The Old Foundation — Restaurant in Town of Delaware

We have dined at the Stone Arch many times in the past and loved it. Food and service was always amazing. Sorry to see that they have closed, but just as excited to see it open again under new name and management. This is where the excitement ends........quickly. Stopped in as a party of 6. They ended up putting us in the back of the bar near the restrooms. Slid two tables together to make it work. Problem...there is no light anywhere near the tables. The only light fixture even near that part of the place is broken. In place of the light, after not being able to see, the bartender brought over one lit pillar candle and told us they did not have time to fix the light. So we now were sitting at tables under one candle power. Could not even read the menus. Had to set up three cell phones with the flashlights on the entire time we were there and lean them on items to be able to see anything. The candles...on all the tables were lit candles not is glass btw.

FOOD Took 30 minutes to get drinks. Bloody Marys were the worst tasting - very odd. Took another 25 minutes to order food. 30 minutes later........... Chicken wings - Good sauce - under cooked after asking to have them well done. Fried Calamari - pretty darn good - portion was way to small for $15 25 minutes later - dinners served - but not all at same time. 10 minutes to get all to the table. Burger and Fries - with no cheese. Medium - Came to table with cheese and burger well done. $19 for the burger by the way. Shells and Cheese - Big boy way of saying Mac and Cheese - $15 for Mac and Cheese with no side is 100% rip off. Steak and Potatoes special - Steak was pretty good, but very fatty. Potatoes were good, but 3 pieces is like nothing and 3 pieces of cut asparagus. Again, overpriced for the meal with no salad or anything. During the night I reached over to get something on the other side of me, and burnt my sweater and forearm on the candle. Char burned my sweater and burned my skin. I told the waitress, and she sort of laughed it off, and when I explained the seriousness of it, she told me it was my fault, and walked away. At that point we just wanted to leave. Took another 20 minutes to get the check, and yes, 25 more minutes to have the check charge processed. The staff seemed very over whelmed and as a result, the service lacked and the food was over priced and lacked quality. We have a place at Villa Roma, and many people came to Stone Arch to eat. I am sure many would come here too. But after I tell them of the experience we had here, and the way the restaurant handled a customer getting burnt on an open flame, I think not. At the very least, someone in management, or the owner should have made him/her self known at the table to see and hear about the meal itself, and more importantly, the burn itself. Would never eat there again even if it was the last place to eat food on earth. Add: Look at the extetior, looks like it condemned. Want to know a good restaurant.....look at the restroom. A porta potty outside would be an...

Approaching The Old Foundation is like approaching any other old building along Route 52. Unassuming and uncomfortably close to the road. As we parked and walked into the restaurant we were confused at the lack of signs identifying the bar/restaurant as The Old Foundation. Our confusion was quickly dispelled by the friendliest wait staff I had encountered in some time. As if I had been coming to this restaurant for years. The decor was simple and rustic. Paper napkins, no tablecloths, band setting up in the corner, plenty of cheer, zero pretention.

We were quickly shown to our table and had the menu explained to us (homemade cheeses and breads and honey from the owner's father's bees, oh my!). The cocktail menu was simple, replete with renamed classics and unfussy house cocktails. As a habitual martini drinker in NYC, I ordered their O.F. Martini, expecting a standard quality dirty martini. Several minutes later the gray haired bartender came to the table with a martini shaker and poured the martini at the table, which keyed me in that I was likely in for a treat. The first sip was ice cold, with its exceptional balance blowing the best martinis I've had in NYC out of the water. (Looking at you 11 Madison Park and Bemelman's). My dining companion had a Manhattan, which was also exceptional, but not quite as perfect as the martini.

The next up was the caprese salad, which was great, the fresh homemade mozzarella being the standout ingredient.

Then came the entrees. I never order pork, but the waitress spoke so highly of the pork chop that I couldn't pass it up. Some number of pounds of pork chop with the belly attached, creating a beautiful seared crescent of fat and flavor around 2/3 of the edge of an elliptical plate, nestling a lovely little bowl of sour cream mashed potatoes, the center of which was depressed so that the butter could unapologetically pool. Greens? Who needs them.

The Old Foundation serves up the best feeling I've had at a restaurant in a very very long time. Genuinely friendly staff, phenomenal drinks and food, and a laid back rustic atmosphere creates a dining experience you can't miss. If you're anywhere near this place, stop in, say hello, and suck down a pork chop and...

We hopped on the bikes last weekend to explore one of our favorite areas in NY and ran into this little gem of a place. Al the bartender was the cutest little thing and his service was top notch! We got the garlic parm wings as an appetizer and they were hands down the most delicious wings we’ve ever had! We split a smash burger and fries and that was also out of this world! The burger had a smoky flavor and the truffle fries were so, so yummy! Friends got the mozzarella ball and that was also amazing. Funny little story … there was a man walking around who was dressed in all black with a hat (possibly an owner or someone who worked there?!) who challenged one of the guys with us to an arm wrestling match for a drink (the regulars seemed like they had seen this show before 😂) but we lost. Good time, though! I would drive the hour and change back up there to eat again in a...