50 Best Seafood Restaurants in Wilmington

“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)“

“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)“

“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.“

“First time visit for brunch. All of our dishes were so delicious. I had the BEST shrimp and grits I’ve ever had! Highly recommend“

“Tonight was our first time while visiting family in Wilmington. What an absolutely incredible experience! Everyone was so kind and our server was so friendly and also very knowledgeable about the menu. Our food was absolutely incredible! Can’t wait to go back on our next visit!“

“Food was amazing!!! We had Brussel sprouts, grilled oysters, lamb lollipops, and crab stuffed salmon and it was all delicious. The seating and views are amazing as well. Highly recommend“

“Today was the first time visiting Poki. I have never been to an establishment with these protein options. Highly recommend this place. The food and service was excellent.“

“Bills prepared lobster rolls and NE clam chowder for my book club of 15. He had it ready and packed in boxes for an easy pick up. Food was remarkable and it was a pleasure working with him. Definitely a 5 star experience. I highly recommend this Eastwood restaurant/food.“

“I can’t say enough about how amazing On Thyme Restaurant is! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm smiles and a, welcoming atmosphere. The menu is packed with delicious options that cater to all tastes, but the is an absolute must-try! Have you tried the PHILLY EGG ROLLS?? The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. It’s clear that the team of chefs put their heart and soul into every dish. The staff is attentive, and eager to ensure you have the best dining experience. I selected On Thyme for my work Christmas Party and the staff fell in LOVE with everything. On Thyme delivers every time!! If you haven’t been yet, stop by and check it out—you won’t be disappointed!“

“First time in tonight. Had the Oysters Rockefeller, the black drum ceviche, and the fried flounder! All were incredible! We also ordered a few of the Bloody Mary oyster shooters and they were as delicious as they were aesthetic! Our server was great though I forgot to get her name, as was the manager who stopped in to check on us!“

“I've eaten at The MLRC three times and every experience was the same. There were abundant amounts of lobster, the rolls were prepared exactly as ordered, helpful staff, and the space was clean. Every time. Is it pricey? Sure; it's lobster and it's delicious. I think it's a good value and I will definitely be back.“

“Too many positives to mention. Friendly and attentive staff, high quality and delicious food and a great atmosphere“

“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.“

“Molly Pitchers is a family favorite for us! Great food, and always friendly staff!“

“Food is amazing but the restaurant needs some attention. The ladies room smells like a sewer and the floors are very slippery. My dinner came out on a lunch size plate. We had a group of 12. Our waitress was very attentive but the food just not the same. We won't be rushing back.“

“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.“

“Great food and a awesome staff!“

“Coming from a huge foodie this place was top tier. Service was incredible, I complained of being cold so we moved outside and they were very accommodating. Brittany W was our server and she was so sweet and just very great overall.

We had the succotash- crab dip- tuna- cucumber salad- oysters and the beignet for dessert. Wow!“

“I attended Bridge Tender restaurant for this past Thanksgiving with my family and it was Horrible....vegetables not season blend, just should have been traditional Turkey and dressing, not how they had serve it, carrots no taste spinach no taste. I will just stop there. I've been living here for about 5 years, my 2nd visit here at this restaurant I will NOT attend another Thanksgiving meal here. Last the size portion is very small for the price. I stand by and approve this message, I am a Retired Chef Military.“

“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!!“

“Had a mix up with a gift card. They fixed it quick fast and in a hurry. Thanks so much Porter’s neck location!!!!“

“Great food that’s reasonably priced, staff are friendly.“

“We were there June 13-25. Absolutely enjoyed every bite of my meal last night!!!! Server Lila was excellent!! Plan to visit again !!!!“

“They are a small restaurant.with the hush puppies you can make a meal off of. Their fish and other seafood is cooked to perfection when ordered. Most places I have at least one thing on menu I don't care for not this place. Can't go wrong by stopping in on your next time down east.“

“Sitting by the water, watching the boats and draw bridge is the best! Always a favorite for my adult kids as we’ve been going here for years! I like the Islander: Grilled Chicken sandwich with pineapple and bacon. My one daughter loves the blackened Mahi tacos. One thing that is no longer on the menu is their crab dip. They could add a couple more dessert choices as well.“

“Ate dinner at the boathouse on 4-15-23 food was good Logan was our waiter very attentive other staff helped him an assistant manager was greeting people going from table never once did she come to our table or say anything to us there was no excuse for that“

“Excellent location on the inter-coastal.
Sitting at Ballywhoos underneath there are a few home made tables that are just awkward to sit at - the heights are wrong.

Kids toys exist on the side, but are missing pieces. You can’t play tick tack toe.

Food is good, lots of seafood options. Very limited kids menu (ages 4 & 2) its either chicken strips or an $8.50 hotdog.“

“I worked for this place 5 months. The roaches in the back are overwhelming. They leave the door open letting any little creatures inside. The owners tried stealing my pay stubs so I wouldn't see them funneling my leftover money. Everyone that works in the back is great, but they're slaves. They have to work constantly and immigrated illegally. 2 of the servers are also Asian immigrants. So the Asian owner can spy on the American servers. The owner doesn't like Black people so she would try to give the white tables to the Asian servers because apparently " black people don't tip" ...verbatim what they say on the low. My girlfriend is black so since day 1 I've been resentful of the racist undertone. The crabhouse was also stealing money from my leftover paystubs. They thought i wouldnt ask for them and quickly scrambled the paystubs together after 48 hours. They wrote me a check for my stolen/missing money. The seafood is all frozen from Ecuador and they most likely eat their own feces or human feces in a farmed environment. It's a scam at best, for employees, patrons, or even takeout orders. This is garbage carcinogenic fake seafood that just sits for God knows how long in a freezer. The ranch is garbage and spoiled, the owners are cannibalistic slum lords and they confiscate our phones as soon as we walk in the door so the employees cannot show the roaches on the back end. If you enjoy food that destroys your body, and intestinal health by all means indulge. Also if you send the food back they will wash the food in the sink then re boil it to make it look fresh. I had to send an order back and Lena [ the chinese manager, that uses a fake name " Carmen"] will wash it in the sink and re-serve it to you personally. The lady stormed out and said I was disrespectful for serving half eaten food they put back in the sink n boiler pot. I was livid..because she was absolutely valid to feel this way. The harsh truth is this place is garbage food being served like top shelf caviar, brought to you by racist folk who only care about $$$ and your hopeless addiction go their toxic food. The assistant manager is also a drama queen. Her personal life is way too involved in the restaurant. I feel she has a complexity disorder. Always bringing their kids in to work and talking about guests behind their backs. It's completely unprofessional. Everyone deserves respect and dignity. Very sad way to live.. I wish you the best...“

“Excellent day on the deck, ahi tuna and crab cake sandwich were the best. Our waiter Diego was the best!“

“Excellent Excellent flavors! Never disappoints“

“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!“

“Good food, Great service.“

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

“The food was absolutely delicious and portions were quite large. Its a cozy little place and the owners and staff are very kind and gracious. We will be back for sure.“

“Outstanding as always. Pork chop delicious.“

“What an amazing experience, we started with the appetizer platter the hummus was fresh and tasty the falafel was good the eggplant delight was DELICIOUS! The grape leaves were good but I prefer mine warm not cold and there’s is cold but good overall. Our main dish was the special for the day which was a sea bass and it came with the rice and vegetables. The vegetables were shredded and lemony and good the rice was soft and tasted fresh. The fish was good and buttery and flaky it was grilled and cooked perfectly. The deserts were to die for! The kunafe was AMAZING and just like my Tata used to make. The Baklava was fresh and delicious. We left not a crumb on the plate. The Turkish coffee was awesome as well.

Overall food was fresh and delicious and it was like walking into a family members house and having a good meal. The place was clean and lively. The customer service was great. As a fellow small business owner it felt good to support this business. 10/10 everyone should try this place.“

“Love this place. Old school diner. Eggs, pancakes, grits, biscuits, and Lunch & Dinner. The prices are fantastic and the service was outstanding (with a smile) .
The Grits and egg plate was fantastic and the coffee was great. Clean establishment and plenty of parking.“

“delicious and innovative food. always served fresh. 10/10“

“First time my husband and I had ever eaten here and it was delicious and the prices were good. The staff were amazing especially when we accidentally dropped our leftover spaghetti and meatballs. They gave us a brand new one on the house even though they didn't have too and we didn't ask. We will definitely be going back and I recommend this place to anyone.“

“Farm to table meats, seafood and vegetables !! The octopus was amazing !! Great atmosphere !!“

“delicious and innovative food. always served fresh. 10/10“

“Awesome fresh fish, crabs, shrimp..... They have it all!“

“My wife ani recently moved to Wilmington. We have been looking at various places to eat and I saw a write up on Soulfil Twist. Yesterday we decided to locate them and found them at their home location. We stopped and spoke with Leon and found that he and Pat owned the food trailer. Leon told us where they would be serving today.We got there early and were in no way disappointed we have had fried okra all over the south including “family “ I will tell you, her breading, is superb not only for the okra but her shrimp. You want to put Soulful Twist on your list of places to eat in Wilmington. 5 stars definitely!!“

“Delicious food, menu variety, friendly staff, & great location on the River.“

“It's really hard to find good Chinese food around here but I have to say, Ming Yao is very good!I got General Tso's Chicken combination. The egg roll was great, the chicken was cooked perfectly and it came with actual fried rice not yellow rice like most places here. I also got boneless spare ribs, they were very unique. It was actually chunks instead of the tough, fatty pieces most places serve, it was excellent! This will be my go to place for sure!“

“We LOVE coming to Ellipsis! Everybody is so kind and the food is always incredible. We love that the menu is rotating and the service is always 10/10. We’ve had Sam has a bartender/server the last 3x and he’s one of our favorites in Wilmington. Always kind, always caring, and super knowledgeable!“

“Great Mediterranean food !!! Locally owned and operated family restaurant.“

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

“Nick at The bar was amazing and the server was very attentive and helpful. The food was hot and and even better than the expected. I definitely recommend this place for great drinks and awesome food.“

“Excellent food, great service!!!!“