Award-winning team behind Bardea to Open New Restaurant in DE.CO

Co-owners Scott Stein, Chef Antimo DiMeo and Pino DiMeo partner again with Buccini Pollin Group to bring another exciting dining option to the city’s downtown area

This fall, the ambitious team behind the acclaimed restaurants Bardea Food & Drink, Bardea Steak and Bardea Garden will open their sixth establishment in downtown Wilmington inside DE.CO food hall, where they currently operate two stalls: Pizzeria Bardea and Taqueria El Chingon. Co-founders Scott Stein, Chef Antimo DiMeo and Pino DiMeo have partnered again with Buccini Pollin Group (BPG) to open what is sure to be another homegrown favorite amongst the city’s blossoming dining scene. The yet-to-be-named full-service restaurant inside DE.CO will be a full-scale build out designed by the prolific Stokes Architecture + Design, who specialize in hospitality projects and whose recent work in Wilmington includes Bardea Steak and The Quoin. Stein and the DiMeo’s coming-soon Italian trattoria will have seating for roughly 70, including a full bar, and will offer lunch and dinner seven days a week to both travelers and locals, groups and families, whether the occasion is for leisure or business.

“From the beginning we’ve loved being part of DE.CO with our fast-casual spots and along the way we noticed a space – and a desire – for a more complete dining experience. We love taking care of people, so we couldn’t resist the opportunity,” says Pino DiMeo, a fixture of the city’s restaurant scene for a decade who currently oversees day-to-day operations at the group’s two stalls in DE.CO. “When we opened DE.CO five years ago, we knew it was ambitious as the first food hall in Delaware. As we continue to invest in DE.CO and allow its offerings to evolve, we are excited to continue to do so with our friends at Bardea. Their growing commitment to DE.CO brings more incredible food options, and more importantly, an elevated level of service, design, and hospitality that Bardea is known for,” adds Chris Buccini, the Founder of BPG who has dedicated his career to building thriving communities where residents want to live, work and play.

Chef Antimo DiMeo, who was nominated “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” in 2022 by the James Beard Foundation, is one of the most curious and innovative chefs in the field. His menus are playful and boundary-pushing yet familiar and comforting as he draws inspiration from personal food memories and experiences to which many guests can also connect. For this forthcoming restaurant, guests may expect the same passion and creativity as they experience with each of his other concepts, both upscale and casual.

More information about the menu, hours of operation and design will be released in the coming weeks. For updates, please follow along on Instagram @DECOWilmington

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About the restaurant team

Since 2019, Stein and the DiMeos have brought incredible dining experiences to downtown Wilmington. Whether guests are looking for innovative Italian, steaks and snacks, casual street fare, al fresco dining, or something a bit more buttoned up, it can be found at one of the group’s impressive establishments. As they continue to invest in the community of Wilmington, passionate ideas abound and many more exciting projects are on the horizon for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

About DECO

DECO (an abbreviated version of “Delaware Collective”) is the first contemporary food hall in downtown Wilmington, DE set within the historic DuPont Building. Featuring 8 unique restaurant stalls, an atrium bar, and a private event space, DECO operates with a “one for all, all in one” mentality. As a launchpad for chefs and a haven for eaters, DECO is a place for all of Wilmington to come together over chef-driven menus and creative cocktails.

DECO is owned and operated by The Buccini Pollin Group, the team behind Makers Alley, I.M. Coffee, The Queen, Chase Fieldhouse, and Wilma’s. To learn more, please visit www.decowilmington.com.

About Buccini Pollin Group

Buccini Pollin Group, Inc. (BPG) is a privately held and integrated real estate acquisition, development, and management company co-headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and Chevy Chase, Maryland. For 30 years, BPG has developed and acquired hotel, office, residential, retail, and parking properties throughout the United States.

After $6 billion in transactions, BPG has acquired, developed, and/or operated real estate assets including over 47 hotels, 7 million square feet of office and retail space, 17 residential properties in master planned communities, and multiple entertainment venues, including Subaru Park Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer team and the Chase Fieldhouse, home of the 76ers G-League affiliate the Delaware Blue Coats.

The principals of BPG, along with PM Hotel Group (hotel operating company), BPG | 360 (office property management and leasing), ResideBPG (residential property management and leasing), BPGS Construction, LLC (construction management), Corten Real Estate Partners (private investment management, BPG | Sports (sports management), and BPG | Food & Beverage (restaurant and entertainment management), oversee all aspects of project acquisition, finance, development, construction, leasing, operations, and disposition for its portfolio properties. BPG has over 3,500 employees in 12 states. For more information, please visit www.bpgroup.net.