Went on a recent Tue night, which is oyster night, had the raw oysters ($1 each on Tue!!) which were very good, and an order of Pepperjack Bites, good, but paltry portion, 5 marshmallow sized pieces for $8! My wife had the Veggie Tapas ($17) which she rated very good, son had Ahi Tuna Salad ($14), also very good and it was a BIG salad. Mom had the Pan Roasted Chicken ($19) which was excellent, and I had the Oyster Po' Boy ($11, biggest bargain of the night!) Â which was also very good, with 6 nice plump oysters and the reddest, ripest tomato I've ever eaten, as well as wonderful homemade spicy pickles, which I believe they make into a condiment for the raw oysters as well.......yummy! Even the cocktail sauce served with the raw oysters tasted freshly made and had a wonderful zing to it!
I also got a side of potato salad with the po' boy which, honestly, was the best potato salad I've ever eaten (other than my mom's!!), just incredible!
Great beers on tap, and they have nightly specials which make them very reasonable. We had Stone Ruination and Trois Pistoles on tap, amongst others.
Table only got 1 dessert, on the small side but delicious.....again, overpriced at I believe $8.
Tab for 4 was right near $100, 2 apps, 4 drinks, 4 entrees, 1 dessert.....not too bad for something that was a little more "special".
Service from Ian was excellent, not overbearing, sincerely friendly and attentive.
The restaurant is a wonderful, old building, nicely restored but not pristine, which adds to it's charm. Noise level was average, room was mostly full when we left and the din was not too bad.
I had mediocre expectations going here, as the owner's other restaurants leave something to be desired, but my doubts were happily dispelled......obviously they have a great team at Cantwell's and maybe some of what they have accomplished here will be applied to his other establishments!
Luckily, in the small town of Odessa, Delaware, there weren't too many people in this little town tavern, being a Thursday around 3pm. Â
The town's original name was Cantwell's Bridge, which lends its name to the tavern we ate at- Cantwell's Tavern. It's almost instantly what I would have thought of in the taverns of Game of Thrones, slender body, no specific outward appearances, and people used to sleep above the tavern. I imagined loads of drunkards hissing at the barwomen, and the owner being a large woman with a sharp tongue who gives no free rides.
And so we went inside. I ordered a Magic Hat #9, remembering something about it from my time in Minnesota. And it didn't let down. It was a good beer. My tendency is to try to order something I can't always get, and growing up in the West, Maryland crab isn't something I'm used to, though it's plentiful here.
Nonetheless, I ordered the soup, which was so much more hearty that I ever expected. And suspected it was homemade, down to the tomatoes being picked from the garden outside. It had a slight spice to it, and delicious. There was very little broth to dip the bread crisps into, but I just piled on the carrots and tomatoes and crab meat on top and used it for a spoon. If this had come in a sourdough bowl, or just a bigger bowl, this would've been my dinner, as it was just.so.good.
That, and my next piece of food was pretty boring.
It was an appetizer, a flat bread, hummus, mozzarella cheese, and sliced cucumbers. Don't order this, or any type of flat bread that has stuff on it. Flat bread is good by itself, and should be kept that way. Do not ask me why I would order this, because I do not know. Perhaps I was happy with my ordering of the Magic Hat #9, the Maryland crab soup... Perhaps I was just happy in general, and therefore...blinded? It wasn't terrible. It wasn't good, either. It was warm hummus under cheese. Eventually, I just pulled the cheese off the bread. And snuck pieces from the man sitting next to me...because he ordered something I was actually jealous of.
Fish and chips! Or fries? Fries with skin! Fish fried in a melt-in-your-mouth batter. I don't normally like cod, but I loved this cod. It was so fresh, the batter was so clean and thin and crisp, the fries deliciously warm and smushy. Yes, smushy. Mr. V ordered an extra side of friedly friedness, so we all got to munch on those. The cod was not overcooked, but still juicy and steaming, this is quite honestly the way fried fish should taste. I wanted to eat his whole plate, as jealous as I was over his lunch choice. And it was so much better with my beer choice, too, than his iced tea.
This place is really the only place in town, aside from knocking on a door and asking for lunch, Game of Thrones style. Cantwell's Tavern has the "old world feel" to it, so it's worth a stop.
Our first trip to Cantwell's was absolutely memorable, especially the New York Strip.
We couldn't wait to go back. Second visit, no NYS!!!
We will def go back as it is right up the road, but please bring back the NYS!!!!
A nice atmosphere. Small bar downstairs seems to be a local hangout!!
Keep up the good work
I visit Cantwell's on a bi weekly basis as it is close to my house. The food is not always consistent but it is usually very good. Some of the changes they have made recently with the Sangria were not great but overall the place is excellent. The atmosphere is awesome and I am fascinated by the maps on the walls. I suggest everyone try this establishment at least once.
Review Source:This is the place you take your parents or your grandparents when they are in town. I went on a Friday night with my mom, and I was pretty impressed. The historic building is very nice inside, and felt very warm and inviting.
We had a reservation for 8:45pm, and were seating promptly. This restaurant is on Open Table, which surprises me in DE, so take advantage! You want those restaurant checks!
I really liked our waitress. (I think Christine?). she was very welcoming, and personable.
They have a huuuge beer list, with plenty of crafts on tap and in the bottle. You want an Ommegang Witt if you have never had one. Â I had a glass of wine as I wasn't in a beer mood (but probably should have been.)
For an appetizer we had the prosciutto and fig flat-bread appetizer. It was delicious, but basically anything that has prosciutto and fig on it was guaranteed to work.
Our waitress steered me towards the Shrimp and Sausage Ettouffee (No idea what that means), but it was delicious. $19 Saucy, and full of flavor, with big shrimp, sausage, and some crispy pancetta that was awesome. A good choice and I would order again!
Mom had the fried oysters which were delicious. Â
We weren't too taken by the dessert menu (was rather limited), but overall loved our experience. I will definitely be back. There aren't many great options in Delaware as a whole, but I think this is a safe one to add to the list. Beautiful setting and a great menu with good service!
This was my third visit to Cantwell's but the first time that I came away totally disappointed. Â The food at Cantwell's was not the disappointment, in fact, it was quite good. Â It was our server, Rebecca that brought this rating down to three stars. Â Service started out on the wrong foot and just continued to go down hill. Â Cantwell's is known to have a wonderful beer selection. Â I asked Rebecca for an Ale recommendation. Â Her demeanor changed almost immediately. Â She seemed easily annoyed by guests that weren't sure of exactly what they wanted so I just went with my usual, Yuengling. Â The thing about Rebecca was that she just never cracked a smile, didn't fully engage with us and definitely did not make us feel welcome. Â The food runners that were working her section that night were far more friendly and helpful. Â
Before leaving for the evening, my friend and I decided that we wanted to speak with a manager about our dining experience. Â A young woman came to speak with us. Â She was apologetic; however, she actually had the nerve to suggest that we had we said something earlier, she would've moved us rather than have us continue to have Rebecca serve us. Â Really, she would've moved us?!?! Â How very thoughtless and inconvenient that would've been. Â Moving your guest's table is hardly the ideal solution. Â
Ultimately, I must admit that I would still re-visit Cantwell's Tavern. Â The food is wonderful, the atmosphere is terrific and typically the waitstaff are very friendly and accommodating.
Had a reservation for 7, arrived and hostess said our table would be ready in about 10 minutes. Â She offered to find us in the bar or lobby went our table was ready. Decided to grab a beer in the bar which featured a decent selection of craft beers. Hostess came in about 10 minutes and took us upstairs for our dinner. The food was very good. It was very busy on this friday night and I would recommend making a reservation.
Review Source:One of the first places I've gone to since relocating to Delaware. It's located on a quaint street in Odessa and, from the outside, looks to previously be a brick office building. The inside is vastly different!
We were immediately greeted by a super friendly and smiley hostess who showed us to the bar upon our request. There were 2 bartenders, both hilarious and very knowledgable on their very tasty beer selection. Allowed us to sample a few and incredibly descriptive on each, even asking us what we routinely drank to pair a beer from their taps that was in line with our taste. When a bartender or server gets excited about what they are serving and is able to convey that to their customers----A+ in my book because we only intended on coming in to buy a beer and an app. Instead, we sampled several beers on the bartenders recommendation, as well as an app and a burger. The farm house burger, with an EGG, is absolutely ridiculous. If I didn't care that I would turn into something reminiscent of Jabba the hut, I'd have eaten 3 more. After I run off the first burger, I'm going back for more!
Fantastic all the way around, as well as an inviting environment, stellar staff and a burger that actually makes me wanna exercise. Well done!
Nice place. The food was good but a little pricey for the area and ambience. I had the filet mignon, which was at the right temp and had good flavor. The issue I had was that was the entire meal aside from 2 onion rings (I skipped the mushrooms). My wife had the crab cakes, which came with potatoes and an avocado salad (?). Â This aside, taste was very good.
As far as surroundings, we enjoyed it and it is nice if you like old town feel, which we do. The staff is a little chaotic but are good servers that hustle. I had no issues and they are attentive. Â Like others have posted, lighting on the back porch at night is an issue as it hides the menu and the appearance of the food.
We will return.
I've actually been here twice, but wanted to give this place a second try before giving it a writ of approval / disapproval. This place is trying so hard to be worthy of a five-star review, it really is...but it's just not quite getting there. Cantwell's Tavern is owned by the same people who run McGlynn's and the Deer Park Tavern - both casual places that offer decent pub fare. The food at Cantwell's is obviously being prepared by a pub-fare chef who's trying to do "upscale," and like Ferris Bueller pretending to be Abe Frohman, the sausage king of Chicago, it's not quite convincing.
The ingredients here are fresh, and it shows. I had the salmagundi salad my first time - lettuce was obviously not from a bag, and the bacon therein was choice. This last time, I had a cheesesteak, which was made from real ribeye bits (the bun was a little meh) - upscale pub food, pretty much. The glass of sangria I ordered was OK, but I wasn't really wowed. My wife had the salmon...it was slightly overdone, and came with this weird, sweet(ish), lemony sauce. It was this last dish in particular that convinced me that these guys weren't really on their game when they try to branch out from the typical pub menu.
The ambiance is very classy, and done in a colonial sort of style. The waitress was really nice and cheerful, and showed us just the right amount of attention. The food came out quickly. When it comes to service, my experience has been nothing but good. I just wish the food was on par with the price they're charging...they definitely have the right ingredients, but it's like the chef isn't quite sure how to bring them all together. I'm definitely planning on coming back to try the snapper soup when it comes back in the fall - a few more seasonal items like that could really spruce up the menu. I think this place is a solid four, and I'm hoping it gets up to a five within a few years - it definitely has the potential.
Sunday 2pm 06.03.12
What a find!  Located in beautiful historic Odessa, DE, a quick RH turn off of Route 13 North. First noticed the outside patio and bar, while looking at some historic homes on High Street, located behind the Tavern.  This view was enough to make me give Cantwell's a try.  Classy and colonial with the right amount of casual, made the outside dining experience a real treat (the beautiful late Spring weather did not hurt either). The server, who was also the bartender, was friendly and informative.  Service was efficient, food was quick to come out of the Tavern's kitchen.  The sandwiches were ample sized with fresh ingredients and full of flavor (the side pickle and cucumber salad had a welcome bite to them).  Nice selection of both draught and bottled beers (I enjoyed a saison on tap). Others at the table enjoyed a sauvignon blanc from the innovative and well-priced wine list.  Mixed drink special of the day was a Dark and Stormy, well made and accurately served in a pewter mug.  Delicious and only $3. As for the other prices, very pleased with the check after a few rounds and some excellent food.  The restrooms located inside the Tavern (including a family room  on the first floor) were well appointed, spacious and clean.  A quick walk around the beautifully restored dining room and bar inside the Tavern, has me already thinking about my return visit to Odessa and Cantwell's.
My Mom was dying to try Cantwell's, so my husband and I agreed to a reservation Friday night. We hoped the food would be worth the 35 minute drive (one way) from North Wilmington. It absolutely was! The restaurant itself is situated in historic Odessa, surrounded by gorgeous homes. It is so cozy inside - I felt as if I was in Williamsburg. The food was terrific. As soon as we sat down, we were brought a lovely bread basket, which featured foccacia and some kind of cinnamony roll. We started with the fig flatbread, deviled eggs and the apple and cheese fondue. The latter was very disappointing, basically a cheese cup with stale bread and a sliced green apple. The flatbread was phenomenal and the deviled eggs were excellent as well! For dinner, I had a pizza with broccoli rabe, ricotta and sundried tomatoes. It was also excellent. My husband had the fried chicken, which was boneless (YEAH!) and sat atop delicious mashed potatoes. My Mom had a fried oyster po' boy. They were both thrilled with their meals. For dessert, we split the chocolate pecan pie. I was not as fan, as it was hard as a rock and hard to cut. The ice cream it came with, however, was delicious. If Cantwell's were in Wilmington, I would be there constantly. Unfortunately, the hour drive round trip makes it more of an event, but it is worth it!
Review Source:I'm trying not to hold all the positive buzz I'd heard about this place against them, because frankly, I was disappointed after all I'd heard about it, and I was *really* looking forward to our evening there. Â We arrived around 8:30pm on a Saturday evening, and the place looked packed, judging by the cars all up and down both sides of the road. If there's a parking lot anywhere, we didn't see it, and it would have been full. I was glad I drove a pickup truck, because we ended up pulling off onto an unpaved shoulder to park. No problem, just an FYI for you low clearance car drivers.
We went inside, and they asked if we had a reservation, which we didn't. They offered us a seat out on the patio, which sounded lovely, since it was such beautiful weather. Unfortunately, once we were seated, we realized that there was really no light out there to speak of - a streetlight filtering through a tree, and an open kitchen door. We couldn't read the menus without our LED flashlights (fortunately we were all smartphone owners, love that flashlight app). Even the waitress had to move around to the other side of the table with the streetlight behind her so she could see to write our orders down. Later, she mentioned that they did have lights out there, but apparently they weren't up to code or something and they had to disable them. They're apparently working on the light situation, but in the meantime, we couldn't see, and it would've been nice if they'd had a battery powered string of Christmas lights up the umbrella pole or something. About halfway through our meal, someone finally showed up with a few little tealight candles for the table.
There were 4 of us, and the other three of them ordered soup. I got the brick oven flatbread with prosciutto, fig jam, and gorgonzola, which I loved. It could have easily been split between all four of us as an appetizer, but I ate half and took half home. The friend who got the sweet corn and crab bisque was pleased with the flavor, but really disappointed with the non-bisque-y texture. It wasn't at all thick, like you'd expect of a bisque. The broth was nearly as thin as a chicken soup broth. She said it was like they'd tried to stretch it by thinning it or something. When the waitress came and asked specifically how the soups were, she expressed her disappointment and was offered something different, which she declined. A few minutes later, the waitress returned to tell us it had been taken off the bill, which we didn't request. The other two diners got the snapper soup, and one was happy with it while the other wasn't. I'm not a snapper soup fan, so I didn't taste it and don't have an opinion.
For entrees, I got the Curry Seared Ahi Tuna sandwich, which was very good. The others ordered Beer Battered Fish and Chips, the Cherrywood Bacon & Bleu Cheese Burger, and the Ribeye Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Reports were that the burger was delicious, the fish and chips were good but slightly greasy, and the cheesesteak had great flavor but had to be eaten with a fork (in the dark!!) because it went right through the bun.
For dessert, two of us got the triple chocolate layer cake, which was delicious, although we both studiously ignored the chocolate drizzled caramel corn that came with it. The other two skipped dessert.
They also had a really good beer selection, according to the connoisseurs among us.
So the light situation, the lack of resolution for it, and the fact that they offered us the patio without warning us we'd be unable to see our menus made me want to give this place two stars. My tasty food made me want to give it four stars, at least if I ignored the fact that I couldn't see what I was eating. The waitress was good, and the problems were entirely beyond her control.
I'll go back sometime, just to confirm my impressions of the place, if nothing else. It obviously has great potential. Other people are having great experiences there. I even loved the patio area, at least if there'd been any light out there. So maybe we just had an "off" experience.
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