Bardea Food & Drink

Our experience at Bardea started on a negative note, as we could barely get in the door to speak to the host. We arrived at 710 for our 715 reservation but were not seated until 750 at what seemed to be the worst table in the restaurant. It was in a cold drafty corner with poor lighting, making for an uncomfortable experience. Our server Brandon was excellent, super friendly and knowledgeable. However, the pacing of the meal was disappointing, with long gaps between courses. The appetizers were good, but the portions were extremely small. We shared the steak board, but by the time it arrived, the slow pacing had dulled my appetite. I skipped dessert, though others at our table had some. Portions were not great for sharing. Overall, I am not sure Bardea is worth the hype or effort. I wouldn’t go back.

Good choice for family dinner celebration! Everything we ordered was delicious! Our favorite was the calamari and the pop tarts! We also ordered a variety of desserts and we liked each one of them!Oh, their spicy margarita I also loved! Service was fast even if it was crowded (Saturday night). They also have ample seating outside. They have valet parking. Street parking is also available (but I dont advise it). We parked a block away, right next to Double Tree Hotel. About a 3 min week.

Amazingly delicious and beyond professional service and atmosphere. Sam and Jacob catered to our every need. Five stars simply is not enough. Well done Bardea!!! This first time guest will definitely dine again

Food was very yummy. A clearly well thought out, well executed menu. Drinks imitated Williamsburg-esque style, but that's probably to be expected. Sorta great, mostly 'unique'. Service was delightful. Especially considering how little space they have to navigate. I'd advise you get a table for 3-4, as the 2 tops against the wall are 'eating disorder' level of crammed. Not stylish at all. Maybe ditch a couple tables to expand guest room, up the menu prices (and thus chuck the surcharge) and then this wouldn't be an issue? Music in the bathroom was loud enough to cover up an atomic bomb explosion. I consider that a plus.

My experience at Bardea Food and Drink was very positive. It's important to note that this place is known for its Italian food and proudly serves tapas-style portions, with menu prices reflecting small, shareable portions. Our waitress was lovely and very attentive, although there was initially some confusion regarding menu allergies. However, the issue was quickly resolved. I recommend reserving a table through OpenTable, even on weekdays, as the restaurant tends to be busy. Despite this, the food arrives promptly. In terms of the food, there are hits and misses. Some dishes are incredibly tasty, while others are just okay. I particularly enjoyed the Barbacoa and Crab tacos. It's worth noting that the menu may be limited for those with allergies, such as eggs, dairy, or gluten. While there are many vegetable options, not all are vegan. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that Bardea is one of the best places to have dinner in the northern Delaware area.

My wife and I had a wonderful anniversary dinner here and the 5-star experience started as soon as we walked in the door. While making our reservation, we noted that we were celebrating our anniversary. The hostess greeted us kindly and upon giving her our name, she congratulated us on our anniversary and seated us at our table with menus that were signed by the managers with a personal "Happy Anniversary" message written on the top. Similarly, the waitress welcomed us with a "Happy Anniversary" greeting and returned to the table with complimentary champagne as a toast. Little steps and extra effort to really make our evening special. As wonderful as the service was, the food was equally matched in quality and presentation. Pictured are Nonna's Meatballs which are a must-order! The sauce was smooth and rich and the meatballs were tremendous and delicate. The meatballs needed bread though because it was heartbreaking to have to give that bowl back without sopping up the extra sauce. Also pictured are the pillowy gnocchi that is sauced with tomato soup upon arrival to the table. We had several other plates that were also phenomenal, but I just didn't have pictures of them. The oysters were refreshing and clean, the fried calamari was crispy and tangy with a slight spice from the chilis and the pork bao buns were reminiscent of my favorite sandwich - DiNic's roast pork with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone - but served up in slightly sweet and fluffy bao buns. I can't wait to go back and try new things along with getting the meatballs again. I can't stress it enough - GET THE MEATBALLS!

First impression is last impression - hostess was trying to put us in THIS VERY CORNER of the dining room with two tiny chairs when 1. We were the first reservation of the night, and were to occupy the very first table of the night, 2. I’m 8 months pregnant. She attempted to put an older couple who’s been married for 40 years in this very corner again , while the restaurant wasn’t even 20% full, visibly overcrowding this area. It’s just not a smart and inviting thing to do as the front face of the restaurant. One star off because of this first encounter. Everything else exceeded our expectations. Our server Ryan is knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Menu is seasonal, creative and easy to understand. Portion is perfect for curious minds with limited stomach capacity. Dishes are reflective of the R&D spirit of the restaurant. The two of us had 5 proteins from 5 dishes - chicken, lamb, rabbit, duck and crab. Bold combination of ingredients, creative mix of spices and aromatics, innovative flavor profile that goes surprisingly well on the palate. Will return for other occasions.

Visited Bardea last night with some colleagues after a long day of work. I was told it was italian and was surprised at how fancy it was. The food was more than superb! We split multiple dishes, and everything was absolutely out of this world. The Fried calamari set of the whole night. Followed by some barbacoa and nonnas meatballs. I ordered a smoked old fashion for my beverage. *chefs kiss* I ordered the spicy honey pizza for my main, followed by the tiramisu éclair for desert. Needless to say, everything was exquisite and perfectly prepared. 10 out of 5.

My husband and I had a great dinner at Bardea this past Saturday when we were in Wilmington for the day. Sometimes a restaurant just surprises you with good it is, and Bardea did that! Since they focus on smaller plates that they recommend you share, we were able to try a few of their dishes: the burrata pop tart (with sweet onion-fennel jam); the ricotta gnocchi (with tomato and shiso); the torched king salmon with lychee-coconut, passionfruit, and fresh wasabi); the diver scallop (with green curry, lemongrass, scallop XO); the little gem salad (with sunflower seed crumble and ponzu vinaigrette); and the tagliatelle (with octopus bolognese, n'duja, and lemon). We didn't order any dishes from the "Feed the Table" section of the menu or a pizza, so our dishes were all small which allowed us to try a lot. Everything was delicious. I know the burrata pop tart is a big dish for them, but I probably liked it least (it was still delicious but something I really only want one bite of, not a whole plate of). The other dishes were all fantastic, and I'd eat them all again right now. Really creative and delicious food overall. The service was also great. Our server was lovely, helpful, and friendly; she definitely made our experience an even better one. They have a great wine list (although to have so many orange and skin contact wines by the bottle but none by the glass?! I was a little sad), so we had a few glasses of wine and some cocktails, too. All great. I had a Lombardian white wine, a Vermentino, and "The Working Girl" (reposado tequila, passionfruit, aji amarillo, and lemon). The cocktail was to die for - just the right amount of heat and sweet. Spicy drinks can go so wrong - but not at Bardea! My husband enjoyed their Black Manhattan and their smoked Old Fashioned, too. The restaurant is beautiful and lively - a great atmosphere. It was packed on Saturday night when we were there, so I definitely, highly recommend you make a reservation! But it's worth it. A really great meal, from start to finish, from drinks to food to service. I left really impressed and hoping for a chance to visit again soon!

This place is awesome!! Top notch and open late. You know the place is great when you look at your neighbors table and want to order what they're having. I went simple pizza and small plates. Dynamite. Also got a smoked old fashion. Supreme. I will definitely be back every single time I'm in Wilmington. VIBES.

Yes, I feel quite ashamed it's taken me this long to get to Bardea but I'm so happy I finally did it! Arriving as soon as they opened at 5pm, my sister and I were able to get parking and had first dibs on a table. The space is beautiful! Bright and cozy during the day then dark and moody once the sun goes down. Our server Jacob gave us the lay of land explaining the tapas style menu. We selected the calamari (def recommend), bbq ribs ( amazing sauces) eggplant parmigiana (so good and tender) and the mushrooms (a sleeper !) Sis got the working girl cocktail which is spicy and I chose the cocktail with fruit and sour combo. Dessert we took to go: small gelato assortment. Jacob and the kitchen staff lovingly packed it with ice for me. Such a great meal all around. If in DE it is a must try!

Another great experience at Bardea! This time we dined in the garden. The vibe in the garden is so nice on a beautiful night. If you haven't stopped by the garden yet, I highly recommend!

Pace was very loud for conversations. Very small portions for sharing plates. Overall good except the steak. At $4 per oz we expected great. What we got was a 14oz strip steak full of sinew and gristle. We spit out most of it into napkins as we couldn't chew. Worst steak ever! We told the waiter and he was told by chef or manager that type of meat can come that way. That's it. End of story. What kind of response is that. We've had steak from pretty much everywhere and this was absolutely the worst. Never ever had a steak that tough. They prob do have great steak but the piece they served was horrible and they couldn't care less.

Felt like I was back in nyc. Ambience top notch bartenders fantastic! Great vibes and quality food! Chef is superb!!! Don't forget to try their cherry barbecue wings not listed on their menu. Had the avocado, cheese tart, gnocchi, spicy honey pizza. The working girl drink EVERYTHING WAS SOO GOOD! 10/10.

This is a difficult review because there was so much right about my meal at bardea but there was so much that could easily be fixed to make it better. I'll start with the most glaring problem ... someone needs to start a GoFundMe page to raise money to purchase serving spoons for the restaurant. This is a restaurant where small sharing plates are an essential part of the dining experience, yet they do not provide a serving spoon to help transfer food from the plates or bowls the foods are presented in onto individual diners plates. Have you ever tried to transfer food in a sauce with a fork from a ridged bowl? Well now I have because I hod no choice but to take on that task during my dinner experience at 'bardea' and the photo I've attached shows what a mess it created plus sauce was left in the serving bowl that could have been enjoyed. Speaking of the transfer of food, it would have been nice to have had fresh plates presented with each course. That only occurred one time during the meal. Therefore, that delicious red beet dish ended up being blended with the fennel finale on my plate. There is a definite energy to this restaurant which is attractively, decorated and laid out for diners to enjoy a visual experience while consuming some really good food! The lighting is ideal and the open kitchen a plus but the sound system was cranked up to an irritating level and I am hard of hearing. The options from the bar are excellent with some really good wines and I who never orders a cocktail went for the smoked old fashioned and it was perfection! Definitely hit a home run with the lamb bao bun "snack" and the washugyu tri-tip was melt in the mouth delicious and the grilled cabbage an excellent accompaniment in the yummy guava bernaise sauce. The "Malfanti," which was the pasta choice reads "chicken, royal trumpet mushroom, and lemon." It was delicious but one would have to get a magnifying glass to find the chicken and actually to even locate some of the mushrooms, but perhaps they were all just blended into nothingness in the sauce. If You suggest a dish has chicken in it make the chicken visible or at least palatable. The finale were the vegetable plates and they definitely rose to the occasion! I'm already hunting for recipes to replicate the red beets because it was so good and worth trying to make it at home. The "fennel" with its orange, radish and pistachio pesto was an almost savory dessert. There was a warm welcome when entering the restaurant and the waitress was informative, pleasant and everything you would expect. However, during the meal the expeditor who delivered the food spoke rapidly, placed the food down quickly and then vanished. I'm hard of hearing and I really didn't hear a single word that he said when he brought any of the food of the evening. I never understand why restaurants introduce different individuals to deliver the food rather than the person who took the order. It was a delicious meal but the lack of serving spoons, rushed delivery of food, and failure to introduce clean plates has the review sitting with 3 stars.

We came for a date night on a Friday. After trying some other spots on Market we quickly learned into our date why Bardea has a monopoly downtown. We sat at the bar and the bartender was great. He make awesome drinks and was pretty knowledgeable about the menu. For the food we tried two apps and each had an entree. I really liked my risotto and it had great flavor. While the spaghetti was cooked well (obviously) the plate was a safe choice so my fiancé found it dull. But I think that's his fault with so many other good options on the menu. We stuck to ordering drinks off the menu since there were so many signature cocktails to try. I stuck with tequila and he had gin. All the drinks created a vibe and tasted great! I can't say enough about this group of restaurants. I'm looking forward to eventually trying Bardea Steak!

Wilmington is lucky to have this spot! From the moment we walked in, we were treated so well. Friendly host, engaged with our family, asked questions, the whole nine. Their menu emphasizes small/shareable plates, and they were all very unique and creative. It is a big menu and has options for everyone. So our server had a big role to play as well, as they were able to help with the total amount of plates to order and describing what some of them were. Ambiance was probably one of my favorite aspects of this restaurant. They had really chill, house music playing throughout and the decor inside was pretty modern. They had two main rooms, one focused around their bar and the other for more formal seating. We had one of the first reservations at 5PM, and by the time we left, the place was bumpin. I'd love to go back and just experience the bar atmosphere, but from the look of it, this is a top destination for the local Wilmington crowd. Some of our favorite bites: - Burrata Pop Tart: I mean come on...where else have you seen that? Light, flaky, the salty cheese inside paired so well with their sweet onion jam. Get multiple of these! - Fried Calamari: our family loves when fried calamari is served with a sweet & sour dipping sauce. Their tamarind agrodolce was incredible, and they were fried to perfection. - Beef Skewer & Hummus: the beef was so tender and their green goddess sauce is next level, you'll want to drink that on it's own (not literally advising that you should, but you get the point.) - Oysters (composed): so they have oysters served "naked," and then "composed" which is their own spin on a loaded oyster. This was really unique, and ours had some strawberry topping on it. Very refreshing and great quality oyster. Outside of that, we ordered a couple of their homemade pasta dishes, which were great. We had to finish with dessert, they don't miss around on this category. Loved the variety to choose from, but the rocky road (pictured) was a clear standout. Somewhat of a deconstructed version of the traditional rocky road ice cream.

I never have a bad meal at bardea! Dined here for a special occasion recently and for the most part everything was wonderful. Calamari and bao buns were the favorite of the night, steak was well seasoned and perfectly executed and the broccoli side was also amazing. The eclair we got for desert fell a bit flat and was kind of dry. Our server was so nice and everything was timely, ambiance is always pleasant with good background music and a moody vibe. The only thing that lowers the mark for me here is the price point. Of course this is a higher end restaurant and I expect to see menu items with markups but whenever I see the bill here it always seems higher than you think it would be. Always a nice experience, but always a really (really) high bill that doesn't always justify the experience.

A very up scale atmosphere that teeters on laid back cocktail bar after 8pm, with nature based art on the walls and elegantly & creatively lit throughout. The servers were very friendly and well versed on the menu, explaining each element of each dish in great detail! Appetizers came out quickly with more of a wait for entrees. The appetizers were the stars of the dinner, with great portion sizes and 4/5 taste on each! To be honest, the entrees were disappointing- smaller than expected portions and no defining characteristics of the pasta dishes, left us wanting more in flavor and size. 2/5 on the mafaltini, couldn't recommend, reminded me of a flavorless Kraft Mac and cheese. 3.5/5 on the fusilloni, the meat was a saving grace. Neither of the dishes were worth the price tag. If we came back we would sample more small plates and appetizers and skip the pasta.

By far the best restaurant in Wilmington. I've been here twice for dinner this year and both meals were exceptional. It's a tapa style restaurant, which I love because there are SO many delicious dishes to try. It's a pricier menu, but the cuisine and overall dining experience are well worth it. - The composed oysters are a must-order (so many unique flavors). - In my most recent visit, we also ended up ordering two charred octopus plates because it was that good. - Also tried the tuna, which had a delicious smoky flavor. - Although the halibut was good, the portion was tiny, probably better to split between two people (there was four of us). - In comparison, the bone-in rib eye portion is huge. Even after splitting it, we still had leftovers! In addition to the excellent cuisine, the service is also five stars. The staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. If you plan to dine here, definitely make a reservation in advance, as it books up quickly!

Excellent tapas menu with a variety of options to choose from. Staff is friendly and quick with service. Nice ambiance inside

Almost only gave a 3 star review because of the noise level. It's a shame that the owners apparently don't look at the reviews because most people mention it. The old fashion tin roof in the dining room looks great but you literally can just about hear the person sitting next to you. We had a very early Saturday night reservation (5:15) and the decibel level was ok but less than an hour later it was very hard to hear the 3 other people at our table. The unusual menu and staff saved the day! They have a nice selection of cocktails, beer and wine. We shared items like the Burrata Pop Tart with fennel and sweet onion jam, Charred Octopus, Oysters, Soba Noodles with mussels, clams and shrimp. In addition to that we tried the Mafaltini Pasta and the Fritto Misto which was Cod Tempura (our least favorite of the night) with delicious Shrimp Beignets. The "Feed the Table" item we shared was the perfectly cooked and fantastic Blackened Red Sea Bass. Far from an inexpensive meal but an excellent one - now if they could only replace the tin roof ....

Beautiful atmosphere. Amazing service. Delicious small plates to share so you can try numerous items. The pork bao buns were especially amazing. Perfect restaurant for a special occasion.

Hmmmm this place is definitely overrated. Their food is alright/meh, but definitely not worth the price (us two people spent $200 there). They just add a lot of citrus and a lot of pepper flakes on their dishes. Nothing too creative. It feels like they are trying to be "fine dining" with their price and people's pretentious dress codes. However, they need to work very very hard on their food to meet the "fine dining" standards.

Amazing pizza and pork collar, the best dry aged steak ever, impeccable flavor and texture.

Unique, delicious dishes, great service, beautiful decor, spectacular overall. Our host was server was extremely nice.

One of the most extraordinary meals I have had in years. Innovative, healthy, beautiful plates. And very well-informed staff.

It's just ok for me. Went there twice this week. The redhead bartender, there was awesome, and it seemed like people went there for drinks which she cranked out with skill . I had the eggplant, the spaghetti with cod and caviar on top the tri-tip Japanese beef and the upside down pizza . I usually judge food on whether or not, I would order it again . The trip trip beef I would get again it was pretty good....quarter inch slices of beef maybe 2 1/2 inches by one and a half inches high with a nice Bearnaise sauce. I think they were four slices. The spaghetti with cod and caviar on top was pretty good I would order that again. Think of it as a stepped up Boyardee canned spaghetti, with a really nice (very small) piece of cod and caviar on top. The sauce was a little plain not quite a pink vodka sauce, not red somewhere in between. Upside down pizza let me just say ehhhh. If you're really hungry and you were gonna share it with two people, it probably would seem OK. Eggplant appetizer was just OK. it appeared to be where everybody in the area went outside of walking down to the river walk.

Went on a date, it was loud and crowded at first then it cleared out. Music was pretty much blaring EDM the entire night which wasn't terrible, but it wasn't enough dancing for me for the type of music they were playing. The music could be lowered or changed to an upbeat R&B vibe instead. I could barely hear my server. The menu had a range of small bites which was a very interesting, shared experience. The food was yummy and cooked to perfection. My date said his food was salty but not too bad. I ordered a traditional cosmo which was also good! The server was attentive and everything came out pretty fast. The ambiance is nice, the decorations are also super cute and classy. Everyone was also dressed nicely! I'd go back.

I really want to love this restaurant but there's a few things I can't get over. While the food, drinks and service were great the price was steep. $23 for 5 tortellini or $20 for one singular small beef skewer is wild even if it's tapas style. The aesthetic of the restaurant was very nice but it was unnecessarily loud, my partner and I could barely hear each other.

We've many time and have always left happy. Great small plates, Well made cocktails and mocktails, and a fun atmosphere.

Not that Bardea needs another review...I'm adding one anyway. Oh my goodness!!!! GREAT EXPERIENCE!!! Purveyor of Food was incredible; they answered about a zillion questions of the menu. Celebrating a bday, not only did the BOH make it special, the table runners and all staff did as well.

Bardea is a must visit place if you are looking for a good place to eat in Wilmington. The ambiance is amazing and the restaurant staff is great! When I stopped in, I did not have a reservation, however we ended up scoring two seats at the bar pretty quickly. Decided to try several different things off of the menu. The barrata pop tart was the best! The dessert was insane! I tried the spicy margarita but I was not a fan.

Wonderful dinner. Great Gem salad. Amazing whole heritage chicken and an excellent whole Bronzino. A perfect martini and great desserts. Our server Ashley was a totally gracious and professional, and added to our enjoyment. The place to eat if you're going to the Grand or downtown Wilmington.

Always an outstanding experience here. The staff is nice, professional, and accommodating. This place makes the absolute best espresso martini in the game. We've had the steak many times and it's always out of this world. The gnocchi are fabulous too!! Everything is so fresh and you can definitely tell.

Look, I don't even live in or anywhere near DE and I still know about Bardea. Checking this place out was high on the priority list when we were in town recently visiting family. The ambiance serves cool and the service was excellent. This was a special occasion so we were going all fucking in. As someone who is perpetually dehydrated and also happens to be a fan of sorbet, I was really excited about the spicy margarita "sorbet" which includes chile infused tequila, ape roll, triple sec, lime, and a hunk of I believe mango sorbet. The drink was very good but having some sorbet to munch on when it was finished was a special experience I can't say I've ever had before. For my second beverage, I tried the limoncello spritz with lillet blanc, prosecco, lemon, and basil. This was a delicious, tart, and refreshing cocktail and I was decently turnt after its consumption. As far as the food goes, our table decided to do a little share-a-roo. We started with the bread board which is the most incredible warm bread with cultured butter, olive oil, and flavored butter for which further details escapes my memory. By the way, if you thought butter was fucking good, wait until you try fucking CULTURED butter. We also ordered the burrito pop tart which literally is definitely what they serve in heaven: a flaky pastry filled with BURRATA and topped with what looks like everything seasoning. No I am not joking. I wouldn't believe it either unless I saw it with my own eyes and inserted it into my own mouth. BETTER THAN SEX. The ricotta gnocchi is the most delicate and decadent balls of euphoria served in a heavenly tomato cream sauce. FANTASTIC. We ordered a pizza and I can't remember which one it was but I can remember that it had a thin crust with a perfectly cooked and bubbly edge. The sauce was amazing. The cheese was amazing. It was ORGASMIC. After ordering literally bread and cheese up until this point, we felt obligated to order something with vegetables and selected something I do not think is currently on the menu. It was grilled romaine with an orange dressing and some other shit. Not terribly surprisingly, this was the least favorite of the meal. I'm not sure how I feel about grilling lettuce, especially romaine, and it didn't work for me. This is a super cool restaurant doing some really unique shit that tastes INCREDIBLE.

Simply an amazing location, the tastes and range of edible foods are incredible. Flexible and kind service with a flexibility to accommodate the GF and DF restrictions that I face. Time and time again I have come to this restaurant and been amazed. During the summer and warmer months the outside sitting area provides a chill vibe that you can't believe you get in the city. Thank you Bardea for setting the bar so high.

Bardea is a favorite among the restaurants in Wilmington Delaware. The place is gorgeous, the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, and I've never had a bad meal or drink here! This time around I popped in for drinks and dessert. I did not have a reservation but was able to get space at the bar after waiting for about 5 minutes. The cocktail menu is so different from any other place in the area and always exceeds my expectations! The flower garnish scores major points for me! The tiramisu tart was delicious and even had gold leaf on top giving it an extra special touch! Stopping in for dessert and drinks was the best- as always such a great experience!

Excellent food. Decent ambiance and service can be slow as they get pretty busy in peak hours. Some of the food items are quite innovative and tasty while a few are alright. The dop margherita is quite good compared to the usual.

One of my all-time favorite restaurants! Small plates, mains, and drinks are always spectacular and they even have a "Secret Menu"- you didn't hear it from me Food is a bit pricey but worth every bite- I always take friends and family here when they're in town!

Wow! Thats the only word I have that describes my experience at Bardea tonight! Literally I just kept saying wow after each course. I had the Nero D Avola wine and we got the avocado, burrata Pop Tart, crab rolls, Pork Collar and Saffron pasta. Everything was beyond incredible. Our waitress Jenna was amazing, really took the time to explain everything and was so patient. She took everything to the next level. I'm definitely coming back!!

The ambiance is lovely. Service is great. Wait staff very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. No complaints. Desserts are definitely not a hit. Overall, unimpressive.

Visited Bardea for the first time this past weekend, finally! It's been on the list for quite some time after some close friends recommended it. In my opinion this is a great Friday/Saturday night spot to set the tone for the rest of the evening. The energy and ambiance is unmatched. Such a fun, up-beat dining spot! Or even a happy hour spot. The drinks were great and the food was good too! The pop tart?? I never tasted something so delicate and delicious. Service was helpful and attentive. I'm docking 1 star because it was hard to hear and hold a conversation with those at the table. While the music was a hit and made the experience feel fun and energetic, it was a tad bit too loud. I think you could have the same experience with the volume turned down a bit. I wouldn't recommend taking your grandmother here. Otherwise, great place for a young crowd!

Wow! Service is excellent and the food is superior. I have never, ever had better calamari. The salad was crisp and delicious, oyster fresh, all of our seven items were absolutely delicious. The serving are designed for sharing and dining leisurely. Thankfully this is NOT like an Olive Garden.

I'll go 4 stars since the bf really likes this place, but I will be okay if I never go again. If you're someone who gets sensory overload easily, just eat at the bar. The main dining area is so loud and it's so tight feeling that I was just really uncomfortable the whole time. We did go on a Friday night, so I don't know if it's always as loud and crowded. The experience would have just been way different if I could hear across the table. The food was definitely good, the burrata pop tart was honestly worth the trip. It was so flaky, crispy, and cheesy and paired perfectly with the onion jam. The only thing we ordered that neither of us really cared for was the special lobster pasta dish. It was fine, but it had maybe too much of a fishy taste that made it taste more like imitation lobster. We also got the lamb bao buns, the shrimp cocktail, the branzino, and the sunchokes. I'm not a fan of lamb, but the bf loved them, the shrimp cocktail were very large and cooked perfectly, the branzino was cooked well and flavorful, and the sunchokes had a mild sweet flavor that paired nicely with the fish.

I've been here 2 times over the summer and both times have had a nice time. The main reason I come here is for this glass of wine that is sold out EVERYWHERE. Must try the Cherry BBQ wings, they are superb. Service is pleasant and the Ambiance is very romantic yet comfortable. A spot worth getting dressed for --

If I'm going to pay $100 for a steak, it's not going to be in downtown Wilmington! Food isn't that great and extremely overpriced. The locals love it because they think this is the only high end restaurant around. If they actually travel outside of Wilmington, they'd be surprised with better quality restaurants.

An elevated dining experience in an unexpected place. The food here was innovative and for the most part delicious. The burrata pop tart is a must, a warm flaky pastry filled with burrata but I think what really sets it over the top is the accompanying tomato jam! The Smokey squash is actually divine and so complex, we went as a large group and got to try a lot of different dishes because the place encourages sharing and most dishes are tapas style or family style and meant to be shared, again just adding to the dining experience. Our waitress was amazing, she walked us through the entire menu, explained the food as it came out and just took amazing care of our whole party.

Was there to celebrate my son's 1 year anniversary and was excited to go. Service was horrible waited over an hour for drinks food took 2 hours and sides came 45 mins after main course . my son had to leave because he had to be to work at 10 . we had a 630 reservation no food till 9:45This is the first review I have ever taken the time to write. I will NEVER NEVER GO HERE AGAIN. WE WITNESSED SEVERAL WHITE COUPLE COME AND GO AND still NO FOOD FOR US. Wow NEVER AGAIN. FELT SO BAD FOR MY SON AND HIS Wife.

What a great find. Excellent service and amazing food. We ordered the bread tray (amazing!), the avocado (wow), the burrata tart and the grouper (hard to imagine but actually my least favorite out of all of the dishes, even though it was still great but my taste buds were too spoiled by the time the fish arrived). Order "The Dream" cocktail!!

Bardea feels like an evolution in Wilmington's dining scene. I'm going to try to gush as much as I can about this place without being pretentious. There's so much variety and creativity on the menu that every new dish creates anticipation and excitement. Dishes are thoughtfully constructed to provide harmonious flavors and contrast in texture, punctuated with small flourishes that lack pretension. * Bread was hot and soft, but with a crisp crust that suggests a flash fry (guessing here). * Avocado w/ pineapple mostarda is genius and makes too much sense to not work. * Purple cauliflower/olive/goat cheese risotto was simultaneously rich, briny, and vibrant. * Matcha almond gelato was complex and perfectly integrated. Honey gelato was pure and luxurious without being one-dimensional. Not every item was perfect. Carrots w/ stracciatella was heavy, overly salted, and lacked the fresh sweetness one would hope for. The Picasso (mezcal/orgeat/lemon) was cloyingly sweet. But a few small misses did not materially detract from what on the balance was an exceptional meal. Service was phenomenal. Warm, accommodating (we came with two kids), and highly knowledgeable/descriptive. Fantastic front of house staff. For a special meal in Wilmington, this is the place to go.

I cannot say enough good things about my first (and definitely not my last) experience at Bardea. We stopped in on a whim on late on a weekday evening but from start to finish, we had an impeccable dining experience. Chef DiMeo deserves his James Beard nomination and more! We ordered the following: - Burrata Pop Tart - Nonna's Meatballs - Ricotta Gnocchi - Charred Octopus - Chitarra - Brazil Nut Nougat My quick summary: - 10/10 on the Burrata, Meatballs, Gnocchi, and Nougat - 7/10 the Charred Octopus was a little too bitter for my liking, but still tasty - 8/10 the Chitarra had the most amazing bite and the sauce complimented the pasta perfectly, but for me, I didn't love the veal and thought the dish was a little salty Overall, everything was fantastic. I have little complaints and have already raved about it to anyone who'll listen. I can't wait to be back to try more of the menu.

Had heard great things about this spot. Unfortunately, an overall negative experience. The hostess brings us into a very nice dining room and seats us next to the only other occupied table in the restaurant. There is one table occupied, and we are seated next to them. Why? The waiter was from South Philly(name withheld, but manger will know who he is). Poor attitude from the get go. We asked questions about the menu as this was our first time here. The waiter seemed put off by simple questions(Tell me about the ribs, is the ramen dry on a plate or in broth and the like). My daughter works in the restaurant/service industry and she was very put off as well. Since this was tapas style dishes, we asked to hold onto the menu so that we could order more food if desired. His retort was that the kitchen would like the entire food order put in at the same time. This was at 515pm and there were only 2 tables occupied in the restaurant. Really?!?!? I get it if this was a full restaurant at 8pm(maybe). OK, so we never ordered anything else(but might have if given the chance). Halfway into the meal he has a change of heart and did a 180 on his attitude. Bizarre. We had ricotta gnocchi(quite good), margarita pizza(excellent), eggplant parm(fair), nonnas meatballs(fair), ribs(fall off the bone, but very greasy). Ambiance was nice. At the end, the check has a 3% charge for health care is tacked onto the bill. I have never seen this in a restaurant ever. Commendable to provide this benefit for your employees, but why is the customer shouldering this hidden charge? Perhaps a voluntary contribution, or just build it into the cost of the food. An unnecessary slap in the face at the end of the meal.

Went to Bardea to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere is nice. We had reservations and were seated right away. The menu had "Happy birthday" written at the top which was a thoughtful touch. We had the fried calamari, salmon, lamb kabob, and grouper. Everything was delicious. However, the portions are very small. The server suggested 4-5 things to be shared amongst two people. We ordered 4 things. Had we been really hungry, this would not have been enough. The calamari was the favorite out of everything that we tried.

I still have dreams about this place.... seriously, wow. The food was absolutely incredible. Everything tasted perfectly balanced and professionally cooked. I loved how the flavors of each dish were distinct from each other so each plate was like embarking on a new food adventure. The fish and pork were practically melting in my mouth and the pasta was a perfect al dente. As for the restaurant itself, the ambiance was perfect for a date night and the staff was the perfect level of attentive. The whole dining experience made me feel like I was an elite socialite dining at the hottest restaurant in town. There was even a resident sommelier that helped us decide which wine was best for our taste preferences. This restaurant is going down on my list of all time favorite restaurants. Anyone who comes to Wilmington NEEDS to try this place!!! Tip: they use a "small plate" dining style so ordering more is encouraged!! And this way you get an excuse to try even more of the amazing dishes hehe. As a party of 2, we ordered 4 plates, which was the perfect amount!

Absolutely incredible food. Order the spare ribs and lamb kabobs if you're into delicious meat. The pop tart burrata and eggplant are excellent vegetarian options. Also the pizzas are delicious, sized for two. The ambiance is nice, but the loud techno dance music might be better off replaced. All in all one of the best dining experiences in Wilmington. Highly recommend!

The food is so artistically presented and just delicious! We tried so many wonderful things. Fritto Misto was really unique. The pasta was good, but not as amazing as the other choices. The fennel is a must and the crab rotollini is nice.