Restaurants in Wilmington

Brothers Riyad, Ousamah, Bachar, and Haitham Albaroki draw from years of work at their family restaurant in Fez to transport diners to the Maghreb region with exotic banquets of Moroccan cuisine. The walls and floors set the scene with red, yellow, and green rugs and drapes, and stone vases and receptacles of polished brass evoke images of rustic North Africa. After washing their hands with fragrant rose water, diners take their seats amid a sea of cushions and, on weekends, troupes of dancers regaling the room with flowing movements and metronome impressions. Over the next two hours, guests work through seven courses, which they can complement with honey-drizzled pastries and flavorful wines from Europe, California, and Morocco.

Deep Tranquility's certified staff cossets weary muscles and promotes relaxation with stress-relieving massage services. Swedish-massage techniques induce relaxation through the application of Biotone massage lotion, gentle pressure, and smooth, gliding strokes. Feet find relief from pounding pavements and stubborn grapes as a massage therapist slathers them in pure, organic essential oil of peppermint. A hot towel wraps fatigued walkers for extra rest and relaxation.

When The Melting Pot originally opened in 1975 just outside Orlando, the location was cozy and quaint, but diners had only three options: swiss-cheese fondue, beef fondue, or chocolate fondue. However, as the restaurant grew in popularity, so did its menu selection and atmosphere. The restaurant first expanded four years later under the leadership of a Melting Pot waiter and enterprising college student named Mark Johnston, who teamed up with his brothers Mike and Bob to open a new outpost in Tallahassee. This location grew in reputation to pave the way for future franchise expansion. Today, the company—now owned by the trio of siblings—reigns as the premier fondue, wine, and drink restaurant, stretching across North America with more than 140 restaurants linked by underground tunnels. The restaurant's menu has also ballooned, and patrons can now expect six varieties of hot dipping cheese paired with salads, meats, and molten chocolate.

On a given night, groups of foodies gather around tables to nosh on signature four-course meals, from cheese-fondue appetizers and various salads to steaks and seafood cooked in a choice of healthy broth or oil. Birthday revelers and couples can share decadent evenings at private tables, capping off meals with chocolate desserts that have defined The Melting Pot for decades.

In keeping with its company across the street (the Grand Old Opera House), Chelsea Tavern puts a classy twist on typical tavern dishes. For instance, the chefs don't serve French fries—instead, they hand-cut the crispy onions, Idaho potatoes, and Chelsea fry spice that comprise the tavern's signature trio fries. The pizzas emerge hot with a smoky tinge from a wood-burning oven, while the rainbow trout arrives stuffed with fresh herbs and cured lemons. Even the desserts receive an upgrade: the caramel-drizzled butterscotch sundae infuses the flavors of bacon into both its ice cream and the fresh-baked blondie at its base.

Chelsea Tavern's precise approach to food carries over to its expansive beverage selection. The restaurant features around 200 different beers, including 31 on tap and more than 200 by the bottle or can. It also has more than 20 wines available by the glass, which you can sample before catching a show at a nearby venue or just putting on a puppet opera at the table.

As the restaurant business constantly strives to find the next trend, Jake's Wayback Burgers is happy to take its time paying homage to a bygone era. Jake's started as a simple burger joint in 1991 and now boasts locations across the country. But despite this growth, they still stick to their time-tested recipe of fresh, homemade food made with real ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere.

Each Jake's sports retro decor with red barnyard walls and stainless steel accents which evoke a distinct fifties vibe. This reverence for the past is less a gimmick than an appropriate complement to the wholesome menu which eschews the current burger standard of frozen hockey disc patties and focuses on handmade burgers. To compliment the burgers, Jake's also offers housemade potato chips, hand-dipped milkshakes in flavors such as chocolate banana or orange cream, as well as all-beef hot dogs covered in homestyle chili or grilled onions.

Voted Critics' Choice for Best Burgers in Delaware by Delaware Today three years in a row, Jake's Wayback Burgers is a treasure trove of handmade burgers, house-cut potato chips, and throwback milkshakes. From a single location on Route 273, Jake's exploded across the nation, getting pickles and lettuce all over America's most important monuments. The eatery's hand-dipped shakes and monthly burger specials—such as the Texas Jake burger—can be enjoyed in 10 different states, alongside a menu of 100% beef hot dogs and triceratops-friendly veggie burgers.