Scalessa’s Italian Restaurant in Wilmington, DE

My fiancé and I happened to stumble upon this when looking for food, and we are so happy we found this place. The food was absolutely amazing, we sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather, and had fantastic service. We highly recommend! They only make ravioli on the weekend and definitely plan on coming back specifically for the meatballs and the ravioli!

Absolutely loved this place. My buddy and I came here to have a little friend catch up session. The food was great, the service was warm and friendly. Overall had a lovely mom and pop shop feel. The meatballs also were giant which was cool. All the food was tasty. The pasta and sauce were certainly homemade too. I’d absolutely recommend this place and come again

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

Food was amazing. Had the meatball appetizer. Then for dinner the salmon special. The server was on point and made us feel so welcome. Will definitely be returning now that I know about this gem of a place!

I have no words. Without a doubt, one of the best - if not THE best Italian restaurants I’ve been to. We ordered the meatballs as an appetizer, broccoli rabe, and I got the fettuccini Alfredo as my entree. The food just melts in your mouth. I’d give 20 stars if I could!!

Scalessas is the real deal. They are truly living up to the “old school Italian” name. I come from a large Italian family and Scalessas has my seal of approval. Everything we had was phenomenal. Our waitress Angela was so warm and friendly, she felt like my loving Italian aunt, she took great care of us. The risotto balls were incredible - crisp on the outside and rich with creamy cheesy goodness on the inside 10/10 The eggplant parm and chicken parm were so good, absolute highlight of the meal. Both were quite obviously hand breaded and made fresh. They do not skimp on the sauce (gravy) whatsoever so if you like that, this is the place for you. The parms come with a side salad - average run of the mill lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes tossed in Italian dressing. Also comes with a side of ricotta filled gnocci which were also good and again you can tell they’re homemade. They are known for their meatballs so we had to try those as well. To be completely transparent I’m not sure if I can say these are the best meatballs I’ve ever had. There was a certain flavor that was very forward but I can’t figure out what it was. Nonetheless, absolutely a good meatball. Homemade bread - average, nothing bad about it. Wish it came with olive oil for dipping Cannolis- delicious - made with pizzelle waffle cookie for the shell which is unique and the filling has chocolate chips Overall - a fantastic delicious dinner and even better service - the staff seem to truly have a passion and dedication to their restaurant.

Absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant. Our server, Angela, was awesome and very kind and informative. I ordered eggplant parm with gnocchi and salad, and my family ordered chicken parm with gnocchi, Italian wedding soup salad, and the cheese ravioli. For our appetizers, we got the risotto balls with their famous meatballs. Not only was it delicious, but the portions were very generous. All of us had to take half of our meals home. 10/10 I recommend to anyone looking for a place that ticks all the boxes. We will be back for sure.

Was looking for authentic Italian dinner on way home from Camden and didn’t want to go to Philly City Center in rush hour on Friday. Found this gem on Google and glad I did. This “neighborhood” restaurant was a truly great find. Rich and his staff were so personable and friendly. Happy to go over the Daily Specials and answer any questions regarding the menu. We had Garlic Bread and Meatballs for Apps. These meatballs (2 huge ones) were amazing and the Ricotta Cheese that accompanied them had a slightly sweet flavor that perfectly paired with the meatballs. Such a lovely taste. I ordered the Veal Parmigiana. It was a very substantial portion and was accompanied with Gnocchi with tomatoes and not sure what else. The Lasagna is a huge portion and is smothered in sauce. I chose the fresh-brewed unsweetened with lemon for my drink. We were so full and each of us took half of our meals home, as well as dessert. I ordered a Cannoli and ate it after I got home. It was very flavorful. I truly enjoyed the whole dining experience, and felt that the prices were on-point. I appreciated that we did not feel rushed to leave and were able to take our time and enjoy our meal. We will definitely be back!! Anyone on 95 looking for a stop-off to eat, this is your place. They also serve subs and have tables with umbrellas outside. Also, I recommend arriving early for dinner because they do fill up quickly.