Gilligan’s unveils new waterfront restaurant
Gilligan’s Waterfront Restaurant and Bar owner Cheryl Tilton was smiling ear to ear May 24, as she welcomed friends, family and VIPs into her new restaurant for a soft opening.
“I can’t believe it’s actually mine,” she said.
After working in difficult conditions for 14 years, Tilton and her staff will now enjoy the spoils of a brand-new restaurant space, built on the same location as the original Gilligan’s, on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal at the end of Market Street in Lewes.
Though Tilton had owned Gilligan’s for more than a decade, the original restaurant dated back many more years. Built into the hull of a boat that reportedly sank in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, the restaurant’s unique appearance became an icon in Lewes. The restaurant expanded around the boat over the years, but the pieced-together nature of the building created an awkward space. It also could not be open in the colder months of the year, Tilton said.
The new restaurant features two indoor dining rooms separated by a bar in the middle. The wall behind the bar has sliding windows that not only provide a great view of the water, but also allow bartenders to serve folks on the outdoor deck bar.
“Gosh, I love it all,” Tilton said. “I love the bar. I love the two separate dining rooms. I love my new kitchen. I love having my walk-in inside and not having to walk outside when it’s pouring rain to get food. It’s just fantastic.”
The new restaurant is slightly bigger, but the more efficient design allows for more dining space. Gilligan’s is now able to accommodate 62 seats inside, 68 outside and 27 in the bar area. A sliding door between the bar and the back dining room provides for private parties.
Garage doors, along with air conditioning and heating units, on the outside deck bar make the space useable year round.
“I think the local crowd is really going to enjoy that,” Tilton said.
Tilton was happy to announce that popular bartender Andrew Drawdy is back for his 15th year behind the bar.
As for the food, Tilton and chef Ryan Betts have come up with a completely new menu. Gilligan’s crab cakes are one of the few items that remain.
“I think people would stop coming if I did away with the crab cakes,” she said. “I never planned on being known for our crab cakes, it just happened.”
Other highlights on the menu include tempura scallop sliders and deconstructed salmon BLT.
Gilligan’s is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Dinner will be served until 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. A late-night menu is available at the bar until 1 a.m.
For more information about Gilligan’s, call 302-644-7230 or follow the restaurant on Facebook.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
