Joshua W.
Yelp
Dalecios is one of the first Italian restaurants you'll encounter as you enter Baltimores Little Italy, and it's also one of the best known. Incredibly beautiful inside, it has several small dining rooms, and has a home like feel.
I went in for my birthday dinner, and it was mostly fantastic. The service was excellent, the wine list good, and everything was prompt. It was also quiet, which was a great surprise on a Saturday night.
Our appetizer was fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and pepperocini. There was a single olive tossed in, too. . The mozzarella was good, but the tomatoes, beneath it, were not fully ripe. A drizzle of balsamic would have helped meld things, too.
Next, was some garlic bread. This was delicious, and quickly devoured.
My main course was the fish special, which was a snapper filet with assorted shellfish, mostly clams and mussels, though some shrimp, too. It was so good. The portion was generous, and the price was great. I always have a bit of reservation about ordering a special, because I feel awkward asking "how much," and I've been hit with an overpriced one -- this, honestly, I would have paid more for without complaint.
For dessert, I got a canoli. The quintessential Italian dessert. Unfortunately, it was a let down. The pastry was probably the best I've ever had. But the filling... it was bland, dry, and lacking. They had other desserts, including tiramisu that was delicious. I will have to skip the canoli next time.
A great dining experience, with a little room for improvement.