Home Grown Cafe — Restaurant in Newark

I've eaten here many times throughout the years. And I have noticed every. single. time. I come either by myself or have come with my elderly mother (she is now 86), quality service is just not there. I've always been very pleasant, patient and tip well. But after all these visits, having similar experiences I simply will not go there ever again!! This place should cater to every single customer, not be limited to their care to their 'in crowd'.

I rate their food a 7/8. With my experience I rate service a 2. Really displeased at how the servers treat a single customer and a single customer with an elderly customer. I have literally SEEN the difference on how I'm treated when by myself or my mom, then when I am with one of my sons who is in his 20's. It's quite clear if your with a younger generation or a family, the treatment is adamantly different.

Ways in which I see lack of care/mishandlent:

Charged more than what menu states such as when a side is less when purchased with an entree.

Not giving the right amount of change back. My bill tonight, Sept 3, 2017 around 6pm, was $18.50. I gave $50.50. Waitress entered my change as $50 with her change back to me $31.50. Actual change given to me was $31. My 50 cents was in the form of a quarter, two dimes and a nickel, pushing the change tightly in bottom right corner of plastic with a $50 bill to the left of it. I highly doubt that 50 cents fell out. Even if it did, change returned would be $31.50. She did not give the .50 change. Either way, the point is, waitress did not provide correct change. Be it is a small amount of change that we're dealing with, is NOT the point. The point here; being cheated is being cheated. No matter how you look at it. And THATS what is not right. It creates an atmosphere of mistrust. I'd rather eat food not as good but be respected and treated right.

Not checking in on customer to make sure everything is okay.

Don't check in to ask if I would like a refill on water or tea.

Not asking if I would like anything such as dessert.

I ordered Thai bowl that came with noodles, broccoli, carrots, and sugar snap peas, topped with three falafel. $14 for bowl. Additional $2 for falafel. The total veggies was probably 1/2 cup. I'm pretty good at estimating amounts of food being I used to compete in bodybuilding, swimsuit and figure. For the price of th meal, it wasn't worth it. If there had been more vegetables then I might say price would be fair. I was also surprised the size and amount of falafel with added $2 charge. Any falafel I've ever eaten, those things are huge. Here they're about the size of a golf ball. Oh and the ice tea was horrible. I've always ordered tea at HGC before and it's always been excellent. I guess they've changed their tea too. I've never had tea that was so strong! A lot of times restaurants make their tea to weak not strong. I added my own essential oils to help in the taste. As well as letting the ice melt to help hone it down.

BTW, being that my experiences have been over the course of a few years, (yep each time I thought maybe it'll be different) I've had different waiters each time. So again, I am disappointed. And finally I feel it is time to speak out about this. If anyone who is older or comes in to this restaurant as a single person, and reads this and they too have had similar experiences, please please please write a review and contact the manager or owner of this restaurant. If the manager and owner care then they will do something about it so NO ONE is mistreated by ANY employee!! There's no way I'm not the only one who has experienced...

Home Grown has become a place where my friends and I regularly frequent for brunch (bottomless mimosas and banging food, great atmosphere, and stellar service. what more can you ask for?); however my experience tonight was quite disappointing. I wanted something light to pair with my bucket of dogfish head beers, but I also wanted to try something on the menu that I never had before. I scanned the menu and what caught my eye was the bruschetta. The description on the menu included: strawberries, shallots, balsamic reduction, rosemary, and goat cheese...definitely an intriguing twist on a basic Italian dish. Unfortunately, the Rosemary was overpowering and not cohesive with the rest of the ingredients. In my honest opinion, it tasted like dirty dish water, not that I’ve tried dirty dish water before, but I just imagine that’s what it would taste like. (Obviously I’m not a qualified food critic, but I had my friend taste it to see what he thought Incase my lack of sleep and comedown from adderrall was affecting my tastebuds, but he agreed that it tasted like yesterday’s kitchen sink). The bartenders were great and had no problem sending the plate back. (I wish I knew their names, but one girl had red hair and one girl wore glasses...y’all rock) In it’s place, I ordered an order of bone in chicken wings with the strawberry chipotle bbq sauce (which is bomb). Now, I’ve worked in the industry for almost 10 years and I know that the kitchen probably put my order of wings on the fly which is great, but unfortunately, my wings were half cooked. Imagine biting into a seemingly perfect chicken wing only for it to have a rubbery texture and ooze raw chicken juices. At this point, I was just trying forget about the fact that I ate raw chicken and fighting the urge to vomit all over the bar, so I masked the feeling with the sweet nectar of a Dogfish Head Flesh and Blood IPA. Again, being a veteran in the industry, I assumed that a manger would come out to apologize for their kitchen sending out raw chicken to their patrons; however, this was not the case. You’d think if your kitchen served a human raw chicken, you’d go out and at least apologize and try to do damage control so you’re not known as the restaurant that serves your patrons raw chicken. But that’s just my opinion...maybe these establishments do really care about their reputations anymore (not that my opinion is going to change the minds of thousands of people) but who’s to say. The bruschetta and the wings were taken off my bill which is awesome and I tipped over 20% to my awesome bartenders as if the bruschetta was still on the bill, however, I’m just very disappointed that not one superior could come out and apologize for the raw chicken that was served to me...especially since consuming raw chicken can result in serious sickness. (Gordon Ramsey, where you at).

Now that y’all have read my rant, I just want to say that this is the ONLY negative experience that I have had here, and I’ve been here hundreds of times and have spent thousands of doll hairs. I’ll see you next Sunday for brunch and plz don’t spit...

I’ve been a regular at Home Grown Cafe in Newark, Delaware, for over four years now, and it’s hands-down one of the best spots I’ve ever stumbled into—whether it’s for lunch, dinner, late-night bites, or just drinks. This place nails that local college vibe perfectly, buzzing with energy from University of Delaware students and locals alike. It’s always been a community favorite, and after one visit, you’ll see why it’s a must-try in the area. The live music is a huge draw—think local bands rocking the stage, filling the air with vibes that make every night feel special. The food? Top-notch and consistent, no matter the hour. Their late-night menu is a lifesaver, running super late (we’re talking past midnight), and it’s packed with quality dishes that hit the spot—juicy bison burgers, crispy sweet potato fries, vegan options like their killer black bean quinoa bowl, you name it. The value’s unreal too; generous portions at prices that won’t break the bank, especially for a college crowd. The bar is where it really shines. The bartenders are straight-up wizards—friendly, talented, and quick with a pour. They’re slinging quality liquors and an awesome variety of drinks, from craft beers to creative cocktails like their seasonal sangrias or the fan-favorite “Bee’s Knees.” The specials keep things fresh, and every sip’s a testament to their skill. The atmosphere’s boosted by local art splashed across the walls—vibrant, quirky pieces that scream Newark pride and give the place serious character. Then there’s the patio—pure gold. It’s scenic, overlooking Main Street, and perfect for soaking in the bustle of downtown Newark, especially on a warm night with a cold drink in hand. Inside or out, the service is always stellar—warm, attentive, and on point, even when it’s packed. Located at 126 E Main St, Home Grown’s been a staple since 2000, blending that laid-back cafe feel with a killer bar scene. After four years of dinners, late-night hangouts, and countless rounds, I’m still obsessed. If you’re in Newark, hit this place up—five stars doesn’t even cover how much...