There's a new Cafe on 26

The Café on 26 opened its doors in Ocean View on May 1, with a goal of bringing outstanding coffees and delicious, health-minded meals to their customers. Co-owners Cathy Berzins and Maria Fraser have combined their decades of business and restaurant experience in an effort to transform the former fine-dining restaurant the Oak Arbor Inn into a casual bistro that keeps patrons coming back, day after day.

Coastal Point • Ryan Saxton
A layered latte accompanies ‘Crazy Eggs,’ an original dish by Chef Barry Kruemmel, which mixes bacon, sausage, mushrooms and spinach in an omelette/frittata delight at The Cafe on 26.

“Ever since we opened on May 1,” said Berzins, “we’ve been busy and very blessed.”

Eager diners were gladly waiting up to an hour for a seat at the new café on Mother’s Day, two weeks ago.

“It’s not something we anticipated at first,” Berzins added. “We originally opened for family and friends, and didn’t bother to advertise. But people found out, and before we knew it, we had customers waiting for a meal.”

Plenty of people have already established a routine of starting the day with a rich, hot coffee or latté, which can prove to be entertainment by itself.

“With the glasses we use,” said Berzins, “you get a really neat result, called ‘the Guinness effect.’”

A layered caffeinated delight, topped with frothy crème, slowly starts to blend together. Designs etched in the top and along the sides turn an ordinary coffee into a work of art.

“You really get the chance to take it all in,” Berzins added. “This isn’t something you can see in a paper cup you pick up on the go at other places. You also get the great aroma off the top, and that lets you really get the entire experience.”

While the coffeehouse offers an array of top-notch specialty drinks, from coffees, teas and chai to espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and smoothies, Berzin’s role in some of Bethany Beach’s most acclaimed restaurants ensures that those who come to the bistro will not be disappointed with their meals, either.

For a light breakfast, their menu from the bakery offers fresh muffins, scones and coffeecake, or bagels topped with cream cheese, or lox, red onions and capers. Those with a little more time in the morning can couple their coffee with choices such as a Belgian waffle, crème brulée French toast or “Crazy Eggs,” a signature dish by chef Barry Kruemmel, featuring eggs, sausage, mushrooms and spinach in an omelette/frittata-like pick-me-up.

By lunchtime, crisp salads topped with dressings made in-house, steaming cups of soup and an assortment of deli sandwiches, stuffed with Boar’s Head meat and cheeses, line the menu.

By dinnertime, diners can indulge in dishes such as juicy filet mignon, beef bourguignon, seared scallops or crabcakes.

The café received approval and licensing to sell wines, beer and spirits, as well, to complement the meals.

This summer, The Café on 26 will introduce a “Supper Club,” in which a fixed-price special-selection menu will be available three days a week.

With Berzin’s history in helping run restaurants including Sedona’s and Patsy’s in downtown Bethany Beach, and South Bethany Seafood, it’s no surprise that customers are taking a liking to the coffeehouse and dining experience at The Café on 26.

“I always wanted to bring a bistro like this to the area,” said Berzins. “Maria and I put our thoughts together, and we’ve really come up with something great. We’ve been able to really bring our creative energy into decorating the place. We’ve had such an incredible reception from everyone all over, and it’s all from word-of-mouth.”

Local art lines the walls inside, just as Fraser’s knowledge of landscaping helps spruce up the atmosphere outside. The prime location, nestled at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Route 26 in Ocean View, has solicited plenty of passersby, including bicycle and foot traffic.

“We want people to feel relaxed and at-home when they stop in,” said Fraser. “It’s very welcoming inside, and we’re already seeing regulars stop back in.”

Perhaps one of the aspects that continues to bring diners back is the fresh taste and healthy menu that Berzins has managed to prepare. The Café on 26 works closely with area farmers and providers, including Lewes Dairy and Good Earth Market, to bring local and organic foods to the table.

In addition, almost the entire menu is available gluten-free, without sacrificing the taste.

“There are a number of people out there who are celiac or require a gluten-free diet, myself included,” noted Berzins. “We’re not a gluten-free restaurant, but the option is there for people. People who get something gluten-free here are eating better, and a lot of the time, they don’t even realize it’s better for them.”

The menu at The Café on 26 has steered away from the old gluten-free staples.

“Those foods used to carry a stigma that they had to taste like cardboard,” said Berzins, “but that’s not the case anymore. People don’t have to feel deprived when they want to order something to eat.”

The café has transformed into a family affair, with Fraser’s and the Berzins’ children, and their friends, helping out around the restaurant.

“Our son, Tim, understands the science and biology behind nutrition,” said Cathy Berzins, “and he really helps me to get back to the food’s natural components.” Daughters Nicole and Melissa have helped with input for the new restaurant, while Melissa is the head barista, accompanied by Zoe Jurusik. Ray Berzins helps out with the executive and financial aspects of the business. Fraser’s sons, Will, Nolan and Prescott, and sister, Gabi Evans, have all been instrumental in getting the word out and preparing The Café on 26 for eager patrons.

“We really couldn’t have done all this without everyone’s help,” said Cathy Berzins. “We have a wonderful staff, and a fabulous chef in Barry Kruemmel, who runs the kitchen in the mornings and afternoons. I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such great people.”

“The more people that come in here, the more our family seems to grow,” said Maria Fraser.

The Café on 26 will be one of over a dozen restaurants featured in the 11th Annual ResortQuest Taste of Coastal Delaware, which will take place in the Marketplace at Sea Colony, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 6. Berzins and Fraser plan to bring some of their coffees and desserts for the annual event.

Stop in at The Café on 26, located at 84 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View or call (302) 539-2233 for more information. Reservations are not required but are encouraged during the summer season. Check out www.thecaféon26.com or follow them on Facebook to find out about special events and the “Supper Club.”