I've lived in Delaware for 50 years, close to the restaurant for half that time, but yesterday was my first time eating at The Charcoal Pit. I had a burger, onion rings, and a Oreo milkshake. The burger and the milkshake were quite good. I didn't care for the flavor of the onion rings. Not sure what type of oil they were using but the flavor overwhelmed the onion. Our experience with the kitchen staff was great. Unfortunately our server was terrible. She took our order and that was the last we saw of her until she took our payment. She didn't deliver the food, check to see how it was (our order was incorrect but the kitchen staff fixed it), or refill our drinks. She didn't smile once and aside of taking our order, didn't say a word. She put the check down, walked away, and didn't come back for it for about 10 minutes. While the food was good, the service was poor enough that I won't be going back. read more

Stopped for lunch. Almost empty at 2pm. Ten minutes before a waitress appeared. Almost ten minutes more to bring a perfectly cooked plain hamburger with an ice cold bun, French fries and a small soft drink to the table. Thankfully the food was really good and you can't go wrong with a soft drink. It's a week before Thanksgiving and call me a party pooper, but non-stop Christmas music added nothing to my lunch experience. Can't we let Thanksgiving pass in peace before Christmas starts? If you're not in a hurry, this is the place you'd want to come to. read more

The flood was good, but when ordering online they gave us a wrong shake, missed an order of onion rings, and messed up the toppings on a couple of the burgers. Very nice staff read more

Trend has been downhill for quite a while. We're going less and less. Tonight, Soggy fries and raw burger. Ordering by phone is super tedious too. read more

My review is based on ice cream only. We went in, craving milkshakes. We (the four in my party) ended up each ordering sundaes. Our waitress was very polite. She graciously went over the ice cream flavors they had more than once as some of us were not paying attention. She didn't seem at all as if we were inconveniencing her. The sundaes were quite plentiful! I ordered a hot fudge nut sundae with salted caramel pretzel chocolate ice cream. There is no such thing as too much ice cream and I ate the entire thing! My only complaint is having to wait 5+ minutes for someone to ring us up at the register. Three waitresses were sitting at the bar, talking to other customers, but def looked up directly at us. read more

Charcoal Pit - "Highlander" Sundae minus the bananas. - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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A great local institution that everyone should visit at least once! Also. Make sure you get a milkshake or a soda float!

I had low expectations for the cheesesteak so I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. It was great fun breaking bread with the Busche sisters. My ice cream sunday was great and the Pit hasn't changed in forever. read more

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This place is the best. A delicious 8oz burger and fries for under $8? You can't go to McDonald's for that price. And the milkshakes??? Undoubtedly the best! Been coming here for 30 years, and planning for another 30+. read more

great little place. older construction, but has been well maintained. Clean and well kept inside. Gives that classic american diner feel from the 50s, 60s. Food is great, service is excellent read more

I heard mixed comments, but all generally good. Went on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Service was friendly and efficient but - when it come to the food - STAY. AWAY. I ordered a steak, med rare. I received shoe leather, well done. When I said something, they offered to take $1 off the check. They will not see me there again. read more

Our son was in town from California he wanted to go to the pit for his favorite hot dogs, well done fries, and milk shake. The place is being renovated, service was good and the food was excellent. A definite improvement. The place had a good crowd. read more

I LOVE Charcoal Pit! It is an authentic 1950s diner with personal juke boxes at the table (unfortunately they don't work anymore) and delicious milk shakes. They make their own pickled relish that is yummy with the cheese steaks. I grew up going here as a high school kid and brought my son and husband here for a meal on a recent drive to Philadelphia. They loved it too. Great family friendly neighborhood vibe. This place has stood the test of time for a reason! read more

Oldie but goodie. We were going to eat elsewhere but left, and glad we did and found Charcoal Pit. Plenty of parking in the large lot, and there is a convenient traffic signal allowing either direction easy access. I did notice all the handprints on the door glass and grime on the menus. (I hope management finds this and decides to clean). I guess its called a "patina" when a coating exists over wood and metal surfaces? I noticed pitchers of ice tea sitting out, uncovered. I noticed the waitress eat some fries/meal while also serving food. (Personally I don't mind either way, she did wear a glove before handling our food). Am I the health inspector? No, but I do have a public health degree... Well these are my reasons for a 4 star than a 5 star. Menu is not extensive, but does have a good variety. The restaurant just celebrated its 60th anniversary, which is something to be proud of. On the menu, they mentioned the burgers are from freshly daily ground beef and never frozen. They have the charcoal hot dog with 'snap', Angus burgers with toppings like sauteed onions and mushrooms, and the typical. They make their own cole slaw, (tasted like they used plenty of mayo, but I really enjoyed it. They also have Reuben sandwich, chicken salad, Philly Cheese Steaks, Quesadillas, crab cakes, soft shell crab sandwiches... Oh and soup! Fridays is clam chowder and Wednesday is crab soup. Just off the top of my memory. They have dinners such as rib eye steaks, salmon, chicken... And milkshakes, malts, sundaes (even the kitchen sink sundae with 20 scoops of ice cream). Everything I ate was almost inhaled, as it was very tasty. The fresh burger was a treat with the charcoal flavor. I also had their coffee, which was well bodied and typical tasting of a diner quality. They have those half and half creamers in a cup. (I wish places would stop using these, as I need 5-7 of them, waste of garbage, weird additives, and it does not taste as good as light cream). Our waitress was kind, also checked for MSG for me, and whenever I needed something she was not too far away and happy to help us. :) Hope to see them stay around another 60 years, as they know how to make delicious food. Oh, and we ordered the small ice cream since we were full, but still given a lot of ice cream and was told it comes with a topping and whipped cream is included. I ordered soft serve, but saw her scooping and after I asked her, she said that is the ice cream they have. I noticed the ice cream was sweet, "light" as if it was made with a milk base, with vanilla bean too. I would come back if in the area again, with hand sanitizer.. read more

I absolutely love the Charcoal Pit on Concord Pike. The waitress's are great and the food is to die for. I always get the cheese steak with raw Bermuda onion SLICES that are really sweet. Plus the french fries and a black & white milkshake. My mouth is watering because I'm dying for one right now. If you ever get a chance please go there because they really have great food. I forgot their soups that that are homemade everyday.I always get soup as starter. So if you're in the area please stop in you will love it. Lois Sutton read more

Charcoal pit an iconic landmark in upper Delaware. Concord pike is truly the only one to go to. I've gone for years and the service is always a hit or miss. Last time I went most of the regular waitresses on sundays had either left or had been replaced by kids. The food itself is decent, typical diner food. Nothing really stands out at the Charcoal Pit but it's still a nice place to visit and enjoy. If you go I'd recommend some fries or onion rings and get it with a nice big milkshake. You cant go wrong with shakes and fries. Sad to see the business has slowed down over the years and a couple other charcoal pits are closed or soon to be but still a place I will support to the end. read more

I want to start this off by saying I am not a picky eater. I have been meaning to try this place for a while, and it was a total let down. Service- Waiter did not check on us at all once we got our meal and while the waitress was not rude she was not inviting either. Food- The appetizer of buffalo chicken bites were just frozen Tyson buffalo chicken bites for the price of $9.95 which was more than we paid for the entrees. Our entrees were the pulled pork sandwich and the pit special burger. Burger patty was clearly a frozen patty and the burger toppings of tomato, lettuce, and onions were sitting out uncovered in an area where people can walk by, breathe on, and sneeze on them. The mayonnaise we received also was sitting out, as it had gotten gelatinous (picture attached). Pricing- Appetizer's price was outrageous for the quality considering they were Tyson. Entrees were a tad bit overpriced considering the quality. In conclusion we would not return nor recommend to anyone. read more

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

One of Delaware's most iconic restaurants. Hard to find places like this today, and the food is great. Burgers, cheesesteaks, and milkshakes are all wonderful. Nostalgia certainly plays a role in this review, but that's part of the whole deal with Charcoal Pit. Hopefully it's around forever. read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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This place needs a "Restaurant: Impossible" makeover. It's a Delaware icon that has lost its luster. The jukeboxes are no longer accessible because they taped the daily specials over them. Every booth had paper signs. I felt like waitresses couldn't be bothered to talk to you, just read all the signs. They featured the Crab Chowder, that is only offered on Wednesdays! Must be truly special! Instead I was served a bowl of what I can only describe as canned vegetables with bits of crab. Not a chowder! My daughter ordered the Chicken Little. It was burnt but undercooked. Should be called Chicken cooked a Little. She also ordered the Cookie Dough milk shake (per another piece of paper taped above the menus slots). It was Oreo ice cream with chunky Oreo posing as cookie dough. Overall I want Charcoal Pit to go back to its glory days of a 50s style restaurant. read more

Charcoal Pit - Paper specials taped everywhere - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Got a Rueben a few weeks ago on my lunch break. Usually, I go there for grilled chicken with salad but not that day. I should have realized something was wrong because the cook got it to me in about 5 minutes. I drove away and sat down to eat my lunch. I bit into it and when I say disgusting, there are no words for it. I tasted old mushy meat, pockets of pure salt and a preservative and that was all. I couldn't eat it. I will never go back there again. read more

I when here for lunch and I thought that the 50/60s style was cool but then we ordered and it seemed like the menus have been used for the past 70 years but than the food came and there were flys around the table but the food was good but a little too salty and that's all read more

Flawless. This restaurant is a rare gem. The food was delicious, our server was wonderful and the atmosphere was like a trip back in time. I read other reviews and understand when someplace is not exactly like it was in childhood. I have to say that we enjoyed a perfect experience! read more

Off and on I see people complain about the Charcoal Pit and I just don't understand it. It's not meant to be fine dining - but it's pretty good food and great ice cream. It's always fun and we always seem to get great service. Sure it could use a remodeling. Been going to the one on Concord Pike for 20 years and it's a landmark. Everything else in Wilmington wants to charge you 25 dollars for a burger and to sell you a 12 dollar IPA. Always a solid choice. read more

Let me preface this by saying my rating is totally and unashamedly influenced by nostalgia and fond memories...!! And the charcoal pit hasn't changed AT ALL in 40 plus years ( that's how long it's been since I've been here and it was like walking back into the 70's) ! If you want a place with a diner feel, that offers good old fashioned food at fair prices... this is the place. Flame broiled burgers, grilled cheese, even soft shell crab on a roll... eat at the old fashioned counter, or maybe in the booth where president Obama and joe Biden ate. The servers are super friendly, and you will never leave hungry . And can I mention the ice cream??? Huge servings. A gi-Normous chocolate nut hut fudge sundae for $4.75????? Love this place .. did in 1970, do now! read more

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I went in for lunch today and had a top-notch double cheeseburger and fries. Fast and friendly service as well. Interior is a little bit dated, but that's part of the charm. Very extensive menu, but I am inclined to stick with the standards, like cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, etc. read more

Was in Wilmington a few weeks ago and the Charcoal Pit caught my attention. The sheer novelty of this place convinced me I'd have to try it eventually. Was in the area again last night and decided we'd give it a shot. We got the last table in the joint. It was 11pm on a Saturday night and the place was PACKED. The noise was deafening and I literally had to leap over bodies to get to our table. INSANITY! They were so busy they served us our drinks in paper cups because they had run out of glasses. Given how busy it was, our server was attentive and our food served promptly and as ordered. I'm not a big meat eater and not a big fan of hamburgers, but since hamburgers are the "thing" at the Pit, I figured "when in Rome..." It was, hands down, the BEST cheeseburger I've ever had. For the FIRST TIME in my entire life, I ate every last crumb of my burger. My boyfriend, who got the larger burger also scarfed down every morsel. The fries, however, sucked big time. The bathroom was also a nightmare. I had to pole vault over people just to get there in the first place. And when I finally arrived, it was freezing cold in there and the stall was so small trying to aim was a little tricky. The experience was a mixed bag- certainly if you're a fan of burgers or 50's themed restaurants, then this is a good bet. But the menu is VERY limited, If you're a vegetarian, then your only choice is grilled cheese. I wasn't wowed AT ALL by the offerings, but was very glad I ordered what they do well. BURGERS. YUM! read more

Wonderful chocolate malted milk shakes. Dreadfully salty char dogs. Please improve the quality of your hot dogs. They're expensive given their poor taste. read more

The Charcoal Pit will always hold a spot in my heart, and I know that part of this 4-star rating is due to nostalgia. :-) The place is basically a diner. When you go in, the "hostess" will likely just point a general direction and then tell you which table to take without actually escorting you there. Menus are stored at the table. The waitresses have all been there since I've been in high school (a very, very long time). They are all friendly in a cordial, diner way. Most tables have jukeboxes, which I used to love when I was younger. Their menu is fairly straightforward- stick to the burgers ($3.95 for 4oz or $5.95 for 8oz), french fries ($1.95), and milkshakes ($3.95+). Their iced tea is also delicious and comes in a giant cup ($1.95). I went a few days ago and we ordered 2 4oz burgers, 2 french fries, and 2 iced teas and our bill came to about $15. The food came quickly, and the waitress was good about refilling my iced tea. We were probably in and out in around 30 minutes. Overall, a great place to grab a burger. It's cheap, it's delicious, and it never changes. read more

Nothing reminds me more of my Delawarean childhood than Charcoal Pit. I don't get down to Delaware much these days, but when I'm in the area, I ALWAYS make sure to allot enough time to stop in for a burger. And maybe some ice cream if the mood hits. While the food may not be top notch, you go there more for the atmosphere and the company. I enjoy the fact that they give you relish with your burgers which gives an extra tang to each bite. And don't forget about the jukeboxes attached to each booth! You don't see too many places with those anymore. My cohorts and I recently had a blast going through all the choices until finally settling on some old Backstreet Boys jams for giggles. Good times. read more

Charcoal Pit - 4 oz cheeseburger w/ fries - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Decided to take a trip down with the family for lunch. It's just one of those places that always intrigued me. This menu is as basic as it gets. The wife and I both got burgers. We sampled some onion rings, and got a grilled cheese with applesauce and milk for my boy. The food quality here is good. Neither of us complained about the burgers. The onion rings were solid. My son ate his grilled cheese with no issues. It's a very good burger. I'd say though at the same time nothing was special. It isn't anything I would drive down from Delco for in the future. The food overall was good diner quality. Although the milkshakes looked tasty, I didn't partake. It's a solid family joint. I can see why it would be popular locally. It's worth a try. read more

great food, terrible service when you call the food is delicious, but I have to call in to request my toppings because DoorDash doesn't let me make customizations in the app like it used to. today when I called in the woman answering the phone kept saying they didn't receive the order. eventually I had to cancel and apparently THAT was when they got the order. I placed the order again immediately and on the app it said it was confirmed being prepared etc. I call back in and the woman (same one as before) said that she'll put in the order and before I could tell her what I wanted on our burgers she just hung up without warning. I called back again (probably 5th call) and the same woman answered and I immediately asked for a manager but that's when she was ready to listen to me and take down my request. I'm almost certain she's going to spit in my food, even though I was level headed and did not raise a fuss. I would just stop ordering from them but the Food is that good read more

This place was Disgusting. They gave me a dirty cup and left paper from my straw in there . Very dirty in there . I would never go there again . Nifty fifty's has to come out this way. read more

Like previous reviewers, this restaurant has lots of memories attached to it - going back a long, long way. We made our required pilgrimage to it recently while visiting family in Pennsylvania. The milk shake was the highlight - so thick you had to pull hard to get it through a straw. The burger was ok, but not the best ever. The prices are beyond reasonable and the memories are terrific. We left with a full stomach and a Burger Pit 60 years shirt. read more

Charcoal Pit - Great milkshakes! - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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There was a time I'd give this place a better review but after a dozen or so visits over the past year I feel comfortable saying this restaurant will be closed in the very neat future. As a Delaware resident, I grew up frequenting this location and was always pleased. However, over the past two years the quality of the food and the service has consistently been on the decline. read more

Butter Pecan milkshake is Awesome. The staff was very friendly And help me pick out a selection since I was new in town. I asked him what was the best thing that they had and they suggested the hamburgers so I chose the California hamburger which was delicious. On side of that I also noticed that they had milkshakes. The milkshake came and a large cup feel with butter, goodness that you can actually taste the butter and a milkshake. Had a wonderful experience read more

Charcoal Pit - Just Ice Cream - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Until recently, I really liked this place. Service has gone downhill. Looking dingy, not cleaned. Old rags on the counter Waiter had filthy hands. Bathroom not cleaned in a long time. Burned out light fixtures, missing glass. I could go on. What happened? I used to really enjoy a meal there... read more

Charcoal Pit - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Family run old school place. Awesome food. Burgers and shakes are amazing. Have been back multiple times.

This restaurant has been around seemingly forever, yet I didn't get around to trying it until today. Yes, both from the outside and inside, this restaurant truly looks like your grandfather could've gone there. Maybe even your grandfather's father. It's an original from the 50s and they kept that classic feel up to today. The parking lot seemed rather congested too but that could be because it is shared with the Dunkin Donuts next door. Space inside the restaurant is a bit cramped though, so I doubt they can accommodate more people, even if there was more parking. A quick browser through the menu didn't turn up anything particularly unique though. (There's a 20-scoop sundae, in case you're looking for a challenge.) It's mostly just simple diner or grill style food. I picked the turkey burger since it was one of the items on the printed sheets and may not be offered later. I thought service was good, even though the server seemed rather busy. read more

Charcoal Pit - Half pound turkey burger - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Always a good experience. read more

Charcoal Pit - Crab chowder mmmmmgood - Burgers Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Our first time in Delaware and I had heard about this place from our friend. It's kinda like a diner. The burger was average. the patty wasn't that great.. kinda plain, but big. Their shakes were good though. i got the chocolate with malt. dang that was good. really creamy. the place was kinda small and had a home-y diner feel. If I ever come back, I want to try the kitchen sink with some friends (it's a huge bowl with LOTS of scoops of ice cream) read more

12 yr old It was awesome and I would go there again for sure. I recommend you go because that was the best burger I have ever had. The service was the best and I recommend to ask for Kaitlyn because she very friendly and funny and engaging. Hope you can go there it blew my mind 5 Star Me: really good +1 for Kaitlyn and enjoyed it. Great charbroiled burger:) read more