Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Maryland
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Sounds like a good thing. Never ate his food though.
By gfweb1
on Nov 23, 2009 04:42 PM
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Interesting. I had not been to Bocca, but from what I read about it, I hope he can maintain the emphasis on modern, flavor-filled dishes. I am in terror of Columbus Inn re-opening with a menu that includes prime rib and clams Casino. Please, bring us some menu items conceived this decade!
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I never ate at Columbus Inn. I saw the menu and the blue haired old ladies and fled the place. Wilmington sure could use a few good restaurants. By my count there are two, three if the area is expanded by a few miles.
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Wilmington (as well as all of New Castle County to expand a few miles further) needs all the help they can get. And I'm not talking like the Cheesecake Factory that's planned for Christiana Mall...Granted Moro and Deep Blue are good but for the money you shell out, the quality is nowhere near Philly.
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Cheesecake Factory...yuck!
BHF, have you tried Orillas Tapas? I've been there a couple of times now and I really like it. The menu has improved since they opened, and it is pleasantly (and surprisingly, for the neighborhood) well-populated. And of course I am still extremely fond of Domaine Hudson--going from strength to strength, in my opinion. It has actually gone uphill in my last few visits. I had a tiger shrimp entree there a couple of months ago that was one of the best dishes I've eaten in years.
More is better, of course!
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I forgot Domaine. I liked it the one time we went (with a food critic of all people!). Haven't tried Orillas since I read they had problems early on and then re-vamped the menu (like 821?) making me wonder what's really happening there.
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I was at Orillas just a few weeks ago and they didn't seem to be having any problems. The menu had changed somewhat (a few dishes removed, a few added) but I got the impression that it was just a result of customer demand for some items vs. others. Give it another shot--it is worth it.
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I'd say Moro, Hudson and Nonna's are the only serious places in the county. There are a few good specialty places too, like Okura for Japanese.
Nothing though is Philly quality. Surprising considering the money that's around here and the general reluctance of natives to go up to Philly.
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Not all that surprising really. The demographics just don't exist to support a lot of quality dining places - yes, there are some people with money but it's more deep than wide.
In large part, there's very much a suburban mindset here - less likely to go to the "city" to eat or to eat out late. At best, a restaurant can count on two decent seatings a night. Quality food costs money and without a decent flow of customers, it's difficult to prosper.
Also, the population density is much lower - the entire state (let alone New Castle County) has less people than Philadelphia. Wilmington's not a destination locale so it can't depend on pulling in people from the adjacent PA/NJ counties
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This is exciting news -- I live down the block from the Columbus Inn and seeing it vacant for so long has been pretty sad (it is a beautiful building). Also super happy that the half-cocked plan to turn it into a luxury condo highrise have fallen by the wayside.
Since others are posting Wilmington best-of's, I'll name one that hasn't seen a mention yet -- Dumpling House, at 11th & Lincoln. Taiwanese food, a little on the pricey side, but the quality of the food is definitely worth it. If we're comparing to Philly, this and Palace of Asia are probably the only two restaurants in the area that are standouts. Better tapas / Italian / Mexican / Thai / breakfast food / etc. can all be had in Philly for a short 25-30 minute drive, but for Taiwanese / Chinese or Indian I'm plenty happy staying right here in town.
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I like Dumpling House (only been there twice, but liked it both times). I wish it were in a more noticeable location--I have no idea how they are staying in business, because both times when I've been there, it's been nearly empty. But the food is very good.
After all these years I have never been to Palace of Asia. I am a major Indian food snob (I travel to India frequently) so I rarely eat Indian food in the US.
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