I JUST ordered a "to go" order. Would not recommend. PROS: Customer Service. Although it took 5min to order 2 dinners (fried catfish) that was the exact same. CONS: the catfish was salty. The Cajun rice was cold with hard rice. The broccoli (seasonal veggie) was the best part. They added zero flatware. Zero napkins. Zero condiments. Would not recommend. read more

We are on the last effort to visit all 50 states and part of the appeal is going to Black-owned restaurants around the country. Initially focused on Wilmington but a bit more research allowed us to discover 1861 Bourbon and it was worth the extra drive from Philly. Starting with the Peach Bourbon beignets, which alone were incredibly good, but with the peaches ... completely over the top. Had the pleasure of speaking to the owner who recommended the salmon and grits and if I lived in the area, that dish alone would make me a regular. Service was outstanding and the food was even better. Highly recommend and will definitely return when back in the PHL area. read more

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We recently hosted a pre-wedding dinner for 22 people. We explained to Ashley, the owner, that we would have roughly 2 hours for the dinner before needing to head to the ceremony. Ashley decorated our reserved section beautifully, and quickly took our orders (no set menu, all individual orders) and served us so that we were all done right under 2 hours. Murphy, our main server, was amazing! We could not have asked for a better experience. Oh, and the food is DELICIOUS! Portion sizes were more than enough. No matter what menu item you select I'm sure you'll be pleased and full. Ambiance is perfectly intimate, making it a great place for any dining occasion read more

Excellent atmosphere, awesome food. Such a wonderful find! We had the shrimp and grits, catfish, cornbread, Brussels sprouts...it was all so good read more

Such a trendy, cozy place without being filled with hipsters! LOL Every part of our meal was delicious! Fried oysters, muscles, slow and low sandwiche as well as the prohibition burger. All amazing! We will definitely be back! read more

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Hidden gem in Middletown--great decor and vibe, but disappointing food. We were driving through town on a Saturday evening and stopped for dinner without a reservation. We were told there'd be a 15-minute wait. We thought the hostess said we could wait at the bar; confusion ensued as she'd actually asked us if we wanted a high-top table OR to sit at the bar for dinner. We wanted to wait at the bar and eat at a table, but that was apparently not an option, so we stood in the foyer. With nothing better to do we grabbed menus to look over our options so we'd be able to order quickly once seated. The paper menus were stained and warped from repeated use, printed in very small font, and they did not include some of the items we had seen on the menu in the Yelp app. When I asked the hostess about some things on the menu (e.g., "What is this 'holy trinity'?"), she had no idea and did not offer to find out. Still, we were seated in less than 15 minutes, so that was a plus. Our drinks order came very quickly (and they were delicious), as did a very tasty appetizer of the crispy Brussels sprouts. Unfortunately the Boudin balls appetizer was terribly undercooked--quite cold inside. Their replacement also came quickly and was better, tho' not as tasty as the crispy sprouts. The entrees were just okay (Prohibition burger, fried catfish, shrimp&grits). They ran out of fries so we had to choose other sides. Prompt service at the beginning gave way to slow service by the end. They ran out of mousse; we ordered the beignets to go, along with the check, which had errors--they had neglected to remove the undercooked boudin balls. The check was corrected and paid, we'd all been to the restroom, yet we were still waiting on the beignets. To be fair, our server was doubling as the bartender, and she was quite friendly and attentive. It seems the kitchen was the main source of problems for us. 1861 shows much potential, yet we had a somewhat lackluster and disappointing experience the night we were there. read more

Reservations for party of 4 on a Saturday evening. Glad we had them, this place filled up! Drove right past the establishment, it sits off the road, and there was no lighting to display the sign, also the parking lot is small. Our server Nina was great. We ordered steak well done (but was medium well) Nashville hot sandwich, chicken n waffles, biscuits, and a salad, mac and cheese, and beignets for dessert. Macaroni and cheese did not come out with our food, we were told it was still in the oven. Food was pretty good. Beigents and drinks were really good. read more

1861 - Nashville hot chicken sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

I love food and am always looking for a spot that will not only make me want to come back for more but also spread the word. Being new to Delaware, it has been great discovering 1861. I've been here twice now with new friends and the hubster. Both times, the food, service and ambience were AMAZING!! read more

I enjoyed the fried chicken and waffles dinner. They have great cornbread. Their cocktails were delicious. Definitely a great place for dinner. read more

Be sure to make a reservation in advance because you don't want to miss this place. I've had the pleasure of having dinner and brunch. I've really enjoyed myself and like to check out the occasional rotation of the menu. read more

1861 - Loaded Seafood Baked Potato - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

Very cool vibe at this place, and the staff and owner are exceptionally humble and friendly. We got the cornbread with peach topping for the table and OMG! Don't skip that--it's amazing, makes you smile each bite! That Catfish is exceptional, I can't think of any better to be honest. We're heading back this evening for my son's birthday and can't wait! This is a fun place and the food and service are fantastic! read more

Great atmosphere. Food is always good, the staff are pleasant and we keep coming back. We have also put friends on to 1861 and they love it there too! Highly recommend! read more

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Parking is horrid- had to park at a county building and walk in the dark to the restaurant- the entrance is in the back of the building- poorly marked. This was a cold night in January- excited to try the soup- but at 5:45 they already had none. We ordered drinks and the cornbread- the cornbread was tasty but came out 5 minutes before re received our drinks! Dinner was shrimp po boy for me and voodoo pasta for my wife. Both were fine- the fries were cold when they came out- but not worth bothering the staff about. Wanted to, I mean really wanted to like this place- but it was fine- nothing special. read more

2 of the menu items were not available, and that's a lot since their menu is very short. The chicken used is dark ONLY. The only thing we enjoyed were the cocktails and that makes it a good bar. Nothing more. read more

We made a reservation for brunch. The atmosphere was great. Music was playing in the background but you could still have a conversation. We ordered the puffed pastry French toast with a side of chicken, Lucille's chicken and waffles, Lucille's chicken and waffles with bourbon sauce and peaches and the Friends with Benedict with a fried egg. The parking was very tight. We had to park across the street in a shopping center. read more

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The brunch here is phenomenal!!! Every single item is of exceptional quality and could pass for a very high end restaurant. The waffles are all amazing, the short rib and grits are superb, but really the fried chicken and gravy and biscuits is unforgettable. We've been several times and the food and drinks always blow us away. read more

Very nice experience. Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Delicious food and drinks. Highly recommend.

The food was incredible! I loved every bite that I ate. I also had a chance to speak to the bartender and owner. Service was amazing. They definitely added a personal touch. I told them I would make it back and I absolutely will! I'm taking my siblings with me this time. read more

Mixed review! Went for first visit over the weekend. Greeter and staff were awesome and attentive! Service was excellent. We ordered a variety of dishes to try and have to say hit and miss. Highly recommend the corn bread, Brussels spouts and shrimp and grits! Appetizers and sides not the best, smaller portions and overpriced. Drinks a plus! Poor attention to cleanliness was a big downside and noticeable in and out of the restaurant. With this being said, a little more attention to the cleaning and I would have been much more inclined to recommend to friends. read more

Make reservations ahead. It's always popular. Great food and atmosphere is always welcoming. Cajun with a modern twist with the current owners. read more

Good food and nice atmosphere. Make sure to reserve your reservations and dress to impress.

Just driving through and found this gem - fun, inviting, friendly with excellent execution. No reservation for us but we got lucky with a couple of bar chairs overlooking the entire restaurant. 1861 was the perfect respite we needed to continue our drive south ... and there is no doubt we will time our drives north and south to do this again. read more

Cool place I've been wanting to try for a while. Glad we did, as the food was delicious. I am giving 4 stars for process improvement. So we ordered an appetizer (loaded fries) which were fabulous! When it came time for the main course to be delivered no one cleaned up the appetizer plates, so they kind of like - handed us our entree. While out I expect to not have to bus my own area. Additionally my husband added on a salad as one of his sides, which came out with his steak....so the hot steak had to sit while he ate his cold salad. Food was great, the musician was awesome. But like I said - just some process improvement. Glad we finally tried this place and we will be back! read more

Great food, wonderful service at the bar! Drinks were nice as well. Didn't have reservations but was immediately seated. Highly recommend

We had an excellent meal at 1861. Among the four of us, we had the hush puppies, fried green tomatoes, chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, catfish po boy, catfish entree, collards, and the peach bread pudding. Everything was delicious. I have to give the kitchen a special nod for the fried green tomatoes. I'm usually not a big fan (in my experience the tomatoes are either undercooked or complete mush and the taste is bland), but these were perfectly prepared and we LOVED the goat cheese and whatever amazing sauce was drizzled on top. Wow. Like many other reviewers, we loved the friendly, laid-back, speakeasy vibe. Service was really friendly and attentive. Our only (slight) complaint is that we felt a bit rushed--our server asked us for our dessert order while we were still finishing our entrees. I appreciate the need to turn tables over but this was a little bit much. Like I said, a very small complaint about what was otherwise a terrific experience. We will definitely be back! read more

My food was not good at all salmon was salty greens was salty ,and the yams had no taste. My boyfriends food was good but came out cold. Service was slow only good thing was the drink. I would never return. read more

Absolutely the best brunch spot in town! The atmosphere is lively and relaxed. As for the service, it's exceptional - attentive, friendly, and quick without ever feeling rushed. The food is downright amazing. Never had a so-so meal here. read more

Made reservations here for my birthday this evening and was imma greeted and sat at a comfy booth. Our server was super nice and grabbed my husband a drink and water for the table. We went with the Mac and cheese balls for appetizer and they didn't disappoint! We had to wait a little longer than excepted to get our main course but it was worth it! I opted for the crab and lobster ravioli and seriously... 11/10 because it was so good. My husband got the voo doo chicken which was also a hit! Just the right amount of everything portion wise. After that we chose to get dessert which was their beignets. I completely forgot to ask if they had nuts which was my fault so I couldn't eat any but my husband had one and said they were really good! I definitely plan on going here again and would love to try out their brunch menu! Perfect way to end my birthday! read more

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So delicious! The food was great and the staff was too! The atmosphere is amazing. It gives you the Bayou feel! Straight creole food! The corn bread is also delicious we ate it to fast I couldn't get a pic Lol!! A must try! read more

1861 - Fried Green Tomatoes Mussels - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

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Foods was ok, cornbread was good, ordered lamb chops - no flavor and over cooked. Service was not great. Waitress checked on us well after our food was delivered and not worth return that point. read more

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. read more

1861 - Sign out front. - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

I just found this gem for date night. Great cocktails and good food. We will be back! read more

1861 - You get your drinks in a book! - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

Bougie place. Totally in love with the whole ambiance from walking down the steps in the rear of a building to all of the food and drinks. Seriously a great place for a night out! read more

Awesome venue. Good and service. Definitely put this on your to go list. Limited seating so reserve a week in advance.

Took my family here it was our first time. We loved the atmosphere and ambience of this little place. Our food was good and our waitress was great and friendly. Wish they had spring/ bottled water and sparkling water don't mind paying we don't like tap water. But we loved this place and definitely recommend and will be back on a regular for sure!!! read more

Really enjoyed our dinner here. Has a speakeasy vibe; you enter around the back and go downstairs. Brick walls and dark wood interior feels very inviting and comfortable. Service was friendly and helpful and they didn't rush you through dinner. Well made and thoughtful drinks paired well with our dinner. Table shared the Mac and cheese which was top notch and hush puppies with a brown sugar butter. Cajun butter chicken, lamb chops and shrimp and grits for dinner all received rave reviews. Would definitely recommend and return. Great meal and find. read more

Great food and ambiance! Had the bees knees which was the perfect after work drink. Firecracker shrimp were a fantastic appetizer. Big shrimp with a great sauce! For dinner I had the voodoo chicken which was really good. Something I would definitely get again. They had live music Thursday night. It was a little too loud making conversation difficult but she sounded great. We will be coming back soon! read more

1861 - Firecracker Shrimp - Gastropubs Near Me - Middletown, Delaware

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Great food and they make a very good Old Fashion drink. The atmosphere is very comfortable also.

I love the ambiance of this establishment, it takes me back in time. The food was good although a little on the salty side, please consider dialing back on the amount of salt used on your dishes. Service was excellent, attentive, quick and courteous. read more

3 stars was a hard pull off. Inconsistent food! Has the potential to be great but a lot of mishaps along the way. The menu isn't honest: 1. Beignets were PILLSBURY flaky biscuits with some sort of caramel sauce. NOT BEIGNETS. I've had them in New Orleans and don't expect anything to surpass N.O.'s beignets but please don't insult my intelligence by serving me PILLSBURY biscuits! 2. The banana pudding described on the menu is not the pudding that was sold to me. It was some version of a banana Foster's meet banana pudding. However, it was all caramel sauce and the pudding looked like it curdled. The bananas were fresh (that's a plus). Nonetheless we did not completely eat any of the desserts. A waste of money. Now if you wondering why the 3 stars. One week ago, I had the Calypso burger (plant based) and it was SOOOOOO DELISH! I have a history with this place and it appears to be a roller coaster ride! Had dinner here for my bday in 2018 and the food was superb! Everything ordered was superb! I went back several times in 2018 and always perfection. Albeit, the menu was slightly different in 2018. In 2019 before the New Year, I went for a friend's bday and the food and service was SOOOO AWFUL! We left and went to Two Stones. I continue to have high hopes that the menu will live up to the descriptions. It's a quaint spot and can do great things if they pull the cooking together. read more