Rehoboth Ale House serves up fun, food and drinks at the beach

The Rehoboth Ale House recently opened on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach and is bringing a cornucopia of domestic and international beers with it.

Owner Hugo Mazzalupi said the restaurant would have over 100 different beer styles available, bottles and draft, as well as an extensive lunch and dinner selection. Mazzalupi began his career in the restaurant business in King of Prussia, Pa., outside Philadelphia, with the Audubon Ale House. He said things went so well there he decided to open another location near the Delaware beaches.

“Through our travels in the last two or three years we’ve looked at Rehoboth and Dewey,” Mazzalupi said. “I have two young kids, so we would love them to grow up here and we thought, ‘Why not bring our ale house model down here?’ The people that have helped us get open have been phenomenal. The city has been so easy to work with, from the Realtors, the brokers, the neighboring bars, the neighboring restaurants have been very welcoming.”
Mazzalupi said the alehouse concept came from people wanting to match their beer with their food.

“During the day you’re going to get some great sandwiches, burgers and cheesesteaks. In the evenings we are going to do some awesome pasta dishes and some fantastic seafood dishes that will really bring the flavor out in the beer,” he said. “So when the customer comes in we can say, ‘How do you like the seafood? Well, how about this beer to go with that?’”

The menu is very affordable, Mazzalupi said, and besides domestic beers, the Ale House will have popular imports like Bass Ale and Newcastle Brown Ale as well as microbrews like Dogfish Head and Saranac. Other food items include pub fare, appetizers, salads and homemade soups.

Seafood will be served in the evening and will include stuffed flounder and jumbo crab cakes cooked up by chef John Downs and his staff. Mazzalupi said the Ale House is also contemplating special nights like a rib night, among others. There are also daily specials for both lunch and dinner.

“The biggest point we’re trying to get is that it’s not going to be over-the-top. It’s not going to be expensive. You’re going to get a piece of seafood for $16, $17 and you’re going to go, ‘Wow, I had to pay $25 next door, $30 next door,’” he said.

Mazzalupi said the restaurant is still a bit under construction. The draft beer lines are still coming in, the sign still needs to go up and a new computer system is also coming. Besides getting new TVs and bar stools, the restaurant, formerly Sea Breeze and before that Ram’s Head, will also get new tables near the front window.

“Just a lot more casual,” Mazzalupi said of the new look.

He said the restaurant would likely have its grand opening around Easter. Besides the food and beers, the Ale House will also have live entertainment, oneand two-man bands, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

How Mazzalupi got into the restaurant business is a story in and of itself. A native of South Africa, he’s a golf professional by trade.

“Being in a golf environment, doing a lot of playing, a lot of teaching and one thing led to another. I started getting familiar with the food and beverage side of the operation and before you know it, I plucked up the courage and bought our first restaurant with a buddy of mine who was a golf pro,” Mazzalupi said. “It’s kind of a weird mix, but it seems to be working.”

Rehoboth Ale House is located at 15 Wilmington Ave. and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

For more information call 302-227-2337 or email fun@rehobothalehouse.com.