Henlopen City Oyster House

This was our first time here and three of us had an enjoyable luncheon. Service was excellent and it is a comfortable setting. Furthermore, prices are reasonable and it has a large menu. The oyster stew was very good and my po Boy was excellent. The mahi mahi accompanying the salad was very good as well. I am giving this restaurant a 4 rather than a 5 because the salads were bland. They need more vegetables and more exciting salad dressing. It would have been great if bread was also served.

I’m sure it’s been mentioned in other reviews, but there are no reservations here. We saw all the hype and decided to give it a try, not realizing the wait would be about an hour to an hour and a half. We figured if it’s that busy, it must be worth it, so we walked around the boardwalk until our table was ready. The service was great and our waitress was very nice. We started with oysters and calamari. The calamari literally melted in my mouth, hands down the best I’ve ever had. The oysters were fine, but honestly not worth the hype. My fiancée had the shrimp po’boy with fries, she thought the sandwich was alright and the fries were way too salty. I had the crab cakes, which were really good. The place is definitely on the pricier side, but it seems like they use fresh, local ingredients and overall the quality is great. A solid spot and worth trying at least once

Henlopen City Oyster House: A Coastal Gem Worth Craving From the moment we sat down, everything just clicked — prompt service, warm atmosphere, and a menu that knew exactly what it was doing. We shared seared scallops, creamy clam chowder, two rounds of ultra-fresh oysters, and the standout: lobster mac and cheese, rich and indulgent in all the right ways. Every dish felt thoughtful, fresh, and full of flavor. Prices were reasonable for the quality, and the experience left us already planning our return in the off-season. This place is more than a dinner spot — it’s one you’ll keep thinking about long after the last bite.

Lovely place! Great waitress Renah, different vibe off season, amazing cocktails and great seafood. Clams, oysters and calamari. Yum!! Totally charming drop in, late afternoon, we're sure to sneak back soon.

Wonderful place to start off the New Year! I enjoyed plump oysters from the raw bar, oysters Rockefeller, and my guest enjoyed clam chowder! Atmosphere was great, easy to talk! Eric was great in his service and so friendly! Great beer selection and full bar!

A true gem in Rehoboth Beach. If you are looking for an upscale food experience with a low-key beach vibe, this is your spot. We never roll into town without stopping here at least once. They treat everyone the same, whether they are a tourist or a local. The food and drink are matched with attentive and friendly staff. Our most recent visit included meeting the owner who was behind the oyster bar shucking. It’s hard to pick a favorite dish with so many great options, but the bouillabaisse always hits. Pro tip: fill out the complimentary postcard they give you. They will stamp it and mail it for you, brilliant!

The food here was excellent. The oysters were super fresh and everything we ordered was really well prepared. You can tell the kitchen knows what they’re doing, and the quality of the seafood really stood out. Service was also friendly and quick. The only thing that caught us a little off guard was the vibe when we first walked in. My wife and I went together and it seemed like the place had a very specific crowd and atmosphere that we weren’t really expecting, so it felt a little different for us at first. That said, everyone was nice and the food was great, which is what really matters. If you’re looking for really good oysters and seafood, this place is definitely worth trying.

We’ve been dining here since they opened. There’s much to love about the array of seafood and the top-notch service. Today was no exception. Loved my lobster roll. Not a New England style hot dog roll but instead a buttery brioche split-top roll — even better:-); lobster salad was lightly dressed and flavorful. Recommend the roasted sumac carrots — sumac is subtle so doesn’t overpower the sweetness of the carrots. Husband loved his blackened mahi-mahi with French fries. We didn’t have dessert today, but we’ve loved the Key lime pie here in the past.

Fantastic food with great service! This Friday evening visit just after 6:30 was nice. We were seated immediately and our server was awesome with her menu knowledge and even had a great suggestion on how to enjoy lemonade with a touch of club soda! The ambiance for an early evening dinner was not noisy and we were able to use our library voices. Our fried clams and shrimp po'boy sandwich with fries were brought out quickly and the portions and presentations were pleasing to the eye and palate. My wife had the beer oyster shooter and she was pleased. Would definitely recommend that one! Henlopen City is a must visit for this area because it is off the main street and parking is pretty good.

We were headed to one of our favorite sushi spots for my wife's birthday and they were closed. Completely disappointed.... UNTIL, we found our new favorite spot! The service and food here.... Insanely delicious. It's gonna be put on our rotation of favorites for sure! Jacob our server was very informative and on point with everything he recommended. Run run run to this spot!

Yesterday (10/07/24), my wife and I had dinner there. Our appetizer, Delaware Oysters were very weak in the flavor department and something I wish hadn't sounded so good in the description! We found the food was really tasty but I found my Jerk Tuna rather salty, the braised carrots were pretty tasteless and the garlic broccoli although very tasty was barely warm when served! My wife's grouper was very good but was a little light on the sauce and sides! The dining room was very nice but the tables were a little bit too crowded for me! Our server, was very inattentive and at times abrasive to the point of being just plain rude! We ordered their Peanut butter pie to go - it was delicious but hard to eat without a spoon or fork! I my opinion, they offered a well thought out and varied menu but failed in its execution! All things being considered, I would not bother to go back the next time we visit Rehoboth, DE! Have to find some other place to dine!

Had an absolutely delicious meal at HCOH. This place is amazing! They don't take reservations, so my tip is to arrive early to try and snag a seat. I dined at 4:30 and managed to get a table right away. This place is popular and gets packed! I highly recommend their cocktails and they have an impressive beer & wine list too. The oysters Rockefeller are very good and I throughly enjoyed the special: local Black Sea bass served with a delicious salad and fermented veggies. Don't miss the duck fat potatoes! They're so good! I highly recommend this restaurant for a nice dinner in Rehoboth with great service!

Back for the second time around!!! It didn't fail we ordered the crispy scallops and the oyster plater and it's definitely the best I've had and I had a lot!!! And Tricia is a nice gal recommended new drinks for me and my hubby definitely worth the drive

Very decent choice if you are in the area! Lovely food, lovely vibe, lovely staff. The food comes out incredibly fast, we were impressed. I got the Amberjack was enjoyed it very much. The portion size is great. PS It is very close to the Rehoboth boardwalk so street parking only and may be tough to find a spot. This place is a walk in only, and will only seat a complete party.

Everything was delicious, had the middle neck clams, French onion soup and grilled fish sandwich. Good service, nice place. Will go back.

When I come to the Eastern shore, I must go to Henlopen City Oyster House. Coming in March helps because there's not the same wait! We showed up around 5:45 p.m. and got seated right away. My daughter loves raw oysters, so got a selection. The waitress was SO kind, saying she wanted her to try one she hadn't ordered and brought it to her gratis. But the grilled oysters really are what I crave - so delicious. We've never done the seafood potluck before, and generally it's something I wouldn't choose because there's not much "cheffing" with boiling seafood. However, it's what my daughter wanted, and it really was a wonderfully large portion. What's not to love about a lot of seafood? Henlopen's a reason to come to the Eastern shore in the off-season. They deserve their top 100 seafood restaurants in America rating!

Fun for lunch midday to grab a couple beers and apps at the bar but, also a great spot for nice dinner over in the restaurant area. I especially love the bar atmosphere and being able to watch the oyster shuckers. The rotating beer selection is always great due to great IPA availability. The rotating menu also is indicative of how fresh the ingredients are! Loved the Lobster Mac and cheese and the fish sandwich! The raw bar is nice too: enjoyed the Old Bay shrimp, clams & mussels. Additionally, the caesar salad, & french fries are very good! Bartenders and wait staff are also always incredibly friendly! A must try in the Rehoboth area!!

I knew I had to try Henlopen City Oyster House after seeing it ranked 32nd on Yelp's top 100 seafood restaurants. With that being said, I'm glad I did because it was phenomenal. With that known, I started things off with the clam chowder and it was very good. To explain, the chowder was fresh and had excellent flavor. In addition, the chowder was loaded with clams and potatoes. It was a tasty clam chowder. Following that, I ordered the lobster roll with macaroni and cheese. Now, I don't say this lightly, but the lobster roll was the best cold lobster roll I've ever had. To enumerate, the lobster was incredibly fresh and tender. The lobster mixed with the mayo created a delicious cold and creamy flavor. Furthermore, they put a ton of lobster in the roll. Also, the roll was huge, fresh, and toasted to perfection. After that, I tried the macaroni and cheese and the results were similar. The macaroni and cheese was creamy, cheesy, and tasted great. This was an excellent macaroni and cheese. Following that, I ordered dessert which I rarely do. I ordered the peanut butter pie and it was scrumptious. To put into words, the peanut butter was creamy and delicious. Moreover, the crust matched perfectly with the chocolate and peanut butter. This was simply a top notch pie. At long last, Henlopen City Oyster House has top tier lobster rolls and it is one of the best seafood restaurants I've ever been to.

We had a wonderful dinner here earlier this week. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, so we decided to go early in hopes of avoiding a long wait. Our plan worked out fine. We got to the restaurant a little before 6 & put our name on the wait list & went to the bar for a drink. We ended up ordering & eating our appetizer in the bar. By the time we finished eating our appetizer, our table was ready. So we paid the bar tab & went into the dining room. For our appetizer, we shared an order of fried calamari. It was good. It was somewhat unusual in that it had a red wine sauce on the bottom of the serving dish. For our entrees, one of us had the lobster roll & the other had the sautéed scallops. Both dishes were good, though I can't say that I was thrilled with the sauce served with the scallops--it was a mix of eggplant & other veggies, nothing bad about it but not particularly to my taste.

Henelopen City Oyster House Our visit was May. Acknowledgment to my favorite bar staff. You're so sweet. Fried clam strips with homemade roumalade dip. Cask drawn was awesome: Union cask duckpin. Oh man. Oh man Wine pours were good. Oyster shuckers are going full. Sat in the Bar area and watched the Phillies win. Then dinner in the main dining room. I had the delicious Tilefish with purple carrots in curry. Shrimp boil was big and tasty. My love had an enormous Lobster roll with vinegar Cole slaw. My friend had the Chowder and eat every drop. 2 long time servers are great. Fries were a bit too salty. Really, I get enough from the ocean; Really.

Party of four for lunch Tuesday food & service was great Jack our server was great with suggestions highly recommend this restaurant

It's extremely rare that I eat at the same restaurant twice while traveling, but on a recent trip to Rehobeth Beach, just couldn't stop myself from lunching here twice. A few blocks from the beach, Henlopen City Oyster House seems to avoid the crowd and tourist trap of some of the other eateries in the area and provide elevated seafood and incredible service in an upscale dining room. Focusing on really fresh ingredients and homemade almost everything, I needed the bartender to help guide me in what to pick my first visit: there were just too many incredible options to choose from. Crowd favorites seem to be the salads (particularly the Caesar which comes with a whole anchovy on top!), the clam chowder, the old bay shrimp, and the lobster roll. I was in town for a wedding where I knew we would be having clams, raw oysters, and lobster at the reception, so on both visits, opted for things I wouldn't get at the wedding or in the landlocked state I live. I landed on the fried clam strips, the super fresh and incredible Caesar salad, grilled oysters (topped with Johnsons bays, sumac butter, just insanity), and the crème de la creme: the light fried scallops dish. I could write sonnets about that fried scallops dish. My neighbor at the bar ordered it on my first visit and found it so amazing, he insisted on letting me try it, and oh jeezus this dish is a love letter to the seafood gods. Ordered a full plate to myself on my second visit and it is genuinely one of the most perfect things I have ever eaten: lightly fried scallops and fried slices of lemon, sea urchin aioli, sea beans. No notes, just perfection. The Caesar salad was so satisfyingly umami, crunchy, perfectly lightly dressed. The grilled oysters had the most heavenly sumac butter, herby taste. A total win of a casual lunch, made even better with an excellent wine menu for pairing with seafood (the skin contact orange and alberino were unreal and very reasonably priced!) For dessert, I got the key lime pie which was completely homemade, huge (required saving leftovers for a late night snack) and just the *chef's kiss* way to end my meal. Took a nap after each lunch here and had my friends at the wedding asking about this place, I raved about it so much. This restaurant will forever live in my mind as the Meals You Dream About from Vacation.

A first time visit for dinner. OUTSTANDING! The restaurant does not take reservations but we were seated in 10 minute. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. You would feel you're at a cozy restaurant in Boston. The raw oysters were delicious and my bouillabaisse was the best I ever had. My wife had herb grilled redfish that she enjoyed thoroughly. Highly recommend ordering the Beer Jam Manhattan. Looking forward to our next visit there!

A visit to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, wouldn't be complete without a stop at Henlopen City Oyster House. They have a good selection of food and drinks! My winning lineup: Fried Oysters for appetizer, Bouillabaisse for the main course, and the grand finale - Smith Island Cake for dessert - it was a tough between the cake and parfait. The Fried Oysters were briny, plump, and are delicately coated in a crisp, golden brown butter and they were definitely NOT overcooked. Bouillabaisse had a flavorful broth, rich and perfectly complemented the seafood and tomato base. The shellfish must be meticulously cleaned, and the texture of the fish pieces needs to be spot-on. To top it all off, a generous amount of saffron is added to infuse that delightful aroma and depth into the flavor. All in all all the food and drinks (including the oyster shots) we tried exceed our expectations. For a foodie like me, I would say that the price is fair because of how fresh the ingredients are and most of the ingredients are procured from local farmers and purveyors. The service was good, our server was very friendly, knowledgable and made sure that he was able to attend to anything we needed. The place itself is a destination. The atmosphere is bright and friendly + they have an oyster bar where you can watch their cool and friendly staff carefully and meticulously shucking oysters. We were walk in customers and the wait time was less than 15 mins even if it was a full house at that time. It's location is close to local shops and there are other things you can do in case they have a waiting time. Henlopen City Oyster House's menu changes daily, depending on ingredient availability and what's in season and with that said, this is a place that we will come again every time we are in the area.

I recently visited Henlopen City Oyster House with some friends and had a fantastic experience. We were fortunate enough to sit at the oyster bar and watch the fresh oysters get shucked for every order. The oyster selection is one of the best I have ever seen so we had to order the Oyster Sampler. The sampler of oysters were from mostly the New England area and super fresh. Each oyster had a unique amount of meatiness, flavor, sweetness and/or brininess. We also enjoyed the New England Lobster Roll. A soft bun was filled with cool, creamy, and finely shredded fresh lobster meat. A side of thick, soft, and gooey Mac and Cheese was paired with the roll. The food nicely paired with local craft beer. Overall, this is one of the best Oyster Bars that I have ever visited.

Loved this cute little restaurant that I found while in Rehoboth! The wait time wasn't very long so, that was nice being that they don't take reservations. It was very well lit in the inside. The space is a little tight but, I didn't mind. This was by far my favorite meal I had while visiting PA/ NJ/ DE. We had oysters, the cheese board, bouillabaisse and lobster mac and cheese. Everything was wonderful from the food to the beverage. I will 100% return if ever in Rehoboth!

Our second trip to Henlopen city oyster House, following our first experience back in June this, like the first we were treated like royalty, show our table a great conversation with our server in this case, Karin about menu items and wine options in preparation for a wonderful evening out We both started with a glass of the Gruner leader. And started our dining experience with an order of clams Casino- peppers, shallot, garlic, Parmesan cheese crumbs, and smoked bacon. I ordered the pan, roasted Florida red grouper entrée- young carrots, red onions, ginger, Mirren, wilted, purple kale, and Muna, yellow coconut, curry, sunflower shoots, lemon, and argumato oil. Fabulous tasting and lovely presentation. My wife enjoyed a Maryland crabcake entrée. Henlopen city oyster House is a go to for us on any truck down to the area Don't blame me if you drool over your phone looking at my food photos

Wish I could give more stars! If you are any where near this restaurant you should make a point to check it out as you will not be disappointed. Have gone here multiple times. Delicious food and just a terrific atmosphere with super friendly staff. They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait. Best bet is to sit in bar area if can find spot. Never had anything that wasn't great here ... food and drink. They have a delicious orange wine and they know how to make cocktails!! Oyster sampler is a great way to get lots of different types and flavors. Well priced for what you get. Ordered a burger this time and it didn't disappoint. Again, can't go wrong with anything on this menu. You will be very pleased with what this place has to offer.

Everything we got was solid. The oysters were sweet and so fresh. The steak was tender and the kids enjoyed the Mac and cheese (bonus points, the food came out fast). Also nice that the kids were given crayons and sheets of paper that draped over the table, so essentially they could drawer right on the table. We went on a Sunday and 10 minutes before it turned 5 o clock and were able to get a table for 4 right away.

Very rude greeters ...don't think I'll be back. I've been coming in for years and I'm done w the snob attitude. Thanks for the good food over the years but I'll not allow my friends nor myself to be talked to the way we were last night. Very disappointed and embarrassed for the behavior

Came back from Brooklyn! Amazing experience. In the fall they open for lunch so you know we were here 2 days in a row. Oyster champagne shooter is still the best! Oysters werent as good as usual but probably due to season. Great service great atmosphere, great glasses even! We loved it!

I landed on the lobster roll! It was delicious and I really liked the ambiance of the restaurant! Our waiter was awesome and was happy to answer all of our questions! My husband decided on this trip to have his very first whole lobster. It was an experience for sure. He said it was good and he didn't struggle to eat it. The salad that came with his dinner was delicious and my French fries were great as well. We will definitely be back, as we love visiting Rehoboth beach!

Outstanding food and service. Eat there nearly every visit to Rehoboth. The oysters and lobster roll are two of my favorites.

We had seen that this restaurant made number 33 on Yelp's Best Seafood Restaurants of 2024 and knew we were heading to Rehoboth soon so we decided to stop by. I'm not upset we did because it was some of the best seafood I've ever had. We went on a Friday night around 7pm in late May and had about a 20 minute wait. They do not take reservations or call ahead seating so be prepared to wait during prime season. Our waitress was so sweet, the service all around was top notch. My husband got that Sauvignon Blanc ($15) and I got the Oyster House Punch ($13) which was refreshing. For an appetizers we got the Crispy Scallops ($22) which came with Fried Lemons and Sea Urchin Aioli and oh my gosh was this amazing!! The scallops were so tender, it only took light pressure for the knife to cut it in half and the sea urchin aioli was the most interesting tasting aioli I've ever had. Everything meshed together so well, definitely the highlight of the meal. As my entree, I got the Lobster Mac & Cheese ($32) it was so creamy and came with huge chunks of lobster. Absolutely amazing. Ryan got the Herb Grilled Florida Tripletail ($38) with Grilled Asparagus & Caesar Salad which was very light and not fishy at all. The asparagus was for sure my favorite of his sides, it was lemony and still had a good snap to it. Then for dessert we got the Key Lime Pie, which was tart and creamy and so good!! We had a fantastic time and would definitely come back!

Some of the best oysters I've ever had. Excellent selection. Oyster stew was fantastic as were the cod cheeks. Mussels in Ana amazing Thai coconut sauce are a must as well. Key lime was one of the best versions I've had.

The first night at the beach we wanted to eat there. Upon arrival there was a whole of commotion outside. Since it was raining I kept my son's nintendo game box in my bag so walking up we saw there were secret service at the door and realized the first lady was dining there. We could go in but there would be a search. So I told them up front look I have a "box" inside. And when they saw the game cartridges they just laughed. The restaurant had a contemporary decor with high ceiling. It was packed but we were lucky and got a table. We loved the oysters selection there were so many types but of cos we went with MA or PEI ones they didnt disappoint. I also tried the oyster stew it was so good and plentiful oysters with every spoon. The tomato salad and beet salad were good as well. We had several small plates. Later during dinner the first lady was leaving and all these black SUV started pulling up in front of the restaurant. The lobster roll was very good with a nice mac n cheese side. Anyway the oysters were most impressive and we went back for the oysters and soup again few days later. The service was execellent there.

Food- Fresh and delicious Service- Much better this year, not as snooty as our last visit Ambiance-Exciting For those who have an issue with price here, read my review about Drift in RB. Our tab was the same amount at both establishments yet Henlopen menu choices and food quality and taste were much more superior than any of the other RB restaurants.

My wife and I come here for our Anniversary date every year. Hands down amazing and friendly service. The food and drinks never disappoint. We always order the raw oyster sampler. You would be foolish not to order it. I got the softshell crabs and it was the best I have ever had! My wife ordered their scallops in risotto. Basically anything you order you will not be disappointed and if there is a wait to get a table it will be worth it.

Raw Oysters and bar. Good menu and very nice staff. Very busy in season but award winning oysters. Reservations helpful but not needed if there for happy hour. Very small bar on the but worth it.

This was an amazing meal. It was my daughter in laws birthday and we wanted to have a special meal. The waiter was so unassuming and attentive at the same time. He gave us suggestions on oysters that were spot on. We all had very different tastes, my son and I had an outstanding Caesar salad served with a white anchovy. We both had raw oysters from Delaware and some Canadian oysters. My wife had a lobster roll with fresh cut fries. My daughter in law had the a shrimp Po boy with salad greens. We added the clam strips and conch fritters. Finished with Key lime pie. Everyone was impressed and we had such a great experience.

Big mis-STEAK ordering the $54 rib eye in an OYSTER restaurant. Karen's service was on pointe yet I noticed her subtle nuances only the servers of a restaurant are privy to and should be translated to the guest. Appetizer of 6 fried Virginia oysters, dusted and fried to perfection. And accompanied by a mini portion of chicken salad according to old DE tradition. The 6 Oyster Rockefeller baked and broiled just right. The bowl of assorted seafood in Boulibasse sauce with rich flavor was highlight of dinner. The side of Mac noodles tossed in Cheesy thick creaminess. Upcharge $7. Now to the rib eye, say 8-10 ounces. I initially ordered medium and the server, Karen, suggested med well if I didn't want a lot of pink with a touch of red?! So, ordered med well and it presented ALL brown, like WELL. The one end was entirely fat, the other end was fine and the main loin was tough & overdone to my expectations. Definitely should have ordered MEDIUM. The steak sat atop a base of sauté eggplant with cherry tomatoes reduction and pesto were under whelming especially since as I was chewing, thought I lost part of a tooth and a random piece of clear, round acrylic fell out of my mouth from the bite of eggplant. The server apologized, wrapped the piece in a napkin and slid it off the table, then nothing. The END. Off to the next better restaurant. 1776? For steak.

I do enjoy this place. The ambiance and drinks are great and the servers are always great. I have had two great meals here and will be coming back next summer!

I can't say enough good things about this place. I've been here many times and each visit has been spectacular. The diverse selection of oysters are fresh and perfectly shucked, the apps are delicious (try the cod cheeks!), and the main courses are varied and well prepared. If you ever come across a whole fish special while you're here, order it. You won't be disappointed. The servers are knowledgeable and perfectly attentive. The wine list is nicely curated with an unusually large selection of orange wines. If you're not familiar with orange wine, it's worth coming in just to give them a try. The selection of beers is also outstanding. The kolsch and the Odd Breed Oddities and Outliers is worth a try too. Henlopen City Oyster House is at the top of my list of favorite restaurants not only in Rehoboth, but anywhere.

As a disclaimer, I did not actually eat here. However, I needed to leave this review because this is the most baffling waiting list policy I've ever encountered in my life. They open at 3pm, and my group of 5 wanted to beat the dinner rush so we came around 3:45pm. We knew they do not take reservations and operate on a strict waiting list only policy. The host told me they only have 2 tables in the entire restaurant that serve a group larger than 4, which is already Weirdness Exhibit #1. A restaurant this popular only takes that many groups larger than 4? No one thought to suggest putting tables together? Or suggest saving 5 seats at the bar? Or have us sit separately until they can put two tables together? I didn't think the restaurant was that small, in my opinion. Then, she says there are several groups in front of me for those measly 2 tables. So the wait will be about 4.5 hours!!! She looked me in the eyes and said in full sincerity that at 4pm, the wait for a table for dinner is already 4.5 hours. I've been to some of the hottest restaurants and eateries in cities around the world. I have never in my life been quoted a wait this long. What's worse is that when we came back after spending an hour and a half out at a bar, the host would not give us the time of day. The host said it's only been an hour when we clearly said it's been an hour and a half. Not only did he give attitude, but he didn't attempt to look at the host tablet to search for our reservation or anything. He did not even make eye contact with us as we spoke to him. I don't know if prejudice played any part in this awful service interaction, but it was altogether an insulting and baffling experience. If you plan to bring a group bigger than 4, please keep my experience in mind.

We waited for 45 minutes on the waitlist and was excited by the hype of this place. ( our first time in Rehoboth and this was recommended) Alas, this was extremely disappointing. We ordered two oyster pohboys Mine came with inedible fries and my husbands with decent coleslaw. The pohboys were sorely lacking in dressing. A pickled cabbage at the bottom of the roll was the only dressing and it was insufficient in providing moisture. I tore off most of my bread and in the end, just ate the fried oysters. For an Oyster House this was surprisingly wrong. The waitress, when she asked how it was, and we answered with our above assessment, gave us a bill which cancelled our sandwiches. Very gracious, but we ordered and ate them, and paid for them. It just was not the oyster experience we had wanted

We just had a wonderful New Years Eve dinner at Henlopen City Oyster House and it was most definitely review worthy. We were SUPER lucky and snuck in for a two top before the dinner crowds and got a lovely table and an attentive server. We started off with the smoked fish plate and drinks which were a good size pour. The smoked mussels were my favorite and I was introduced to a caperberry which I had never in my life heard of before! We decided from there that we'd get a few more appetizers so we could maximize tasting ALL the things. We ordered the crispy scallops which they happily modified as I have a peanut allergy and apparently these were prepared in the oil. I appreciated their willingness and knowledge there! We also had the yellow fin tar tar which was fantastic and came topped with tobiko and was infused with citrus. Then we had the "pot luck" which was a steamer bowl of oysters, mussels, clams and shrimp with andouille sausage, potatoes and Brussel sprouts. YUM. I didn't love the sausage but everything else was amazing. It was a wonderful evening, it was reasonably priced, the food was excellent, the service was superb and we can't wait to come back and try all the other amazing things on their daily-changing menu! It's one of the nicest restaurants in Rehoboth but causal enough to not feel to uppity. It has definitely become one in rotation on for our visits.

We arrived on a Saturday night and the estimate was a nearly 2 to 3 hr wait (yikes!). Before we gave up hope, we were told that the bar area was a first-come first serve situation, so we ordered drinks and staked out the space. To say that it's competitive would be an understatement, lol. We did luck out to find one seat, and the couple next to us were kind enough to squeeze, so that my partner could sit next to me. We started off with the oysters, and I was excited to see kumamoto's on the menu, as they are my favorite kind. We then shared the mussels (also very very good) and I had the soft shell crab as my main. If I wasn't lactose intolerant, I def would have had the lobster mac n cheese (next time!). Service was wonderful, the vibe/energy of the spot is great, the cocktails are solid and the food divine. I can definitely see why this is such a popular restaurant in the area!

Hostess was pleasant smiled welcomed us and seated us right away, No wait. My wife got the oysters said they were good but that she's had better. We got the curry fish and the jerk and they were both delicious the curry was really really good. Waiter was just okay not to attentive Prices are average We would return again

Talk of the town in Rehoboth Beach, DE lived up to the hype! Henlopen does oysters well, I mean it's their namesake after all. But really, clean shuck, fresh and great local/north east options. Not pictured: the house salad and the cocktail special featuring gin, cocchi americano and absinthe which were equally great. The main entree was okay, not great. The fish was sauced in a jerk marinate topped with plum and raisin chutney. But other than the sauce, the fish lacked salt. The Mac and cheese was yummy however

Wife and I came here on a whim, after our first choice for a Happy Hour dinner fell through...and we're so glad we did! What a gem this place is with a lively bar atmosphere, great servers and outstanding food. We selected a few cocktails and settled in to the menu to devise our eating plan. We each selected a main dish (she the fish special, me the lobster mac-n-cheese). People watching at this spot was great, and our table within a small "cove" near the bar entrance gave us a bit of quiet and privacy. Her crab cakes platter was substantial. These crab cakes come with no filler, so the crab flavor just bursts right through each bite. She chose a side salad and grilled broccoli as sides, both were fresh, crisp and delicious. I could not resist the luxury of a lobster dish and had heard good things about their mac-n-cheese...it did not disappoint! The shell-style pasta was covered in a mixture of gouda and white cheddar cheeses, then topped with a buttered bread crumb and chive mixture and of course ample portions of lobster meat. Each bite was melt in your mouth good and an creamy texture. After the meal we thought we might be able to squeeze in just a bit more goodness, so we ordered a slice of key lime pie. I grew up in Miami so I've had my fair share of these slices...the HCOH version was spot on! Their generous slice came atop graham cracker crust (the ONLY way it should be served) and a dollop of whipped cream (no meringue) with a tart yet sweet taste to each silky bite. What a great way to cap off a terrific evening and a superior meal. Sometimes life takes you on little diversions that end up being super-special and unexpected, and this was one of these trips.

We love going here for a fancy date night. The place is very small and intimate. The food is fresh and flavorful. I always get the oyster Rockefeller app because it's so yummy. Their Mac and cheese is super rich and very filling. The sea bass was amazing

Restaurant is very good food and the service was equally good. The ambience is very nice, the restaurant is not extremely large so it did take time to get seated, but it was worth it.

What a fantastic restaurant. From the greeting at the door, comfortable ambiance, excellent service (Jacob) and most of all the scrumptious food. Various beers on tap 5

Total vibe for martinis and oysters. Great service. Walk ins only but if you go on the early side of dinner it's never a problem

The host was abrupt, dismissive and rude. We took our chances and went to the bar area. We got seated in there and service was excellent in there. I can't fault the restaurant for the jerk at the door. I got softshell crab, and my husband got the bouillabaisse and it was excellent. The sides the came with my dinner were different, flavorful and plenty. I'll be back here in a heartbeat.

Not worth the money. A complete hassle to get into the place, front desk staff could v care less, if you stayed. The menu hasn't changed in years. Groups occupy tables for several hours while diners wait outside. terrible

We've been able to get to Henlopen Oyster House twice now, and it's been great each time. Lunch at the bar on a cold day was a great combination of French onion soup - truly delicious, flavorful, just enough cheese and not at all salty. Very very nice. We then shared an order of lobster Mac and cheese- it was heavenly. Really rich ( hence a share ) but oh so yummy. Service was excellent, vibe was good. At this time of year it's all locals which takes the summer crowd manic atmosphere down several notches . We will be back before the season kicks in. Overall a great spot.