Bodhi Kitchen, a Pan-Asian restaurant offering street foods and a dim sum brunch, has opened in downtown Rehoboth Beach.
The 52-seat restaurant at 10 N. First St. had its grand opening on Wednesday, July 12. It takes over the spot formerly occupied by Lily Thai Cuisine.
This is the third restaurant from the fast-growing Second Block Hospitality Management.
The Second Block partners include Lion Gardener, David Gonce, Bob Suppies and Tyler Townsend, who also run the Baltimore Avenue restaurants The Pines American Bistro and Drift Seafood & Raw Bar, as well as an entertainment venue inside The Pines called The Top of the Pines.
The name bodhi comes from a Sanskrit term meaning “enlightenment” or “awakening.” It also refers to a Southeast Asian fig tree sacred to Buddhists.
Gardener, an owner and chef who was formerly at the Blue Moon, said the Asian-inspired menu will feature interpretations of Thai, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese flavors.
Featured dishes include Dan Dan noodles, a Sichuan street food known for its spicy sauce, and cumin lamb noodles, along with popular dishes like chicken satay and wonton soup.
A dim sum brunch is planned along with sake pairings. Asian-inspired cocktails made by mixologist Ben Winiarczyk include Quiet Meditation, a drink made with Japanese vodka, cucumber and basil, and a Sichuan Sour, which blends rye with spicy peppers and tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns.
Gardener said the menu was “inspired by things I like to eat and cook. I think good food is a really spiritual experience and I want Bodhi Kitchen to reflect that.”
The renovated building has both indoor and outdoor spaces created by Wilmington-based designer Bruce Palmer of Bruce Palmer Design Studio, who has incorporated murals, lighting, and an open industrial ceiling.
“We were inspired by natural materials like wood and bamboo, and wove in a lot of motifs like Japanese lanterns, Zen gardens and cranes,” he said.
Co-owner Townsend said the restaurant is a “modern take on street food and Asian night markets. No one else is doing this style food in Rehoboth.”
Indeed. While downtown Rehoboth has long been home to Confucius Chinese Cuisine on Wilmington Avenue and Japanese-inspired eateries such as The Cultured Pearl off Rehoboth Avenue and Stingray on Lake Avenue, the last pan-Asian bistro in the area was likely the former Yum Yum on Wilmington Avenue.
Many longtime Rehoboth visitors have fond memories of the dinner-only restaurant that operated from 1998 to about 2003, and had everything from Korean-style barbecued ribs to shumai to wok-smoked salmon with a black vinegar glaze.
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