Kilbourne Pizza
Located just north of delaware. a small town pizza shop owned and operated by a delaware-area native. avoid the crowded franchises and order a one of a kind pizza to enjoy at alum creek resevoir. for a big appetite try the kilbourne monster, an eight pound pizza made fresh to order. also available are seasonal specials such as cabbage roles or crepes.
Chandra's Bistro
After the sad departure of avesta's, chandra's has become the place to go for ethnic cuisine. a top-notch sushi bar is the highlight of the restaurant, though the asian-fusion inspired menu has plenty of great options as well. this upscale restaurant sports a subdued, sophisticated decor filled with rich wood tones and dark red accents. there is outdoor patio seating available as well in the summer months. try the barbequed eel rolls if you get the chance.
Mean Bean Caffeine Lounge
Daily 5am-11pm, but during finals weeks, it's open 24 hours. the biggest and most popular coffee shop in downtown delaware. just a couple of blocks from the main owu campus, the mean bean is usually occupied by students taking study breaks, socializing, or utilizing the mean bean's free wireless internet. local artists and artwork are featured on a rotating monthly schedule on the walls of the cafe. snacks, baked goods, and of course, coffee and tea are all offered. there is a second, smaller location on the premises of the delaware county public library.
Rocky's Italian Ice
Quite possibly the most popular place in town. open late during the summer, rocky's has a huge menu of rotating italian ice flavors, with the option of making it a gelato by adding soft serve to the ice. inexpensive and delicious, rocky's is always a hit.
Amato's
Located in the downtown area of delaware on sandusky street, offers delicious handmade pizzas and crepes, and new for this year, salads and deli sandwiches. the small restaurant has a charming, quirky atmosphere- be sure to take a look at the antique cash register still functioning! used for cash transactions! pizzas are offered in either 8 inch or 12 inch sizes, and come on either the traditional white wheat crust or a whole wheat crust. you can make your own pizzas up to 5 toppings for 6 bucks or choose from their extensive menu of pre-planned pies. the restaurant offers unique pizza combinations that go far beyond the typical pizza joint an example is the hulk, playfully described as containing "pesto, mozarella, spinach, green olives, green onions, green peppers, zucchini, and anything else we can find that's green.".
Avesta's Eclectic Cuisine
12 s. sandusky st. closed since september, 2007- currently looking for a location to relocate to offers a wide variety of ethnic and fusion foods, focusing on the mediterranean. dishes range from baked brie to gourmet mac and cheese, to gorgonzola rib-eye, but the prices are relatively low entrees range from 10 to 15 dollars. avesta's usually busy at night, and is a popular destination for many ohio wesleyan students, due to its proximity to the campus, and its being one of the only ethnic restaurants in delaware. on several nights of the week, live entertainment is offered, ranging from karaoke nights to punk rock dance parties. the decor is fresh and colorful, with whimsical furniture, candlelit tables and in good weather, outdoor sidewalk seating. come expecting to wait a while for your food, though.
Beehive Books
The newest addition to the downtown delaware scene is taking off. beehive books is delaware's only bookstore, but what a bookstore it is! the owners have created a truly welcoming and cozy store with an astonishing variety of books for such a modest space. the store shares a wall with the neighboring gallery, the "not on the corner framing and gallery shop", and as such artwork is often on display in the store from the gallery. leather couches and a full-service coffee bar roasting stauff's coffee, an ohio specialty add great touches to the store's atmosphere. sandwiches and desserts from the now-defunct avesta's eclectic cuisine are for sale in the cooler up front, together with things like gourmet chocolates try the chili pepper chocolate, jone's sodas, locally produced honey, and more. during the school year, it's not uncommon to see live music and poetry readings in the store. wireless internet makes this a popular alternative to the mean bean, as well.
Ollie's
One of the newest additions to the delaware area. located right next to the ohio wesleyan campus, right behind the hamilton-williams campus center, ollie's is housed in a charming little gingerbread house with a beautiful courtyard and renovated interior. they offer a large selection of hot beverages, from coffee to tea to hot chocolate all of it fair-trade, and a modest selection of hand-churned ice cream flavors. their ice cream selection rotates occasionally. adjacent to the ice cream parlor is a cute little seating area, with tables, antiques, and wireless internet. the friendly, personal service, unparalleled ice cream and drinks make sure to try their chai- it takes a week to make!, and cozy setting makes ollie's a must-stop.