Taste Wilmington: Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week Returns This September

Food lovers, mark your calendars—Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week is back in Wilmington this September 2025, bringing together the region’s top culinary talent for a weeklong celebration of flavor. From September 15–21, diners can enjoy specially curated prix-fixe menus at some of the city’s most beloved restaurants, offering the perfect opportunity to explore Wilmington’s vibrant and ever-growing dining scene.

This year’s lineup showcases a mix of longtime local favorites and exciting newcomers, each presenting their own spin on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Whether you’re craving refined fine dining, creative small plates, or casual comfort food, Restaurant Week invites you to experience it all—at a value that makes trying multiple spots a must.

Featured Dining Experiences:
The 2025 roster includes standout restaurants that highlight Wilmington’s culinary creativity. Casa Nonna, located inside DECO, brings authentic Italian dishes to life, while Bardea Steak elevates the classic steakhouse experience with bold modern flair. Cozy and inviting, and Cafe Mezzanotte provides an intimate setting perfect for romantic evenings. Dorcea is an inviting American bistro with flavorful menu items. At La Fia, diners can enjoy inventive small plates in a chic atmosphere, while Merchant Bar offers a cool vibe with an elevated gastrobar. The Quoin Restaurant offers a stylish, open-kitchen design that turns dining into a performance. For a playful twist, Wilma’s combines great food with duckpin bowling, and Tonic Seafood & Steak—a downtown favorite—serves up expertly prepared seafood and prime cuts in a contemporary, lively setting. Downtown’s newest concept, Roost, is a fresh take on elevated pub food.

Beyond the meals themselves, Restaurant Week also highlights the role dining plays in building community and supporting Wilmington’s thriving downtown. Many participating restaurants are within walking distance of Market Street, making it easy to pair your meal with a night out at The Queen, a stroll along the Riverfront, or dessert from a local café. For visitors, it’s a perfect excuse to discover Wilmington’s walkable charm; for locals, it’s a chance to support neighborhood businesses and taste something new. Download the Downtown Wilm DE app for a full listing of Downtown restaurants, parking information and more!

👉 Ready to plan your dining adventure? Visit Out and About and VisitWilmingtonDE.com for the full list of participating restaurants, menus, and reservation details. Don’t miss your chance to savor the very best of Wilmington during Brandywine Valley Restaurant Week!

Wilmington's Newest Luxury Hotel: The Quoin

Exterior of The Quoin. Located at 519 Market St. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

Downtown Wilmington is booming. Nearly every season a new building, restaurant, or store is popping up in our vibrant community. One new project in particular has Downtown residents and workers especially excited: The Quoin, Wilmington’s newest luxury hotel.

Coming in late summer 2022, The Quoin, located at 519 Market Street, will boast 24 luxury hotel rooms, a lobby fireplace cafe & bar, a 155-seat ground floor restaurant with courtyard dining, a lower-level cocktail lounge, and Wilmington’s first rooftop bar and event space. 

Guest room rendering. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

Method Co., a Philadelphia-based hospitality company behind acclaimed projects, such as Philly’s beloved Wm. Mulherin’s Sons restaurant & hotel, and the recently opened Charleston hotel, The Pinch, along with The Buccini/Pollin Group, are reviving the former historic Security Trust & Safe Deposit Company Building into a stunning boutique hotel.

Method Co.’s goal for The Quoin is to honor the history of the Security Trust & Safe Deposit Company Building, a four-story Victorian Romanesque brownstone designed by the renowned Philadelphia architect, Frank Furness, while adding a new and lasting hospitality landmark to the fabric of Downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

The Quoin derives its name from the Old French word meaning “corner” or “angle.” The name connects the history, location and architecture of the building through a single thread, as quoins are most common in Western architecture, particularly Romanesque styles.

Rendering of the lobby. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

The hotel’s three distinct culinary concepts will be operated by Method Co. The Quoin Restaurant will focus on fresh wood-fired fare that celebrates craftsmanship and simplicity in a space designed to honor the history and architecture of 1800s Wilmington while serving as a modern-day sanctuary to rendezvous with all sorts. 

Rendering of the 155-seat restaurant. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

The Quoin Rooftop will be the first rooftop bar and lounge in Wilmington serving as the perfect spot for happy hour, social gatherings, and light fare.

Rendering of the first rooftop bar in Wilmington. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

The hotel’s craft cocktail lounge will emphasize a low and slow atmosphere, featuring the space’s original brick ceiling and a custom, room-spanning painted mural by the Reverend Michael Alan.

Rendering of the craft cocktail lounge. Photo courtesy of Method Co.

Randall Cook, CEO and Co-Founder of Method Co., shared his enthusiasm on being part of the It City Next Door: “We are incredibly excited to build on all the momentum that is underway in the city of Wilmington and to be part of bringing one of the region’s most iconic buildings to life.”

The Quoin will welcome its first guests on September 15, 2022. Visit their website for more information on Wilmington’s newest luxury hotel.

Celebrating Black History Month in Wilmington, DE

Ernest Green Interview at the Wilmington Public Library

The month of February dedicates its 28 days to recognizing and celebrating African-Americans

and honoring their contributions to society. During the month, Downtown Wilmington

businesses are hosting special events to educate, remember, and celebrate African Americans’

achievements throughout history.

The Living Legend Series

The Wilmington Public Library is hosting The Living Legend series for Black History Month.

• Ernest Green | Feb 17 

  Ernest Green is one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students who, in

  1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at the segregated Little Rock

  Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Green was the first African American to

  graduate from the school in 1958.

  Green’s interview will be with CNN Commentator Bakari Sellers.

• Pam Grier | Feb 23

  Actress Pam Grier is best known for her portrayal of tough and sexy crime fighters in the

  1970s genre of “blaxploitation” films such as ‘The Big Bird Cage’, ‘Coffy’, ‘Foxy Brown’

  and ‘Sheba Baby’. Her later work in the 1998 film Jackie Brown earned her a Golden

  Globe nomination. 

  Tonya Baynes will be moderating the conversation.

Clifford Brown Year Around  | Feb 18

Rekindle the love in your life this month with Clifford Brown Year Round! On 2/18 at the

new CSC Station, enjoy performances by Maya Belardo, Nadjah Nicole, Jea Street

(and many more!) as they answer the question “How Do You Sing Love?” Buy your

tickets today!

 A virtual link will be available for those who cannot attend in person.

The Negro Spiritual: An Afternoon Event at SsAM | Feb 19

These songs have become deeply embedded in American culture and modern faith, songs whose creators — often enslaved Black Americans — have gone largely unacknowledged, their names lost to time. Featuring the Wilmington Children’s Chorus and narrated by Bebe Coker.

Free parking in the church parking lot. Click here for directions.

The event will be live-streamed for those who cannot or choose not to attend in-person here at our church. Click here to view SsAM’s YouTube Channel.

A free-will offering will be collected from those attending.

LaFate Gallery: Black History Month Diverse Perspectives | Until Feb 26

Award Winning Folk Artist, Eunice LaFate presents a month-long exhibition called “Black History Month…Diverse Perspectives.” The exhibition features art representing a range of perspectives and moments in Black History.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11AM-5PM

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Local Black-owned Businesses

Take some time this month (and all year) to shop and eat at local Black owned businesses in Downtown Wilmington. Below are a list of Black-owned businesses you can help support! 

Amity Bistro | 209 N Market St

Opened in October of 2021, enjoy classic breakfast options and American favorites for lunch and dinner. You crave it, Amity Bistro will provide.

Artzscape | 205 N Market St

Artzscape is an innovative performance and event space for theater, music, comedy, poetry, art, and social events.

Evelyn’s Soul Food | 1409 N King St 

From breakfast to dinner, Evelyn’s Soul Food has you covered. Stop by and grab some delicious soul food that’ll keep your tummy happy all day long.

Green Box Kitchen | 400 N Market St & DECO

With the goal of making healthier eating uncomplicated and easily accessible, Green Box Kitchen offers cold pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, buddha bowls and much more!

LaFate Gallery | 227 N Market St

Opened in 1993, LaFate Gallery presents a collection of contemporary, traditional, and folk art that reflect Caribbean and American landscapes.

Milk & Honey | 239 N Market St & 807 N Union St

A coffeehouse, gallery, and venue space, Milk & Honey is where the community gathers, and memorable events are held. Make sure to try their famous flat white and one of their many sandwich options.

Morgan’s of Delaware | 222 Delaware Ave

Dress to the nines with the help of Morgan’s of Delaware. The boutique carries a range of clothes and accessories fit for uptown elegance to downtown edge.

Tasties 302 | 825 N Market St

Tasties 302 offers a selection of mouth-watering soul food from southern fried chicken, beef short ribs, and their famous alfredo pasta. Dine-in and take-out options available. 

The Sold Firm | 800-B N Tatnall St

Founded in 2019, The Sold Firm features modern and contemporary emerging, talented visual artists. Their exhibits address a diverse range of cultural subject matters.

Reward Yourself By Dining Downtown

Start this year saving big with the Dine Downtown Deal! Save your receipts when dining-in or ordering takeout 5x at your favorite Downtown eatery between 1/1/2022 - 3/31/2022.  Once you have 5 receipts text Downtown Visions and receive a gift card in the amount of 20% of the total meals purchased (before tip) to the business of your choice in the Wilmington Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID). It’s that easy! 

• Take a photo of your receipt

• Send it with your name, dining location, and date

• To Downtown Visions (DTV) via text message at 302-502-6003.

Get cash back for dining at the Downtown restaurants you love. You even get to pick the Downtown business you want your gift card to!

Limitations May Apply:

Only genuine receipts from eateries within the official boundaries of the Wilmington’s Downtown Business Improvement District (WDBID) are eligible for the Dine Downtown Deal (see map).  An eatery is defined as a business whose primary purpose is to prepare and serve food to the general public in sit-down or take-out form. Businesses that sell food products as a secondary function are not eligible as receipt sources. Receipts must be for dine-in or takeout. Gift cards or merchandise from the restaurants are not valid. 

Limit of 2 gift cards per participant. You cannot submit more than one receipt from the same location on the same day. The receipts must be legible and submitted along with the customer name, dining location, and the date of the meal. In case of a dispute, DTV has the final authority to decide what receipts are eligible. 

Cashback gift cards are limited to 20% of the total of the five (5) valid receipts submitted (before tip) or up to $100 and may be issued to any business located within the WDBID for use in 2022. A total of five (5) receipts must be submitted in order to be eligible for a gift card. Partial submittals have no cash value. Gift cards will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted. Employees of DTV are excluded from the program.

12 Days of Christmas Makes Holiday Shopping Fun!

Enjoy holiday discounts and specials at your favorite Downtown small businesses during the 12 Days of Christmas from December 1-12, 2021! Downtown Visions has partnered with Wilmington Alliance and Wilmington Made to bring you unique offers and local gifts to spread holiday cheer with everyone on your shopping list. A variety of Downtown businesses are participating and look forward to helping you #ShopSmall this season while supporting local businesses!

Participating Businesses:

Cavanaugh’s Restaurant - 10% off the Entire Bill.

Circa 7 - Use the code “Holiday Cheer” & Receive a Free Coaster Set with Any Clothing Purchase.

De Slider Co. - ½ off Homemade Rosemary-Lemon Iced Tea with a Purchase of any Slider Meal from 11am to Close.

Eat Clean - Free Wellness Tea with a Purchase of $10 or More.

Jimmy John’s - Mention this Ad to Receive a free side with your Sandwich Purchase.

LaFate Gallery – 50% Discount on Mini Framed Prints and 50% OFF on Double Matted 16x20 Limited Edition Prints.

Morgan’s of Delaware - Save 20% on Clara Sunwoo Liquid Leather Jackets (Only) Until December 24th or Save $20 on Purchases of $100 or more (sale items not included.

Poppycock Tattoo – Free T-Shirt or Tank with Any Online Purchase of $20 or More.

Stitch House Brewery – 15% off with a Canned Good or Toy Donation for the Ronald McDonald House.

www.WilmingtonMade.com

*More deals are being added daily!