Despite its small size, Wilmington, Delaware has a strong culinary scene. Wilmington’s inventive farm-to-table cuisine, delectable international eateries, and magnificent fine dining places are sure to please foodies. The greatest restaurants in Wilmington highlight the variety of cuisines this city has to offer, with anything from Polish to Peruvian to traditional American fare.
This list of Wilmington’s top 13 restaurants was compiled with careful consideration for value, ambiance, service, and, of course, the food. Restaurants were selected based solely on their excellent online reviews and recommendations. This list covers every eating option and price range to highlight Wilmington’s diverse and excellent culinary scene. Wilmington’s top 12 restaurants offer delicious meals that will satisfy any appetite, whether you’re looking for family-friendly casual dining, romantic riverfront vistas, or inventive takes on international comfort cuisine.
13 Best Restaurants in Wilmington, Delaware
Best Bar Food: Ernest & Scott Taproom
Ernest & Scott Taproom offers excellent bar food and one of Wilmington’s largest selections of craft beers to satisfy your happy hour desires. Their menu focuses on lighthearted, approachable takes on comfort classics like thin-sliced Cuban sandwiches, pretzel sticks dipped in queso fundido, and brick oven pizzas that can be customized.
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Heartier dishes include the always-popular Ernest Burger, which serves luscious toppings like applewood smoked bacon, jalapeño popper filling, and onion tanglers on a toasted brioche bun, and beer can chicken over garlic mash. Excellent bar food that goes well with local IPAs or a glass of wine from Ernest & Scott’s extensive wine list. Weekly specials include mussels and fries on Mondays and $4 select brews during happy hour. Signature-based advice Salted Caramel Stout Wings are created with local stout beer and are oven-roasted and then deep-fried to achieve the highest level of crispness. The sauce is sweet and slightly spicy.
Best Thai: Warasin Thai-Lao Cuisine
For outstanding Thai flavors, Wilmington locals have long favored Warasin Thai-Lao Cuisine, which transports diners to the bustling streets of Southeast Asia. Among the bustling Thai cuisine scene in the city, their incredibly aromatic curries, stir fries, noodle bowls, and spice-popping street dishes stand out. Treat yourself to a taste adventure with meals like nam kao tod, a crunchy rice salad flavored with lime, ginger, and fresh herbs, or gaeng hung lay, a Burmese-style curry packed full of herbs.
With around 100 scratch-made meals that feature influences from Thailand and Laos as well as local Vietnamese and Burmese specialties, customers are always finding new favorites among Warasin’s wide menu options. Thai cuisine’s rich and varied flavors are what make Warasin so delicious, whether you eat in the classy beige dining room or order takeout. The signature dish is Panang Curry, which comes in a rich red curry-peanut sauce and can be served with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or veggies.
Best Polish: The Baked Bear
The Baked Bear is a popular spot in a Polish-populated city when the urge for pierogi or babka arises. The brightly colored wall murals and displays of Polish ceramics give this little location off Union Street a plenty of homey appeal. Locals enjoy their 20 alternating kinds of sweet and savory pierogis, which make them irresistible, especially for the daily special.
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Savor seasonal treats like the Thanksgiving pierogi, packed with turkey, squash, and cranberries, as well as beloved dishes like smoked brisket and sauerkraut mushroom. Hearty, homestyle lunches or dinners can be prepared with Polish dishes like kielbasa platters, potato pancakes, and stuffed cabbage. Make room for their delicious chocolate babkas and crazy cream puffs. Comfort cuisine cooked with love and authentic Polish soul food can be found at Baked Bear, where they serve pierogi-fulls. Combination plate of three types of pierogi, one Polish side dish, and dessert is the standout suggestion.
Best Sushi: Mikimotos Asian Grill & Sushi Bar
Mikimotos serves up amazing Japanese food all around the city, from its iconic site adorning Wilmington’s renowned Riverfront to its lively dining rooms downtown and midtown. Together with house classics like spicy tuna and California rolls, their extensive and constantly-evolving sushi menu thrills with creative rolls. Flavor and texture are expertly balanced in signature dishes like the Samurai Roll, which has tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, crab, and spicy tuna blend.
Beyond sushi, the restaurant shines at well-balanced meals like crunchy tempura, flavorful hibachi, and umami-packed noodle dishes. Along with having some of Wilmington’s best happy hours, Mikimotos also boasts rolls, noodle bowls, and Japanese bar snacks at discounted prices. Mikimotos’ excellent Japanese cuisine and lively atmosphere always satisfies, whether you belly up to the bar for ayce rolls or reserve the tempura room for a special occasion. The Godzilla Roll, a signature dish that includes spicy tuna, salmon, yellowtail, crab, avocado, cucumber, and seaweed salad all wrapped in soy paper, is highly recommended.
Best French: La Fia Bistro
In the bright dining room of La Fia Bistro, which dates back to the 19th century, traditional French methods are combined with modern flair. This downtown treasure is often bustling at lunch and supper thanks to its dishes that combine French soul food with contemporary design. At midday, prepare the ideal croque monsieur bursting with prosciutto and Swiss cheese, or savor dinnertime favorites like onion soup, salad Nicoise, and croque Madame.
Evening provides sophisticated plates paired in unusual ways, such as the amazing lobster BLT with seared foie gras complementing the beef bourguignon and sprinkled with truffle basil emulsion. La Fia Bistro satisfies both casual customers and Francophiles with flawlessly cooked, simple French cuisine that are based on seasonal menu items that emphasize local seafood and vegetables. The signature dish is a red wine demi-glace served with steak frites.
Best Seafood: Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar
Diners yearning for briny oysters, sweet crab, and perfectly prepared coastal favorites are drawn to Banks’ Seafood Kitchen & Raw Bar because of its breathtaking riverfront vistas, which are rivaled only by its seriously fresh seafood. They serve icy-cold, expertly shucked California tuna tartare and local Olde Salts and Cherrystones at their raw bar.
particular dishes like rockfish imperial pay homage to particular Chesapeake flavors, while composed plates like Hawaiian-style poke, seafood paella, and bouillabaisse highlight influences from around the world on seafood. Banks’ FishHouse excels in satisfying any seafood whim, offering crispy fried favorites for lunch and an elegant seafood-centric menu for supper, complete with a bustling bar serving Tito’s cocktails until the small hours. A must-try is the shellfish tower, which is topped with crab claws, clams, jumbo shrimp, lobster, and oysters.
Best Italian: Piccolina Toscana
Located in a chic urban restaurant that was once a 19th-century bank, Piccolina Toscana instantly transports guests to the sun-drenched Tuscan countryside. Entice diners to this modern downtown eating space that exudes warmth and vibrancy with its handcrafted pastas, flavorful wood-fired pizzas, and grilled meats paired with Italian wines.
Broad chalkboard menus with seasonal highlights complement house specialties including vitello capricciossa, truffle mushroom pizza, and shrimp linguine. Piccolina Toscana never disappoints with its excellent Tuscan cuisine, whether you’re just in for a quick pizza at the bar or staying for a leisurely prix fixe dinner. Pappardelle Bolognese with ragu comprising of beef, pork, and veal is a signature recommendation.
Best Mexican: El Diablo Burritos
At El Diablo Burritos, an incredible number of flame-kissed meats, melty cheeses, and colorful vegetables—always sourced locally—are nestled between freshly pressed corn tortillas. Create your own gourmet masterpiece by choosing from their wide selection of mouthwatering ingredients for protein, salsa, garnishes, and more.
Hungry guests laud El Diablo for its overly filling bowls, house-made chips that are extremely addicting, and fiery queso dip. The famous Diablo tortilla, stuffed with of spicy adobo chicken, will burn your taste buds in all the best ways. Heat levels range from mild to daredevil. You’ll need more than one napkin, so be prepared. The Diablo Burrito with adobo chicken and habanero-mango salsa is a standout suggestion.
Best Family-Friendly: Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen
Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen is a great place for family eating, with gigantic pretzels for the kids and local beers for the parents. The menu, which draws inspiration from around the world, tantalises the senses while the relaxed pub atmosphere keeps spirits up.
Savor signature Grain Burgers stacked to the brim with applewood bacon and brie, wood-fired pizzas topped with unusual toppings like honey ham and lychee, or wings marinated in world spice rubs. Grain never fails to please both parents and kids with its generous portions, affordable costs, and kid-friendly games. Arugula, caramelized onion, goat cheese, fig, and Italian sausage are the ingredients of the signature dish, Fig & Pig Pizza.
Best Brunch: Eggspectation
It seems like everyone is swarming Eggspectation these days to fill up on delicious breakfast food that is served far into the afternoon. There’s always a wait because weekends are so busy, but the complimentary coffee and pastries help. Pick from dishes like their signature challah French toast, oozing with vanilla mascarpone and fresh berries, or fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes.
They also excel at lunchtime, serving up gourmet burgers and sandwiches. The welcoming staff will make your day more lively whether you choose to sit at the bar or grab a table by the river. They serve you promptly and attentively. Crab & Shrimp Benny with Dijon Hollandaise is a standout suggestion.
Best Farm-to-Table: Farmer & the Cow
The husband-and-wife-owned Farmer & the Cow is tucked away on a little downtown street and boasts excellent flavors in its quaint setting. A large number of ingredients are purchased directly from their family farm or from nearby suppliers, giving the seasonal New American menu an exceptionally fresh touch.
A feast for the eyes and stomach awaits you when you try the Local Beet Burger, which is topped with Hakurei turnips and cheddar sauce, or the Cast Iron Baked Eggs, which are brimming with caramelized onions, spinach, local mushrooms, and a smokey five-year Hook’s gouda. To get the ultimate farm-to-table experience, pair your meal with a freshly squeezed juice or a locally crafted beer. The signature dish is baked eggs and mushrooms.
Best Upscale: La Fia
Modern Italian classics are given a contemporary twist at La Fia, which features an intimate riverfront patio and a sleek, modern décor with wood beam accents. Head Chef Bryan Sikora creates creative meals such as citrus-cured artic char, caramelized scallops with black garlic vinaigrette, and squid ink gnocchi by sourcing top seasonal ingredients.
Market fresh pastas and beautiful creative cocktails draw customers on special occasions, but neighborhood regulars are drawn in by the friendly service and affordable prices. With meals that are as visually beautiful as they are incredibly savory, it’s no surprise that La Fia has become one of Wilmington’s top spots for inventive Italian cuisine. The signature suggestion is Fettuccini Nero.