Read reviews online and decided to try it. Very enjoyable dinner. Great atmosphere and service was excellent. Will dine there again next time I'm in Wilmington.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Daniel Sean
Scalessa’s is exactly as it sounds. Old school Italian Sunday dinner style meals & sandwiches. The Chicken Marsala is the best I’ve ever had in my life. Try it with a side of gnocchi (delicious) or even their spaghetti. The chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe sandwich is delicious. The staff is always friendly. The chefs are beyond skilled. Don’t forget to grab a butter cake before you leave.
I had a new item on the menu "Sunday gravy parmigiana" which can be as a sandwich or by itself and it was delicious! It has meatballs, roast pork and provolone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ken Halaby
Just made our first visit to Scalessa's. Been wanting to try it for a while and it didn't disappoint! Such a great little spot! The food was amazing, portions were large, prices were reasonable, and they even had vegetarian options (like eggplant "meatballs"). The service was also absolutely terrific. The entire staff was attentive and accommodating. They clearly take pride in their restaurant and care about the customer experience, which is definitely nowhere near a given in my experience dining out around here. We will definitely be back!Vegetarian options: Try the eggplant "meatballs"!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Jim Gehringer
Wow! I really enjoyed this place. The lasagna was great, and the atmosphere was wonderful. I highly recommend this establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna
Amy Marchitelli
Delicious chicken cutlet and broccoli rabe sandwich! Great spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Cutlet Downtown
Mike Cavazzini
Great old school Italian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Barry Levine
First time rating here as we live about 45 miles away in lower slower Delaware. Eggplant parm, gnocchi and arancini were delicious. Scalessa's does not skimp on portions, cheese and one of the best "gravies" (old school Italian term for home-made tomato sauce) I've ever had since eating Josephine Fiore's sauce back in Brooklyn when I was much younger. The location is small so get there early or make sure you have a reservation. Staff and the man in charge were friendly and accommodating and ensured that we were satisfied with the food and service.If my grandma was Italian this would be what I would expect. I don't believe you can find better Italian cuisine in the mid-atlantic. We will definitely be back in the near future.Vegetarian options: Gnocchi, pasta, eggplant, salads.Parking: Approx. 7 or 8 spots in front of garages across the street belong to the restaurant. Street parking in the neighborhood can easily be found within a blocks radius.
It was like I was at a friends house having dinner. The place is quaintly small. You can make reservations. They aren't fancy fancy. They serve water in a plastic disposable cup and my husbands ginger ale was a 20 oz plastic bottle. The food is delicious, exactly what my delco self envisions going into an Italian restaurant. No blandness, rich in flavor. I had spinach ravioli with blush sauce. Husband had the shrimp in blush sauce over the gnocchi. For some reason they have no pesto on the menu anywhere. I got a meal to go of the rigatoni and Italian sausage wit tha "gravy" ahh , local term for marinara. The waiter who was old as my son, said it was his favorite. I figured I'd get it for my son waiting at home. All waiters were very friendly and attentive. Great place for date night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bob Bobson
Can’t stress enough what a gem this place is. Constantly nice service, always patient, happy to see guests. The parking is close/easy in a good part of the city. The food is always good regardless if you get a sandwich (the porketta with sharp prov/greens is the best outside of Philly…or a sit down entree. The meatball salad is so simple but perfect and light. Just a REAL Italian restaurant that has become my favorite place to come. I can’t say enough good things. Well done to all those who play a part here. ❤️
We were those people... arriving just as they started to close (arrived at 20:30, close at 21:00) but we were encouraged to sit and enjoy a meal. Ordered the eggplant parm with gnocchi and spaghetti for dinner and they recommended a cannoli for dessert. From the staff to the food, everything was amazing. Best Italian food experience I've ever had. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Eric Nguyen
A few colleagues and I had dinner at this cute neighborhood spot. I really enjoy the warm cozy atmosphere the restaurant exudes. It's very charming outside and in. It's also a nice break from overly formal restaurants.Starting off, they have some fantastic appetizers. We had garlic bread, meatballs, and calamari. I have to say the calamari was my favorite bite of the night. I don't know if I tasted Italian cuisine in it, because it tasted like something I'd find in Chinatown, but hey it was really tasty.For my entree I had the sausage oriechette with spinach and beans. I felt that they could have reduced the sauce a more as it was a bit brothy for a pasta dish in my opinion. I think the flavors were good, but nothing stood out as spectacular. I had a bite of the gnocchi my friend got and it was good but a bit starchy and not as "melt in your mouth" as you'd like it to be.Overall I would definitely come back and would love to try more dishes. I think there are areas the dishes can be improved, but definitely will satisfy your Italian food cravings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Vincent Garman
Absolutely love this spot!!!! A must see if you’re coming to Wilmington, DE!
First time dining here. ..definitely will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Read reviews online and decided to try it. Very enjoyable dinner. Great atmosphere and service was excellent. Will dine there again next time I'm in Wilmington.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Scalessa’s is exactly as it sounds. Old school Italian Sunday dinner style meals & sandwiches. The Chicken Marsala is the best I’ve ever had in my life. Try it with a side of gnocchi (delicious) or even their spaghetti. The chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe sandwich is delicious. The staff is always friendly. The chefs are beyond skilled. Don’t forget to grab a butter cake before you leave.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Marsala, Chicken Cutlet
I had a new item on the menu "Sunday gravy parmigiana" which can be as a sandwich or by itself and it was delicious! It has meatballs, roast pork and provolone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Just made our first visit to Scalessa's. Been wanting to try it for a while and it didn't disappoint! Such a great little spot! The food was amazing, portions were large, prices were reasonable, and they even had vegetarian options (like eggplant "meatballs"). The service was also absolutely terrific. The entire staff was attentive and accommodating. They clearly take pride in their restaurant and care about the customer experience, which is definitely nowhere near a given in my experience dining out around here. We will definitely be back!Vegetarian options: Try the eggplant "meatballs"!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Wow! I really enjoyed this place. The lasagna was great, and the atmosphere was wonderful. I highly recommend this establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lasagna
Delicious chicken cutlet and broccoli rabe sandwich! Great spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Cutlet Downtown
Great old school Italian food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time rating here as we live about 45 miles away in lower slower Delaware. Eggplant parm, gnocchi and arancini were delicious. Scalessa's does not skimp on portions, cheese and one of the best "gravies" (old school Italian term for home-made tomato sauce) I've ever had since eating Josephine Fiore's sauce back in Brooklyn when I was much younger. The location is small so get there early or make sure you have a reservation. Staff and the man in charge were friendly and accommodating and ensured that we were satisfied with the food and service.If my grandma was Italian this would be what I would expect. I don't believe you can find better Italian cuisine in the mid-atlantic. We will definitely be back in the near future.Vegetarian options: Gnocchi, pasta, eggplant, salads.Parking: Approx. 7 or 8 spots in front of garages across the street belong to the restaurant. Street parking in the neighborhood can easily be found within a blocks radius.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
Amazing food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Italian Sub, Chicken Cutlet
Restaurantji Recommends
It was like I was at a friends house having dinner. The place is quaintly small. You can make reservations. They aren't fancy fancy. They serve water in a plastic disposable cup and my husbands ginger ale was a 20 oz plastic bottle. The food is delicious, exactly what my delco self envisions going into an Italian restaurant. No blandness, rich in flavor. I had spinach ravioli with blush sauce. Husband had the shrimp in blush sauce over the gnocchi. For some reason they have no pesto on the menu anywhere. I got a meal to go of the rigatoni and Italian sausage wit tha "gravy" ahh , local term for marinara. The waiter who was old as my son, said it was his favorite. I figured I'd get it for my son waiting at home. All waiters were very friendly and attentive. Great place for date night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Can’t stress enough what a gem this place is. Constantly nice service, always patient, happy to see guests. The parking is close/easy in a good part of the city. The food is always good regardless if you get a sandwich (the porketta with sharp prov/greens is the best outside of Philly…or a sit down entree. The meatball salad is so simple but perfect and light. Just a REAL Italian restaurant that has become my favorite place to come. I can’t say enough good things. Well done to all those who play a part here. ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatball Salad, Porkette, Chicken Cutlet, Cheesesteak
We were those people... arriving just as they started to close (arrived at 20:30, close at 21:00) but we were encouraged to sit and enjoy a meal. Ordered the eggplant parm with gnocchi and spaghetti for dinner and they recommended a cannoli for dessert. From the staff to the food, everything was amazing. Best Italian food experience I've ever had. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana
A few colleagues and I had dinner at this cute neighborhood spot. I really enjoy the warm cozy atmosphere the restaurant exudes. It's very charming outside and in. It's also a nice break from overly formal restaurants.Starting off, they have some fantastic appetizers. We had garlic bread, meatballs, and calamari. I have to say the calamari was my favorite bite of the night. I don't know if I tasted Italian cuisine in it, because it tasted like something I'd find in Chinatown, but hey it was really tasty.For my entree I had the sausage oriechette with spinach and beans. I felt that they could have reduced the sauce a more as it was a bit brothy for a pasta dish in my opinion. I think the flavors were good, but nothing stood out as spectacular. I had a bite of the gnocchi my friend got and it was good but a bit starchy and not as "melt in your mouth" as you'd like it to be.Overall I would definitely come back and would love to try more dishes. I think there are areas the dishes can be improved, but definitely will satisfy your Italian food cravings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari
Absolutely love this spot!!!! A must see if you’re coming to Wilmington, DE!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatball Salad