I enjoyed going to Taverna after a play at the University of DE Rep Theater and we had a gift certificate. I ordered a cup of the soup of the day (Carrot) and the Chicken Ravioli and both were good. The meal cane with good bread and oil to dip. You really don't need an appetizer since the portions are a good size. We made reservations which I would definitely recommend since they are usually busy. It has a nice rustic atmosphere. I would definitely recommend trying. read more

Was in for the first time this week for lunch. We believe the bartender was our waiter and he was extremely knowledgeable about wines and their regions, etc. He was friendly and attentive. We had a delicious lunch of salads and sides most notably the grilled artichokes over arugula. This was deliciousAccompanied by their Parmesan garlic fries! Returning for dinner tonight! read more

Went here for the first time & I was not as impressed as I'd hope to be. Our server was very nice, however we waited forever for our food & I could have counted the number of people in the restaurant on 1 hand. Calamari was ok, and the pizza was super bland. I have no problem paying for a good meal, but I asked for the margarita pizza & extra basil & instead of putting the extra basil on the pizza I was given a a cup of basil after my pizza arrived & then charged 2.50 for it!!!! Given the time we waited for our food...id at least had expected my basil to be put on my pizza! Not sure if I'll return...but hoping for a great experience next time. read more

This place is my number one in Delaware. GREAT food, awesome vibe, perfect service. I love Taverna. I'm originally from New York where we are spoiled by great cuisine but this place could easily be a spot in Manhattan. Try the chicken taverna or the meatballs- both amazingg. read more

Went here on a Friday during lunch. Restaurant has plenty of seating. We had a party of 15 people and the restaurant could easily accommodate us. Lunch menu comprised of pasta dishes as well as pizza dishes. I ordered a gnocchi dish which was quite delicious and was a good lunch portion size. Some people in the party ordered pizzas which could easily be enough for 2 people. I did like that I informed the waiters of my food allergy and they remembered the allergy and quickly told me if one of the dishes had it. Cheesecake was ordered for dessert and several people at the table claimed it to be one of the best cheesecakes they ever had. Would definitely go to this restaurant again in the future. read more

Taverna - Their cheesecake..definitely one of the best cheesecakes in Delaware - Italian Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Went for lunch on a Saturday with a friend. We wanted to try this place because it just opened recently and my friend really likes Italian. We sat down and asked for water and I was delighted that our water was served with a little tray of several lemon wedges. I've never seen restaurants do that before. Some restaurants don't even give you lemon unless you ask. I love lots of lemon juice in my water. For appetizers, we ordered the fried calamari. The waiter commented on it and made it seem it was going to be the best calamari ever, but although it was indeed very good, it was similar to calamari I've had at other restaurants. I really like the sauce they drizzled around the dish though. Every restaurant seems to have a different dipping sauce. The one they used at Taverna tasted like a tomato/red pepper/pineapple paste of some sort. I could be totally wrong and there might not be any pineapple in it, but it was fruity and sweet. For main course, my friend ordered a brick oven baked pizza, and I ordered their in-house-made gnocchi. The meal came with a basket of bread and sun dried tomato oil. I was disappointed to find the bread was not warm out of the oven, but I think they do bake the bread on-site. My friend and I devoured our bread before our food came out and our waiter happily restocked us with a second helping, which was immediately followed by our entrees. The gnocchi was the best gnocchi I've had (although I've only had it 3 other times so maybe it doesn't mean much). It's much softer and finer than gnocchi I've had before, not hard and chewy. The sauce tasted like a red vodka sauce of some kind, also very delicious. My friend had his pizza split half and half with two different toppings, margarita and chicken/spinach. The pizza was similar to those found at California pizza kitchen and Anthony's. It wasn't as "well-done" as the pizza at Anthony's and the toppings they had were much more innovative. I'd say the pizza at the three places are all very comparable, in that gourmet/brick-oven-baked category. One thing Taverna does differently is that the pizza is served with a sprig of dried oregano and their special chili oil in fancy little hexagonal jars. I really enjoyed plucking the leaves off of the oregano. It tasted wonderful on the pizza, way better than the oregano flakes that come out of a plastic shaker. I didn't use up the whole sprig but I hope they don't serve it to another table because I definitely put my fingers all over it. The chili oil sounded more fascinating than it tasted. It wasn't spicy at all so I loaded a bunch on my pizza in hopes to taste the chili, only to find that it made my pizza taste heavily like olive oil. Go figure. Commenting on the service, my waiter was very prompt and was able to answer our questions about the menu. My only complaint was that I felt really pressured during the whole meal because our waiter would not leave us alone! We asked him to give us a minute on the menu and he literally came back 2 minutes later. Usually a minute means like 5 to 10 minutes. During our meal, he kept coming to back to check on us and asked how we were doing. I'm sure this was in his training but I found it some what distracting. Each time he came around and asked how we were doing, I had to swallow my food really fast so I didn't answer him with food in my mouth. One of the managers in the store came around, too, and introduced himself. I'm pretty sure our meal was interrupted every 5 minutes. The staff tried to be hospitable and friendly by being vocal but I think it did more harm than good. Customers like to savor their food in peace without having to answer questions every 5 minutes! Over all, my dining experience at Taverna was positive. My friend and I left with happy filled stomachs. The price here were very fair. Topped with the generous servings of bread and the gourmet condiments they offer, I think it's very well worth it. I'd say this is the best Italian restaurant on Main street, better than Cucina Di Napoli and Caffe Gelato! Oh and commenting on the alcohol. Although they have many different brands of beers on tap it's pretty standard flagship stuff. Don't expect to find 10 different types of IPAs, ciders, or chocolate stout, etc. Home Grown still has the more interesting concoctions on Main Street. I do want to come back and try their wine on tap though. read more

Good food here! Sofie had some fresh made ravioli that was perfect! Very delicious. I had linguini with mussels. Oddly, this was served with meat sauce. This was good, but not "I've gotta come back for this" good. I told this to one of the workers. She said the best tactic is to ask the waiter which pasta is made fresh that day. Evidently, my pasta was not. Well, linguini - what's the big deal about that? Stuffed ravioli? Well, that is different. I had a martini. It came with no olive. Isn't that odd? Do you suppose my server ate it on the way? I didn't ask about it. I'm such a wimp. Now, a week later I am still missing that olive and didn't have the courage to confront my waiter: "Where the hell is my olive? You call this a martini?" No. I cowered and said nothing. It was like having a cup of cool Hendricks gin. I suppose that's all I really wanted anyway. I was surprised that this place serves such good food but has the ambiance of a chuck wagon. You know, square wood tables in an open area with pop music. The place was pretty noisy. Sometimes when I have a second martini my ears will ring. That may have cured it. The food came quickly. I'd recommend you come to this place and order the ravioli and a martini. Tell the waiter you want a martini with Hendricks gin and an olive. Then tell him you also want Steve's olive that he neglected to put in his martini on April 1st of 2016. That will give you two olives. If he quibbles with you, show him this review and tell him Steve said, "It's okay." read more

Not sure why I waited to come here until my junior year, but my parents and I came here for the first time tonight for parents weekend. Everything about the restaurant was so good! We got calamari for an appetizer and the sauce that was drizzled over it made it the best calamari we've had! I got the housemade corzetti which came with the best braised short rib I've tasted, my Dad got the ricotta cavatelli, and my mom got the special (fettuccini with prosciutto and sweet potato purée). For dessert we got cheesecake, which was super creamy and fluffy at the same time and came with a cherry compote which had whole, tangy, and fresh cherries on it (not the typical maraschino cherries). We ate 100% of everything, completely cleaning the plates. Can't wait to come back again!! read more

See all

Taverna is a godsend. Newark is less than spectacular when it comes to food options, but Taverna stands out from the crowd as an excellent all-around restaurant. Great wine and beer on tap, delicious appetizers and salads, perfect artisan pizza and pasta, indulgent desserts, all with creativity and excellent service. I'm tempted to knock off a star because their vegetarian options have often been less inspired than their meaty meals, but in the last few months it's clear they've been working on that as well. Whenever I get depressed about the Newark restaurant scene, I need only remind myself of Taverna to know that there's hope. Best restaurant in town. read more

We have been here several times. Most recently 3/29/2019 and the place just gets better and better. The leadership of this establishment shows by the consistency of their food, service and staff. One of my favorite places in Newark. Try The Linguini and clam sauce- perfection! read more

I heard great things about Taverna and finally got around to visit. It really did not disappoint. I came here on a Thursday for Happy Hour and it was very empty at first. By the second hour, the place was pretty packed. My friends and I ordered the happy hour red wine blend on tap. I can't tell the difference between bottled wine and wine on tap but supposedly wine on tap is much better. We also ordered the special pizza of the day which was a white pizza with grilled chicken and arugula. It was really good. They provide bread with a chili oil. The oil is good and the bread is tasty. However, I do wish they warmed up the bread for us. I also wish the glasses of wine were bigger :) But otherwise, Taverna is great. I definitely plan to come back for dinner. read more

Stopped in for a late dinner. I'd been wanting to go there since they opened, but hadn't had a chance until then. It was a late Monday, so I don't know what it's like in there on a normal night, but there were enough people to keep the staff occupied. The interior is very nicely styled, you can definitely tell the owners had a vision in mind when building this place. Personally, I like booths, and was glad we were sat in one, but on a busier night I could see that being a rare thing. I have to give the waitstaff props, they're knowledgeable and responsive, and our waiter could hold an all-night conversation about the menu. If you like Italian food, there's stuff on the menu for you, and if you love Italian food, they've got all the staples down pat. I ordered the sausage pizza, and my wife ordered the Gnocchi in tomato sauce. I was mistakenly served a meatball pizza, to which our waiter offered to fix or remove from the receipt. I told him it was fine, and it was. The pizza was on par with other gourmet pizzas on Main Street for sure. The menu selections can be pricy, I think for some things overpriced, but I haven't had the chance to try them and find out for myself. Everything we bought was worth the price. I think what Taverna really stands out for is many of the little things that make a meal a pleasant experience, the complimentary bread was nice and the plate of lemons for the water was appreciated. With the pizza they give you a side of dried oregano on the branch and a house chili sauce of some sort. I can't reiterate enough how friendly and knowledgeable our server was. He really went the mile to satisfy us and make sure our meal was a pleasant experience. I guess my only complaint would be the prices, but when compared to say, Cage Gelato, I'd say they're in line. read more

I am giving Taverna three stars because I have eaten here three times, each visit of decreasing quality. Basing my rating on my most recent experience alone would earn the establishment one star. Due to the wait for a table, my eating companion and I accepted the offer to be seated at a high-top table. Big mistake. (Admittedly, I should have known to make a reservation for this somewhat popular spot). Our waiter was clearly overworked and distracted, leaving us without any service. There was no silverware, plates, or napkins set up at any point during our meal. We resorted to swiping a few napkins from the bar, and silverware was brought out after my entree was placed in front of me (such a tease). We ordered two beers and calamari for an appetizer. Eventually, our server brought us a bread basket but the calamari order never made it to our table as a result of the utter anarchy embodied by their disjointed, undisciplined staff. For an entree, I ordered the chicken canneloni, which was like a cream and spinach smothered Italian enchilada. My boyfriend ordered the Quatro Stagione coal fired pizza. The toppings (mushrooms, prosciutto, eggplant, artichokes) were arranged in quarters, rather than spreading a little of each ingredient around the entire pie. It may have been due to our negative experience to this point but neither of us enjoyed the canneloni, and we were not blown away by the pizza. I liked the artichoke slice the best. Despite this experience, I highly recommend the potato gnocchi and the spinach ricotta agnolotti entrees. The chicken parm is also good, served as the Thursday special. The beers are fairly priced for what Taverna is going for. read more

It is a lot bigger than it looks. It has a great atmosphere and rustic vide. Interior design is great! Food was good! Menu had some nice options. Food took a little long but overall was a great experience! Would go there again. Great for parents visiting campus. read more

Dinner was a true disappointment this evening. I had the special strip steak ravioli. They were barely stuffed and way undercooked. Mom had the spicy shrimp and they forgot to take the shells off them. They also were burnt which ruined their flavor. Appetizers were good. We had grilled artichokes, mozzarella carrosa and Caesar salad. Service eh. read more

Been awhile since I've been here but the lasagna stays with me, it was amazing. I don't think they offer it every night but they should. I crave it! I think maybe it's available on Monday's? Also the budino awww man. Share it so yummy and worth the calories. read more

Very good! We had a large party for two birthdays. The food was good and so was the service. Would definitely come back and would recommend.

I ate here with my best friend last week, i would have to say it is the best service I have ever had!! We left like a 60% tip, that's how great the service was. This is a really really beautiful restaurant, kind of petite but has great decor with a dim light setting. The kitchen is open for us to see and it looks super rustic. I love it :) We got the veal meatballs as an appetizer and they are SO GOOD. Tender and delicious, in love with them. Then I got this pizza I cant pronounce and my friend got one too. They are baked in a 900 degree brick oven!! It was the best pizza I have had so far. Then you get to make your own Bellinis and bloody mary's. Only problem i had was they put the juice and fruit purees on the table top so it made my drink warm.. I don't like warm white wine and juice. I just asked for ice though. But overall another perfect spot for me to become a regular! read more

Taverna - Amazing pizzas, I customized mine because i needed more meat hehe - Italian Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Just came for dinner and overall it was MEH. App: Calamari. The lemon aioli has no flavor. It is looks like lemony flavored mayo. It was thick and slid off of the calamari. Would be better if it was served on the side. Dinner: I ordered the Grilled Spicy Shrimp. The shrimp themselves were really good but the orzo with the veggies was a bit much. We also ordered a Margherita pizza and TBH, it was more of a cheese pizza. There was no flavor AT ALL. The sauce had no flavor, the crust was crispy but no flavor. Even the dried oregano/chili oil couldn't save it. We needed to add salt/pepper and still only could stomach 2 slices of the small pizza. Dessert: Budihno. Saving grace. I loved it. Service: the servers here are probably students from UD, which I totally understand, but when the management doesn't really manage, you can really tell. We were sat in plain view of the bar area where the servers get their drinks and I saw when our drink order was up. The manager (taller lady with red hair) saw the drink ticket and just left it there. She then proceeded to have conversations with the other servers and then they all checked the tickets and ignored bringing out the the drinks. About 10 minutes later, one brave soul looked at the ticket and brought our drinks. That was much appreciated. Our server also did a good job. Not sure if I'd be back. read more

Pretentious bartenders and over-inflated drink prices. Don't waste your time and money here. Here's why: Last time I visited this place was during UD Alumni Weekend 2015. I met up with some old college friends here one evening, and wanting to dabble in a little undergrad nostalgia, ordered 2 shots for a buddy and me called, "Scooby Snacks." The young, brunette female bartender I placed my order with, responded to my request by condescendingly replying, "we are not a college bar." Though she preceded to make the shots, she then slapped me with an arbitrary drink bill that was equivalent to about $10 per a 2 oz. shot, post gratuities. Not wanting to cause a scene over this bartender's lack of professionalism, I quietly paid for the drinks, but will be sure to never return to this place. Don't waste your time and money here; you will be paying NYC/DC prices for sub-par service at this pretentious, college town bar. There are plenty of better options for restaurants and bars in Newark, DE, to choose from. read more

Outstanding food in college area. Finding a place to park in a college area can be a bit challenging. However, there are plenty of different places to park in this area. The restaurant is very nicely furnished & the staff are friendly, attentive & knowledgeable. The food was delicious & the food came to the table with each course on time. We enjoyed three courses & never felt rushed. Did I say the food was delicious? It is excellent! I hope you enjoy as much as we did. read more

See all

My 3rd visit to this restaurant. I'm conflicted. We have had a couple really good meals here but today was up in the air at best. I can say that their pizzas are always really good but I today I was a bit underwhelmed. I got the breakfast cannoli off the brunch menu, at the recommendation of my server, and I really should have taken a picture (after it arrived to my table 40 min after ordering in a rather empty restaurant) ..it was average at best. Very small dish. Something was off for sure. Like I mentioned, have been pleased in the past and the happy hour deal and menu was really good. I will be back but service and the dish was not what I have experienced in the past. Really hoping to upgrade this review next time. read more

This place is a gem. They have quality food here and the staff are very friendly and courteous. The food was really good and they have a delicious bread and chili oil. The food quality is that of a higher end restaurant and the atmosphere is cool and mellow. The pasta was perfect. Definitely my favorite restaurant in the area. read more

See all

I've been going to this place for years and the food and service never disappoints. I enjoy the grilled artichokes and the budino for dessert. read more

Excellent cocktails, appetizers, pizza, and dessert. Good and cozy rustic modern atmosphere. Fun for a date night, night with friends or family. You may need a reservation on a crowded night. My favorites are the grapefruit fresca, calamari w fresh lemon aioli, the wood fire pizza is yummy too and comes with a side of herbs and oil. Also they used to have mini donuts for dessert which were amazing also! read more

Hands down my favorite spot on Main Street! Not sure it's possible to order a dish that isn't anything short of perfect. The bartenders are absolutely charming, and for all of my fellow wine-o's, what can be better than wine on tap? Taverna is the perfect spot for a date night, girls night out, or dinner with family. Must haves: THE BUDINO DESSERT. And the best homemade tomato sauce I've ever had. The broccolini is also the perfect side dish with any meal. read more

Best Main Street restaurant. Great variety, portions and flavors consistent. Whipped sweet ricotta, fried calamari and veal meatball appetizers are my favs. Have tried grilled spicy shrimp, rigatoni with sausage & sausage tortelloni. Very attentive staff and management ensuring a memorable dining experience. Platinum group other restaurants equally as good read more

Not such a happy hour - would avoid Couple of people from work went there for a happy hour to celebrate a friends accomplishment. One of our friends had a red wine that was completely skunked. We should have wondered why it took 2 partial bottles to make 1 glass of wine. We were shocked and our friend ended up trying to find something different, but doubted the next few options. On top of that fun, one of our friends tried to leave and pay his portion of the bill and the bartender gave him the full bill.. bad assumption and the bartender didn't listen to our friend. When our friend tried to explain that he wanted to pay his portion of the bill, the bartender made a big deal out of it and made our friend feel like crap and put him on the spot. Really a shame how the bartender treated our friend so badly when HE made the gross error. Overall, bad wine and really bad experience in the bar which is insane with a many bars there are on Main Street. We are done with this place for anything. read more

This is no doubt a restaurant that you should immediately make plans to dine at if you have not already! It is definitely worth any amount of time the wait may be for a table, or any other reason you may be second guessing going. For starters, the staff is fabulous! They are extremely attentive, and very kind. Having dined here once before and now after attending a large party there, the staff was extremely accommodating and ensured the best service possible. The service is perfect! Not too fast, and not too slow; they know exactly when you are ready for the next course. Their draft list is on point! Any option is well worth trying, and they have a decent wine selection, as well. As for starters, choose any appetizer on the menu. They are all absolutely delicious and you cannot go wrong with any option that you choose. The products and produce they use are extremely fresh, and you can taste. PS don't eat too much bread! The crushed pepper and olive oil dip may look enticing, but your entree is well worth not devouring the entire basket. I have had great luck with their pasta and chicken dishes. I'm not a huge fish person, but I am sure it is equally as great as the other dishes. If you are unsure as to what to order, just ask your server. The staff is well versed in the menu, and we even witnessed the chef meeting with them for quite a bit of time before dinner service to explain the specials on the menu. The servers were able to try the entrees, so their reccomendations will be quite authentic. Save room for dessert, and just shut up and spend the extra money. The dessert is to die for! We ordered a cake made in house for the large birthday celebration we held, and it was absolutely amazing! The frosting was so rich and creamy, and the cake had chocolate shavings baked into it. Just endulge and get dessert, if you hate it it's on me(doubtful that you will). read more

Fantastic rustic Italian on Main St. Spicy shrimp with orzo was awesome. So were chicken dishes. So good, went back next night to try pizza. Sausage with asiago, pesto, and onions was also very good. Bubbly, crispy crust and great flavor combo. read more

Taverna has great happy hour specials, a variety of beers on tap, and a really delicious, reasonably priced menu. It's a good place to hang out after work, to take friends for dinner, or go on a date. read more

I've been here twice... I love the atmosphere, but the food is bland (which is surprising considering the menu's mouth-watering descriptions) and the prices are a tad high for how average the food is. read more

First time here and really enjoyed the atmosphere and food was top quality. The menu had many rustic dishes and lots of good choices. I recommend the special that I had, Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu. Will definitely return. read more

Fantastic Italian restaurant! Their menu and atmosphere are on point. Some of the best cuisine we've had in a long time!

Absolutely incredible. I'm not big on Italian food so I wasn't really looking forward to going here (I was with a group for work) but it ended up being the BEST food I had while visiting Delaware. I got a salmon, potato, and vegetable dish and it was one of the best meals I've ever had. We also got several appetizers that were all very tasty. Their drinks were all great too! I 100% recommend this place! read more

Politely greeted by a smiling face, I was led to a banquette on an exposed brick wall. The decor is rustic and natural. My food was FAN-Freakin-TASTIC! Perfectly seared medium rare ahi tuna, served over a vibrant mix of crunchy haricots verts, sweet tomatoes, fresh mixed field greens, red onions, kalamata olives, hard-boiled egg and cannellini beans. It was salty and sweet and crunchy and flavorful. So yummy! The server was friendly and attentive AND he paid me a compliment. Say what?! Trifecta in full effect - ambience, service and food. Go. Now. read more

See all

Taverna is my favorite restaurant in Newark. I Iove the food, the decor, the atmosphere and the service. You always feel welcome here. But there is a but. I had lunch here with a friend and some of my dishes were not up to standard. The caesar salad was delicious, but my hamburger was overcooked. I had ordered a med well, but it was well done and dry, not juicy at all. It's really disappointing when a majority of time my burgers are not great when ordered in a restaurant. I keep hoping. And the fries were not crispy, kind of soggy. My friend loved her pizza though. The server was very nice as always, but service was a little hit and miss. We had to keep looking for her to get drink refills. So I am not writing this for other customers, per se, but in hopes that the restaurant manager(s) reads this and fixes things so it remains my favorite!! read more

I really like this place. The inside is beautiful and has such an inviting environment. The food is soo tasty too! The pizza is great and the calamari was even better than it looked. read more

Taverna - Fried Calamari - Italian Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Monday night Lasagne! Fantastic... Wine list is limited but found a top notch Cabernet. Meredith took great care of us... Cheesecake was ultra rich and ultra tasty... Bag getting a table... Eat at the bar! Excellent beer menu as well... Gotta try Dogfish and Victory's brews. read more

Ordered the "Braciole". Pronounced like "Bra-zhoul", and not like "Bra-key-ole" as I quickly learned. 3 tender beef meatball on a thin layer of mash potatoes. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed at first glance. I thought I had ordered a fancy kids meal, and the small portions did not help me feel any better about my choice. That all changed of course after the initial taste. Every bite was as juicy, tender, and flavorful as the first. I would recommend filling up a bit on an appetizer as 3 meatballs could easily disappear in 3 bites. The bread & chili oil mix dip was good. The calamari was excellent, and the beer was cold. Compliments to the chef and great service! read more

Taverna - Italian Near Me - Newark, Delaware