Royal Recommendations: Fine Dining Favorites in Wilmington

There’s nothing better than dinner and a show! Thankfully, our neighbors in and around Market Street in Wilmington offer some of the best dining options in the entire state of Delaware. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re going to introduce you to all of our favorites!

Today, we start with the fine dining favorites for those looking for something a bit more upscale to impress those dates or celebrate a special occasion with friends.

Though this fine dining recommendations list is a bit more high-end, these cozy restaurants are warm and welcoming, and many are quite affordably priced!

So the next time you snag seats for your favorite band (or decide to be adventurous with a night of live music from an artist you’ve never even heard of!), peruse this list of restaurants just steps away from The Queen, make your reservations and live like royalty all night long!

bardea steak
cuts of rare beef at Bardea Steak

Bardea and Bardea Steak

Bardea, just one block up from The Queen in Wilmington, is a James Beard nominated restaurant and local favorite among the Wilmington community for its creative and seasonal dishes. Truly upscale, Bardea specializes in innovative Italian cuisine that’s prepared with organic ingredients from sustainable farms and fisheries. Unique appetizers like the Burrata Pop Tart and Lobster Taquitos lead the way into invigorating (fresh) pasta, pizza and seafood entrees, like the Saffron Garganelli and Bay Scallops. Not only is the food to die for, but the drinks are a must, including a full beer and wine list of specialty and classic cocktails that are truly craft.

620 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.426.2069

Just next door from the same family is Bardea Steak, a boutique steakhouse with unique cuts of rare beef breeds served with creative shared plates. Bardea Steak provides sustainably sourced exotic entrees like the Kangaroo Chile and Ibérico Pork, an exhilarating raw bar from both land and sea. Pair your dinner with a timeless cocktail or from the beer and fine wine list. If you’re looking for a quick bite and drink before your show, Bardea Steak also has an amazing happy hour with $8 mixed drinks and $10 gourmet apps. If you’re still hungry after a weekend show at The Queen, you can treat yourself to their delectable dessert and drink pairings as they’re open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

608 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.550.9600

Merchant Bar food

Merchant Bar

Our next door neighbors offer a deliciously simple menu accompanied by a long list of wine, beer and craft cocktails, which make Merchant Bar one of our patron’s favorite pre-show staples. If you love little bites, the Merchant Meat and Cheese Board is essential and the list of small plates has something for everyone from Chicken Wings to Tuna Crudo and Short Rib Empanadas. If you’re feeling super hungry, they also have delicious burgers and a selection of larger plates like the Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns and Shrimp Tacos. Merchant Bar does a weekly happy hour Tue-Fri from 4:30-6:30, perfect if you’re seeing a weeknight show at The Queen.

426 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.502.3385

La Fia Bistro dish

La Fia Bistro

Right on historic Market Street diagonal from The Queen, La Fia Bistro serves unique seasonal fare that focuses on local and sustainable ingredients. Featuring a variety of rustic entrees and small bites (featuring everything from rabbit to chickpeas), and over 20 wines by the glass, (plus, craft beer and cocktails), La Fia flexes those taste buds. Everything from the breads to desserts at La Fia Bistro are made in-house, making it one of our favorite places to support. Seeing a show on a Wednesday? La Fia offers a delectable three-course prix-fixe dinner including a small plate, entree and dessert.

421 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.543.5574

Le Cavalier dish

Le Cavalier

Le Cavalier offers seasonal, thoughtfully sourced, inventive riffs on French staples alongside traditional classics paired with natural wines (and amazing cocktails), in a refined, yet equally welcoming setting. It also boasts an impressive number of vegetarian options to die for! If you happen to be staying at the Hotel du Pont during your trip to Wilmington (in the same building), be sure to try their delightful breakfast options as well!

42 W. 11th St. Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.594.3194

The Quoin dish

The Quoin

The Quoin sits diagonally north on Market and is one of Wilmington’s newest and finest dining establishments, situated inside an exquisite boutique hotel. With a focus on a contemporary approach of Riviera to Riviera, The Quoin menu melds the borders of Southern France and Northern Italy in a modern wood-fired fare (President approved). Small plates and wood-fired entrees are the stars in their small but mighty menu. 

519. N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.446.5600

surf and turf at Tonic Seafood & Steak

Tonic Seafood and Steak

Tonic Seafood & Steak, as the name suggests, is a great place for those craving surf and turf. A rotating selection of signature steakhouse appetizers, entrees and gourmet sandwiches never disappoints. Oysters on the Half Shell, Tuna Tartare and Short Rib Egg Rolls, are just a few of our favorites… Oh, and the Fried Sea Bass Po Boy and Seared Ahi Tuna Ban Mi! Tonic has great vegetarian options too, satisfying everyone in your group. Plus, the patio, bar and dining room all offer slightly different vibes, so you really can choose your own dining adventure at Tonic!

111 W. 11th St., Wilmington, DE 19801 | 302.777.2040

Ciro dish

Ciro Food & Drink

Their From the Sea, From the Field and From the Pasture menus make sure all bases are covered at this intimate, upscale hidden secret on the Wilmington Riverfront! Coming from the owner of Veritas Wine & Craft Beer (right next door), you can truly trust their pairing suggestions during your visit as well. We’d be remiss to not mention that anyone who dines at Ciro is eligible for 10% off of a take-home purchase from Veritas!

321 A Justison St., Wilmington, DE 19801

What’s your favorite posh place to dine pre-show before a night of live music at The Queen?! Give them a shoutout @QueenWilmington…we want to hear from you! 


Stay tuned for more of our favorite restaurant picks in Wilmington, DE. It’s truly a delectable downtown!

Must-See Concerts this Summer at The Queen

We all know that live music hits differently in the summer. Luckily, The Queen has some sweet upcoming shows to check off your summer bucket list. From indie-pop to country, and everything in between, we have curated a list of concerts you NEED to be at this summer in Wilmington.

The Disco Biscuits | June 14

“The Biscuits,” as fans like to call them, are a must-see show for lovers of electronic rock. The Disco Biscuits’ unique blend of genres has made them one of the most influential jam bands in the live music scene. This show will be packed with energy and their improvisations make every performance one-of-a-kind. The Biscuits are known for thrilling audiences with their electrifying live performances, so you’re going to have to rearrange your schedule for this one, Wilmington!

Tragedy & Beatallica | June 15

Calling all rockers! Tragedy takes the best disco and pop-rock music from the 60s & 70s to a whole new level, reimagining them into hot heavy metal tunes with an extra side of theatrics. Bust out your best disco outfits and get your heads ready to bang while discovering a new meaning to your favorite songs. Joining Tragedy this summer at The Queen is Beatallica, a revolutionary mash-up band that combines music from two legendary artists, The Beatles, and Metallica. If you’re looking to laugh, dance and mosh this summer, this metal concert in Wilmington is perfect for you!

Sky Ferreira | June 30

From singer-songwriter to model and actress, Sky Ferreira is an absolute indie icon. She has toured with major artists like Miley Cyrus and Vampire Weekend and her combination of synth-pop and indie makes her music not only captivating but electrifying to hear live. IIf you’re a fan of indie-pop, this is the indie concert that you absolutely can’t afford to miss this summer.

The Ultimate Doors | July 6

A tribute band to “The Doors” that is guaranteed to bring you the most authentic live experience to the old and new generations of Doors fans. Not only is their music as close to original as can be, but The Ultimate Doors bring attention to detail in all aspects of their show, paying tribute to everything from Jim Morrison’s leather outfits to the color of the mic cable. If you want to experience tribute to one of the most influential bands of all time, then this is the concert for you this summer in Wilmington.

Morgan Evans | July 13

Can you truly have a great summer season without country music? Grab a date and come see this romantic Australian-born singer who will serenade you with his enchanting country love songs. Morgan Evans’ incredible instrumentals fill his performances with passion and energy. Every lyric he sings comes straight from the heart and you can feel the emotion in every song. If you’re looking for a charming night of country this summer, seeing Morgan Evans live at The Queen is a must.

Flamingos in the Tree w/ Silver Cup | July 16

Psychedelic vibes are in store for whoever comes out to see these four smooth indie rockers at The Queen this summer. Originally based in Reno, Flamingos in the Tree will bring you the diverse genres of Northern Nevada, filling the room with forlorn lyrics and the chill sounds of the west.

A Night of Soul with Nadjah Nicole | July 22

Widely known from her appearance on “The Voice,” Nadjah Nicole will be filling The Crown this summer with her lively, soulful vocals. If you know her as the co-host from Nadj N Jea, then you know you can also expect a commanding presence with a side of silly. She’s been hard at work on a new batch of originals and will be backed by a full band for this special evening of soul music. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Nadjah’s renowned voice this summer at The Queen – this show will be something you definitely don’t want to miss.

WE OUTSIDE PARTY Throwback Party w/ Nivea | July 29

An incredible, soulful voice and catchy lyrics, what more could you ask for? Nivea is singing out Main Hall with her contemporary R&B hits this summer at The Queen. Featured in songs with Lil Jon and YoungBloodZ, Nivea is known for her influences of pop and hip-hop and is a performance you do not want to miss if you love R&B.

Don’t forget to check out the Upcoming Shows page to see all of the incredible live music happening at The Queen and be sure to save The Queen’s Spotify playlists for Main Hall and The Crown to your account, so you never miss a newly announced beat. We can’t wait to party with you this summer, Wilmington!