Wine enthusiasts, rejoice! Wine Spectator, a leading wine publication, published its list of Restaurant Awards winners. The Restaurant Awards are given to eateries with a dedication to high-quality and thoughtful wine lists to complement their menus.
This year’s list of winners includes 12 top-notch Delaware restaurants. Each restaurant was awarded the “Award of Excellence,” meaning its wine list includes a well-chosen assortment of at least 90 wines. The award takes into account the quality of producers and considers whether the list is a good thematic match for the menu and atmosphere. For those who consider wine an important part of the dining experience, this list is held in high regard. Here are the Delaware restaurants that received this prestigious award in 2024.
Bar Reverie
The Greenville newcomer received its first Wine Spectator award this year with strengths in California and France. The wine list includes more than 100 wines sourced from around the globe. Bar Reverie is a must-stop for wine enthusiasts in Delaware, with many selections that aren’t available anywhere else in the region. The wine bar staff can help guide the experience, with an in-house sommelier to help patrons navigate the extensive list.
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Bardea Food & Drink
This is Bardea’s second year as a Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards winner. The Wilmington favorite is a James Beard-nominated Italian restaurant with a contemporary feel. Wine director Eric Gallen thoughtfully created a robust list of Italian wines to complement the elevated and modern Italian menu.
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Bardea Steak
Another win for Gallen, Bardea Steak is also in its second consecutive year on the winners’ list. Bardea’s steakhouse concept puts an innovative spin on the typical American steakhouse. Starting with rare breeds and upscale techniques, Bardea Steak offers a menu that is refreshing and whimsical, with plates that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. The team has clearly placed as much thought and care into the wine list as they did the menu, and the experts at Wine Spectator took notice.
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Benvenuto Restaurant
It’s no surprise that Benvenuto received an Award of Excellence for the third year in a row. Milford’s own Tuscan-inspired culinary experience takes its wine seriously, even bringing home a Best of Delaware award for its special wine and culinary events. The goal at Benvenuto is to immerse diners in Italian culture through the flavors they experience. Wine is an important part of that, and the wine list reflects it. Wine enthusiasts in Delaware can also join Benvenuto’s Wine Club for benefits like private tasting events and discounts on wine at the restaurant.
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Blue Moon Restaurant
This Rehoboth Beach restaurant serves dinner seven days a week, along with a sophisticated brunch on Sundays. An extensive wine list nicely complements the upscale seafood menu. The California-heavy wine list is the perfect pairing for fresh seafood options like pan-seared swordfish and lobster risotto.
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Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar
Both Bluecoast locations continue to receive the Award of Excellence year after year. Since 2018, the sophisticated wine lists at Bluecoast Bethany and Bluecoast Rehoboth have been acknowledged with this prestigious award. Visually, the list is compact but organized, giving diners a full view of the comprehensive offerings all on one menu page.
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CS Brazilian Steakhouse
This Newark steakhouse has received the Award of Excellence every year since 2017. Here, you can find selections that aren’t common at other upscale eateries in the First State. Along with the familiar French and Californian selections, CS offers wines from across South America. Try Brazilian wines, malbecs from Argentina and cabernet sauvignons from the Chilean valleys.
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Caffé Gelato
A Newark community staple, Caffé Gelato specializes in brunch, dinner, mouthwatering desserts, catering and, of course, wine. With Italian cuisine at the forefront of Caffé Gelato’s menu, it’s no surprise that the restaurant specializes in Italian wine. The wine list is comprehensive and easy to read. It also includes a list of selections that received a Wine Spectator rating of 90 and above. Caffé Gelato is no stranger to the accomplishment; the eatery has won an Award of Excellence every year since 2005.
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Catch 54
On the southern end of Delaware, Catch 54 serves thoughtful wine pairings with hearty seafood dishes and seaside views. Comfort foods like seafood gumbo, buttermilk fired oysters and shrimp and grits require some finesse to pair properly, and Catch 54 has managed to do just that. Every year since 2018, Wine Spectator has acknowledged the accomplishment with an Award of Excellence.
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Eden
This upscale Rehoboth Beach eatery is the longest-running winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in Delaware. Every year since 2004, Eden has maintained an exemplary wine list. The wine list is not only thoughtful and sophisticated, but also accessible. With a price rating of “inexpensive,” Eden’s wine list is perfect for enthusiasts and casual sippers alike. Paired with bold American fare in a romantic atmosphere, Eden’s wine list is the perfect complement to a stunning dining experience.
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Lupo Italian Kitchen
Located in Rehoboth, Lupo offers a thoughtful and vast selection of Italian wines to complement the Italian dishes. Pairing Mediterranean flavors with locally caught East Coast seafood, Lupo offers a delicious culinary experience with the wine selection to match. By organizing the list with categories like “Light,” “Medium,” “Full” and “Sparkling,” Lupo makes the selection process manageable even for the inexperienced wine taster. Italian wines harmonize with dishes like linguini and clams, lobster bucatini or veal meatballs.
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Related: Meet Our Best of Delaware Food & Drink Award Winners in 2024
