Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Delaware

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Delaware? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Home Grown Café

4.9

4.9 (502)

$30 and under

American

Newark

About the restaurant

Home Grown Cafe is an independently owned, award-winning, downtown Newark, DE staple, residing centrally on Main St. for over 23 years under founding owner, Sasha Aber. Matt McConnell leads an incredible staff and day to day operations. Award winning Executive Chef Andrew Thorne is the chef de cuisine who constantly pushes the envelope with locally made from scratch dishes of his own creations, as well as mentoring and showcasing our staff's talent. Home Grown has been named Best of Delaware Upstate for over two decades by Delaware Today readers including awarding the honor of Best Chef Upstate to Andrew Thorne (2022) Guests enjoy incredible service and made from scratch food for all dietary lifestyles, including carnivorous, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-sensitive in a welcoming environment for all patrons. Colorful walls are adorned with local pop art. The bar features a large array of upscale spirits including house-crafted cocktails and mocktails, over 65 beers, and great wines.

Top review

Angela

Dined on Dec 9, 2024

Our server was very kind and helpful. Food was delicious and very large portions. Great evening!

The House of William & Merry

4.9

4.9 (2302)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Hockessin

About the restaurant

The House of William and Merry serves contemporary American cuisine prepared from the freshest seasonal ingredients procured from local farms, providing casual fine dining at a reasonable price. Chef-owned by the husband and wife team, Merry Catanuto and William Hoffman, who live on the property, the restaurant is a remodeled farmhouse on the edge of central Hockessin. Dine in a comfortable home atmosphere in one of the two dining rooms, the porch, or the bar. When you arrive, you can see right into the all new, modern kitchen. Full bar service is available including wines by the glass, microbrews on tap, and specialty drinks. Or, take a walk around back to see the herb and vegetable gardens.

Tuesday through Saturday we serve lunch and dinner. On Sunday, we serve brunch followed by a prix fix supper in the evening.

Top review

Michael

Dined 7 days ago

Outstanding anniversary dinner, worth the hour drive from MD

La Fia

4.9

4.9 (2102)

$30 and under

Farm-to-table

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Travel down historic Market Street towards the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware and you will find La Fia Bistro. La Fia is an intimate dinner destination in a historic building located on the corner of 5th and Market. Chef Dwain Kalup's menu utlizes carefully sourced ingredients reflecting the seasons, local region and local farms. The menu at La Fia features small plates, pastas and creative entrees. Our cheese and charcuterie is one of a kind and not to be missed!

Due to the small size of our restaurant we allow 2 hours for guests to enjoy their dining experience. If you feel you need more time please reach out to us directly.

Top review

Michael

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding food, excellent service and great atmosphere. Our server, Natasha, took great care of us and gave great recommendations.

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Popular dish

Grilled Spanish Octopus

Popular dish

Crispy Duck Leg Confit

El Camino Mexican Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (628)

$30 and under

Mexican

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Bright, engaging So. Cal. chill gives way to PDG’s spin on imaginative Mexican fare. Inviting aesthetic peppered with pops of color and a contemporary comfort. Fresh and fun cocktail offerings are anchored by a selection of over 100 tequilas and mescals, while a refreshingly eager and excited service team round out our newest North Wilmington offering.

**A NOTE FROM THE RESTAURANT**
Reservations are not required. We welcome walk-ins.
Please contact us directly at 302-543-4245, if desired reservation time is unavailable or the party size is larger than 6.

Top review

Charles MichaelVIP

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

2nd Platinum Dining Group restaurant stop for the day. We had lunch at Capers and Lemons, dinner for El Caminos. I was in the mood for a Margarita and you have the best in the North East! The only other best one was at Blancos in Arizona. Always great service and delicious food at El Caminos and we will miss Brian here but we go to Taverna so it is all good. 🙃

Bardea Food & Drink

4.8

4.8 (2360)

$30 and under

Italian

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Bardea, pronounced: bar-DAY-ah, is the Italian term for "the goddess of food and drink." The stunning, 120-seat restaurant utilizes ingredients from local Delaware Valley farms and purveyors, and features modern interpretations of traditional Italian and Mediterranean dishes. In 2019, Bardea Food & Drink received a semifinalist nomination in the James Beard Foundation's "Best New Restaurant" category.

Top review

Emily

Dined 2 days ago

Our waiter Jacob was amazing!! Also, the food runner as well - so smart and knew everything! Great night for my bday dinner. So considerate and brought me a gingerale instead of a champagne since I wasn’t drinking!

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Taverna Rustic Italian - Newark

4.7

4.7 (846)

$30 and under

Italian

Newark

About the restaurant

With the opening of Taverna, Platinum Dining Group brings to life its highly anticipated version of the “neighborhood gathering place.” Rustic and simple in conception but well crafted and high minded in execution, Taverna brings to Newark a casual sophistication that sees reclaimed wood and exposed brick on the wall. Polished marble rest atop the overstretched bar which boasts eighteen draft beers and the state’s first ever “tapped wine” system. A seemingly humble menu is carefully considered with homemade pastas, coal-fired pizzas, and daily “features” that will bring a smile to the most discerning grandmother’s face.

**A NOTE FROM THE RESTAURANT**
Reservations are not required. We welcome walk-ins.
Please contact us directly at 302-444-4334 , if desired reservation time is unavailable or the party size is larger than 6.

Top review

JackVIP

Dined 2 days ago

This is our first visit to Taverna Rustic Italian. We are almost regular at Capers & Lemon. First, the appearance of the restaurant was awesome and welcoming. It is kind of hidden on the main street. Kara was our server. From our open table notes, she had knowledge about the birthday and our diet requirements. She was very excited and happy to explain everything in detail. She was very polite and helpful in recommendations. More importantly, she knew exactly how food was cooked in the kitchen, because of our dietary restrictions. Drinks, food and desserts at Taverna were excellent. Do not miss ordering pan fried peppers, Tiramisu, they were simply awesome~! I will definitely recommend this restaurant and will visit again in the coming months. We really need not drive all the way to Capers & Lemon :) - Since, the menu was almost the same!!

Pithari

4.7

4.7 (61)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Middletown

About the restaurant

Providing fresh Mediterranean food, from our kitchen to you!

Top review

Beau

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food and service!! Will be back for sure.

Piccolina Toscana

4.6

4.6 (1434)

$30 and under

Italian

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Piccolina Toscana is open Monday-Saturday for dinner at 5:00. We have ample socially distanced tables as well and a heated patio. The Lounge opens at 4 each day with Happy Hour from 4-6. Open late on the weekends. Toscana to Go is open from 10am-8pm every day. Online Ordering is available as is Home Delivery, Curbside Pickup. Toscana Catering is planning Covid compliant events as well as "post-Covid" 2021 events at all of our beautiful and unique Catering Venues.

Top review

Cara

Dined 5 days ago

Its rare that I offer a restaurateur 5 stars, but in this case I feel its jusitified. PT hits all the right marks, authentic cleverness in their dishes, friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff, and a contemporary casual atmosphere to enjoy it all. We were a party of four, engrossed in catching up with each others lives, as it had been a while and PT played the perfect host. Subtly dimmed but not dark lighting, delicious appetizers and entrees that have a nostalgic old world feel, with a touch of modern culinary nuance. We were served efficiently, not hastily nor slowly, there is also a large cocktail list to choose from if you imbibe, and tempting desserts, should you require further indulgence. I highly encourage you to visit if you haven't, it’s the right side of very good.

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Popular dish

Tortellini

Tonic Seafood and Steak

4.5

4.5 (1278)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of downtown Wilmington, Delaware, Tonic Seafood & Steak offers four distinct dining areas, each with its unique ambiance and design. Upon entering the restaurant, guests are greeted by a vibrant atmosphere with stunning light fixtures, metallic gold accents, and a glass-enclosed room. The entrance area features the Bar and Lounge, where live music plays on Friday and Saturday nights.

Top review

Lauren

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

This is a spot that I've been covering a visit to fire a long time and it didn't disappoint. The cocktails had a nice punch but didn't bowl you over with the distinct burn. The seafood tower was fresh and paired with the most amazing sauces. The steaks were so tender, I barely needed a knife and cooked to perfection. The mashed potatoes were so light but flavorful. Then the creme brulèe was prepared with such thought that every bite was crisp and accompanied with a silky cream. Paired with the latte, this was a prefect meal in a beautifully curated atmosphere with the most charismatic and timely service provided by our server, Teddy. This is the perfect venue for a date night or big event, don't miss out on Tonic!

Sugar Factory American Brasserie Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (1751)

$30 and under

American

Dover

About the restaurant

Sugar Factory American Brasserie brings its high-energy atmosphere to Dover, DE. The family-friendly, celebration destination known for its over-the-top sweets & treats, the world-famous restaurant promises a memorable experience. Offering brunch, lunch and dinner, our menu features colorful dishes, as well as its signature 64 oz. goblets & larger-than-life Milkshakes.

All reservations with individuals under 21 yrs of age, must be accompanied by a legal guardian that is 21 yrs of age or older at all time during.
* Please note, all members of your party must be present to be seated. Reservations are held for 15 minutes.*

Top review

Robert

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent service. Excellent food. Drinks and deserts are unique.

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