Lefty’s Alley & Eats

As of late 2017, Lefty's Alley & Eats changed the structure of their food service division. We feel that this warrants a new review and new visits. They are on the list. We have kept the review below up for reference ONLY, but the photos of the food may differ and the menu items may differ in appearance, quality or whatever. We'll get a new review up as soon as possible. Obviously the gaming/bowling images are still accurate.

About a week before Lefty's Alley & Eats opened, I disguised myself as a bowling ball repairman and was able to sneak into Lefty's Alley & Eats through the back door before they officially opened to the public on Friday 12/16/16. I skulked through the nooks, crannies and back hallways, taking photos with my trusty Kodak Brownie. See the sacrifices I make for my Loyal Foodies & Foodettes? Of course they are open now, and crowded every night. So use this article as a program guide to get around this huge entertainment complex.

Entrepreneurs Chad Moore, DJ Hill and Mitch Rosenfeld's Lefty's Alley & Eats is located next to Dartmouth Plaza (Home Goods, Kitchen & Co.), accessible from the turn at the WaWa in Lewes. A new access road and satellite parking will soon be installed between the WaWa and the electrical substation. This will help relieve traffic at the light.

The venue offers bowling, laser tag, big-screen TVs, and an arcade. The restaurant centers around family friendly fun food and seats 110. Tom Kramer (former Applebee's manager, alumnus of Rehoboth's old Ram's Head Tavern, Dover Downs, and former cook at The Pond), and former Nage manager Pete Good head up the food operations featuring appetizers, pizzas, sandwiches and a special bistro menu for dining while bowling.

During my sneak peek I was able to get into the laser tag area by disguising myself as a trout. The underwater-like playing field is amazing, and there are no words to adequately describe it, so just scroll through the gallery to see some of the highlights. The bowling area reminded me of Brooklyn Bowl, a huge bowling/dining venue in New York. Here at Lefty's Alley & Eats, guests have a number of options to either bowl, bowl and eat (lane-side service with servers is provided), or eat at hi-top bars and watch other people bowl. Either way, it's a fun and upbeat arrangement. There are curtains/dividers that can separate lanes, eating and bar areas for special events, private parties, etc. They've pretty much thought of everything, including GIGANTIC TV screens at the end of the alleys to keep you busy while your kids are throwing gutter balls.

The arcade offers some of the latest games with flashing lights and all the great noises that are part of the fun. They even have Skee Ball. Another great idea is that you don't have to raid your parking meter quarter stash to go to Lefty's. You simply load a special electronic card with a specified amount and the card is then used to activate any and all machines. When the card runs out, mom and/or dad will hear those immortal words: “Daddy, I need more money on my card!” Load the card, dad – the kids could be doing a lot worse, and you can drown your sorrows in a frosty draft, a Lefty Loopey, a Gummy Bear (Smirnoff raspberry, peach schnapps, lemon & lime) or butch it up with a New Belgium Fat Tire Amber. Either way, the family is together all in one place. See Chad? It worked! You don't have to bring them to your basement any more!

The food venue is much more upscale than I expected. Tables, banquettes and booths surround a huge bar area loaded with TVs glowing with sports and/or the words to the songs playing over the sound system. I was also surprised that the menu was so extensive. Yes, it's pub grub, but it's prepared and served in an upscale manner. You have a choice of 13 appetizers (don't miss the seared ahi ‘nachos,' Tom's signature crab dip, and the short rib sliders!). Six salads grace the menu. I had the Italian Chopped Salad and I can tell you that it's a main course in itself. You can add fried chicken, buffalo chicken, steak, tuna or crab cake to any salad.

Like so many Cape Region restaurants, Lefty’s changes its menu with the seasons. If some of these items are not on the menu when you go, I’m sure there will be something on there that you like (Tom’s turkey burger is one of the best at the beach!).

The main courses est divisa in partes tres: Burgers/sandwiches, Entrees/pasta, and Pizza. In the sandwich department, I HIGHLY recommend the Drunkin' Grilled Cheese. Two people can easily split this one, and the combination of ingredients makes for a spicy, savory, one-of-a-kind experience. Think Monte Cristo, but on steroids (trust me, this one's a hit). The Pastrami Burger is also a pick hit, with swiss, sauerkraut and thousand island. Think reuben, but as a burger. On my last visit, one of our party ordered the plain ‘ol Lefty burger and they liked it very much.

The Braised Short Rib is one of the stars of the entree menu. I also got to try the Fish & Chips. So far, so good. And even better news is that the prices for all these entrees and sandwiches hover around $13 – $15 or so, with the obvious exception of high-cost items like the New York Strip or crab cakes.

If, like Elaine Benis on Seinfeld, you crave a “big salad,” then you are in the right place. All the Lefty's salads are huge and easily qualify as a main course. Check your the apple gorgonzola and the Bistro Bacon salads in the gallery.

You get ten choices in the pizza list, or you can build your own from a list of seventeen (count 'em, 17) extras. Pizzas stay around $13 – $16. Chef Tom is obsessed with the pizzas, so get ready for a tasty pie.

I expected bowling alley food. Yes, the food is definitely bowling/bar-friendly, but these guys have come up with some clever twists and turns that will certainly make Lefty's Alley & Eats a food destination in itself. Take a look at the gallery, then grab your balls, your bowling shoes (or rent them) and check this place out.

Turn west onto Dartmouth at the WaWa next to Home Goods. Take the next left onto Plaza Blvd. Drive to the end (36450 Plaza Blvd.). Open for lunch/dinner until 11 pm weekdays and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. There's tons of free parking.

Reserve an alley by calling 302-864-6000.

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