50 Best Seafood Restaurants in Wilmington

“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)“

“We were on vacation and came across Rx when searching for clean, natural food, and I’m so glad I found them! We never go out and always cook at home, but we had peace of mind eating there. We had fried shrimp, potato salad, slaw, fries, salad and a cheeseburger and it’s the best we’ve had in a restaurant! Definitely the best food if you’re looking for clean ingredients, and our server was awesome! We will be back again!“

“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.“

“It was PERFECT ! even the wine paired perfectly with the flavors of the meals. I just visited this place yesterday and I can’t wait to go Back!“

“Incredible food, very flavorful and perfect. oysters on half shell the best I had ever eaten. 10 out of 10 on service and experience. It was worth it!!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Our go to for date nights! We went today for Mother’s Day brunch and it was amazing as well!!!“

“Maybe the best lunch I’ve ever experienced. The flavors of the BLT Arepas Tapas were really unforgettable. I’ll be back with guest!“

“I don’t usually leave reviews but they totally deserve one! We left the movies and my parents said “where are we having lunch?”. I said “right here! I looked at their menu during the movie”. Coquina did NOT disappoint. The “co’jito” and “café con leche” cocktails were perfection. The conch fritters were fantastic. In fact, we were shocked how many fritters come with the order and the size of them. Most restaurants we’ve been to that offered conch fritters come with (maybe) five fritters and always far smaller in size. And the actual amount of conch and size of the pieces: amazing. It was so nice to actually taste conch and not just breading/filler! And then the Cuban sandwich….. OMG….. My father and I always order a Cuban sandwich and judge a restaurant based on it if it’s on their menu. We both agreed that this was probably the best Cuban sandwich we’ve ever had! And we’ve tried them from Key West up to New England. The mayo balances out the mustard…. The melted Swiss cheese…. BUT the winner: the mojo-marinated SMOKED pork. Once you get through the creamy, savory, and tang, you get the smoke flavor and it’s just the perfect marriage of flavors. I know it’s supposed to be a fish-focused place, but do yourself a favor and get the Cuban sandwich!!“

“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!!“

“I just might be addicted. I had the Brussels side salad and mahi-mahi with garlic potatoes. I honestly didn’t need anything after the Brussels and bread. That salad is perfection. I’ll be placing to-gos of just that in the future. The fish and potatoes were perfection. Leave the chimichurro (green) sauce alone. Lemon butter with capers, for the easy win. Matt, our server, was attentive and so helpful. We walked right in and got seated. I’m so happy I took my dad here for Father’s Day!“

“Amazing drinks, food & service 💕“

“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!“

“Unmatched uniquely gorgeous Riverside view & charm together with extremely delicious fresh chef seafood & other entrées after a cup of she-crab soup! This is one of my most favorite restaurants Ever- considering the entire dining experience of the atmosphere, the food and the wait staff! Don’t allow a few negative reviews influences too quickly you when you read the next many hundreds of glowing reviews (many accompanied by photos of obviously extremely delicious chef inspired seafood dishes, and other non-seafood entrées! I lived at nearby Wrightsville Beach & had my office at the State Port in Wilmington for two years. Although there are many other great seafood & other type restaurants in the Wilmington Wrightsville beach area that I love, the ‘Pilot House’ Restaurant was, & still is, at the very top of my list favorite restaurant list in the U.S.! The unbeatable atmosphere of sitting out in the Cape fear River together with the fresh and delicious ‘She-Crab soup’, unique selection of other very fresh fish entrées really made my day! Also every client that I entertain there loved the unbeatable, unique atmosphere and foods that described! I love both lunch, with occasional ships passing by and dinner, particularly with the lights on the river at night!“

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

“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!“

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

“Excellent Excellent flavors! Never disappoints“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“This is literally my new favorite place. The food was so fresh and delicious, Im assuming the owners, were so kind and this restaurant felt so homey I will definitely be returning. 10/10 recommend checking them out and supporting a local restaurant“

“Excellent LARGE portions of fried scallops, clam strips, french fries, clam chowder, coleslaw, and complimentary hush puppies! I ate at least 4 scallops and several strips before I'd put my fork down to take this 🤭

Young man who waited on us was so friendly, personable, and just the right amount attentive ⭐️ 6 stars!

I feel like it's a little dramatic here, but my bf mentioned a bit more lighting, I was fine with it. Table cloths had some pulls.. just need a trimming ✂️ but honestly, I know it's My ocd.

We finally know the spot to take our friends and family 🐠 and ourselves! Thank you 🙏 God Bless“

“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“

“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!“

“I LOVE RUTH’S! Growing up in the south, I have high expectations for southern cuisine. The flounder/shrimp are the best! The staff are always friendly, food is delicious, prices are great and fast! Check them out!“

“Beautiful views inside and outside seating. Very welcoming upon entry. We had the grouper bites for an appetizer, and fish tacos and their signature burger. All was very good even the sides we had, hush puppies were very tasty. Only reason I rated a 4 star was for a little more effort on the table cleanliness. It was a little sticky when we sat down. Did not mention to server because it was very small issue compared to all the pros within the establishment. However the place was not busy at all and for the 3 people serving, I feel more attention to the cleanliness of their tables could be taken better care of. All in all a great place to eat. Expect a $70 bill for 2 people for lunch with no alcohol. I would definitely come back.“

“I just ate the best crab cake sandwich I have ever had, my own included. Tons of lump crab meat, no shell, with a crisp coating. Highly recommend and totally worth the price.“

“Such a great affordable selection of fresh seafood! The staff is always great and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!“

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

“my husband and I are setup at the riverfront holiday market and just had the wings and I had the fried porkchop sandwich at the Riverfront holiday market and they both are wonderful. my husband said the wings are seasoned so well and cooked perfectly he didnt need dipping sauce. the porkchop sandwich is fried perfectly and is large. next time you see them somewhere, you should stop in and get you some of their great food“

“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.“

“The pasta was excellent, and the atmosphere was too! My partner and I went here for dinner on a recent trip to Wilmington from Western NC and it did not disappoint. The meat mixture in the bolognaise was perfectly tender, and the sauce was a great balance of parmesan and fresh tomato flavors. The richly colored, intimate interior of the restaurant was a nice touch that made our meal special. I'd definitely recommend a stop in for a meal while visiting (and would be there often if I was a local)!“

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

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

“I’ve decided to come out & try a Different Mexican Restaurant. I’ve eaten here on Saturday, 4/4 for Lunch. I was skeptical about coming here because of the Lower Google Rating here. But, I ended up trying this Place out for myself. I’ve sat at the Outdoor Dining Area, which I absolutely enjoyed. The Customer Service was good, & the Restaurant has a good bit of space. I’ve felt so relaxed while sitting in their Outdoor Dining Area. I really loved sitting outside. Also, the Food was excellent! My Tacos were great, & the Meats were flavorful & not overcooked. The Rice & Beans were great! Also, their Agua Frescas were excellent, & I definitely loved their Cucumber-Lime Agua Fresca, which is rare to find around most Mexican Restaurants. Mi Rey definitely didn’t disappoint, & I’ve had a great experience. I will definitely return. I think that I’ve found me a New Mexican Spot here in Wilmington. I’d highly recommend this Restaurant. 👍🇲🇽💯“

“Best Chinese takeout in Wilmington! Always delicious and great service ☺️ my favorite is the garlic chicken (extra spicy!), the crab Rangoon, and the DELICIOUS egg rolls!!!!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great service and food!“

“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...“

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

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

“Excellent food, great service!!!!“