Caffé Gelato

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Northern Italian Table Near the University of Delaware

Caffé Gelato sits at 90 E. Main Street in Newark, Delaware, close to the University of Delaware campus, and has built a quiet but durable reputation as one of the region's most complete Italian dining experiences. The restaurant earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognition that speaks directly to the depth and curation of its wine cellar, which anchors a vibrant bar at the heart of the room.

The atmosphere is described as relaxed, which in practice means the kind of place that works equally well for a weekday lunch, a weekend brunch with friends, or a proper dinner with wine pairings. Outdoor seating extends the space when the season allows.

What Comes Out of the Kitchen

The menu is broad without feeling unfocused. House-crafted pasta is a genuine point of pride: the Tortellini Parma Rosa arrives stuffed with four cheeses and finished in a parma-rosa sauce, while the Lump Crab and Shrimp Capellini is built around a signature "crab-rosa" preparation. Both reflect the Italian kitchen's instinct for pairing simple forms with carefully made sauces.

Beyond pasta, the kitchen turns out Saffron Arancini with fresh mozzarella and crispy prosciutto, a Wood-Smoked Fried Burrata with romesco sauce, and a Paella loaded with lobster, little-neck clams, mussels, chicken, veal sausage, shrimp, and salmon — a dish that shows the menu's willingness to reach beyond strict regional boundaries. Artisan pizzas include a Truffled Mushroom with Kennett Square mushrooms and fontina béchamel, and a straightforward Burrata Pomodoro with fresh basil.

Brunch brings its own personality: Crème Brûlée French Toast made with brioche dipped in a Grand Marnier batter, house-crafted Parisian crepes, and eggs prepared several ways — including Eggs Mignon, served with sautéed filet mignon and Hollandaise over an English muffin.

Homemade artisan gelato closes the meal on the restaurant's most distinctive note, a detail that gives the place its name and sets the tone for everything before it.

Beyond the Dining Room

Caffé Gelato also operates a full-service catering operation — with waitstaff and certified bartenders — available at private homes, reception halls, and business venues. The restaurant accommodates private parties, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and weddings, making it one of the more versatile Italian dining destinations in the Newark area.