Get away from Delaware. As someone suggested Uptown Area is nice and growing a bit. Firetrucker is a cool Brewery, some may say their beers are not great, but its location is awesome and they sometimes have food trucks, my wife doesn't love Craft Beer, but Firetrucker has some ginger beers like Cat Dragon and Copper Cat that she enjoys. Same with Uptown Garage, more of a tap room, but they have some local beers as well. Both can have some food trucks around. The coffee shop and other retail are nice too. Leaning Tower is great.
Main Street Cafe is amazing on the South side by the South Hy-Vee. Some more non chain options in Prairie Trail as well like Grimaldi's, Flavory Bistro, Magee's, 30 Hop, a great brunch spot the Breakfast Club.
I'd say I try to avoid Delaware as much as possible, there are some fast food type places popping up more on 36th Street as well which living on the NE side I don't have to go far.