Place I used to love to go to for years. I placed a phone order and when I got there they hadn't even started the burgers. I wanted to add two fries to my order but the woman kept shaking her head. I do t know if she understood or not. The burger was dry and seems previously frozen. The onion rings were greasy. The shake was good and that's why they get two stars. Won't be going here except for a shake now. What a shame. A Delaware icon. Mind you, not one person was in the dining area or in take out and only one slip hanging. So sad another great one gone! read more

Ate at the counter & had a 1/4# Deluxe, fries and a Char-Dog. I wasn't too impressed with the char-dog....it had nice flavor but didnt blow me away. The burger however was fantastic. Fries were very good as well. I ordered a root beer before seeing that they have root beer floats.....next time. read more

Charcoal Pit - Loving this place! - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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The Charcoal Pit is a place that you just have to experience for yourself. It caught my attention as I was driving by. The style of the building and the neon sign bring set the tone for the experience. Lets face it...You are not going here for a steak - although they have a few on their menu. The key item for your visit should be a burger and a milk shake. The setting takes you back in time. There is a juke box at each table and the decor matches that of the 50s and 60s. The menu is simple and everything is a la carte. Order plenty and share. To my surprise, the burger was excellent. We finished off our meal with an ice cream sundae. I would recommend this place for a change of pace from you day to day burger joint. read more

Charcoal Pit - The sign from the front of the restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Not what it used to be. All the staff is different and the booths are small and kinda dirty. The food was ok, but I think this is more of a late night or junk food place when you want a greasy meal. read more

This is the second time I have ordered out from the Charcoal Pitt. I am sorry to say I think there is a lot of room for improvement. The burger was flat, tasteless and served on tasteless cold whole wheat bun. The fries were soggy and cold. I have the impression that the owners are riding on what was once a golden reputation. read more

I wish there was an option for less than one star. The marshmallow chocolate nut sundae I ordered with "a very little chocolate" seemed to spite me with extra chocolate! I tried to pick through it but couldn't even get one or two spoons not drenched. Decided to call. Joseph the manager answers the phone "concord pike". I said you mean Charcoal Pit? He says "yeah". I explain why I'm calling. He says "well you're going to have to come back and we're going to have to make you another one.... you know people call here and say all kinds of things.. well we don't know if you don't come back..". I said I get it but I'm put off by how you respond to me who just spent $14 for 3 things one of which I can't eat and with no apology yet I'm being treated like I'm trying to take advantage of YOU? Are you serious? So I drive back with this sundae. Still no apology. Joseph says "she said she only put a little bit". I said, "look at it! Does it look like it has a little chocolate?!" Joseph reluctantly takes my sundae and refunds my money. read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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In search of a char-broiled hot dog, I (foolishly) ordered two. One would have been more than enough. The roll was the cheapest sort of marshmallowy bread. True, the hot dog had indeed been whisked over some charcoal, but it certainly wasn't grilled, it was barely warm and had no char or grill marks. The dog was also the cheapest available: mushy texture, no casing, over salted, and full of fake smoky flavor that lingers for hours, and not in a good way. The woman who filled take out orders was multitasking like crazy, the line cooks were working too. This is a problem of the owners buying solely by price not by quality. They're definitely riding on sentiment, they'd never stay in business if they had to attract and keep new clients...I can't imagine anyone returning, I certainly won't. Three hours later and I can still taste the fake smoke...time for some strong tea. read more

Love this place! For a reasonable price you can get great ice cream sundaes and delicious, pit-grilled burgers. It also has a bit of classic diner feel without overdoing the chrome and 50's memorabilia, mainly because it's just been around Delaware forever. Not surprise when Obama stopped in way back at Joe's recommendation. They have your all-American menu--cheesesteaks, chili dogs, sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream sodas. And they do this cute thing where they name their sundaes after the local schools. read more

Retro? Is it retro if it just hasn't changed since 1962? Tight, old booths, loud oldies music. Burgers, fries, steak sandwiches, etc. My burger was ordered with mayo, lettuce, tomato and came naked. Then the accompaniments were brought out when I pointed it out. The mayo was so old, it was hardened in the little pill cup like cement. The burger "med rare" was med well done, dry and tasteless. Fries were the usual frozen dull starchy kind that are good when hot hot and then trail off to meh quickly. We thought, maybe this would be a great alternative to the delicious but hellaciously overpriced Shake Shack. Nope. I understand the milkshakes are divine but I just can't drink those unless it's summer and I'm sharing. So, basically, your usual Delaware greasy spoon. Unexceptional and only beloved by locals who know no better. Wayback now sux too, so I guess it's Shake Shack for a burger fix. read more

A classic! Great sundaes, value meals, old school diner vibes. Great for families and kids. Had the Rueben & Buffalo Chicken sandwiches and a couple sundaes for $30. Can't beat that! read more

I love this place. It feels like you have stepped into the fifties. I had the clam strip appetizer and a side of French fries with a chocolate milkshake. Everything was delicious!! read more

The burgers were delicious, that and we were starving before we got there. We ordered 2 burgers which came with fries. For dessert, we ordered one of their sundaes. Service was extremely quick. We got our food not long after. The burgers were juicy and food as requested. However the ice cream was just not bad. Too many walnuts and a lot of their sundaes sound exactly alike. We wanted to order the 20 scoop ice cream but we just didnt have the room and we knew it was gonna be unfinished. Definitely come on an empty stomach or with more people to help out. Would definitely come back. read more

Always our go to after an evening out. Tonight we came in after an outdoor movie showing. I got, as always, a grilled cheese with onion. My fiancé got onion rings and a triple thick black and white milkshake. I've been coming here since I was a kid and it never disappoints. This place is vintage and authentic....I hope it never changes! read more

I've been getting Ice Cream Sundae's at the 202 Pit for 40 years. For decades, price and quality was excellent. Last week, OMG, ordered my regular 2 sundaes. NOT WORTH THE PRICE $4.50 ea, 9.00. Instead of packing the container with ice cream, then adding toppings, this place WENT CHEAP. One scoop of ice cream, and a lot of filling. To think I could have walked into a grocery store and paid LESS, plus had a GALLON of Turkey Hill ice cream. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE----GONE CHEAP----LOSE CUSTOMERS----THEN THEY CLOSE. read more

Not worth the hype. Dirty, cold, and very bland food. The tiny bathroom is not heated and gross. Famous lava cake? Nope, a slice of vanilla cake with ice cream and generic hot fudge. Want to have a nice time with great food? Then I highly recommend not coming here. read more

Frozen patty, dry stale bun, cold food. Tasted alot like a gas station cheeseburger...you know..the one you eat because there is nothing else close by and you are starving. Onion rings were cold and mushy. Sooo disappointed. A true dump. read more

Not a fan. I feel like Charcoal Pit has gone downhill over the years. BARELY any vegetarian options. The multiple times I have been there, I've found hair in my food. Several of the waitresses I've had have seemed annoyed and rude. Honestly the only good thing there is their milkshakes. Would not recommend going here, ESPECIALLY if you are a vegetarian. read more

Holy horrible hamburger Batman! This was the most disappointing dining experience since the time I waited in line for 45 minutes at the Cheesecake Factory and never actually got a slice of cheesecake. I was beyond excited to finally try this place, and was really looking forward to a juicy, hand formed, charbroiled burger. My heart dropped as the waitress approached the table and I could clearly see a broiled, pre made, frozen hockey puck shaped patty. Yes, it had the distinctive charbroiled taste, but the burger was dry and sad. Fries were lukewarm, and I was afraid to use the side of mayo that came with my burger - it had that scary warm mayo look to it. Maybe this place is better known for their ice cream, but with a name like the Charcoal Pit, I expect my burger to be legit. read more

3.5 but rounding down due to the onion. My sister and I both voiced our opinions at the same time (although I dont remember who stated it first). After numerous excursions that have gone by the Charcoal Pit, we both agreed that we wanted to try it. Since its not really a convienent location to just go for us, it would take a birthday wish to see this happen. My father takes us out for our birthday, to the restraunt of our choosing. He lives in Deleware, so a central location is usually necessary. While Charcoal Pit would geographically fit the bill, neither of us was willing to waste a birthday meal on an unknown commodity. This dance went on for years. Enter both Yelp and the fact that I now work in DE and pass The Pit every day. Recently, I saw a few reviews on Yelp and combined with my late thursday shift at work, I decided to take the plunge alone. The Pit was gloriously retro, from the neon sign out front, to the 50s decor. It was a little cramped and busy for Thursday at 9pm, but I was seated immediately. The menu was retro as well, and pretty sparse for what is essentially a diner. It didnt matter because I was there for a burger, so anything else on the menu was moot. The service was good and efficient, however it was the standard diner attitude. Very robotic, no warmth or sincerity. I dont take much off for such things, im there to eat, not make a new friend, and being in the business I know the ins and outs of serving. Ordering was simple business. You can order a Burger or Cheeseburger, 60z 0r 8oz. I was surprised that a Charcoal place, didnt offer more burger choices such as bacon or mushroom. I suppose one could order that extra but I wasnt there to buck the trend. My burger came quickly, but not too quick. It looked divine, served with fries (after a day at the shore where all is ala carte, it was welcome to get potatoes, served in the french style). It was juicy, cooked to perfection with fresh sides. Here is my complaint. I love onions, both fried and raw, however, when raw, a thin slice will suffice( restraunteurs, keep that mnenomic in mind). I basically got half of an onion on my burger. The meat and bun were tasty, yet I only remember it in the background. The onion was front and center, for hours after as well. It was really unnecessary. Hopefully, the chef was daydreaming when he sliced my onion and I recieved the anomaly as opposed to the norm. That aside, I left stuffed and satiated. Im not big on icecream or milkshakes but apparently, its something CP does well. I left satisfied, with breath that smelled like an italian cutting board. I had beat my sister to the punch and tried the Charcoal Pit. The build-up in my mind, may have something to do with my disappointment. Things rarely live up to the mythical proportions that ones mind creates. But at least I can say to my sister, ' FIRST!" Yelpers Note: I dont think anyone has mentioned this but the Charcoal Pit has many locations in Deleware and is founded by the Capano family...of the deleware Capanos....which produced the scion Thomas Capano...who murdered Anne Marie Fahey...and disposed of the body with the help of his family.....yep that Capano family. Now I dont let the political and social problems of a few bad seeds get between a good burger and my mouth, but aparently it is responsible for the decline in business over the last few years , as explained to me by a Delewarian co-worker. read more

A family favorite for 50 years or more. Good greasy food, great ice cream, and friendly service. The Pit was a staple of my father and aunts' youth. It became part of mine, and a special place for me and my grandmother (RIP). I cannot wait to take Captain Adorable there. I have had many different things on the menu, and all are good. I prefer the hamburgers, Char Dog Special, cheesesteaks, and Ruben. On the ice cream side, I love the special sundaes and root beer floats. Service is friendly, but can be slow. I try to get to the Pit a few times a year, at least. read more

The Charcoal Pit on the Concord Pike in North Wilmington is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. It looks to me as I would imagine a restaurant in the 1950's might have looked. But the Charcoal Pit isn't retro...it's the real deal. And it's still seems as popular in its older age as it must have been in its younger days. There's nothing gourmet about the food here but I can't complain that what I got wasn't decent value for money. Obviously the emphasis is on grilled meats with ice cream deserts as an additional specialty. What I liked the best was their salad...and the waitress who served me named Jessica who seemed to be on roller skates and multi-tasked her way to efficient service with a smile. If you want to experience a visit back into the 50's era in an authentic way, check out the Charcoal Pit on a visit to Wilmington. read more

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This place gets high marks for being a landmark in Delaware. It's not the best food, it's not the biggest place, but it's one of my fondest memories. It was a huge treat to hit up the pit as a child. Sometimes the family would share "the kitchen sink" (that's 26 scoops of ice cream and gobs of toppings). In high school we'd bounce back and forth between the pit and Golden Castle. Afterall, what teenagers aren't looking for a cheap place to eat and hang? My absolute favorite is "The Highlander" with chocolate ice cream. Hot fudge, banana spears, wet nuts, and whipped cream. Thank You! The hostess/cashier is a grizzled older woman who has been there for years. She hates everyone and we're convinced she may live there. She makes the whole experience much more authentic. read more

I went to the Charcoal Pit after a long day tooting around Delaware. Because I heard that Joe Biden loves to come here. And since I have a huge crush on Joe Biden, I went to the Charcoal Pit hoping against all hope that Joe would be there...waiting for me..in a business suit...to eat a gross burger with me and then shake my hand afterwards. Um not only did this interaction with Joe NOT happen, but there was no mention of Joe in the restaurant at all! A SHAME. and when I asked our waiter, a 14 year old boy, where he ever met Joe, he said YES and HE COMES HERE ALL THE TIME. but he said it with such a lack of enthusiasm that I felt ashamed and sad. We ate the mozzarella sticks, which were decent. but...my disappointment over the lack of joe biden cast a dark shadow on the visit. I'll never return. read more

I have a booked called Hamburger America in my bathroom. It's a nice read, and it was also my inspiration for a spontaneous trip down to Delaware this weekend. The Charcoal pit win for one of the most awkward dining experiences I've ever experienced. Wehn we first walked in, there was a small waiting area chained off that made us think we had walked in the wrong entrance. The hostess then yelled at us, only half jokingly. We seated ourselves, and our server came over quickly. Everything she said was a statement, like "You want more time" and "You want mayo" instead of asking. The atmosphere here is pretty traditional 50s diner, and although we were eating a little early (around 5pm) it was oddly almost exclusively populated by senior citizens. For food, this place is supposed to have excellent ice cream as well as burgers. We were all too full from dinner to try dessert. The prices here are great. We each had a 8 oz cheeseburger, fries, and a drink and it was under $10 each. The french fries were pathetically soggy. Our orders were all mixed up. When finally sorted out, I had a medium rare burger topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and onions. The fixings were good, but the bread was soggy and thin. My burger was cooked well, but I can't say the same for everyone at the table. Its great to bit into a burger and have to dripping juice. The meat wasn't anything special. Bottom Line: George Mots, you mislead me on this one. The poor service coupled with an average burger produces less than desired results. I wouldn't go to this place if it was in Philadelphia, and I'm certainly not making a trip out of the state to go here again. read more

The original Charcoal Pit, if you want that nostalgic feeling. The burgers are to die for at Charcoal Pit, my mouth waters just thinking about one. This location is also well known for their excellent desserts and ice cream. I would come here over Friendly's any day and twice on Sundays. You can just taste the freshness in the burgers and everytime I have gone there they would cook it to order with a very high accuracy level which is hard to come by. The fries taste homemade and are not too salty like many other places these days. This is spot is definitely woth visiting again and again and again. read more

It was lunchtime in Delaware and I was driving down the Concord Pike, looking for cow to eat, when I spotted the sign for the "Charcoal Pit". MOO, BABY, MOO! Inside, I got my cow on: A quarterpound burger, covered in cheese, washed down with a black-and-white milk shake. If they had served it on a leather plate, we would've had the whole animal covered. Aside from the food, the C-Pit's got a classy interior: juke boxes - with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band - in each booth, counter service, and some swell interior design that hasn't been updated since the Eisenhower era. Perhaps the best endorsement for the restaurant came at the end of the meal, when my co-worker "the Rock" (not his real name) referred to his past year spent as a vegetarian as "stupid". Moo, baby... moo. read more

The Charcoal Pit is a local landmark and institution. A friend of mine worked here as a teenager serving up burgers and soft drinks. (Lots of shakes.) It's fun for a family to come here, too. Not healthy - but nostalgic and fun. read more

Hitch your wagon & giddy-up down the Concorde Pike to the Charcoal Pit for the biggest and most excellent chargrilled burgers this side of the Rio Grande. Okay, pretty much everything in the U.S. is this side of the Rio Grande but you get the point, it's good burgers. Really, REALLY good burgers. And the shakes.. mmmmm, it's 9:45am at this writing and I could totally suck down one of Charcoal Pit's amazing shakes. The decor here is pretty much original, lots of wood & stainless and 60s style light fixtures; Campy when it's intentional but it works here, giving diners a true feel of being in an off-the-highway grill joint on Route 66. From it's original neon sign outside to the friendly staff and cozy booths, Charcoal Pit is a must-do over and over again, whether you're a local or just a visitor dating a local. YEE HAW! read more

How you say, "All kinds of yes!" I was soooo hungry and willing to settle for anything other than a burger so I ordered the grilled chicken with BBQ sauce ($10) with mushrooms (add $2) and grilled onions. It came with fries. When I received the food, I was so shocked to see how tasty it looked ! Every bite of charbroiled chicken had a fork full of grilled mushrooms and onions and it was plain delicious. There was zero time to try to look cute eating this goodness. When the chicken was gone, the leftover grilled mushrooms and onions went just as well with the fries. I ate everything and will certainly have it again in the future! read more

I have been coming to this place for years and my family has been coming here for at least 2 generations. The burgers are really the only reason to go here. Well besides the milkshakes. I always get a burger because they are always cooked perfectly. Juicy, flavorful and always the best tomatoes and onions. Of course when ordering a burger here you must get a milkshake. I really love the Black and White malt shake. So good. McDonald's ripped off this place. I would also recommend bringing at least a sock full of quarters for the jukebox. They have all the latest NOW that's what i call music that is worth playing for the entire restaurant to enjoy. One day I will conquer the everything but the kitchen sink ice cream sundae with 22 scoops of ice cream. I will go to this place and pass it on to my kids and my grand kids one day. read more

The milkshakes are amazing! I crave their milkshakes because they use fresh ingredients. You will find chunks of strawberries in your strawberry milkshake which I love! The rest of their food is decent for the price they charge. Everything is very inexpensive and good quality. It's not gourmet but it's good. The service is always very nice. Everybody is very friendly and you will always see families just having a good time. Great local spot it grab a quick bite. We will definitely be back. read more

Charcoal Pit - Cod fish sandwich with lettuce, tomato and pickles. - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

This is an institution in Wilmington. Every kid on a local swim team in the summer has eaten here at least once, perhaps numerous times. I haven't eaten here since high school, but I have some very fond memories. My go-to order was always a 1/4# cheeseburger, side of fries, and vanilla frosted malt shake. I still remember dipping those fries into that sweet vanilla ice cream goodness. Fat kid. read more

If you know anything about me you know that I love charcoal pit. I've been coming here since I was really young and it's something that I still demand when I come home from college. So many memories here, and you are always guaranteed to see someone you know. Anyways, THE FOOD. I personally like the pit deluxe special (featuring in the picture) and haven't really strayed from that in my 21 years going here. You get a hamburger with anything you want on it with fries. I don't really love relish on my hamburgers but for some reason I always have to get it when I go here. It's pretty good! ALSO, if you go make sure you get a milkshake or you are basically wasting your time. I have never in my life tasted a better milkshake and if I never do I'll be fine with that. The way they seat you is a little different and if you aren't from the area/ a regular it can seem kinda rude. But don't be turned off! They kinda just point to a seat in the section and say that's your table. The menus are on the wall next to your table if you are having trouble finding them. If you are feeling adventurous and hungry for some dessert, I recommend "The Kitchen Sink". Get it if you are with a group because it's seriously huge. Lots of ice cream and toppings! read more

Charcoal Pit - The Pit Deluxe Special - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

I really do not understand how people consider the food here to be excellent. Went here once because of all the good reviews, but I will never go back. I got a cheese steak, which was pretty pathetic. There wasn't a lot of cheese and the meat has no flavor at all. My boyfriend got a cheeseburger which was also rather disappointing because of, again, a lack of flavor. Walking in, the place just looks dirty, and the staff is less than friendly. I could get a better and cheaper meal from Burger King. read more

Charcoal Pit is a Delaware classic. It's not new or nice, but it's a relic of the past. The milkshakes are, to be honest, the best part. But they also make a good grilled cheese. read more

Ordered take out, Deluxe Cheeseburger, fries, Chocolate shake.. The burger tasted like typical grilled burger. There was no taste that resembled any type of wood or charcoal. The fries were luke warm. I asked for salt and ketchup on the side, I got neither. The shake was not good at all. It tasted like a ton of Hershey's syrup was in it, and didn't even give me a straw. Save yourself 3-4 dollars and just go to Wendy's. This was my first and last time stopping here. read more

T and I went to Delaware to get our wedding rings (yay tax-free shopping!) and wanted to find a place to stop for lunch on our way home. We decided on the Charcoal Pit. Our first attempt to find a location led us to a deserted bowling alley that the Charcoal Pit was attached to. The restaurant was open but we took one step inside, determined it smelled odd and was insanely creepy (I'm quite sure we wouldn't have left there alive) so we decided to check out another location. I'm so glad we did. The location we went to (this one I'm hoping!) seemed to be the main one. People were coming and going the whole time AND it had a bar (where we ended up sitting at a high top table) and watching the Phillies beat the Yankees in pre-season baseball. I swear this makes food taste better. We both had plain cheeseburgers and T got a side of fries (which I sampled) and we split an order of mozzarella sticks. The burgers were okay. Nothing special, not as good as 5 Guys but certainly passable. Fries were out of a frozen package but were hot and salty, a good combination. The mozzarella sticks (which came halfway through our meal because apparently the first batch exploded) were also from a package but it's fried cheese so all is forgiven. I should have gotten a shake as this place seems to be known for their yummy ice cream concoctions! Perhaps we'll stop in again when we go to pick up the gems? It was okay and CHEAP (which was very much appreciated after shelling out mucho dinero for rings!)! read more

This was a childhood favorite of mine... but I feel like the service and cleanliness of this place have gone down hill. My family and I came here a few weeks ago on a Tuesday evening for some burgers and ice cream. The hostess had a bad attitude (seemed annoyed when walking us to our table) and most of the staff was sitting around, on their phones... it was a pretty unprofessional group of people. Our server was a kind older lady and our burgers were decent.... but the place needed to be cleaned up and it just wasn't like it used to be. I miss the magic of this place and hope they can make some changes to bring it back to the gem it used to be! read more

The Charcoal Pit is a nice little old timey burger joint. Feel like it's been around since the 50s! They have fantastic sundaes, the fries are delicious and perfectly crispy! It's a great jump back in time, but not something I'd regularly run back to read more

Charcoal Pit - One hell of a sundae! - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

The Charcoal Pit is a dining institution in Delaware. The Pit has been around since 1956. I worked in Delaware for over 7 years and this would be an every once in awhile lunch spot but even more so often a destination to grab a black and white milkshake on a hot summer day. I am not going to start off with a ringing endorsement about their food. The CP offers your standard fare and the food is most likely not going to blow you away. The ice cream sundae menu is larger than entrees section. Their sundaes and named after the sports team names of the surrounding high schools. They also have a sundae called the Kitchen Sink, go ahead, I dare you! Burgers and fries are the norm here. Cheeseburgers come equipped with a thick slice of yellow American cheese. The Pit Special comes with fresh lettuce and tomato. The Soup is always on, and the "Soup of the Day" is also a popular option. During my last visit their Chunky Tomato soup was featured. If you want to splurge, you can select the Porterhouse steak for $18.95, a buck cheaper than the aforementioned Kitchen Sink sundae. People come here for the atmosphere and/or because it is probably a family tradition. As soon as you pull off the 202 Boardwalk and into the parking lot you enter reverse time travel. From the outside to the inside of the Pit this place is a throwback. The external neon pink illuminated signage will catch your eye. Once inside you notice the booth style seating with many of the tables having a personal juke box (not actively working). Each table also has a bottle of Heinz 57 as well as spicy mustard. The far end of the restaurant is the Pit's ice cream parlor section. For as long as I can remember, service has always been good here. The waiters and waitresses use the old fashioned check pads. When it is time to pay the bill, you pay at the front of the restaurant from a solo register station. There is also velvet roping attached to stanchions that keep the wait line in check. Again, the food isn't going to have you singing their praises. The ice cream sundaes and milkshakes, maybe. This is a great place to take the family and/or friends to sit back, relax and enjoy the setting. This is the place chains like Ruby Diner aspire to be, only this is the real thing! read more

Charcoal Pit - Vintage storefront. - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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