DESCRIPTION: This place has some of the best beer in Delaware and it is made on site. The food is down to earth and good. Nothing too special, but all made well and fine examples of the cuisine. <P>If only I had the adjectives to describe how truly wonderful their beers are. There are many different types for different tastes - but don't panic, they offer a "beer sampler" of their different brews. But take my advice - Big Bear Amber Ale. Some may recommend the IPA, Golden or Wheat, and there are those that swear by the Stout. For me it's Amber (remember that when you see me at the bar, buy me an Amber). There are also seasonal beers that must be tried (every once in awhile they have Strong beer - yummy and intoxicating). <P>In this day and age where everything is starting to look like a Benagan's or TGI Friday's or the same with sports paraphernalia it is nice to find a simple bar with an English feel (that is in no way forced). It is not too small nor is it too large. For amusement there is witty repartee with the bartenders, darts, shuffleboard and NTN. But of course the best entertainment of all is the other fine patrons and regulars in this establishment.
DATE: 2000-04-03
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken or Steak Oscar (the steak is not listed as Steak Oscar but is embeddedin the description of the steak as an option) - chicken or steak with crabmeat, asparagus, and hollandaise sauce; Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad - Anything with their blackened chicken can't be beat; Onion Rings - Sometimes it is just the simple things in life that bestsatisfy.

Follow-up
DESCRIPTION: I have been back a few times. Each time the menu prices raise by 20% and the food is a little worse. The Chicken Oscar isn't even on the menu anymore. The staff is still friendly and the beer is still good. Go there to drink.....after dinner.
DATE: 2000-11-21
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Beer

Not as good as Before
DESCRIPTION: I'm not sure what has happened to this place but it isn't as good as it used to be. There is usually a long wait for your food, which isn't that great. I used to enjoy watching football on all the screens and eating nachos. Now the nachos taste stale and the cheese is often cooked on too much or hasn't quite melted.
DATE: 2001-06-22
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : None

Absolutely Terrible
DESCRIPTION: Have been there a few times and never truely satisfied. The wait staff deserves a round of applause for their friendlieness but all in all it is not a place that I would recommend.
DATE: 2003-07-22
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2

Where the Townies and Students Converge
DESCRIPTION: The Deer Park is pretty much the default bar and meeting place in Newark, Delaware. If you haven t been in the Deer Park you haven t been to Newark. It is a common hangout for students and different groups even have their meetings around tables at the DP. I remember fondly every Wednesday night of my student career hanging out with friends eating half-priced nachos. The DP has a vast number of beers in bottles and a fair amount on tap. At night (after 9 or so) you will be carded (and if you are a minor be prepared to be marked as such). <P> The restaurant is fair to middling but occasionally they surprise me with something wonderful. It is always worth looking at the specials menu. There was a time that their nacho grande plate could not be beat. They do have veggie burgers as well as a few other vegetarian options. <P> The bar is pretty standard. They have a good selection of imported beers and nightly drink specials. There is live music of a variety of genres (not every night). When there is a live band there is sometimes a small cover charge. <P> The ambience is somewhere between historically interesting (with picture of Newark from ages past) and simulating an oversized hole in the wall bar (or typical townie bar). At night do not be surprised if you feet stick to the floor a little. (What do you expect, it can get crowded and enough people walking around with beer and there is bound to be some spillage) A good description of the DP s atmosphere might be comfortable. <P> The real reason why you go to the DP is to hang out with the residents of Newark (and nearby Elkton). The porch offers a good view of Main Street passerbyers (but beware of trains they blow there whistle when passing)
DATE: 2000-04-10
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Nacho Grande

no more sticking to the floor!
DESCRIPTION: The Deer Park has been recently renovated and brought back to life - life as it was in the 1800s, that is. It is finally a beautiful building, capitalizing on Newark's and its own history. But it's not too beautiful to command a high-priced menu or to exclude either students or townies. It's now a place any student would be proud to take her parents on visiting day.
DATE: 2002-10-11
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Turkey Dijon on a Pretzel Roll for lunch, Blackened Scallops for dinner

Crikey! Look at the size of those portions mate!
DESCRIPTION: Impossible to leave hungry, Outback offers very generous portions to go with top-notch hospitality. Everything on the menu tastes even better than imagined. Even the french onion soup was a meaty meal in itself! I could barely finish my Drover's Platter (BBQ ribs and chicken) by the time it came. Also, I will ONLY get ribs from here. They are the best - tender and falling off the bone. The waitress then asked, "Got room for desert?". I wanted to laugh but was too full so I simply smiled gracefully as a shook no. Go to Outback and you'll have no worries mate.
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Too Right French Onion Soup, Drover's Platter

Worst Dining Experience Ever!@! Do not Attempt!
DESCRIPTION: Do not go here! I do not even know where to begin. Starting from losing our reservation to serving warm white wine to the worst service (Kenny) I have ever encountered followed by an aweful $32 Lobster Dish. The salad was warm as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp with limp field greens with none of the cheeses or nuts that were supposed to come with it. Our table received the wrong salads then were promptly served to the table next to us. All of our Lobster dishes were served to a table accross the room then taken back to the kitchen and put under a heat lamp again. The "truffle sauce" was the worst "compliment" to lobster. This by far was our worst dining experience. We will always get a kick out of remebering the bumbling waiter and horrific quality of food because nothing has ever com close to this disater. Some restaurants may have a bad evening and I understand that but this one goes down in the record books. It will be hard to top this loser!
DATE: 2003-07-27
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : None

Awesome Experience
DESCRIPTION: This is a wonderful restaurant, Great atmosphere and really nice bar out near the bamboo patio. This has got to be one of the finest meals we have eaten in a very long time.
DATE: 2003-08-02
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Lobster and Rack of Lamb