Cantwell's Tavern

Pyro Cinical

2024-02

Dining at this establishment is almost like walking back into Colonial times. It is very reminiscent of the Old Town in Williamsburg, VA. The building itself is 200 years old. However, the menu offered is far from that period.They featured a fairly wide variety of main entrees, ranging from traditional comfort food, to more upscale delights. All entrees were flavorfully prepared, and portions were large as well. Staff was friendly and helpful. However, pricing seemed to be on the high side when compared to other similar establishment in the MOT area.One other side note, this place tends to change out its menu after a certain period. We have found some of the new offerings quite tasty. So if you haven't visited for awhile, you may find some new dishes that was not present from your previous visit.

alethea avery

2023-12

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Melissa Wernersbach

2023-11

My husband and I went to Cantwell's yesterday evening for our anniversary dinner. In true parent life, we took our four year old with us. When we arrived (late past our reservation) we had to wait a bit which was completely understandable. After a few minutes, our table was still not ready, and the hostess informed us that a booth by the bar had opened up, and if we would like to sit there instead. We didn't mind so that's what we did. We are so happy that's what happened because our server was also the bartender last night, and she was absolutely wonderful and took very good care of us. Also, she was incredibly sweet with our child and it was a very enjoyable dinner. Besides the service being fantastic, the food was absolutely delicious. Zero complaints and can't wait to come back.

E Marie

2024-01

We've heard so many good things about this place and unfortunately our experience was not that at all. We ordered Brussels for an app, they were ok, small salads each which were great, a flatbread and a pizza. The flatbread was dry and overcooked, but palettable but the pizza came out completely burned on the bottom. To the point we did not want to eat it. Our server had them make a new one, and after waiting another 20 some minutes it came out, burned again. The sever offered us free dessert for our trouble, but we asked for a box to go because by this point, we just wanted to get out of there. He brought the check and said the pizza was comped, which was nice but honestly we just wanted a good meal.Along with this, it took almost half an hour to get a second beer while we waited for food and although we were sitting in the dining area, the bar was extremely loud and overpowered the whole ambiance of the venue. I understand hanging out at a bar and having fun, but it was to the point our conversation was consistently interuppted by yelling, cussing and loud conversation.Overall it was just a disappointment and honestly seems that ever since this restaurant group in particular has taken over many restaurants in delaware, they start strong but the food quickly becomes tasteless and poorly cooked.

Jay C

2024-04

We started off with the Brussel sprouts. That was the best thing we tried. We had a side salad and ceasar salad , which were both good. The chicken ranch flat bread pizza was ok but overcooked and burnt. The meat lover pizza was horrible. It came out so burned that's all you could taste. They remade it, and it was still just as bad. I don't know if it's just the pizza that was horrible, but we had a bad experience. They did comp the meat lovers pizza, but the second one was just as bad as the first. I didn't want the second one either as it was badly burnt and was a really long wait. They did offer us dessert, but after waiting forever for bad burnt pizza two times, we just wanted to leave.

Titi

2023-05

Nice local spot. Food was really good! The specialty cocktail menu is pretty small, so I didn't try any drinks. Maybe next time.We decided to go back and try their breakfast and were pleasently surprised! Very good food. The pancakes are very over priced though. What they call a pancake bar is 3 things and you have to go downstairs to get to it, if you're sitting upstairs. Everything else was delicious and priced well!

Petty

2024-01

I went to Cantwells's for the first time today, and I was very happy I did.I had a Blueberry Cosmo, and the Lasagna soup, and both were excellent.I will definitely be back.

Erica Webber

2024-03

Restaurant is on two floors of an old colonial home. Building and space is very charming. Food and service was average. We liked the burgers, ribeye cheese steak sandwich, wings, onion rings, fresh bread, and crab cake sandwich. We did not enjoy the grilled salmon special, mashed potatoes, or nachos as much. Apricot margarita was tasty.We had treasured elders with us, so we appreciated the accessible entrance and vintage elevator to get to our second floor table.Overall, I'll neither rush back nor avoid this restaurant. At this price point, I prefer to be wowed by the food, but this is good for large parties and events, I'd say. Also, given the area, this is a decent option for special meal.

Jay T

2024-04

Half the food at this place is pretty good, I'd say it's average. The wings were big, soup was so so. This place is somewhat expensive and it's owned by the same people who own the deer Park. I would suggest you go to the deer Park instead. The food's better.If you like my review, click on the little thumb below.

Steve C

2024-05

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Hutch Martin

2023-07

Excellent dinner...returned in June 2023. Service was friendly but painfully slow, food was excellent. Not a place for a quick meal. Historic building just south of C & D canal off Rt 13 in Odessa, DE.Parking: We were fortunate that parking was not an issue on a Monday afternoon.

William Hanson

2024-03

The service started out great, and then all of a sudden, it went downhill after our appetizers. We asked our waitress for refills and extra napkins and, for some reason, ended up never seeing her again. Our entrees were brought out by someone who works in the kitchen; we did inquire about our waitress in regard to needing refills and extra napkins.Due to our waitress never checking in on us again, I never had the opportunity to tell her that the fries were soggy and salty. Also, the cheese steak was bland and overcooked. Since our waitress simply disappeared with no explanation from her, management, or another waitress, we ended up waiting over 45 minutes after we were done with our entrees. Again, still no refills or extra napkins, and no one checked in on us to see how we were doing. Finally, a different waitress got our plates out of the way, and she did apologize for the other waitress not being around due to having to take care of customers upstairs. We didn't feel her apology was sincere and absolutely certain she only cleared our table to make room for other patrons waiting in the lobby area. Otherwise, we would have probably waited another hour or longer. I'm assuming this waitress was supposed to be the one to take care of us since the other waitress got pulled away. We felt her vibe was not her problem mentality! Well, it is your problem since you are supposed to be a team, and if the roles were reversed, I'm sure our primary waitress would take care of your tables...just sayin!Shame on management for not checking in on us, and especially the waitress that was supposedly covering for our waitress! We did not have a pleasant dining experience due to a lack of communication, inattentive service, and quality of food. We made reservations at 4 pm. on a Tuesday, and it did not get busy until after we left. When we finally received our check several minutes after the plates were cleared off the table, we did not want to wait all night for someone to pick up our check so we begrudgingly payed through the QR code even though we wanted to pay cash. We still left a 20 percent tip even though the service was 1 star. My dish was not good, and I never had a chance to speak to someone about it. But then again, maybe that is why no one checked in on us because they knew their service and food were bad.

Josh Wilson

2024-04

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Brian K

2022-05

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Kris M

2024-03

I’ve been a couple times and it is always great. I’ve been both mid-day to the bar and Friday night for dinner upstairs. The atmosphere is very colonial tavern-y, the staff were sweet and accommodating, and the food is fantastic (although a little expensive - thus the 4). As for diets they offer vegetarian and gluten free.Dietary restrictions: Wheat and barely free accommodation.

Emily Finch

2022-05

This place was so nice 😊 the staff were very friendly The food and drinks did not disappoint. Call ahead for a reservation as it does it crowded and wait times can be long on a weekend. There's both outdoor dining and indoor. The charcuterie board was phenomenal and all freshly made peanut butter was a bonus!! The pairing of the jam and apple was also good. The flatbread pizza was also really good. The peanut butter bomb is frozen but really good. So careful when cutting it with a spoon it could cause harm. The atmosphere is relaxed and the bar is beautiful inside. They did a great job preserving the tavern!!! They do take out and catering !!!

Matt Carlino

2021-05

Great dining in an old historic building in Odessa. Had a table right next to the gas log fireplace, cozy setting. Staff was friendly and attentive. Several pictures and descriptions of historical pictures in / around the area make a nice touch in the downstairs waiting area. Food was great, tasted fresh and delicious. Corn bread croutons were a new touch on traditional jambalaya, which was very good.

Alayna Kemery

2020-05

The food is absolutely phenomenal here! I went there on a dinner date with my husband and then a couple months later we went there for Sunday brunch with my in-laws and it was amazing both times!The atmosphere is really cozy and the historical background of the place is pretty cool! It's also not very expensive at all!I highly recommend the crab dip for an appetizer. You won't be disappointed!

Diane Albanese

2019-05

Full of character, you must stop by here for a delicious cocktail and some appetizers! Ask about the history of the building and enjoy spending time in a place that has such richness. Odessa is a gem! Cantwell’s is the very essence of charm. The menu is extensive. I wish I had ordered the crab cake sandwich. My beef dinner came out on the cold side but I was enjoying my friends so I didn’t mention this. The waitress Laura was very attentive. Just wish the fireplace was lit.

Travel With Trey

2023-05

I stopped in on a whim while travelling back home. I am interested in historic taverns, and this is one I hadn't visited in my travels. The architecture is reminiscent of the colonial time period with a cozy bar where I ate. The beer menu was decidely good and ecclectic for a tavern, with local favorites from some quality breweries. I really enjoyed my Farmhouse Burger. It was cooked perfectly and full of flavor, along with the crispy fries. I am beginning to think that these taverns are setting the benchmark for delicious pub food as well as fine dining.

adrienne stichberry

2022-05

we've lived in middletown for quite some time & finally made it to Cantwells Tavern. The menu was diverse enough to pick an appetizer & two meals that didn't break the bank. There are some rather pricey dishes on Cantwells menu, but frankly we expected that coming to this restaurant. The crab dip was ok, not as flavorful as we have had before but all around decent. My husband got the grilled cheese & he enjoyed it. I had the big Mac burger, again not as flavorful as I was hoping but it's a burger - it did the job.Now let's get to the service. Could have been a lot better, but we have had much worse as well. Because we didn't book a reservation (yes, our fault) we were seated outside in their heated tent. We had a nice waitress who proceeded to forget about us near the end of our meal. We waited 25 minutes before walking inside to the counter asking if we could pay so we could leave. The young staff at the counter were able to retrieve our waitress at that time - we paid & left. But the opportunity to "dine & dash" was at large. Thankfully for Cantwells, we are not that type of couple.Decent overall, probably won't be running back to this restaurant. Maybe in the summer when outside seating is more important to the staff.

Kyle Mahoney

2024-01

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Traci Wiest

2023-05

Awesome...sat at bar, bacon ends and soft pretzel to start, crab Flatbread FANTASTIC along with lavender lemonade and Cantwell old fashioned so yummy. Food was hot, served perfectly and bar service was fantasticParking: Lots of parking on streetWheelchair accessibility: Side entrance for wheelchair

Jesse Cantrill

2024-04

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Sutirtha Bagchi

2022-05

My wife, daughter, and I stopped by here on our way to Virginia, driving from Philadelphia. We hadn't planned on stopping this early but toddlers being what they are, we had to break here for lunch. This was a Thursday afternoon around 1:30 and fortunately we were able to get seated without a wait.My wife ordered the baby back ribs and I ordered the crab cakes. The baby back ribs were humongous as was the mac n' cheese that came as an accompaniment. The crab cakes were relatively petite and so my wife and I quickly switched our plates and I finished off the ribs in no time. Switching our dishes seemed like a sensible idea too because I wasn't a huge fan of the crab cakes; I have had better, whereas my wife seemed to think that the ribs I cook at home (slow cooked in the oven for 4 hours at 275F) are even more tender than the ones they served. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the ribs and being quite hungry myself, I did finish them off promptly. Alongside, my wife and I also got to try out the chicken strips we had ordered for our daughter. They were quite good too.All in all, had the crab cakes not fallen a bit short for me personally, I may have rated this place as a 5. Also, contributing to the less-than-perfect score was the fact that we weren't told of the specials for that day - the flatbreads that were only $8 each. Had we known about it, we would have likely ordered one. That said, prices were quite reasonable at Cantwell's Tavern, considering the setting and portion sizes. The service we received was quite attentive as well. I wouldn't hesitate to give this place another try should I find myself in the area.

Judy Smith

2023-05

My first visit. Nice historic building in a quaint town. We sat in the bar area in a booth and it was comfortable for lunch. The crab deviled eggs as än appetizer were delicious. The bartender was also the waitress. She was outstanding, very personable and helpful. She had a full bar but took the time to help a stranger with the best directions to get to his destination.

Dan Lam

2019-05

Went to Odessa, DE for lunch. I ordered the grill salmon sandwich for lunch with onion ring. The sandwich was very tasty and I love the onion ring. Definitely recommend this place for lunch. This place is older than all 3 of our ages combine...so lots of History.

Darlene Jordan-Clark

2022-05

Homemade bread, churned butter starting off 😋 made the first impression for us....the dinner was fresh, good service and even other waitress was helpful 👌. I did leave my earring, Sent an email and never heard from them, that's bothersome to me, but oh well, enjoy your meal just don't leave anything on the table

T Lake

2019-05

Food and service were great! However, the table with two couples next to us were obnoxiously loud. If you are looking for a quiet and romantic dinner, the quiet part might be a challenge. Although, the restaurant is split into various rooms in the converted colonial era home. As for the food, we loved the tuna nachos! The onion rings and burgers were very good too. Kids had the grilled cheese and Mac and cheese meals and were very happy with their choices.

Dana Datillo

2023-12

We were so lucky to have our Baby shower at Cantwell's Tavern- The Historic Odessa Bank on November 19th, 2023. To say the day was absolutely perfect is an understatement!We worked with Morgan, the special events manager, from the beginning. She was such a pleasure to work with! Always responded to emails or calls in a timely fashion, was always so helpful and offered good advice/guidance even with our loads of questions (this being our first baby). She truly helped to make our day unforgettable.The food was DELICIOUS! Everyone complimented the spread, especially the crab dip! We chose the cheese board and veggie tray in addition to the crab dip- also amazing! For the Buffett lunch we had the house salad (with 2 dressings), roast beef and meatball hot sandwiches, chicken caesar wrap and ham on rye. All were delicious and we barely had any leftovers 🙂The space was truly the perfect size for all of our family and friends (had 50 people) and the decor was beautiful and Christmasy (my favorite holiday) 🙂. We couldn't have imagined a more perfect day and venue!We had the pleasure of working Elaina and Hannah on the day of the shower. They were so sweet and very accommodating! We are very thankful for all of their help in making our day go smoothly and worry free!Thank you to everyone at Cantwell's Tavern for making our day absolutely perfect! We are forever thankful!