For being such a short month, February is full of holidays; there’s President’s Day, Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras, Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Leap Year…but what really caught our attentions this month was National Drink Wine Day! For our fellow winos, it goes without saying that we don’t need an excuse to pop open a good bottle of wine (particularly during these cold winter nights), but we’ll take any excuse to celebrate our love of vino. In honor of National Drink Wine Day, we decided to present our favorite restaurants across Delmarva for enjoying a glass of wine. There’s many, many more to choose from of course, but for now, let’s focus on a few of the ShoreBread favorites, shall we??
Ocean City – Liquid Assets
9301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD
410-524-7037
www.ocliquidassets.com
When you walk into a restaurant and find the walls lined with wine the way a good library is stocked with books, you know you’ve come to the right place. Liquid Assets prides themselves on their extensive wine menu, which is complemented by the seemingly endless supply of bottles available on the shelves. Order a glass or bottle off the menu, or wander around and choose one on display to enjoy. To boot, L.A. has a serious selection of cheeses and charcuterie to choose from that will perfectly complement just about any wine you choose.
West OC – Sello’s Italian Oven & Bar
9802 Golf Course Road, Ocean City, MD
410-390-3543
www.sellosoc.com
Sello’s first popped up on our radar last spring when we heard the Tomasello’s (you might remember them from Fresco’s) were opening up shop in West Ocean City. The brick oven pizza was the first item we fell head over heels in love with at the Italian eatery, but the wine list was a close second. The bar area maintains an ambiance that is ideal for sipping on a glass of wine while catching up with a friend or enjoying a romantic date night. Of course ‘Wine Not Wednesdays’ are worth stopping in for, as the bottles on the winter wine list is discounted to $20. Specials and events at the wine bar are common, so we suggest following the Sello’s crew on FB and Instagram to stay in the know.
Fenwick – Mio Fratello
38016 Fenwick Shoals Blvd, Unit 4, Selbyville, DE
302-436-6400
Wine by the fireplace? Check! Mio Fratello lures us in with their fantastic winter specials (ahem, $18 lobster night!) but they keep us hooked with their selection of wines. What’s more, happy hour runs from 2pm (yes, 2pm) until 7pm, giving us plenty of time to sip on a few glasses. Or stick around for the $15 prime rib night on Monday or Lobster Night on Wednesday. Paired with a glass of wine you’re guaranteed to leave happier than when you arrived.
Rehoboth – Nage Bistro and Wine Bar
19730 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE
302-226-2037
www.nagerb.com
The competition is stiff in Rehoboth – what with their ever-expanding culinary scene – but we have been longtime patrons of Nage for their inventive menu offerings and their affinity for fresh, local ingredients. The wine list is varied and includes wines by the glass (6oz), quartino (9oz), bottle, and taste (3oz). There are also wine flights, with each flight equaling a glass and a half of wine. Merlot, Pinto Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Rose…pick your poison and enjoy a night out at Nage.
Bethany – 99 Sea Level
99 Hollywood Street, Bethany Beach, DE
302-539-0299
99sealevel.com
99 Sea Level offers incredible views coupled with an innovative menu and an intimate setting that is perfect for either a romantic evening out or a celebration with friends. Both call for wine and cocktails and 99 Sea Level does not disappoint. Their wine list is extensive, with varietals hailing from all across the globe. There’s also the 99 Sea Level Sip and Savor Wine Dinner Series, which feature four courses paired with four wines for $39.99.
Berlin – The Maryland Wine Bar
103 North Main Street, Berlin, MD
410-629-1022
We are always looking for a good excuse to head to Main Street in Berlin, whether it’s to visit the local sweets shops, grab a bite to eat, or sample some fine Maryland wines at the Maryland Wine Bar. This quaint spot is focused entirely on wines – reds, whites, sparkling wines, hard ciders, dessert wines and ports. There are also frequent wine tastings to enjoy. The cozy space is the perfect spot for enjoying a glass of wine.
Lewes – Half Full
125 Second Street, Lewes, DE
302-645-8877
Halffulllewes.com
Wine and pizza? Don’t mind if we do. Half Full boasts some superb salads and desserts, but their specialty is pizza, and creative ones at that. There’s the Gouda Chicken pizza, piled high with roasted chicken, Kennett square mushrooms, smoked gouda and roasted tomato sauce; the Beef & Blue, which consists of braised beef brisket, buttermilk blue cheese, caramelized onions, demi-glace drizzle, and roasted tomato sauce; or The Dublin Pig, a delicious marriage of slow-roasted pork, Dubliner cheese, apple, balsamic, and roasted garlic sauce. And that’s just scratching the surface on the pizza options, all of which can be paired with a glass of your favorite red or white wine. See, pizza and wine really are a match made in heaven.
Salisbury – Sobo’s Wine Beerstro
1015 Eastern Shore Drive, Salisbury, MD
410-219-1117
www.soboswinebeerstro.com
SoBo’s Wine Beerstro is one of those places we find an excuse to go to Salisbury for. Not far off the beaten path, this ‘Bury favorite consistently delivers, with delicious food and the perfect ambiance for sipping on a glass of wine. Owners and brothers John and Tom Knorr know a thing or two about good food. These are the guys responsible for The Red Roost, Boonies, Evolution Craft Brewing Company, and Specific Gravity…pretty much all of our favorite Salisbury eateries. The dynamic duo opened SoBo’s in 2006, with a focus on great food and wine with a bit of an upscale flair. For the wine enthusiast, SoBo’s was a welcome addition to the typically chain-laden Salisbury dining scene. SoBo’s features a progressive wine list, with 100 New World wines. SoBo’s underwent a name change in 2009 from SoBo’s Wine Bistro to SoBo’s Wine Beersto to reflect the restaurants’ wine and beer selection.
Cambridge – Bistro Poplar
535 Poplar Street, Cambridge, MD
410-228-4884
www.bistropoplar.com
Lauded for their classic French cuisine, it comes as no surprise that Bistro Poplar has a stellar wine selection. The wines are hand-picked to reflect the true flavors and elegance of the food…and it shows. Open Thursday through Sunday with tapas on Sundays, we can’t think of a better way to spend a cold winter night than with a bottle of wine and the roasted leg of lamb followed by the crème brulee.
Easton – Out of the Fire
22 Goldsborough Street, Easton, MD
410-770-4777
Outofthefire.com
We stumbled into Out of the Fire for the first time this past fall, feeling exhausted and ready to devour whatever came our way. Fortunately, what followed was a delicious three-course lunch that included more than a few glasses of wine. The interior is cozy and inviting, with artwork displayed throughout. As a wine bar, there’s plenty of wine on display as well, along with a staff that is friendly and more than willing to suggest the perfect wine pairing for your meal.
Retail – West O Bottle Shop
12611 Ocean Gateway
410-213-2079
The West O Bottle Shop & Bar affords us with the best of both worlds – bar and wine store. We’ll start with the bar. The bar area is a cozy yet modern mix of beach meets metropolitan chic, replete with wines, cocktails, beers on tap and more. Not excited by what you see on the wine menu? No problem, just take a walk around the shop, pick out a bottle, and enjoy it at the bar. The bottle shop is teeming with wines, from Malbecs to sauvignon blancs, Spanish wines to California blends.
