Dram Yard

101 S 2nd St, Wilmington
(910) 782-2400

Recent Reviews

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Sarah K

I love this place. I’ve been twice, once with my family and once for date night. As a family we shared a few entrees and they were all excellent, my kids are pretty adventurous eaters and they all loved the duck. For date night my husband and I did the tasting menu and it was excellent! One of the best plates I ever had was the eggplant curry (Chef if you could send me your curry recipe I would be forever grateful 🥹). The only thing we didn’t care for was the pork loin, but we don’t eat a lot of pork in general. The duck leg though… my husband still talks about how good that was. Phenomenal.

I have one critique and it’s about the chocolate dessert and that you should consider splitting it into two desserts because it’s a little “one note”. They are both delicious on their own but together it’s too much. The torte with an orange sorbet would slam. Just a suggestion:) but we love this place and will always come back.

Very accommodating to my gluten free needs. No kids menu but if your kids are adventurous still bring them! Great service and wonderful staff.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Kim Heddlesten

Without exaggeration, the worst service I've ever received. Uncomfortable even. The food IS good, drinks are good, atmosphere gives boutique seafarer vibes,( note though that if you don't like to feel boxed in, the back left area is very closed off with a wall) But none of this matters because the staff acts like they would rather be anywhere else and would rather you leave, too. If you don't mind an indifferent and unattentive service by the whole staff.. go, but the owners should really look into this.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

Stacey Mohair

My husband and I just moved here and I can say that they have the best smash burger in town with amazing truffle fries. The chef we met was named Nick and he is an excellent chef who has been on the show Chopped and won!. You can tell by talking to him that he really loves delicious food. Check this place out, the ambience is also great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

eric jones

The chi late was fabulous, the best in all the land! Something unique would be the duck fat doughnuts, also delicious. The eggs Benedict had a very creative presentation but the taste was the show stopper. What a great experience! Well done.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Emma Grossman

I had the pleasure of dining at Dram Yard, and from start to finish, the experience was absolutely delightful. The moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine warmth—the hostess, our waitress, and even the bar staff all went out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. It’s rare to find a place where every interaction feels so personal and kind.

The atmosphere was equally inviting: stylish yet cozy, with a great energy that felt both lively and relaxed. It set the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal.

Our server, Amanda (I believe), took the time to explain the menu format, which was incredibly helpful as it was our first visit!

We were impressed with how efficient and timely the service was. Our food came out at a perfect pace—never rushed, never delayed. The menu was a standout on its own, offering a diverse range of creative, thoughtful dishes that made it genuinely hard to choose (in the best way).

Now for the stars of the show: the Brussels sprouts were phenomenal—easily the best I’ve ever had. Crispy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, they’re the kind of dish you think about days later. And for dessert, the butternut squash cheesecake was nothing short of genius. The combination of textures and flavors made each bite feel like a discovery—comforting, unexpected, and beautifully executed.

Dram Yard is a gem. It’s clear that the team cares deeply about both the food and the experience, and it shows in every detail. I can’t wait to come back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Susan Nelson-Crowley

Best breakfast sandwich ever!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Destiny Savage

Absolutely the best biscuits I’ve ever had. Will be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Stephanie Justice

Great for date night....its a small restaurant so make sure to make reservations...the waitress was very nice and helpful with picking out the best cocktails and menu items she enjoyed the most...we started with oysters, salad, and the tuna..for our meals we enjoyed the carbonara and shrimp & grits..everything was delicious...definitely a place I will be coming back to...soon

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Celleste

Had a dinner reservation for Saturday - our group walked all the way there from our hotel just to be told they were closing due to a storm three minutes before our reservation time. All of downtown was open, so this seemed a bit odd. Thankfully we found a place to eat on a very busy Saturday evening!

Jen Prough

Reservation canceled without our knowledge or notification. Weather was cited as the reason, however every other restaurant downtown Wilmington was operating. Luckily able to get in somewhere else on a busy 4th of July weekend.

Caryn McCarthy

We had the Spaghetti Carbonana which was very light for a carbonara and delicious, the Wagyu which we didn't get a picture of cause we devoured it too quickly. Only tip for that one is if you don't like garlic that much, keep an eye out for larger pieces in the demi. I like garlic so I was perfectly happy with that. We also had the duck breast. For the two entrees, especially the duck breast, the sauces were soooo good and helped the protein sing and the sauce + garnishes were fantastic with the meat. We finished with a cherry cheesecake and the rice pudding. The cherry cheesecake I would absolutely get again. The rice pudding is more of an acquired taste and fascinating, but there were some more solid clumps of rice in it so it’s a maybe on ordering it again for me.

I think we ended up ordering three VICTORIA’S TRIP TO ITALY cocktails. So yummy, so refreshing.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Krista Kisler

We made reservations at this restaurant while hosting family from out of town, as I had enjoyed a previous visit and wanted to share the experience. Unfortunately, this visit didn’t live up to expectations.

Service was lacking—our server was not very attentive, and we noticed our food sitting in the kitchen window while several waitstaff walked by without delivering it. We had agreed to have the food brought out as it was ready, but the delay between dishes was excessive. Our meals arrived about 15 minutes apart, which made it difficult to enjoy a meal together.

The highlight of our visit was the duck fat donuts—they were absolutely incredible and easily the best item we had. However, the rest of the meal fell short. The biscuit under the eggs Benedict and the sausage and gravy dish was soggy and mushy. Portion sizes were noticeably smaller than on my previous visit; I literally received five small breakfast potatoes with my dish, which felt underwhelming given the price point.

Overall, while the food had some high points, the inconsistent service, delayed timing, and diminished value made this visit disappointing. I hope to see improvements if I choose to return in the future.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

block chainge

Great for apps and drinks! Gazebo bar rules.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Cathy Lindquist

Best food in Wilmington hands down. Props to the chefs for a great meal every time and we are very picky. Delicious.. thank you

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Emily

Dram Yard offers the kind of experience that instantly transports you — it feels like a mini vacation, even if you’re just popping in for brunch. The interior strikes a perfect balance of charm and sophistication: small, curated design touches give it personality, like a bar crafted from an old post office box, while gold accents and natural tones and fibers create a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the chef. The hostess then seated us and later returned with drinks: a classic coffee and a Tiki Latte. While the regular coffee was smooth and satisfying, the Tiki Latte, though creative, could have used a bolder coffee flavor to match its fun presentation.

We started with the O.G. Breakfast, subbing avocado for bacon — a simple, wholesome dish with perfectly cooked eggs. The Avocado Toast was a standout, especially with the addition of a poached egg. The unexpected pairing of marmalade and chile crunch created a sweet, spicy, and savory bite we didn’t know we needed — absolutely delicious!

We also tried the Brunch Wrap Supreme, which, while still good, was our least favorite of the day. A punchier element, like a chipotle cream sauce, could take it to the next level.

Overall, Dram Yard delivers a delightful dining experience with thoughtful dishes and an atmosphere that feels like an escape. We’ll be returning!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

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