Absolutely excellent! My Delaware-living family member was right on track when she recommended Scalessa's! When she compared it to our all time favorite Italian South Jersey (Fieni's) - we were in! Scalessa's is quaint, warm, and boasts a decent sized menu. The gnocchi was tender and pillowy with a great sauce. The seafood was delicious and fresh! Everyone loved his/her dishes! We met the owner, which I always like. The huge portions allowed us to take home leftovers (not a typical thing for me!). Our dessert of (shared) choice was butter cake - wow! Super yummy just like my grandmother turned us on to many moons ago! Since I'll be spending more time in Delaware - we'll be stopping again!!! :) A DEFINITE MUST TRY !!! Thanks Jules ! read more

Scalessa's - leftovers!!! (Feb '26) - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

I know this may be an unpopular opinion but honestly I thought this was just average Italian food. I'd go again because there wasn't anything wrong with it but I wasn't wow'd. I tried the meatball appetizer - it was decent but not really anything special. For dinner I had the chicken parm in a blush sauce which came with a side of gnocchi and my dining partner had grandmas Sunday gravy, again both decent. We skipped dessert because it was a decent amount of food. The other thing I'll mention is you're going to want to make reservations if you go. The entire restaurant seats what seems like 30 people. read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant! Small, comfortable, make reservations, Service was fast, friendly, warm. Food was amazing. I had the eggplant Parmesan... Among the best, if not THE best egg eggplant Parmesan I've ever been served in a restaurant. Meatball and gnocchi were exceptional. Sauce on Parmesan and meatball fantastic... Gnocchi sauce was a little too thin. My dinner partner had ravioli special with the eggplant meatball... She loved them both. Highly recommend! read more

One of the best Italian restaurants in Wilmington. Rich waited on us , very attentive and nice . He makes the best deserts . We had the chicken parm and broccoli rabe with cheese ravioli. All homemade all outstanding! We sat outside for which the weather was beautiful. Love the way they have beautiful flower pots and bird houses . We definitely recommend coming here ! read more

Went to Scalessa's for cheese steak to split with my 6 year old grandson after his lacrosse practice. As we ordered the cheese steak and fries a very friendly manager asked me if he could give him a cookie. It was chocolate chip and huge. I tried it after dinner and it was fresh , chewy and delicious. I'd recommend them for dinner as well as dessert! read more

Kindest service ever!! Came here with a friend and they were very accommodating w/ vegetarian options. I loved the corner storefront. Cute, cozy interior. My friend and I really enjoyed the brussel sprouts and pasta dishes. They were out of eggplant when we went but I would go back to try their variety of eggplant dishes. read more

Cute little old school Italian restaurant! This location is BYOB. Staff is friendly. We stopped here before car shopping. Shared the calamari and chicken Marsala. The BEST chicken Marsala ever. So so good. Flavorful and the gnocchi was fluffy and homemade. Highly recommend! read more

Scalessa's - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Here we go again at Scalessa's. My girlfriend and I were here back in January. Our 3rd time here and we love it. I ordered the Meatball Salad and Chicken Scalessa for us again. It is so delicious. Taste is flavorful and fresh. Meatballs taste like real Italian style making. I love the Chicken Scalessa with lots of Alfredo sauces added on mine. They have fresh beverages and wines too. Maria was a good server too. Good servers here. We will hopefully be back here in the summer. read more

This place lived up to the yelp hype and then some. Superb meal. Girlfriend got the Chicken Francese and I got the Chicken Marsala. Both were amazing. Chicken was tender and moist. The sauces and seasonings were incredible. Our server Rich was pleasant and helpful. This place is a gem. Small, cozy, friendly place with exceptional food. The chef really knows what he's doing. Some of the best Italian food we've ever had. Rich gave us a slice of butter cake to take with us. It was heavenly. We'll definitely be back read more

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We completely enjoyed dining at Scalessa's. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and Host Rich is incomparable. The Broccoli Rabe was indeed the best, and the Eggplant Parmesan was delicious! You must go! read more

Food was very good (I had Veal Parmigiana) and service was excellent. Nice selection to pick from on the menu and prices were great. Restaurant is casual and has a nice vibe to it. read more

Scalessa's - Veal Parmigiana with Ricotta Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

Scalessa's "My Way" Old School Italian Kitchen - Then & Now 1836 N. Lincoln St., Wilmington, DE 19806 Visits: January 25, 2024 & September 25, 2025 Scalessa's is one of those neighborhood Italian kitchens that wins you over with warm service, hearty classics, and portions so big you're guaranteed to leave with a box. If you are visiting and can't take leftovers with you, highly recommend sharing a meal. Comparing my two visits--first in January 2024 and again today in September 2025--the consistency is impressive, with new highlights that make a return worth while. An additional note, you can walk to Scalessa's easily from the Brandywine walkway along the river from downtown. About a 2 mile walk from downtown along the scenic trail. ________________________________________ Atmosphere * 2024: Cozy, family-style feel with limited seating inside. A perfect "hidden gem" vibe for locals. Love the pictures and tributes to Sinatra and The Rat Pack. * 2025: Same intimate space, but busier and livelier tonight. Outdoor tables and a fire pit added a nice touch, though the rainy weather kept most people inside. Would like to be able to hear the music be a little louder to enjoy it. The walls had just been painted and new flooring installed, so all the pictures and memorabilia will be going back up shortly. ________________________________________ Starters * 2024: No appetizer--straight to the main course. Lunchtime and we were walking w miles back so we did not want to overstuff ourselves. * 2025: Began with the risotto balls, a special. Absolutely massive, golden on the outside, creamy inside, served with ricotta and marinara. Easily sharable. ________________________________________ Salad * 2024: Crisp romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, Parmesan, and Italian vinaigrette. Simple and refreshing alongside the heavy entrée. * 2025: Nearly identical. ________________________________________ Main Entrées * 2024: Chicken Parmesan with gnocchi--a giant breaded cutlet covered in marinara and mozzarella, served with a hearty side of gnocchi. Comfort food at its best. * 2025: Ordered the Chicken Parmesan with gnocchi again. The chicken was just as tender and cheesy, but the gnocchi seemed lighter and more delicate this time. A subtle refinement that elevated the dish. ________________________________________ Dessert * 2024: No dessert. * 2025: Treated myself to the Chocolate Butter Cake--a decadent mix of cake and brownie textures, gooey but not overpowering, with whipped cream on the side. A must-try finish to the meal. Easily can be shared. ________________________________________ Service & Experience Both visits featured attentive, friendly servers who paced the meal well. In 2025, I appreciated being asked whether to hold the entrée until I finished the appetizer--thoughtful touches that show they care about the diner's experience. The owner stopped over multiple times to check to see how the meal was. ________________________________________ Final Thoughts Scalessa's remains consistently excellent between visits. 2024 introduced me to their unforgettable Chicken Parm and gnocchi, and 2025 added the risotto balls appetizer and chocolate butter cake, making the meal even more indulgent. Next visit I am going to venture out and try something different. Not sure what yet, but looking forward to it. Rating: 5/5 (both visits) - Dependable, hearty, and delicious every time. If you're in Wilmington or passing through on I-95, Scalessa's should be on your list. #Review #Resatuarants #Wilmington #Delaware #Italian #Food read more

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A local favorite of mine! Fresh made pasta is incredible. I usually rave about their Brussels sprouts but mixed it up today with the Broccoli Rabe and it did not disappoint! Chicken Scalessa with gnocchi in Blush sauce was amazing. Already dreaming of having my left overs (helloooooo portion size!!!). Service is always great. Cute outdoor seating! read more

Scalessa's - Chicken Scalessa - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

We stopped in on our way to Newark from KOP. Angela our server, was kind, friendly and very helpful. Suggestions were spot on. Food was outstanding, super hot and really fresh. Ambiance is great. Portions are hearty. Will definitely stop in again when on travel for business. Looking forward to it. Jeff & Donna from Pittsburgh read more

Scalessa's - Sausage, greens & beans...kids gnocchi with marinara.....Italian wedding soup. Also got the meatball salad and it was very tasty. - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

The food is incredible and the service is amazing. This place is phenomenal. It'll change your life! read more

The staff at this restaurant was very friendly and attentive. It was much smaller than I expected and the music and interior were both Sinatra themed, which I really enjoyed. I had the Eggplant Parmesan and it was really tasty especially the marinara sauce. I can see why this place has been in business so long. We really enjoyed our meal. read more

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Scalesa's has earned a coveted 5***** s from this gal! Wow. The food here is authentic, drool worthy,and far superior to that "other infamous" overly hyped Delaware Italian row home establishment. We over ordered and don't regret it one bit. Sampling the meatball appetizer with ricotta. The sauce was superb. The balls easily broke down with just a fork and melt in your mouth delicious. Chicken parm crispy, moist and topped with the freshest of mozzarella. My only disappointment was no bread served with the meal but the entrees themselves were some of the best Italian dishes we've had. The restaurant was small and had dining outdoors as well. Three TVs had classic DiNero movie playing. Our server was through and explained the menu and specials. A definite treat. One that will have us going to DE just for the meal. read more

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Food is amazing, not too salty not too greasy, great flavor, feels like it was made with love hahaha. The service is also amazing, so friendly and helpful. They really want to make sure you have a great dining experience. It's very busy in there all the time but it's good vibes and it's just a good time every time we go. read more

Had to satisfy my craving. Grandma's Sunday Gravy will have you coming back. Wifey got the veal parm and she loves it. Great friendly service and atmosphere. A must try. read more

Scalessa's - Grandma's Sunday Gravy and Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Food is amazing. The wait staff is entertaining The seating is small so make a reservation

Meatballs wheeler to die for and I don't typically like meatballs! Sauce was the perfect balance Between sweet and savory. We booked a second time coming feom South Carolina and it did not disappoint! read more

We have to hit this place every time we're in Delaware. The food and service are fantastic! I cannot get past the Porkette with Broccoli Rabe, long hots & sharp provolone, it's is absolutely delicious. My husband got the chicken parm sandwich this time and it was fantastic. If we lived nearby this would be a staple for us. Highly recommend!! read more

Scalessa's - Chicken Cutlet Parm Sub - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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Wonderful food and service! The staff was really understanding as they accommodated our large party and made us feel at home. We really appreciated it as we had a couple of kids and elderly guests in our party. Everything we ordered came out very hot and delicious. I didn't get a picture of the gnocchi as that dish disappeared almost immediately. If we didn't have so much food already, I'm sure we would've ordered more. My personal favorites were the veal parm and Philly cheesesteak. So full of melty cheese and super tender! For dessert we had cannoli -- a must have. TBH Scalessa's one of the best Italian restaurants I've personally been to. It's so cozy and old school at the same time, that I'd love to bring a friend with me back here. 10/10 would recommend for date night! Quick tip: the restroom wasn't working when we visited, so in case that's an issue, there's a gas station and cafe nearby that has facilities. read more

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Our server, Angela, was great--very kind and helpful. I ordered eggplant parmesan with gnocchi and a salad. My family got chicken parmesan with gnocchi, Italian wedding soup salad, and cheese ravioli. For appetizers, we had risotto balls and famous meatballs. The food was delicious, and the portions were large. We all took half of our meals home. I give this place a 10/10 and recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience. We will definitely come back. read more

A friend recommended Scalessas to us, and they did not disappoint. Our server Rich was amazing. There is a homey, family feel to this little Italian restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious, fresh, and all homemade. We ended dinner with their lemon butter cake and continued to be impressed. We can't wait to go back and try more things on their menu. read more

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Can never go wrong here. Get the meatballs with the whipped ricotta and the wedding soup. Service is excellent and the ambiance is old school Italian American. read more

I'm usually a skeptic when places have such a high rating, but this place did not let down. From the moment I walked in the hostess was super friendly and attentive. The ambience is that of a small town Italian restaurant . The food was delicious. No complaints. read more

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We live in N Wilmington but come here for lunch your amazing cheesesteaks, subs and to die for porkette w broccoli rabe. Tonight we came for dinner take out and tried your eggplant parm. What a surprise that your side pasta was gnocchi!!! Delicious, non-heavy pillows. Wonderful red sauce. What a delight!! Also got a side of your broccoli rabe - which is the best; perfectly cooked with sliced perfectly cooked garlic!! Friendly staff too. read more

Scalessa's - Broccoli Rabe and eggplant parm - Italian Near Me - Wilmington, Delaware

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I had the Eggplant parm with gnocchi...outstanding. The sauce was bright and fragrant the Gnocchi's were like pillows.

Meatballs, gnocchi, lasagna, chicken parm...everything on this menu is amazingly delicious!!! Will definitely come again!

Do not sleep on this place! Amazing food and a great family atmosphere. The food was outstanding!!! The owners brother was a gem! Thanks for a great dinner. ~ Tulsa read more

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We looked for a new place to check out for lunch while stopping in Wilmington last week, and found an absolute gem in Scalessa. From the fantastic food, to the warm and helpful server, to the Sinatra-themed, cozy ambiance, Scalessa provided a memorable experience.Best meatballs I can remember and THE best wedding soup I have ever had. It's too bad the neighborhood association blocks them from BYOB, but their other location in Pike Creek has full liquor service. We'll be back! read more

Found this place while passing through town, and so glad we did! Chicken piccata with gnocchi, meatball salad, and rigatoni with Sunday sauce were all out of this world. Our server, Angela, was just as wonderful. She is so kind and really made it a special meal. We will definitely be back. read more

We had the meatball appetizer and it was amazing. I had the veal parmigiana and that was delicious. The wife had eggplant parmigiana and I tried that and was also amazing. We tried the homemade cannolis and they did not disappoint!!! This place was awesome and would recommend it to everyone!! Thanks for the great food. read more

What a find! Lovely neighborhood gem, we stopped in coming home from a road trip for lunch. We will return for sure! Yelpers, I found this place while we were driving and your reviews where exactly on point. Your reviews are what made me choose this place, and I ordered everything I saw appearing on yelp multiple times: meatball salad, chicken Scalessa w/gnocchi in blush sauce, butter cake. Holy. Moly! My wife & I split everything, still took the entree home. So much food. The meatball salad was devoured, I forgot to take a pic. But the pics on here are accurate. I had to twist her arm because she did not understand meatballs with salad. I did not either, but everyone said you had to have it so I followed along. I am glad I did. Not gonna try to explain it, just get the meatball salad. You must! I don't know why the most delicious garlic bread ever is a special, but if they happen to have it while you're there, get that too. The chicken was amazing. With that crab cream sauce. I think the gnocchi was the biggest surprise, it's not traditional potato. It's made with some kind of cheese. These pillows melt in your mouth. It's completely insane. Everything was just delicious. Then the butter cake, that is homemade and comes out warm. I put myself in a food coma, lol. Totally worth it! Our server was fabulous, I didn't catch his name. The ambience is really cute, they had the Godfather on the TV and an homage to Frank Sinatra all over the walls, which suited me well because I am a fan. read more

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Delicious meatballs.... Service fabulous and FREE pizza! Small friendly place with some tables outside. Owner here being very engaging with customers. Good luck in Pike Creek! Sure to be a success! read more

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I really enjoyed the 3 cheese gnocchi Great atmosphere Delicious food Friendly service read more

Great food. Great intimate, Italian ambiance. Awesome spot. Nice people/service. My aunt always bring me here when in Wilmington.

We loved everything we had! The sauce, meatballs, gnocchi, etc.... We will definitely be going back.

Porchette Sandwich Chicken Parmesan Sub Eggplant Stack All delicious. If you come here and don't get the Porchette sandwich you'll definitely want to come again. It was amazing! read more