Restaurants & Bars

The area has been a culinary paradise since the first explorers saw foot-long oysters and wild grapes along the shoreline some 500 years ago. Wilmington’s port city status brought edibles and influences from around the globe. Rich soils and so much fresh seafood provided added bounty that shaped an eclectic cuisine like no other.

The local foods cooperative Feast Down East makes sure chefs have premium ingredients from area farms. Staff and volunteers connect cooks and devoted growers, assuring diners flavorful ingredients – organic and sustainably raised. Can’t decide what to eat? Mix it up. Creative chefs are rooted in classics, but they’re known for inventing irresistible combinations. And it’s not just them. Master bartenders stir the perfect Old Fashioned or creative martinis. Breweries pour nationally recognized craft beers, and wine flows from award-winning lists. No worries if you’re not an oenophile. Seasoned sommeliers guide you.

Casual and fine-dining establishments pepper the landscape, but no need to dress up or break the bank at either. The buzz-phrase here is “upscale casual.” Khaki pants are fine even at the fanciest restaurants, and affordable prices are everywhere. Beautiful weather most days of the year mean you can dine outdoors in gorgeous settings. Choose sidewalk café tables or a pier extending over the sea. Sit on a riverside deck and watch boats cruise by at sunset. Relax, feel at home and remember to save room for dessert at these restaurants, where the food is always good, the prices are great and you’ll leave satisfied.

 

Fast-Paced Fine Dining

Getaway Cafe and Provisions in the Riverlights community, from the creators of Southerly Biscuit Company in Carolina Beach, proves that casual, quick dining and an upscale menu can work together.

Daring to be Different

“Those Who Dare Win.” A sign with those words hangs above a couch shaped like the tail end of a ’57 Chevy in Joe Apkarian’s new craft beer and cocktail bar called The Eagle’s Dare. Named in part for the famous movie starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, this place dares to win and exhorts you to do so too.

The German Café

The German Cafe in downtown Wilmignton, where you can celebrate all things German all year-round. Located on the ground level at the back end of The Cotton Exchange, this labyrinthine little place exudes old Germany and Bavaria, with food and beverage offerings that will transport you — at least mentally — to Deutschland.

Hop To It

Just be aware that there are some awesome alternatives. And one of them is a place in Wilmington called Hops Supply Co., a gastropub with great food, great beers and great cocktails to complement that fare.

LM Restaurants: Private Event Spaces

Local hospitality group LM Restaurants is behind some of Wilmington’s most popular restaurants including Oceanic, Bluewater and Hops Supply Company. Though each location offers a variety of different private event spaces and semi-private event spaces able to cater to a slew of different occasions, what unites them all is their commitment to high-quality service and cuisine. Each restaurant employs an executive chef who wields creativity and control of the menus, which have a focus on seasonality to maximize flavor and utilize fresh ingredients.

Oceanic + Bluewater Waterfront Grill: Waterfront Dining in Wrightsville Beach

“At LM Restaurants, not only offers waterfront dining, we also describe our core value as serving with a Heart for Hospitality. This means we lead with people in mind, whether it is for our guest or our team members. Treating people as if they were a guest in our personal home is the level of warmth and personal attention we strive to achieve,” she adds.

Chicken Salad Chick

Having the courage to try new things isn’t always easy. For Haley Pinder and her husband, Shane, deciding to change course in life and take a leap of faith was the best decision they ever made. The couple opened Chicken Salad Chick in 2019 after relocating with their children from Virginia, a move motivated by their desire to slow down and enjoy life to its fullest.

Restaurant Refresh: The George on the Riverwalk

The George On The Riverwalk recently received a facelift, and it looks fabulous. Edson Munekata took over ownership of the restaurant in January 2022 and officially opened for business in February, after finessing the menu, the service and the interior design.

Glorious Floriana

This article by Kurt Epps (The Pub Scout) describes Wilmington’s newest attraction in Historic Downtown. Calling it “Glorious Floriana” is just the tip of the iceberg, to understand his full experience, read on and make your reservation today!

Take a Bite of the Vibe at Burrito Shak

If you don’t like what’s served up for you and your family out there in the hospitality industry, then start your own business. It’s what David Longo did, and now the founder of Burrito Shak now has seven area locations.

7 Reasons to Hang Out in Wilmington’s South Front District

Loving where you live is easy to do if you reside here in Wilmington. It’s even easier for the residents near the new hot-spot in town – the South Front area! This section located on S. 2nd St. has it all – a pizza place, taco truck, tapas bar, wine bar, salt spa, yoga shop, you name it they got it!

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