We have eaten here several times and brought out of state visitors; the food isn't to die for or anything, but the waitresses are nice and I enjoy the historic atmosphere. Tonight was such a disappointment. I didn't make a reservation like I typically do because it's a Wednesday night and not the weekend. There are 5 of us doing a historical walking tour and I briefly left to inquire about a table a little before 8 pm. I was told that the 5 empty tables were all reserved. I asked what time do all of the reservations have to show up before we could get a table and was told "8:30." So we came back at 8:30 and all of the tables were empty, with some people at the bar. We were told we could sit at the bar, but not at a table. What?! Why does it matter where we sit? I understand the kitchen is closing at 9'pm, but I tried to get a table at 8. After that I realized the hostess just didn't want to ever seat us at all. I understand that the teenage hostess probably just wanted to get off of work early and go home, but please don't lie to me so we wander around for another 30 minutes waiting to see if we can get a table. I'm really very sad because we've been there a dozen times over the past 2 years, bringing a large group with us and always very proud to show off this historic tavern. Now I'm not so eager to come back. :-/ read more

With all the high star reviews we were excited to eat in the historic district at Jessups. But I was disappointed. The hostess never smiled and wasn't very friendly. But our waitress made up for that. She was extremely cheerful! It took a very long time to get our food. Then my fries were cold and the chicken on my sandwich was tough and dry. Hoping it was just a bad day for the team. read more

Right in the heart of the National Historic District on Delaware Street sits Jessop's Tavern. Some might say that it is also the true heart of Old New Castle, occupying a colonial building constructed in 1674, and operating as a bar/restaurant for at least the last 75 years. Jessop's is the perfect place to take a load off after exploring town, or as a way station just minutes of Rt. 95 south of Wilmington. Reflecting the cultural mix of the early settlers, the offerings are from Sweden, The Netherlands, England, Belgium, and Revolutionary War Americana. They have a large beer selection, with Belgians their claim to fame. The kitchen is similarly oriented to traditional fare from those parts of the world. As they say in their Mission Statement, they "serve history at Jessop's Tavern." We stopped in for a late lunch last week after touring Rockwood Mansion, about 12 miles north. It was all dark woods and wenches in period dress. A long bar along one wall, and tables against the other. We ordered a dark Barbe ale and pear cider for drinks, and their, "Dutch Pastrami Reuben," and Swedish Meatloaf Sandwich. Both were large, beautiful to behold, and solid tasty meals. Every aspect was well designed from breads through sauces, although it was not apparent what the Dutch have to do with pastrami, but, they are entitled to a little poetic license. Service was attentive and friendly. When a late afternoon cloudburst trapped us in the tavern just after we finished eating, they had no problem inviting us to stay as long as we liked, and offering us an umbrella to go to the car once the deluge passed. Hear tell that they also have excellent ice cream available. There will definitely be a next time. read more

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This was our third time at Jessops. Atmosphere is cozy and quaint. however, the last two times were have visited, the food took a long time to come out, it was luke warm and had to be send it back. On two occasions, the order was not correct and add ons to the sandwich were missing. Great place to have a drink but not impressed at all with the food. read more

This is a fav of mine. The ambiance of this place is a 10! Coming here is like stepping back in time. The employees dress in colonial garb and are always super friendly. All of the beers offered are microbrews and awesome. The food is good wholesome comfort food and portions are HUGE! The pot pie is a favorite! Check it out you won't be disappointed. read more

I really like Jessop's. Sadly I live 2 hours away and can't get there very often, but if you like Belgian and unusual beer and ales, Jessop's has one of the biggest selections you'll find. The mussels and Caesar Rodney are great starters, and their Shepherd's Pie and Swedish Meatloaf can't be beat. read more

Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish! The staff was super friendly and very helpful in providing recommendations based on taste profiles. With over 200 beers available, it was difficult trying to decide what to order based on the large books they provide. But the staff was very knowledgeable about the offerings and able to help guide you to the right beer. The food itself was so delicious; the smorgasbord was a perfect appetizer, followed by the Sea Farere's catch chowder a nice tomato-based soup, the lobster pot pie was to die for, and of course the dutch apple cakes for dessert. I don't recall the last time I had such a wonderful dining experience! read more

Randomly stumbled upon this place & so glad we did. I loved the colonial setting. The food was amazing. I tried the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potatoes fries with marshmallow dipping sauce. Everything on the menu sounded good. They had a great beer/cocktail selection. Can't wait to visit again. Stopped in here again... It was during lobster week. My boyfriend and I both had the lobster rolls and they were amazing! So fresh and such a large portion. We also tried the steamed mussels which were to die for. Since we couldn't get enough of this place we stopped in again. This time around I tried the thanksgiving feast and my boyfriend tried the shepherds pie. Both meals were outstanding as usual. Only downfall is we ordered the crab dip for appetizer but it never came out. Guess we'll be back for that lol read more

Jessop's Tavern - American Near Me - New Castle, Delaware

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Places like this are exactly why I don't trust other people's suggestions for restaurants. Food was mediocre at best. We were tucked into Harry Potters room under the stairs for our meal and it was all bad. From the decor to the seating, hell even the menu left us scratching our heads as to what in the world we were ordering. Floors were sticky and we were basically forgotten. But it's not all bad I suppose because we were greeted. Time to revamp the menu a tad to get a little bit closer to the current date. read more

Hello, Thank you for your response. We tried the dessert and did not like that the cobbler portion, which was cake or cake like and not the normal crumble or biscuit texture. Also, we explained to the waitress why we did not like the dessert. And, after the waitress brought the dessert back to the table stating the manager refused to remove, we told her we still did not want the dessert because we did not enjoy the taste and texture of the cake which was listed as cobbler read more

This tavern looks really cool but is definitely not pet friendly. We went here because yelp listed it as pet friendly but we were turned away at the door even though our dog was in an enclosed strolle read more

Jessop's is a beautiful colonial tavern in the heart of Historical New Castle. I love coming here with my grandparents who grew up in the town and listening to them reminisce about their childhood. The staff is dressed in colonial garb and the restaurant has nothing but character. The dim lighting sets the mood as you eat by candle light. When you sit down you will be amazed by the large binder filled with their beer list. Be sure to request the fresh bread with homemade strawberry butter. Tonight we ordered the fried oysters that were a special and the fish and chips. The fresh cod was delicious and crispy. Save room for dessert! The homemade ice cream has rotating flavors with huge portion sizes! read more

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I've been coming to Jessop's for about 8 years. It's a cozy Colonial-themed tavern right in the heart of Old New Castle on Delaware Street, located right near Battery Park. The staff is in costume, too! It's wonderful to sit near their working fireplace in cold days. And if you're into Belgian beers, they have the biggest selection around. My favorite dish is the chicken pot pie. And if you love sweets as much as I do, you have to try the apple cakes, served right alongside some vanilla Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream! Everything is homemade. This restaurant just exudes charm, just as all places do in historic Old New Castle. You'll feel right at home in one of the most quaint restaurants in Delaware. read more

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Food is good but not particularly inspiring. Service could be faster. It is an old and interesting place to eat IF you're ready to spend money. read more

We have lived in Delaware for the last 10 years but just heard about this hidden gem. It reminded us of the English pubs when we lived overseas. In our opinion, the food we tasted in our first visit was homemade tasting comfort food. Wow, it will take many lunches and dinners to sample all the entrees. My husband had the Pilgrim's Feast which was mouthwatering tender turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, and whole berry cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving in April. I sampled the Old English Flatbread as an app and the steaming hot Shepherd's Pie. Needless to say, I will be eating leftovers for a couple of meals. Huge! We took home desserts of Peach Cobbler and Bread Pudding. We will be returning soon. Also, the Thomas Jefferson Lager and my Balvenie Scotch went down well too. read more

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This is more of a three and a half star from me. Wait staff is great, usually dressed in period clothing and the bar has an amazing tap list if you're into beer (I am). My issue is the menu. Seeming stagnant for seasons at a time. There are usually specials, but those also seem to be run through relatively often. Nothing wrong with the food per se, but there are only 3-4 items I will order on the menu, making it a hard choice to come back to more than monthly. And we do come monthly, so it is an enjoyable place, but more variety would bring us in more often. read more

I love the colonial atmosphere in this historical place. My food and dessert was delicious; I got Shepherds pie and ice cream. And the beer menus was outrageous! We were given a huge book of beer history to look over while enjoying our drinks. I have and would still recommend this place. read more

This is my new favorite restaurant! The staff is so nice and polite, they made sure I had what I needed. The food was delicious and flavorful and the atmosphere was so nice and pretty I highly recommend! read more

What a gem! Historic and quaint with excellent staff and delicious food. The shepherd pie was incredible and could easily feed 2 or even 3. The pot pies were delicious, we had the chicken and the crab and both were scrumptious. Love the period clothing that the staff wears and the pewter dishes are fun. read more

We went here on a date night and it was amazing. The skipjack shrimp were hot and perfectly crunchy and the dipping sauce was so good. My husband had the beef pot pie and I had the fricken chicassee. Both had lots of flavor and hit the spot. The decor makes you feel like you have been transported to colonial times. We will definitely be going back as we can't wait to try more things on their menu! read more

Pretty place in a pretty town, but after messing up my dessert multiple times without a refund even after I went back to return it, I can't imagine spending money here again. read more

First, the location is amazing, a Colonial era building that is impeccably decorated, cozy and clean. The food is amazing and the list of beers is the largest I have ever seen, probably over 100 craft level beers. The staff are professional, courteous and very talented. Our server showed clear knowledge of the menu and was amazing. For all this, the bill came to less than $20 a person, it felt like a bargain. An amazing establishment read more

I had the best duck I've ever had (outside of Paris) and certainly the best roasted duckling ever. The chef used a "cherry-Kümmel" sauce. Kümmel is caraway liqueur also flavored with cumin and fennel. While I also use cherries with duck, I never would have thought of Kümmel, but the herby flavor blended well with the sweet cherry and was not the boring fruity-sweet-only you usually find on duck. My duck half was tender and well-roasted, and I had to stop myself from chewing up the bones (not very elegant table manners at a big group dinner. But I was tempted.) The other diners had crab cakes (big, fluffy and full of lump crab meat), flank steak in bordelaise sauce (and each was cooked to order--so one person had it mooing and the other had it medium). The salmon was also cooked to order and looked tempting. But if that duck is on the menu, get it. You won't be sorry. The two other reasons to come here: first, the beer selection is possibly the best in Delaware. Delaware is a beer-loving state. We make beer, we export beer (the famous Dogfish ales) and we certainly drink beer. I had a Bavik Pils, which is made in Belgium. Jessop's loves their Belgians, and I've also drunk Rodenbach fruit brewed beers here (one with cherry and one with cranberry and raspberry, so if you like sour dry beers, you can get them here--they are hard to find.) Since I was having duck, I wanted a light, bitter beer to offset the fruit sauce and rich fats of the duck and the Bavik was a light pilsner, more like German than heavier Bohemian and with a fruity overtone and very light hops bitterness that went well with the food--in fact, this draft beer was as good as any wine with food. If you don't like overly bitter pilsner, this is for you. The second reason is the history and location. This is your date night location. Old New Castle dates back to the colonies before the US was the US and there are quaint streets and pretty old brick houses, shops lit up with appealing windows, and it's perfect for a stroll winter or summer in Delaware's usually mild and pleasant climate. Jessop's is a historic tavern and looks like Colonial times--uneven floors, oddly matched chairs, a long and dark room that harks back to Caesar Rodney, William Penn and George Washington. The waitstaff dress in colonial garb, and sometimes you hear fife and drum music. We had good classic Christmas tunes this time-perfect. Very very romantic and also the super-fun place for friends to gather and have conversation over a drink or two. If you stick to what they do well on the menu, you'll have a great time. Some of the food is heavy and stick-to-your-ribs (the meatloaf is well-loved) and I've had a few things I didn't like at all, but when you know what to order (the soups, the sweet potato fries and any of the bar appetizers are also great) you can have a wonderful time. I think I've been here more than any other place in Delaware. And I'm going back. read more

As our first night out in historic new castle, this definitely gave us a good feel for the little town! It is very historic and intriguing. The food is DELICIOUS! And at a great price. We started with the shrimp and crab dip. While the crab dip was more like a thick soup, it was amazing in the bread bowl. The meatloaf was a sight to see, as it is a very popular dish. The crab cakes were delicious as well as the special soup! We will definitely be back! read more

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Beer menus is the largest I have ever seen in one restaurant. The Shepard pie is to die for. It located in a beautiful little town, that great to stroll through after your hearty meal. Parking can be tight and hard to find, so plan ahead. But parking is the only bad thing I have to say about Jessup Tavern. read more

What a nice surprise!!! Everyone was so nice and friendly. I brought my two children - 5 years old and 18 months old and everyone from the host to our waiter to the kitchen staff made them feel welcome. The atmosphere is great. You feel like you've gone back in time. The sweet potato fries and ice cream were amazing!!! We definitely will be back. read more

We reserved the back room for a small party. Our service was excellent. Everyone's food was delicious. We had a wonderful time and plan to visit again. We recommend the crab dip appetizer and the ice cream, in particular. Tammy was super helpful getting our reservation set up and making sure the night was perfect. We strongly recommend eating here. read more

Jessop's Tavern - The back room at Jessop's Tavern - American Near Me - New Castle, Delaware

Food is consistently good, as is the service. And it's a lovely venue. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Was the Aug 28 2023. Nice tavern atmosphere . The waitress never came back to us to fill drinks or ever came back to ask how our food was..so I will tell you. First of all I got severe food poisoning. Still trying to recover. Had to call 911 . This was from the meatloaf that was room temperature with a odd tasting sauce that I tried to take off. My father's fish and chips where either old or overcooked or recooked along with the fries looking and tasting the same.. So I called the tavern after I got extremely sick to let them know so no one else would get this...I asked to speak to the manager. And of course I was told no manager there so I left my number so he could call me when he did get there. Never called me back..I had to call back 4 times and each time there was always an excuse.. he just stepped out, I will check to see, etc etc ..in the end I advised with I believe a employee pretending to be a manager because there was no sense of concern . Could of cared less attitude. After a 140.00 lunch bill .I would of at least expected a courtesy offer to refund the meatloaf meal.. before I wrote this I even emailed the owner.because I would hope he would like to know of such behavior and treatment ..no response. read more

Whenever driving between New York City and the Washington/Maryland area, we make it a point to stop at Jessop's Tavern. The food is excellent, and is exceeded by a great selection of beers and a fun, colonial-themed decor. (The colonial theme extends beyond the decor to the waitstaff's outfits and other details.) The service is very friendly, albeit sometimes on the slower side. The location is very convenient from Interstate 95 or, for those remaining longer in the area, to a nice historic district of town. Parking is readily available on the street. In addition to the extensive beer selection, Jessop's Tavern also sells promotional items such as a crafted beer with a theme name, sold with corresponding glasses or beer steins in a decorative box. These can make good gifts. read more

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If you're seeking well fed wenches, eat here. Servers in colonial style outfits feed you on pewter style platters in a dimly lit room. Fish and chips were lovely, potpie was a happy surprise, and tables are very close so it's nice to chat with a neighbor. With only two choices in this quaint township, you can't go wrong. read more

Adorable place in an adorable town! We had no issue finding parking and when we got in we were blown away by Jessop's colonial theme and tavern feeling. It's got a HUGE selection of beer and the wait staff is more than happy to help you through it. Food was wonderful and very filling. We sat across from the bar, so we were a little tight on space, but it was a non-issue; our table was nice and big. We'll definitely go back! read more

Rarely do I rate a business, but this one gets 5 stars off the bat. Their Belgian beer selection is over the top. You must get the Tripel de Garre with the cheese pairing. Their fish and chips are award winning. And their fresh bread!! To die for. Simply amazing. I can't say enough about this food and the atmosphere. Phenomenal. And their butter..... O.M.G. read more

Jessop's Tavern - Fish and chips - American Near Me - New Castle, Delaware

Tried to eat here twice, couldn't get a seat at a slow time of day. Hour plus wait, with a lot of tables open in the front. Won't try again.

Went to Jessops Tavern with high expectations based on recommendations from friends . Ordered the "Medium Rare " 14 oz prime rib special .. came out pretty well done , tough, and full of gristle ... very disappointing ! Wife had chicken pot pie which she said was excellent . Friend got lobster Mac & cheese that he said was dry and tasteless . Other friend got Chicken fricasse which she said was good . Appetizer special fried oysters were small and overcooked . Walking around new castle was nice ... just that the 45 minute drive for dinner wasn't worth the trip unfortunately . read more

Jessop's Tavern serves mostly traditional American fare on pewter dishes in a cozy setting a short walk from the water. The dining room has a colonial American look, and staff are dressed in period costume. I found the food tasty but not outstanding. The New England clam chowder for instance, was chunky and filling, but needed more clams and less potatoes. Service, too, was a little unhurried. Overall, I like the place: Neither the food, nor the service, nor the price were "bad", but taken together they keep this place at 4 stars. read more

This place is incredible! The food is great and the people are super nice! Probably the best place in Delaware! Come eat here! The crab cakes are amazing!! read more

This is an awesome restaurant/tavern. We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality. The colonial setting was perfect, as we had just strolled around old new castle and battery park. The manager and staff were helpful in guiding us through the beer list and menu. The Belgian beer selection (while unique and in depth) is expensive! Ask questions! Given the unfamiliarity most people would have with their kind of alcohol selection, I would like to have seen prices on their drink menus. You might decide to try one of their beers, not knowing it could easily be $25+ read more

Stumbled onto this amazing restaurant on our way home to NJ. We could not believe the size of the shepherds pie. My hot roast beef sandwich was unbelievably scrumptious. We will definitely be returning with friends and family. Also, the waitress was attentive and personable. You have to check it out. read more

Jessop's Tavern - Shepherd 's Pie - American Near Me - New Castle, Delaware

Great food, lovely environment. The staff was great, Highly recommend this tavern to everyone