Delaware was once voted one of America’s most boring states. However, exciting restaurants like Franco’s Pizza & Pasta, which offers a little piece of Italy in the city, is leading the fight back. Serving huge pizzas alongside hearty pasta dishes, Franco’s won’t leave diners hungry. Mood lighting, exposed brickwork and simple furnishings help to create a homely atmosphere. As well as pizza and pasta, Franco’s serves enormous stromboli – the calzone’s big brother, stuffed with all manner of pizza toppings. There are a few less doughy dishes, but not many – the seafood platter is a lighter dish but is still a big serve.
Franco’s Pizza & Pasta, 1708 E Lebanon Rd, Dover, DE, USA, +1 302 677 1946
Little Richard’s is a local barbecue joint in downtown Dover, specialising in succulent meats and delectable sides that are indulgent treats, but for everyday consumption. The exterior of the building is ordinary (a small brick shed) – people could easily pass by without realising what was inside. Serving beef brisket, sausage sandwiches, ribs and pulled meats, Little Richard’s has everything a barbecue enthusiast could ever want.
Little Richard’s, 1171 S Bay Rd, Dover, DE, USA, +1 302 678 2856
Afternoon tea is quintessentially English – finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and delicate cakes. Set in a beautiful Victorian-style building, Tea for Two has been carefully designed to look as close to that historical period as possible. The tearoom has 50 varieties of loose-leaf teas, as well as German cakes, pastries, and more. Guests can also choose a number of tea platters, specially combined with a choice of sandwiches and desserts that are designed to complement each other.
Tea for Two, 224 N State St, Dover, DE, USA, +1 302 678 2226
A local barbecue joint in downtown Dover, Where Pigs Fly first opened its doors to expectant crowds in 1993, and has been serving classic pork-style barbecue ever since. With the weather in Dover (and Delaware as a whole) fluctuating between seasons, Where Pigs Fly offers a sunny outside porch for dining when it’s warm, and a cosy fireside for cooler times. Lunch specials include a half-rack of baby back ribs, or a quarter of smoked barbecued chicken. There are also a number of pulled-meat platters, involving tender pork, chicken, or classic smoked beef brisket.
Where Pigs Fly, 617 E Loockerman St, Dover, DE, USA, +1 302 678 0586