Jessop's Tavern & Colonial Restaurant

November 2025 I can’t believe how much we enjoyed our meals here. I loved the Colonial ambience and the food was absolutely incredible with prices that don’t break the bank. The steak and ale pot pie was a delightful surprise, and the pot roast was just as wonderful. The meat was juicy and tender and everything was fresh and bursting with flavor. The beer selection is impressive and the whiskey sour was prepared perfectly. We’ll definitely be back to try another dish and save room for the bread pudding.

Was impressed by the good. Very good sized portions & time-period inspired fare. The history was apparent however the space was cramped, tight. The purest in me appreciates that in colonial times this was as it would be… Drafty, tight, a little dim. Would have loved if staff was wearing historically accurate garb. Service was OK, however at times seemed rushed.

This place is absolutely worth the stop. You feel the historical significance immediately upon entering, almost as if you, yourself are stepping back in time. The furniture, the bar, the decor, the structure itself, all exude that colonial allure that is so inherent to the original towns of the first 13 colonies. Very fun, if you love the colonial era of American history. Service is polite and efficient. If you like a little more warmth from the staff when you dine, you might consider it a bit lacking, but other than that, there’s nothing to complain about. The food, on the other hand was a bit of a disappointment. The menu adheres to the colonial tavern theme, and there are some nods to the Swedes who floated through New Castle in the mid-1600’s, making an early cultural impression in the area. Presentation again was in keeping with the colonial theme, and every dish was served on pewter. The individual meals were unfortunately a bit lack-luster concerning flavor, and a few items were a bit overcooked. Nothing was bad, but it just wasn’t “wow.” Nonetheless, the overall experience far outweighs some uninspired food items, and Jessop’s Tavern is definitely a must-visit!

Linda and I enjoyed an early dinner after our 20+ mile bike ride around New Castle. We shared the Shepherd's pie and lobster Mac&cheese. Both were delicious but more filling than expected. We resorted to taking home half of both entrees to share the Dutch apple cakes for dessert - yum 😋 Highly recommend and suggest booking a reservation on their website even though we only had a 15 minute wait for a table on a Sunday.

Jessop’s Tavern in Delaware offers a charming, rustic yet fun vibe that makes for a memorable dining experience. The staff is incredibly sweet and welcoming, adding to the cozy, historic atmosphere. Don’t miss their Crab Dip — it’s absolutely delicious and a must-try! Highly recommend stopping by for great food and warm hospitality.

Im in town for this week and decided to check out Jessop's after it was recommended to me to try. The atmosphere was great, both the waitress and hostess were super friendly and welcoming. The waitress had great recommendations for food and drinks. The decor was super cool as well and very fitting for the area. Im not sure how often I will be in the area but if I ever come back, this will definitely be a place I go back to!

We are on a quest to visit the oldest bar in each state and Jessop’s was on our list for Delaware. New Castle is a well preserved colonial town so worth a visit as well. The Tavern did not disappoint! Sarah, our server, was so kind and patient with us. My husband got the Federalist Ale. We learned that the owners had research done in the Library of Congress for their brews which is next level authenticity! We ate the yummy warm crab dip in a bread bowl which also comes with some celery and carrot dippers and a few sticks of toasted bread. They have local ice cream with some “colonial” flavors. The pewter plates and locally made ceramic mugs add to the ambience of the historic building. A must visit!

This was our second time here. We have absolutely loved both visits. I usually wait to give a review until I’ve been to an establishment more than once. This is no joke. You know it’s good when the locals are present. Ok enough so it doesn’t get too busy and we can’t get in next time !

Stepping into here, it felt like we were stepping back through time. Colonial Era tavern complete with appropriate Colonial Era tavern fare, atmosphere, and ambiance. And it's located in a small historic town. The menu has so many tempting choices, but we eventually went with the Shepherd's pie and fricken chicassee for our main courses, and the "Smorgas-Bord" and seafarer's chowder as starters. Everything was excellent. The drink menu is huge, but mostly beers, ciders, and wine, not many cocktails (although the well-stocked bar looks like they could handle making just about anything). The old-fashioned is one of the best I've ever had. We had the cobblestone cobbler for dessert and left happy, full, and wanting to come back again soon. For a Thursday night, this place was packed. I would recommend reservations.

This is a small restaurant with lots of old time charm! Our server was excellent and provided recommendations as my husband couldn't decide between two dishes. The food was delicious and all of our orders were correct. Stop in for a drink or a delicious meal.

A cool, historic place with a varied menu, amazing beer selections and a friendly staff. We went for lunch. I got the Tilehouse Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries. It was delicious. (See photographic evidence.) I got a beer I've never had before. Also delicious. The beer list was literally a book! Lots of options. All this in the beautiful, historic riverside town of New Castle. Definitely worth it!

Great and unique place to gather with friends. Sizable food portions and all delicious. Beef is incredibly tender with great flavor. Lingonberries a nice touch with the meatloaf. Lingonberry ice cream a must!

Spent a long weekend in New Castle. 3 dinners, 3 restaurants....this was the best service,food and beer (lots of draft beers).

A friend and I went here for lunch and loved it. It has character and history which makes it an interesting place to visit but the food was wonderful as well. We had the seafarer's chowder to start and it was very tasty. I had the lobster pot pie (you can choose what to include: crab, lobster, chicken or beef and ale. It was delicious and the crust was especially nice. For dessert we had the Dutch apple cakes that came with whipped cream and a choice of ice cream. The ice cream flavors are interesting as well as having typical ones. I would have liked to try several of them. It was delicious ice cream. The apple cakes were really big and tasted great. Service was good throughout. They have a huge selection of beers thought we didn't have any. If I lived in the area, it would be a place where I'd eat often.

We've had excellent meals and service here in the past - however our last visit in June of 2024 was a disappointment. We've been reaching out to Jessop's by phone, e-mail and through Messenger intermittently for 8 months now, and they refuse to speak to us about our experience. Although we have been consistent patrons of this establishment for over 20 years, we will not return. They are not willing to listen to the concerns of their customers.

Went to the tavern on the recommendation(s) of many others and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and decor. A very small, divey and dark bar room with limited seating; but it works very well. I almost walked out when I found seating for an individual diner unavailable and the bar top fowled with dirty plates, empty cups, and sign receipts from the last visitors but the Bartender John turned it. He was pleasant, engaging, and attentive. Cleaned the area immediately and made some great recommendations on an amber ale. The salad was fresh and the Pot Roast dinner was exceptional good. The mashed potatoes and beef gravy were cooked to perfection. Not too loud and amazingly comfortable. The price was reasonable. Only minor detractors held this from being one of my few 5 star ratings. A very strong 4 stars (well deserved).

Hands down the coolest (due to the air conditioning and colonial tavern decor) place in New Castle to get ice cream to-go on an extremely hot day. Order at the walk-up window or inside at the hostess stand. The Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream is to die for and comes in creative flavors, such as my favorite: Motor Oil (coffee, chocolate fudge, and green caramel). Available in one huge serving size for $6 per cup or waffle cone.

Delicious sandwich's and great beer selection! We sat at the bar and enjoyed some sandwiches and drinks on our date night this week. Highly recommended reservations if you want to sit at a table at this restaurant. Fantastic vibe at this very old historic pub and restaurant. Its candle lit at night and very reminiscent of the era this place started. The menu was large and traditional dishes as well as a hamburger if that is your vibe.

We came here for dinner on our last night in the area. This is a historic tavern in a building that was originally built in the 1600s. The theme is colonial era food and vibe. I love things like that. We didn't have a reservation but were able to get seated without much of a wait. The environment was a bit loud but enjoyable. Good beer selection. We got the Hoegaarden and Limburgse Witte. For entrees we got the Roast duck hafling and the shepherd's pie. They were tasty. We finished off with the chocolate mousse cake and had a lovely night here. It's located in a very cute area, historic and well maintained. Nice overall.

Banana foster ice cream is to die for. The maple walnut is good too. Mint chocolate chip is okay. We come mainly for the ice cream. Service is usually fast.

This will be a dinner my husband and I talk about for years. The real candle lit as we sat down in the building from the 1700's just set the cozy, inviting vibe. Waitress was busy but still willing to answer our questions. The drink menu is massive. And the food.... Wonderful. Highly recommend the fish and chips! And the apple cakes!!!

What a great little pub with a colonial atmosphere and excellent food. The surrounding area is so cute with historic buildings and brick walkways and a park at the end of the road. Definitely a great place to enjoy a lunchtime meal and walk. The bread pudding is one of the best I've tried and I try it anytime it's on the menu. Excellent service.

We had a fun, relaxing lunch in an historic restaurant with an amazing selection of beers. The food was really tasty: prime rib entree special, veggie sandwich and Pilgrim's feast. Great selections of homemade ice cream capped off our meal. Next time we visit New Castle, we shall return!

Such a fun/authentic experience!! The shepherd's pie could easily feed 3 people...you should know that it is about 75% mashed potatoes but still really good!!

Great atmosphere spot in Old New Castle, the food was great and the the beer selection was Phenomenal. It's was busy but the service was also on point.

Highly recommend this place.Great ambiance and huge selections of beer. Also got the Watermelon slushy. Very refreshing.The waitress offered a sample to taste. We ordered mussels .Good amount very tasty loved the broth. We also ordered Shepherds pie. Loved it only complain the chef needs to add salt in most of their dishes. Also ordered fish and chips.Two large fried fish served with coleslaw and fried potatoes. Again I wish the fish was marinated with salt and pepper. Good experience here . Would love to come back.

It's a nice place for drinks hit and miss on the food good ambiance. Hard pass on the Swedish meatloaf. It was dry and tasted like mystery meat. It looked like a prison brick protein meal. The Shepherds pie is a bit crazy looking, like an upside down top hat, and bland. Fish and chips are good though. The service is fantastic.

Good food, great cocktails. Warm and cozy. Love taking my family there for special occasions!

I have been visiting Jessop's for the past few years but only for a beer as our halfway stopping point when riding the Jack Markel trail. Last night we had the pleasure of a real meal at Jessop's and what a great meal and fantastic time we had. Beers are always good. Our server was attentive but not overbearing. My green salad with house balsamic honey dressing was crisp and fresh and not over- dressed. Our fries and dipping sauce were fantastic and the steak and ale pies were stupendous. A great Friday night!!

I love this fine place! I love the theme of this Tavern! It is close buy. It is in Old New Castle. This place is clean and the people are so nice! I talk about about the Tavern all the time!! You can have a wonderful meal or you can have a couple of drinks! You just can't go wrong! B.

Fun place. Ambiance good. Nice neighborhood. Tried many items. Ate there and brought a friend back to try it the following night. Nice selection of beers. Service was great bith nights. 1st night-Prime rib special- husband enjoyed it Fish and chips - a bit too much coating for me. Fish was good though. Crab dip - tasty. More like a soup but lots of crabmeat Fried pickes - tasty Chicken sandwich- small piece of chicken. Daughter thought it was just ok. 2nd night - Duck - husband enjoyed. Said it was Tasty. Lobster pot pie- did not have real lobster meat in this pie. It was "fake lobster meat". I know lobster when I have it. Grilled cheese - daughter said it was good Apple fritters with ice cream - very tasty Overall a good experience with a few issues.

Group of 6 on a Saturday night, charcuterie board and crab dip to start very good, huge selection of beers from around the world so we indulged. Everyone had different entrees from pot roast to fish and chips all great and large portions and waitress was awesome! Will be returning and bringing friends so great experience Jessups.

A+++++++ Food was amazing Pot Roast was to die for The fish and chips was perfection And the Epic Sheppard pie was A++++ off the charts Waitress was amazing and attentive And when I contacted about questions and needed special seating. Because of my son The owner was the best Very accommodating Seated in quiet area of restaurant Music wasn't loud and wasn't hot or to cold either Definitely be coming back

Went with my family today 9/1/24. The place was really cool, service was great, however Food was subpar. The worst thing though, was the ROACH that crawled across the table as we were eating !!!

Best beer selection!! Good pub food! A must visit! Justin is the best and he serves to please. Take a nice scenic walk in Battery Park, and head to Jessop's. We enjoy the ambiance, the Belgian beer, and the pub food.

Totally unique experience: bar staff dressed in leiderhosen. Very nice staff. Incredible beer selection (European/Belgian)...like: pages and pages of options. Food and ambiance is olde school tavern food. Fits well with the surroundings of Old New Castle. The shepherds pie is my fave.

This place was steps from an Airbnb I stayed in across the street, so based on previous guest reviews I went there for dinner. I had chicken fricassee and it was delicious. My green beans were a bit cold, but not a huge deal. The ambience was fun - a warm lit tavern on a foggy night in a town paved with brick and cobblestones. It's a small place and tables are close together but you still have a feeling of intimacy in your own space. My waitress was friendly and efficient. We had to make a reservation as they fill up fast - we went on a Friday night. Highly recommend.

The lobster pot pie is out of this world. The beer selection can't be beat, especially when it comes to Belgian brews. The ambiance takes you back in time without feeling phony. The service is prompt and friendly. 5 stars all the way!

This is a super cool find! Cute historical building. The food is really interesting- haven't had anything like it before. We just got appetizers and beers, but can't wait to come back and try more menu items. What we did get was delicious and unique. The bartender was great.

Great food, nice colonial ambiance, friendly service and good value! The beer selection (especially Belgian beers) was impressive. We loved our food selections. The shepherd's pie was huge and was the best I've ever tasted. The lobster pot pie and fricken chicasee were hits.

The food was tasty but not hot. Definitely homemade and microwaved. our server forgot to put in our soup and salad order. our entrees were served before hand, I guess the were "sitting in the window". we ordered another round of drinks. 3 of the 4 arrived...finally I guy delivers the last one ordered and commented "so,you're the table" We were an easy table, no demands, 4 people, no special orders. Definitely lacking customer service. Also lacking the colonial tavern feel. ( no colonial dress or anything else)

Went to get ice cream today with my family. Waited patiently while the server at the window talked to another client (who already had their ice cream) about good night spots to go. Kept waiting, she never acknowledged us, or said "just one minute" We decided to leave. AWFUL SERVICE. Whoever was working 4pm July 13th, needs some customer service training badly.

Great old school tavern with an INCREDIBLE beer selection. Sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful with information about some of the beers. Has a great, nostalgic feel and lots of history sprinkled around as part of the decor. Had the steak sandwich and it was a banger! Perfectly cooked, nice amount of cheese and the au jus was tasty and not too salty. Will plan on going back for sure.

This gem is a short drive from Wilmington and nestled in historic Old Town. The food was very good and the portions were huge. It was a rainy night when we went and the menu has a lot of warm, comfort food. Pot pies, pot roast, shepherd's pie, fish and chips. You can definitely share one entree with a friend. Also? The beer list was gigantic. If you are a beer lover, this place will wow you.

Great food and unbelievable bet selection. I loved the imperial dark. And seafood special.

Delicious food and friendly service! Love going there! But make a reservation they get packed!

One of our favorite places in Delaware! Food is exceptional and it would take five years to get through their beer selection. Always on point!

Great food and drinks, recommend making reservations or sit at the bar, service is excellent regardless

Excellent food, service, and in general a great area with a lot of history! Jessop's Tavern has been around for A LONG TIME, and there's a reason why... Love you guys, just the best!

Not only was the food amazing, the Belgian beer terrific but the staff was attentive and kind. Atmosphere was old world colonial. We were a group of 30 and Jessop's had a private room to accommodate us. So special. I left a pair of vintage sunglasses and was so upset. Manager located them morning after and fedexed them back to me. I am so grateful!!!!!

My husband and I love to come here around Christmas every year because the Colonial atmosphere lends itself to the spirit. The food is very good and the drinks are yummy.

Great food, great service in a fun pub! Highly recommend this place for a great meal-

Food is always wonderful and plentiful I love the tavern salad and the skip jack shrimp Server are great lovely atmosphere

This place is amazing! The staffing is so knowledgeable about anything on the menu. Eaten here 3 times in a week and can't wait to go back when I'm back in town. This is a must place to eat when in the area!!!!

I don't know where to begin! My friends and I were here tonight for my bday, first time ever for all of us and I could honestly go back every night for the rest of my life! We started with the crab dip and oh my god! We had the fricken chickasee, shepherd's pie, and the colonial crab melt as our entrees and I don't even think that there are words in any language to describe these dishes! Flavor? Off the charts! Portions? Perfect! It's unbelievable!!!! Dessert: peach cobbler, cookies and cream ice cream and the chocolate trilogy with Dutch chocolate ice cream!!!! No restaurant in the STATE touches this place by several miles!!! The scale hasn't been set it's been shattered!!!

Food is so good and fresh; taste homemade and simply delicious! Customer service is very attentive and friendly; large - I mean LARGE-selection of beer and ale choices!!!!! They have specials ! Most important is the pricing.... Incredibly competitive!!! Love this place .... It's been around for awhile.... Read up its history .... Ambiance is friendly...loved my Swedish meatloaf but also had a bite of the pork dish and hamburger!!!! Fabulous.... Your palate will be in heaven!

Great food with great atmosphere. The service is always top notch with a friendly staff. The owner is always appreciative of everyone of his customers and isn't afraid to show it. You'll feel transported back in time while enjoying a great dining experience. We've never been disappointed in all the times we've dined at Jessops Tavern