On this Bardea evaluate, we discover why Bardea Meals & Drink in Wilmington, DE, is a must-visit vacation spot for revolutionary eating. Identified for its fusion of Italian delicacies with trendy culinary twists, Bardea provides an unforgettable eating expertise that has made it the most effective eating places in Delaware, and past.
Bardea Meals & Drink Evaluation
One go to to Bardea is all it takes to see why this downtown Wilmington hotspot is redefining town’s meals scene. Since opening in 2018, Chef Antimo DiMeo and co-owner Scott Stein’s flagship restaurant has earned nationwide recognition, a number of James Beard nominations, and most just lately, a spot on USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the 12 months listing.
As a New York transplant who’s known as Delaware house for 20 years, I can confidently say Bardea delivers the standard, vitality, and innovation of NYC’s landmark eating places with out the tolls or prepare fare. It’s fantastic to have a eating expertise of this caliber proper right here in Wilmington.
The identify “Bardea” comes from the Italian time period for “the goddess of foods and drinks” – and after eating right here, you’ll perceive why divine references are completely applicable.
First Impressions: Stylish But Welcoming
The bustling bar at Bardea Meals & Drink in Wilmington, DE | Picture: Higher Residing
Upon getting into Bardea, you’re greeted by a bustling bar space and a pleasant hostess station. The vibe is stylish and upscale, however not in a method that feels stuffy or pretentious. It’s an elegant spot with a contemporary, trendy design accented by rustic components that subtly nod to its Italian influences with out falling into clichéd trattoria territory.
We arrived at 5PM to seize a window seat for photographs, and by 6PM, the eating room and bar space had been packed. Reservations are completely a should. Even when full, the house by no means feels overwhelming. It’s energetic with out being chaotic and the acoustics are good, permitting for straightforward dialog regardless of the energetic buzz of the eating room.
Service at Bardea: Considerate, Seamless, and Impressively Environment friendly
A typical Saturday night at Bardea | Picture: Higher Residing
Bardea’s service is flawless. Our server, Emily, was pleasant, educated, and attentive with out hovering. Drinks had been refilled with out asking, and plates arrived at simply the correct tempo—by no means rushed, by no means leaving us ready too lengthy.
What actually stood out? The plate-clearing precision. Since Bardea focuses on dishes meant for sharing, it will be straightforward for a two-top to get overwhelmed. However right here, empty plates by no means sat for greater than a minute earlier than a pleasant workers member (our unofficial MVP of the night) requested to clear them away. In a packed home on a Saturday evening, that stage of well-orchestrated effectivity is uncommon and spectacular.
Bardea’s Menu: Daring, Lovely, and Brilliantly Crafted
Bardea’s menu, led by James Beard-nominated Government Chef Antimo DiMeo, is the place issues get fascinating. His method takes traditional Italian flavors and reinvents them, incorporating trendy strategies and surprising world influences. Each creation is as visually beautiful as it’s scrumptious—that is meals as artwork, however with out the pretension. Pure consolation meals, elevated to the subsequent stage.
All of the dishes we ordered showcased Chef DiMeo’s constant excellence – superior flavors and plating throughout, with every presentation being a pleasant shock.
What We Ordered at Bardea
Hen Parm Bao Bun ($16)
Bardea’s signature Hen Parm Bao Buns | Picture: Higher Residing
When you assume hen parm doesn’t belong in a bao bun, assume once more. This dish blew us away. A pillowy, chewy bao bun full of crispy hen parm, melty mozzarella, and vodka sauce—it’s an Italian-Asian fusion masterpiece that by some means works even higher than you’d think about. Absolute must-order.
Crab Taco ($18)
Bardea’s artfully designed Crab Taco | Picture: Higher Residing
This artfully composed dish redefines what a taco might be. It contains a vibrant inexperienced tortilla base topped with a tempura-fried squash blossom that’s been full of creamy crab filling. The distinction between the crunchy exterior and the wealthy, velvety crab inside makes every chunk distinctive. Dots of lemon kosho and kanzuri add brilliant, complicated flavors and delicate warmth, balancing the dish. It’s a major instance of Chef DiMeo’s meticulous consideration to element.
Linguine ($25)
Bardea’s luxurious Linguine with XO sauce and caviar | Picture: Higher Residing
The pasta is completely al dente with a wealthy, umami-packed scallop XO sauce and topped with rock shrimp and caviar. Each chunk is a mixture of silky noodles, briny pops of caviar, and tender shrimp. This dish feels indulgent in all the correct methods.
Ravioli ($22)
Bardea’s intricate persimmon and robiola cheese ravioli | Picture: Higher Residing
A dish made for sharing, these delicate rounds are crammed with candy persimmon and creamy robiola cheese, then topped with crunchy pecans. They relaxation in a light-weight amber broth that ties all the pieces collectively superbly. Every raviolo provides the right chunk – tender pasta giving strategy to a filling that balances candy fruit with tangy cheese in harmonious proportion. The flavors lean pleasantly to the candy facet, making these an surprising spotlight to our savory programs.
Iberico Pork ($23)
Bardea’s expertly ready Iberico Pork | Picture: Higher Residing
Seared to perfection, with a crispy exterior and melt-in-your-mouth middle, this dish will get additional depth from truffle-chili au jus, inexperienced apple, and nutty Comté cheese. The candy, salty, and umami components make this one an immediate favourite.
The Working Lady ($16)
The Working Lady cocktail at Bardea Meals & Drink | Picture: Higher Residing
A classy tequila cocktail that mixes reposado tequila, chinola, aji amarillo ardour fruit syrup, lemon and pineapple juices, pechauds bitters, and toasted coconut agave. Topped with an isomalt garnish dusted with sweetened coconut and togarashi powder, it’s each visually putting and deliciously complicated. Candy, tart, and subtly spicy, it complemented the varied flavors all through our meal.
Candy Finishes: Desserts Price Saving Room For
Bardea’s decadent desserts: Sticky Toffee Pudding and Olive Oil Cake | Picture: Higher Residing
Bardea’s dessert program, led by Head Pastry Chef Amanda Nichols, deserves particular recognition. Her journey is simply as spectacular as her creations. Beginning as a part-time pizza prepare dinner when the restaurant opened, she now leads the pastry division, regardless of a extreme gluten allergy. Her desserts showcase each technical ability and creativity throughout all Bardea ideas.
Sticky Toffee Pudding ($12)
This isn’t your customary sticky toffee pudding. Bardea’s model arrives heat and aromatic, with a theatrical tableside pour of koji toffee sauce that provides complicated, virtually umami-like depth. The pudding itself is dense but tender, with almond accents offering texture. A quenelle of mascarpone gelato slowly melts into the nice and cozy cake, making a silky counterpoint to the caramelized flavors.
Olive Oil Cake ($12)
This cake is insanely good. It’s wealthy, moist, and topped with pistachios and olive oil whipped cream, with one other dramatic tableside pour of vibrant guava sauce. Mild, but indulgent, the presentation is beautiful. It’s a Mediterranean-inspired dessert that’s each artistic and comforting.
Desserts listed below are as thoughtfully composed because the savory programs, and a beautiful finale to the Bardea expertise.
Bardea’s Eating Strategy: The Artwork of Sharing
Bardea’s menu is constructed for sharing, so portion sizes differ. Positively ask your server for steerage. Many objects come out as pairs perfect for sharing, whereas “feed the desk” choices can serve a small group. The menu is split into useful classes like “snacks,” “small plates,” “pasta,” and “from the ocean,” making it straightforward to assemble your meal.
Additionally they serve superb wood-fired pizzas which are completely price ordering.
💡 My tip: Get a pie. Get pleasure from a slice when you’re there and take the remaining house so it can save you your urge for food for extra of their artistic plates. Plus, their pizza heats up extremely nicely the subsequent day.
The Imaginative and prescient Behind Bardea: Meet the Workforce
Chef Antimo DiMeo
At simply 30 years outdated, Chef Antimo DiMeo has already earned a number of James Beard nominations and skilled underneath Michelin-starred cooks on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. His method pushes the boundaries of Italian delicacies whereas nonetheless respecting its traditions. Each plate tells a narrative, mixing traditional flavors with trendy strategies.
Scott Stein
Co-owner Scott Stein comes from 4 generations of restaurateurs within the Higher Philadelphia space. His experience in creating unforgettable eating experiences is apparent from the second you enter. Collectively, he and DiMeo have constructed greater than only a restaurant—they’re constructing a culinary empire that has put Wilmington on the map.
Past Bardea: A Rising Culinary Empire
The success of Bardea Meals & Drink has spawned a powerful restaurant group. Their portfolio now consists of Bardea Steak (a boutique steakhouse), Pizzeria Bardea, Taqueria El Chingon, an out of doors idea known as “The Backyard,” and their latest enterprise, Casa Nonna (a tribute to Chef DiMeo’s Italian grandmothers’ house cooking).
The staff has additionally taken over culinary operations at Wilmington’s DE.CO meals corridor, bringing their revolutionary method to extra informal eating codecs.
Nationwide Recognition That’s Effectively-Deserved
Bardea was simply named one in all USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the 12 months, securing its place among the many prime 44 locations to eat in America. The restaurant earned a James Beard Basis semifinalist nomination for Finest New Restaurant in 2019, and in 2022, Chef DiMeo was nominated for Finest Chef Mid-Atlantic.
Even President Joe Biden and First Girl Jill Biden have dined right here, and the White Home has chosen Bardea to cater Italian dinners for world leaders visiting Delaware – an additional testomony to its distinctive high quality.
Remaining Verdict: Why I Maintain Coming Again
Bardea’s elegant eating room | Picture: Higher Residing
Bardea captures that unmistakable, big-city eating vitality—vibrant, surprising, and price searching for out. It’s the type of place I used to journey for, however now it’s simply minutes away. Each go to brings one thing new, with a menu that’s continuously evolving and a stage of creativity that retains issues thrilling.
Past the excellent meals, there’s a novel heat to the house that makes the meal really feel communal. We’ve really met new buddies on a number of visits—one thing you don’t discover simply anyplace.
Whether or not you’re planning a particular date evening, entertaining out-of-town company, or just craving distinctive eating, Bardea is proof that the meals scene in Wilmington, DE has arrived on the nationwide stage—and it’s right here to remain.
💡 Professional Tip: When you’re touring to Wilmington particularly for Bardea or planning a culinary staycation, we extremely suggest staying on the Resort Du Pont. Its prime location makes it the perfect house base for exploring the Bardea Group’s distinctive eating scene. With a number of of the group’s eating places positioned proper onsite or only a brief stroll away, you possibly can bask in outstanding delicacies whereas having fun with the lodge’s luxurious lodging. That is eating and lodging in fashion – an ideal marriage of culinary vacation spot and complicated retreat.
BARDEA FOOD & DRINK
620 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19801
Reservations extremely advisable
Named one in all USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the 12 months
A number of James Beard Nominations
