The only reason I'm giving three stars is because of our server. She was hospitable and attentive. Everything else however was not worth the visit. We started with a salad which was ok. They seemed understaffed except the bartender who did not need help. I ordered my steak Med Well, it was med rare at best and everything was cold upon arrival to the table. My broccoli rabe was good. The mashed potatoes were unbelievably bland. For these prices the experience was absolutely not worth it. read more

Culinaria - Cheese Tortelloni - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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I'm not sure how I haven't seen this place before considering I've been going next door to el Diablo for the better part of a decade Great date night vibes and interior. The food is all very good here and the portions are quite large - I had a great deal of difficulty finishing my meal The spicy crispy chicken with a very spicy Thai salad is very aptly named. The salad is indeed extremely spicy but very tasty The ribeye is definitely much larger than the billed 12 oz. I would guess closer to 18-20 oz. Service is great. Extra points for leaving the bottles of water at the table so I don't die of thirst They aren't open for lunch and closed Sunday and Monday read more

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A dark and moody little place with consistent quality and good service. The mushroom sauce with the filet is absolutely incredible. We also love the roasted vegetable appetizer. read more

Every time I am there it is amazing! The food! The service! The atmosphere! The liver and onions is my favorite!! My mom made for me as a kid! Brings back memories! Salmon and veggies and mashed potatoes are great too! Love supporting local businesses! Give them a try! read more

Been going here for 12 years. It is very good service was great, made some friends with the staff through the years. The chicken and steak are 10 out of 10. The dessert is very good, place is quiet, but sometimes kind of busy on Friday or Saturday. It's clean and well maintained. Highly recommend. read more

I like to organize my reviews in 3 parts from most important 1.food 2.service 3.ambiance Food. 4 1/2 stars The food at this restaurant actually fit its atmosphere. We got the rainbow trout and the tortellini with the Italian sausage. Both were very good. And good portions They would've received a five star if the Italian sausage had more flavor it was kinda just there in the pasta Service. 3 star Service was this places downfall they were extremely understaffed. Our poor waiter had seven tables and the bar to attend to. They were very nice and squeeze us in without reservation but I beg you if the owner is reading this update your cash register it looks 20 years old Ambience 4 stars I loved the calm orange color scheme of the restaurant very calming. The lighting was perfect for a romantic dinner. Side note good gluten free options and drinks were good but nothing to right home about read more

Amazing staff and service! Really loved the steak and rigatoni with sausage, it was both flavorful and cooked well. The dessert is also very good. read more

Always attentive staff, seasonal menu choices bring me in as well as wine choices and fun cocktails. A cozy spot that is not too noisy either could be cuz young children - not recommended. read more

Wine was great. Atmosphere was nice! Did not expect this is a strip mall. Food was excellent! Go there!

Shrimp dumplings-delicious. Beef tenderloin and mashed potatoes-perfectly seasoned and delicious. Meh-asparagus; they were all the same length, so visually nice, but some of the woody stalks were left on. Now for the game changer; the ribeye. It may have been the single worst ribeye I have ever chewed on. My gf got it and does get it medium well (whhhhhyyyy?) but it was so tough that she thought there may have been a bone in it. I tried it and it wasn't overcooked, it was just tough. Service: it wasn't overly busy, but our food took about an hour. Server was friendly, if a bit raw, but very sweet. Drinks: reasonable wine selections. Tried to order a drink with sours. Sours. Told they didn't have. Ambiance was really warm and cozy, but not sure we'll be back anytime soon. Very disappointing with just how bad that ribeye was. We did mention how incredibly tough the ribeye was and received a "well, we appreciate feedback". That was it. In hindsight, should have sent it back, but I hate being that person. Me this morning, would have been that person. read more

One of the worst services I have ever received. We asked the waiter what grade the steak was. He said "I should know that." He did not say "Let me go ask or check on that for you." The entire table was stunned at this level of incompetence and LAZINESS. read more

Nice atmosphere. Food menu is nice, but needs updating. We have eaten there several times in the last couple of years, & it has been the same menu. My husband liked there Trout special, but did't like that there wasn't gravy for his mashed potatoes. The waitress accommodated him with a meat sauce, made him happy! I have ordered several different items, & have not been disappointed with any one of them. Recommend reservations if going on the weekend. read more

Just had four delicious meals! Lots of GF options, too! Service is just right and wine selection is very good! Great suggestions from staff. We are from NY and loved it! read more

Always such a pleasure to enjoy such fine, tasty meals at a warm and welcoming welcoming place. Love the soft shell crabs, the gazpacho, salads, trout - well just everything! And always a huge shoutout to Christina. read more

Culinaria is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable places I have ever eaten. My wife and I used to eat there around twice a month until we moved away from Wilmington 8 years ago. We have just moved back and everything seems just like we left it. The food is great, and the decor and atmosphere make for a very enjoyable meal. Some of our favorites include: - Roasted Vegetable antipasto - Rainbow trout with almond slivers - Salmon with curry sauce - Lamb "lollipops" (not on the menu but a regular special) My one complaint is that that sometimes mouth-watering items they have once or twice on their specials menu, such as their Spicy Chicken Tortilla soup or sweet potato and spicy sausage soup, disappear and are never heard from again. read more

I'd give a zero if possible. This place was absolutely horrible. The waitress Greta was horrible and had poor hygiene. The chicken literally bounced off the floor and when I showed them they said we should of said something sooner, yet some of us didn't even get our food. The lamb had no taste, and the food was served at all separate times. 2 people were done and 4 of us did not get our food. The waitress told us next time pick a different place. I wouldn't feed this restaurant to my dogs. We were served plates that looked eaten. read more

Culinaria - Food is not accurate to description. Basically told we should have lower expectations - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Whenever we get a chance for date night my boyfriend loves to go to Culinaria. He missed their Rigatoni with sausage. Looks like they changed it up from the last time we went (now its a ground sausage in a cream sauce as opposed to slices of sausage in a red sauce)so he opted for rigatoni in red sauce ...said tasted just like he remembered. I was excited to have softshell crab on a bed of spicy thai salad and a side of jasmine rice...it was so good, I didnt need a take home bag, I ate it all! I also had a yummy cocktail and OMG the dessert ! Im in love with my dessert. It was like an amaretto version of a tiramisu. I love almonds so it was right up my alley. read more

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Really good place and good atmosphere. The waiting staff are excellent. The food is really good, I got the sweet potato soup and rib eye and these items are well exacuted. The price is also very reasonable for what you are getting. The down side is the shopping area, it's a little low-end. The dessert is not made at restaurant and are nothing special so I do not recommend the desserts. Nothing like French Laundry or Le Bernardin but for this price, this is the best you will get. read more

Culinaria - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

We've come here regularly for many years... Then tonight, the Mrs mentioned the lights were so bright. I switched seats and then I was in the spotlight. The overhead spotlight was so bright .. I put a piece of paper on my head to shield the light! (Cool hat...) Then the manager Aaron came over to our table and accused me of turning off the light switch which controlled the lights in front of the restaurant. In front of everyone... Accused me... I had no idea there was a switch, which was well behind me... I went over to him and asked what that was. I told him, not only did I not touch his switch, I had no idea it was there! He said "well you look like you touched it" Wow dude... Just wow. I'm sitting with the Mrs and the 4 top next to us are our very best friends. Unbelievable... This s not how you treat a long time customer. No wonder they have ONE SERVER on a Friday night. They must have treated others with the same distain. Have to rate this visit a 0 star because I had to ask for service and being accused of something I had nothing to do with... New owners... Not good... The rice... Crusty on top, cold in the middle. The salmon, cold in the middle and raw The potatoes, steaming hot, and salty. My friends complained about their food too, but that's their review. Never place blame on a customer. These guys obviously never turned their lights on. We got here at 5pm... Still light outside. Never place blame on a customer. Bad business... read more

Culinaria - This light.... Ok, I'll sign the papers! - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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The food is awesome and the desert is amazing the service is wonderful the people are very friendly and you make friends with the employees the music is not loud it is great for a first date out and parking is kind great. read more

The food never disappoints! Christina and Greta do a great job keeping things moving but they could use another staff member or two - in my opinion. The ambiance is cozy and welcoming. The reason for only 4 stars is they need better ventilation as the air is very heavy with the smell of food. It's not rare that you leave smelling like you've been cooking all day. Would recommend. read more

Can't compliment the food here any better. Quantity and quality. Not sure why the low rating reviews recently. I would not make any decisions off them. Thai crispy chicken is the brilliant. I literally get it everytime. Mushroom tortolloni is a must. Super rich. Tomato soup and vegetable antipasto are great great starters. Hidden gem of north Wilmington. Read this review. Go here! I think they take reservations now. read more

A dangerous dangerous place! Truly Addictive. I loved every single bite. Got the potato crusted catfish. Freaking revolutionary. So crunchy as if it was fried but in reality some magician in the kitchen figured out how to bake a buttery crunch on fresh fish in an OVEN. Annnnd it was gluten free!! Where's Guy Fieri when u need him? My friend got the salmon. Soooo flavorful ALSO with a crispy faux fried layer at the bottom....like it was roasted in olive oil. Yum! And the fish was FRESH, none of that nonsense catching frost and loosing flavor in a funky freezer. The sides were just as impressive...Came with better than yo mama mashed potatoes, and a cucumber dill marination salad type situation. So good that it didn't come with my meal but I ordered a side to myself. Lastly we had the best banana cream pie in the whole wide world and universe. Whoo-hooo if u like banana pudding, you MUST get this pie. Highly impressed and can't wait to go back! Oh and the service was impeccable. I truly wouldn't change a thing from beginning to end! #fivestars #bravo #imstuffed read more

Culinaria - Potato crusted catfish with jasmine rice and black bean salsa. AMAZING! And gluten free! Oh and chipotle sauce on the side. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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I live 3 minutes from this place for 10 years but have never been there. Feel so sorry for myself. After reading two positive posts in one day about this place on FB restaurant &take out group, I can't wait to order takeout the next day. Based on the popularity, I ordered the crispy chicken, roasted salmon with cucumber and dill, rainbow trout with mushrooms and crab meat. As people commented, the take out portion is huge. One dish can feed a couple. The mashed potato in one dish and the bread fed my two girls My favorite is the salmon with cucumber and dill sauce. I can't have it enough, and can't help to eat the mashed potatoes with the dill sauce in it even though I'm on Keto diet My husband love the crispy chicken, and there are 10 big pieces of chicken the size of my 8 years old daughter's hand. I can't wait to order again next week and will try the ribeye, salmon with curry, and rainbow trout with pesto. The price is very reasonable for the quality and quantity they offer. read more

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We had been going here for years, very classy and excellent food, although a little pricey. However the last two times( takeout), the food was almost inedible. Never going to be fooled again. What's happened to Culinaria? read more

food was fantastic. lamb was perfectly prepared to medium and deliciously flavored with rosemary and olive oil. The Rainbow Trout equally as good. the service however was so lacking it spoiled the meal altogether. After ordering our drinks and entrees with our waitress, we saw her only once more as she distractedly checked on us half way through our meal with barely a pause in her stride. It didn't seem busy enough for any inattendance with only a handful of tables occupied at the time. Later, with our empty plates and glasses still on our table and the after dinner conversation turning into silence, we looked around questioning with our glances. crickets still! no offer of coffee or after dinner drinks. couldnt tell you if they even serve desert as none were offered. after at least 10 minutes of further abandonment, I got up to find someone to take my cc and ran into the owner. i politely expressed my disappointment with the service and was met with mostly silence, indifference, and an insincere 'sorry'. when the chief eventually moves on, please let us know where, we'll follow, but we won't be back here. read more

During these terrible times it has been a wonderful experience to get take out from Culinaria. Great food at a great price. We enjoy the catfish on Tuesday night. One entree enough for both my wife and me. The spicy chicken is also very good so is pasta. Bought it last night and had leftovers for lunch today. Also, very friendly staff. read more

The food was not that good. The person I went with order the trout with crab and they couldn't even eat it cause it was nothing but bones. The sides were under seasoned as well and it was so bad I had to split my pasta with the person. Service wasn't much better either. We saw the waitress four times; once to seat us, once to take food away, give us the check, and take the check. Place used to be good but now just sucks wouldn't say I'd go back read more

Culinaria - A Sham! Dear Wilmingtonians, Your beloved Culinaria is a Sham! You have been fooled all these years - overpaying for meals you should be making at home or just not eating. Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with walnuts is a no-brainer and not worth the $8.50 + tip you pay for it but you are willing to eat it in a dirty strip mall restaurant decorated with fake plants and faux art. What are you thinking; you deserve better! You are not pushing yourselves to explore food and wine at this place and are becoming complacent. Is that what you want!? Wake up! You are ranking this restaurant in Zagat on the same level as the Green Room, Krazy Kat's, 821, and Moro; four restaurants with trained chefs and menus that could compete against some of the top restaurants in the country. Move on people! Culinaria is Betty Crocker making one of her recipes after a couple of drinks from the bottle; stepping out of her safe and traditional meals by dusting her broccoli rabe with parmesan cheese! Folks, this is not "inventive" or "cosmopolitan"; this is what the rest of the world has been doing with their broccoli rabe for hundreds of years! It's a hoax! Don't let the Zagat review fool you into believing you are doing anything out of the norm; this is the norm for most people on the planet! The restaurant is the McDonald's of upscale dining. Patron walks in, is seated, cocktail order taken, dinner order taken, cocktail served, apps served, then dinner, dessert and coffee, patrons mull about while digesting, then leave is probably what the manual reads. Whatever you do as a guest at Culinaria, don't attempt to break the programmatic order (try it! I dare you!) of your evening or you shall be lashed by your server or one of the chef owners. Even worse, ordering something different than it appears on the menu is an impossibility; you may be kicked out of the restaurant! Life is too short! Wake up and smell the coffee people; do you like being taken advantage of? Boil down the facts: the food is simple with a few cheap twists that trick you into feeling comfortable paying $6.75 for broccoli rabe. The décor is nice to the eye at first blush but upon close inspection it is all fake. The service is programmatic and the chef-owners can't adjust what they make because they don't know how to work off their program. What does this leave you - well, where you started, in dirty strip mall with your initial impression of "why am I eating here, again?" Sincerely, Finding da Sham P.S. The owners don't like kids (no high-chairs available) so don't even think about bringing the little-ones..... read more

Zagat gave it a 24 or a 25 for food (I don't have access to the guide right now) and that was too high, for sure. More in the 21-22 range. Seating is cramped and no reservations makes it tough. The wine list is not great. Prices are average for a nice place ($15-17 for pasta, $22-24 for entrees). Pastas aren't ultra original but they are executed well. The tuna I had was decent, seared well and fresh. Desserts were pre-made and not great. I got take-out once, too and it was a disappointment. I've never had the inclination to go back. read more

I've yet to have a meal I didn't enjoy at Culinaria. Nice low-key atmosphere, although it can get a tad bit noisy if really crowded. The food is solid, the service is above average and it's got a slightly upscale vibe without being too stuffy. They get thumbs up on their soups - the second best I've ever had (the undisputed best is Cajun Kate's tomato soup at Booth's Corner Farmer's Market). They have a thai chicken dish that menu says is "very spicy" on the menu and it is indeed really, really spicy, which I love. (NB: This is the only spicy food item on menu.) I'd like to see a little more variation on the menu, but overall I like Culinaria a lot. read more

Color me suspicious, but it seems that many of the one-star reviews of this place are written in the same voice. More suspicious: these writers have only one or two friends and reviews under their belts. I smell something fishy. With that said, I'm a fan of Culinaria. I agree, it's a bit on the spendy side, not the most creative place (cuisine-wise) in the world, and I could certainly stand to see some reservations (is it that hard to join Open Table?) considering the smallish seating area. But their steaks are great, I love their soups; their ingredients are fresh, and I love their thai-inspired salad. They have the best mashed potatoes around. Is it as good, inventive or interesting as 821 was (may it rest in peace)? Nope. Is the service anywhere near Krazy Kat's? Absolutely not. But I don't think it's really trying to be, either. The atmosphere is pretty groovy, especially considering they're in a strip mall, though once you're inside you wouldn't know. Lounge music plays (not lounge as in smoky jazz, but lounge as in uber-chill, unobtrusive electronica), the wall/floor colors are warm spicy pumpkin tones, and the lights are low. They change up the decor every season, and it's always neat to see how they've changed things around-- tasteful and interesting. It's got a very open floor plan, so expect your neighbors to eavesdrop, and expect to run into people you know. I find the waitstaff helpful and friendly; not that their menu takes that much explaining. Steak is steak; fish is fish, pasta is pasta. I agree that it feels a little gauche to have the bar staff bug you for your payment instead of tacking it onto your table bill, but I can overlook that. Warning: The desserts are made offsite and aren't as tasty as they look. Sometimes I get the sense they were made 2 or 3 days ago. You can't hide that by nuking it and slapping some gelato on it. But speaking of gelato, they get their gelato from Caffe Gelato in Newark, so if you're jonesin' for dessert, you can't go wrong with a sampler dish of the cold stuff. If you're anti-gelato, then I'd go with the toasted almond cake or the tiramisu, because it's moist and good. With wine, appetizers and dessert, a dinner for two will probably run you $85. Note: They are closed on Mondays, and the place is chilly in the winter. Try to sit away from the doors (front and/or back), or wear a sweater. Anyway, take the one-star reviews with a grain of salt. Smells like bad blood to me. read more

Non-pretentious, fine dining. Comfort food. There's a warmth to the place... as long as no one opens the front door for too long. The food-- Tomato Parmesan soup - 4.3 stars. This soup is delicious. Caesar Salad - 3.5 stars Crispy Chicken in a "very spicy Chili Glaze". That's what it says on the menu and they ain't lying. I had the dressing on the side and could barely deal... though, if you like very spicy, its delicious. 3.8 stars They had Banana cream pie as a special dessert. 3.8 stars The servers are very nice here and accommodating. I came here Christmas Eve and they served us efficiently without rushing us. Very good. 4 star service. This is a casual enough place to eat at on a weekly basis but fine dining enough to justify the price. Cons: Not always the youngest, hippest clientele. Located in a mediocre strip mall. Don't expect the food heavens to open and blow your mind but you'll likely be pleased and satisfied. Solid. read more

No idea what got into the first reviewers that did this restaurant. I live right in the neighborhood and have eaten there many times. It's amazing. It's definitely owned by a mom and pop and the food is incredible. The best things I've tasted are the rigatoni with italian sausage, tomatoes and cream which is like, the most delicious thing ever and the crispy chicken in a spicy glaze with thai salad over jasmine rice...which varies in spice because they make it fresh every night. Sometimes it's the hottest thing you've ever had and sometimes it's perfectly mild....but either way once you eat it you literally are instantly addicted. I've never ordered that dish without thinking about it for a week afterward and wondering when I could get my next fix. The atmosphere isn't really kid-oriented, it's very dark in there and rustic. Very relaxing music and mood and the servers are very knowledgeable. Love this place! read more

I have yet to have a bad meal from Culinaria. I've only gotten take out, but I think that actually speaks to something else entirely. I do take out a lot and there are a few places and items I avoid ordering because I know the quality just won't hold up to the ride home. However, everything I've gotten from here (including fish) has held its own and been utterly delicious once home and on the table. I don't know if it's the packaging or what but it is very successful in that way. But that also leads me to an annoyance. While I understand the need for branding, and enjoy theirs, the label they put on their "microwave safe" stamped to-go containers has metallic ink. One day at work I was reheating (some yummy tortellini) for lunch and I started to smell something. Having shrunk numerous potato chip bags in the microwave as a child I recognized it immediately. I popped open the door and sure enough there were singe spots all around the border of the label. I then had to peel off the label before I could put it back in the microwave. I know the easy fix is to not reheat in the container. Nevertheless, with "microwave safe" stamped into the plastic of the container, I don't think it's a great idea to use that specific labeling. Additionally, I'd like to see more items on their menu since everything I've eaten thus far has been simply delicious. read more

Great food, ambiance and drink menu. Definitely recommend. Also excellent salmon . Very accommodating for Covid concerns. Try the chocolate beer. read more

Culinaria discriminates against babies in their restaurant. I have been coming to Culnaria for years. I now have a baby ... I came in for dinner, and I was told that there were no highchairs available. I said "fine, let her sit in her pocket-stroller (it's a thin mini stroller that weighs less than 9 pounds." The manager says... "no, you cannot have her in that." I said, well you are giving me zero options", and he says in a very condescending voice "children aren't our thing here, just ask our owners." So there you have it... CHILDREN ARE NOT THEIR THING. I guess he was not kidding, as their are NO change tables in either bathroom. Horrible experience. read more

First time visit here with friends. Service was excellent. I appreciate not having to ask for a refill! Why most servers don't get this is beyond me. I began with the lettuce wedge with blue cheese dressing, crumbles, diced tomatoes and added red onion. It was delish! The ribeye was a good tasting piece of meat that I couldn't even finish. It was cooked to my request served with mashed potatoes. I added a side of asparagus. Dessert was off the SPECIALS menu--Macadamia Cheese Cake. EXCELLENT! The atmosphere here is quite good...beautiful decor of earth tone colors and beautifully decorated. Will definitely return. read more

I went here with my boyfriend, sister, and brother-in-law for a special Valentine's Day dinner last Saturday on what turned out to be one of the coldest nights so far this winter. Our waitress (I'll be damned if I can remember her name) was extremely attentive and very friendly, and she also knew her stuff when it came to describing the specials on the menu. I can't speak for what everyone ordered because I was too busy enjoying my food. For starters, my boyfriend and I split the escargots, which came in a buttery garlic sauce and were super tender. For my main dish, I had the rainbow trout topped with sauteed mushrooms and juicy bits of crab meat, with steamed asparagus and mashed potatoes on the side. Actually, I should say "whipped" mashed potatoes, because they were simultaneously creamy and light (is that even possible with mashed potatoes?). They were the highlight of the meal. My trout was cooked perfectly, and the combination of mushrooms and crab meat added a nice savory flavor to it. For dessert, I chose the Lemon Coconut Cake. By the beard of Zeus, I've never had lemon cake like this before. It was like a combination of lemon meringue pie and coconut custard whipped together into a delightful fluffy yellow cake. I would definitely order this again if given the chance. All in all, I was pleased with Culinaria. The only thing that sort of bothered me was how our table was positioned; we were rather close to the door and every time someone came in or went out, we were blasted with a rush of frigid air. Fortunately, the food was good enough to keep us occupied. ;-p read more

Well kept North Wilmington secret. Discovered this place about 5 years ago have been going regularly ever since. Love their "menu additions" The escargot is great love going during the week after a rough day at work.(They make a fantastic dirty Martini.) I recommend Grey goose to really enjoy the experience. read more

Culinaria - "Bolognese" - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware