Sugo Italian Steakhouse — Restaurant in Wilmington

• in depth review* All in all we decided to give this restaurant a 6/10 I want to start out by saying the service here was phenomenal, the hostess’s were really welcoming and took us to an awesome balcony while we were waiting to be sat. Our Server was attentive and really helpful. 10/10 on the service and atmosphere.

Where this place fell a little short in our eyes was the food, everything tasted good, but the meal itself just didn’t taste that fresh… here’s what we ordered:

Starters: Caesar salad Focaccia Risotto balls

Mains: Petite Fillet (Medium well Dry aged Boneless ribeye (medium) Brussel sprouts

Dessert: Tiramisu Donuts

Caesar: the dressing on the Caesar was great - this was a good salad but it has so much dressing on it the thing was basically swimming, I would recommend light dressing but for this reason I give it a 7.5/10

The risotto balls: they were really good, no notes there 10/10. But fried.

The focaccia: this tasted really good but we were expecting fresh bread this was pan seared in a ton of butter. So it tasted great because what doesn’t when it seared in butter but it was really heavy. 7/10 it was like eating a piece of Texas toast, this was not focaccia…

And here’s where it gets hard to rate the restaurant. Because all the dishes above were really good but the risotto is obviously fried, the focaccia was seared in butter, and the salad was drenched in dressing. So the appetizers were really heavy and filling but tasted good.

The steaks were solid, both cooked well and the quality was good. Just coated heavily in butter.

The Brussels sprouts were good but coated in so much honey vinaigrette that it was really really sweet and also heavy, you couldn’t taste the Brussel sprout and it was just heavy. 6/10

The donut dessert was delicious, but guess what? Also fried.

The tiramisu, was good but not enough espresso flavor, tasted like it was made with coffee liquor instead of espresso. It was still good but 7/10.

So all in all, the food was good but we felt like everything was fried, or soaked in butter. So it all tasted good but we left the meal feeling like nothing we had at all was fresh tasting because of the insane amount of butter and oils that were consumed. For that the restaurant is getting a 6

For what you’re paying I just expected a a better culinary experience, opposed to just soaking everything in butter… the dishes were not balanced just heavy. This was disappointing from what would be considered a higher end restaurant...

Update on trip #2 This is more like it . From start to finish the food was top notch and fresh . The staff was just as incredible as the first time but this time the food was also there . After my original review the staff reached out and invited me back to dine that also shows how much they care . However I did make more reservations but did not give the staff a heads up so that way it was an authentic experience and it was truly incredible. Can’t say enough about the food . Definitely worth a shot

Original review

First off I wanna say the service and our waitress Shannon is probably the only reason we are gonna come back and give it a second shot. She was incredible and the issues we had she made sure it was taken care of. So service is 10 outta 5 stars .

The problem we had was our food . I never ever complain about food or send it back but when you come to a restaurant that’s high-end that specializes in steak you wanna make sure that it’s good. I was between the Wagyu and the fillet and ended up going with the fillet and when it came out, it had zero moisture in it. It was almost like eating a thick piece of beef jerky, which is very unfortunate, considering the quality of meat that you guys select . And there was no seasoning on it whatsoever or if it was it was definitely charted off because the top of the steak was extremely charred and again I never said anything about it but when our waitress came back to the table, she asked why and touched my stake other than one singular bite in the singular bite that my wife took so I had to be honest with her and she went above and beyond to make sure that the rest of our night was incredible. My wife also had similar results with her beef Wellington with certain meals. You shouldn’t have to drown the meat with sauce in order for it to have moisture, but unfortunately that’s what we had to do that night. The Sugo bacon was spectacular one of the top appetizers I’ve ever eaten in my entire life and that saying a lot The desserts were also incredible. It is just really unfortunate when we were so excited about the entrées based on videos we’ve seen for them to be as disappointing. We would like to definitely come back and try it again in the future but at that price point for the quality of the meal we received it didn’t add up so we will definitely give it another shot at some point and hopefully it...

Nestled inside Hotel Ballast lies a gem that brings a slice of New York Italian cuisine to the heart of Wilmington—Sugo Italian Steakhouse. This elegant establishment offers more than just a meal; it provides an enchanting escape with stunning views of the water, complemented by tasteful decor that enhances the dining experience.

From the moment we walked in, the service was nothing short of impeccable. Our servers, Alli and Matt, were the epitome of professionalism and charm, going above and beyond with their attentiveness and detailed knowledge of the menu. Their exceptional service set the tone for a remarkable evening, making us feel like honored guests at every turn.

The experience began with the Sugo Slab bacon and calamari. The bacon was tender and flavorful, a dish so memorable that it left us searching for words to do it justice. The calamari, hands down, was the best in Wilmington, setting a high bar for what was to come.

For our main courses, we indulged in the Shrimp Alfredo and the Dry Aged Tomahawk Ribeye. As a self-professed pasta connoisseur, I can confidently say the Shrimp Alfredo at Sugo is unrivaled in Wilmington, offering a unique twist that sets it apart from others. The ribeye was a revelation, perfectly aged and cooked, confirming that Sugo is the go-to spot for steak lovers in the area.

The sides—creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese—were generous and could easily satisfy a family. Joey, who looked after our beverage needs, made sure our glasses were never empty, adding to the seamless flow of our meal. Jeff, the manager, ensured that everything met our expectations, while Lauren added to the evening with her delightful conversation, showing genuine interest in our dining experience.

Considering the level of care and quality of food, the prices at Sugo Italian Steakhouse are remarkably reasonable. The entire experience was a testament to their commitment to excellence, making every dollar spent well worth it.

We left Sugo Italian Steakhouse with full stomachs and happy hearts, already planning our next visit. For anyone in Wilmington looking for top-notch Italian cuisine paired with exceptional service, look no further. Sugo Italian Steakhouse is a must-visit destination that promises an unforgettable...