Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Delaware

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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 Bellefonte Cafe

4.8

4.8 (252)

$30 and under

Fusion / Eclectic

Wilmington

About the restaurant

The Bellefonte Cafe: Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Music, since 2002!

Top review

Cindy

Dined on Jan 3, 2025

Great food and great ambiance! Always a favorite before new owners, and still is!

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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Del Pez Mexican Gastropub-Wilmington

4.7

4.7 (708)

$30 and under

Mexican

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Del Pez is a Mexican gastropub that celebrates the power of food to feed friendship. By fusing the lightheartedness of a traditional pub with the heartiness of a robust food menu, we serve enticing Latin flavors while fanning the flames of both old and new connections. Our focus is local communities—the young professionals who work hard in the area. We are here for them from lunch through late-night
munch with craft drinks, gourmet comfort food, and an ambiance as warm as our welcome. We also host private events worth attending.
We offer standout seating—both indoors and out—where diners can experience the full range of magic that Del Pez has to offer! We hope to see you soon.

Top review

Mary

Dined on Jan 1, 2025

Wonderful food and great service! Thanks Daniella for making our New Year’s Day celebration special.

Iron Hill Brewery - Wilmington

4.6

4.6 (2125)

$30 and under

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Welcome to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, where you'll find fine handcrafted beers, creative yet informal cuisine, and friendly, attentive service in a casual, upscale atmosphere. We're passionate about producing distinctive, full-flavored handcrafted beers, accompanied by fresh–from–scratch New American cuisine in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Our goal has always been to provide food and beer that is inspired, consistently crafted and presented by a knowledgeable and courteous service staff.

Top review

JOSEPH

Dined 1 day ago

Iron Hill is one of our favorites. We have several favorite beers that we like and love the cheesesteak eggrolls. This time I tried a dish I hadn't had before this time- the fried chicken sandwich. It's really the first time I was not happy with the meal. It was supposed to come with lettuce and tomato but the tomato was missing (our waitress did get me one upon request) and the chicken was overcooked and dry. I used some sauce from the eggrolls to try to moisten it a bit but that didn't help much. My husband had the crab cake sandwich and it was very good. Lots of crab and tasty.

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!

Iron Hill Brewery - Newark

4.5

4.5 (1535)

$30 and under

American

Newark

About the restaurant

Welcome to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant in Newark, where you'll find fresh handcrafted beers, creative yet informal New American Cuisine & friendly & attentive service in a casual, upscale atmosphere.
We've been voted Best Overall Restaurant and Best Brewpub by the readers of Delaware Today.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is a non-smoking environment, with smoking allowed in designated outdoor areas only, however cigar & pipe smoking is prohibited. Reservations & "Call Aheads" are accepted for lunch & dinner seven days a week. We accept all major credit cards & are handicapped accessible.

Top review

Diane Rick

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Fantastic dinner and our server was very attentive and sweet.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill - Wilmington

4.5

4.5 (3181)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Newark

About the restaurant

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is an American Restaurant and Steakhouse serving authentic wood-fired steaks, seafood, specialty cocktails and select wines. Join us for Happy Hour at the FIREBAR® or on the patio for drink specials and bar bites. We offer top-notch service and upscale dining at a modest price. Reserve Your Table with us today.

Top review

Dalton

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic service and food. The trainee for our table was an awesome lad, stayed on top of service. Will always recommend going.

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4.0

4 (1504)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Chelsea Tavern is a local popular gastropub located in downtown Wilmington, directly across from the Grand Opera House. The kitchen prepares delicious comfort food consisting of locally grown and house made ingredients, that is complemented by our dynamic craft beer selection. Chelsea’s ever-changing inventory features 33 beers on tap, hundreds of large format bottles, cans, and single serving bottles of seasonal and local brews. Chelsea is a neighborhood favorite that is perfect for a quick lunch, weekend brunch with friends, pre-show dinner, or a group gathering. Join the energetic bar scene to watch the big game, or on our spacious patio for comfortable outdoor dining.

At Chelsea Tavern, we look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

TinaVIP

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Chelsea Tavern is our go to place for dinner. The food has always been great, and they have a great beer selection.

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