Rehoboth Foodie

Though the original chef and co-owner Michael Stiglitz is no longer with the restaurant group, all other partners (including his wife) remain. And if your comments are any indication, they are still doing a good job.

Pig and Fish Restaurant Company is located on Rehoboth Avenue on the south side of the street where the old Sydney's Jazz Club used to be. Having owned a BBQ restaurant, I'm hard to please (bordering on annoying, truth be told...) when it comes to smoked pork, brisket, chicken and other BBQ items. Pig & Fish surprises me every time. Their Carolina-style pork BBQ is  infused with vinegar and hickory and, take my word for it, is the "real thing." It's served sauceless (a la North Carolina, of course). There are no hickory smokers on the premises. (Former Chef Stiglitz generously shared his secret with me, and I will not divulge it, but I do plan to try his method very soon.) With the sandwich, don't wimp out on the cole slaw! It adds a refreshing temperature gradient and a celebratory crunch. I like to pile on the pickles too. The all-important roll is yeasty and dense with a crispy exterior, almost like a ciabattini. (NOTE: A BBQ sandwich with a stale or tough roll is a disaster and must be instantly disposed of.)

It's not all about BBQ at The P&F. Listen closely to the litany of specials, for they are almost always good. From the crispy chopped salad full of goodies (more about that later), to their seasonal soups, appetizer-time is a party. They sometimes offer variations on the basic Memphis or Baby Back ribs, and they are all good. None of that par-cooked & sauced cry-vac'd stuff from the food purveyors (or if it is, they sure hide it well!): P&F does it up right, with a delicate crispy crunch on the top surface of the meat (evidence of a proper last-minute sear, hopefully over a flame), not soggy but still easy to pull from the bone.

With all of my signature humility, I must tell you that I can do pretty much the same thing using the Brinkman smoker in my back yard. But when I think about having to rub them with spices and other goodies the night before, then refrigerating them overnight, soaking the hickory chunks in water and juices, building a wood fire, standing enveloped in smoke for about 9 hours tending fire and temperature, then dodging the flames as I sauce and sear 'em on the grill over high heat, it just seems a lot more civilized to order them at Pig and Fish. Let them burn off their eyebrows!

The last time we went, I had the Lobster Mac 'n' Cheese. Anchored with a densely satisfying orecchiette pasta, the sauce was rich and buttery, but a bit thin for my taste. I would have liked it more cohesive and tight. Frankly, a little more lobster would have been nice too. There were only three rather small pieces and I'm not sure it justified the $20+ price tag.

My favorite dining companion loves the Pan Crispy Chicken Breasts, nicely finished with mashed potatoes and a veggy. Other signature items I can't leave out are the Tabasco Smoked Pork Tenderloin and the Barbecued Meatloaf. Interesting and creative twists on basic comfort grub.

Don't miss the "Chowdah," a not-too-thick New England-style clam chowder loaded with corn, bacon and potatoes. Try a little Tabasco on top for a nice extra kick. Another appetizer that I always try to order is the BBQ Basted Pork Quesadilla, a happy marriage of BBQ and Mexican flavors.

I pride myself on my own chopped salad (a popular item at my restaurant many years ago) and P&F takes the Chopped BLT Salad a step further with, among other things, gorgonzola and bleu cheese, bacon and red onions. They offer two sizes depending on when you ate last.... I can go on and on about various individual dishes, but suffice it to say that I have never yet had a bad meal at Pig and Fish. I think that many of us who live here in Rehoboth Beach have certain restaurants that we reserve to impress visiting friends and family. For me, Pig & Fish is one of those places where you can be sure that everybody will leave happy and full.

The Pig and Fish Restaurant Company is located at 236 Rehoboth Avenue. Give them a call at 302-227-7770 to make sure they are open. Click here for Pig 'n' Fish's menu. (L. (limited in off-season--call), D., Bar) Price Range: Moderate +.