Newark Restaurants

Built in 1851, this restaurant serves as a local hangout for upperclassmen, grad students and faculty at the university. The tavern offers a nice lunch and dinner menu, along with weeknight specials (all you can eat wings, half price nachos, etc). The bar offers a nice selection of draft beers and bottles, along with the usual mixed beverages.

On the weekends, stop by for live music upstairs. Arrive before 8 and miss the cover charge!

Brew Haha is a cozy coffeehouse on Main Street in Newark, very close to the University. Between the wood floors and the fireplace, the cafe is a comfortable place where you'll find a lot of students during the school year. There's also a nice patio with plenty of seating to enjoy when the weather is nice. As you sit inside, enjoy some light jazz music as you relax with a book.

Brew Haha feels like a traditional coffeehouse with couches and a warm feeling. The staff is friendly and won't bother you if you just order one small coffee and then stay for 3 hours.

Don't miss the peanut butter cookies, especially right after they come out of the oven.

Favorite Dish: Some nice lunch-type foods, fresh baked pastries and cookies and great espresso coffee drinks.

Iron Hill Brewery is a small chain in Delaware and Pennsylvania. There are usually 6 to 10 homemade brews on draught, my favorite being the Raspberry Wheat.

Dinners are good, but quite expensive. I would suggest dropping in for a drink and an appetizer at the bar.

Klondike Kate's is on Main Street in Newark and occupies an old Victorian building. Kate's has been a tavern, a hotel and now a restaurent/bar. It originally opened in 1757 and in the early 20th century was used as a local jail.

Food is good and decently priced. Drinks are a little pricey, but the bar offers a nice wine list.

Favorite Dish: Kate's makes a nice cheesesteak and has some unique, yummy salads.

Lettuce Feed You is a small Delaware chain (I only know of one other location, up in Wilmington) and offers the best salads and sandwiches in the area. Salads are made while you wait and you can pick exactly what you want in it or order one from their menu. Sandwiches and soups are very good and always fresh.

Not overly expensive, I think the owners understand that most of their customers are college kids or university staff. The only problem is it closes kind of early on weekdays, so it's more of a lunch spot than a place for a light dinner.

Delaware's small Mexican restaurant chain called La Tolteca, has a very good location in Newark. We stopped in for a late lunch of Enchiladas Poblanas including two chicken enchiladas with mole poblano, cheese, onion and rice ($5.99) and Special Lunch #7 which consisted of one quesadilla, enchilada, and a chalupa (5.99). The enchiladas were "fantastic" and "extremely satisfying" while the #7 special was also very good. With our meals we enjoyed a tasty frozen raspberry margarita and a lime margarita on the rocks ($5.50 each).

This Tolteca location is very deceiving but nice. From the outside it just looks like a small grocery store in a shopping plaza. Once on the inside you'll realize this is a very nice, and large restaurant. Besides the bar and seating area in the front, the rear of the location has a large dining room with an upstairs area including a 360 degree balcony. All very pleasant and modern.

Timothy's is less than a mile from Main St Newark and fairly close to the university campus. The restaurant offers typical fare along with a few nice alternatives (bison burgers, veggie choices) and a wide array of beers of draft. During nice weather, you can sit outside on the deck, overlooking the White Clay Creek. Aside from regular dining, a second floor banquet area holds 150 people for parties and functions.

If you're in the mood to relax and enjoy the company of others, or a 350 gallon fish tank full of fish from the White Clay Creek, the downstairs bar is a nice spot. If you're in the mood to play some pool, foosball, or other video games, the upstairs bar is available. Late night Dj and dancing is also very popular upstairs because of the spacious area available.

Favorite Dish: Bison Burger and Hot Wings are great here.

Close to the University, but not on Main Street, the Trap is a great spot for a casual dinner or nice lunch. The restaurant offers a full bar, with a good selection on draught. Food is inexpensive and the service is quick and friendly. The restaurant is well-known for it's seafood, offering nice fish dishes and plenty of local crab and clam choices.

The Trap Seafood Restaurant is open daily from 11AM until midnight. Reservations are suggested on Fridays. Saturdays & Holidays.

Favorite Dish: The Maryland blue crab bisque is wonderful with large pieces of crab meat and a thick, cream broth.