Stonerail Market — Restaurant in Dover

Unassuming Gem (on Loockerman near State Street in Dover).

This is one of my first restaurant reviews, so please be patient with my longwindedness.

I just discovered Stonerail Market a few months ago. I've already had lunch here enough times to enjoy 7 of their sandwiches, 5 of their sandwich "sides," 3 of their salads, 2 of their starters, 1 of their (3) mac-n-cheeses, & 1 of their baked goods (I'm trying to be good). It's an absolute delight to relax in at a clean, comfortable, quiet cafe, and enjoy a nice meal with wonderful service & friendly staff.

First of all, I love meat of all kinds, and they have plenty of dishes with beef or chicken (I'll mention a couple of those soon enough), but there are several tasty veggie-forward dishes I wanted to mention first that will satisfy your belly and your dietary conscience:

1. The Fried Brussel Sprouts with toasted almonds, bacon pieces, julienned apples, with hot honey & balsamic reduction was the best version of Brussel sprouts I have EVER eaten (twice now). It's listed as a starter, but it's a (not-quite vegetarian) full meal for one. I'm not generally a huge sprout fan, but these are crazy-good.
2. There's an excellent Veggie Wrap that's filled with roasted vegetables. I've had three times now. It's filling, surprisingly satisfying, and I never feel like I "only" had vegetables.
3. Roasted Pepper Hummus Starter that I turned into a meal along with a side of (classic) Mac-n-Cheese. The hummus is served with goat cheese, some raw veggies, and tasty homemade (I think) mini-pita breads. Light, refreshening, with good variety on the plate. The mac-n-cheese was a perfect balance of creamy richness against the sweet-tart-roasty-crispy sprouts.

Aside from the these heart-healthy choices, I've enjoyed their lightly Battered Cod Sandwich with a piece of beautifully cooked cod that is always way too big to fit on the brioche bun (I look forward to eating the overhangs first) with their house tartar sauce (ask for extra sauce; you won't be disappointed).

Stonerail's French Dip with provolone and caramelized onions was hearty and juicy. I'm craving it right now, just thinking about how soothing it was to eat on a day when I genuinely needed a culinary hug (and I ate an hour ago).

As for sandwich sides, there isn't a bad one in the bunch, though I'm partial to the coleslaw (crispy texture, just the right amount of creaminess & sweetness; good amount of white pepper, though I prefer to add a touch more of black pepper for my own taste) and their clever play on the Caprese Salad (basil, bite-sized buffalo mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, & a rich balsamic). The potato salad & pasta salad are both quite good, as are the French Fries, but I'm trying to be good about carbs these days.

Yesterday, after hearing that I needed to eat better, the owner, Teresa, offered a dish that will appear on the menu soon; an incredibly generous triple helping of mildly-spicy chicken salad with roasted corn, a crumbly cheese (queso? goat? not sure), and sliced avocados, served on red-leaf lettuce. Surprisingly light, and, oxymoronically, very filling at the same time.

Finally, I want to mention the one dessert I've had: A raspberry cobbler cake. I know I screwed up what it's really called, but that's what I vaguely remember. I ate half of it warm in the restaurant (yum) and half of it cold the next day, straight out of my fridge. I really enjoyed the cold version, but I have to believe the warm version with a scoop of vanilla would be spectacular.

In any case, do yourself a favor, go to downtown Dover, and look for this cozy little sit-down (yes, they do takeout, too). Bring a friend or a book (not...

Been here twice now, tried two totally different things and was happy with both of them.

Lets start with the ambiance, it's nothing special but that's what makes it unique. Stonerail isn't trying to make you see it as some fancy place, it's not trying to make you think it's something it's not. It's got music playing quietly in the background so you can talk, eat, and enjoy. The interior is clean, nicely laid out and overall a great place to sit down and grab a bite or a drink.

How about service, this is one of few places I've been to where you can talk to the chef just as easily as the servers. Every member of staff is friendly, surprisingly they remembered me, and they make you feel like a welcome old friend even if its your second time here. (Which definitely helps keep you coming back!)

Now the food, lets dive in to that fast. I've tried a burger and fries, and Mac and cheese. Honestly the Burger and Fries were good, but man that Mac and cheese was something spectacular. The Cajun Mac has just the right amount of heat behind it to make you pay attention. It's spicy, savory, the cheese sauce is delicious and not too thick or thin. Just wonderful! Oh and they have ice cream did i mention that? No, probably not, but I probably should have because it's really tasty too!

My one complaint about stonerail market is they're not open after 5PM! Keep rockin' y'all are...

Stonerail Market - Downtown Dover Rating: 4.75/5 stars

I stopped by Stonewell Market today around 4:30 PM, knowing they closed at 5. I just wanted to check it out real quick—and I’m glad I did. It’s a cool little spot in downtown Dover, and if I’m not mistaken, it used to be Brunch & Lunch back in the day.

Right away, the customer service stood out. The bartender/associate was extremely kind, welcoming, and personable—really made the space feel warm.

I grabbed an espresso martini, which was actually really good—smooth and well-made. Then I had a Big Oyster beer (pretty sure it’s from downstate Delaware) that was on the happy hour menu. Solid choice. I also treated myself to a peanut butter cup-type cookie—don’t remember the exact name, but it hit the spot.

The only downside? I got charged $15 for the martini.. $15?! In Dover... During happy hour...?? That felt outrageous, honestly, and knocked things down just a bit for me.

Still, overall it was a great experience. I’ll probably go back, maybe for lunch next time. Might skip the cocktails unless the pricing changes, but I’m definitely intrigued...