Weekly specials are just the ticket for affordable fun..
I used to be the kind of guy who believed I had to dine out on weekends to properly appreciate a restaurant’s vibe. I craved buzzy rooms filled with chatty patrons and turned-up music, reasoning that I would find fun times once I found a good crowd. Now that I’m a great deal older and marginally wiser, I know that fun times are something to be made, not found. A few friends and a half-baked plan are all anyone needs to create memorable moments, and any day of the week will do just fine.
Consider the advantages: Slower nights mean more room, so we can all spread out a little. Waitstaff are less rushed, and presumably more attentive. Most important, the weeknights are when the weekly special deals kick in. Just pick your night and you can probably predict the special: Wednesdays seem inclined toward wings and wine (not as a pairing, thankfully), There are a bunch of Taco Tuesdays, and burger nights pop up throughout the week.
Here are a few we’ve found in the Greater Wilmington and Brandywine Valley. Remember to tip your server according to the “regular” price – and be sure to let me know if you hear about a “Wagyu Wednesday” popping up anywhere.
McGlynn’s Pub: Wing Night (All-you-can-eat wings for $18.99 after 5 p.m.)
Pizza By Elizabeths: Wine Tasting Wednesdays (Choose any vintage wine and receive three 3-ounce pours for just $15.)
Taco Grande: What’s Your Dilla? Wednesday ($3 off quesadillas, $3 Corona & Corona Light Bottles, $3 Modelo Pints.)
Trolley Square Oyster House: Oyster Night, plus $4 Truly Hard Seltzers, $25 bottles of wine
Washington Street Ale House: Wing Night, choice of boneless (½ lb., $12), “famous fiery wings” (8 for $12.50) or buffalo tenders (½ lb, $12.50). Selection of featured sauces.
Wilma’s: Burger Night ($10. Choice of hamburger, turkey, grilled eggplant. 5 new topping variations each week.)
Harry’s Savoy Grill: $2 oysters during lunch and dinner.
McGlynn’s Pub: All-you-can-eat shrimp for $17.99 and a $28.99 prime rib special after 5 p.m.
Taco Grande: Date Night Thursday ($65 Fiesta for Two includes chips & salsa, TG House Margarita pitcher, fajitas for two).
Trolley Square Oyster House: Mussel Pot Night, plus $6 Tito’s Mixes
Washington Street Ale House: Taco Night (Choice of flour or corn tacos, $4-$5 each, add-ons available for added cost.)
Wilma’s: Six-course tasting menu (after 4 p.m., $45)
FRIDAY
McGlynn’s Pub: Prime rib night ($32.99 after 5 p.m.).
Trolley Square Oyster House: Fish Fry Fridays.
SATURDAY
McGlynn’s Pub: Prime rib night ($32.99 after 5 p.m.)
SUNDAY
Harry’s Savoy Grill: Sunday Prime Rib Special (3 courses for $49.95. Choice of clam chowder or caesar salad, chef's-cut prime rib with whipped potatoes, and crème brûlée.)
McGlynn’s Pub: Beef and Beer all-day special ($14.50 for any hot roast beef sandwich and a pint of domestic beer.)
Stanley’s Tavern: $5 off full rack of baby back ribs, includes two sides. Dine-in only.)
Trolley Square Oyster House: $8 Crushes all day.
With so many incredible weekday specials to choose from, every night can be an opportunity to enjoy Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s lively dining scene without breaking the bank. Whether you’re gathering with friends for wing night, savoring a date night with discounted wine, or indulging in prime rib to wrap up the week, these local spots make it easy to find flavor and fun any day. So why wait for the weekend? Head out, explore new favorites, and treat yourself to an affordable weeknight adventure that’s as memorable as it is delicious. Cheers to good food, good company, and the unbeatable charm of dining out midweek!
Author
Eric Ruth
When I’m not eating, I’m almost certainly thinking about what to eat next. I’ve been a journalist and writer for 46 years, a cook for 50, and a hopeless food fanatic for each and every one. For 12 years, I served as fine-dining columnist at the statewide newspaper, DelawareOnline.com, and have written for the Food Network and Delaware Today.
