Few restaurants survive five years, let alone a decade. However, Kid Shelleen’s Charcoal House & Saloon in Wilmington’s Trolley Square turned a remarkable 40 last year—and it’s not the only Delaware restaurant marking a milestone. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, these iconic spots—all founded before 1990—are worth a visit.
The Midway Shopping Center restaurant opened in 1989 with a $17.76 prix-fixe meal served by staff in colonial garb. Three years later, 1776 became a steakhouse, but the atmosphere remained. Tom Holmes, who purchased the establishment in 2007, kept the name and the theme but upped the quality. Interestingly, lobster-filled black ravioli is a leading entrée. 18585 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach; 645-9355.
In the 1970s, Dan Lickle turned a Hockessin hardware and coal-supply company into boutiques. Shoppers needed a place to eat, so the Back Burner debuted in 1980. The open kitchen and mirrored ceiling—designed for cooking classes—was unique at the time. Later, the restaurant moved to a location in the same shopping center. The pumpkin-mushroom soup and shrimp Lejon are favorites. (Dan and Missy Lickle later opened Krazy Kat’s in Montchanin.) 425 Hockessin Corner, Hockessin; 239-2314…