Bardea Meals & Drink Evaluate: Cutting edge Eating in Wilmington, DE

On this Bardea evaluation, we discover why Bardea Food & Drink in Wilmington, DE, is a must-visit vacation spot for cutting edge eating. Identified for its fusion of Italian delicacies with trendy culinary twists, Bardea do business in an unforgettable eating revel in that has made it probably the most perfect eating places in Delaware, and past.

One go to to Bardea is all it takes to look 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 eating place has earned nationwide reputation, a couple of James Beard nominations, and maximum just lately, a place on USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the Life listing.

As a Unutilized York transplant who’s referred to as Delaware house for two decades, I will be able to optimistically say Bardea delivers the property, power, and innovation of NYC’s landmark eating places with out the tolls or educate fare. It’s superb to have a eating revel in of this caliber proper right here in Wilmington.

The identify “Bardea” comes from the Italian time period for “the goddess of food and drink” – and upcoming eating right here, you’ll perceive why divine references are completely suitable.

First Impressions: Fashionable But Welcoming

Upon getting into Bardea, you’re greeted via a bustling bar segment and a pleasant hostess station. The vibe is fashionable and upscale, however no longer in some way that feels stuffy or pretentious. It’s an elegant spot with a contemporary, fashionable design accented via rustic parts that subtly nod to its Italian influences with out falling into clichéd trattoria range.

We arrived at 5PM to take hold of a window seat for pictures, and via 6PM, the eating room and bar segment have been packed. Reservations are absolutely a must. Even if complete, the dimension by no means feels overwhelming. It’s full of life with out being chaotic and the acoustics are good, bearing in mind simple dialog regardless of the vigorous buzz of the eating room.

Provider at Bardea: Considerate, Seamless, and Impressively Environment friendly

Bardea’s provider is flawless. Our server, Emily, was once pleasant, an expert, and attentive with out soaring. Beverages have been refilled with out asking, and plates arrived at simply the precise presen—by no means on a tight schedule, by no means escape us ready too lengthy.

What truly stood out? The plate-clearing precision. Since Bardea makes a speciality of dishes supposed for sharing, it could be simple for a two-top to get beaten. However right here, unoccupied plates by no means sat for greater than a tiny ahead of a pleasant group of workers member (our unofficial MVP of the night time) requested to unclouded them away. In a packed space on a Saturday night time, that stage of well-orchestrated potency is unusual and remarkable.

Bardea’s Menu: Daring, Stunning, and Brilliantly Crafted

Bardea’s menu, led via James Beard-nominated Government Chef Antimo DiMeo, is the place issues get attention-grabbing. His means takes vintage Italian flavors and reinvents them, incorporating trendy ways and sudden international influences. Each and every initiation is as visually superior as it’s scrumptious—that is meals as artwork, however with out the pretension. Natural condolense meals, increased to the nearest stage.

All of the dishes we ordered showcased Chef DiMeo’s constant excellence – superior flavors and plating throughout, with every presentation being a satisfying awe.

What We Ordered at Bardea

Rooster Parm Bao Bun ($16)

For those who assume hen parm doesn’t belong in a bao bun, assume once more. This dish blew us away. A pillowy, chewy bao bun filled with dehydrated hen parm, melty mozzarella, and vodka sauce—it’s an Italian-Asian fusion masterpiece that come what may works even higher than you’d consider. Absolute must-order.

Crab Taco ($18)

This artfully composed dish redefines what a taco may also be. It includes a colourful inexperienced tortilla bottom crowned with a tempura-fried squash blossom that’s been filled with creamy crab filling. The distinction between the crunchy external and the affluent prosperous, smooth crab within makes every chew outstanding. Dots of lemon kosho and kanzuri upload shining, complicated flavors and smart warmth, balancing the dish. It’s a main instance of Chef DiMeo’s meticulous consideration to feature.

Linguine ($25)

The pasta is completely al dente with a affluent prosperous, umami-packed scallop XO sauce and crowned with rock shrimp and caviar. Each and every chew is a mixture of silky noodles, briny pops of caviar, and affectionate shrimp. This dish feels indulgent in all of the proper techniques.

Ravioli ($22)

A dish made for sharing, those elegant rounds are full of candy persimmon and creamy robiola cheese, nearest crowned with crunchy pecans. They remains in a sunny amber broth that ties the whole thing in combination superbly. Every raviolo do business in the very best chew – affectionate pasta giving solution to a filling that balances candy fruit with tangy cheese in harmonious share. The flavors incline pleasantly to the candy aspect, making those an sudden spotlight to our savory lessons.

Iberico Red meat ($23)

Seared to perfection, with a dehydrated external and melt-in-your-mouth heart, this dish will get difference intensity from truffle-chili au jus, inexperienced apple, and nutty Comté cheese. The candy, salty, and umami parts create this one an rapid favourite.

The Operating Lady ($16)

An advanced tequila cocktail that mixes reposado tequila, chinola, aji amarillo pastime fruit syrup, lemon and pineapple juices, pechauds bitters, and toasted coconut agave. Crowned with an isomalt garnish dusted with sweetened coconut and togarashi powder, it’s each visually placing and deliciously complicated. Candy, tart, and subtly highly spiced, it complemented the numerous flavors during our meal.

Candy Finishes: Bardea Truffles Utility Preserve Room For

Bardea’s dessert program, led via Head Pastry Chef Amanda Nichols, merits particular reputation. Her advance is solely as remarkable as her creations. Founding as a part-time pizza cook dinner when the eating place opened, she now leads the pastry segment, regardless of a horrific gluten hypersensitivity. Her cakes exhibit each technical talent and creativity throughout all Bardea ideas.

Sticky Toffee Pudding ($12)

This isn’t your same old sticky toffee pudding. Bardea’s model arrives heat and aromatic, with a theatrical tableside pour of koji toffee sauce that provides complicated, nearly umami-like intensity. The pudding itself is opaque but affectionate, 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 just right. It’s affluent prosperous, wet, and crowned with pistachios and olive oil whipped cream, with any other dramatic tableside pour of colourful guava sauce. Brightness, but indulgent, the presentation is lovely. It’s a Mediterranean-inspired dessert that’s each ingenious and comforting.

Truffles listed here are as thoughtfully composed because the savory lessons, and a lovely finale to the Bardea revel in.

Bardea’s Eating Way: The Artwork of Sharing

Bardea’s menu is constructed for sharing, so portion sizes range. Surely ask your server for steering. Many pieces pop out as pairs ideally suited for sharing, age “feed the table” choices can grant a little workforce. The menu is split into at hand divisions like “snacks,” “small plates,” “pasta,” and “from the sea,” making it simple to make your meal.

Additionally they grant wonderful wood-fired pizzas which are completely significance ordering.

 💡 My tip: Get a pie. Revel in a slice age you’re there and shoot the remains house so you’ll save your urge for food for extra in their ingenious plates. Plus, their pizza heats up extremely properly the nearest future.

The Perceptible At the back of Bardea: Meet the Crew

Chef Antimo DiMeo

At simply 30 years worn, Chef Antimo DiMeo has already earned a couple of James Beard nominations and skilled underneath Michelin-starred cooks on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. His means pushes the bounds of Italian delicacies age nonetheless respecting its traditions. Each and every plate tells a tale, mixing vintage flavors with trendy ways.

Scott Stein

Co-owner Scott Stein comes from 4 generations of restaurateurs within the Larger Philadelphia segment. His experience in growing unforgettable eating stories is noticeable from the future you input. In combination, he and DiMeo have constructed greater than only a eating place—they’re construction a culinary empire that has put Wilmington at the map.

See additionally

Past Bardea: A Rising Culinary Empire

The good fortune of Bardea Meals & Drink has spawned an impressive restaurant group. Their portfolio now comprises Bardea Steak (a boutique steakhouse), Pizzeria Bardea, Taqueria El Chingon, an out of doors idea referred to as “The Garden,” and their latest project, 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 food hall, bringing their cutting edge technique to extra fickle eating codecs.

Nationwide Popularity That’s Neatly-Deserved

Bardea was once simply named certainly one of USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the Life, securing its park a number of the zenith 44 playgrounds to devour in The usa. The eating place earned a James Beard Understructure semifinalist nomination for Very best Unutilized Eating place in 2019, and in 2022, Chef DiMeo was once nominated for Very best Chef Mid-Atlantic.

Even President Joe Biden and First Woman Jill Biden have dined right here, and the White Area has selected Bardea to cater Italian dinners for international leaders visiting Delaware – an extra testomony to its outstanding property.

Ultimate Verdict: Why I Secure Coming Again

Bardea captures that revealed, big-city eating power—colourful, sudden, and significance in quest of out. It’s the type of park I old to advance for, however now it’s simply mins away. Each and every go to brings one thing fresh, with a menu that’s repeatedly evolving and a degree of creativity that helps to keep issues thrilling.

Past the exceptional meals, there’s a singular heat to the dimension that makes the meal really feel communal. We’ve in truth met fresh pals on a couple of visits—one thing you don’t in finding simply anyplace.

Whether or not you’re making plans a different past night time, funny out-of-town visitors, or just yearning outstanding eating, Bardea is evidence that the meals scene in Wilmington, DE has arrived at the nationwide level—and it’s right here to stick.

 💡 Professional Tip: For those who’re touring to Wilmington particularly for Bardea or making plans a culinary staycation, we highly recommend staying at the Hotel Du Pont. Its top location makes it the best house bottom for exploring the Bardea Workforce’s outstanding eating scene. With a number of of the gang’s eating places positioned proper onsite or only a decrease progress away, you’ll take pleasure in impressive delicacies age playing the lodge’s sumptuous lodging. That is eating and accommodation in taste – an ideal marriage of culinary vacation spot and complicated retreat.

BARDEA FOOD & DRINK
620 N Marketplace St, Wilmington, DE 19801
Reservations highly recommended
Named certainly one of USA TODAY’s 2025 Eating places of the Life
More than one James Beard Nominations

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