Native — Restaurant in Honesdale

I have young children and it’s not always easy to get away with my wife for a treat. We’ve been hearing great things about Native from reliable sources. So after 2 years of hearing great reviews we were excited to finally have grandparents in town to hold down the fort for a well deserved couples evening.

Date night came and my wife was looking beautiful. We were greeted by the hostess and seated immediately by a nice spot by the front window.

First impression of the atmosphere, nice!

I ordered an old fashioned, my wife ordered a mezcal, elderflower Spritz. Very nice!!

We ordered a couple small plates. Soft ripened cheese, with artisan bread and a fruity tomato spread. Very nice!! We also ordered the roasted peach with whipped ricotta served on bread. It was good but we’ll skip the next time.

For the main dish my wife ordered Pork chop with a cauliflower purée with barley apple medley. Superb!

I was in the mood for Ribeye, medium-rare. First bite, flavorful but not medium-rare. I don’t send food back but considering this was a treat and a $40 meal I did ask politely if they could deliver a steak cooked to medium-rare. Approximately 15 minutes later, another steak that was medium was presented. I decided to eat considering my wife was well into her dinner but it was disappointing that after 2 attempts a medium-rare steak could not be produced. The steak was good just not to my order.

Apologies were offered. I was polite but I must admit this was a disappointment.

The hostess/manager did stop by after I was almost finished my dinner to ask questions about what went wrong and if I ate the steak. It didn’t feel like she was interested in my experience but rather whether she should give credit for my meal.

We did ask for the dessert menu but decided to try dessert at another establishment.

The server gave us the check and was disengaged by this point. No eye contact.

We paid the full bill plus a nice tip because we are reasonable people.

But honestly, this experience could’ve been much better. When we dine at a nice establishment spending $150, we want to experience the food, atmosphere, service, and attention if needed which in our case, special attention was needed.

The steak cooking aside, I would ask the team at Native to think about the details of delivering food service and to be more accountable when things don’t go well. I wish the team luck and think there is potential to be a great restaurant but for my meal, it didn’t live up to the expectations going into a long awaited dinner date with my beautiful wife.

Good luck Native. I look forward to returning sometime to try something other...

Holy cow. From my delicious cocktail to the service to the FOOD! We loved every single moment of our meal and experience here. I got the Asian Pear Mule and not to toot my own horn, but I’ve become quite the mule connoisseur, and this was so delicious - the muddled pear and snappy ginger, it was delicious. The green goddess dressing was so fresh and creamy and my husband really enjoyed his burrata that he literally had to defend from me stealing the delicious bread off his plate lol. His ribeye was cooked perfectly rare and was SO flavorful! I don’t even like rare meat and I thoroughly enjoyed trying his. I got the wild boar bolognese and was concerned about the ricotta cavatelli and the chef was so kind and offered hand made tagliatelle instead (I’m lactose intolerant but really really wanted the dish) and I could not have been more grateful that he offered because man, it was amazing. My hubby is bummed I didn’t even save him a bite! Then for dessert the chèvre cheesecake and the peach sorbet were the perfect ending. The sorbet was so perfectly fresh and the flavor was so impressive. And to top off this amazing meal was that we got to sit at the counter facing the kitchen and we were completely impressed by how the chefs were operating, and so fluid and clean (and there was a big group private event happening in the midst of all this) and they just nailed everything. And Morgan our waiter was SO lovely and helpful and accommodating. He never missed a beat and was super friendly!

We wish we lived closer, this was such an impressive place and meal....

A Hidden Gem That Checks Every Box — Native Is a Must-Visit!

If you're lucky enough to snag a table at Native, consider your night made. This farm-to-table gem feels like it was plucked straight from a trendy corner of Brooklyn and dropped into our backyard — and thank goodness it was. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by a warm, inviting ambiance and a team that makes you feel like you're the only people in the room, no matter how busy they are (and yes, they’re always busy — for good reason).

The food? Exceptional. Every dish showcases fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a deep commitment to seasonality, with flavors that are both creative and comforting. You can truly taste the farm-to-table difference in every bite. Head chef and co-owner Caleb is clearly doing something special here. Pro tip: if he offers you a house-made hot sauce, say yes. Trust me.

The craft cocktails are as balanced and imaginative as the food — the kind of drinks you’d expect to find in a cocktail bar that made a “Top 10” list somewhere. And the service? Impeccable. Friendly without being overbearing, informed without being rehearsed. Just… right.

And please, whatever you do, save room for the cheesecake. It’s not a suggestion — it’s a non-negotiable. Easily the best in the area, and probably the best I’ve ever had.

Native is hands-down my wife and I's favorite spot around, and once you go, I'd bet on it...