"Chef-owners Bill Hoffman and Merry Catanuto cook James Beard–nominated American food in an 1890s Hockessin farmhouse. Book it for an anniversary."
About The House of William & Merry
The House of William & Merry sits in a restored 1890s farmhouse on Old Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, just west of Wilmington, and is named for the couple who own it and live upstairs: chef William “Bill” Hoffman and Merry Catanuto. It has been one of northern Delaware’s most serious kitchens since opening, and Hoffman has been a James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
The cooking is contemporary American with a French lean and a hard commitment to local, seasonal sourcing. For the wider field, browse more restaurants in Wilmington or compare special-occasion rooms across the RFK city guides.
The Kitchen
Bill Hoffman cooks French-leaning American food built on what local farms send him. The menu turns over with the seasons, but the throughline is confited-and-fried duck wings, roasted pork belly, beef-and-butter noodles and a Chef’s Tasting Board that lets the kitchen show off without a fixed tasting menu.
The format is mostly a la carte, with a three-course Sunday supper at $35 that is the value way in and a tasting board for the table that wants the kitchen to drive. The room is small enough that Hoffman and Catanuto run it personally rather than at a corporate remove.
The Room
The 1890s farmhouse gives the room its character: high ceilings, big windows that catch the light at dinner, and a handful of tables spread across a couple of intimate dining rooms rather than one large floor. Lighting is warm, the volume is low, and service — with the owners on site — is personal. Dress is smart-casual; the hours are dinner-only, Tuesday through Saturday.
Best for an Anniversary
Book The House of William & Merry for an anniversary because the farmhouse rooms are made for a slow, two-person dinner: warm light, low volume, tables spaced for privacy, and a kitchen run by the couple whose name is on the door. Order the Chef’s Tasting Board and let the meal stretch. Compare other anniversary restaurants, or rooms built to impress a client if the dinner has a different job.
Not for
Not for a quick weeknight bite or a large rowdy group — the 1890s farmhouse seats a small room for a slow, dinner-only service, Tuesday through Saturday.
Frequently Asked
Is The House of William & Merry worth it?
Yes, for a special occasion. It is one of greater Wilmington’s most serious kitchens, chef Bill Hoffman is a James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, and the contemporary American cooking — the duck wings, the pork belly, the Chef’s Tasting Board — rewards the trip out to Hockessin. It is less a casual drop-in.
How hard is it to book The House of William & Merry?
Moderate. The farmhouse is small and serves dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, so the tables fill on weekends — book a week or two ahead through OpenTable for a Friday or Saturday. Weeknights are easier, and the three-course Sunday supper, when offered, is the quieter way in.
What is the dress code at The House of William & Merry?
Smart casual. There is no jacket requirement, but the farmhouse setting and the cooking pull most guests to dress up a notch — a collared shirt, a dress, smart separates. You will be comfortable in a blazer and slightly underdressed in shorts and flip-flops.
How much is dinner at The House of William & Merry?
A la carte entrees run in the high $30s, and a three-course Sunday supper has been offered around $35. The Chef’s Tasting Board is priced for the table and lets the kitchen drive. Plan more once wine and a few courses are in, but it stays well short of a big-city tasting tab.
Is The House of William & Merry good for an anniversary?
Yes. The 1890s farmhouse rooms are intimate and warmly lit, the tables are spaced for a private conversation, and the owners run the floor personally. Order the Chef’s Tasting Board, book a weekend table a couple of weeks out, and let the dinner run long.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The House of William & MerryDinner only, Tuesday through Saturday; book ahead for weekend tables.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1336 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707
NeighbourhoodHockessin (greater Wilmington)
CuisineContemporary American
PriceA la carte entrees in the high $30s; three-course Sunday supper $35; Chef’s Tasting Board market price
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingIntimate farmhouse dining rooms
ReservationOpenTable; dinner only, Tue–Sat
