Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats
A brew pub launched by a locally popular craft brewery sounds in concept like a good marketing idea, and, who knows, maybe it is given that new brews are typically offered to test their public reception before mass marketing. But the food . . . stay with the beer samplers. Dogfish Head is a local Delaware brewer legend started in 1995 and has expanded nationally, including opening three local restaurants, Brewing & Eats, Chesapeake & Maine, and Milton Brewery. This review excludes Milton Brewery, perhaps it is different and better. The pub menu approach at Dogfish Head and Chesapeake & Maine tastes like it is right off the Sysco delivery truck and into the kitchen’s fryer, grill, or industrial containers for storage, but the owners claim everything is made from scratch – perhaps it is, but at some point Sysco manufactures its food from scratch as well. We will grant the restaurant its homemade food, but the taste and preparation is meh, service meh, and overall non-drinking experience also is meh. On one occasion, when we were maybe partly through an entree, a server with an itch to clear plates asked if we were “done enjoying that,” a question that’s more a presumption. Maybe we were finished enjoying it after the first bite? Maybe the unconsumed half is a testament to our limited enjoyment? It is not all bad, though, as Dogfish Head is a good destination for brews, nightly bands and local artist music, and order some bar food like wings and burgers to satisfy your munchies. But do not expect gourmet pub style food because for that, there are plenty of other of Delmarva options where you can order good bar food and still enjoy excellent Dogfish Head IPAs.
