Been there twice now. Nice little restaurant in a very boring strip mall. Menu is fairly interesting and service is friendly and accommodating. At our second visit, our only negative (and not a fault of the restaurant), was that the people seated next to us were smokers and the stench was disgusting, so we had to move tables halfway through the meal, The staff were obliging. read more

Great liver and onions with mashed potatoes. Service was excellant. Reasonable prices decent wines. Crispy chicken with spicy sauce very good read more

Although the service was a little slow I really have nothing bad to say about this restaurant. The food selection was great with huge portions. They were very accommodating to our large party. I strongly recommend the escargot! read more

I have been there more then six times and have never had a bad meal. It is a little pricey, but not compared to other upper level restaurants in the area. The food is always delicious and the ambiance inside is great, clean & comfortable. I am only writing this due to the negative reviews? I would love to know where these people eat to down grade such an excellent restaurant. This is one of the few places I recommend to my friends and buy gift certificates for. I don't feel it's as good as it gets for my rating, but for a special meal out, in the north Wilmington area, it is the best place I have found. read more

My wife and I have loved Culinaria for years. It still is great, but I'm giving it three stars because the menu never changes. How about a shrimp dish? Halibut? Pork chop? Something different, please! You are fantastic chefs and I know anything you serve will be good. read more

My husband and I recently moved from Philadelphia to Wilmington and were in search of a good meal in the area. We tried Ulysses and there was a 45 minute wait and also a wait at Capers and Lemons. We decided to call Culinaria in the hopes they would be able to seat us - they said there was a small wait, but room at the bar. They could not have been more accommodating. Once seated, we speedily ordered. I ordered the tomato soup (so amazingly good) and the marinated chicken. My cousin raves about the chicken, so I had to get it. It seems like something so simple to get, but it was done so well. My husband had the shrimp dumplings and the bolognese pasta. He was so pleased. For dessert, he had the brownie bottomed cheesecake. The prices are reasonable and the food is well done and simple. Can't wait to go back! read more

As a Delaware foodie, I had high expectations for this place but was thoroughly disappointed and underwhelmed in every category. The food was average and overloaded with butter and salt. I will not be coming back unless they make some major changes. read more

The food is excellent at this gem in north Wilmington. The service is always professional and the food well prepared. I highly recommend this place for a romantic evening or a business meeting. Check it out! read more

Located in a strip mall, the interior betrays the plain outside of the restaurant. As soon as you enter in, you're in a cramped, closed area where you have to go through closed curtains - just a bit awkward to say the least. The inside betrays the exterior as it's calm, dim lighting everywhere. We went on a Wednesday night and it wasn't crowded at all. My only disappointment was the menu - there were about 0 options for vegetarians other than the pasta. Even in the pasta section, there were 2 options: rigatoni or tortellini. 3 out of 4 people in group got the same dish because we couldn't find anything else. If you like red meat, it's worth a shot but vegetarians, this is not a good place for you. read more

Go the this restaurant frequently. Always have great service and great food. Only downside is the small menu limits variety-but that is a trade-off for consistent freshness. read more

Smallish restaurant with bizarre pretensions for an eating establishment in an aging, backwater shopping center. If you can survive the parking lot without getting run over by crazed teenagers, you may have to wait for your whole party to assemble before the owner will let you have a table (actually, the owner hides in the back and leaves enforcing his silly seating rules to an ever changing gaggle of retarded teenage girls or a jittery staff.) The food's uneven, the prices high and the service erratic. Food is charred as often as it's undercooked. Pasta dishes are overpriced and unoriginal. Desserts offerings are boring. There are plenty of other good places nearby. Find them. read more

Wow was the food excellant. Liver was outstanding along with the roasted veggies. Lots of choices for this oth food allergies. We did take out & it was awesome & fresh. read more

We just had the most amazing meal at culinaria! Adorable place- such a warm and romantic atmosphere. Not stuffy at all. There was a large group in back that was having fun but the noise wasn't a distraction to us at all. We had a gift certificate and went a little nuts with our ordering. First course- tomato soup with Parmesan and croutons for him (he said it was good but a little oily) and the escargot special for me. Escargot, mushrooms, peanuts, and croutons in an amazing garlic herb sauce. It was one of the best dishes I have eaten in a while. Simply amazing. Second course- ribeye with mashed potatoes for him. The steak was an average piece of meat but cooked to absolute perfection. Seriously good. Excellent mashed. I has the tortolini with sausage tomatoes and cream. Again, an amazing dish. Added a side of sautéed greens with garlic and oil which we devoured. Third course- peanut butter tasty cake that nailed the flavor spot on and an ice cream martini which was a scoop of coffee ice cream with kahlua on it. The meal was outstanding. The service was friendly and unobtrusive. We will most definitely be back again. read more

The most consistently good restaurant in northern Wilmington. They have a regular menu with most popular dishes and an always interesting menu of specials. Only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. read more

After reading so many positive posts about this place i couldn't wait to try it. To begin with the ambiance was outstanding, the place is crisp and clean with interesting decor including a really cool floor made of wildly painted cement. The wait staff were very nice and super professional. Unfortunately thats where the party ends... My wife had the spicy chicken that was just ok in my opinion, a little tough, but she was able to eat it. I had the rigatoni with meat sauce that was so bathed in the fat from the hamburger meat that I was afraid to eat it. I couldn't believe anyone would pass off hamburger grease as gravy so I took the leftovers home to see what would happen. It was a fully jelled container of artery clogging beef fat by the ride home! The place was crowded and people seem to enjoy it, but it beats me as to what it is about this place that they like?? read more

I had a good experience overall. I like the ambiance, but found the overall location strange (in the middle of a shopping center). The fish I ordered was a bit to spicy and overdone. Despite this, their dumplings were delicious and I was impressed by the waitstaff. We had a nice view of the kitchen from our table and you could see the food diligently prepared. It is a bit more upscale than your normal restaurant, but it is not comparable to a place like Moro. read more

Let me start with the positive, the food here is consistently wonderful. The on point soft shells are what convinced us to try one more time. Of the past FOUR times my husband and I have attempted to dine at Culinaria, one was a private party (not on Sunday or Monday), the other three "no-gos" were the fact that they closed HOURS early, 8:00pm on a weekend evening, due to lack of business. Maybe the restaurant could retrain clientele if they stuck to its advertised hours of operation. My husband declares never going back. read more

We had great food. I had the Thai Crispy Chicken. Yum!

Culinaria is hands down the best kept secret in N. Wilmington! They don't do a LOT but what they do, they do excellently! They have something on the menu for all tastes and a very cool urban atmosphere that CAN get quite crowded and a bit noisy. They do not take reservations so if you try to get on a Friday or Saturday (they're closed on Sundays) night after 630, be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes. During the week is ideal or by 5:30 on the weekend. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I feel like they need to blow out the wall and double the size of this place. Oh and PLEASE BRING BACK THE TUNA!! read more

The menu - the specials are always unique. The staff is friendly and attentive. Is great place to have an intimate dinner with friends. Would be a good place for a first date. read more

This is the place I take guests when money is no object. There are cheaper restaurants around, but this has really good food. The waitstaff is helpful and knowledgeable. The menu is interesting. I usually have the calf's liver which is always perfect (medium-rare, as the Chef recommends.) It's located in a shopping centre so you might be hesitant. Don't be. The entrance alcove protects the dining room from the outside chill with a curtain and pushing it aside to enter is like raising a curtain on a pleasant surprise. The chairs are comfortable and the tables comfortably large; I mean there's enough room to put some of your possessions thereon. One friend from NYC commented that it reminded her of one of those charming smaller restaurants in the theatre district (think Pierre au Tunnel) where you can count on good food. read more

Fantastic! From the outside you would never guess that inside is the best food in Delaware.

I always loved culinaria, but had heard it wasn't as good as it had been since it changed ownership. I had the Crispy chicken and couldn't tell any difference at all - my friend had tuna with the same spicy salad and rice as the crispy chicken and declared it delicious. I am holding out a star because those curtains when you walk in still creep me out, and the new owners aren't honoring old gift certificates - how many can there be really? The test will be the salmon with curry sauce and jasmine rice - will update when we try it! read more

Had one of the worse experiences from a so called "upscale" dining establishment that I have had in years. My good friend ordered a pasta dish what looked like it was swimming in a pool of grease. Called the waitress over to tell her the issue. The waitress repeatedly ( I mean repeatedly ) suggested that we could bring it home and purchase an additional entrée. Really, I am supposed to pay for an inedible meal than buy an additional entrée!? Shame on them for charging high end prices with such a sad incompetent service philosophy. read more

Don't let the location fool you, Culinaria provides a great dining experience right in Brandywine Hundred. I am a repeat customer, and each time the food is quite good. I usually get the tenderloin which I like quite a bit. Add nice service and a vibrant atmosphere and you can get an overall great dinner out. The only complaint I would have about the restaurant is that the menu is fairly small, meaning not everyone at the table may find their most preferred dish. The restaurant itself is also small, so beware a wait when it gets crowded! read more

This is a fabulous restaurant. The salmon in curry sauce is unbelievable. My husband loves the liver. I have no idea why people complain about the location. It's north Wilmington! Who cares if it is next to a bread bakery? I have been eating there for close to TEN years and love it. Incredible appitizers and sautéed greens too. read more

We really wanted a good experience, but things just kept getting worse. Started with the escargot special and Greek salad. The escargot was drowning in a very salty mix of hazelnuts and mushrooms. The salad wasn't bad in tasted but entirely too much dressing. The rigatoni with meat sauce tasted like a frozen meal that was heated up in the microwave, again with was too much salt. Service was even worse and the prices were extremely high for the quality of food. This place needs more food options and people working there that actually care about their customers returning. read more

I have been here enough times now to say that i love this place. great, small, intimate establishment. the food is fantastic. way above most other restaurants in the area. 4 of us ate here again last night before going to the escape room across the street. this will be our go to place before escaping from now on. thanks! read more

Right off the bat, I'm going to admit I'm addicted. This is my go-to restaurant when I need some good food, especially good take-out. I'm absolutely addicted to the crispy chicken in thai salad, but as another reviewer mentioned, it is MUCH better when you order it in the restaurant than if you try to take it out. On the table, it's the perfect temperature with the hot chicken & jasmine rice with the cool salad. If you try to drive it home, it's okay, but never as good. For takeout, I'm a fan of their chicken breast with mashed potatoes, which is basic but always flavorful. To spice it up, I ask for a side of the curry sauce that's served with the salmon. The southwest salad with chicken is another favorite of mine (no cheese). Again, it's better on the table than take out. With all the juices and dressings, it can get a little too saturated if you wait too long to eat it. I miss their peppercorn sauce they used to offer with the tenderloin (mmm) and their roasted red peppers with mozzarella and pesto. I keep an eye on the specials menu because sometimes retired dishes make brief re-appearances. I like their food because it's not trying to be something it isn't. I'm not a fan of a lot of dishes I see in a lot of restaurants that involve stuffing meat with things or dousing it in creamy sauces. There's not flashy or greasy about it, but it still presents very well and tastes great. Here, if you're order a chicken, steak, or fish, you get it and any of the sauces enhance the flavor rather than cover it. Their mashed potatoes are always super creamy and delicious. I'm also a huge fan of the tomato soup, but again, I'm not a cheese person, so I always ask them to hold the parmesan. I think some of the prices can feel a little steep, but honestly when I measure against it's competitors, I would rather spend 30.00 here on an app and entree that I know will more than fill me up (without being ridiculous) than most other places. I'm a loyal customer and have been for years. If you're looking to be fawned over by the owners/chefs, or if you're looking for a kid friendly place, this is not for you. If you're looking for a good meal, either to take home or to enjoy there, this is it. read more

I was surprised to find this place in a run down shopping center. The food is always fantastic and the service is great. They have half priced bottles of wine on Sunday and Wednesday. read more

My favorite restaurant! Love the salmon and the rainbow trout! Great martini desserts! Best French Martini barring none! I've been going there ever since they opened! Helen P. - New Castle, DE read more

I must say as someone who prefers the upper scale of restaurant quality, I must give this diamond type quality restaurant Culinaria the highest mark possible for its quaintness on the outside but fabulous and soft elegance on the inside. The food was high quality dining and well prepared, staff wonderful and fellow customers felt very relaxed and sociable in polite ways. I will definitely like to visit this special restaurant again. Best regards. read more

We have been going to Culinaria 15+ years and have always thoroughly enjoyed our nights out here. We typically dine out at least 4-5 nights a week and this place is one of our top go to spots. The food is always consistently very good, though the menu is not changed very often. We normally eat at the bar just because that's what we like to do. We have met many new friends as well as brought friends, both local and out of town guests here to dine as we know they will not be disappointed. The service is very good, the food delicious and the drinks excellent. We would highly recommend! read more

Delicious!! Husband and I have wanted to try this place for a long time and finally did! Despite the plain storefront look, inside is incredible warm and romantic! The food was exquisite - we enjoyed the shrimp dumplings, spicy crispy chicken and the salmon that was cooked to perfection. Delicious, affordable and the waitress was wonderful. We'll be back again soon! read more

We have always liked the food at Culinaria and the ambience but the service is taking a nose dive. We came here early (6:30) on Saturday night (1st Feb 2020) with a party of 5. We had a reservation. Got water and a drink served and then sat for about 25 minutes, while the other table around us were served. What became apparent was that they had ONE server (that's 1) serving the whole restaurant. More junior staff were just standing around. Apparently the server is the owner. We got up, asked for the bill remarking that they were clearly too busy tonight and the owner let us go with an "OK. Thanks for coming" response. I got the distinct sense that she was relieved we had chosen to leave since it would make her life easier. My wife left a tip which ticked me off but whatever. If we had been told that they were short on servers we would have understood but we were left to sit like idiots. I won't be gong be back until they sort out some more help. read more

I wish I had read these reviews before heading over to Culinaria last week. I was deeply disappointed from start to finish. The menu is completely unoriginal and bland (how about marinated chicken with mashed potatoes??) is that worth $18? - but most importantly the service is lacking and outright rude. When I tried to complain about it to the manager, I was directed to the owner in the back, and I can see why the staff is rude because the owner is ten times worse. So save your money, and either cook at home (where you will not be treated this badly) or go to a cheap diner, where you will get the same food same quality with at least nicer people. read more

We came to this restaurant because we had received a gift card and a rave review from a family member. I didn't expect much because it was in DE. So in terms of expectations, it was OK. Don't let the sketchy shopping center location deter you. Once inside, it feels like a little bistro in Philly. They do not accept reservations unless it's for parties of 5 or more. We went on a Saturday night, around 6:30p and we only had a 15-20 minute wait. It was not a large menu but it was accompanied by a smaller menu listing the evening's specials so the selections were decent. Our appetizers, Fresh Mozzarella and Lamb Kabab were good. I ordered Rainbow Trout with Pesto and my husband ordered Crispy Softshell with Almond Butter. My rainbow trout was disappointingly overcooked, it was dry and not very tasty. My husband did like his softshell but this was his first time trying softshell crab so he had no comparison. I had a taste and thought it was ok. The extra star I'm giving is because Culinaria serves Bassett's Ice Cream!!! The dessert menu has a variety of ice cream-tinis (ice cream topped with liquer). I'm a purist myself so I thought that was over the top when you already serve the best ice cream around. Overall, it was just an ok experience. It won't be my top choice restaurant in the area but I'll check back in the fall to see if there are menu changes and I'm open to another visit. read more

I couldn't disagree more with the four reviews below. Their tortelloni is great. Their rib-eye steak and garlic mashed potatoes are the best I know of and their Tuesday night catfish with bread crumbs is outstanding. You can get a good bottle of wine at a reasonable price. We've never had any problem with their staff. My only gripe is not being able to make a reservation and having to wait if you go late. read more

Culineria is one of my favorite restaurants, I've been going here regularly for years. It's a more limited menu, but the food is always fabulous and consistent. Service is also consistently excellent. You must save room for one of their dessert martinis. Once you get inside you can't even believe it's inside a strip mall, they have a nice decor which is changed up regularly. read more

Culinaria's food is reliably excellent. Crispy chicken over Thai salad is spicy and delicious. The roasted vegetable appetizer is great, as is black bean soup. Nice wine selection too. read more