This is a kind of unassuming place you wouldn't think to stop driving by it. We had to make a stop so I googled it and by pure chance it is excellent. Not one dish we ordered had anything wrong or slightly off a out it. My sandwich was juicy and cheesy and the white sauce that came with was mayo/horseradish, perfectly appropriate. Fish n chips were moist and crunchy. And yeah, those milkshakes were giant. Had to take em to go. read more

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The burger I got was very good but that's where the positives end. The fries were very lackluster and bland. The service was bad. Waitress passed our table 6 times without checking with our table. 15 minutes after being seated, we ordered drinks and that took another 15 minutes until they were served our drink. We ordered our food and only 3 of 4 people got their food. They did serve the last person their food 5 minutes later. Considering the super long wait between seeing our waitress we only got 1 refill of drinks which was annoying as our waitress passed by us numerous times and. No matter how many times we tried to flag her down she just walked right by us. Also, they forgot a side order which we were not able to get fixed until half the party had finished their meals. On top of that it took forever to get our check. It's a good burger but it is not amazing. The burger at Cracker Barrel is better. The burger at Longhorn Steakhouse is far better. The juice is not worth the squeeze here. The service was one of the worse experiences ever. They would probably better serve their patrons to offer food fast casual style with pay at the front, self serve fountain drinks, self seating and one or two bus boys to clear and clean tables. read more

Have I ever mentioned that I love a great burger, especially when it's grilled at a place that wants to be just a great burger place? The Charcoal Place is one of those. You don't need my thoughts, go and enjoy. This place is a gem. Simple and right as rain. And don't forget to give yourself a special treat....get yourself one of their milkshakes, you won't regret it and your inner child will love you for it. read more

Delicious! I've only done the take out so I can't speak on the dining in service. I got the cookies and cream milkshake. So good! And I love that it's not overly sweet. It's one size only. Very simple. I'll be back! read more

We needed a bit on the road from Philadelphia to Wilmington. We saw a road sign for fast food at the next exit, and took it. Our fast food plans were dashed when we saw the Charcoal Pit marquee sign! It's a 50's style diner building that looks like it hasn't changed in years. We were seated in a booth (complete with a jukebox selector!) and ordered the special; a buffalo chicken grilled cheese with onion rings, and a cheesesteak with cheese fries. The food was well made, hot, and delicious (especially those panko breaded onion rings!). The cheesesteak wasn't a huge sandwich like those served in Philly, but was a tasty, reasonably sized portion. Definitely worth a stop off of I-95 if you are in the area! read more

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The best milkshakes around, period. Such a cute vibe, been around forever and is still goated read more

Charcoal Pit - Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake YUM - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Service was absolutely wonderful and ambience was what was expected although jukebox terminals were only at certain tables. The food was a different story- ordered a Reuben sandwich with fries. There wasn't much corned beef and the sandwich had an odd flavor. My friend later said I should have ordered thee hamburger since that's what they're famous for. I will try again but will order the burger! read more

I was in the area and decided to stop by Biden's favorite place to see what all the hype was about. The service was great and the decor is reminiscent of an old 50s/60s diner. I ordered their classic burger and a Oreo milkshake. The food was meh - not seasoned and overcooked. The waiters asked how I wanted my burger cooked and I guess he just brought out whatever was hot. The burger had a nice char but was flavorless and dry. The milkshake was good. Was it great or something worth making a pitstop for? No. read more

Charcoal Pit - Hamburger 8oz Pit Special - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Thanks to Joe Biden's recent social media activity I was influenced into stopping in for a shake The shakes here are some of the best in the game. Normally at places like 5 guys, Red Robin, or chick fila (yes, I am naming names) - I have to ration my milkshake or I run out of my shake halfway through my meal. This has never been an issue at charcoal pit, the shakes are like 30 ounces and I need the help of my date to suck one down. For $6, my meal revolves around the shake The 8 oz pit special always hits the spot and is the perfect accompaniment to a milkshake I'm kind of bummed that the jukeboxes at each table are no longer operational but I understand that it's impossible to justify servicing these old things in this day and age. I'm just glad they haven't scrapped them Service here is pleasant and there is still that distinct diner charm that overwhelms me when I drive by their neon sign at night. Charcoal Pit is an institution and a treasure Be sure to stop in! read more

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Hadn't been here in years. Decided to try again. It was crap. We started off good but that lasted just thru beverages and appetizer. Meat not cooked to order. Everything very well done until it was almost shoe leather. Burger very sloppy. Waitress would disappear for 20 minutes at a time...several times. Employees standing around. I made the mistake of paying (and tipping) before our dessert arrived. Watched our ice cream sit on the counter and melt while our server disappeared again. Loafing servers didn't step in to help. Had ice cream soup instead of a Sundae. Didn't bother to complain because I didn't want spit in my food and I just wanted to leave. I won't ever return. McDonald's would have been a much better choice and not cost me $60+tip read more

Stopped in and grabbed a PB Shake To-Go, delicious as always and came out very quickly! The perfect sweet treat read more

Charcoal Pit - Pick up Window - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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It's been awhile since I visited Charcoal Pit and on my second visit I found it just as delightful as my first. They seated our seven member group at the booth by the front door with a beautiful mural painted on the wall behind it. There was a special menu with new items available so I tried one, the Reuben Dog. The two dogs on a hoagie roll with Swiss-cheese and sour kraut and dressing seemed awkward at first but it held together pretty good. Delicious! On a side note the waitress was wearing a mask. Our drinks were refilled, and the service was good. I hate to mention this, but I was disturbed a little when she lowered her mask to cough and then put it back on. read more

Charcoal Pit - Reuben Dog - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Catching up on Yelp reviews as I visited here back in June. The Charcoal Pit is rated as one of the best burgers in Delaware and is one of Joe Biden's favorite spots. My buddy and I drove from Baltimore to Philadelphia and decided to stop for lunch on a Monday. So there was no wait. The place is off a busy road, but there is a decent size parking lot. Ambiance is a classic diner and has a pretty big space. I ordered the Cheeseburger Deluxe, which came with fries, and a vanilla milkshake. Bun was soft, but it didn't hold well together and it didn't have much flavor. I wished that they toasted it. I am not a fan of charbroiled burgers and this one came off a tad dry. It was a good portion size though. Toppings were good and super fresh. LTO were all crispy and is where the burger shined. Fries were super crispy and almost better than the burger. Sweet relish and mustard were good. Vanilla milkshake was good. I see why it's rated the best burger in Delaware, but nowhere near one of the best burgers I have ever had. Bun: 6 Burger: 5 Toppings: 8 Overall: 6.33 Fries: 8 Overall, the Charcoal Pit was an old school diner and definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. Not the best food, but it was solid. Prices were cheap and it had friendly service. read more

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Food and customer service 5 of 5! Mac n cheese was not good but burger was amazing! Shout out my waiter Megan A amazing customer service read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

My husband and I visited Wilmington last Saturday and stopped at Charcoal Pit for a burgers and fries lunch. I had read that it is one of Joe Biden's favorite Wilmington restaurants and that it has been around since 1956, so I had to try it for myself. It's charmingly old school - old signage (although the neon sign on the building wasn't on), old diner architecture and decor, and nods to the past (mini tabletop jukeboxes that no longer work). And I thought the food was good - we both enjoyed our burgers and the fries. The issue for me was the service, sadly. Everyone entering waited a while to be acknowledged and seated, even though they weren't full (there just wasn't anyone there at the host stand). Then the service wasn't super friendly after that either (no welcome, just "how many?" and then just pointing at a table for us to sit at). But the food came fast and was pretty tasty! So if you're looking for a retro spot with some decent burgers, Charcoal Pit might hit the spot, but it wasn't a winner for me just due to the sort of prickly service. read more

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I was searching for a restaurant and this was noted as Biden's favorite burger place so I thought, why not? The portions are decently large, except it's slightly greasy and there's not much flavor to it. The milkshake was good and the root beer had a lot of ice cream and not enough soda so I had a huge cup of ice cream to eat after my burger. The fish and chips was too battered for me. Charcoal Pit is decent, but nothing really stood out. read more

We were super pleasantly surprised when we went to charcoal pit. I'm not sure what the negative reviews are about regarding service or cleanliness. Maybe there was a recent renovation - our experience was very positive and the service couldn't have been better. We both got burgers they came with fries and they were really good. Next time we'll try the ice cream which seemed popular, but we were stuffed with what we got. read more

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I went there to the window to order, older lady was kinda rude cause I asked her to change her gloves cause she was using a pen n toubching money!! She seemed offended but I was not goi g to have her touch my food without new gloves!! Food was ok read more

Service is pleasant but very slow. Food is so so. The cheese burger I ordered was over cooked but the fries were really good. I asked if I could get a slice of the homemade strawberry short cake that was advertised on their High school sundaes menu only to be told no. Evidently you can't have any of the short cake unless you order the ice-cream sundae it comes with and all the fixings. But you can order just ice cream which makes no sense. read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Step in this staple of Wilmington, DE and step back in time to the 1960's. And if you suggest anything like a remodel, expect to get ushered out. I am sure this place is exactly what the regulars expect on a daily basis. Don't be trying to change it. All the food here is going to be straight forward and just about what you would expect at a diner like this. And that's why you come here. We started with the mini corn dogs out of curiosity. Joan had the Caesar salad with chicken and I had a straight up 4 oz cheeseburger. Nothing complicated. Food was great (fries needed a little salt), but we didn't leave enough room for an ice cream desert or a root beer float done up old school like. read more

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Very busy as I didnt account for a school holiday. Since I came alone I was seated at the counter where I waited for some time for someone to acknowledge me. No one was assigned to the counter until I am assuming a manager asked a waitress to cover it While the food was very good - I ordered the black and white milkshake and pretzel cheese burger (super sloppy). The coleslaw I wanted never came. The milkshake arrived well after I started eating. I was never given napkins - another diner gave me some of her's & condiments- the manager got it for me. I sat again with my bill and payment ready. Again not acknowledged. I'm guessing ghosted by my waitress. 15 mins after I alerted my waitress that I wanted to pay my bill. She gave another diner their bill and ignored me. Finally took my bill no thank u sign this and keep the copy. Not sure what to think. But wow! read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

An old favorite Charcoal Pit on concord pike has been around since the 1950's. The menu is quite extensive with everything from hot dogs to crab cakes. And of course the ice cream sundaes and shakes are a major reason for coming. read more

I used to frequent Charcoal place as a teenager and loved the food, many great memories there, however my most recent experience has it me off completely. I went for a quick bite for myself and family, and ordered over the phone, specifically ordering hamburgers with no cheese due to alllergies. When I arrived, the cashier, named Sahabiha greeted me with, oh thanks for showing up, I didn't think you'd come." I ignored her and paid along with a tip. A young server came up and inspected the order saying, "who orders burgers with no cheese?" I replied, "I do, I'm allergic to cheese." She then retracted and apologized saying she had a friend with celiac disease. I then took a look at my order and saw that Sahabiha had put on the check all cheeseburgers. I said to her, " please make sure none of the burgers have cheese, I specifically asked for no cheese on any of the burgers." She then told the server and cook to make sure the burgers had no cheese, while saying, "that's what you said over the phone." I replied, "No, I did not I don't eat cheese." I then pointed out that the price of the hamburger to cheeseburger was 2.25$ extra and stated I would like the difference refunded to me. She refused. I said, ok, " please give me your name so I can speak to the manager about this incident and get my refund." Sahabiha rolled her eyes and said her name quickly, to which I asked her to spell it again. She then huffed, "they're the same price I'm not giving you a refund, and you said cheeseburgers on the phone." I replied, " I never said cheeseburgers because I don't eat cheese. I worked in customer service and I would never have told a customer they were wrong or refused a refund. You are extremely disrespectful." At that point all the servers were watching and she apologized and threw two one dollar bills at me. I replied," that's still not the difference." She then continued to argue that the kids meal was rhetorical same price, hamburger vs cheeseburger. At that point I was done and my food was ready. I left and I will NEVER be returning. Very sad, as I just moved back to the area and was raving to my children how much I loved the place as a teen. No more. read more

Charcoal Pit - Check showing price discrepancy. - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Well sorry to say 4 went to eat lunch and 3 of us got the hamburger the burgers were smashed like really thin and still way under cooked . The lettuce looked like a wet paper towel it was so wilted the tomato slice looked like it was cut a week ahead of time and the onion was definitely not fresh I could not believe it . My grandson got the chicken fingers they looked like they were a frozen mess at one time he also got a cookies and cream milkshake and it was absolutely disgusting !! I have been going to this location for 55 years and this time I was mortified by the quality of the food absolutely horrible so sorry to see that this Wilmington iconic restaurant has deteriorated to such an awful place !! Very sad !!!! The service was not so great either as a matter of fact it was about as good as the food ! read more

Good for what it was - diner-like burgers and fries. Very friendly service. Would go back to try a milkshake or sundae.

Tried a pick up order while in town. We ordered a couple of burgers, fries, onion rings, a chicken finger meal, and some shakes. Best part for me were the shakes. Texture and taste was just as I liked and expected. Service was ok. We never got the onion rings. Called them about it and was told that the onion rings were in the bag. Was definitely on the receipt I paid for but physically never in the bag. That whole conversation was a bit of a turn off. Might consider stopping by again if near the place. But would definitely think twice after the onion ring issue. read more

Fantastic service. Great food. I came in hungry and left fulfilled. I ordered the bison burger, and let me tell you--if that bison had known it would end up like this, it would've volunteered. Cooked to perfection, juicy but not trying to escape the bun, and speaking of the bun--a pretzel bun. I mean, come on. That's the cooking equivalent of putting a tuxedo on a grizzly bear. The fries? Ask for them well done. Crispy, golden, and possibly fried by someone who's seen the face of God. They were that good. Now, I'll admit--I was skeptical walking in. I almost didn't come because of the Biden review. And you know what they say: if Joe liked it, maybe it's just oatmeal with a different name. But wow, was I wrong. This place slaps. The food, the service, the whole vibe--it was all on point. Only reason I'm knocking off a star is because there was one poor employee working the entire floor like the cocaine bear. Give that person a raise... and maybe two coworkers. Especially during peak lunch hours, it felt like a one-man Broadway show with fries. read more

I have to say that the food has greatly improved over the last few months. The downside is that the service is not good. The last few times it took quite a while for the server to take order The food took quite a while to arrive and some items were not with the order and we had to remind the server One of us ordered a milkshake which arrived twenty minutes after the food The staff does appear to working together making the service a disjointed effort Hoping they work this out read more

Very fast, attentive counter service for take out. I loved the Philly cheesesteak with Wiz and a side of fries. The black and white milkshake was to die for! It had a sweet, old fashioned aesthetic that is hard to find anymore! It's my first time visiting the area, and now I hope my job brings me back from time to time just to get this wonderful experience! This place is a real treat, literally and figuratively! read more

Charcoal Pit - Black and white milkshake and Philly meal on the go - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Very nice to see someone bring this place back to life! Food/service everything was great

OMG, I just had a very best experience ever! Have not eaten here since I was a little kid. Went to Delaware to visit my father in the hospital and decided to stop by on the way home to see if the burgers were as good as I remember. Haven't even gotten a chance to taste them yet since I'm on my way back home with them, but the nice young man at the counter was incredibly polite and accommodating, as was the woman working with him. I really wish I would have gotten their names, but I will be back! I would even make a special trip back just because the service was so wonderful. It's very very hard to find service with a smile and people that seem to genuinely care and take pride in their work. Thank you to the two of you... You know who you are. I'll come back and review our meals once we've eaten them, but you too and probably everyone you work with deserve lots of praise and thanks. Keep up your good spirits and great customer service. You reap what you sow and although you will get a grumpy customer here and there, your smiles are contagious. Thank you so much for giving me a very wonderful experience at the end of and otherwise pretty crappy day! I look forward to visiting again soon read more

Charcoal Pit - Marquee - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Old fashioned diner that feels like a step back in time, with plenty to recommend it. Can't speak to seeing the President, and the sandwich was so-so but their ice cream shakes are legit! I got the chocolate shake, and that made me very happy - thick, delicious and enormous! Service was good too. Plenty of parking in back. read more

Charcoal Pit - Chocolate shake - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

What a trash experience. Ordered appetizers that got brought out after the entrees. Waiter no where to be found when refills needed, but we could see him wondering around outside in the parking lot. AC blasting excessively on high with plenty of flies to go around. Still thought the meal could have a chance even though the burgers were overcooked so took a chance on some sundaes just to get the same slop as the rest of the meal. To top it off a $100 bill with automatic 20% gratuity added for a party of 5!!! Seriously! What a dump and pathetic excuse for a restaurant and this is what Delaware wants to brag about as Iconic! Seriously?!? read more

Decided to try this local place with a friend who was in town. Walking towards the door, I smelled the delicious scent of burgers, immediately inside, I smelled cleaning products. I decided to stay anyway even though I usually high tail out. The service was adequate, the Ruben was good although waaaay too salty, the summit burger with onion rings was fabulous! Would I go back? Yes. Would I recommend it? Yes because of the quirky ness, and the fact that it's local. I didn't have dessert ( the meal portions are large) but the description of the ice cream concoctions sound amazing enough that I'd give it a try. read more

Charcoal Pit - This is the Brisket corned beef Ruben and the Boulder burger. - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

This a great 'Diner' stop, while doing some Tax Free Delaware shopping. I stopped for a burger, but decided on a Cheesesteak instead, it was yummy!! Of course, when I'm in this area, I opt for the Cheese Whiz.... It was very good, and the price is right... I was hoping to see Joe Biden, because other reviewers said he frequents this place. No luck today read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Their burgers are the best. Their fries are great too. I have lived in DE most of my life and no burger has ever compared. I would like to see them add extra pickles as a selection on DoorDash but that's my only complaint. I wouldn't order anything fancy and their apps aren't any big whoop. But the burgers, the fries, the shakes, sundaes, etc are top notch! read more

Best chicken cheese steaks anywhere. Service is excellent! Go there whenever I'm in Delaware.

We were driving down I-95 and hopped off looking for a place for lunch and came across the Charcoal Pit. We did takeout of a Tuna Salad sandwich and a Classic Burger. The tuna was fresh and there was enough for two sandwiches on it. My wife's burger was cooked medium rare, just as she asked (and too many places can't or won't get right) and she enjoyed it. The fries were very good and there were a lot in the bag. read more

Just finished enjoying take out. Had a medium rare burger which was actually medium rare and lovely. I read a post from a previous customer that stated that they had a real medium rare burger there. Thanks!! My wife had grilled chicken and Italian wedding soup that pleased her quite well. We will visit again every time we are in Wilmington area! read more

Full disclosure: The Charcoal Pit was founded by my step-grandfather Marty Sloan and his brothers. I didn't know him very well as he died when I was about 9 and I grew up in Louisiana. The last time I stepped foot in the restaurant, I was about 8. So this was a chance for me to experience it 35 years later as an adult and on my own terms. I work remotely in Austin, TX for a company based in Baltimore. Since we were having an on-site, and I arrived early, I figured I'd take a day trip to Delaware for some tax free shopping and to see if the old restaurant was still good. The parking lot has seen better days, but it's serviceable. The restaurant shows its age like a well-earned patina. I ordered the fried clams, which were tender and enjoyable, not over-battered. I also had the double cheeseburger, which was flavorful and definitely tasted charcoal broiled. A solid burger, not nearly as greasy as some newer places. I also had a vanilla malt that was rich and satisfying. I couldn't finish it. :) The fact that the restaurant is still going to strong is a testament to the work and love the owners who took it over from my pop-pop put into it. While it was a bit of a nostalgia trip for me, I was also legit hungry and wanted a solid meal. I'm glad the old pit was still there to deliver. I'll be back next time I'm in Baltimore for work. -Geoff "Bear" Sloan read more

Charcoal Pit - Clam strips appetizer - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware