Rehoboth Foodie

MIXX is the current inhabitant of the perennial restaurant space at 26 Baltimore Ave. Frogg Pond owner Pete Borsari and business partner Ginger Brenneman, one of the former owners of DISH!, have hit the ground running with their "Burger and Martini MIXX Wednesdays." For a town that fully expects (and supports) off-season "specials," alcohol and burgers seem to be a winning combination. Even after a few years, Wednesday nights at MIXX are still a hot ticket.

UPDATE: Just finished a second summer 2011 visit to MIXX, and I have to say that our experience was just as good as those that spawned this original review. The menu hasn't changed much, and that IS a good thing! We started with the half-price martinis. The names for the drinks are fun: There's Alice, Yuri, Jeffrey, Ginger, Tyler ... you get the idea. I started with a Sandy (citrus vodka, cucumber, lemon, mint, sprite) Cool and refreshing on a hot muggy night. One of my very favorite Foodettes (we'll call her "Fay" to protect her privacy) had the Abigail (sweet tea vodka, lemonade, strawberry puree). Apaprently "Fay" has been there before, as Pete Bosari brought her Abigail over to the table before she even arrived. On the second round, we had an Earl and the signature MIXX-Tini. They were tasty (especially the MIXX-Tini with electric blue Hypnotiq).

At this point in an "update" I usually return you to the program already in progress, but I have just slightly modified the original review, as our opinions of MIXX have not changed, except that they are to be congratulated for keeping up the quality pretty consistently since they opened.

Get the Shrimp Lollipops! These fortunate little crustaceans are impaled on wooden sticks and encrusted with coconut and a crunchy tempura batter. (In the previous review, I commented on the misspelling of the red pepper puree (coulis) that accompanies the lollipops. They fixed it! Was it at The Foodie's suggestion? If so, The Foodie is complimented. If not, The Foodie chooses to be complimented anyway.)

I could have ordered 3 or 4 of these little gems. The Eggplant Tower has been replaced by the Veggie Tower (layered with chevre, roasted peppers, zucchini, squash and eggplant). It was just as good. The Seared Scallops with shredded brussels sprouts, bacon and a dijon aioli also remain, much to our delight. They also offer "flatbreads" (basically little pizzas) which are apparently becoming a staple here in Rehoboth Beach. They had three great sounding variations on the menu. Part of the concept at MIXX is that they make all these goodies available both as "tapas" portions or "full" portions. It's a great idea and doesn't lock you into the standard appetizer/salad/main course sequence.

Another nice add to the appetizer list is Asian Pork Tacos. They were fresh, crispy and bracingly citrusy. Imagine a fried wonton shaped like a mini-taco, filled with pork and a brightly spiced cabbage slaw with lime/cilantro dressing.

Not only do they have the standard Angus Beef Burger (what wasn't standard were the toppings: bacon, pepper jack, chipotle mayo and roasted red peppers), but they also offer a turkey burger (new with ancho pepper rub), a Chicken Burger with a Jerk bent, and an actual Buffalo Burger (yes, real bison, my friends, where the deer and the antelope play) done in the Black & Bleu style. On an earlier visit, a very picky member of our dining party (we'll call him "Jack") had it and loved it. He said it was like beef, but leaner and lighter. (Aren't you relieved he didn't say it tasted like chicken?)

The Jalapeno BBQ Pork Burger has been replaced by an Asian version crowned with that snappy slaw that was on the tacos. , with their wonderful (home made) slaw. It's not a pork chop any more, but the ground pork is lean and tasty with garlic and chili sauce.

The star of the show is the Deviled Short Ribs. Period. I can see The Chronic Complainers opening their email clients now, but I cannot tell a lie: They are still perfect. Boneless, darkly braised, caramelized and coated in horseradish, rich and tender, They were presented with mashers, grilled asparagus and a cabernet balsamic reduction. The aroma of the dark reduction dominated the table. Another bright spot on the new menu is that you can get this same thing as a burger! That's what I had last night, with .... wait for it ... carrot chips. Yup, like little crispy potato chips, but made with carrots. they are accompanied by what tasted like a soy reduction.

It's fun, noisy and kind of crowded. Give 'em a callabout entertainment, etc. Mixx is just a block from the ocean on Baltimore Ave. near the corner of First Street. Call them for hours and to make reservations at (302) 226-8700. Click here for a sample menu of MIXX' main courses. (D., Bar) Price Range: Moderate +.