[ RIP ] The Hearth Restaurant Odessa DE – since 1963

Sadly The Hearth has closed 🙁

March 2018 update – I got to visit the re-opened Hearth today to grab a bite to eat and  I was more than satisfied! My gyro was delicious , the waitstaff super friendly, and my napoleon dessert that I took “to go” because I was too full from my gyro and fries was so good it didn’t even make it out of Delaware, as I pulled the car over to devour it. Here are some photos from my visit and some handy details:

• Open 7 days a week 7am-8pm
• They take credit cards
• Breakfast served all day
• Prime Rib served every day
• All baking done on premises
• Daily Specials!
• There will also be some classic car cruise-ins with the Delaware Soul Riders Auto Club – fun!

January 2018 Update: This is one of the first times I’ve been happily able to report a “Resurrected” a Retro Roadmap place – as I’ve learned (through the power of the Retro Roadmap Facebook page) that The Hearth has REOPENED!

I spoke with new owners Gregory and Angie Kazakis and they’ve officially reopened the restaurant as of January 20, 2018.

They were longtime friends of original owner Nick Klederas, and have been in the restaurant business for years. When they had the opportunity to reopen The Hearth, they jumped at the chance!

The menu is the same, but they’ll be adding some Greek specialties (yum!) and most importantly they’re OPEN ON MONDAYS! Since 1963 the restaurant had never been open on Mondays, so this is a big change. They take all credit cards and are open 7am-8pm 7 days a week.

They’re also hiring servers, cooks and dishwashers, so if you’re in the area, stop on by to chat with them.

I’m doing my part in helping them claim their Facebook page and make sure that the internet knows that they’re open again, and so I hope you’ll stop by and support them! How exciting!

June 2017 UPDATE: Sad to report that The Hearth in Odessa, DE has closed, after the death of longtime owner Nicholas “Nick” Klederas. We discovered this while prepping to head down there to share the good news that they are in the Retro Roadmap Delaware book, and feel like we’ve lost a member of the Retro Roadmap family.

Hearth fan Ed P was kind enough to snap these photos of the sign in the window, that went up suddenly after dinner on June 10.

Our hearts go out to Nick’s family, and we’re sad to know that Delaware is down yet another interesting, authentic vintage place.

Original 2016 Post:

Oftentimes, traveling back in time means getting off of the main highways and exploring the back roads. That’s how we discovered The Hearth restaurant in Odessa – just off the north/south expanse of Route 1 that runs from top to bottom of the state.

Under the same ownership of Nicholas “Nick” Klederas since 1963, the first thing that catches your eye about The Hearth is the vintage neon sign out front extolling the virtues of Steaks, Seafood, Lunch and Breakfast. They’ve got it all here at The Hearth.

The next thing you may notice, if you’re a student of highway restaurants, is the geometric cupola topping the restaurant, evoking the Howard Johnsons of a bygone era.

Even stepping inside the earthtone-heavy interior gives that sense of deja-vu, but flip-flopped, with counter service to the left and booth and table seats to the right. We were assured that this had never been a Hojos, but one has to wonder if the success of that iconic roadside chain led to some imitation back in the day?

The menu is a nostalgic throwback as well, with daily specials heavy on the comfort foods of yore: meatloaf and potpie, navy bean soup, lima bean sides. Baked chicken is a Sunday favorite, and the advertised steaks are the prime rib special on Saturday night.

Treat yourself to a dessert of homemade rice pudding to complete your trip into the past, before you hit the road and motor yourself years forward into the present day.

Plan your visit accordingly – they’re closed Mondays

So old school they’re Cash Only