Wilmington’s culinary rite of spring, City Restaurant Week, returns for its
20th year March 31-April 5. This annual promotion provides great incentive to visit one of Wilmington’s destination restaurants and that roster has expanded significantly over the past few years.
The 2025 lineup features 23 of Wilmington’s finest, each owner-operated. That’s one of the beauties of the city’s fine dining scene. Chain restaurants are not an option.
“One cool thing that City Restaurant Week does is that it highlights the fact that Wilmington has some really good restaurants,” says veteran restaurateur Dan Butler, owner of Piccolina Toscana. “When you see them all in a list like this, it’s really impressive. And hopefully it inspires people to visit new places and visit some they haven’t been to in a while.”
“Here at Chelsea Tavern, we LOVE City Restaurant Week,” says owner Joe Van Horn. “For the past 15 years it has drawn folks downtown to experience new places and old favorites alike. It’s been a great reason to meet up with friends for some great food and a cold beer!”
Once again, diners will be treated to an array of menus, offering everything from Asian to French to Italian. Prix-fixe, two-course lunches are $20. Three-course dinners are $35 or $55.
For an overview of this year’s participating restaurants, read on.
BARDEA STEAK
608 North Market St.
550-9600
A celebration of craftsmanship and flavor. Our partnerships with artisanal farmers bring you premium cuts from both familiar and rare breeds. But the experience doesn’t stop at steak—James Beard-nominated Chef Antimo DiMeo’s creativity extends beyond meat, offering bold and unexpected bites from both land and sea. Join us at the crossroads of tradition and innovation for a distinctive dining experience.
CAFÉ MEZZANOTTE
1007 North Orange St.
658-7050
Café Mezzanotte has built a reputation as Delaware’s premier spot to enjoy classic Pan-Mediterranean cuisine. We offer an intimate atmosphere with servers who attend to each diner with exceptional care. We look forward to seeing you.
CATHERINE ROONEY’S
1616 Delaware Ave.
654-9700
Enjoy the Irish atmosphere, great food & drinks at Catherine Rooney’s Irish Pub & Restaurant! Opening in Wilmington 21 years ago, the McCoy Family named Catherine Rooney’s after their mothers and grandmothers and you will feel as though you are part of the family when dining in this lively Irish pub. Along with traditional fare, Catherine Rooney’s offers a wide selection of great food items in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Open seven days a week for dinner with brunch available every Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
CHELSEA TAVERN
821 North Market St.
482-3333
Chelsea Tavern is a popular local gastropub located in downtown Wilmington directly across from the Grand Opera House. The kitchen prepares made-from-scratch comfort food with local ingredients, complemented by an ever-changing craft beer selection. Chelsea’s 33 taps, large format bottles, cans, and single-serving bottles spotlight seasonal and local brews, in addition to wine and cocktails. Chelsea is a neighborhood favorite for a quick lunch, weekend brunch with friends, pre-show dinner, group outings, and vibrant outdoor patio dining. The energetic bar scene is a gathering place always playing the game of the week on its large TVs.
CIRO FOOD & DRINK
321 Justison St.
543-6071
Michael DiBianca the 15-year veteran of the Wilmington dining scene and semifinalist for multiple James Beard Awards have teamed up with Venu Gaddamidi of Veritas Wines to take guests down an exciting, unique culinary experience. Two chefs preparing worldly cuisine featuring share plates and tasting menus. Ciro features an intimate dining experience with 30 seats, an open kitchen, plenty of wines by the glass and can accommodate dietary restrictions.
COLUMBUS INN
2216 Pensylvania Ave.
571-1492
Columbus Inn has been a historic staple of the Wilmington dining scene. Reborn in 2010 as a contemporary bar & restaurant that combines the best of the classics with a new-age twist. Featuring seasonal Modern American menus with an extensive selection of wine, beer, and craft cocktails.
CASA NONNA
111 West 10th St.
268-8941
Located in the newly renovated DE.CO food hall in the heart of downtown Wilmington, Casa Nonna is an ode to James Beard-nominated Chef Antimo DiMeo’s Italian Nonna’s—Maria and Italia—and their recipes, plus all the Nonna’s of our region and their contributions to what we know as Italian-American cooking.
C.R. HUMMINGBIRD TO MARS
1616 Delaware Ave.
407-5971
Step Back in Time to Celebrate Life’s Simplest Pleasures in Style! In 1919, the Volstead Act brought an end to the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages. Liquor consumption dropped, the price for illegal alcohol rose, but that did not stop those who wanted to drink. Experience the speakeasy at C.R. Hummingbird to Mars located in Trolley Square above Catherine Rooney’s. Find the black door with the gold hummingbird & ring the bell for entrance.
DEL PEZ MEXICAN GASTROPUB
400 Justison St.
691-7974
Del Pez immerses you in an artistic, innovative bar experience and an exciting, creative food menu. With every drink, dish, and moment, we celebrate the power of food to feed friendship. By fusing the lightheartedness of a vibrant bar with the heartiness of a robust food menu, we serve enticing Mexican flavors while fanning the flames of old and new connections.
DORCEA
1314 North Washington St.
691-7447
Dorcea is an inviting American bistro with lots of local beers on tap.
We use the best ingredients and provide a great atmosphere.
ECLIPSE BISTRO
1020 North Union St.
658-1588
We opened our doors in 1996 with a single purpose- to offer creative, globally inspired, and meticulously curated dishes that are served, without pretense nor fussiness, by a team of impassioned and well-trained professionals who understand the critical difference between basic service and the art of nuanced hospitality. A comfortably modern aesthetic perfectly marries the dining room with a world-class kitchen and a carefully considered beverage program.
LA FIA BISTRO
421 North Market St.
543-5574
La Fia has something for everyone. From handmade pasta to the eclectic menu of small plates, each dish is carefully crafted by Executive Chef Dwain Kalup. Owners Bryan and Andrea Sikora have always found inspiration in all types of European cuisine. The kitchen at La Fia prides itself in making everything in house from the freshly baked bread to the desserts, La Fia is true artisan cooking. In 2014, Bryan Sikora was nominated for Best Chef of the Mid-Atlantic and he continues to deliver his outstanding food to the region.
MERCHANT BAR
426 North Market St.
502-3385
Merchant Bar is an elevated gastrobar that infuses a chef-driven menu with an original hand-crafted cocktail menu focused on high-quality ingredients, aiming to bring you a unique bar and dining experience. Both for intimate dining or for a large group, Merchant Bar’s dynamic space is perfect for any occasion.
LE CAVALIER
1212 North Washington St.
656-8638
Influenced by the flavors of North Africa and Provençe, Le Cavalier is a neo-brasserie offering thoughtfully sourced French classics and inventive riffs on French staples paired with natural wines designed to complement our fare. It is helmed by Chef-Partner Tyler Akin—the acclaimed Philadelphia chef and restaurateur behind celebrated restaurants Stock and Res Ipsa Café. Le Cavalier aspires to artfully blur the lines between approachability and elegance.
PICCOLINA TOSCANA
1412 N. DuPont St.
654-8001
Piccolina Toscana, one of the area’s most popular and creative Italian restaurants is the beating heart of Trolley Square, the vibrant hub of Wilmington’s nightlife. For over 30 years, Piccolina Toscana has been one of Wilmington’s favorite restaurants serving unfailingly fresh “Really Good Food”. If we didn’t make it, we don’t serve it.
RIVER ROCK KITCHEN
818 Shipyard Dr.
397-5518
River Rock Kitchen Inspired by local ingredients, and providing the freshest flavors of the season, River Rock Kitchen is a multi-occasion gathering place for a power breakfast, a great weekend brunch, or socializing over drinks and dinner. Located at the Westin Hotel in the heart of Wilmington’s Riverfront. River Rock is steps away from Frawley Stadium and JAM river walk and trail!
SANTA FE MEXICAN GRILL
2000 Pennsylvania Ave.
482-1954
We welcome you to Santa Fe Mexican Grill. Our award-winning casual Mexican restaurants bring traditional flavors in a modern, vibrant yet comfortable atmosphere.
THE QUOIN HOTEL RESTAURANT
519 N. Market St.
446-5600
The kitchen is center stage in our 155-seat restaurant and bar, and our chefs are the masters at work. They’re bringing the borders of Southern France and Northern Italy together in our modern wood-fired fare. The menu puts a contemporary spin on the Riviera to Riviera style. Indulge in thoughtfully prepared seasonal specialties built to pair perfectly with our extensive list of old-world wines and craft cocktails.
TONIC SEAFOOD & STEAK
111 West 11th St.
777-2040
At Tonic Seafood & Steak, each plate is prepared with the highest-quality products and the freshest ingredients. The collaboration between our Director of Culinary Operations, Patrick Bradley, and our Executive Chef, Ivan Torres, has produced a unique interpretation of classic American dishes. To enhance your experience, our extensive wine collection and specialty drink menu offer limitless pairing opportunities. So, whether you are here to sample our lighter fare menu, our land and sea creations, or our wine and spirits…your dining experience will be one that is sure to please!
TROLLEY TAP HOUSE
1616 Delaware Ave.
652-2255
Trolley Tap House inside you’ll find craft beer options from around the world poured from one of our thirty available draft lines or off of our extensive can or bottled beer selection paired with tasty food selections. Located in the heart of Trolley Square, we are about bringing those “intimidating” or “strange” brews into an approachable relaxed atmosphere that is fun for all and child and dog friendly!
UNIVERSITY AND WHIST CLUB
805 North Broom St.
658-5125
The University and Whist Club offers a refined dining experience in the historic Tilton Mansion, featuring seasonal menus that blend classic and contemporary cuisine. Members enjoy exclusive culinary and social events, including wine dinners, game nights, book club, and cigar club. Benefits include reciprocal privileges at 250+ clubs worldwide, discounted private event rentals, and access to packaged goods at 10% over wholesale pricing, making it a premier destination for both dining and social gatherings.
WILMA’S
900 N. Market St.
400-7766
Experience dining like never before at Wilma’s, Wilmington’s only Duckpin Bowling & Dining destination. From the moment you step inside, you’ll find an atmosphere that’s both refined and energetic, with a chef-driven menu, handcrafted cocktails, and duckpin bowling lanes designed for an unforgettable night out. Whether you’re looking for some family fun, an unique date night, or a weekend brunch with friends, let the good times roll with Wilma’s!
