We've been coming to this restaurant for about 20 years, ever since we moved to Hockessin. Back then there weren't many great dining options nearby, so this quickly became our go-to place for special occasions. Over time we started sitting at the bar and eventually became regulars. The staff has always been wonderful and the drinks are consistently excellent. In the past few years we've started dining here more often because the food quality has noticeably improved. Whoever the current chef is has really elevated the menu. One standout for me is the vegetarian entrée, usually a squash dish with grains, seeds, seeds, cheese, and other seasonal ingredients. It's absolutely delicious. It's not easy to find restaurants that execute vegetarian dishes well, but they really do it right here. My husband almost always orders the burger and loves it. The crab cakes have also been a longtime favorite of mine -- they're packed with crab and very little filler, which is exactly how they should be. Service is consistently good, and we especially enjoy seeing our favorite server, Diana. One thing we have noticed over the years is that the restaurant seems to go through managers fairly often. We've never had issues with previous managers. In fact, we liked several of them very much. However, the current manager gives off a noticeably tense and unwelcoming vibe. She's often visible in the dining room and behind the bar, but frequently appears upset or glaring, which unfortunately makes the atmosphere feel uncomfortable. I also genuinely hope that the staff isn't experiencing that same tension behind the scenes, because the servers and bartenders here have always been excellent and deserve a positive work environment. In all the years we've been coming here, we've never needed to involve a manager because the staff handles things very well and keeps everything running smoothly. Recently, though, we were surprised by some small add-on charges. $5 for a side of vegetable sticks with an appetizer and $7-$8 for a side of fries. Those prices felt excessive for such simple sides. I'm not sure if this is the new grumpy manager's decision or the owner's, but that's almost as bad as a credit card fee which they do not charge. Thank goodness. I mean I get maybe $1 or $2 up charge for that stuff but $5 no. We truly love this restaurant and have supported it for two decades. The food, drinks, and staff keep us coming back. We just hope the management style can match the warm, welcoming experience that has always made this place special. read more

My friend and I dined here in tonight. We were sat promptly with our 6:00 reservation. Someone came over shortly after to fill our water glasses and they mentioned our server would be with us shortly. About twenty minutes later nobody had come over and the restaurant wasn't all that busy. A couple sat down around that time next to us who within a few minutes was visited by a server and given fresh bread. We waited another ten minutes until a little after 6:30 before going to the hostess who told us she'd let someone know. A few minutes later the server who was serving the couple directly next to us came to us, apologized and started our evening. We both ordered the scallop and shrimp risotto and a few minutes later our server came to tell us they were out of scallops. That happen but it's better if the server tells you up front what they are out of. I ended up still getting the risotto with double shrimp instead of both proteins and my friend got the short rib. She said the short rib was very tender. My food was good too. I had the bourbon mule to drink and it was too sweet for my tastes. The ambience was ok but I sort of got a negative vibe from the 30+ minute wait for a server who was inches away from us and didn't notice we weren't being served. read more

I have been enjoying re-visiting restaurants we have not visited in over 10 years. There is no specific reason we didn't return to the Back Burner because I remember it being fantastic. My last visit was March of 2014, and I am very happy it is still here. We had reservations for the bar area, and were seated right away at a small table. We started with a Pomegranate Bellini and vodka and sprite, with Shrimp Lejon. The shrimp were huge wrapped in delicious, crispy bacon with a dill horseradish sauce. This was a good start. Next we tried the Better Cheddar since they are known for that. Wow, it was cheese and smoke and figs and pear and nuts and crispy flat bread. So many fantastic flavors! I ordered the Grilled Yellowtail Special, and RJ had the NY Strip Special. Mine was so beautiful, , cooked perfectly, with asparagus and lumps of crab. RJ's steak melted in his mouth. We finished with an apple bread pudding that was absolutely incredible. Our server was friendly, fast, and efficient and we will definitely be back to enjoy more of the menu and check out their little shop next door. read more

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Wednesday was Italian night , it was more like seafood pasta night. Shrimp and one salmon dish. I was looking for some traditional red sauce Italian dishes. No Italian wedding but they had chili ?? Burger night is always good. I don't believe they would serve chicken sandwiches on that night , so why seafood on Italian night ? Was little disappointed. Usually food is good. Bartender was excellent as usual. Place is a little dated and could use a little renovation. Other than that quiet and above average food. Special nights advertising certain cuisine should be on point . No meatballs , raviolis baked gnocchi dish . This place is not bad . But fell short to make the A list Wednesday night . read more

The food here is so very good, everything is always hot, cold, appropriate for the dish, the season. The restaurant itself is comfortable and quiet, with a little snug for sitting and having a drink and a chat. The pork chops are simply the best thing on the menu, if one passes on the baked brie or even the cheeseburger. Delicious. There is a fairly new, young chef there, he's been there for about three months, and my friends say he's making the big difference... read more

If you want a nice dinner that's not $$$$, then Back Burner is a good choice. From the linen table cloths to the great waiters and waitresses and exceptional food, it's definitely a relaxing experience. The pumpkin mushroom soup is a must have and their weekly specials are a good value. You won't be disappointed! read more

Terrible service. Don't waste your time. My daughter left in tears last night. Bartender was incredibly rude. I've seen her before and always thought she was gruff but that was ridiculous. I'll never be going back and telling friends the same. read more

food is mediocre price is high service is slow. This used to be a good place to eat but went downhill in the last few years read more

It was my first time here and I enjoyed it. The waitress and servers were nice and attentive. The food we had was great- I thoroughly enjoyed the risotto! They also had Happy Hour specials when we came- you can't go wrong with oysters and beer! read more

The Back Burner - Risotto - New American Near Me - Hockessin, Delaware

Extremely disappointed of the treatment we received this evening. My party of 3 was there to enjoy the "restaurant week" menu. As we perused the menu, we noticed that the pricing options were not as advertised in their on-line promotion. We shared with the manager of the restaurant our information ( on our I Phone) that stated 3 courses for $35.00, while the menu at the restaurant was 3 courses for $55.00. We shared with him that this information was out there and should be updated so as not to cause further confusion. At that point, we asked if he would honor the information we presented with regard to pricing and he suggested that we find another restaurant for dinner. read more

Went here today for the first time. It was just okay. My 9 year old son had the happy hour buffalo wings for his meal. My husband had the crab cakes. I had a house salad with steak. We also had the happy hour hummus small plate & cheesesteak egg rolls. And I had the pumpkin mushroom soup. I'd say the soup was the highlight of the meal. My son enjoyed his wings & my husband shared one and said he enjoyed it as well. The pumpkin & garlic hummus was tasty but I wasn't a huge fan of the crostini, it also came with carrots and celery. It was good with carrots and I also dipped some of the bread for the table in the hummus & that was good also. The egg rolls tasted like old fryer grease to me and the contents didn't really taste like a cheesesteak & they came with an odd dipping sauce. My husband enjoyed his crab cakes but said they weren't anything exceptional. My steak salad was okay. It could have used more dressing & the walnuts tasted kind of stale. The steak was really good though and I ate all of that and shared with my son who enjoyed it as well. Overall it was just an okay meal. I'm always glad to try something new and support somewhere local but nothing really wowed me. It is nice inside though and our server did a great job. read more

The Back Burner makes the best cheese spread called Better Cheddar. It is my go to for snacking, crudités and charcuterie! It comes in a small and large portion container and comes with and without nuts. I believe they have more than one flavor but I stick to the original. They have an assortment of cracker options to partner with the cheese. It's just really delicious . They give a frequent buyer card that gets hole punched each time you buy towards a free portion!!! Guess how many free ones I've gotten?!? They also offer meals to go or for lunch to sit in the small cafe, a selection of different gift options, beverages, chocolates and local crafts for purchase. Try it!!! You're gonna love it. read more

Normally we have a good experience here but tonight it was below par. We arrived at 7:15. I was not aware that they closed at 8:00 on weeknights. Our party of 4 ordered one round of drinks received them and then ordered food. My husband's glass was empty for about 10 minutes before the server came back at 7:50 and he requested a beer. The server was about to go put it in when another I guess more experienced server stopped her and said sorry last call was at 7:45 because we close at 8. We were all pretty surprised and disappointed since we all wanted another round. And the server had never told us about last call. We could have spent another $40. The restaurant is clearing out when they start to bring our food. It was burger night so 3 people ordered 3 different types of burgers and I ordered a salad. Two burgers came out. One was correct and one was not. Sent it back. After a few more minutes the burger comes out corrected and a third burger also incorrect comes out. Sent that one back. Still no salad or even a mention of it. At this point I didn't even want the salad since I had finished my wine and couldn't get more. The third burger comes back corrected. I told everyone to eat their burgers that were getting cold. Finally server comes back to check on us. I just wanted to cut my losses and leave but someone told her I needed my salad. So after a few more minutes it came out. I ended up taking most of it home since the staff was all waiting for us to be done and leave. They did comp the salad. But overall disappointing. Oh and btw it was my birthday read more

I wish I could say I liked this place, but cannot, even though the food was actually pretty good. The ambience is kinda non-existent and from my table I could see the broom and dustpan leaning on the wall at the reception desk. Our server was in a hurry and made us feel rushed when we seated for our 7:30pm reservation. By9pm, when we were finishing up our meal and drinks, staff were tidying up and preparing to close up for the night by extinguishing candles/lights and generally making things ready for the next day. Bartender was brusque and made a terrible dirty Martini and was clueless regarding shite/blanc sparkling wines. read more

Went here a couple weeks ago. Had never been and it was on my bucket list. The food, ambiance, and service were all excellent. Prices were relatively reasonable for the amount of food that we received. Definitely will be back again read more

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Just left the place after waiting over an hour for our food. Ordered the stuffed mushrooms and after 45 minutes, the host/manager came over to tell us that the chef "didn't like the looks or texture" of the dish. Offered us to order something else and we would be "compensated." We ordered the quiche of the day, 20 minutes later, (after being told by our frequently absent server that it would be about 5 minutes before we got our food), I called over the host/manager and told him we were leaving. He said "but it's only going to be another 5minutes" to which my friend said, "how long does it take to heat up a quiche ?" To which he had no reply. We left and I went home. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've had something like this happen at the place. Last year, my friend and I were seated at a table that had apparently "not been assigned" to any of the servers. It took forever despite asking several times for a server. I was willing to over look that episode, but after today I am never going back. Back Burner, Get YOUR ACT TOGETHER! read more

Food was good as usual but in spite of a written request on opentable.com for a particular server we were denied by the new GM. As long-time customers we were terribly disappointed at the awkward environment created by her and heard that she doesn't think customers dictate her dining room. Guess she has never worked anywhere that teaches the customer is always right. Not sure we will return since we don't like to be told we don't matter especially after a $150 dinner for two. read more

although the food was very good, the restaurant needs a complete overhaul food on the rugs, dingy, booths, and walls filthy. won't be going back til they clean up their act! read more

OMG! So good. My boyfriend & I, literally, just came here for tonight's dinner & inhaled our dinner. It was delightful! The service was superb. Matthew, our host, was vibrant & exceptional. He checked on us often to make sure everything was great & delish. He was also an excellent photographer. Highly recommend (all thanks to Matthew) and will definitely be back. read more

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I really wanted to love this spot because it's a longtime neighborhood favorite and was recommended to me so many times! Sadly I don't think I'll be back. We started with the charcuterie and I have to say it was.... Well just horrible. This appetizer is like $20 and just look at how basic and plain it is. Additionally the capocollo was literally rancid, you can see the dark spots in the photo below!!! Literally it was not edible. We did get the speciality mushroom soup and that was very good, I forgot to photograph but that was the best item of the day. Lastly we got the crab cake which came with literally one asparagus stalk cut up into small pieces. With the price point of this spot, I don't think I'll be returning as I think there are so many other places you can get a bang for your buck!!! My mom has been a long time customer of this spot and continued to emphasize how this use to be her go to spot but just won't spend her money there moving forward. It's truly a shame as I was really looking forward to going here. The service was subpar (one waiter for the whole dining room) and the poor guy looked like he could hardly keep up. I felt bad for him if I'm being truthful. The overall restaurant did look clean and had cute decor. read more

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I had not been to this place in at least 25 years, so when a friend suggested we get lunch I figured this would be the place to check out. The menu is the perfect blend of unique (pumpkin mushroom soup) and traditional (wedge salad), and none of this is priced to bust your budget - in this day and age, the prices look downright reasonable for a sit-down meal. These two items were what I selected for lunch and both were solid, competent. I'd describe the decor as "quirky upscale" - there's some weird horse made of pipe art or something on the balcony, with plush side-by-side chairs where people can sit and sip a glass of wine elsewhere overlooking the main dining area. Service was prompt and helpful. Perhaps it's only because this place is tucked away into a back corner of Hockessin that I've neglected it all these years, but I kind of want to go back. read more

My go to place in Delaware. I absolutely love it. Pumpkin mushroom soup & better cheddar are a must, along with the filet. Our family has had several special occasion dinners there, along with casual Friday nights. We also recently had Easter brunch at the restaurant. Pro tip - the Back Burner To Go and 1/2 price burger nights on Tuesday! read more

The service is really bad. Some of the food was good, but some was cold. Never got my glass of wine. Never came to ask about the food. My fish was very overcooked. We asked for a box, that didn't come. Every thing took forever. I've been here twice and I don't think I'll be back. read more

Cozy, elegant yet casual ,romantic atmosphere . Excellent Bartender. Food was delicious. We look forward to returning and trying a few more things from their fabulous Menu ! read more

The Back Burner - Pumpkin Mushroom Soup .Goat Cheese Toast- toasted baguette roast garlic cream spread, goat cheese, arugula, truffle honey drizzle - New American Near Me - Hockessin, Delaware

Has been constantly good in the past, but kast night was terrible. Service was excessively slow, the kids meals, burger, Mac and cheese was turned down by the kids due to burned burgers, peppered FF and dry/tasteless Mac and cheese. We have Bern going for a long time, but was very disappointed. Not good . read more

The Service was below par and the food was just ok. The atmosphere is great though. They need to learn how to season food. It was quite bland. I think they cater to senior citizen crowd. read more

Best fine dining experience I've had in years. White tablecloths, napkins and candlelights. Fine dining without being stuffy. Great menu and service. read more

The Back Burner - Lobster Dinner - New American Near Me - Hockessin, Delaware

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Living near by we have tried Back Burner a few times hoping it would improve, but it just has not. The food is average. It is not bad, just not what you would expect for the prices they charge. The real issue is the service. The restaurant was about a 1/4th full yet it took 20 minutes for someone to come to our table. It took another 30 minutes to get the food. By the time it arrived the hot sandwiches were cold. At no time did the waiter come back to see how the food was, provide any bread, refill water glasses or ask if we needed anything else. Given the large number of good restaurants in the area, I think our experiment with the back burner is over for us. read more

Long time favorite that keeps evolving with public tastes. Have never had a bad meal here. Even though I am not a mushroom lover, the mushroom soup is incredible. read more

Husbae & I went here for our anniversary dinner and we are officially OBSESSED!! From the service to the food, down to the ambiance the experience was nothing short of AMAZING!! I had the Pork chop with Apple compote & sweet potato mash which was DELICIOUS omggg!! Need less to say we have been a few times after that visit and they haven't disappointed yet!! read more

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Although the food was fine, the entire experience was ruined by our server who seemed to have remembered she had teeth and decided to smile after she brought the check. Before that, she rushed us making us feel very uncomfortable, made a big confusion with our drinks order. In fact, she probably had friends at a table behind a wall from us as we could see her there smiling and chatting while ignoring us. The decoration and lighting need work. The atmosphere is not inviting or cozy. read more

Great cheeseburgers! Great service! Atmosphere was very comfortable. We ate in the pub area

Mothers Day brunch was superb! The food, the service, the grapefruit martini (pink lady)- omg everything was just so good! read more

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The Pumpkin mushroom soup is Devine. (But the waitress, Tina, wouldn't allow me to order a bowl. She argued with me back and forth until I was embarrassed . "I'd like a bowl." Tina, "Get the cup, trust me." "No, I'll have a bowl." "Get the cup ." NO, I'd like a bowl!" And was bullied into "JUST GET A CUP, it's cheaper". I'm from California, I waitressed for 16 years in my youth, is the waitress supposed to BULLYING you????!!!) This really happened this way. Embarrassing. I have 2 witnesses. Ok, on with the order. We asked if our 91 year old Mom could get the Hamburg pattie thinner. (OMG don't ever ask!!!) she stormed off to ask the chef. "Yes, he could" She was a dichotomy between sugary sweet and Gestapo. Ruined our lunch. Food was great!! Tina needs to take a refresher course on waitress etiquette. (I'm being nice here) Before I ever go back, I'll ask if Tina is still working there. Sorry. I don't want her to lose her job. But how else can a person get this point across except through Yelp as our sounding board!!!!????!!! read more

I went on half price "Burger Night" - Tuesday, but my GF table didn't order burgers. There were only two servers, and they were incredibly busy at 6pm. The food was marvelous, and that is the most important thing. However, the management of the Back Burner needs some work. We received two drinks after about twenty minutes, but the other two didn't come after ONE HOUR. We could t even find anyone to complain to, not even a busser. We had to walk to the bar to inquire. We had also run out of water a long time prior. After the hour. we did get our orders taken, and service improved. The crab meats were solid lump meat and fantastic! The salmon was great, so was the shrimp and grits - nice and spicy. And the ribs were very tender. I do have to caution that there is a need for the counter behind the faucet in the bathroom to be cleaned. It is solid black muck. read more

I noticed that there was no way to reserve a table online for a Saturday evening. Don't let that stop you from going! Call or just stop in. I live close by so I just go and have never had a problem (unless you are a large party). Go before 6 and there are specials just for happy hour that are not on the menu. One was the chilled shrimp and avocado with mango vinaigrette! It was amazing! Their crab cakes are to die for, no filler! Call and give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Based on reviews I thought this would 4 or 5 stars. Three stars is all it gets The good: great soup. Very nice filet mignon. Steamed lobster suitably presented. The bad: cold mashed potatoes mushy green beans(fancy name on the menu) The indifferent: our server Samantha who barely earned her 11% tip. Rolled in for early dinner, 90% empty restaurant and still was asked for our reservation even though their reservation system(internet) was down. I can get a nice filet many places , a $22 lobster steamed in many places and I can make that soup. Don't count on me coming back. Not a bad place to eat just not great. read more

The Back Burner - New American Near Me - Hockessin, Delaware

We asked if both the iced tea had caffeine at the Back Burner to Go and were met with a very snarky retort of "Why?!" People shouldn't have to explain themselves when asking questions about menu items. First we were told that both iced teas didn't have caffeine while we saw one had black tea, which always has caffeine. When we asked again if the counter girl was certain she said umm no. We asked who would and she said my manager and then she just stood there. Very rude young girl. Customers should never be put on the spot when asking about a menu item. We won't go back. read more

I found this on Google while searching for restaurants near Macon, GA for my sister's birthday, celebrating her wedding & our wedding anniversary. This place did not disappoint. Small, warm cozy atmosphere & delicious food from our appetizers to main courses and a great waiter "Justin". I will be sure to visit again when in town. The noise level can get a little high but there is outside seating if weather permits. read more

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The food is fantastic... plenty of parking. Quiet romantic dining; perfect for you and your significant other!