Nectar offers casual alternative for dinner in Lewes
What's for dinner? When folks ask that question in Lewes, it can now be answered at Nectar.
Owner Sarah McKeown recently expanded the menu and hours of the restaurant to meet the needs of her customers.
"We've had a lot of requests to stay open for dinner because there aren't a lot of places in downtown Lewes to have a casual dinner if you just want soups, salads or a sandwich,” she said. “I felt comfortable and prepared enough with the business to stay open later.”
Nectar is now open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The menu still has all of the light, healthy options it's had since opening in 2013, but it now has more variety.
“I try to have something for everyone,” McKeown said. “We are primarily a health food restaurant, so I like to have vegan and vegetarian options, but we've also got some meat options as well.”
New to the menu is a selection of heavier entrées, such as lemon ricotta shrimp bucatini, chicken pot pie, pot roast and the catch of the day steamed in parchment.
“I like to have things you can't necessarily get at other restaurants,” she said.
Falling into that category is the Dogfish 60 Minute baked chicken. A half chicken is marinated and baked in Dogfish's cornerstone brew and served with a beer honey mustard glaze. The menu recommends ordering a Dogfish to go along with dinner for an additional $3.
For those who'd rather go in the vegan direction, Nectar offers the cauliflower steak. A thick cut of cauliflower is served over rice pilaf with romesco sauce and topped with olives, capers and roasted tomatoes.
All dishes were created by McKeown. While she has no formal training, she said, cooking has been her passion since childhood. Once a lawyer, McKeown gave it up and moved back to her hometown to open Nectar.
“I cook all the food. I'm on the line every day,” she said. “I like to have my hands in there making it all and making sure it is the quality that I would expect from Nectar.”
It is important to McKeown that everything is fresh and made from scratch, including salad dressings, soups and sauces. Her salad dressings, soups and pickles have become so popular, she has begun selling them in a small retail section of the restaurant. Customers can also get high-end cheeses brought in from Point Reyes, Calif.
With enough notice, Nectar can also prepare one of its many desserts for pickup. Created by McKeown's mom and sister – a pastry chef – the dessert menu features delectable options, like gluten-free carrot cake, vegan chocolate avocado torte and lemon meringue cheesecake.
Nectar hosts a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m., offering a fully stocked bar with beer, wine and spirits. The restaurant's signature drink is a bloody mary with freshly juiced vegetables. All other cocktails are made with fresh fruit juice, McKeown said.
Nectar is located on Neils Alley between Front and Second streets. For more information, call 302-645-5842 or go to cafenectar.com.
