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Guy Fieri’s stop in Wilmington this week offered an insight into how his popular Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Food Network show generates buzz.
The show is said to work off of crowdsourcing suggestions from viewers.
If that is true, Northern Delaware fans of the show were spot on in their suggestions for Wilmington dining spots.
Fieri also drove a lot of social media traffic this week with sightings of the signature red Camaro.
Town Square Delaware, which took some credit for Fieri’s visit after pitching the host back in 2015, offered a summary of his sightings.
Fieri is an acquired taste and critics have taken him to task for never finding a bad dish at his restaurant flybys.
But he left Wilmington on a positive note and it will be interesting to see if any or all of the spots he visited make their way to the Food Network.
Catering at Metro Diner
Speaking of Fieri, one of the restaurants that gained national attention after a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visit was Metro Diner in Jacksonville, FL.
Metro has since become a nationally franchised chain that now has three locations in northern Delaware. Metro is good about sending along promotions, the latest being its entry into the catering business out of all three locations that include north Wilmington, Gagetown-Christiana, and Middletown.
Metro follows in the footsteps of fast food giants such as Chick ‘fil a and Moe’s in offering the option for office and big home events.
Chef restaurant make the cut in James Beard Award competition
A new Wilmington restaurant and a Lewes chef are James Beard Award semi-finalists.
Bardea Food & Drink on Market Street in downtown Wilmington was a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant, a national award. Bardea offers Italian selections, but has items, such as a roast chicken for a table of two to four. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner
Matthew Kern of Heirloom in Lewes was on the semi-finalist list for (Best Chef Mid Atlantic). Heirloom serves dinner, with an emphasis on regional favorites.
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Sullivans offers lunch
Meanwhile, Sullivans Steakhouse chain has added lunch at its north Wilmington location.
Offerings include sandwiches and steaks including steak frites. Prices are on the reasonable side.
Fans of the establishment have been anticipating changes under the new owner, which also operates Romano’s, Macaroni Grill. A Romano’s location closed last year after a long run.
Under the previous owner, Del Frisco’s, Sullivan’s seemed like an afterthought within its chain of big-city steakhouses.
Lunch is expected to get a thumbs up among business diners looking for a spot for an option for friends or clients.
Sullivan’s has also hinted about bringing back a prime rib night that is a mainstay at many steakhouses. Prime rib is already a mainstay seven nights a week at locally owned Harry’s Savoy Grill off Naamans Road. Harry’s also does lunch at its Naamans Road location
French restaurant in downtown Wilmington exits scene
Margaux is no more. The French restaurant took down its Facebook page as Yelp listed the establishment as closed, with the phone apparently disconnected.
DelawwareOnline.com (subscription required) reported the establishment in the former Delaware Trust Building owned a large amount of back rent and had unpaid utility bills.
The building is owned by an affiliate of the Buccini/Pollin Group, the largest developer in downtown.
Margaux opened less than a year ago and received good reviews in the early going.
Downtown Wilmington has been seeing the opening of new restaurants as Bucccini/Pollin opens new apartment developments. French cuisine is considered to be a challenge for in most although the Bon Appetit restaurant in Seaford has been in operation for many years.
