MARCH 12, 2014
Bryan Sikora brings casual sophistication to Wilmington in the form of La Fia—a bistro, bakery and gourmet shop rolled into one.
BY MATT AMIS // PHOTOS BY RON DUBICK
La Fia Bakery + Market + Bistro
421 N. Market St. | Wilmington, 543-5574 | lafiawilmington.com
Prices: First course $11-$18, second course $17-$26, breakfast $6-$8, lunch $7-$12
Recommended dishes: La Fia Toast, braised short rib, roasted grouper, gougère
When Bryan Sikora planted his flag on the corner of Fifth and Market in downtown Wilmington—and not on Rittenhouse Square or Fishtown or West Village or Chelsea—it felt like a major upset victory for little ol’ Delaware.
Sikora, one of the Philly region’s top chefs, helped define upscale casual dining in the area for more than a decade. His talent and pedigree could’ve taken him anywhere he wanted. And he picked us. It was the culinary equivalent of Elena Delle Donne spurning UConn to join UD. The small-market franchise landing the blue-chip free agent.
Score another one for the little guys.
La Fia, Sikora’s breezy hybrid bistro/bakery/gourmet shop that opened in the summer, is a huge get for LOMA and Downtown Wilmington, one that instantly uplifts the city’s oft-derided dining scene.
Sikora’s approach to modern cuisine—rustic, soulful, but imminently approachable—earned rave reviews as he led Philly restaurants like Django and a.kitchen, and Talula’s Table in Kennett Square. His graceful, laid-back cooking style is a perfect match for his new digs. In a storefront leased from the Buccini/Pollin Group, natural light beams onto distressed tin ceilings and reclaimed wooden tables.
Like Talula’s Table, La Fia combines a small sit-down bistro with a French-inspired bakery and gourmet shop, which provide the kitchen with a potent arsenal of freshly baked goods and artisanal charcuterie with which to work. click here to read more