Porcini House Bistro and Treetop Lounge

It was promising until we arrived.
Eight people for inside on a weeknight does not seem like too much of a demand of an Italian («Tuscan») restaurant. However, when we walked in the door with a res, the staff froze like deer in headlights and took about 10 minutes to get our table set — not because they were waiting for the previous occupants to clear out.
While we were a somewhat fussy group that took a while to order, it took a VERY long time for even the drinks to arrive. Then an even longer time for the food to arrive. It tasted fine, but wasn’t great. The prices on the menu intimated that the food should be great. It was OK. But the OK is downgraded by the slow kitchen.
I agree with Jessica M. Food OK, but service (really kitchen speed) and price would not qualify Porcini House as a return destination.

On the bright side, the food was better than the overall experience.
When we arrived, it felt like we were walking in on somebody else’s argument — they disagreed, in front of us, where our party of seven should be seated when we arrived at the nearly empty restaurant in time for our 6pm reservation.
It was unbearably hot inside the restaurant on a relatively cool and rainy summer evening. Our server agreed it was hot, but offered no apology, and did not keep water glasses full (also forgot a beer order). We sweated the entire time.
And the meal did take a very long time. A three course fixed price menu was offered, which would suggest that the kitchen should have expected dishes from that menu to be ordered, and yet each course took forever to arrive, especially dessert.
When it did arrive, though, most of the food was quite good. The mushroom soup appetizer was tasty, and of our entrees, the baked rigatoni with short ribs and the escarole were standouts: delicious. On the other side, the corn bisque was plain and disappointing, and the desserts were nowhere near worth waiting for.
We will not be heading back unless we hear that things have changed significantly.

Great baked rigatoni. Not bad for the beach.

closed !!!

Came during Memorial Day weekend, but had reservations, so expected to at least get seated and have a meal. Sadly, I got the first part but not the second. After waiting for 10 minutes to even see a server, my party of two called it quits and left at the 60 minute mark. Can’t really comment on the food, as it never arrived. Either have a large amount of time allotted, or go during non-​standard hours. Perhaps you’ll have better luck.

It is rare to find a star so close to the ocean; the shooting star burns bright before falling in the sea. Not so with Jay Caputo’s Porcini House: it is the among the brightest celestial forms in Rehoboth Beach’s sky! One thing I have learned since dining here in 2007, trust the Chef’s Specials — you are in for a rarified treat. Tonight we had cucumber soup with crab meat. The cucumbers burst with summer flavor as if they were just picked from your grandmother’s garden. The ahi tuna salad was the finest tasting tuna I have tasted on a delicate bed of fresh orange/​comquat and mint. Butter tender and gently braised on the outside. In fact, my dining partner — who does not like sushi nor sashimi — raved about this dish! Throwing caution to the wind, he had the duck confit — pronounced the best ever had: crispy on the outside and tender inside. The bed of white beans were firm and a bit dry; a good dose of acidic tomato would make the duck dish perfect.
I had the beef filet which was simple and delicious; not fussed over. Note the side dish of mushrooms, potatoes and veggies was too oily and fussed over, but it did not diminish the overall experience.

I came with a mixed group (25 – 55) and thought it was a nice dinner. We had a flat bread and the porcini soup for apps and were very happy with both. For my main course I had the seared tuna… good, but almost too salty. It was also a little strange that they didn’t ask me how I wanted it cooked. It was pretty well done. Good flavors though. Also a little disappointed in the wine options. Nice dinner, but not sure it was worth it for the price.

I was here on a Saturday night for a bachlorette Party. The place was kind enough to allow us to take over half of the upstairs deck area. It was great. The service was great; despite our special orders and our many requests for more wine.
The food was good… not excellent but good. I ordered the tomato risotto and it left much to be desired. It tasted like tomato paste and rice. However, the special salad… five types of tomatoes and balsamic was awesome.
The chef created a special dessert for the party… chocolate fondue with fruit and cookies. This was a bit disappointing because it tasted like warmed Hershey’s syrup.
However they often have many wines not listed on the menu so be sure to ask.
The service was great… and everyone who ordered the tuna or the mussels were very happy!

New on the scene for Summer 2008, Porcini House is owned by Jay Caputo (Espuma) and takes over the space formerly occupied by Chez la Mer.
I would normally peg Porcini House as the type of restaurants perfect for picky eaters as it offers quite a middle-​of-​the-​road menu. However at the beach, Porcini House stands out as being perhaps a bit too contentinental. Good for land lubbers, but not those seeking out a «beachier» meal of you-​peel shrimp or similar.
The space has been updated and decorated in a more contemporary style. It’s far less formal (read: stuffy) than Chez La Mer. There’s a fantastic roof deck bar.
Anyway…the food. My family’d had lots of snacky foods back at the house so none of us had appetizers. I couldn’t decide between two of the offered risottos, corn or tomato, so I ended up with half portions of each at the suggestion of the server. Although I didn’t think I was that hungry, I ate about 90% — burp. Really rich and delicious. I offered my difficult aunt a taste of either and she declined as risotto is too «creamy.» My father, who usually eats whatever is put in front of him, does not like rice. I don’t get it either.
My mother, sulking over the choice of restaurant, ordered a burger, well done. It arrived pink and she sent it back. *sigh* In the end, she hated it, the accompanying popcorn (I’ll admit, that’s a weird side dish) AND the side of potato purée she ordered. She really should have had the chicken pot pie, but refused citing the presence of black truffles. She hates mushrooms and can’t understand that they’re not the same.
Both aunt and uncle had the tuna «cooked» and cleaned their plates although the tuna looked awfully dry to me.
Uncle was annoyed when the pinot noir he let the server pick ended up being $ 12. I somehow managed to bite my tongue. What I wanted to say was «pick your own wine then!» and «that’s not that bad!» He also pointed out that at his country club, his wine glass is «full.» I wanted to tell him that when you pour crappy wines… oh never mind.
I’m thinking that I may be too old for family vacations.