I believe this is the second or third time I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing High Stakes Bar & Grill. High Stakes is located a few blocks west of Coastal Highway on Route 54 in the strip shopping center that has Walgreens’s at the east end and High Stakes at the west end. Brenda Golden was my guest for the dinner and we decided to try things we hadn’t had before.  Our delightful server for the evening was Heather DeLuca who just recently tied the knot with owner Brian DeLuca. Best wishes, Heather & Brian!
    Excellent food at reasonable prices is what you will find at High Stakes along with a well trained and loyal staff and an attractive setting. This has been the case since High Stakes opened in 2005. Each year Brian DeLuca has grown the business by expanding and offering a little something extra to attract an ever growing customer base.
    Brian hails from the suburbs of Philly.   Sue and Butch DeLuca, his parents, owned a successful deli for 25 years and told me Brian was tucked in a crib in the corner of their store when they first started so he literally grew up in Butch’s Deli and saw firsthand how to run a successful business.  
Brian opened the original High Stakes in 2005 as an eat-in or take-out deli. In 2008 he expanded next store when the neighboring unit became available. He then added a bar and more tables for eat-in dining. In 2009 the next unit became available so Brian expanded yet again and modeled this next area as a mirror twin to the middle section. The two newer units comprising High Stakes are decorated in rich paneling with beautiful wood bars. These locations have  arched entries placed at the front and back of each with large window-like sections in the middle to open the spaces up.  This makes it great for enjoying live music as there isn’t a bad seat in the house. You can see and hear the band from every location. The acoustic tile ceiling makes for great sound, too.
    High Stakes has a different drink and food special most nights and on Thursday’s, the personal size pizza is only $5. Since we had decided to try items we hadn’t had before, Brenda and I started off sharing a veggie pizza and it was loaded with onions, green peppers, tomato slices, mushrooms, cheese and marinara sauce.  Yum – we were off to a great start. For our main course we shared the crab cake sliders with a side of potato skin bites. The four generous sized crab cakes were served on potato rolls and were delicious with nice size lumps and not too much filler. Lettuce and tomatoes were served along with the crab cakes. The potato skin bites were something else my friends – if you have problems with your cholesterol, you may want to avoid these scrumptious delights. They are fried mashed potatoes with bacon and cheese wiz.  Wow – so good.
    Now I have a sweet tooth, and the best was saved for last. How decadent is this my friends – key lime pie bar. This is a fabulous key lime pie dipped in a thick layer of rich delicious dark chocolate served on a stick. I didn’t even think of picking up the stick but ate the dessert with a fork. It was really marvelous and Heather DeLuca shared that this and the Snickers Bar pie, both new to the menu, are made by a local woman.
    I’ve eaten at High Steaks oh so many times, so please allow me to tell you about my favorite items on the menu. Of course, my number one choice is the Philly’s Finest Cheesesteak loaded with onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo, sweet peppers, mushrooms, Swiss and Provolone cheese (or Wiz Philly style) and marinara sauce. Other toppings are also available. It’s a monster cheesesteak that simply melts in your mouth! The Crab Dip and Crab Pretzel are awesome appetizers as are the onion rings. Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap and BLT are also personal favorites. When it’s a bit chillier outside, you might consider the chicken noodle soup or a delicious bowl of chili.
    The prices are great too. Where else can you go and get a huge order of Onion Rings for just $3.25? Most places would charge at least a buck for extra cheese on the steak sub; it’s only 25 cents for extra cheese at High Stakes. You may ask how High Stakes can afford to sell such great food at such reasonable prices, and the answer is volume.
    High Stakes has a good lineup of entertainment on hand. Brenda and I enjoyed the sultry voice of Melissa Alesi.  Lower Case Blues is my favorite band to frequent High Stakes on a regular basis. Every time I’ve been to see them at High Stakes, it has been packed with every table and bar stool filled in both bar areas. My friend Dew and I stayed in the deli area the entire first set as nothing became available  for the two hours we were there. I teased Jake (guitar) and BJ (bass) of Lower Case Blues that I remembered them when we could still find seats. Yes, High Stakes is a popular spot so you might want to come a bit early to get a seat for the entertainment.
    Brian DeLuca describes his food as Beachie Bar Food. In addition to doing a full house restaurant business, he does a tremendous take-out business as folks leave the beach and drive home via route 54. His menu is well designed with areas highlighting the Appetizers, Wings, Soups, Salads, Philly’s Finest Cheesesteakes, Hoagies, House Specialties, Sandwiches,  Build Your Own Sandwiches, Burgers, Wraps, Sliders and Dessert.  
    So there you have it my friends – High Stakes is a fun and wonderful place to go for down home good cooking, friendly service, reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere and great entertainment. The address is 5799 Lighthouse Cove, Rt. 54. The phone number is 302-537-6971. Hope to see you there soon.