On a recent visit to Wilmington, Delaware, I was drawn to Bardea Steak by the extensive praise and…read moreawards from prestigious culinary organizations. A quick glance at the menu and its detailed descriptions left little doubt that the restaurant well deserved its reputation. Offering unique twists on familiar flavor profiles, it promised a spectacular dining experience, and it absolutely delivered. Located in the heart of downtown Wilmington, Bardea Steak is situated among several other praiseworthy dining destinations. The building itself has been beautifully refurbished, retaining its rustic character while introducing an elevated, modern, yet comfortable feel. It had a great vibe inside and out. I was greeted by a staff full of friendly charm, and they provided exquisite service throughout the entire meal. After ordering a beverage, I spent some time reviewing the menu. Each dish featured an intriguing and slightly mysterious title and description. I highly encourage you to read through each item before making your selection. Most importantly, ask questions; the servers are fantastic at shedding additional light on what each plate has to offer. The Hamachi Bomb was one such item. A locally celebrated favorite, this dish is a creative twist on a traditional Hamachi roll. It features the freshest sushi encapsulated in a crispy nori shell, served alongside a well-balanced soy dipping sauce. In all honesty, the Hamachi Bomb was incredible on its own, but the sauce complemented it perfectly. Ditch the utensils here, you'll understand why the moment you try to use them! The dish offers a wonderful combination of fresh ingredients to kick off your night. While it is served as four small rolls, they are surprisingly filling. With an impressive array of surf and turf options, I was ultimately drawn to my favorite cut of steak: the New York Strip, featuring their Aberdeen Angus. It was a stunning bone-in steak boasting exceptional marbling and an elevated, rich flavor profile. Cooked to absolute perfection, it arrived at the table beautifully sliced to capture every single bite of that incredible beef. Frankly, it was one of the best steaks I have ever consumed. For my side, I selected the roasted Broccoli Di Ciccio which came tossed with a flavorful lemongrass curry and chili crisp. It was packed with bold flavor and served in an abundant portion that perfectly matched my generous cut of beef. Overall, my dining experience at Bardea Steak was exceptional from beginning to end. The service was superb and incredibly friendly, making an already out-of-the-world meal even better. The restaurant's endless accolades and high ratings are entirely deserved, it is no mystery why the dining room was packed. From the excellent bar offerings to the vast, creative menu, this spot hits every single mark. While seafood lovers will find plenty to enjoy, their true mastery lies in their beef, which is prepared with expert precision and genuine TLC. If you find yourself in Wilmington, Delaware, do yourself a favor and make Bardea Steak a destination. It is a truly fabulous restaurant. Bon Appetite!

The experience did not match the hype. Everything is ala carte, which is fine if the…read morepresentation, service and quality of the food all match. The drinks including a glass of wine and martini were good. The baked bread appetizer came with a frozen piece of butter. If you make a compound butter, it usually tastes better room temperature. 5 minutes after the bread arrived, the Caesar salad arrived. No salad plates were provided. Within 1-2 minutes after salad was delivered, the steaks arrived. I don't mind salad with my meal if it's part of the culture of the restaurant. However, at most steakhouses where I've been, the salad is a separate course served prior to the main course. The steaks ordered were the bone in strip and the filet. Both steaks were heavily over salted. We ordered the béarnaise sauce and the French onion butter as toppings, and both were unremarkable. The roasted potatoes side dish was delicious as was the salad. The ambiance of the restaurant is great. It's a shame the seasoning for the food and the presentation and timing of the food delivery aren't better controlled.

Great service! We had the salad with salmon and pierogi and…read moresausage with soup trio for appetizer. Everything was wonderful. My husband loves his ipa beers and was happy with options also they make great martini's Seems like a great local hangout with really good food.

I came with my family of 4 and unfortunately none of us enjoyed our food. The soup was terrible. My…read moreson had a $10 mocktail that was terrible. My crab cake had lots of crabmeat but was tasteless. The Caesar salad was okay.

This was my wife and my first time visiting Snuff Mill restaurant…read more The restaurant is perfect in every aspect! We visited for a lunch and everything from the drinks, an interesting special brewed iced tea and a glass of red, the focaccia with bone marrow butter, the filet mignon and the waygu flat iron steaks were some of the most delicious properly cooked and seasoned steaks we have ever eaten. The food alone makes this the best steakhouse in Delaware and you throw in fantastic service from our wonderful waiter and they hit on every note. Thank you for our fantastic experience!!

Definitely up there among the better restaurants in the Wilmington area. It didn't displace my top…read more2 (La Fia and Le Fête) but I enjoyed Snuff Mill more than Bardea. What didn't do it for me at Snuff Mill: (1) The aged NY strip was just ok; I've had more tender steaks at random chains. (2) None of my 3 cocktails was a homerun. (3) Seems like the reservation system is deliberately wonky (nothing available online for the day I wanted but no problem when I phoned). (4) I've had better meals for half and even one-third the price. Service was professional and attentive. The dining room size is small and might inhibit conversation, but you'll be fine once the alcohol kicks in. I would certainly go back--there were lots of other things on the food and drink menu that looked good--but probably not anytime soon. Whereas I would gladly go back to La Fia and La Fête tomorrow.

We had the prime rib special. This was a complete dinner including soup or salad, main entre, then…read moredesert which they had good choices. We had cheese cake, although there were two other selections which were also quite nice. This place is upscale, but it won't break your budget. They also feature a full bar with cocktails, beer, wines and spirits

I was visiting Wilmington for the first time and my sister and I wanted steak so we heard about…read moreWalters. I was not impressed. It is very romantic and good for a date, but it had no selection of steak choices. If you wanted a New York strip or T-bone or a ribeye you were out of luck. I don't know why steakhouse is in their name. They had a special on prime rib, which was good. You receive the salad, the dessert and something else but when the prime rib came, it was bland. The potatoes were bland, no seasoning and full of fat. The prime rib was more fat than it was meat. I'm still trying to find a good steakhouse in Wilmington. Walters might be the good place for small gatherings- conversation or having a drink, but it is absolutely not a steakhouse.

Visited this place for the second time within a year on Wednesday August 26, and entered upon their…read more3pm happy hour opening. Met and talked with the owner, sharing my limited food service experience as I listened to his fascinating story. The restaurant is part of American history, and is a business that always fascinated me. I've always thought successful restaurant owners, would be successful at most any endeavor because they are just such committed, hard workers, and this fella was a gauge for that rule. The happy hour food and drink prices are fabulous, and though I am a person of habit, everything Ive tried here was excellent, a good example would be the onion rings. Ordered these many times through the years, and it's amazing how many restaurants can't get them right. From the generous portion I was served, they were a hot crispy golden brown with no crumbs on the bottom of the basket, which tells me the frying oil is fresh and at perfect temperature. The regular bartender is one of the most knowledgeable and engaging, and while by myself, I'm always drawn into friendly conversation with the mostly couples that sit at the bar. The bar makes me feel like I'm at a local corner bar in the '70's or '80's, such friendly atmosphere. Wished I lived closer, as this would be a destination dining spot.

The atmosphere is very sterile has a cafeteria feel to it like a smorgasbord type of establishment…read more -The calamari is very greasy with clumps of batter stuck on very skimpy pieces. -The pink salad was delicious. -The service was horrible never came by to check for water or anything else for that matter. Let me be clear on this, we are one of two tables in the restaurant it is empty. -I had the NY strip it was burnt on the outside and served cold. - Had a side of gnocchi it a pesto sauce that was ok. The bottom line here folks is this , if you want a slightly better than sizzler steakhouse than this is your place. I won't be back.

Outstanding burgers and the largest selection of bourbons I have ever seen in any restaurant…read more They also have tremendous milkshakes and ice cream desserts. Plenty of comfortable seating (bar seating and booths up front, conventional four top tables in the back. Our server was prompt and attentive.

I found this place on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Only a few blocks from my hotel so why not. Sat…read moreat bar and met Mike. More on that later. This place is so cool! Just the vibe is awesome but to meet Mike. This is his place. He is the guy that was on D, D, & D. An absolute treat. Slow night so I got to talk with him. Again, more on that. The chicken skin appetizer. OMG. So good. I need to figure out how to make these at home. Had the FTC burger and tots as Mike was nice enough to dissuade me away from the Moo Caliente. Says on the menu "VERY spicy". Mike gave me the Reaper aioli for my tots. Holy hot! But tasty. If you like really spicy, take the Moo Caliente on. Now Mike is the owner, bartender, and designer of all this. I have never had the opportunity to actually speak with the guy I saw on TV but he is so down to earth he acts like just an employee. What an honor to get to hang out and speak with the owner. An incredible experience and you must try Farmer & the Cow if in Wilmington

Came here for dinner with my wife and infant son on the first night of our 11-day east coast trip,…read moreand honestly it set the perfect vibe for the rest of the trip. The food gives you that fine dining experience without the pretentiousness. The staff is warm and friendly -- shout out to Chet for his amazing service. They were also very accommodating to our son who was in between napping when we began dining, setting up a high chair for us in a way that would allow him to continue sleeping in his car seat. We started the meal off with some seared scallops that were perfectly arranged. Next, my wife had some seared tuna while I ordered the Colorado bison -- both items off of the special seasonal menu. The dishes were incredibly flavorful and the veggies that surrounded the meat added a nice complement. I also really enjoyed my California cab, as did my wife with her house Manhattan. We will definitely be back next time we are in Delaware, and highly recommend to anyone visiting the Hockessin area!

We dined here last week. The service was excellent. The…read morefood was good for the most part. Points to improve: my appetizer of country pate was served with blackened toast. (Server rectified) The pasta carbonara was prepared using guanciale instead of bacon or pancetta. I found it too rich and almost over cooked. The duck wings appetizer my friend had were excellent. The fresh fish entree was delicious. The cheesecake dessert was a thing of beauty. I would probably try again, but it's a half an hour away. (We passed way too many other restaurants to try)

Tonic was a really good choice for dinner in Wilmington. We started with the oysters and calamari,…read morethen shared the Mediterranean rainbow trout and Burgundy-braised beef short rib. Everything was well prepared and tasted great. The service was quick without feeling rushed, and the restaurant was cute, quiet, and comfortable. Overall, we really enjoyed the meal and would return.

We recently held a celebration of life for my mom here, and from the moment we walked in, I knew…read morethis room was going to hold something special. Planning an event like this isn't easy -- there's so much weight to it, wanting every detail to honor someone you love -- and this team made that possible in a way I'll always be grateful for. The decor in the room was beautiful. Soft draping along the ceiling, a gorgeous chandelier, candlelight, and floral centerpieces on every table -- it felt warm and intimate, like the space itself was wrapping its arms around all of us as we gathered to remember her. Seeing my mom's photo up on the screens around the room, surrounded by family and friends sharing stories, laughter, and tears, is something I'll never forget. The service that night was incredible. The staff moved through the room with such care, making sure everyone felt looked after, but never once making it feel like just another event. The bartenders, especially, brought such an open, easygoing energy -- they were so fun to be around, and they helped lighten the mood in a way that let us laugh and celebrate my mom's life, even amid the grief. Looking back, that mix of comfort and joy meant so much. The food was super delicious too, and in moments like this, even small things -- a warm meal, a kind smile, a drink poured with a little extra care -- mean far more than people realize. I have to give a heartfelt and BIG shoutout to Amanda, the event coordinator/manager. She was an absolute sweetheart, and her calm, caring presence made it possible for our family to actually be present in the moment instead of worrying about logistics. She made sure everything -- from the setup to the TVs and microphones working perfectly for the tributes -- ran smoothly, and her thoughtfulness didn't go unnoticed by any of us. Hosting something this meaningful in a space that felt this beautiful, with people this kind, made all the difference on one of the hardest days. I am endlessly grateful to Amanda, the bartenders, and the entire team at Tonic for helping us celebrate my mom's life with so much love. I can't recommend this venue enough!!

Beautiful dinner. I love to cook and I get so disappointed when we go to dinner and it's just…read moresub-par. I can say without a doubt that the Chef at Eclipse LOVES to cook and cares about what he/she puts on a plate. Amazing food. Husband had the pork chop and was beyond pleased with his food. Had a maple bacon glaze - need I say more....and was cooked to perfection; seared and caramelized on the outside, but juicy inside. I had the chicken dish and it was equally amazing. The skin was rendered and so crunchy AND meat was so tender. Was sitting in a perfect lemony sauce, served with super crunchy potatoes. Also, the staff was so personable and attentive. Just a pleasure. We are in Delaware from Ft Lauderdale, and are so thankful for Yelp reviews. They led us to Eclipse and we are SO HAPPY they did. Thank you Eclipse Bistro for a memorable, beautiful dinner!

Service is outstanding Andrew bar tender is exceptional…read more Food items worth trying Burger Chopped salad Salmon Scallops

My wife and I had dinner last night. We've been eating at the Wimington restaurant for many years…read moreand have always enjoyed the vibe and had top notch food, drinks and service. I searched Yelp out of curiosity and was shocked to see a rating of 3.3. For me this was always a 4.5-5. We had a sushi appetizer that we both loved. I had scallops and my wife had salmon since it was a Friday during lent. For dessert I was going to get a chocolate raspberry cake but the waiter tilted me to carrot cake. Wow! Amazing! Check out the pictures below. This continues to be one of our top restaurants in Wimington.

After taking a family of 10 (6 adults & 4 grandchildren between 10-16) to Sullivan's Steakhouse…read morelast night I am only 50/50 with my review. Everyone - that is, - everyone but the guy paying - enjoyed their meals. My wife and I ordered the Australian Waygu steak and Lobster and included bottle of wine for 2 deal at $199. My wife cooks an excellent steak but I wanted to try Waygu and hearing the hierarchy of Waygu goes: Japan, Australia, USA I was expecting perfection. When it 1st came out it looked too rare. But again, not having Waygu before I just went with it figuring even a fair chef at steakhouse should know the proper temperature to cook this special cut of beef. What a mistake. The 1st piece I "tried" to cut into was like cutting into the bottom of my shoe. Those 1st half dozen bites I had to spit out they were so tough. The 2nd piece of the pre-sliced Waygu was still a very tough slice and very chewy. I asked my son (44) to try it and he took a piece from to other end. He could taste the difference from a ribeye or porterhouse but again, it was tough and not as expected from such a "so called" prized piece of beef. I went back and forth with myself about complaining. But, with the grandkids there, and my son giving his lukewarm evaluation, I just decided to keep my mouth shut. Maybe it was a mistake. But we will just spend our money elsewhere (like The House of William and Merry where we always have a fantastic dining experience) I will add our service was excellent. I think her name was Harrison, or something like this. She, and the staff, served us well.