My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)
Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)
Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)
James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)
Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)
Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)
Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)
Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)
Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)
Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)
Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)
Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)
Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)
Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)
Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)
Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)
Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)
John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)
Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)
Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)
Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)
EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)
Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)
John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)
Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)
Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)
Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)
Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)
Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)
R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)
Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)
Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)
Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)
Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)
Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)
Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)
Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)
Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)
CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)
Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)
Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)
Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)
Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)
Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)
Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)
Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)
Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)
Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)
Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)
Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)
Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)
Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)
Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)
J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)
Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)
An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)
Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)
Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)
Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)
Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)
Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)
David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)
Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)
Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)
lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)
Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)
Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)
Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)
David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)
Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)
Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)
Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)
Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)
Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)
Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)
Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)
Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)
J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)
Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)
Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)
Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)
Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)
Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)
Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)
J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)
Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)
Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)
M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)
Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)
Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)
Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)
Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)
Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)
Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)
Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)
Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)
M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)
Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)
Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)
Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)
Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)
Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)
CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)
Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)
Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)
Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)
Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)
Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)
Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)
Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)
Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)
Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)
Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)
Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)
Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)
Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)
Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)
J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)
Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)
An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)
Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)
Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)
Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)
Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)
Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)
David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)
Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)
Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)
lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)
Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)
Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)
Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)
David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)
Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)
Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)
Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)
Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)
Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)
Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)
Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)
Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)
J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)
Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)
Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)
Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)
Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)
Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)
Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)
J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)
Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)
Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)
M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)
Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)
Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)
Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)
Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)
Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)
Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)
Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)
Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)
M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)
Anna D.
My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)
Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)
Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)
James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)
Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)
Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)
Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)
Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)
Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)
Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)
Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)
Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)
Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)
Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)
Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)
Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)
Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)
John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)
Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)
Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)
Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)
EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)
Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)
John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)
Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)
Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)
Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)
Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)
Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)
R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)
Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)
Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)
Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)
Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)
Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)
Anna D.
My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)
Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)
Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)
James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)
Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)
Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)
Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)
Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)
Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)
Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)
Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)
Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)
Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)
Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)
Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)
Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)
Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)
Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)
John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)
Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)
Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)
Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)
EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)
Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)
John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)
Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)
Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)
Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)
Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)
Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)
R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)
Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)
Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)
Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)
Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)
Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)
Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)
Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)
Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)
CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)
Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)
Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)
Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)
Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)
Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)
Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)
Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)
Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)
Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)
Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)
Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)
Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)
Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)
Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)
J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)
Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)
An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)
Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)
Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)
Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)
Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)
Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)
David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)
Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)
Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)
lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)
Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)
Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)
Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)
David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)
Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)
Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)
Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)
Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)
Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)
Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)
Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)
Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)
J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)
Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)
Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)
Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)
Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)
Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)
Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)
J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)
Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)
Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)
M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)
Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)
Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)
Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)
Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)
Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)
Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)
Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)
Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)
M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)
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Address :6 N Pennsylvania Ave
Bethany Beach, DE, 19930
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Anna D.
My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
(3)Sarah S.
More great food and more great service in Bethany Beach, DE.! The cornbread was delicious and almost dessert-like it is so buttery. The baby back ribs were delectable and fall right off the bone. The Carolina BBQ was great, as were the baked beans, sautéed green beans, cucumbers & onions, and cheesy corn. Any interest in cocktails? If yes, this restaurant has some great ones; particularly the Lemon Crush and the Blues - berry Punch.
(4)Meg K.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
(4)Mary B.
This was the only place that was open past 9 PM on a Friday in November. I got a burger Med/Rare and it was cooked a little on the rare side but it was good. My dad got the burger too. He asked for his medium but it came out very well done. He still enjoyed it though. My fiancé loved his half combo plate and loved his ribs and the crab cake was really great (I tried some) - not too much breading. Service was good! A little bit pricey, but it's a tourist town so every place in town is similarly priced (or more).
(4)Paul T.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)Anna D.
My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
(3)Sarah S.
More great food and more great service in Bethany Beach, DE.! The cornbread was delicious and almost dessert-like it is so buttery. The baby back ribs were delectable and fall right off the bone. The Carolina BBQ was great, as were the baked beans, sautéed green beans, cucumbers & onions, and cheesy corn. Any interest in cocktails? If yes, this restaurant has some great ones; particularly the Lemon Crush and the Blues - berry Punch.
(4)Meg K.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
(4)Mary B.
This was the only place that was open past 9 PM on a Friday in November. I got a burger Med/Rare and it was cooked a little on the rare side but it was good. My dad got the burger too. He asked for his medium but it came out very well done. He still enjoyed it though. My fiancé loved his half combo plate and loved his ribs and the crab cake was really great (I tried some) - not too much breading. Service was good! A little bit pricey, but it's a tourist town so every place in town is similarly priced (or more).
(4)Paul T.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)Anna D.
My family and I just got back from a wonderful meal tonight! We didn't have to wait, we were seated immediately. Carrie was our server tonight and was quick to suggest things on the menu. She was really sweet and definitely contributed to making this dining experience amazing! Food was absolutely delicious with all participants leaving happy and fulfilled! Be sure to get there cornbread to start, they will serve it upon request! Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back!
(5)Jason G.
It has a great atmosphere and we had a great time. Our server did a great job even though he seemed liked he had quite a few large tables. The deviled eggs were good. The brisket was extremely dry and the Carolina pork didn't have much vinegar kick. The ribs were pretty good. It's the Mac and cheese skillet that made everyone drool.
(3)Michael F.
I have never eaten in at Bethany Blues, but have only received carryout. Thus, this will be strictly about the food, not the atmosphere. More specifically, it will be about how the food has slipped in quality as exhibited by this weekend's visit. An order of the beef brisket resulted in meet that was distinctly lacking in flavor. It wasn't tough, but compared to the moist brisket you find at other barbecue establishments, it was very dry. Even a generous helping of sauce on top didn't help very much. You taste a little of the hickory from the cooking process, but not enough to make it satisfactory. Overall, just tasteless. Similarly, the smoked sausage was a lesser version of itself than we've had in the past. It still has nice flavor, but what used to be a moist sausage that oozed delicious juices is now very dry. We've always liked the food here (although I wish more of the items from the eat-in menu were available on the carryout menu), but if the slippage continues, we'll try other barbecue alternatives.
(2)Christina G.
Bethany blues in Lewis was my usual stop. This is my first time at this location. Deviled eggs with crab were good. Pulled pork nachos were pretty good too. They use to be my favorite of all time. Not today. They were good but not amazing. Oh well. I'll be back.
(3)James W.
It's ok. We went to Bethany Blues on a recent trip to the area. The service good to very good but the food as just ok. The fried pickles had an interesting presentation if just an average taste. I had the brisket and it was below average. Maybe the pork is better but I so rarely get out there that I probably wouldn't bother to try again.
(2)Elizabeth C.
We stopped by Bethany Blues upon recommendation. We ordered the pulled brisket sandwiches. They were good but mediocre. Nothing outstanding. Definitely not worth the price we spent on the meal.
(3)Sarah S.
More great food and more great service in Bethany Beach, DE.! The cornbread was delicious and almost dessert-like it is so buttery. The baby back ribs were delectable and fall right off the bone. The Carolina BBQ was great, as were the baked beans, sautéed green beans, cucumbers & onions, and cheesy corn. Any interest in cocktails? If yes, this restaurant has some great ones; particularly the Lemon Crush and the Blues - berry Punch.
(4)Meg K.
We love this place from the craft beer samplers to the best crab cakes I have ever had to the Crab Mac & Cheese and the wonderfully outstanding BBQ ribs! The cream of crab soup was a bit thin (maybe they used skim milk) & not much crab in it. Will pass on this next time. We have been there twice in the last two weeks. My only complaint is the wait time ( 50 minutes) and no reservations after 5:30 and no call aheads! Last night when we left there were plenty of empty tables upstairs but a ton of people waiting to be seated..... Not sure if they aren't staffed properly or the kitchen can't handle the volume between their dining in and the carry out business. Our waitress was very kind but the wait time between our appetizer and entree was a bit long. The 4 stars is for the food only!
(4)Mikell R.
Had the chopped pork platter. Good Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce on it. If I closed my eyes I might of thought I was at Parkers in G'Ville, NC. Great cucumber and onions for a side.
(4)Alex P.
Second time eating at Bethany Blue's. The food was pretty good but the service was slow. It shouldn't take half an hour to bring out a bbq sandwich and fries, especially when it's not very crowded.
(3)Steve P.
This is a seasonal stop for us. The service was ok. The St. Louis ribs were good and so are their sauces. The brisket was a bit dry. Corn bread and butter are excellent and served warm.
(3)Kathy R.
Loved this place!! We had the ribs and all of the sides were delicious. Family friendly too. Fun cool place and we'll be back.
(5)Chris H.
Hour wait for a table. OK. Hour wait for lukewarm food after hour wait for a table. Not OK.
(2)Bob B.
I probably like this place more than I should because I could take my 2 year old here and he would not ruin anyone's meal. The booths were large and it is a semi-loud place. I ordered baby back ribs and baked beans and the braised greens. Very good. I was able to get an IPA draft to enjoy with my meal. The whole family enjoyed the place. The kids especially liked the root beer bottles.
(4)Andy W.
Great food. Had the bbq rack and blues burger. Both cooked well. Come here every time I visit bethany beach. Best resturant in town.
(5)Kathy C.
Great place with cozy seating.
(4)Jane M.
Nice atmosphere, but Food is just okay. Pulled pork was dry and fairly tasteless. Better barbecue at Charlie K's.
(3)Adam F.
Typically I visit Bethany Once a week. I always love the way Bethany Blues smokers smell. I was always tempted to try it based on the reviews I have read and the fabulous smoke smell coming from their smokers. Today I did and I was very disappointed. I always get brisket any time I visit and BBQ joint. I got the Beef brisket sandwich with Chips and Slaw. The homemade chips were over cooked and lacked flavor. The side of slaw was the size of a tablespoon. Now the sandwich, a very over cooked dry poorly portioned prince of meat. It was not tender nor was it flavorful or juicy. Very, very disappointing. Finally the price, this platter was $14.99 which was an insane amount for chips and a dried beef sandwich. I won't be returning to Bethany Blues. I would suggest you avoid this place. It's not worth the dime. You'll do better to cook some hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill at home.
(1)Colleen A.
Went there twice this week while at Bethany Beach- once for lunch and once for dinner. Both time were great! The portions could be a little bigger but no complaints other than that. The food was good and the staff is always friendly!
(4)Will P.
Lengthy wait time for tables; seventy minutes at seven on a weeknight. We cam black the next day at around five and only had to wait twenty minutes. This place is more or less worth that wait. Tender, flavorful brisket, very good slaw and decent bacon (they have it as a side dish), The one down side was that the waitress seemed to be rushing us to get out. There may be pressure on the wait staff to turn tables over.
(4)Mary B.
This was the only place that was open past 9 PM on a Friday in November. I got a burger Med/Rare and it was cooked a little on the rare side but it was good. My dad got the burger too. He asked for his medium but it came out very well done. He still enjoyed it though. My fiancé loved his half combo plate and loved his ribs and the crab cake was really great (I tried some) - not too much breading. Service was good! A little bit pricey, but it's a tourist town so every place in town is similarly priced (or more).
(4)Paul T.
Superb! We had the ultimate BBQ sampler and watched the Nationals game. The food was excellent and the service was great! This is the real deal.
(4)Bob B.
Not as good this summer as in years past. We ordered out - ordered 3 orders of baby back ribs but got something else, spare ribs I assume - larger, fattier. Very little flavor, the chef seems to have never heard of salt or pork rubs. I don't think I've ever received ribs that still had the membrane on, anywhere. The baked beans were tasty but the entire cup was mostly juice. Garlic mashed potatoes were overloaded with garlic. The meal had a very ham-handed quality to it, as if the people preparing it didn't know anything about cooking. I'll pass next year.
(2)Din K.
Food is great. Good crab cakes and sefood soup. Missed on bbq. Don't eat pork. Beef/steak is very limited. Service is below average.
(3)John G.
Mostly good. Huge portions. Prices are ok. Customer service is #1. The staff was amazing. Unfortunately, the crab dip is to be totally avoided. It was runny and had more cream cheese than crab meat. Tasted terrible. The ribs were good, but not delicious. They are pros at splitting checks and handle large parties very well. Liked the atmosphere very much. We'd definitely consider coming back, but agreed we wouldn't go out of our way to do it.
(3)Mark M.
Terrible! Some of the worst BBQ I've ever had. All of the meats are SO DRY, to the point where some of it is almost inedible. The mac and cheese is a runny mess, the lemon herb rice is awful (couldn't eat more than one bite), and the mashed potatoes are gross. Literally the only good thing they serve here (besides the beer) is the cornbread. I will never come here again and could not recommended this place to anyone.
(2)Kurt P.
Don't believe all the hype about this place. The BBQ is dry. Service was terrible. We asked for cornbread and the waitress should have been embarrassed for serving it. I posted it in the pictures.
(2)Bob W.
The epitome of mediocrity. If you need a place to feed the kids without breaking the bank, this is a decent option. Just keep your expectations on the modest side and you won't be disappointed.
(3)EK J.
Always a great meal at Bethany Blues. The Ribs are great as is the Pulled Pork.. Great Braised Collard Greens!!
(4)Karl B.
It is an attractive restaurant with generally good service. The food is middle of the road - edible but not memorable.
(2)John H.
First - the service was excellent. The cornbread is slightly sweet and tasted great. We had the French onion soup and it was loaded with onion. The cheese was flavorful and the bread was firm not soggy which was a pleasant surprise. The flavor was more subdued as the broth was mild in flavor I had the brunch pulled pork sandwich topped with egg and the pulled pork was dry. The fries were just ok and the cole slaw was good. My wife had the chicken sandwich with smoked bacon and it was moist and had great seasoning. The ambiance is very laid back and comfortable. Prices are standard beach up charge but the food was good overall. We will definitely come back to eat here.
(4)Eric W.
I came here off season in 2013 and I found the ribs to be pretty good. Came back this year though and totally different. The ribs were overcooked and dry. Last year I was pleasantly surprised since my expectations were low for BBQ in DE. Our waitress was nice and came by often but when we mentioned the ribs were dry, she said she would go let the staff know. She came back and just said sorry, it'll be better next time. Sorry, but there probably wont be a next time.
(2)Dan F.
Dined in on 07/29/14, arrived at 5:00 pm and my party of 4 was seated promptly. Started with the crab dip which was decent but I definitely have had better. Kids got the Mac n Cheese and the 1/4 rack of ribs, the wife got the Delmarva Chicken and I opted for the Jumbalaya. The ribs (babyback) were OK...not fall off the bone in fact I think I have made better ones on my maiden voyage of my Weber smoker. All in all, the meal was decent, just nothing exceptional about it. They do have Dogfish 60 min on tap so at least they are doing something right, Im sure well be back but if your looking for authentic BBQ you will probably have to keep looking.
(3)Josh R.
After laying out on the beach we decided to grab some drinks at this place. The crushes are tasty and fresh made with fresher squeezed oranges. The BBQ is tasty but not the best I have ever had. If you want a place that is more affordable with great drinks, this is the place. I would go back, but mostly for the drinks.
(4)Carrie S.
We chose Bethany Blues based on the recommendation from the tram driver at Sea Colony. I thought the salmon was excellent, the ribs were okay-ish, the chicken BBQ was bland, the french fries were served cold, the pulled pork sandwich was like literal rubber, and the chicken sandwich was bland. The lighting is horrible and didn't help my headache. This was our first and LAST visit. I think I can sum it up best by stating I will use the kitchen in our condo more frequently than spend my time and money in crappy restaurants. We gave feedback to our waiter, Jason, and he apologized on behalf of the cook, but failed to support the customer by saying... bring you new...give you credit....etc. I think the fries at Sea Colony's concession were actually hot and WAY better tasting ( and not to mention way cheaper) Just to add, it wasn't as horrible as Harpoon Hanna's.
(2)Jason C.
Amazing BBQ and atmosphere! Great for groups and kids! The service was fantastic and friendly.
(5)R L.
Went back there & the service was horrible starting with the hostess, they were just chatting with each other instead of paying attention to the customers, the bartender boasted he can make any drinks, besides serving drink in a cracked glass, his idea of a mango martini is a straight shot of chilled Absolute mango vodka from the bottle? Instead of apologizing about the cracked glass, he just said, "oh that's not good" SMH Food is still decent but they wouldn't be getting my money in the future.
(1)Jennifer C.
The BBQ is very authentic. The side dishes are very good. The beer selection made my husband quite happy, offering many of the local craft brewery's on tap. We come every year when we r at the beach.
(4)Tami G.
This place is a staple when staying in Bethany Beach. It's one of the larger restaurants in Bethany, which makes it very popular. I've only had the brisket, only because its so friggin good I don't really haven't ventured from that. The sides are hit or miss. The mac and cheese is on the runny side (I like a thicker sauce) I was not a fan of the baked beans, but their coleslaw is pretty darn good. The cornbread you get before your meal is quite tasty! All in all, Bethany Blues is a good place to go for BBQ while at the beach.
(4)Heather M.
Everything was amazing! We had a party of 10 so we called ahead and were seated right away. They had a large list of drinks and beer and appetizers. The nachos with chicken were the best I have had....the chicken was amazingly tasty. The buffalo wings I heard we're good, though I didn't eat them. Everyone got a meat dish....Caesar salad with rockfish was good, the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, the pulled pork was good but had some fat on it, the Carolina pulled pork was tangy and tender, the chili and the ahi bites were spicy...almost too much so if you aren't used to spiciness. The ribs were very good and the little kids liked their hot dogs and applesauce. The service was quick and professional and I still can't get over how good the meats were. It was packed when we left so get there early in the summer, on a Friday!
(5)Chris G.
Being the off season, a lot of places in Bethany were closed. We decided to give this place a try and are so glad we did. It is some of the best fall-off-the-bone BBQ we've had in a long time! Service was also fantastic and the bar tender made us feel like we were regulars. Can't say enough positive things about the place. Best part is they are open year round. We will be back.
(5)Bob F.
Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious!All their bbq is juicy and tender.Their farmhouse burger is a egg with cheese and a juicy burger!
(5)Jim F.
Excellent service and nice selection of entrees to choose from . Atmosphere is appropriate for everyone . Fabulous mac n cheese . Prices are ok. Restaurant is clean and well maintained
(4)Allison H.
We are SO glad they are staying open during the winter. The warm, friendly atmosphere; the great service; the tasty menu; and the wait (or quick seating) are what brings us back each time we visit during months other than July & August!!!! The best place around for locals during the second season!
(5)Richard F.
Visited the location on Rt 1 in Lewes, and it was a FAR better experience. Food was delicious, and the service rocked. We'll definitely go back.
(4)CP M.
Not sure what was worse the service or the BBQ .save your time, money and avoid this place -
(1)Deborah N.
This was a decent place for Barbecue at the beach. Brisket was great, baby back ribs were very meaty and tender. I went twice. The first time it was takeout, the second I took all the kids out to dinner there. Yes, it was me and a nine, eight and five year old. All related to me but none of them mine. This place was a great option for kids. They take reservations up until 5:30 -- who else eats that early but the elementary-aged and younger? It was loud and casual enough that kids could be kids and not bother anyone's fancy pants dinner. But it wasn't so loud and crazy that the grownup (me) felt insane. The service was great and the waitress was very nice considering her four top was having one adult meal and three $6.99 kids meals. No drinks but lemonade. Still we ordered a bunch of sides so I didn't get out of there too cheaply, but that's okay. Only get all the nieces and nephews together a few times a year so I was happy to treat. The sides of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were quite yummy, as were the fries. One nephew got spaghetti and meatballs, his sister got pasta with butter and cheese. (She may have never ordered anything else at a restaurant). We had enough leftovers to feed us all over again the next day at lunch. I've been going to Bethany for years and this place has been there for years. But we have never met until now. Surely I will be back. Of note - don't think they are open for lunch except on the weekends -- too bad. It's my favorite thing at the beach to sneak away from the group for a nice lunch once or twice. Also, they have a location waaaay up Route 1 in Lewes. I'm sure that one is nice, too. Bethany Blues outside of Bethany! That branch is open for lunch every day and also has a Sunday brunch. If you even have the option of eating at Bethany Blues you are lucky because it means you are still at the beach! Lucky!!!
(4)Carol J.
Love it!!! The food was great (I had ribs with braised greens and mac and cheese) and the service exceptional!!! All the years I have been vacationing in Bethany Beach - I feel cheated that it took this long to try!
(5)Craig R.
Some of the best barbecue I have ever had. Great service. Great food. I will be back
(5)Sunshine W.
Just went here saturday night for dinner for my birthday being that it was one of the few places open off season at Bethany Beach. We had an excellent time. The food was great. We got the macaroni cheese balls for appetizer. We had some cornbread with honey butter complimentary. Two friends ordered salads with their meals....which were large in size and looked delicious. They had no complaints. Two of us ordered the pit beef sandwich which was sooooo goood. I had green beans for my side and they were excellent. My other friend ordered a burger which she enjoyed too. Our waitor/bartender was Rory and he was by far the best server we have EVER had. He was on top of things.....making sure we were taken care of as far as food and drinks. He contributed to making my birthday night a great one. This will definitely be a spot I hit up every time I go back to Bethany. I hope the food and service are the same when it is busy and summer season.
(5)Jennifer F.
We ate here for the first time in 2005 and were absolutely blown away by how good it was. The food was incredible, and the brisket was melt in your mouth tender and juicy. My husband and I have eaten a good bit of BBQ over the years, and this ranked high our our list. (Any BBQ lover knows that making a good brisket is no easy feat). Even my ILs loved it, and were huge fans of the pulled pork. We thought for sure we had found our go-to restaurant at the beach. We came back the following year, and the food was still good, but not as awesome as we remembered. We chalked it up to a somewhat off night, and let it slide. It was still a damn good dinner. The next year, we came back again, and again, were slightly disappointed. I started to think we had misjudged the place, and we went elsewhere on our next trip. Then my husband and I tried their new location in Lewes and the food redeemed itself, so we decided to give the Bethany Beach restaurant another shot. Big mistake. Big HUGE mistake. I've read all these positive reviews and I'm just not getting it. The restaurant itself is still nice, but the food is HORRIBLE. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone way down. I always order the spinach salad as a starter, which is still decent, but expensive, and no longer contains the apples it used to. The pulled pork was still edible, but needed more sauce. The coleslaw was poorly dressed and bland, the fries were lukewarm and stringy, and the ribs were tough and chewy. But the brisket was by far the worst offender. I almost *never* send a plate back. I sent the brisket back twice before I asked them to take it off the bill. It was completely inedible - dry and disgusting. The server suggested putting a little sauce on it. SERIOUSLY??? A good brisket doesn't need sauce. There was no smoke ring on the brisket, making my husband and I think the brisket hadn't actually been smoked (which takes at least 12 hours and usually more on a smoker), but rather done in the oven and finished with liquid smoke. My guess is that it had also been sitting around in a pan, already sliced, and reheated for serving. This was NOTHING like our initial experience. Nothing. Some of the recent reviews have raved about the food, but given our last experience, we'd be hard pressed to go back again. So long, Bethany Blues.
(1)Lisa F.
Mediocre at best. I realize the Bethany area doesn't have a lot of barbecue places to choose from, and maybe they need some competition to step up their game a bit. My husband and I ordered the sampler platter so we could try a bit of everything they have to offer, with sides of cheesy creamed corn and mac & cheese. The sausage was the best thing on the platter, and I don't consider that BBQ. It was really well seasoned and had a great snap to the casing. The ribs were okay, but I think even Chili's puts out something better. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was mushy. Overall, edible but forgettable. The sides were the real stars. We absolutely loved the cheesy creamed corn and even tried to replicate it at home. The decor of the place is even bland and does nothing to put you in a BBQ frame of mind. It has a very nondescript, cookie cutter restaurant-at-the-beach design. Not going back.
(2)Kevin C.
We had dinner at Bethany Blues last night and had a great meal. The cornbread was amazing. Several in our party had baby back ribs which were very good. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Ok T.
Really good from beginning to end All in our party liked their food - my pulled chicken was a tad dry to be fair but made up for with service and sauces Def place to go in town
(4)Anthony P.
Regionally this is the best BBQ restaurant available. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the service is very consistent. Every restaurant will have off days and staff that are less competent than others, so my review is based primarily on food quality, cleanliness and overall atmosphere. While the length of time required to be served entrees differs from time to time, the food is always consistent, with a major emphasis on serving the food exactly as ordered. I have not had a chance to check out their new location in Lewes, but hopefully I will in the near future. Keep a look out for that!
(5)Reeping W.
It appeared to be the only restaurant open last night, but not a problem as we planned to go there anyhow. Did not expect to see such a crowd in April and actually had to wait (a reason why we eat out September-May and skip the summer months). Nate at the front desk was accommodating and apologetic for the wait, the bartender Jason remembered us from earlier visits and waved, Taylor the waiter was attentive and friendly . Small mix up with the wine coming a little late but the corn bread more than makes up for that wait! Grilled chicken sandwich with cheddar was very good, generous enough to use for lunch the next day as well, the pulled chicken sandwich was declared quite good, and the fries also made it home for rebaking with oregano for this evenings dinner, so size of portions is not a problem for us. They are quite large. We are not fond of most BBQ or ribs, but find that there is plenty for us on the menu while companions can dig into BBQ. Clearly it is good for kids, because the place was full of little ones happily (except for the one I almost went over to and took outside since the parents didn't seem to have a clue!) chowing down. Bar was full, place was hopping, festive happy crowd. Went back April 2015 and again had excellent dinner sandwich, the brisket sandwich, juicy and good. Again, enough fries for dinner the next night.
(4)Brandon D.
BBQ is my thing, and apparently for these folks, they should stick to making crab cakes. The brisket was way dried out and chewy (they said I should put more bbq sauce on it...um...no...real smoked brisket doesn't require any sauce). Same deal with the pulled pork. The lady friend ordered a steak medium rare. The first one came out almost well done and she sent it back. The second one was medium to medium-well, but it was edible. For being a "21 day aged steak", it had just about NO flavor whatsoever. Half a bottle of A-1 later and it was at least edible. The sides were okay, but not great. The manager refunded the meats (which was pretty awesome of her, considering it was originally a $70+ bill, see also kind of overpriced for BBQ) and the chef himself said there was nothing wrong with the meats. If he really felt that way, he was most certainly in the wrong business. I could have done better going to the meat market, setting my oven to 180, putting a pan of beef stock under it and letting it cook for a few hours. But at least the service was really good and the drinks were perfectly alright. The crab cake that came with the lady friend's meal was the best part. They should probably stick to the seafood schtick...
(2)Peg K.
This is our second visit to Bethany Blues. The first was for an appetizer and drinks during Happy Hour; there were just two of us. We were very happy. The crab dip appetizer was to die for (we almost had to ask for more bread). The house brand drinks were decent, as was the price. We returned for dinner a few days later. This time we had a group of 5. We were told the wait would be 10-20 minutes; it was 21. They texted us to tell us our table was ready. We were quickly seated, but a waitress--not ours--came by about 2 minutes after we were seated to tell us our waitress would be with us shortly; she was finishing clearing another table. Sure enough she was there a few minutes later, but service from thereon in was slow. The food was worth the wait. It was very flavorful. Two of the diners had crab cakes (fresh in season, and boy are we in season in August). The cakes themselves (2 each) were not large, but they were ALL crab. There is a nice dipping sauce if you want to dip the cakes, and it comes with seasonal vegetables, in today's case corn on the cob, plus rice. The rice was not that flavorful, so neither diner ate much of it. Two of the other diners had ribs. This place is known as a BBQ place, and they were not disappointed. The ribs and brisquet were superb according to the diners, and they would definitely come back for more. Each diner got to choose 2 sides, and if you want something a little different with a little kick, then order the jalepeno cole slaw. Mmmmmm good! The final diner had a burger. It was served with a generous supply of fries, and the diner was very satisfied. Fried calamari as an appetizer was on the menu, and the table shared an order. They were nicely done, and it is something we'd order again. Two diners also ordered a bowl of chili, and each loved the consistency, one said it could be spicier, and both game it a 7 out of 10. This is definitely a place to visit if you are in Bethany Beach.
(4)Matt A.
HOLY SHIZ!! Oh boy! Was this delicious. I ordered the Baby back ribs and OMG! Was it good! Definitely recommend this place to tourists! 5 STARS!!
(5)Stephen H.
Friendly waiter, but overly so. Forgot my beer, but got around to it. Food was good, don't stray from a BBQ selection. Lots of TVs for sports too.
(3)Stewart K.
Very nice restaurant! On a recent vacation (9/24), I eat there three times. I had the St. Louis style ribs. They were very good. Not quite as much meat on them as I expected, but very good. I had the brisket. This was very good. I also had the 10 cent wings during Wednesday special. They offer 6-7 different saucses from Old Bay-butter to suicide. I really liked the Honey mustard sauce it was tangy and awesome.
(4)J T.
Our server was great and very prompt. The food was good and beers were cold.
(4)Jason C.
Solid and prompt service with outstanding food! There is a clear focus on quality!!
(5)An T.
Thanks to Yelp, my girlfriends and I found this little gem for dinner. We were told our wait would be anywhere between 15-20 minutes, but we definitely waited less than 10. Props to that. The restaurant was large and balanced, with just the right amount of people. It wasn't overcrowded, but there was substantial conversation in the air, and it just felt like a very comfortable setting. Although the place is right in Bethany Beach, don't expect to see any swimwear or flip flops. Most people at the restaurant were dressed fairly casual, but some were semi-dressy. I'll keep that in mind next time so that I don't show up again in a bikini and cover-up, see-through dress. The food was delicious! I'm not a big barbeque fan, but I'm glad we went. One girlfriend got the beef brisket, and while the pieces looked small, it was pretty filling. Another two girlfriends shared the Ribs sampler, and it was really tasty too. All their orders came with a choice of sides, and the Mac & Cheese was great. It wasn't too cheesy and overwhelming like some places do it. The Cheesy Corn was pretty delicious, but everyone agreed that the garlic mashed potatoes wasn't anything too special to rave about. I ordered the Jambalaya. Yes, I was the dummy that ordered the Jambalaya at a BBQ place, and note to all: Skip the Jambalaya. It was bland, and you have all been warned! Be sure to ask for cornbread, because it isn't automatically brought out. The cornbread was DELISH! Solid place, would definitely come back when in the area!
(4)Glenn F.
I have been here multiple times and it's always good quality BBQ. Summer is a zoo, but what restaurant isn't? The food is good, service is very attentive and it is still my favorite place for Orange Crush drinks.
(4)Edward M.
Overall, this is subpar Bar B Q. It is more in line with a fast food type Bar B Q place rather than a sit down restaurant. The few times I have been the ribs have been dry and tough. The sauce is OK, but nothing to write home about. There are certainly better places in the area.
(2)Elliott P.
Bethany Blues has been a favorite of mine and my family since its inception. My favorite thing on the menu are the "meats," which could be any number of a variety of pulled pork, brisket, or sausage. I like to dip them in their wide array of sauces. They have all types and they are all very good. The atmosphere is homey and warm, with a cool fountain thing on the steps. A must see for Bethany Beach.
(5)Shana G.
Our service was awful. My son's food allergies ignored. The general manager, Ky, berated her server in front of us. The GM thought she could placate us by hugging me and kissing my son. The food was good, but not worth the hour wait and the aggravation.
(1)Jenny K.
The food is just ok, edible but not worth going twice. My salmon was rare, literally, and the service was slow. Way better restaurants in Bethany - don't waste your time or money.
(2)David R.
Very disappointing visit. The only highlight was the friendly staff at the bar (where we chose to eat rather than wait for a table). The two young ladies were cute, friendly, energetic, and gave decent service considering how swamped they were (and it was amusing to see them stumped when a customer ordered a Tom Collins). But the food was sub-par and we had concerns with some aspects of cleanliness. Our cleanliness concerns were mostly regarding the draft beer. We've both done our time working in bars and found it odd that there were a couple of specks floating in her beer. We dismissed it as no big deal until I got my second beer and found specks floating in it, too (we chose separate brews). I can't say for certain, but the specks looked like they could be the result of the tap lines not being regularly cleaned and/or putting different brews on the same line without flushing it first. The only other explanation we could imagine is improperly washed beer glasses; neither of which is appetizing. The second concern over cleanliness was when I used the men's room. It wasn't exceptionally dirty; but as I left I noticed they had one of those rest-room cleanliness check lists on the back of the door. [You know, the list where an employee or manager is supposed to check the bathroom every hour and initial it with the time they verified it was clean.] There were a few legitimate initials on it but most hours were blank; not too big a deal, then I saw the date on the sheet was July 16, but we were there on July 22. That says to me the management doesn't care enough about customer perceptions to so much as take the old sheet down. I don't expect places to have those sheets and I think most of the time they're not uses seriously. But if you choose to put up a piece of paper that is supposed to be communicating to your customers "we care about cleanliness" then you can't be bothered to follow up on that statement; then I think your managers and staff don't care what impression I get. And the kitchen must not care, either. I had the Rib Sampler with mac & cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The ribs were among the worst I've ever had. The "St Louis" ribs' meat fell off the bone... but they were flavorless and mushy like they had been soaking in a brine for too long. The sauce on them had as much flavor as watered down ketchup. The baby back ribs were over-cooked and dry and lacked flavor, too. The sides were not bad but also not very good. The mac & cheese was interesting only in the use of long spiral macaroni - the cheese tasted like the stuff you squeeze out of the Velveeta shells & cheese packet. The mashed potatoes had too much over-roasted garlic and a texture just a little better than what you get from powdered. My better half had the Crab & Cow with the fried crab cake. The steak was okay, nothing I couldn't do at home. The crab cake was a hard shelled fried ball (at first I though it was a big hushpuppy). Inside it appeared meaty but there was very little flavor. She did not finish the garlic mashed potatoes. That is a HUGE criticism because you'd be hard pressed to find a woman who loves mashed potatoes more than my wife does! The best part of the meal was when we were given some cornbread with a flavored butter mixture (it had a hint of orange... perhaps a little marmalade?). The bread was perfect, which is a compliment because cornbread is so often too dry or too mushy. The menu had photos of what appears to be the original rib shack that Bethany Blues was born from. I couldn't help but think if that man in the photograph had the ribs I ate tonight, he'd take the name away from them. I can not recommend going here at all for any reason.
(1)Tommy A.
Fail! We were a 4 top that rolled in at 8:30 on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Got great seats at the bar, we really wanted some drinks and to nibble. No issue with the drinks or the scene. However the kitchen service/communication was a complete failure. As the food was being placed in front of the other 3 in the party, I was told that my order - hog wings - was 86ed. Would have been nice to know 20 minutes earlier. I then tried to order the barbecue sliders as a replacement and was told that most of the options were 86ed too. I was left with pulled pork as an option - not so bad right? Wrong. The meat was cold, mushy, and flavorless. So I watched my wife and friends eat and we promptly left. Starboard service this is not.
(1)Patrick H.
I do not understand the good reviews, terrible BBQ. Dry brisket, hard Mac and cheese, sub par can dip. The wings sounded great but had no meat on the bones and the marinade was mediocre at best, they do no provide any dipping sauce to mask the flavor. The cole slaw hardly had any dressing. The only edible part of dinner was the north carolina pulled pork. You would think that a place with dry meat would not charge extra for their tiny cups of sauce. Needless to say I will not be going back.
(1)lindonesia s.
Wow, went to this place with the fam the other day and damn tasty. We got seated right away upstairs and could see a bunch of locals at the bar and eating...always a good sign. The server was super freindly and talked us through some good possibiltiies all while they were getting coloring books, crayons, and water to keep the 2yo and 4yo happy and occupied. Ordered a beer (pretty good selection, not great but okay..they could use a bigger selection IMHO) and damn, it comes in this big frozen guantlet thing that i could not tell if it was small with a real thick glass or as big as it looked...smash cut to the BBQ, and rest of the food, came super quick before the 2yo even had time to say, "hey old man, walk me around this place or i'm gonna throw the melt-down of the century and have Bethany Child Protective Services on your old ass so fast it'll make your head spin..wow," yes that quick! BBQ was awsome and a lot of food. On one note as others had mentioned the mac-and-cheese looked a little hard and luke warm but ya know what the kids liked it...so success! Next thing ya know i finished my beer and asked for a half beer (nice they serve those..every place should) they came with a full pint. I guess those big gauntlets of beer are as big and tastey as they appear..Kudo's to Bethany Blues!
(5)Margot R.
Excellent food! All of the selections you would expect in a great BBQ place and some unusual options. The atmosphere was welcoming and fun. Also great for families. Our waiter Andrew aka Willy Wonka was fabulous! Helpful, accommodating and funny. Had a great time and looking forward to going back.
(5)Andy R.
I can't thnk of any way our lunch experience could have been better. Great choices, reasonable portion sizes, and the food? Oh my goodness! Best pulled pork I've had outside of Carolina.
(5)Patrick B.
Went to Bethany Blues on our last day of vacation - great experience! We went on a Sat in late July around 6pm and got a table right away. We have a 3 year old and 5 year old so speed and flexibility are priorities for us. The waiter was quick, the prices were good and we really enjoyed our BBQ. I never thought you could get great BBQ on the Delaware coast! The kids meals are served on frisbees which they can keep - this was very impressive to both our kids :) I got the the pulled pork sandwich - really good, but not as smoky as I thought it might be. My wife got the Carolina style BBQ sandwich and it tasted fantastic - this is what I'll order next time. Great atmosphere - two floors with what seemed to be ample seating. They are located right in the heart of Bethany Beach so you can easily stroll around town after dinner. Based on our experience, I certainly recommend Bethany Blues.
(4)David W.
Love Chilling at the bar here... open all year round, and the food is always solid. Great fried pickles and burgers! Bourbon flights and eclectic draft beer selections. Nicole at the bar is a treasure!
(4)Brian O.
They have a lot of selections on their menu, we had chopped pork, whole sea bass, salmon and tuna. Everything was wonderful. Calamari app was great too!
(5)Katie R.
Bethany Blues is always a place we go while we're in Bethany. It's a good BBQ restaurant right in town and has a lot to offer. I always get the sliders app for dinner with the mac and cheese side--that's my favorite part! The corn bread is always good but they honey butter racks it up a notch!
(5)Brian D.
Brisket and burgers were excellent. Make certain you have some of the cornbread when you sit. Great for families.
(5)Busa B.
I tried the St. Louis cut ribs, Carolina pulled pork and the brisket which I must say all were excellent. I wasn't impressed with the baked beans or the creamed corn but the corn bread and the Greens were pretty good. Service was excellent, as a matter of fact since it was our first time they gave us the greens on the house. The next time I'm in the area I will be eating there again. One thing that I liked was we purchased a $50 gift certificate that turned out to be a big half-dollar sized coin with the company logo on it. It's a little different and special then the typical "credit card" gift certificate.
(4)Debbie B.
One of the only decent places to eat near Ocean City. Service is always good, but you will have a wait (possibly a loooong one) during the high season. The salads are good, I always get the spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese, and raspberry vinagrette. My daughter always gets their fish special with a side of mac and cheese. She is always happy with her dinner and asks for a quart of mac and cheese to go! My husband really likes the brisket. The corn bread that is brought to the table is also delish. We have never had dessert here, we are always stuffed from the great food.
(5)Raymond E.
Went here based on reading the favorable reviews. Got in at 5:30 Sunday before labor day with 2 adults 1 child. Seated very quickly and our waitress was very courteous. The food came out very quick. The baked beans were not too too sweet, just right. The creamed corn was good and the st louis ribs were excellent! Would recommend to those craving BBQ at the beach. I love that the kids food comes on a frisbee that we can take home with us. A choice of applesauce or fries for the kids was good too.
(5)Grant E.
I hate to give this place a 2, considering that I know the owner, some staff, and the bakery I work at provides the brownies for their desserts. I also know for a fact that they smoke mostly everything in-house and I also love the decor and artwork around the restaurant. I usually go here every summer with my family and it's fine, but this year was, unfortunately, not very good. We ordered a half plate of brisket nachos, which I've gotten before, and every year it seems like they get smaller and smaller. The chips and toppings are good, but there isn't enough brisket for the dish to be called 'Brisket Nachos'. However, the salsa was REALLY good. It tasted a bit smoky and had a good kick to it, making the appetizer worth it. They are also becoming skimpy with the cornbread. They used to give big baskets of it with tons of butter, but now we only got 4-5 little squares of it, and they took it away once we finished. Another issue I experienced was the service. Although it was extremely busy, there is no excuse for no refills. I had a water to drink and it ran out during the appetizer, so I chomped on some ice in the meantime, which I don't mind. However, when I ran out of ice to munch on, I got a little irritated. The waitress even passed the table a few times and failed to acknowledge the fact that my cup was completely empty. She refilled it once the entrees were brought out. Speaking of those, I got the sausage, pulled chicken with fries and cole slaw. I usually get sausage and ribs with fries and mac&cheese, but I decided to try the chicken this time and add cole slaw; I was bummed. The sausage is always good, besides the fact that the casing remains on (no big deal), and the fries are also good. However, the chicken seemed a bit undercooked and pink and didn't have much flavor, so let's just say I took advantage of the sauce bottles on the table. And the cole slaw was easily the worst I've had in a while - no flavor. It basically was lettuce, cabbage, and carrots mixed in a watery mayonnaise; it wasn't sweet and didn't have any distinct flavor; it was really bland. During the meal, my brother ran out of tea and he had to flag her down after about 10 minutes without a drink. Once again, I hate to give this place a mediocre rating, but there are definitely better restaurants in town, and in the area that provide a better experience.
(2)Chelsea P.
I'm not a big BBQ fan, so I reluctantly went here due to my boyfriend's love of all things BBQ. Although I ordered the burger, I tried several of my groups' meals and ended up picking at theirs the whole time. So juicy and spiced to perfection. The sides are amazing.. creamed cheesy corn?!!! Yum! I dipped my fries in that.. OH MAN. If I went here again, I'd order the meats. So good!
(4)J F.
We travel to Bethany a lot but this past holiday was the first time we've visited Bethany Blues. I was a bit apprehensive since I'm the only vegetarian in the group. I was pleasantly surprised! It was very busy but our wait was only 20 mins. Our server was attentive, the silverware was clean, the kids meal came out super fast and was served on a frisbee (cool marketing), the bottle root beer was good (although it was listed on the menu as organic, the bottle didn't claim to be - it was free trade). It was nice to have applesauce as a kids menu option instead of fries. The fried green tomatoes came four to a plate and were fantastic with the wasabi ranch dipping sauce. The cornbread was yummy and warm. Although other commentors weren't too impressed with the mac & cheese, I thought it was great. It tastes homemade. Everyone ordered ribs and I watched as the meat literally fell off the bone. My husband got a combo of St. Louis ribs and babyback ribs. He preferred the babyback saying those were super tender while the St. Louis were extra meaty. We all cleaned our plates and would return...even me, the vegetarian.
(4)Kaitlin L.
Excellent food, good service, tasty drinks. I even like the atmosphere, which is casual but clean-cut. The portobella burger is my go-to. The husband loves the pork BBQ. Fries are hit or miss, but are usually tasty. Coleslaw, corn bread, mac and cheese, and sussex salad are awesome. We go there every time we come to Bethany, which is often, and have yet to have a negative experience.
(5)Lauren G.
Ive been here before and had a great experience, but they must have changed chefs, because the food was just not good on this trip. After overlooking the sour faced host staff, my pulled pork entree was Luke warm even after sent back. The BBQ sauce was thin and lacked flavor and the Mac n cheese was also not hot and was made with some cheap Velveeta of some kind. Our server was kind and attentive and I appreciated his patience. Probably won't eat here on our next trip.
(2)Martin B.
Tasty barbeque in Bethany Beach. I came here for dinner and it was quite good. The whole place has great decor, and it's not too loud. There's a bar area as well as booths and tables. They've got some good beers on draft. The pulled pork is great. Thick-cut and not tough. I tried all of their sauces and my favorite was the smoky barbeque. The spicy wasn't bad either, but I just didn't really like the papaya sauce. But, smothered in the BBQ sauce, the pork was great. My fellow diners had good things to say about their pork sandwiches. The french fries are tasty, and the creamed corn is very creamy and very corny. The macaroni and cheese is alright; creamy but not very flavorful. The root beer is also good. Overall a great choice for eatin' in this town.
(4)Ky H.
I went to Bethany Blues because I was in the mood for a good steak, I know, its a BBQ pit, not a steakhouse, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I got a Filet Mignon that was on the specials list for the day with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The steak was in no way as tender as a filet should be, and very poorly seasoned. However, the mashed potatoes were excellent. The creamed corn was mediocre. The waitress was nice, but didn't seem to know much English.
(3)Brian S.
Bethany Blues is a typical beach bar and grill that is better than the average of this type of restaurant. The location in Bethany is great, the food was delicious, and I remember a pretty good selection of beers to choose from. One last thing I remember is that they weren't open for lunch on a weekday despite the fact that the beach was overrun with hungry people a few blocks away.
(3)Kenneth O.
Typical tourist location. Overpriced and overcooked. Wife had the Blues burger ordered medium rare and landed up with well done. I had the Carolina Pork but had a hard time with all the vinegar. Beers are served in magnified glasses to portray volume and quite pricey. This was our second try and probably the last.
(2)J S.
Bethany Blues is our go-to place when we visit Bethany Beach and this trip not only lived up, but exceeded, our expectations. The wait on a Saturday night was only about 10 minutes - the restaurant was packed, and understandably so. Our server, Allison, was attentive and friendly. Our table started with the fried green tomatoes, which, although a little greasy, were very tasty. One person equated the batter taste to that of a good onion ring, only encrusted in parmesan cheese. The half rack of St. Louis ribs were more then plentiful and flavorful with lots of tender meat on the bones. The Brisket was outstanding and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. The lump crab cake was tasty, although we were surprised at the size - not much bigger then a golf ball (we're used to the giant 7oz lump cakes at Pappas in Baltimore). The side dishes were just as impressive at the entrees: The creamed cheese corn was absolutely to die for! Sussex Medley (cold salad of chick peas, cucumbers and diced tomato) was flavored perferctly; mac and cheese was not your out of the box type, but rather more of a homemade comfort style. Fries were shoe string, natural cut and fried just right. This particular visit was simply perfect in every way. Overall, the dining experience was excellent without a single hiccup. This just validates why Bethany Blues continues to be our go-to place in Bethany Beach!
(5)Robin P.
Great food and reasonable prices. We ate at several great restaurants during our week in this area, and we talked about our meal here the most. Brisket and ribs were exceptional. Try the corn side. Beans were a bit watery. Bought a bottle of the Smokey BBQ sauce to take home. Can't wait to get back here.
(5)Stefani T.
Service was great! Had a sampler with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, all of which were very dry. Also had crab dip for appetizer which we did not enjoy. Cornbread was good, cream of crab was good but not much meat. The kids meals came out served on a frisbee which they got to keep-great idea! Probably won't go back but I'm glad we tried it.
(3)M S.
We usually eat here on our annual trip to Bethany but this year things seemed off. Still a long wait and prices same but food was tough to eat, literally. Chicken badly overcooked, jambalaya covered in tomato sauce and ribs just ok. Service came with a touch more attitude than necessary. Definitely not worth the wait.
(2)Julie S.
We ate here on an AYCE night of ribs and BBQ. In hindsight, we should have just gone for the ribs. The St Louis ribs were flavorful, had a nice smoke rings and not over dressed so you could adjust your own amount/type of sauce. The pulled chicken was awful. It tasted like cooked sawdust and seemed to be steamed- no smoky taste at all. The beef brisket appeared to have been in the smoker for a few hours, but looked and tasted as if it was finished off in the oven- braising in au jus liquid. My husband and I looked, but could not find any smoke ring. Since there are only 2 locations, we thought they would be at least better than Famous Dave's. It was just OK.
(3)Stephanie D.
Amazing food , great service and prices! The portions are very generous and everything on your plate is excellent! The atmosphere is fun and inviting. You will love this place and so will your kids! The kids meals are served on frisbee's which it too fun! One of the freshest BBQ places I've ever eaten. If you are near this restaurant you must try Bethany Blues BBQ or you are missing out.
(5)Shawn D.
Been here a few times since summer 2011. Excellent experience each time. Food is excellent and service is very attentive. During busy times, they turn the tables quick to keep up with the summer tourist crowds.
(4)Kurt W.
One of the best places in the North I have ever been for BBQ. Great atmosphere for both the original and new Dewey location. Good service. Great food all around.
(5)Mike P.
Aside from the excellent brisket, it was very run of the mill. Cold frosty challas a plus. Someone at our table had the spinach salad with the pulled pork slider, and spent the next 9 hours sliding to you know where. Thank god it was not me! Wheh!
(3)Chloe C.
This restaurant was a great choice. I had the pulled chicken, mac and cheese and the sugar snap peas. All were delicious as was the cornbread that comes before the meal. This was a perfect place to go after the beach!
(4)Tommy L.
The atmosphere and interior decor is the star here. This is a very nice place to have a casual dinner. However, the food is hit or miss. On our previous visit, the St. Louis ribs were awesome. On our last visit, the same ribs were completely dry and tasteless. The baby back ribs were better but nothing to brag home about. The baby back ribs are used in the kids meals and they're actually spicy. That was a big thumbs down from my kid. The spinach salad here is pretty good and the crab cakes are decent too. For dessert, get the brownie with ice cream. YUM!
(4)Eileen O.
We think very much of this restaurant . Bethany Blues and Cottage Cafe are the only ones we frequent in Bethany Beach over many years. We ate here Thursday afternoon @ 5PM last week. The place was pretty much empty, yet we were brought up the stairs to a very poorly lit booth . The table had not been cleaned well. We waited over ten minutes before someone came over to take our order, the waiter apologized. We both ordered the Carolina pork on salad. In each mouthful I took of the chopped up pork were globs of fat chopped into the warm, mushy mess of pork mixed with vinegar.As I continued to pick my way through my dinner I also found pieces of ligaments or fibers from the carcass of the pork bone. Gross! I know good Carolinian BBQ very well. I've been eating it since I was a child. Doesn't Bethany Blues understand that you don't have the "chopped pork" sitting in the vinegar mixture as this acidity will break down the meat into a mush.? Usually the vinegar and all is sprinkled on top just before serving the dish. I complained, and ordered the regular pulled pork salad.Again, one huge piece of fat equal to one large tablespoonful as well as smaller portions of fat mixed in with the meat. This is on top of the salad, no less. The salad was good, tasty dressing and fresh lettuce leaves. I complained again and they said they try to get most of fat off but sometimes they can't. Sounds like sloppy business to me. They didn't charge me, but still wish they were more careful about the chunks of fat.
(4)M T.
For a casual dinner after a day at the beach the BF and I headed to Bethany Blues to get some of their barbeque I'd heard so much about. Inside was clean and spacious with two floors of seating so we had no problem getting a table. We started out with orange crushes, the drink they were promoting, which weren't too heavy on the orange juice or sierra mist or too light on the vodka. The cornbread served before our meal was hearty and moist, really good. The bbq did not disappoint. I had the pulled pork and tried all three sauces they had on the table, papaya, smoky, and spicy, all which have won some award or another, and decided the dark brown smoky one was my favorite (my BF's as well). My meal came with a choice of two sides and I got the mac n cheese and the collard greens. The sides were just so-so. The noodles were over cooked in the mac n cheese and the collard greens lacked flavor. The star here is definitely the bbq.
(4)