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Photograph by Joe Del Tufo
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Bryan and Andrea Sikora are Wilmington’s restaurant couple to watch as they champion the rebirth of LOMA’s downtown district with their various food ventures. In 2013, the husband-and-wife team opened La Fia Bakery + Bistro + Market (823 N. Market St., Wilmington, 543-5574), named after their daughter Sofia, to immediate success.
Bryan Sikora certainly brings cooking cred to the scene. Known for his previous accomplishments at Django in Philly and Talula’s Table in Kennett Square, he was recognized as a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category by the James Beard Foundation in 2014. He doesn’t rest on his laurels.
In July, the powerhouse duo introduced their second restaurant, Cocina Lolo (405 N. King St., ground floor, Renaissance building, 384-6186), about a block from their French-inspired bistro. “Market Street is becoming a happening place,” Andrea says. “People are out and about.” The newest restaurant, whose name was chosen for its whimsical, fun sound, focuses on Latin cuisine with Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, ceviche and empanadas, and also draws on Spanish influences.
The space was gutted to make way for a rustic decor showcasing salvaged brick from the Delaware Historical Society, reclaimed materials for the 16-seat bar and old church pews. A bonus: There’s free parking. But the Sikoras didn’t stop there. To accommodate their growing baking business, they also welcomed Market Street Bread and Bagel to their growing stable of enterprises. Next up: “an exciting bar” across the street from La Fia, Andrea says. Details to come.
