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1861

4.1 (292 reviews)
ModerateGastropubs

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1861 ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Intimate
Quiet
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - 1861

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Reviews With Photos

Smothered Salmon
Shauntia M.

The service was amazing! Everyone was so informative and welcoming! Everything is made fresh to order, and you can really taste the difference nothing is frozen. One of the servers even told me about their happy hour specials: $6 Old Fashioneds all day on Tuesdays, and on Thursdays, you can get a teapot-sized specialty cocktail (serves four drinks) for $35. I ordered the smothered salmon, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, cornbread, sweet and sticky wings, Brussels sprouts, and catfish sliders and every single dish was delicious! Everything came out quickly and was full of flavor. I also tried a bunch of their cocktails, and my favorite was definitely the Bees Knees. My only critique is that it was really hot inside, which made things a bit uncomfortable. But overall, the food, drinks, and service more than made up for it!

Original Cornbread
Kera L.

Based on the reviews I read, I had high expectations, but I was quickly disappointed. Let me start with the pros. The customer service was good; we made a reservation and were greeted and seated right away. Now, for the cons: first, the location of the entrance could be better advertised. It is at the back of the building and down the stairs, but everyone we encountered walked around the building looking for it. When you enter, it's dimly lit, which sets a nice ambiance for a date night. However, we must have chosen an off night because the menu was limited; several appetizers, soups, and entrées were marked as unavailable. The bartender was very inexperienced. We ordered a simple Old Fashioned and a Margarita, and she literally measured nothing out, and not in a good way. The drinks were poorly made; I couldn't stomach how sour my Margarita was, so I sent it back. The original cornbread was underwhelming--it tasted like Jiffy mix with a little extra flavoring. The short ribs entrée was tough and lacked flavor, although the gravy helped a bit. The catfish was very under-seasoned and not worth mentioning. The best thing we ordered was the macaroni and cheese, but even that wasn't amazing. The greens were also just okay. Overall, I'd say give it a try, but I likely will not return.

Dennecia C.

Love the speakeasy vibe, the music threw it off for me though I get it is Sunday brunch hours would expect more of jazz vibe! Finally made it to this establishment though I have been recommending it for some time based on personal reviews I have receieved and I will say overall I was pleased. I made reservation for myself because I didn't want to sit at the bar, and while I was greeted politely it did seem as if the hostess was surprised that I was dining alone. I think all establishments need to understand that every patron is important and assumptions should never come across in interactions. My server was personable and prompt throughout my meal. I appreciated how she immediately informed me what they were out of. I ordered the Purple People Eater cocktail which was very balanced; enjoyed it so much I got a second. That one cocktail informed me that they certainly know their libations and sure the positive things I've heard about their Bourbon selection must be true. The fried green tomatoes were delicately fried, seasoned just right and had just enough goat cheese to add some texture as well as balance the tomatoes. My main concern was with the loaded seafood grits, the description did not live up to what I receieved. It states that there is a lobster claw but I barely had 2 chunks of lobster in the dish. Also, either the lump crab was not lump crab to begin with (as a true crab eater that's my assumption) or when folding into the dish it was separated to the point that it appears to not be lump. The flavor of the dish was delectable and it was not as heavy considering grits were the base and sauce was creamy. The grits were perfectly cooked. I enjoyed it overall, but considering the price point I do not believe I receieved the value loaded seafood implies. Overall, I am looking to patronize again. I will stated that knowing what I do about the owners of this establishment that was a reason I often recommend and wanted to support. I'm leaving this review because I know that this is a high quality restaurant and want nothing more than for continued success!

Morning warrior cocktail - so yummy!
Luisa G.

Service: 4/5 - stood at the front for about 5 minutes before anyone came to greet and sit us. Once we were seated, our server Olivia was wonderful. I'd suggest you don't come here in a rush, the plates take longer than your other Middletown restaurants but in my option worth the wait. Food: 4/5 - we had the wings and fried green tomatoes for apps and both were delicious. I had the catfish sliders for my meal accompanied by tater tot's and both were just ok. The sliders needed a little something extra, it felt like fish on a piece of bread and the tots were stuffed in a little glass jar, very small portion. Others enjoyed their grits dishes, no complaints there. Drinks: 4/5 - I had the morning warriors cocktail and it was so fun and delicious, it is very heavy and sweet so can't have more than one. Others had the punch and loved it as well as the old fashioned. Ambiance: 3/5 - it's very dark down there and gives it that cool, speakeasy vibe but the space felt stuffy and dusty. There were also flies hovering over our table the entire time we were there, taking away from the experience.

Angela S.

Although the reviews I read about this place were mixed, I decided to give it a shot and celebrate my anniversary by having brunch here with my hubby yesterday. I made a reservation for 11 and got there a few minutes early. There is a parking lot out back, but its very small and was full so we parked on the street. There is a shopping center across the street you can park in as well. The front door is not for use, as the main enterance is in the back of the building. The name suits the restaurant well, as it resembles a speakeasy from 1861. Very dim lighting, neon light signage scattered around, old lamp fixtures, with table, booth, and bar seating available. The vibe was so chill and I love the old school ambiance. Service was great, as all the staff we encountered was super friendly. Cant quite remember out waitresses name but she was a gem. Very sweet & attentive. For drinks, l ordered the Sally was a sinner & hubby ordered Practice what you peach. Im into sweet fruity drinks but he likes to be able to taste the liquor in his. Needless to say, he wasnt a fan of his drink because he said it taste like juice. The bartender recommended the not today kathy and he ended up loving it. The restaurant does not allowing changes, so I ended up keeping his original drink. This wasnt a problem for me because I enjoyed his first option lol. For starters, we got the beignets with peaches on top. While the dish was reallyyyy good, I can say these were NOT beignets. Ive seen pictures from other peoples reviews, so I know at one point they did sell them but these werent it. There were crossiants, not beignets. Nevertheless, they were still tasty. For our mains, our waitress told us about a menu special that was being offered for that day only. The special was pretty much you can get grits any style. I opted to get lamp chops, shrimp, & grits and hubby got the corner store classic; which he thorougly enjoyed. Both were good. The lamb chops were seasoned to perfection. I gagged when I saw the shrimp had NO tail on them because this is rare! The waitress said the grits would be smoothered in this creole sauce but to me the sauce was reallly just seasoned butter with sauteed peppers lol it was still good and Id for sure come here again.

Peach something (in the front). On the sweet side but good.
Candice G.

We went here on two different occasions: brunch and dinner service. The food was excellent! The Brussel were my daughter's favorite. The service is amazing! We really enjoyed all the food we ordered, and we ordered many things. The ambiance is cool as well. We recommend this place .

Nashville hot catfish (we requested the hot sauce on the side).

This is the best food I have had in Delaware so far! The ambiance feels like you've been teleported to a New Orleans speakeasy. The service was very welcoming and helpful with food suggestions. For drinks we had the "Practice what you peach" and "Sally was a Sinner". Both could have been a little bit stronger but were otherwise great! We had Brussel sprouts, sticky sweet wings, the skillet cornbread, shrimp and grits, Nashville hot catfish, duck and andouille gumbo and macaroni and cheese. Every last one of them was a hit! Run don't walk to this great spot!

Love the vibe!
Antionette T.

What an amazing experience!!! This was our second time dining at 1861 and it was even better than the first. The first time was for brunch and this time was for dinner with family. We sat by the fireplace which was very intimate. We had a dinner party of 13 so we pretty much order the major of the menu lol. Our server was new but she did an awesome job ensuring we all had our meals and drinks of course. The biggest menu hit of the night were the Brussel sprouts, lamb chops and the salad with grits (added crab meat). It was decided after our meals that this 1861 is one of our favorite restaurants in town!!!

Atmosphere
Vinesha B.

Literally one of the best restaurants I have ever experienced. I have not had food this good since I lived in New Orleans. The atmosphere is one of an upscale speak easy. The way you entered and the atmosphere really made me feel as if I went back in time. I went for Saturday morning brunch. The jerk mango wings and the cornbread brought tears to my eyes. The Bellini was well thought out with three different juices. It was delicious. I didn't eat my entree because they accidentally provided another table with my food. They did an excellent job at service recovery but after waiting I just didn't want the food. My husband ate the chicken and waffles that I didn't eat cold later. He had the shrimp and grits with catfish added. He is telling everyone who will listen about the restaurant. We would go back next weekend if we didn't live so far. Planning our next trip back already.

Blackened Salmon collard greens and carrots.
Donna W.

Looking for GREAT southern food? Check out 1861. It's a quaint restaurant with a cool vibe. My husband and I had the blackened salmon with collard greens, carrots and cornbread. The food was so good l forgot to take the picture before I started eating. It was our first time and the staff were super friendly and helped us navigate the flavorful food and drink options.

Chicken & Waffles w/ Peach Topping

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11 months ago

Wasn't open when they said they'd be open. No signs - closed - open - out of business!

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It was so good and so tasty. We had my brother and sister-in-law's rehearsal dinner here it was great.

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Ask the Community - 1861

When I made a reservation, it asked if i wanted main dining or thank you. what is thank you? I cannot find it anywhere on the website.

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Hole in the Wall

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This place used to be one of my favorite stops. I understand there is new ownership…read more... So. We arrived yesterday around 1:45 to watch the Eagles. The bar tender was very nice, very courteous . Then the issues began to emerge. Keep in mind what time it is and there are only 6-7 people in the bar. The men's bathroom was filthy. Like there was excrement on the wall, trash cans over flowing and toilet paper on the wall, stuck to it. All over the floor. The bar tender said something to the manager and the excuse was that it was the bait parade the night before. They have had over 12 hours to clean the bathroom. The nachos were absolutely gross. Poured cheese, 3 jalapeños, cold chicken. Two years ago it was a mix of cheese and smoked chicken, and delicious. I hope the owners read this and take note. Your saving money on cheap ingredients will lose clientele. A gross bathroom should have you shut down. Do better. You have a great location and a special little bar.

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First time at a Two Stones Pub. Went with my partner…read more Thursday night the place was not too busy. I appreciate the happy Buddah statue decor near the entrance; it give the palce a unique and fun flare. The TVs around Us were showing video games and poker which was great for me since I don't really watch sports. They are also doing a food drive since I saw a box with cans in it. Not sure how long they're doing it though. As I took a look at the menu - at first glance it seems like a standard American bar menu with burgers, fries, nachos, salads, wings, and sandwhiches, but upon further reading I noticed the ingredience are a bit diffrent. This is where it really stands out. Subtle changes to some classic foods really shines at this place. Example: PeeBee & Jay Burger/Dirty Kettle Chips Overall we had a pleasant experience at this place and really feels like we could be regulars. Service is good, food is good, drinks, good, and portion sizes are excellent. (2) Alcoholic beverages, (1) appitizer, and (2) entrees. Bill came out to about $61. (Not including tip) Shout out to our server JASON. He was very attentive, we watched him keep that same energy with the other tables around us. Very honest and knowledgeable about the menu. Helped us pick items on the menu, gave us really accurate descriptions of the foods and drinks. Great personality energy and helpful, Drinks: beer and seasonal sangria (good) Food: Caribbean Sweet Potato Fries - We ordered a small, the portion size was great to share for twc people. The jerk sauce gives the fries a spicy kick to them which is a slow build up the more you eat. The salsa was great and really balanced out the spice, 1 appreciate the quality of mangos being just perfect (not too tarte or super sweet). Sweet potatos weren't very sweet but that was fine with me since I generally don't eat sweet potatos. These were propbably the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. Fish Tacos with a side of garden salad with Herb Vinegrett dressing - Fish Tacos were good. the sauce was spicy, a lot spicier than I expected. Fish was well fried and good size. It didn't have a fishy taste to them so it felt fresh. The Herb Vinegrett dressing was sooooo goooood. I wish i had more of it. I can't even describe it other than it was so good. Chopped Santa Fe Salad with requested Jerked Chicken - Chicken was well cooked and juicy. Just the right amount of dressing and chicken. Ratio of sauce to salad was well balanced. Jerked chicken had its own flavor which added to the salad as a whole.Overall really good.

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Casual bar & restaurant Extensive brunch menu with unique…read morechoices as well as traditional. We were here for Easter, visiting our Blue Hen. Was able to secure last minute reservation. Not surprising, as on holiday weekends most students go home so the town isn't crowded like a usual week. Service was friendly, fast and attentive. Everyone's meals were very good, except for mine. I made a bad choice. Skip the hot honey chicken over donuts brunch item. Its nothing more than 3 chicken fingers over what tasted like a couple of dry entemann's donuts. (Missed opportunity..theres a greta bakery across the street..should get fresh glazed donuts from them. The donuts ruined the dish. Other meals were very good. Easter quiche special with hollandaise sauce and fried potatoes was delicious, although the size of quiche slices was kind of small. Burrata avocado toast was great, and so was their cheese omelette. It was perfect dining for us as we didn't want a heavy, upscale meal at 1:30 in the afternoon. Will definitely come back next time we are in town for dinner and drinks.

Horse Inn - Crab roll

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Went to the Horse Inn last week and had a really good time. Cool place. You kinda feel like you are…read morein an old horse barn which is actually pretty sweet. They do this mystery beer thing which is just a cheap beer but it's fun and feels on brand for the place. Food wise the beef tips are the move. I would honestly go back just for that. Good spot overall.

This place was BUSY on a Saturday night (a good thing for a restaurant and a good sign for those…read morecoming in for the first time)... we didn't have a reservation, having planned to late, but they do keep tables open for walk-ins and despite being told it was an hour wait (whatever, we knew we ran that risk), we were seated in 15 minutes - Luck, maybe? But awesome all the same! For how busy they were, the server was very attentive and very accommodating as we were yapping away and constantly not ready with our orders so kuddos for the team and putting up with us! I love the mystery beer concept, its not great beer, but being from DC at like $2 a can, I am not passing that up, ever. And a cheap beer with a burger is the perfect combo! On to the burger... I have heard that this is a great burger... and I have to conclude that I agree though it is reminiscent of a Big Mac - just way better ingredients - it has to be the sauce they put on it... Anyway, nice size patty, good amount of toppings and a quality bun (not too soft, not too thick, bread soaks up some of the juices but doesn't fall apart). The mussels were quite excellent as well. It was a Thai curry broth the night we were there and it was drinkable, like soup... we did ask for extra bread... enough said. I am going to take a minute too and praise their spirit free cocktails. THIS IS HOW THEY SHOULD BE MADE. They used bitters, tonics, etc to craft something that tasted like a cocktail but without alcohol which means they were not sickly sugary concoctions, but expertly crafted beverages. Just really great options. All that said though, their espresso martini was one of the worst I have had. Just skip that.

1861 - gastropubs - Updated May 2026

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