Restaurants in Wilmington
Best Restaurants
Italian • $$
“Great food and service! Will definitely be back soon!”
Vegan • $$$
“For a special occasion last week, we travelled from Durham to Wilmington try this restaurant. We were NOT disappointed and it was so worth the trip! The dishes were all plant-based absolutely delicious. Even if you are normally a carnivore, you will not miss having meat. The restaurant space itself is beautiful and very tasteful and relaxing. All the staff were super friendly and hospitable. Felt like I was saying good-bye to friends when we left. Looking forward to my next trip to Wilmington!”
Restaurants by Cuisine
Seafood • $$
“So good! Best resturaunt steak I've had. Crab legs were delicious. Be sure to get the hush puppies. Even our kids' meals were great. Great service!!”
Bar • $$
“had a wonderful dinner last night with friends before going to a show at the Wilson. perfect location, incredible food. This place is on the list for more visits for sure. Great service from Grace thanks to the entire staff”
Bar • $$
“we had the pleasure of eating at Junction 421 this evening for a pre-Valentines dinner date I had the steak with mashed potatoes, asparagus, spears, and crab meat and topped with a delicious Bernese sauce . Michael had shrimp and grits and we had a nice, romantic dinner. Evan was our server and he treated us like we were VIPs. Highly recommend this restaurant is so close to our home.”
Restaurants with Delivery
Seafood • $$$
“This evening we were excited to bring friends who had never been to Seabird, and it was my wife’s birthday! The food did not disappoint. Our friends loved it. It was good to see a restaurant with a sense of humor when they brought out a “no calorie” birthday cake! (A lit candle stuck to a dessert plate)”
Seafood • $$$
“Thank you Origins Food and Drink! Thank you Alicia, and I hope I spelled that right!  Not only did I get to host a fantastic (Oh so tasty) lunch for my visiting cousins, just off the highway, but as we sat in the nice quiet bar area, talking well through your lunch closure, your staff just let us stay. Nobody said a word. Thank you for that. ❤️ One cousin lives in Rwanda and the other in Florida, and I haven't seen them in a year! ❤️ Once again, you are my restaurant of choice for so many reasons! Thanks for the incredible food and professionalism! (Originally posted on my Facebook page on July 1, 2024)”
Pizza • $
“Went here for a group meeting and it was delicious! Great atmosphere and lots of space. One of best pizzas I have tried!”
Seafood • $
“Finally got to try On Thyme Restaurant and it was worth every second of the drive! The Philly egg rolls are my new favorite thing, the salmon bites were delicious, the shrimp was fresh and the fish sandwich was huge! The outdoor seating is really nice too! The entire staff was friendly and helpful! Go support!!!”
Bar • $$
“we had the pleasure of eating at Junction 421 this evening for a pre-Valentines dinner date I had the steak with mashed potatoes, asparagus, spears, and crab meat and topped with a delicious Bernese sauce . Michael had shrimp and grits and we had a nice, romantic dinner. Evan was our server and he treated us like we were VIPs. Highly recommend this restaurant is so close to our home.”
Seafood • $$
“So good! Best resturaunt steak I've had. Crab legs were delicious. Be sure to get the hush puppies. Even our kids' meals were great. Great service!!”
Bar • $$
“had a wonderful dinner last night with friends before going to a show at the Wilson. perfect location, incredible food. This place is on the list for more visits for sure. Great service from Grace thanks to the entire staff”
Coffee • $
“Our first visit today in Boulder, CO! Wonderful atmosphere and a great friendly staff! Yummy frappes!”
Vegan • $$$
“For a special occasion last week, we travelled from Durham to Wilmington try this restaurant. We were NOT disappointed and it was so worth the trip! The dishes were all plant-based absolutely delicious. Even if you are normally a carnivore, you will not miss having meat. The restaurant space itself is beautiful and very tasteful and relaxing. All the staff were super friendly and hospitable. Felt like I was saying good-bye to friends when we left. Looking forward to my next trip to Wilmington!”
Bakery • $$
“Want your teenagers to spend time with you? Family outing to get crumbl works every time! THE BEST COOKIES ?
Kid-friendliness: Kids love them and so do adults!”
Chicken Wings • $
“Excellent Excellent flavors! Never disappoints”
Seafood • $$$
“Thank you Origins Food and Drink! Thank you Alicia, and I hope I spelled that right!  Not only did I get to host a fantastic (Oh so tasty) lunch for my visiting cousins, just off the highway, but as we sat in the nice quiet bar area, talking well through your lunch closure, your staff just let us stay. Nobody said a word. Thank you for that. ❤️ One cousin lives in Rwanda and the other in Florida, and I haven't seen them in a year! ❤️ Once again, you are my restaurant of choice for so many reasons! Thanks for the incredible food and professionalism! (Originally posted on my Facebook page on July 1, 2024)”
Sushi • $$
“I have eaten Sushi all over the US as well as Asia and (not to mention) Japan. This place is very authentic and the sushi is just amazing. I only order sushi but my husband always gets a cooked dinner and he says they are amazing as well! The staff is attentive and the sushi chef (I believe owner) is fantastic. I sometimes get supermarket sushi as Genki is not real close to me. I used to appreciate it was “just supermarket sushi” but after Genki (10-12 times) it’s real hard to get a quick supermarket fix. Actually right now I’m salivating!”
Online Reservation Available
“I have eaten Sushi all over the US as well as Asia and (not to mention) Japan. This place is very authentic and the sushi is just amazing. I only order sushi but my husband always gets a cooked dinner and he says they are amazing as well! The staff is attentive and the sushi chef (I believe owner) is fantastic. I sometimes get supermarket sushi as Genki is not real close to me. I used to appreciate it was “just supermarket sushi” but after Genki (10-12 times) it’s real hard to get a quick supermarket fix. Actually right now I’m salivating!”
Wine Bar
“Doug and his crew are so professional and have a vast knowledge of wines! This is a great addition to the community! I’ll be visiting them every time I come down for vacation!”
Seafood • $$
“THANK YOU Candance for taking such good care of me this week by taking my food allergies seriously. She was AMAZING with ensuring my meal did not contain any of my food allergies, which allowed me to enjoy my dinner stress-free. It was my first time ever visiting the restaurant and I'll definitely go back.”
Bistros • $$$
“Outstanding venue, service superb, ty Mark, appetizer's out of this world, dinner, seafood, even better ......in the words of a great poet, we'll be back.....good job, Brent”
Italian • $$$
“We sat at the bar and the locals were so nice to us and gave us lots of hang out options. Our server was phenomenal knew the menus front and back by heart and my husband left with a good buzz from dirty martinis he was a happy man. Top notch food and great presentation. Love the swanky vibe. If your are preggo get the refresher mocktail it was amazing”
Bar • $$
“excellent atmosphere. The surprise burlesque show was amazing. Love the ribs, love the entire place. I highly recommend. The owners are very engaged. Excellent place. I give it 5 stars.”
Seafood • $$
“I always enjoy eating here when I visit my mom. The serving sizes are plenty!”
American • $$$
“Jerry's has been a favorite of mine for years. The quality and care given by the wait staff is remarkable. And the food is unsurpassed!”
Greek • $$
“First visit here! Excellent food with a fabulous outdoor dining space. Grilled octopus was a highlight. The braised short rib…… sooo tender and delish! Make a reservation and get yourself here! OH…DONT FORGET THE BAKLAVA CHEESECAKE!”
French • $$
“This is the first time I did the pop up dinner paired with French wines, but it was spectacular. I love the blind wine tasting pop-up dinners, but this was exceptional.”
American • $$$
“Dinner - Delicious Ambiance - Classic Service - Just perfect! Thank you Brandon, you were exceptional! 10/10”
Brewery • $
“Great place...great atmosphere...love the ping pong.. 🏓🏓🏓”
Seafood • $$
“THANK YOU Candance for taking such good care of me this week by taking my food allergies seriously. She was AMAZING with ensuring my meal did not contain any of my food allergies, which allowed me to enjoy my dinner stress-free. It was my first time ever visiting the restaurant and I'll definitely go back.”
Bistros • $$$
“Outstanding venue, service superb, ty Mark, appetizer's out of this world, dinner, seafood, even better ......in the words of a great poet, we'll be back.....good job, Brent”
24 Hour Restaurants
Bakery • $
“So so good!! We had Pink Baking Co make 4 dozen gluten free cupcakes for our wedding in May 2024 and they were SO delicious. No one could even guess they were gluten free and our guests were raving about the churro cupcakes even after the wedding! I would highly recommend them!”
Breakfast • $
“My food was perfect and the staff were friendly and efficient. Reasonably priced and fast. Never disappointed when I eat here.
Parking: Plenty
Kid-friendliness: They can easily accommodate children with seating and smaller portions
Wheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp and the floor is low”
Breakfast • $
“Excellent service from Christoph! Thank you for All of Your Service!”
Fast Food • $
“I like the Chicken nuggets and Big man sandwich and Doudle Chesse Burger and the Tea”
Fast Food • $
“Just went here and a worker named Jack was amazing. He called me, sir and had great customer service whatever he is getting paid. He needs a raise. I hope management sees this.”
Seafood • $$
“We just finished another great lobster roll. Yes, the lobster is too die for! We missed seeing Jim this time on our trip down. No worries though, Pam and Jamison took great care of us. Of course they are both from Maine. Makes the experience more authentic. Thanks to you both for the great hospitality! We can't wait to finally move in a year so we can enjoy this treat more often. See you guys in a few months!!!”
Bar • $$
“excellent atmosphere. The surprise burlesque show was amazing. Love the ribs, love the entire place. I highly recommend. The owners are very engaged. Excellent place. I give it 5 stars.”
Takeout Restaurants
Coffee Shops • $
“Love the aesthetic of the place. Staff were very kind and personal and professional. Drink was delicious!”
Brewpubs • $
“I hosted my son and new daughter's rehearsal dinner at Wrightsville Beach Brewery's event space earlier this month. Katelyn, the event coordinator, was truly exceptional. From the very beginning, she was incredibly responsive, addressing all my inquiries and offering valuable suggestions throughout the planning process. Katelyn and the entire staff at Wrightsville Beach Brewery were fantastic and accommodating. The food was phenomenal, and the venue received numerous compliments. The evening surpassed all expectations. I enthusiastically recommend Wrightsville Beach Brewery for events or simply for enjoying their delicious food and beer.”
Creperies • $
“Amazing Family business!! Every time I visit I have a great experience! Staff is always friendly and welcoming when you walk through the door. Today I got my breakfast togo. I got to work downtown and my food was still hot & delicious! I highly recommend Our Crepes & More!!!”
Pizza • $
“I didn't get the pizza "yet," but that soft serve ice cream transported me to another dimension. I chose the swirl, which is the ice cream and sorbet together. Honestly, there is nothing like it that I've found so far. All I know is I will be back very soon.”
Bakery • $
“We just moved to the historic district and LOVE CP! I never leave reviews anywhere but we thoroughly enjoyed our meal here!”
Mexican • $
“Had the steak skillet for breakfast with the cafe de olla and now I’m obsessed. Starbucks who? I’m coming for that cup of coffee every morning !!! The skillet was delicious and the service was great ! The portion size was perfect and the corn tortillas are hand made. My new favorite spot !”
Pizza • $
“Awesome pizza! We just moved to Wilmington and we have been searching for a good pizza. Don Luca’s was real homemade pizza with two great dipping oils to add a special delicious touch! Plus Tony the owner is dedicated to his food and to his customers!!!!.”
Southern • $
“When they say they have the best fried chicken, they aren’t kidding! Tried it for the first time and it was delicious!”
Vegan • $
“I’ve lived all over the US & been vegan for decades. Sea Level is absolutely the most amazing vegan restaurant I’ve ever enjoyed! On a 1 to 10 scale, Sea Level is a 100!!!! Thank you Sea Level!!!!”
Southern • $
“8/6/2024: Stopped here to pick up pimento cheese and Fancy Nancy chicken salad to go. We enjoyed both at the beach before bringing them home after our trip. Both were delicious.”
Breakfast • $
“The food is always good but the great service keeps me coming back!”
Seafood • $$
“I always enjoy eating here when I visit my mom. The serving sizes are plenty!”
American • $$$
“Jerry's has been a favorite of mine for years. The quality and care given by the wait staff is remarkable. And the food is unsurpassed!”
Seafood • $$
“We just finished another great lobster roll. Yes, the lobster is too die for! We missed seeing Jim this time on our trip down. No worries though, Pam and Jamison took great care of us. Of course they are both from Maine. Makes the experience more authentic. Thanks to you both for the great hospitality! We can't wait to finally move in a year so we can enjoy this treat more often. See you guys in a few months!!!”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
Coffee Shops • $
“Social Coffee is one of the best coffee shops ever! They have incredible and delicious unique drinks based on the season and really good coffee that they roast on-site. Not to mention, their merch is always on point! Definitely a great place to go if you are in Wilmington.”
Coffee Roasteries • $
“Love coffee, so Blue Cup Roastery is my place to go when I visit Wilmington. I highly recommend it.”
Thai • $$
“Had a great time. They are very busy from the time they open there doors. So it’s best to go early to get a seat.”
Coffee Shops • $
“I usually go to the Bean for coffee but just tried a smoothie yesterday. It was literally the best smoothie I have ever had. The lady at the window was super patient with my questions!!! I got the mango/strawberry. It was ridiculous!!!! Will definitely get that again.”
Breakfast • $
“Best bagels around and an even better ownership and staff. I am there almost every day. Love the Seaside fam!”
Southern • $
“Though I worked in Wilmington for several years, commuting from Myrtle Beach, I didn’t discover Ruth’s until today when a couple of locals took me for breakfast . Absolutely great food, quick out of the kitchen. Our waitress bantered with me and that was the icing on the cake. But, she also shared diet specific dishes for one of my companions with gluten restrictions. If you are a homecooking kind of human…you must try Ruth’s!!!”
Pizza • $
“Always good. Always on time. Staff is pleasant. Even went in to pick up dough and cheese to make my own pizza at home. I always order my pizza well done. Good stuff here :)”
Italian • $
“Absolutely delicious! Our pizza was perfect! We will be ordering again!”
Pizza • $
“Robert, this is Marlowe... My pizza tonight, if not the #1 Best I ever had, was definitely in the top 3! Perfection...been missing it so much. Was recently diagnosed with diabetes and have to lose weight...so I won't be back every week like I used to but hopefully once a month. Never going so long without one again! Thank you and your staff for making an old lady actually talk to her pizza...yes, I told it how much I missed it....and said I love you!”
Hot Dogs • $
“Some of the best hotdogs I've found! The chili was delicious. My boyfriend, who only favors red dogs, even loved them. Inside was very clean, service was quick and friendly. The price was very reasonable. We will come again next time we're in town!”
Barbecue • $
“Best in town with them chickens n them hush puppies!!!!!!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Barbecue • $
“Love this place!! Their barbecue sandwiches are the BOMB . . . my only recommendation is please make sure the bread doesn’t fall apart!! Maybe drain the barbecue and the coleslaw a little more before putting it on. Today’s sandwich was good . . . but they have been a bit soggy in the past. Keep up the good work!!”
Chicken • $
“Great food.! Great prices. Mr Moore and his staff are always friendly and provide top notch service”
Greek • $$
“First visit here! Excellent food with a fabulous outdoor dining space. Grilled octopus was a highlight. The braised short rib…… sooo tender and delish! Make a reservation and get yourself here! OH…DONT FORGET THE BAKLAVA CHEESECAKE!”
Italian • $$$
“We sat at the bar and the locals were so nice to us and gave us lots of hang out options. Our server was phenomenal knew the menus front and back by heart and my husband left with a good buzz from dirty martinis he was a happy man. Top notch food and great presentation. Love the swanky vibe. If your are preggo get the refresher mocktail it was amazing”
Cheap Eats
Bakery • $
“Beautiful space, warm staff and AMAZING baked goods.”
Cocktail Bar • $
“Both bartenders and bouncers were very professional and friendly. The vibe of the atmosphere and crowd felt fun and safe!”
Bar • $
“Love this place! Great music and great environment!! Friendly staff always.”
Bubble Tea • $
“Great service!! Super friendly!! Delicious Brown Sugar Milk Boba!!”
Breakfast • $
“Great flavor from not only the biscuits but also the flavored butter and jellys”
Beer Gardens • $
“I usually frequent breweries, but I love this bottle shop. They have an great selection of refrigerated beers, but more than that, they have an amazing tap selection. You never know exactly what will be available.They do these totally cool Tap Takeover events where beers from a specific region, state, or brewery take over their taps for an afternoon.In the evenings, they ofte have a food truck and some live music. The beer garden is a great place to sit back for a beer and conversation.Totally an amazing joint and has totally changed my mind about how cool bottle shops can be.”
Coffee Shops • $
“Awesome coffee and great knowledge of their products! We have been going there regularly for a little over a year and have never been disappointed!”
Beer Gardens • $
“Spectacular experience at your establishment last night!!! Attended the burlesque show, thoroughly enjoyed the show! The bar tenders were amazing, as always!!! No matter how busy, they are always helpful and friendly! Keep up the excellent service. wonderful establishment, super awesome location!”
American • $
“Incredible service, incredible food, incredible care! You can tell the owner abs everyone who works here enjoys what they do and have taken the time to ensure every customer is taken care of as a top priority!! Best fries in town and anything you get on the menu is a delicious win!! 10/10 and that’s rare these days!!”
Food Trucks • $
“As advertised. It's not often you get what you pay for... but here you do! My sandwich looked just like the photo on the website... not some sad version of it... and tasted better than I could imagine. It was amazing!”
Coffee Shops • $
“amazing food amazing coffee amazing people what more can you ask for”
Brunch • $
“Very dog friendly!! We were seated in the outdoor patio area with our dog and had Ashton as our server. She was so wonderful! She brought our dog a large bowl of water with ice, and even offered us frozen yogurt treats for him when our food came! Our food was great and our service was great as well! Highly recommend!”
French • $$
“This is the first time I did the pop up dinner paired with French wines, but it was spectacular. I love the blind wine tasting pop-up dinners, but this was exceptional.”
American • $$$
“Dinner - Delicious Ambiance - Classic Service - Just perfect! Thank you Brandon, you were exceptional! 10/10”
Seafood • $$$
“Hidden gem! We lucked out as we were driving in to town and read the reviews but there was no availability online. Stopped by anyways and our luck there had been reservation canceled. Amazing fresh catch of the day and preparation. Service was amazing.”
Bar • $$
“Great experience. Was total trash but I had a lot of fun! The staff gave me pointers and tips and it did actually help me out. Very much open to coming back again.”
Latin American • $$
“Great food and a very friendly staff!”
Gastropubs • $$
“Had an absolutely outstanding dinner. Great atmosphere, service and food with the love of my life. Will definitely be back again.”
Thai • $$
“Had a great time. They are very busy from the time they open there doors. So it’s best to go early to get a seat.”
Fondue • $$$
“Our server, Jacob, absolutely made our night. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our anniversary and the night got so much sweeter when he brought out the desert plate with a hand written “Happy Anniversary” along with a personal card. He was extremely involved, kept the conversation going, and answered every question we threw at him. Our night was a solid 10/10 because of the amazing server we had. As always the food was amazing along with the beverages!”
Italian • $$
“Overall our food was good. Did not realize the bolognese was not a tomato based recipe, which is the way I traditionally prepare the dish. It was a little dry as well. Not a dish I would reorder here.”
Brewery • $$
“What a great experience! Very friendly staff! Great beer! Mike is a cool Guy we will be going back soon.”
Seafood • $$
“Dinner tonight at Fish Bites was fantastic! Grouper, risotto, green beans! We had one of their amazing desserts, lemon blueberry cake! Very, very busy, service was great and so friendly!!”
Cocktail Bar • $$
“Lots of fun, great band, service not so great….waited 30 minutes at the bar to get waited on ☹️☹️☹️”
American • $$$
“Great cocktails, a varied wine list, outstanding food, fun music and relaxed atmosphere. So glad we had dinner here!”
American • $$$
“Went for a birthday dinner with my spouse. Everything about this experience was top notch! I wish I remembered the server’s name so I could give her a shout out. Very attentive and personable. The oysters Rockefeller was the best I have had. Already looking forward to our next visit there!”
Vegan • $$
“We just ate here for the first time and we will definitely be back. I got the plant based cheesesteak and greens and my boyfriend got the Omni version of the mac and cheese burger. Everything was delicious and the service was great. Highly recommend!”
Brewery • $$
“Waterline is a great microbrewery. Literally a "where the road ends" kind of place built in a historic warehouse under a beautiful bridge. The selection of beers is amazing. Try the porter ... it's not a stick to your ribs kind of porter which makes it great for a warm afternoon with the sun on your face. Or the Coffee and Cream pale ale ... delishious. If you want something different, try their oyster stout ... it's not what you'd expect.Be sure to checkout the record show every second Tuesday. Bring your own vinyl to spin on the turntable or buy some and spin that. You never know what you'll get to hear.But whatever you do, go check out Waterline Brewing and let the day's stresses fall away in one of their tasty beverages.”
Seafood • $$
“Amber and Beth are the best. Anytime I go to Bonefish, they make the best drinks, they are so friendly. They make the experience so much better and always serving with a smile. A+”
Italian • $$
“We went to Roko Italian restaurant last night, for New Year’s Eve, in Wilmington . We sat at the bar, Jason took care of us , if you’re looking for the ultimate experience and great customer service sit at the bar and let him wine and dine you you’ll simply love it just like we did . I had the lamb chops , my daughter had the Chicken Florentine. Thank you Jason for a great job. Looking forward to coming back in 2023.”
Breakfast • $$
“First time in the area, thought I’d give this place a try . Everyone was nice , especially the guy taking care of us, I believe Justin was his name. He recommended the lemon ricotta pancakes, I was skeptical but thought I would step out of my comfort zone and MAN WERE THEY GOOD! If I’m ever in the area I know where I’m eating for brunch! I hope To come across Justin as my waiter again! My glass was always full! (Which is a big deal for me)”
Seafood • $$
“always the best! my go to favorite seafood place I have never had a bad meal there!”
Italian • $$
“I’m absolutely in love with their delicious Italian cuisines. It’s honestly, in my opinion the best in Wilmington. The staff are super nice! Especially, Al and Haily, because I’ve personally have met them both. Wilmington please try this restaurant to keep it going for years to come. My precious granddaughter loves it also. Thanks for all the hard work y’all put into making those mouth watering entrees. ????????”
Seafood • $$
“Excellent service and good food, nice atmosphere and location. The tenderloin was excellent, I just wished the asparagus were more tender. Also, a wine list instead of a QR code would have been nice”
American • $$
“The Bavarian pretzel was huge and absolutely delicious. all portions were very generous and the service staff was great!! I highly recommend this restaurant!!”
Brewery • $$
“Amazingly delicious beers! Very welcoming environment!”
Italian • $$
“If this is a 5 star review scale, Im giving Tarantelli’s 10⭐️s! Our server Gabriel was a gem! Truly a master of his craft. For 4 of 6 it was a first visit. What an experience it was! From the classic cocktails to the fresh strawberry mojitos, the whiskey lit parm, wagu bruschetta and the congratulatory engagement cannoli-it was a night to remember. And…probably the best meal Ive had in 58 years on planet earth!!”
“This evening we were excited to bring friends who had never been to Seabird, and it was my wife’s birthday! The food did not disappoint. Our friends loved it. It was good to see a restaurant with a sense of humor when they brought out a “no calorie” birthday cake! (A lit candle stuck to a dessert plate)”