Stone Balloon Ale House rocks noshes like beef and bacon 'lollipops'

Newark's Stone Balloon Ale House still rocks, but these days it's more about the food than music.

The kitchen, under the supervision of chef Robbie Jester, is turning out some nice riffs on comfort food. Jester is perhaps best known for making a better shrimp scampi than celebrity chef Bobby Flay on a 2016 episode of "Beat Bobby Flay."

Jester's $21 winning dish, cavatelli shrimp scampi made with shrimp, arugula and tomatoes in a lemon toasted garlic butter sauce over hand rolled herb cavatelli with garlic bread crumble is still on the Stone Balloon menu.  

A nosh with pals is always nice and the Stone Balloon is a good spot to hunker down, especially now that downtown Newark is a little quieter these days. Fewer students are in town this month as the University of Delaware's five-week "winter session" semester continues through Feb. 9.  

During a recent visit to the 115 E. Main St. restaurant, a host suggested we get the Beef & Bacon Lollipops ($9). I'm glad he did.

Jester takes this classic dish and turns the meatloaf into tender, meatball-size chunks. He then wraps each one with bacon and brushes it with a tomato-Dijon-brown sugar dipping sauce.

No forks are needed; it's served with skewers. Just pop the ball of meatloaf in your mouth and enjoy with a hearty red wine or cold brew from the long list. We liked the Malbec ($8.50).

The "lollipops" also are gluten-free.

If you're skipping meat, try the Saku Tuna Poke ($13.50). Raw ahi tuna and creamy chunks of avocado are tossed with a ginger sambal sesame sauce and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. It's bright, light and has a hint of sneaky heat. 

Vegetable fans should enjoy the Brussalos ($10), a pile of lightly breaded and flash fried Brussels sprouts tossed in an ale hot sauce that will fire up the taste buds.

Cool the burn with the accompanying celery sticks dipped in Gorgonzola dressing.

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Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico