Foodie Friday: Purple Parrot Grill
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – This edition of Foodie Friday brings us to a popular beach bar in Rehoboth Beach. Purple Parrot Grill is a playful spot on Rehoboth Avenue, that knows how to show its customers a good time, and an even better meal.
A Pretzel With Personality
You can’t go wrong by starting with “Helga”, a larger-than-life soft pretzel, who comes with a side of horseradish beer cheese sauce.
“When the food runners and servers bring it out, it’s on the hook, it’s big, it’s bold,” Chef Brent Warrington said. “You sell one, it seems like in the next ten minutes you see ten more come in.”
“[Helga] is large and in charge and ready to be dipped into some beer cheese,” Foodie Friday host Hannah Cechini said as they took the pretzel off of a hook. “Never met a pretzel with such personality before.”
“It is simultaneously crisp on the outside, but nice and soft on the inside,” Foodie Photog Mike added. “When I hear horseradish, I’m thinking this is going to be punchy. But, this is very mild. It’s almost kind of buttery.”
On the Light Side
Want something else light before you hit the dunes? Try one of Chef Brent’s char-grilled quesadillas. “People love that char,” he said.
This offering is loaded up with plenty of cheese, veggies, and tender chicken.
“Black beans, in a lot of south west dishes, are like salt. They’re just something that’s there that most people don’t notice. But, I actually think the grilling kind of helps wake up a couple of things in here,” Mike said with satisfaction.
The fish tacos are also another ton of flavor on a tortilla.
“We fry them long enough to get them nice and crispy,” Chef Brent said. “We’ll take a little bit of our pickled cabbage. A little jalapeno in there.”
“This is just a really great beach day meal,” Hannah declared. “I could totally see spending the morning on the beach, coming here because we’re not very far, grabbing some fish tacos, and being ready to go for an afternoon on the beach.”
And, the team in the kitchen doesn’t skimp on the sides, which are all house made. The potato salad is a must try.
“Those potatoes are just fork-tender. It’s really eggy and rich, and just so good,” Hannah explained. “If you gave me a whole bowl of this potato salad, I’d be happy. I wouldn’t need anything else.”
Don’t Be Crabby
Where the Parrot really shines though, is its crustacean creations. Cream of crab soup is a classic on Delmarva, and perfectly prepared at this eatery.
“It’s well-seasoned,” Hannah said. “That little sprinkling of Old Bay just gives it that special pop that you’re always looking for.”
The crab cake, which comes with a brioche bun and LTO, is a mountain of meaty love.
“The sweetness of the crab really comes through,” said Mike. “There really is very little in here other than crab.”
The half-pound jumbo lump crab cake is golden brown when it comes out of the oven, and one of the very best Hannah has ever had.
“You really don’t know the difference until you’ve experienced the difference. I’ve had a lot of really good crab cakes in the past, and there’s just something different about this one. And, I think it is because the meat is so fresh,” Hannah said. “The chunks are huge, and so flavorful and delicious. I’m having a hard time expressing myself right now because it’s so good. When I’m a loss for words on Foodie, that’s how you know.”
Purple Parrot Grill
Purple Parrot Grill is located at 134 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Del. You can call them at 302-226-1139. If you go to check it out, tell the team that you saw them on Foodie Friday.
