Home Grown Café, Newark

The kitchen at Home Grown Café is stocked with locally sourced and sustainably produced ingredients whenever possible. That palate of fresh greens, house-made sauces, and Black Angus beef pairs with eclectic recipes, which have nabbed a slew of awards from Delaware Today, including Best Healthy Fare four of the last five years. Many plates, such as the pad thai with shrimp, can be converted into filling vegan meals with seitan. A full gluten-free menu provides options for patrons who have wheat sensitivities or recently had a tearful falling out with a gingerbread man. The chefs craft sandwiches with proteins including sirloin steak or tofu and toppings such as bacon and brie.

Beside supporting local farms, the cafe throws its support toward the arts, displaying a rotating cast of local craftspeople on the walls and hosting live music performances five nights a week, including Jazz sets on Sunday.