the stellar beer list.
Heartier sandwiches and entrées range from Nashville hot chicken to lobster mac and cheese. Daily specials keep things interesting while host trivia, karaoke and live music at night liven up Smyrna’s nightlife several times a week. The gastropub’s friendly vibe encourages patrons to stay awhile and sample several brews.
Hours: Monday – Friday 4 p.m. – 1 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m. – 1 a.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Avenue Kitchen and Bar
Located in downtown Smyrna, Avenue Kitchen and Bar brings a cosmopolitan dining and drinking experience to small-town Delaware. For lunch and dinner, the seasonal New American menu emphasizes high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. Dishes contain creative flavor combinations in plates like the shrimp banh mi flatbread, chicken curry and quinoa power bowl and chili-lime mahi sandwich.
At the forefront is Avenue’s dedication to their handcrafted cocktails using housemade syrups, purees and infusions. Noteworthy libations include refreshing drinks like the peach ginger fizz and apple cinnamon mule. Avenue’s versatile space doubles as a coffeehouse by day and lively nightspot by night filled with good drinks, food and music.
Hours: Monday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Northeast Seafood Kitchen
Northeast Seafood Kitchen plates the freshest seafood and shellfish sourced straight from New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. You can taste the freshness in favorites like lobster rolls overflowing with meat on buttery toasted rolls, sea scallops seared to sweet perfection and Connecticut-style lobster bisque.
Or go for chef’s selections like whatever fresh catch came in that day. Cozy nautical décor makes you feel like you’re dining on the coast rather than landlocked Delaware. With fish flown in daily and culinary-trained chefs manning the kitchen, Northeast Seafood Kitchen brings fine dining caliber seafood to Smyrna in a casual setting.
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Bing’s Bakery
Indulge your sweet tooth without the guilt at Bing’s Bakery and cafe. Using natural, non-GMO ingredients free of additives and preservatives, Bing’s bakes up nutritious breads, granolas, cookies, pies and other goodies. Tantalizing treats include oatmeal raisin cookies sweetened with organic cane sugar, fruit galettes overflowing with seasonal berries and apple pie with hints of cinnamon.
Beyond baked goods, Bing’s crafts fresh sandwiches, salads, parfaits and smoothies providing healthy lunch and snack options. The serene space filled with natural light makes an ideal spot to enjoy Bing’s confections alongside coffee and tea. Stop in for a sugar fix you can feel good about.
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Pizza Palace
A local institution for over 50 years, Pizza Palace serves piping hot pies and other Italian staples in a casual, family-friendly setting. Traditionalists flock here for the classic cheese pizza blanketed in stretchy mozzarella cheese while more daring diners customize their own creations with 25+ toppings.
Beyond pizza, customers rave about Pizza Palace’s garlic knots, meatball subs loaded with melty cheese and red sauce and crisp garden salads dressed in zesty house Italian dressing. No matter what you order, expect big portions for bargain prices at this old-school neighborhood pizzeria.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
La Baguette Bakery
La Baguette Bakery smells as good as its baked goods taste. The aromas of butter, chocolate and cinnamon waft from this petite French bakery tempting passersby inside. Glass cases brim with buttery croissants, decadent chocolate babka loaves, fruit tarts crowned with glazed fruit and other delectable finds.
Beyond the sweets, La Baguette crafts crusty artisan breads, luscious breakfast sandwiches on freshly baked baguettes and paninis stuffed with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. Outposts with a few bistro tables let you sit and enjoy La Baguette’s goods along with coffee and espresso drinks. The hardest part is deciding what delicious treats to order.
Best Restaurants in Smyrna: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Conclusion
From Parisian-style bakeries to chef-driven gastropubs, Smyrna rewards foodies with tasty cuisine spanning a variety of cuisines, settings and prices. The town strikes an ideal balance between sophisticated dining and comforting neighborhood favorites.
Seafood lovers have fresh catches to feast on while Italian aficionados find top-notch pasta and pizza. Bakeries and cafes supply sweet and savory bites for breakfast and lunch while lively bars and pubs extend dining out beyond the dinner hours.
Whatever you crave, Smyrna offers culinary gems worth bookmarking and revisiting, cementing its place as an underrated Delaware dining destination.