Food: ****
Staff: ****1/2
Ambiance: ****
Experience: ****
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Address: 1716 Marsh Rd, Wilmington DE
Website: http://www.ulyssesgastropub.com/ulysses-gastropub/
Phone #: (302) 691-3456
My family never intended to go to Ulysses for the holidays, but circumstances conveniently drove us towards this amazing gastropub in Wilmington, DE. Lets start with the decor. Think upscale sports bar with a family dining twist. While the restaurant itself is situated in a strip mall, once you go inside, you will find that you quickly forget that you are in a shopping center. There are TVs around the room with a variety of sporting events on, and the staff is extremely cordial. The room was very noisy, but it wasn't an annoyance by any means. It's about what you would expect from a gastropub around the New Year. I was especially impressed with our waitress, who I believe may have been an owner of some sort. If not, she was extremely passionate about her job, which was quite refreshing. I maybe saw 2 other employees working the filled-to-capacity restaurant, including bartending, and our waitress never skipped a beat. My family and I felt that we were VIPs the entire night.
I was fortunate enough to be joined by my good friend, Larry, who threw down with me on the 4th of July and clearly kicked my butt in our Burger Showdown. He is, by all means, part of my family as far as I'm concerned. The original plan was for the two of us to grab an appetizer while I was visiting my in-laws for the holidays, but that plan quickly evolved into a full-fledged family night out full of presents and holiday cheer. The mark of a true friend is one that has no issue spending time with your in-laws (actually, my father-in-law gets along with Larry as well as I do).
Onto the food! We figured since I was blogging and since it was the holidays that we ought to have some apps. Larry and I made what was possibly one of the best decisions of our dining out experiences when we ordered the Fresh Baked Pretzels. They were soft, buttery, and slightly salty. On top of being everything that you hope for in a pretzel, they came with two different dipping sauces: a Beer and Cheese Fondue and a Horseradish Mustard. The Fondue was thick and creamy with a mild cheese taste that didn't overpower the pretzel, and the mustard was smooth with a nice kick from the horseradish. Larry and I both preferred the fondue, but we did keep both sauces when the plate was cleared so we could have the rest of them with our entrees.
As good as the pretzels were, our choice of appetizer was vastly outshined by Faye's. She and my father-in-law were trying to decide on an app until Faye suggested the Prime Rib and Potato Chip Nachos. In all honesty, if you mention the words "Prime Rib" to my father-in-law, he's in. The dish was a great size and ended up becoming a plate for the table (although Larry and I politely waited to be offered a bite only had one...or three...). This app is composed of shaved Prime Rib, House-made Kettle Chips, Caramelized Peppers and Onions, the Beer and Cheddar Fondue Larry and I loved so much, and Gorgonzola. Take one look at the picture below and you'll know that these were not your average nachos. Start with the fact that the chips were potato chips and not corn tortilla chips. They were lightly salted and served more as a catalyst for the quality ingredients layered on top of them than as a dominant flavor of the dish. They were crispy, but not burnt, and held up well to the toppings. The Prime Rib was tender and well-seasoned, and the cheeses blended well with the veggies and seasonings. No one ingredient overpowered any other, and they made for an amazing, high-quality nacho that I would have been proud to have made myself. They didn't last long....
Now, it's time for the entrées. Larry and I partially wanted to order the same thing to provide a well-rounded review of one particular dish, but the truth is that we both love the same types of food and would have ordered the same thing either way. We do this all too often. We went with the Fish and Chips, a beer-battered Atlantic Cod with Hand-cut Fries and a Basil Tartar Sauce. I will get to the flavor soon, but the most striking part of this dish, one that Larry and I both commented on immediately, was its presentation. The meal is served very simply on a wooden cutting board which was something that neither of us had seen before and something that I will probably steal in the future. I was initially concerned that there was only 2 pieces of fish on the board, but as it was cod, the fish was meaty and very filling. The Batter was well-seasoned and balanced between the salty and beer flavors without being too oily, but there was a bit too much of it. Larry and I both had about 1/2 an inch of extra batter on the end of each of our pieces of fish, but as it was delicious, neither of us was too concerned. The fries were crispy and lightly salted. The addition of the fresh herbs on top was refreshing and a true sign of a restaurant that takes every element of its menu seriously. The fish flaked easily but did not fall apart when you picked it up, and the sauce was the perfect balance of tanginess and freshness. The Basil was a great addition!
Faye did not surprise me at all when she ordered the Thai Mahi Tacos. If fish tacos are on a menu, you can almost always count on either Faye or my mother-in-law to order them. These tacos came with Tempura-fried Mahi, a Cabbage and Carrot Slaw, and a Chili Bean and Soy Aioli with a side of homemade Tortilla Chips and Lime Wedges. While the presentation was not as cool as the cutting boards (yup, I'm bragging), the colors of the meal popped immediately. The slaw was creamy and balanced the crispness of the tempura batter perfectly. I could hear the batter crunch as Faye bit into it like you hear in potato chip commercials. The serving size is two tacos. I view this dish more as a great lunch option rather than dinner, but I admit that Faye has much more restraint than I do when it comes to portion size. The lime was a nice touch but not needed. Again, Ulysses Gastropub proved that it is a restaurant that prides itself on fresh ingredients and the balance of flavors.
My mother-in-law also didn't surprise me when she ordered a pizza. She did not just order any ordinary pizza, however. She went with the Tomato Bruschetta pizza. It's topped with Basil and Garlic marinated Tomatoes, Herbed Ricotta, Mozzarella, and a Balsamic Reduction. The crust was crisp on the bottom but soft throughout (without being too bready), and the cheeses were more creamy than they were stretchy. If you're looking for a classic pizza, this is not the one for you. If you want something a bit more gourmet, then I highly recommend this one. My mother-in-law wasn't thrilled with the Ricotta, but that had nothing to due with the restaurant's ability to cook. It's just personal preference. My only critique was of the Balsamic Reduction, but I'm never a fan of balsamic vinegar. The pizza was definitely reminiscent of bruschetta, and I'm excited to go back to try some of the other pizzas they have on the menu.
Lastly, my father-in-law also didn't disappoint me with his order. He went with his go-to: a burger. Ulysses Gastropub's Joyce Burger features an 8 oz. patty, Bacon, Cheddar, Onion Marmalade, Lettuce, and Tomato. A toasted, fresh bun held the juiciness of this burger together well. This was a "no ketchup needed" burger. The bacon was thick-cut and the perfect mix of crispy and chewy. The veggies were fresh and crisp, and the marmalade was flavorful yet subtle. This was a burger that you heard crunch when you bit into it and then had to wipe the juices off of your chin when you were done. Add on a side of homemade Potato Chips, and this was everything that you want in a pub burger. It came out at a perfect Medium, just as it was ordered, and I will definitely be back to have one for myself.
All in all, this meal was everything you could want for a family meal. With how busy this place was and how good the food was, I can't rave about it enough. There is something for everyone on the menu, and you are guaranteed fresh ingredients treated with the caring hands of a restaurant that prides itself on good food prepared simply. If you get the chance, you need to stop by this place. I promise you a great meal that you will be telling your friends about!
Staff: ****1/2
Ambiance: ****
Experience: ****
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Address: 1716 Marsh Rd, Wilmington DE
Website: http://www.ulyssesgastropub.com/ulysses-gastropub/
Phone #: (302) 691-3456
My family never intended to go to Ulysses for the holidays, but circumstances conveniently drove us towards this amazing gastropub in Wilmington, DE. Lets start with the decor. Think upscale sports bar with a family dining twist. While the restaurant itself is situated in a strip mall, once you go inside, you will find that you quickly forget that you are in a shopping center. There are TVs around the room with a variety of sporting events on, and the staff is extremely cordial. The room was very noisy, but it wasn't an annoyance by any means. It's about what you would expect from a gastropub around the New Year. I was especially impressed with our waitress, who I believe may have been an owner of some sort. If not, she was extremely passionate about her job, which was quite refreshing. I maybe saw 2 other employees working the filled-to-capacity restaurant, including bartending, and our waitress never skipped a beat. My family and I felt that we were VIPs the entire night.
I was fortunate enough to be joined by my good friend, Larry, who threw down with me on the 4th of July and clearly kicked my butt in our Burger Showdown. He is, by all means, part of my family as far as I'm concerned. The original plan was for the two of us to grab an appetizer while I was visiting my in-laws for the holidays, but that plan quickly evolved into a full-fledged family night out full of presents and holiday cheer. The mark of a true friend is one that has no issue spending time with your in-laws (actually, my father-in-law gets along with Larry as well as I do).
Onto the food! We figured since I was blogging and since it was the holidays that we ought to have some apps. Larry and I made what was possibly one of the best decisions of our dining out experiences when we ordered the Fresh Baked Pretzels. They were soft, buttery, and slightly salty. On top of being everything that you hope for in a pretzel, they came with two different dipping sauces: a Beer and Cheese Fondue and a Horseradish Mustard. The Fondue was thick and creamy with a mild cheese taste that didn't overpower the pretzel, and the mustard was smooth with a nice kick from the horseradish. Larry and I both preferred the fondue, but we did keep both sauces when the plate was cleared so we could have the rest of them with our entrees.
As good as the pretzels were, our choice of appetizer was vastly outshined by Faye's. She and my father-in-law were trying to decide on an app until Faye suggested the Prime Rib and Potato Chip Nachos. In all honesty, if you mention the words "Prime Rib" to my father-in-law, he's in. The dish was a great size and ended up becoming a plate for the table (although Larry and I politely waited to be offered a bite only had one...or three...). This app is composed of shaved Prime Rib, House-made Kettle Chips, Caramelized Peppers and Onions, the Beer and Cheddar Fondue Larry and I loved so much, and Gorgonzola. Take one look at the picture below and you'll know that these were not your average nachos. Start with the fact that the chips were potato chips and not corn tortilla chips. They were lightly salted and served more as a catalyst for the quality ingredients layered on top of them than as a dominant flavor of the dish. They were crispy, but not burnt, and held up well to the toppings. The Prime Rib was tender and well-seasoned, and the cheeses blended well with the veggies and seasonings. No one ingredient overpowered any other, and they made for an amazing, high-quality nacho that I would have been proud to have made myself. They didn't last long....
Now, it's time for the entrées. Larry and I partially wanted to order the same thing to provide a well-rounded review of one particular dish, but the truth is that we both love the same types of food and would have ordered the same thing either way. We do this all too often. We went with the Fish and Chips, a beer-battered Atlantic Cod with Hand-cut Fries and a Basil Tartar Sauce. I will get to the flavor soon, but the most striking part of this dish, one that Larry and I both commented on immediately, was its presentation. The meal is served very simply on a wooden cutting board which was something that neither of us had seen before and something that I will probably steal in the future. I was initially concerned that there was only 2 pieces of fish on the board, but as it was cod, the fish was meaty and very filling. The Batter was well-seasoned and balanced between the salty and beer flavors without being too oily, but there was a bit too much of it. Larry and I both had about 1/2 an inch of extra batter on the end of each of our pieces of fish, but as it was delicious, neither of us was too concerned. The fries were crispy and lightly salted. The addition of the fresh herbs on top was refreshing and a true sign of a restaurant that takes every element of its menu seriously. The fish flaked easily but did not fall apart when you picked it up, and the sauce was the perfect balance of tanginess and freshness. The Basil was a great addition!
Faye did not surprise me at all when she ordered the Thai Mahi Tacos. If fish tacos are on a menu, you can almost always count on either Faye or my mother-in-law to order them. These tacos came with Tempura-fried Mahi, a Cabbage and Carrot Slaw, and a Chili Bean and Soy Aioli with a side of homemade Tortilla Chips and Lime Wedges. While the presentation was not as cool as the cutting boards (yup, I'm bragging), the colors of the meal popped immediately. The slaw was creamy and balanced the crispness of the tempura batter perfectly. I could hear the batter crunch as Faye bit into it like you hear in potato chip commercials. The serving size is two tacos. I view this dish more as a great lunch option rather than dinner, but I admit that Faye has much more restraint than I do when it comes to portion size. The lime was a nice touch but not needed. Again, Ulysses Gastropub proved that it is a restaurant that prides itself on fresh ingredients and the balance of flavors.
My mother-in-law also didn't surprise me when she ordered a pizza. She did not just order any ordinary pizza, however. She went with the Tomato Bruschetta pizza. It's topped with Basil and Garlic marinated Tomatoes, Herbed Ricotta, Mozzarella, and a Balsamic Reduction. The crust was crisp on the bottom but soft throughout (without being too bready), and the cheeses were more creamy than they were stretchy. If you're looking for a classic pizza, this is not the one for you. If you want something a bit more gourmet, then I highly recommend this one. My mother-in-law wasn't thrilled with the Ricotta, but that had nothing to due with the restaurant's ability to cook. It's just personal preference. My only critique was of the Balsamic Reduction, but I'm never a fan of balsamic vinegar. The pizza was definitely reminiscent of bruschetta, and I'm excited to go back to try some of the other pizzas they have on the menu.
Lastly, my father-in-law also didn't disappoint me with his order. He went with his go-to: a burger. Ulysses Gastropub's Joyce Burger features an 8 oz. patty, Bacon, Cheddar, Onion Marmalade, Lettuce, and Tomato. A toasted, fresh bun held the juiciness of this burger together well. This was a "no ketchup needed" burger. The bacon was thick-cut and the perfect mix of crispy and chewy. The veggies were fresh and crisp, and the marmalade was flavorful yet subtle. This was a burger that you heard crunch when you bit into it and then had to wipe the juices off of your chin when you were done. Add on a side of homemade Potato Chips, and this was everything that you want in a pub burger. It came out at a perfect Medium, just as it was ordered, and I will definitely be back to have one for myself.
All in all, this meal was everything you could want for a family meal. With how busy this place was and how good the food was, I can't rave about it enough. There is something for everyone on the menu, and you are guaranteed fresh ingredients treated with the caring hands of a restaurant that prides itself on good food prepared simply. If you get the chance, you need to stop by this place. I promise you a great meal that you will be telling your friends about!