50 Best American Restaurants in Wilmington

“I saw Crofton’s all over TikTok and wanted to give it a try with the family. We ordered ahead and drove 30 minutes for: Cheese and pepperoni Mac and cheese Chicken bacon ranch Cinnamon Loaded baked potato The order was ready when I got there and smelled AMAZING. The outside of the pretzel looked great and when you broke into it, they loaded each pretzel with what we ordered. The only issue I had, 3/5 pretzels were not cooked thoroughly and were pretty doughy. May have just been an off day, but def worth trying.“

“The Keg and Egg is hands down my favorite breakfast spot. The food is incredible—we’re talking the best fried chicken and sausage gravy I’ve ever had. The food alone makes it worth the visit, but the fun atmosphere and friendly, attentive staff really set it apart. It’s a must-visit—I can’t recommend it enough.“

“My family and I have enjoyed visiting the Cardinal for its fine food, libations and especially the personal service we receive from Marco. He is attentive and friendly, adding to the wonderful experience we have whenever we visit.“

“Did an amazing job catering for a birthday party. Food was delicious! Those fingerling potatoes and steak and shrimp---yum!“

“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!!“

“Dinner - Delicious Ambiance - Classic Service - Just perfect! Thank you Brandon, you were exceptional! 10/10“

“i cant wait until I go here. sounds so good!“

“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!“

“Great cocktails, a varied wine list, outstanding food, fun music and relaxed atmosphere. So glad we had dinner here!“

“Chris the manager stopped by to check on us after we ate our sandwhiches. We didn’t like what we had ordered and he was stand up and wanted us to be happy and let us reorder a different meal at no extra cost. The service was great, and Jennifer our server was excellent as well, everyone was a pleasure to deal with.“

“10/10 recommend! We had the best Valentine’s Day dinner here. The space is beautiful and airy, and the food was incredible. The Oysters Millionaire (that salmon mousse!!) and the Seacuterie board were the perfect start. I treated myself to the Surf N’ Turf with lobster thermidor and it was so decadent and delicious. It was exactly the high-end but laid-back night out I needed. Can’t wait for brunch!“

“Visited 8/16/25, Greenville, NC. The food was excellent.. hot, fresh, and flavorful. Our waitress, Ramsie K, was excellent. Speed of service was excellent. We will definitely visit again.“

“If you go to Ale House, sit at the bar and meet Brittany the bartender for a good laugh“

“First time here for a celebratory beer and snacks. Absolutely will be back. Great wings, great beer, great chat with the bartender. Oh and love the tots. And the atmosphere was very cool. Just simply a great time. Go there. Now. Why are you still reading this? Go there! 🤣“

“Good food, great service, good prices!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best breakfast in Wilmington“

“For starters, what an amazing historic mansion!!!! The entire staff was so nice from owners to hostess to waitstaff and bartenders!!! The food was some of the most flavorful I have ever had in my life!!! Will absolutely dine at Preston whenever the opportunity arises. Outstanding ?️?️?️?️?️“

“Our service was flawless and our dinner was amazing we had the scallops and chicken saltimbanco. Would highly recommend.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks guys as always great food“

“Lived in the area for almost a year and did not know the restaurant was there. I had discovered it as I passed by and decided to try it. was not disappointed fast seating on a Saturday night excellent service by Amber and very good food. several staff checked on me during the visit. Restaurant was clean and inviting. Will be there more often.“

“Great breakfast. Omelet, grits and biscuit,, very good. Server Melissa's smile and great service was an added bonus.“

“From the moment we walked in, we were wowed. The vibe was relaxed but somehow high-end. We were greeted by a friendly face and seated right away. The owner and waiter were attentive but not bothersome. The drinks and food were exceptional, and the prices were very reasonable! We are not vegan but enjoy avoiding animal fat more days than not and the menu was unique, fresh, and full of locally grown foods. We are definitely going back, this place is going to be in our rotation of places we visit frequently! Thank you for the nice birthday treat!“

“I love WBB! My family and I come every time we visit the area. Kellie is the best 😀“

“OH MY GOSH, the first bite put me in another dimension. I was blown away by the flavor. I had the veggie crunch, with every bite I was amazed something this good existed. I’ll be back and telling everyone who will listen how good this place is.“

“Owner is one of the kindest and most welcoming people I’ve ever met. Food is amazing, the lobster rolls are the best lobster rolls I’ve ever had. 100% recommend. Amazing food and service.“

“We’ve seen this place being built and finally we’re at the mall while they were open! The Hawaiian chicken sandwich was yummy: good portion, consistency, slaw on top, flavor, AND it’s cooked separately from the steak so I’m not going to be having an awful rest of the day. I saw some other items I’ll try in the future too plus there’s straight vegetarian option as well.

My two picky girls had cheese burger kids meals and they liked them a lot. Three generations loved the fries (including those who normally don’t like fries). He was also kind enough to put the fries in a separate container from the burgers so there was no contamination. The kids LOVED their crowns and stickers, the youngest is going to wear it all day! More of the family is planning to try their next visit. So excited!“

“Wow“

“We had brunch today at the CAM Cafe and we were reminded once again of how under appreciated this place is. It’s such an elevated experience. But they’d never say that out loud because that’d be uncouth. Eating here is like eating in NYC, only much cheaper! Our server Reagan was so nice and attentive, and the food was elite. Normally I’m the type of guy who wants extremely sweet tea, but I actually appreciated that their tea was more tea than sugar. It was almost as if they were saying “settle down sir, this is a proper establishment!” I wish I took a picture of the omelette my wife got because it looked like something out of a Studio Ghibli film. Perfectly cooked and it tasted great. Don’t sleep on this place! It’s so affordable and the brunch is among the best in Wilmington. Oh, and if you’re a guy taking your significant other here, make sure you step your game up. Every older guy was a gentleman through and through. We’re talking opening the car door, pulling the chair out, and standing up when your partner reenters the dining room. Don’t get caught slacking! Lol“

“Today was my second time coming here. I love it here Sarah my waitress was so sweet I had her the first time I came. The food was delicious, & the service was as well. I will definitely will be going back! 🤓“

“The pimento cheese sausage biscuits. 🤩Holy moly! 🤤🤤🤤So delish! Adult and toddler approved! 😋😋😋“

“So fun, great bartenders, great atmosphere! Something for everyone!“

“Probably one of the best airport restaurants I patron. I fly regularly and always plan to have my lunch here prior to departure because of its high quality and fair prices. It’s very hard to find enjoyable meals in airports so this is a win“

“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.“

“We had fabulous lunch yesterday at Cabana! The Smash burger,
seasoned fries and Cubano sandwich with collards are addictive! We also enjoyed mouth watering ribs with Chipotle BBQ sauce! Super tender and fall of the bone goodness! We split the warm Plantain Foster with ice cream for dessert! It is a must try! Yummy! Great vibe, fun interior, friendly staff and attention to detail- plus they are open on Mondays! Don't miss this place!“

“Sooooo many things to love about this place!! Yes they know their wines. They also have craft cocktails to die for. Dana is my favorite bartender by far!!! She always has fun ideas up her sleeve in drinks!! Apps 1/2 off during the week. They are yummy!! Great place to come as a single or with friends!!!“

“Took one of my old bosses there Today. Today was German Cuisine day. We started with soup, I had trout and then Apple Strudel. The student wait staff was very attentive and kept a close eye on my iced tea. With my strudel, I had some coffee. This is by far one of the Best Hidden secrets of Wilmington. Only thing is not everyone can get in. So if you can get in to have one of their Wednesday lunches, I would say jump on it. Staff, food and ambiance is outstanding.“

“We had a great time at the Grill and our waitress Zena was fantastic. The food was excellent and the staff was professional and very courteous.“

“great food and service will return“

“The food was amazing! We loved getting to enjoy the view as well. Highly recommend.“

“Was in Wilmington looking for a place to eat this place sounded good. I wasn't disappointed, food was really good and the service was great. Riley did a great job.“

“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!!“

“Great service and excellent food. Absolutely adore the owner“

“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)“

“Best brunch place in Wilmington!! They have incredible sandwiches too, protein power bowls, french toast, & more. The owners & staff are extremely kind and professional. The atmosphere is so fun and welcoming, and they have the best decorations especially during the holidays. A must-try for locals & visitors alike!! They did an amazing job with catering my client event, as well. Highly recommend!“

“Fun and wonderful place!!!! Easygoing no matter how big the crowd. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming! Food is always great……and their pizza is TO DIE for!!!!!💜💜💜💜“

“Frontier has the BEST hot dogs and burgers! The chili burger is to die for. It’s a humble restaurant, with a lot of heart. I highly recommend“

“One of the only restaurants we stopped at on our trip to Wilmington. The food was to die for, the coleslaw hit the spot I had been craving (and will forever crave now), and the atmosphere was so homey and old-timey.

I didn't know it was cash-only until we were at the restaurant reading reviews, and was quick to mention it to the waitress, who kindly pointed me in the direction of an ATM in the same building.

We will be returning on our next trip. :)“

“The Bavarian pretzel was huge and absolutely delicious. all portions were very generous and the service staff was great!! I highly recommend this restaurant!!“

“I think their food is good, however everytime we go when we're on vacation they screw up our order. Doesn't matter what location.“

“I really like going to Molly Pitchers. The food is good. The atmosphere is good. However don’t go if you have a large group! You will wait over an hour for your food and I have to say our waitress had the personality of a doorknob 😞! Might think about going somewhere else next time.“