Saturday evening reservation for 6:30. 20 minutes waiting in line outside just to get inside the restaurant. Seated on the lower level (didn't know there was a lower level). Another 20 minutes waiting for a server and menus. Turns out the lower dining room is much quieter and more comfortable than upstairs.3 out of 4 of our orders arrived in a somewhat timely manner. My salad came about another 20 minutes later. Our primary server, Alia (spelling?) , was awesome, very professional, polite and accommodating to one high maintenance member of our group. Food was great and we made it to our show on time. read more

Chelsea Tavern has resumed serving Brunch on the weekends from 10 AM - 2 PM. This morning I had a dish called "The Scrap Heap". A perfect "Sunny Side Up" egg, fried Scrapple bits, crispy tater tots with beer cheese, sautéed onions, a nice drizzle of Sriracha ketchup and topped with sliced green onions. $12 for an outstanding brunch dish, $5 Mimosas and Bloody Mary's. This is one of the best brunch meals I have had in my five+ years of living in downtown Wilmington, DE! It's a great value for my dining dollars! read more

Chelsea Tavern - Chelsea Tavern's new Brunch item, "The Scrap Heap"!!! - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

There for a dinner before a show. Service was great at the beginning and then started lacking, I am usually patient but what I couldnt tolerate was a man smoking Marijuana in front of the restaurant and the wind carry his smoke downwind to all the tables in the side alley. He ordered a pint of beer while the rest of us ordered full meals and and had families nearby. Management is what I had trouble with not the service, nights get busy staff is overworked but management is there to ensure. Meat Lover pizza was average, nothing special, their egg rolls are always a good way to start the meal and with a flight on a nice evening is a good time except for this rude inconsiderate man. read more

Came in for a family brunch and the server was great! We learned about scrapple. I ordered two eggs and pancakes and tried some French toast which was great. Nice coffee and OJ after a long night. read more

See all

I got the margherita pizza and it was so delicious, the servers are kind of rude and no personality but the restaurant itself and the bartenders/bar is very nice! read more

This bar is not as upscale as others on the block but it has character! The bartenders are always nice and attentive. The trio of fries features 3 different kind of fries with a delicious horseradish aioli. They also have tons of dessert options unlike other places nearby. The bourbon chocolate blondie hit the spot! Great snacks/dessert all around. read more

See all

Dated, dirty, sticky and not in that "good" sticky ol' tavern kind of way. Carpets are worn, paint is old and peeling, decor is dated, and everything is sticky, from the tables to the seats to the menus. Food was good, but not great. The "award winning" burger was sub-par. Average tasting beef and seasonings on a dry (stale?) bun. Offended by the ***mandatory*** 20% service fee for very average service. Two of six dinners arrived almost 10 minutes after the rest, order from the bar arrived as meal was ending, server disappeared for long periods of time. Very friendly server, but actual service was lacking. Can't recommend. read more

A few attorneys from our firm visited Chelsea Tavern today and were so impressed with the experience that they asked me to submit this review immediately, ensuring the restaurant receives a well-deserved 5-star rating. From the prompt and attentive service to the exceptional flavor of each dish, the team thoroughly enjoyed their visit leaving a lasting impression. With upcoming partner meetings, Chelsea Tavern will certainly be our choice for catering and dining. The attorneys were highly satisfied and eager for others in our firm to share the same positive experience. Well done, Chelsea Tavern - excellent service and outstanding food today. read more

Just had a wonderful lunch here! Had the crabcake sandwich, it was delicious and the fries were bangin. Katie is an amazing server, she's incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. Next time you stop in, ask to be seated in her section! read more

Chelsea Tavern - Crab Cake Sandwich - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Good burger and service. Very clean nice place. Waitress was very good and owner did come and talk with us.

Good atmosphere. Great service. Our waitress was fast and gave suggestions. Would return read more

See all

I agree with the current 3.5 rating. But, since that isn't an option, I went with 3. My meal was exactly as described in the menu and by the very kind waitress. The fries were very good, as was the dipping sauce. The fish was good, but inconsistently cooked. The larger piece needed more time in the fryer. The asparagus was fine, if a small side. The cole slaw was an afterthought, bland as can be. That's the only thing I didn't finish. Restaurant is clean, street parking, apparently it's been there for 15 years. read more

Chelsea Tavern - Fish and chips, asparagus. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

I had already raved about the burgers, wings and excellent service but I got a margarita pizza for the first time. It was probably the best pizza I've had in quite some time. It is going to be difficult to make up my mind the next time I go or order from DoorDash. read more

Ok pub food...convenient location for concerts across the street...server was pleasant although a bit slow at times.Major annoyance was the 20% fee added as a service charge to keep up with their cost of doing business.Really??Let customers know before they get the bill surprise. read more

The food was very good even though it came out super late. The young man I had as a server must have been new and he tried his hardest which I give props too. I don't think it was his fault, but the whole establishment seemed off. Had a party 25 and had two servers which they both tried but the whole establishment set them up for failure. We didn't have any silverware or napkins and had to ask repeatedly along with drinks and water. The food even though a 45-60 min wait was hot and fresh. The place didn't seem busy so maybe their short staffed. The automatic gratuity saved their money as from some of the other tables, the tip would have been very low. I think the management needs either to help or set up servers for success. Not once did one manager come to greet and check out us. Food prices where decent and food was really good. Give it a shot, but know you might encounter some really bad service. read more

See all

Always good food. I am totally addicted to the fried pickles. Never can get my coating the same making at home. Love the pizza, only wish I could order online . Not there in the onlone menu at all. Ceasar salad is a true money maker for them! $11 for about 15 cents of lettuce of lettuce, labor, and a bare hint of provolone! read more

Great place love to eat here. Their food is great. You should try it. They always treat me right.

Great service at this locals brew pub. Very welcoming to visitors, too! Comfy booths, tables, or sit at the bar to enjoy a bevvy and/or some delish pub grub. Several interesting tap brews available as well as cans and bottles and a full bar. read more

See all

They think they're Nobu, but it's just a bar in Wilmington. We wanted to sit outside for Mother's Day. From 2 hours away. Most of the town is closed on Sundays. The Maite d' made a huge fuss about not having tables and how busy they were with reservations. Meanwhile all these tables were open outside for over 2 hours. I kept walking back to the car, and noticed. read more

Chelsea Tavern - Maitre d' said they were fully booked, we need a reservation, etc, but tables were empty like this for 2 hours. It's just a pub, not Nobu. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

See all

Had an early dinner tonight. Our appetizer was tasty. We had the potato bombs. These were fresh. Our sandwiches seemed like leftovers from lunch service. My wife had a chicken sandwich and I had the award winning Redemption burger. Both were dry and mine was also over cooked. My wife's Parmesan crisp was very rubbery, NOT crisp at all. Our waitress Deena was very good. Everything was clean. read more

I think it is important to start off by informing you this place adds an automatic 20% gratuity that is NOT DESERVED! Started out by ordering a pizza- no plates - no silverware- no condiments- No serving utensils- NOTHING Ordered one bottle of wine- then, another bottle of a different wine.... "Bartender" (who has ZERO idea on how to properly serve wine) literally pours the new wine over the last of the old wine!!!! Ordered a $33 ribeye steak MR comes out RAW!! They sliced it- not sure why! But once you slice a steak it is DONE!! Nope they take it back , cook it some more...dump the same fries back in the fryer... and I'm supposed to be OK!! - BTW my wife and I were sharing- no extra plate-one steak knife...(again let me remind you I was charged a 20% gratuity) This place would be out of business if it was anywhere but across the street from a concert venue!!! You're going to add a 20% Then do better!!! Me personally NEVER AGAIN!!! read more

Stopped in for lunch with decent expectations, but unfortunately the experience missed the mark across the board--save for the service. Drink: "Pink Kitty" This house cocktail came out looking promising, but tasted flat and uninspired. Definitely overpriced for what it was--light on flavor, heavy on regret. Appetizer: Bang Bang Cauliflower Visually, the dish looked great--crispy breading, nicely cooked cauliflower. But the flavor? Off. It had an unmistakable fishy taste, likely from being fried in the same oil as seafood. Not appetizing when you're expecting spicy or tangy cauliflower. With a little salt, pepper, and a proper fryer situation, this could have been a winner. Main: Pulled Pork Sliders These were a mystery. The texture said "pulled pork," but the taste oddly resembled corned beef--confusing and not in a good way. The buns were stale and the meat was underseasoned. Just... disappointing. Fries Once again, the fishy fryer struck. Fries tasted like they were cooked in seafood oil. Crispy, but not in a pleasant way. Everything picked up that lingering off-taste. Overall The food felt phoned-in and carelessly prepped. Biggest red flag: cross-contamination in the fryer. It's a real issue when even your fries and cauliflower taste like tilapia. With some attention to oil management and seasoning, the kitchen could turn things around, but as it stands, it's not worth the price or the calories. Shoutout to Gabby at the bar - easily the highlight of the visit. Super friendly, attentive, and knows how to make a guest feel welcome. read more

Horrible dining experience. Upon walking in there were multiple people way too drunk to continue to be severed. The hour we were there they continued to drink and get more belligerent. It's not a nice scene. Their famous burger was awful. Give me any fast food joints burger over this and I would have happily eaten it. My husband and I both ate less than half our meals. The fries were also served cold and I'm honestly not too sure they would have been better warm. I just wanted to get the heck out of there and we paid for our awful meals and the FORCED 20% tip (that was not at all earned). read more

Location is super convenient for the theatre. Food was mixed up, the crab soup was so salty we sent it back. The mango cucumber side showed up as a watermelon salad. No water refilled. Counter seven different servers who brought us stuff. Had to ask for silverware. Asked two servers for water. Asked two servers to wipe the table. Asked two servers for the bill. Very disorganized staff. Then they add an automatic service charge (20%) regardless of party size. Guess they know their service is so bad they wouldn't get tips. 3 stars cuz the food was good (except the crab soup). read more

Chelsea Tavern - Across the street from The Grand - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

The service from Linah/Malinah was disappointing. We've come other times and the service was much better. The 20% tip was already included so it's almost like the wait staff didn't care either way. The wings were over cooked so I only ate 3 out of 8. My husband didn't finish his sandwich honey Parmesan sandwich because he said it wasn't good. My cocktail (sugar cookie martini)... the bartender didn't have all of the ingredients to make it. We weren't aware until we brought it to the waitresses attention that it didn't reach the table as described in the menu. Lastly, the water had an after taste... like bad pipes or bad tap. Not a good Father's Day experience. read more

When we went the AC was broken (they didn't tell us about that until after we were seated and ordered) so we sat in a hot booth. It turns out the AC has been out for a year based on seeing this same fact in older reviews from last year! Food was ok. Typical greasy pub food Nothing amazing. Bartender didn't know how to make a good margarita. Lastly and most importantly - they charge a 20% service fee to all diners (that pays for the servers and "increased costs") that they don't mention but it shows up when you get here check. They should pay their people an actual living wage properly and it's covered in the prices of their items like any other business not some surprise fee that they pass onto their customers at the very end. Gave 1 star because the waitress was nice and friendly despite disappearing for long stretches of time. No one likes a surprise after they've finished their meal - it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. read more

Got some takeout last night and it was terrible. The Santa fe steak sandwich was just giant chunks of meat and tasted very gamey and gross. The fries were cooked to oblivion. You should be ashamed to call that beer cheese sauce. It's so fake tasting and that consistency...yuck. read more

Do not go here!!!!! So called Happy Hour looks good until you get the Tab... They add 20% for service and business expenses!!! WTF Had only one bartender that actually worked. Tipped her an paid for my beers. For me tip is on service (Not required) right! There's more to the story on the bad experience... to 1 that did her job "Thank you" . There's better places in Wilmington read more

A neighborhood bar. Chelsea's Tavern is a popular place downtown. It has the basic stuff. Beer and liquor. There's also the Beyond Burger too. Came here one evening with my boo. It was time to order drinks. They have some good specials. Have the classics. These are at decent prices. I had a Dark And Stormy and she had a Margarita. It's about $7 for the cheapest of these. The menu looked so good we got food too. I was pleased to find out they have the Beyond Burger. It's $13 and comes with a salad. This is what she had too. It was a decent amount for the cost. The burger came with lots of toppings other places usually charge to get on. It makes for a fun time here. Many activities like trivia night. They have typical bar stuff and something for the hipsters too. read more

Chelsea Tavern - Dark And Stormy With A Beyond Burger - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Staying at the Hotel DuPont for work. We strolled a couple of blocks from the hotel and came upon the Chelsea Tavern. We opted to sit outside on a lovely evening. They have a very extensive wine, beer and cocktail list. I went with the wine snob special Sauvignon Blanc and my friend a Legent Bourbon meat. We ordered the grilled salmon , grilled Brussels Sprouts and Vegetable Risotto. Everything was delicious and the service was friendly and efficient. The only bad thing about dining outside was the people who came by begging for money. This place does quite a bit of take out too. I would like to return and eat inside. read more

Chelsea Tavern - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

See all

The Chelsea Tavern is ok. The only reason I ever come here is because they open the earliest in the neighborhood so if you're hankering for a drink at 10 AM on a Saturday, this is your only bet. The service is ok and there seems to be a lot of regulars who sit all the way on the right hand side of the bar. It's almost weird to be honest with you. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about and the food is ok. Again, I only come here at 10 AM if I'm bored and want to grab a drink. It's also open to 1 AM, so I've heard a lot of people come here late at night. Just beware, there are usually sketchy people hanging outside looking for money at night. read more

I visited this restaurant after Thanksgiving a visit w/ friends. It's located in Delaware @ 821 N. Market St off 8th St. I ordered the Chelsea Burger & the Costal Vines Merlot which was delicious. It's a house wine, but very smooth w/a plum semi dry taste. The dinner staff was friendly enough. I gave my waitress an extra tip bc whatever I needed she had me. This restaurant seems to have a lot of regulars, and that's a good thing. It means ppl will dry out of the way to repeat this Tavern. The staff is also diverse which I also thought added ambiance. However, most of Delaware seem to be modern like this. Safe & quite area. I also suggest The Sheraton Ste @ 422 Delaware Ave. if you plan a weekend trip & make sure u visit Christiana Mall no tax, I saved so much money buying Christmas Gifts. I didn't want to drive out this time. I took the Acela Amtrak- Business Class didn't want to deal w/ the airport & the pat down of the TSA or the crazy ppl in the plane. It was a nice quite visit to Delaware. Everyone was so nice & polite. I recommend ALL places above. Ohh, The restaurant opens 11:00 am until 1:00 am in the morning. So, if you want to celebrate a birthday or anniversary etc this is the place. read more

Sort of a renaissance going on downtown Wilmington. Welcome news, as our tiny city has had struggles maintaining fine eateries and hotels. The Chelsea Tavern is across from the Grand Opera House so convenient for concerts. Street parking or pay lots nearby. The menu is changeable and varied: brick oven style pizza, wings, sandwiches, fish 'n chips and other bar fare, but there is also an entree menu with rotating specials. A long beer list, 200 some bottled, canned and some 15 or so draft. Heavily slanted to the domestic IPA. I didn't look at the wine list. There is a bar and people were enjoying cocktails with their dinners. The pizza oven was off-line when we arrived but apparently they got it jumpstarted during dinner. It seems to have some personal issues and is temperamental. If I was forced to run at 750 degrees, I'd be temperamental, too. Our party enjoyed fish and chips--fresh cod, lightly battered, thin handcut looking fries. The fries were--ok, not bad but not exciting but the fish was FANTASTIC. Flaky, fresh and cod is so hard to get these days. The batter was not that heavy cement-like casing, so you really could taste the lovely fish. The cole slaw was bland and boring and not chilled, but meh, cole slaw who cares? Tartar sauce and something that might have been sriracha mayo condiment on the side. I appreciated the sriracha mayo. The fish was so tasty. The specials included a boneless breast of chicken stuffed with chicken sausage on a bed of risotto with a preserved lemon gastrique sauce. The flavor was subtle but took plain chicken to a level of savoriness that really elevated it. The portion was generous. The other special we had was the halibut served with sauteed gnocchi on a bed of creamed spinach. The sauce complimented the delicate fish and again, the portion was generous. By "generous" I mean the serving of fish was not thumb-sized but was a good 3 oz pack-of-cards sized filet which I think is as it should be. One of our table had a beer that was not up to snuff, and the friendly waitperson immediately exchanged it with no fuss. Service was very personable and warm. ALL the food was properly hot. That never ever happens, hardly, any more. The bill will include a 20 percent service fee, and you can tip additionally for excellence. I prefer this! First of all, you don't have to do arithmetic on a full stomach and secondly, it insures the waitstaff aren't being stiffed by people who think rising prices mean you can forgo tipping. That's not right. Tip your waitperson. That's part of the cost of eating out--and their paycheck. The service charge is in BOLD letters on your check. But if you scan down to the very bottom you might miss that. I didn't miss it. Decor is very plain in this tavern, but the friendly atmosphere and the location make up for that. The upholstery on our booth was damaged: it would be nice to see that fixed up. No loud background music. I would call this a mid-priced restaurant with decent value-for-cost. We WILL be back. read more

The food was AWFUL! I ordered the Tavern chicken sandwich which had ZERO flavor! No salt, no pepper NOTHING! The Brioche bun clearly did not proof well (that is if they make it themselves). It was flat and chewy. I thought it might have been gluten free. It certainly was taste free. The trio of fries had NO TASTE and the onion straws were limp, greasy and lacked crispiness. I've come to Chelsea several times and they have been pretty consistent with the quality of the food they put out. This, by, far was the worst! What kind of Chef doesn't bother to even season a chicken breast? The honey Parmesan Chicken is what I came for but, that is not on the menu anymore. They need to bring that dish back. At least it has a good flavor and the Brioche buns were actually hearty buns. Disappointed is an understatement! My friends did not like their food either. We all ordered the same dish. What a waste of calories, time and money. It'll be a while before I return there if I ever do! read more

I usually come to this restaurant for the Tavern Wings, but I was able to visit right before brunch ended! It was so good! If you're looking for a spot for brunch Chelsea's Tavern is a good spot to visit - to my knowledge there is only one is Delaware. The Crème Brûlée French Toast on Brioche Bread with Mixed Berries was surprisingly amazing! There aren't too many brunch spots in Delaware, and of the ones that do exist they don't always do a good job at meeting my expectations for breakfast! The Crème Brûlée French Toast on Brioche Bread with Mixed Berries was filled with the perfect amount crème brûlée and crispy enough on the outside! The mixed berry reduction was also very delicious. read more

See all

One of my Top 3 spots in Wilmington where you can always get an excellent burger and wings late at night. The food is delicious, the drinking is affordable, and Wilmington isthe environment is friendly. I live downtown and would walk across the street to grab lunch or dinner at least once a week. Everyone who works there is so nice and friendly. I usually sit in or do take out. read more

This was one of the few places open so we tired it. Over all it was a sad experience. The AC seemed like it was out based on the huge cattle fans blowing hot air around with only a handful of customers. We started with the nachos. Most of it tasted like it came from a tub, bag, or box. I ordered a Cesar salad. It came out grilled... which is not mentioned on the menu. Nothing like needing a steak knife to get through a salad. My husband ordered a pastrami sandwich that came out as a Ruben. When we got the check, it had a note attached. The owner just needs to raise the prices since it's now so expensive to operate since they are hiding it in the bill. The message is also contradicting since paying people a living wage is different the operations costs. In hindsight after the receipt, I wondered if the grilled romaine was just old and they were trying to sell it vs throwing it out. Two stars because we didn't get sick from the food. read more

Chelsea Tavern - The service charge that feels like the owner is angry. Looking at reviews this charge has been in place since 8/2020. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

See all

Came here for their happy hour in a Friday (February 2025) and it was quite good. Not crowded. Waitress was attentive at the bar area. read more

Chelsea Tavern - Happy hour menu - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

This rating is for their poor customer service. I was with a group of 7 a few weeks ago. We were looking for a place to have a good dinner before a comedy show and concert at The Queen theater. We chose the wrong one that day. I used Google Maps to find a place within a short walk and it somehow led me to Chelsea. The menu sounded ok, so we decided tgo try it. We parked and walked along Market Street to the restaurant. We passed a few other places that looked inviting. All were packed, with good music and patrons sitting outside, enjoying the warm evening. We should have stopped at one of THEM instead. When we walked inside, my sister told the hostess we were trying to get a quick dinner because we were on our way to the show. She also noted that we wanted to sit outdoors. The hostess then proceeded to seat us in what looked like the outdoor storage area for their old chairs.It was dark, dirty and away from all the other customers. When my sister asked her why she didn't seat us out on the patio with the REST of the customers, the hostess claimed there were no empty tables. I got up and peered around the corner and saw that there WAS one empty table, it just needed clearing. We then asked the waitress if we could move to that table and also let HER know that we were in a hurry. She stated that she would be right back. So,we waited...and waited...and waited. After 15 minutes, she still had not returned. That let us know she didn't give a d-mn that we were in a hurry. At that moment, we all decided to leave. As we walked past the waitress and hostess, neither one said a word to us. You would think at least one of them would wonder why we were leaving, but NOPE! I guess neither one of them cared because they're employees, but I hope the OWNER(S) care(s) that these two cost them some business. read more

Stumbled upon this establishment while meeting up with family in Wilmington. It ended up being a good choice. We sat in the back patio which was a nice, hidden gem. The food was good, the drinks as well, and our server was very pleasant. Very affordable prices too! They do include a 20% service fee but this didn't bother us. read more

Chelsea Tavern - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware