Back Burner Restaurant & Tavern — Restaurant in Hockessin, Delaware

I've visited the Back Burner several times and have had mixed experiences. My most recent experience left a lot to be desired so I wanted to leave a review in hopes that improvements can be made.

My wife had made reservations for us on Valentine's Day. When we arrived, there was a chaotic scene at the waiter/waitress station. I don't know if something was wrong with the system, but there were several people trying to solve a problem and all seemed extremely stressed out. Luckily, our reservation appeared in the system and we were promptly seated. Our server was extremely friendly. Although I like the regular menu, for Valentine's Day, the menu had been limited. After we ordered our starters, one of the staff came by to deliver a rose. I thought this was a really nice gesture. Our starters came fairly quickly. I had a salad and my wife had some soup. We had only been eating our starter for about 3-5 minutes, when our main courses came out. There was no room on the table to put all the plates, so we felt forced to stop eating our starters in order to make room. I ordered the steak which was cooked as I requested and tasted good. My wife ordered some seafood pasta which, although it tasted good, had a ton of little shells in it and she was constantly having to pull them out of her mouth as she was chewing.

Overall, the food seemed overpriced for what we got and we felt extremely rushed throughout the process just so the table could be turned over for the next customer. I think we were there less than 1 hour for what was supposed to be a nice Valentine's Day dinner. I'm not so sure we'll be returning...

I don’t know where to start. Came to your establishment Tuesday November 27th at 1pm with three other ladies to celebrate one of their birthdays. On our arrival we were sat and then re-sat to our request. Once seated we where given water and then where TOTALLY IGNORED for about a 17-20 minute period of time as 4 different employees walked past our table and I believe one of them was the manager Brian? Well needless to say we got up and walked out of your establishment. Not a good look for The Back Burner as I have been a patron for 30 plus years. To know we where there celebrating an occasion and to not be taken care of properly celebration or not has allowed the Back Burner to now LOSE 4 solid valuable customers who not only bring large revenue to your establishment but also affected the revenue of your surrounding merchants as we where planning on shopping in the surrounding stores but did not that day. Consumers are picky about where they spend their disposable income and unfortunately the Back Burner will not see any of ours again. Big mistake Back Burner...

Always a treat coming here. Also must try the better cheddar.

Edited on 6/4/2023. We will never go back here Our waiter (Julien) was the worst ever. I think he missed his calling in the waste management business. Dealing with hungry upscale clientele who are ready to spend a few hundred on a meal was not in his wheelhouse. He was rude and didn’t exert any happiness of his job. He started by telling us that we shouldn’t have brought In our 3 children as the restaurant only appreciated the geriatric clientele.

I explained this was one of our favorite restaurants and we used to come here a lot. He didn’t offer any enthusiasm or happiness when waiting on us. He even said it was going to be a slow night as per the reservations. We didn’t have a reservation and we walked in so you would think he would have jumped on us being there. Needless to to say we couldn’t leave fast enough. Worst experience ever and this place has gone to garbage.

I would rather have a meal at McDonald’s.

Sorry back burner but you need to step up your...