1861
423 N Broad St, Middletown, DE, 19709
1861 Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Middletown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Middletown for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Middletown for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
423 N Broad St
Middletown, DE, 19709 - Phone (302) 376-7956
- Website https://1861restaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Eugene K.
Dope restaurant with an interesting selection of seating. Sit at the bar, on the side where the beer taps are. That way, if anyone strolls in and elects to sit on the opposing end of you, you can people watch. It's pretty fun after a few drinks, trust me. Plus, you'll be situated on an higher elevated platform so it'll feel like you're towering over them (in case you elect to go the "do.we.have.a.problem" route). Very unlikely. Fries were pretty memorable, very similar to KFC's wedges. Thick, heavily seasoned and extra crusty. Your friends may reach every now and then so be sure to carry some protection. I love my food so I always do. Also sat in the dining area by the fireplace, perfect for a party. We separated into the cool table and not so cool table. Obviously, we know who won. Chicken wings and crab cakes were enough to make me pack some in my pocket for a late night snack. We had other items but I forget. I blame the Fireball(s) - please note the plural. Attentive staff, always willing to schmooze here and there. They also check up on you enough, without being borderline creepy. The tvs at the bar keep you occupied if you're just looking to drink solo (if you're in the f-the world type vibe). Luckily for me, I love the world.
(5)Rob W.
I am delighted that I found this place. The diversity in the menu was excellent and I also appreciate that they balance that with not trying to offer too many options. They know what they do well and focus on it. The burgers are marvelous! Try the lamb burger, it's just unreal. The ambience of the place is very nice. It's furnished nicely, even has a fireplace they use when it's cool enough. The staff was friendly and attentive without being a nuisance. This is a place I see myself going back to many more times. A great choice if you are in the area.
(5)Dave P.
This is a hidden gem in Middletown. A cozy fire lit pub with a unique menu. We tried the Lobster Macaroni, Chicken Waffles, crab cakes and crab bisque. All were excellent. The only negatives was the dark confined parking lot and trying to figure out how to get into the restaurant. Once you get parked and find the place you'll be glad made the effort. Party of four with the above mentioned food with also fries , salad and soft drinks came to $111.00. Tons of food. Not too bad ! We will be back.
(4)Colin C.
I took my mom here for her birthday after having read the Yelp reviews. The reviews are definitely on point. We both had chicken and waffles. The food was amazing. The restaurant was very clean. The service was great, and the bartender and manager were friendly. They even changed TV channels so we could watch the Eagles game and the manager later came over and gave the TV volume for a better viewing experience. I consider myself a "foodie," and this restaurant ranks among my favorites that I've tried this year. A rare hidden gem for Middletown... I highly recommend 1861 and surely will visit again!
(5)Doug N.
Awesome beer selection. I have eaten here many times and yet to find something on the menu I don't like. Also has really great atmosphere.
(5)Leana L.
Great food, everything was so fresh! Started with tortilla chicken soup, then pork tacos, my buddy had the cookout burger, nothing sysco frozen about that, and incredible thick cut potato fries. Bonus to top it off, heavy pours on the wine....and the desert hasn't even come yet...people need to know about this place - AMAZING!! PS good service too!
(5)Chris D.
The first time I went to 1861, it was one of the best dining experiences I've had since I moved to Smyrna about 9 years ago. My girlfriend and I were sure this was going to become our "go to" spot for fine dining. But the next two times we went completely changed that opinion for us. The service was lackluster at best, and on our third visit we had to ask multiple times for our wine, and for our starters (one of which we never got). The food quality that first time was amazing, the next two times we came, it was definitely a step down. When a steak is ordered medium rare, it is inexcusable for it to come out well done... TWICE. It's unfortunate, but we gave up on 1861. If it's still around in a year or two, maybe I'll give it another shot, but I don't hold out high hopes. :(
(2)Rita G.
I took my dad out for a belated Father's Day dinner. We weren't sure where to go, since my parents just moved into the Middletown area. We checked with yelp, chose 1861, and we weren't disappointed with our selection. We ordered the hummus (appetizer), Crab Cakes Romanescu, lobster macaroni and cheese, the Three Little Piggies pizza, and a plain jane pizza for our tike. The waiter was great--very attentive and helpful. We all enjoyed our food, and the portions were generous. My complaints (aka why this is not a five-star rating) involve getting into the restaurant's parking/entrance situation. The lot is rather small. Although there is additional parking, it's across the street. It's not the end of the world, but it's good to know in advance. There is some entrance way uncertainty as well. There is a stairwell in the back, but it's not really well marked. The handicapped entrance mentioned by the other reviewer should be better marked so that older/handicapped guests know that they don't have to negotiate stairs.
(4)Anjali S.
Love love love this place. Great food - bit pricey but you get your money's worth.Friendly staff and chill atmosphere...
(5)Mariam A.
Early into our visit the ceiling started to leak water all over my friend. Wetting her iPhone, purse and all over her back. Apparently the salon upstairs was the cause. The actual meal was mediocre, nothing special I ordered the chicken and waffles and wasn't really amazed by it. The appetizer fries were large steak fries w/skin and again nothing special. The aioli sauce had a heavy mayo taste and didn't really go well with the fries. My friend got one of the burgers and again a mediocre experience. Will not be returning. Also, this restaurant is located in the creepy dark basement of what looks like what used to be residential house now commercial space.
(2)Megan B.
Love this place. The restaurant is perfect for a date night out or if you just feel like wings and pizza. The food is amazing! The chef is very creative and the wait staff is always very friendly.
(5)Tim K.
Cool little hide away. The pizza is worth the trip. Very pleasing atmosphere. Fresh food with a modern twist.
(4)Thomas N.
Love the atmosphere and the menu. Drink selection was a bit limited and the parking could use a bit more space, but the food was delicious.
(4)Cassandra G.
I was so excited when I ordered the crab soup, it came out and it was lukewarm, thick (not in a good way), and had shells that cut my gum. I think that since the soup was kept at an unsafe temperature the dairy went bad and I got food poisoning. However, my husband got the chicken and waffles and those were delicious! They do have a good beer/wine/cocktail selection and the wait staff was polite. However, the crab soup might be a deal breaker for me.
(3)Skyler C.
We decided to try this place after looking it up. Showed up at 835pm. People were sitting at the bar and at one table. We waited around for 2-3 minutes and nobody helped us at all. We left. What a waste of time.
(1)Stephanie E.
This restaurant is a gem in Middletown. I've been to the restaurant several times. I've even had a private event to celebrate my birthday. The staff is wonderful. The appetizers are good and I simply love the chicken and waffles. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Brian C.
This place is a tough one. It has like four entrances and the last time I was there it had the same exact people sitting in the same exact spots at the bar. Strange. But, here we go. Food is eclectic and very good but I feel like it is not consistently served. For example, one night I went and the hummus (delicious) was served warm in a gratin dish. The next time I ordered it was served in a cup. It can be quiet, and I don't remember there being any music playing so that makes you a little uncomfortable when trying to have a conversation. It's very easy to hear the conversations of everyone around you so, despite the intimate appeal of the restaurant it can fall short here. They do have the right elements that if brought together would make this place a great find. Food choices range from duck to burger and the beer list is very nice even including a nice malty Allagash with a 9-10% alc. Service can be abrupt depending on who you get. The best part of this place is they have a section of the restaurant that is lower then the rest that has a fireplace. It's a great place to hang with a bunch of friends. I'll keep going back. It hasn't disappointed me yet. Pros: atmosphere, good food, beer selection, prices and not usually crowded Cons: not usually crowded, need to be consistent with presentation of food, needs some type of entertainment (at least play some music)
(3)James E.
My wife and I had an excellent meal. She had a Ceasar salad, and oven baked pizza. I had the Scottish Salmon over red quinoa. A highlight of the meal was an awesome charcuterie tray. This is a high quality, classy place, not what you expect in Middletown. We've been regulars since it opened.
(5)Tina T.
Simply AMAZING find in Middletown & the only place we'll be going when we're in town! Blackened Fish Tacos were light & fresh with a punch of flavor & the Surf & Turf Burger....WOW! Check out the pic, no way you can wrong here no matter what you get!
(5)Frank H.
From the awesome regional craft beer selections to the inventive menu I was amazed! It's in the basement of what looks like a former house so I was skeptical, but oh I am I so happy I went in! The atmosphere is quiet with televisions for those who need them and candlelight for those wanting something more intimate. The surf and turf burger was excellent! I highly recommend!!
(5)Shannon A.
We really enjoyed our Valentines dinner here! The food was excellent and we loves the atmosphere! We look forward to going back soon.
(4)Regina B.
One of the things I love so much about the wonderful Yelp community is that we can be driving in the middle of nowhere, get hungry, consult the fabulous Yelp app, and find amazing food. Anywhere. This is exactly how we found 1861. So, thank you, fellow Yelpers! The Reverend Dr. Steak, the Young 'Un and I stopped on our way to our annual family weekend camping along the Chesapeake Bay, wanting a meal a bit more substantial than drive-through fast food. 1861 is not far off the 'main drag' of US 301, which was a bonus for us as we hate wandering miles away from our traveling path in search of a meal. The restaurant is on the lower level of a brick multi-story converted house/mansion/building of some sort. Right next door to the Middletown Police Station, that's a good landmark. The building, while clearly built some time ago, is fully handicap accessible through elevators and such, which was nice to see. It's a bit warren-like getting in there, though, and once you get in, there's no clearly defined hostess station or seating directions ("please seat yourself" or "hostess will seat you"). After just a few minutes though we were greeted and seated by a glassed in fireplace in a quieter area away from the bar. The restaurant itself is all warm dark wood and brick and tile, very cozy but not claustrophobic, light coming in through glass blocked windows so you don't look at other people's feet waling by (as it's semi-basement). Nice touch? Tables are broad, as in don't have to creatively balance your appetizer and main course on the table. They're going for casual comfort. We collectively ordered one wedge salad, two burgers and one mac & cheese with short ribs, a custom selection graciously offered as the Young 'Un could not make up their mind (of course). One burger rare and one well done. Wedge was not actually served as a wedge, rather a small round of lettuce with bleu cheese dressing drizzled on top and onions, chopped tomatoes and bacon 'deconstructed' in little piles along the side. Still, quite yummy, only thought would be that there should be a bit more bleu cheese in the mix. I am a fan of bigger feta-sized hunks of Maytag bleu, but am accepting otherwise. Now, the burgers. It is a rare feat indeed to have both a rare burger and a well done burger prepared perfectly. Being the well-done burger person, I am quite used to 'adequate' - i.e. not burnt, but not really juicy. Hazard of not liking rare meat. The Reverend on the other hand wants his still mooing. Again, he's used to less-than, in his case because of food safety issues. We both, however, got way better than 'adequate'. Flavorful, juicy - as in dripping a bit juicy - perfectly done burgers. Burgers so good we kept eating even after our stomachs protested good. Fantastic. Another nice touch? Really good, homemade mac and cheese, very buttery, cheesy, with a bit of crunch, also quite delicious, not Kraft, and the short ribs on top falling apart tender. Service was attentive but not hovering, we appeared to have 1 1/2 servers as the night went on but that was fine. We never made it to dessert. We WILL however be back, it was that darn good.
(5)Mark A.
This restaurant is a rare find. Located in an interesting and charming older building, we were more than pleased to discover this gem. The Chef took the time to visit our table and was more than happy to accommodate a vegan. Everything was exceptional, both the vegan and regular menu items. Eric, the server, and the rest of the service staff were friendly and efficient. I would highly recommend!
(5)Lorenzo A.
I thought the food was good maybe a little pricey but not outrageous. We had a wine tasting that was definitely worth the money.
(4)kat c.
Simply put, for two nights in a row, we had amazing experiences at this restaurant. The ambiance is sophisticated and hip without being pretentious. The cocktail/wine/beer menu is solid. The service is personal, friendly, and eager to serve. And the food is PHENOMENAL! My fiance and I came to Middletown on a Fri. for a group bike ride on Sat. We both really love food and good drink and have selective palates, plus he is vegetarian, so we generally have to do a LOT of pre-vetting before we choose a restaurant. On the drive there, we looked at restaurants over a 50 minute drive radius from our hotel. Options were basically nonexistent. We had already found 1861 online and planned to eat there with friends after the ride, but it was becoming clear it may be our only option for Fri. as well. The menu online indicated they had only one or two vegetarian options, so we decided to call. The owner, Jasper, answered and was so amazingly kind and accommodating. He's vegetarian as well so offered several wonderful-sounding vegetarian options he could make special for us. When we arrived for dinner, we were seated immediately and Jasper had already informed our server (who, it turns out, is also his wife -- love a family owned and operated restaurant!) about the vegetarian option pre-decided on with Jasper. We ordered cocktails (interesting craft cocktails with fresh/housemade ingredients to rival those you'd find in much larger markets - try the Corpse Reviver Reimagined or their spin on the Dark & Stormy). For a starter, we tried the Tomate Ajo - sort of a European spin on a harrisa - stewed tomato, garlic, and oil with fried capers into which we dipped grilled bread. Interesting and solid. For our dinner, my fiance asked for Jasper's recommendation and that was wise. He recommended an Ugni-Blanc that was refreshing, fruity and citrusy without being too sweet. I came back and drank it the next day. Jasper made a spicy spaghetti arrabiata for him - tomato base with garlic, fresh local vegetables, and LOTS of heat. I had the lamb burger -- everything said about this in other reviews is correct - salty, delicious, with the perfect toppings. We left feeling satisfied and so grateful for finding this haven of thoughtfully prepared food and drink using local fresh ingredients amid what seems to be a sea of bad pizza joints. The next day, after riding 100 miles, we and our friends came back famished and ready to chow. Jasper and my fiance had spoken the day before and, since one of our friends was also vegetarian, Jasper created and prepared a 3 course vegetarian prix fixe for them which was absolutely divine. He made a curried lentil soup that was an amazing fusion of his french culinary training and his mom's daal recipe. 100% spot on. Myself and our other non-vegetarian guest ordered the wedge salad -- crisp iceberg, fresh blue cheese dressing, fresh tomato, red onion, and crisp bacon. A delicious classic. We also tried the edamame which was the best edamame any of us at the table had ever tried. It arrived in a soy-based broth with other magical ingredients like smoked himalayan salt. We all fought over the entire bowl. Next Jasper brought the veggies an heirloom salad full of delicious fresh local vegetables - corn, tomatoes, okra, lima beans - plus avocado and fresh dressing. For our main courses, the veggies were served a Thai/Chinese/Indian fusion -- fresh Japanese eggplant in a delicious sauce over spicy fried rice with carrots, peas, and other yumminess topped with a perfectly-fried egg. We two non-veggies ordered basically and indulgent meat-eaters dream -- the Braised Pork Belly Croque Madame. Picture it: a thick slice of butter grilled bread smothered in melted cheese, braised pork belly, and thin crispy batter fried onions, covered in a bechamel sauce (I think), topped with another thick slice of butter grilled bread and the most perfectly-fried egg. Plus seasoned potato wedges. Good luck finishing this even if you have ridden 100 miles on your bike, but either way it could make great leftovers. After our dinner, Jasper came over and talked to us about his background, his menu, how he got started, etc. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we and our friends (we from northern VA, they from Baltimore) are already contemplating the next time we'll make a special trip up just to visit this place. I cannot recommend this place any more highly. QUICK NOTE ABOUT A PREVIOUS ONE-STAR REVIEW: It is true that their service is sometimes stretched at the busiest moments of the night, but nothing out of the ordinary for a relatively new restaurant still working out its growing pains (and trust me, my fiance and I are snobs about this and very easily angered by unacceptably slow service). But come on - sitting there for 60 minutes without flagging someone down? That's on you.
(5)Jim S.
Went for dinner before the Christmas Candlelight tour of homes. We had the French onion soup, Asian pear salad, steamed vegetables and the scallop special. Lindsey did a great job helping us. Great atmosphere. Probably not great for big groups and small kids. Bar was cozy and warm with all the wood from the old house. Worth the trip to Odessa for dinner.
(4)Erin Z.
This restaurant was such a great find! We travel to middletown a lot and it is great to know that we can get true "foodie" food! I had the lamb burger which was incredible and my mom had the scallops. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the service was great. I hope many other people find this Middletown jewel so they are around for years to come!
(5)Mohammed F.
I was in deleware for a few days when a friend of mine had suggested 1861 to me. Boy was I surprised! I walked in and was greeted by a friendly hostess. Which is definitely a great way to start an experience at any restaraunt. I proceeded to the bar where I took a seat. I was helped by a friendly bartender and ordered a beer and some wings to begin with. The wings were very flavorful. They had a great mix of heat and taste to them that really went well with the beer. For an entree i ordered the lamb burger, which was delightfully juicy and flavor filled, I enjoyed it throughly. Overall the service was great and the food was even better. 1861 really changed my mind on deleware cuisine. I definitely will be making trip back here in the future.
(5)bill b.
Brilliantly taken care of. Thanks Jasper and co. If you are a vegetarian who actually likes food- don't fear and instead just call ahead. The meat items, wine choices and cocktails were great as well.
(5)Sapphira G.
Just want to add I did "flag someone down" three times during that 60 minute period, and was told "we'll be right there." I've talked to several people who have been to the restaurant and they all have agreed that the service is slow and the food arrives cold. My review is a REAL and honest review. I hope they do improve their service.
(1)Jerry R.
My wife and I think this is one of the best restaurants in town, more so for the staff and the atmosphere, not the food. Especially for the bartenders, Mike and Kyle. However, the dissapointing thing is the value is lacking. The food tastes pretty good, but for what they charge you should get ALOT more. For instance, last night we went there and I ordered the 'meatloaf'. This is a new item for them. This is not an exageration.....the meatloaf was less then a half inch thick and 4" wide on a very small bed of mash potatoes and a smithering of grilled veggies. Tasted good (mines better), but it was gone in 2 minutes. If they charged 6 or 8 dollars for it, I would be fine with that. But the menu listed it as $14 so I was expecting at least a 1" thick cut or greater...wow was I dissapointed. Then, to add insult to injury, the bill came and they charged $15!!. I had to laugh, paid the bill and left. I've had similar expeirences with other ,menu items, unbeliveably small and average tasting, but my wife likes the place (for the atmosphere....) so we keep comming back...plus there arent many other choices in middletown
(3)Vanessa B.
Amazing place! I'm from Wilmington and I try and make it down once a week for the food and the atmosphere. The service is amazing as well as the food. My weak spot is the tenderloin sliders an the pizza's. I have a hard time choosing between the two. They always have a great selection of beer on tap and their wine list is good as well. It's worth a trip to Middletown to visit one of the best bars in the area.
(5)Sarah P.
Beautiful ambience and the food is wonderful! Freshest seafood I've had in a very long time! The eggs Benedict with crab are to die for!
(5)J H.
This place rules. I can't say enough about the completely rad owner, Jasper, as well as his stellar team. After being presented with some amazing Dogfish Head draft selections, I annihilated an Indian lentil stew, carrying a tasteful, smooth french influence, a fantastic local tomato, corn and greens terrine salad, and an edamame appetizer with a smoky himalayan salt topping that blew my mind. Super high quality, adventurous, friendly, helpful, attentive and top-notch in every way. I wish I had made room for dessert!!
(5)John W.
On 9/10/13 for our birthday Denise and I went to this restaurant and had a fantabulous meal with phenomenal service by Troy and the owner. Definitely a must visit #1861
(5)Anthony G.
This place is great! Great people and great food. I highly recommend the lobster Mac and cheese! It is the bomb! They have a great selection wine and beers. Def a great place for date night!
(5)Diane T.
I started the month of June on a scallop quest. I wanted to find the best scallops on our vacation. I started my quest in NJ and had decent scallops. Went to Washington DC and had scallops that were not so great... but not horrible. Came to 1861 on the way home and had the Best Diver Scallops. They were cooked perfectly! My granddaughter had the macaroni and cheese and had it all finished in no time. Which is a feat in itself because she is extremely picky. I wish I could go back soon but unfortunately, I have to wait for my next trip south. The staff there were extremely friendly and helpful with the rest of our order. I wish I could say what everyone had but I can say nothing was left on anyone's plate.
(5)Melissa N.
Great specials, good rotating selection of beers, staff is friendly and inviting. Nice environment. Lots of thought is put into composing the menu, and they do a great job! Our favorites include the lamb burger, quinoa sliders and Asian tacos. We hope this place becomes a hot spot in Middletown!
(5)Christina H.
Exceptional food and service. Being originally from Middletown, I have seen restaurants come and go, and I am pleased to see 1861 thriving. My husband and I frequent 1861, usually going there for dinner once a month and for drinks once a week. Their beer selection is exceptional and is constantly changing which pleases my husband and the wine selection is satisfying as well, which pleases me. Their menu changes seasonally which is great for the returning customer and always includes fresh local ingredients. Anytime we have a friend visiting from out of town we always take them to 1861 for the quality service, great atmosphere, and constantly changing menu.
(5)Catrina S.
We absolutely love it here. It has all of our favorite elements of a restaurant/bar. The staff is extremely friendly and can carry on a good conversation. The set up is one of a kind and you can either grab a drink or have a cozy date night next to one of the fireplaces. The wine list actually has wines you should be paying restaurant prices for. You won't see a cheap bottle with a high mark up here. The food is always impeccable, you can tell that a lot of thought goes behind the dishes - even if it is just chicken and waffles or one of their specialty pizzas! When I am not in the mood for wine I go for a martini or one of their beers on tap. If I started talking about their dessert - I would need to start another review. Here is my tip: Try it all! If you see something you might like, try it. It is worth it. The only reason you could have a "bad" meal here is because your taste buds didn't fancy the flavors.
(5)Michael J.
We are new to town and my wife and I wanted to got out for a nice dinner before our daughter returned from visiting relatives. We went by the yelp review and decided to give 1861 a shot. In short, we had a blast! We started with some drink specials. I settled on the Sidecar and may wife worked her way into a Cape Cod. The bartenders were fantastic. They made great suggestions about drinks and food, and were very pleasant without being overbearing. On to the food: we started with the fried potato appetizer with garlic aoili. They were plentiful, fresh, and very good. They were more of a knife-and-fork effort, but well worth it. We split a very tasty Blue Cheese Wedge Salad, and my wife was done. I decided on the Crab Cakes Romanesco and the vegetable of the day, some fresh and crispy green beans. We finished it all. The special desert for the night was a grilled angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Awesome. All of the dishes were a little different, but very good and not so different that they scared us off. Some friends we made at the bar enjoyed their take on Chicken and Waffles and Short rib special that smelled wonderful. It seems like someone there really likes food and wants to make it their own. A special party was going on later that night, so we hung out, had a few drinks, watched a little baseball, and just had a great date night. This we be our special place. See you next time!
(5)Joe A.
Took a group of five for dinner and really enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and service. If you're in Middletown and looking for a very nice comfortable local pub, this is a great place to start. At our table we had pork chop, meatloaf, pizza, salmon sandwich, and the chicken pot pie. Everyone really enjoyed the food. Good quality and portions and pice was very fair. The bar is quick and the servers friendly. We will definately go here again. Looking forward to trying the Sunday brunch!
(5)Kristopher D.
Looks odd from outside but is really unique and comfortable inside. Quality food and service. Was there with 5 others for a business meal and it was perfect.
(5)