The Hotel du Pont opened in 1913 as the most ambitious building project in Delaware's history — a twelve-story Italian Renaissance landmark commissioned by Pierre S. du Pont to showcase the power and permanence of the company that bore his name. Over a century later, the hotel's restaurant remains the finest room in the state. Le Cavalier, the modern incarnation, is not a museum piece playing at luxury but a living, confident brasserie that serves exceptional French food in a setting that earns its grandeur every service.
The name honours the deep equestrian tradition of the Brandywine River Valley — where the du Pont family's history of horsemanship, from William du Pont Jr. to Frolic Weymouth, shaped the landscape and culture of Delaware. The dining room reflects that lineage: high painted ceilings of extraordinary craftsmanship, velvet banquettes in deep jewel tones, and table settings that suggest the meal ahead is worth dressing for. The bar is separately worth visiting — an evening of cocktails in this room, with the opera house a few blocks away, is one of the finer city experiences in the Mid-Atlantic.
The menu is a modern French brasserie's greatest hits, played with the confidence of a kitchen that knows exactly what it is: steak au poivre with the kind of sauce that justifies ordering it again immediately; escargot served with bone marrow in a combination that could serve as an argument for the entire French culinary tradition; seasonal fish dishes sourced from Delaware's Chesapeake-adjacent waters. Brunch on weekends is exceptional and underbooked relative to dinner — the ideal entry point if you want to experience the room before committing to an evening.
Food + Wine awarded Le Cavalier its inaugural 2023 Global Tastemakers honour as one of the Best Hotels for Food in the United States — a recognition that surprised nobody who had eaten here and surprised every food writer who had overlooked Wilmington for years. The recognition is deserved and, if anything, understated.
Le Cavalier is Delaware's power dining room in the purest sense. The setting communicates seriousness and success the moment a client walks through the door — the hotel's century-long association with the du Pont family, Delaware's most powerful corporate dynasty, lends an authority that no amount of Michelin stars can manufacture. Private dining rooms are available for confidential conversations. The service is discreet and professional. The wine list is deep enough that the sommelier can guide any table to the right bottle without making anyone feel managed. Close your deal, then order the crème brûlée.
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Brought a client from London who had been to Le Gavroche and the Savoy Grill. She was genuinely impressed — not just by the food, which was impeccable, but by the room. There is something about sitting in a hundred-year-old grand hotel dining room that no new-build can replicate. Steak au poivre was perfect. The deal closed over the crème brûlée.
I proposed here on Valentine's night and it was perfect. The staff were entirely discreet until the right moment and then incredibly warm. The room does something to people — my partner had no idea where I was taking her and when we walked through the hotel lobby into the dining room, that was nearly the moment. The ring was secondary. This is the most beautiful restaurant I have ever been in.
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