DiFebo’s set to open in Rehoboth
After 26 years of down-home Italian cooking in Bethany Beach, DiFebo’s is set to expand to Rehoboth Beach.
Taking over at the former Adriatico at 30 Baltimore Ave., owner Lisa DiFebo said the chance to open in Rehoboth was an opportunity she could not pass up.
DiFebo said her family has a history in the restaurant business: her father was in the business in the 1960s and still makes DiFebo’s sauce, and her uncle owned Feeby’s in Wilmington, where DiFebo got her start. DiFebo said when she knew she was going to expand to Rehoboth, she made sure her dad was still on board to help make the meatballs, gravy and sauces.
“The core of DiFebo’s is going to remain the same,” she said. “I was not going to pull the trigger on this until he gave me a commitment. I think he knew it was going to be a good opportunity.”
The menu of DiFebo’s comes from the family recipes, with their coastal roots coming through in seafood dishes with an Italian spin. DiFebo said the most important items are the homemade pastas and raviolis.
“It’s just food we grew up on – it’s family cuisine,” DiFebo said.
A wife and mother of three, DiFebo said it has been a challenging time trying to open a new restaurant while running another, but she credited the staff of her Bethany restaurant with keeping that ship sailing.
DiFebo had originally planned to open March 10, but interior renovations to the restaurant were not yet complete. She said she is hoping for a soft opening by the end of March. While the inside is nearly complete, DiFebo said, she wants to give the staff time to gel before opening the doors.
DiFebo’s will have a lighter interior look with sand-colored walls, and the outdoor deck that was so popular at Adriatico will remain, DiFebo said.
“It’s comfort food, so I want the inside to be cozy. More of a residential feel,” she said. “It’s a great corner.”
DiFebo said her favorite part of DiFebo’s is the lunch menu. ”You can’t beat a good Italian sandwich,” she said.
Even though Adriatico has been on the corner of First Street and Baltimore Avenue since 1976, DiFebo said she is looking to make her own mark at the location.
“I want this to be a special location. I feel like it’s a nice fit,” she said.
DiFebo’s will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on DiFebo’s, call 302-226-4550.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
