The 20 Best Restaurants in Wilmington, North Carolina

When people think of dining out in North Carolina, the major cities of Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville may be first to come to mind. After all, Asheville—with standout restaurants like Curate, Rhubarb, and Benne on Eagle—was named Yelp’s No. 1 Foodie Destination in both 2021 and 2022. But the culinary talent in the Tar Heel State extends far beyond these metropolitan hubs. It has permeated smaller towns along the Atlantic coast, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, and everywhere in between.

If your vacations largely revolve around eating great food (and they absolutely should), one of the most exciting new places to head is Wilmington. This historic Port City and its neighboring island communities are wedged between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, meaning there are gorgeous views of the water everywhere you turn. And since nothing goes better with a great view than a great meal, the city has restaurants of all shapes and sizes that are ready to welcome you in for an unforgettable experience. From fresh seafood to Southern staples to flavors from around the world, these are (in no particular order) the 20 best restaurants in Wilmington.

Seabird

After years working in some of the South’s most well-known kitchens and later branching out on their own, husband-and-wife duo Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton have struck gold with their downtown Wilmington spot Seabird. The restaurant’s two main focuses: sustainable seafood and seasonality come together in dishes like Fried Smoked North Carolina Flounder served with crab gumbo, grits, and baby bok choy and Eastern Cioppino, which makes use of seafood that’s native to the eastern seaboard. For a big night out, order the Seasonal Seafood Tower and marvel at the chilled glory.

seabirdnc.com; 1 S. Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Indochine

There’s eating, and then there’s dining. The incredible ambiance at Indochine takes your meal past the point of tasty nourishment and into the realm of memorable experiences. Wander through the expansive patios and dining rooms of this longtime favorite spot, and you’ll be instantly transported to Southeast Asia. Tropical plants, rickshaws, thatched roof dining huts, and koi pond start the convincing, but the authentic Thai and Vietnamese dishes seal the deal. The expansive menu includes everything from banh mi and pho to Thai curries and chicken satay.

indochinewilmington.com; 7 Wayne Drive Market Street at Forest Hills, Wilmington, NC 28403

CheeseSmith

A grilled cheese sandwich is a simple endeavor but at this modern lunch spot in Wilmington’s up-and-coming and ultra-trendy Cargo District, the after-school classic is taken to the next level. Sure, you can a standard ooey gooey sandwich stuffed with American cheese, but you can also get one filled with Havarti, pulled buffalo chicken, carrot and celery slaw, and buttermilk ranch (Buffalo Baby) or accented with spicy, fermented kimchi (Kimcheese).

cheesesmithco.com; 624 S 17th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

PinPoint

Since opening in the heart of downtown Wilmington in 2015, PinPoint has remained at the top of everyone’s list of best places to eat in the city. Though executive chef Dean Neff left to take on new adventures in 2019, the restaurant has continued its standard of excellence for outstanding dishes that utilize local and seasonal ingredients. Now under the careful hand of executive chef Cameron Garvey, the menu (that changes nightly) includes dishes like Roasted Winter Squash Curry and Duck Confit Cassoulet.

pinpointrestaurant.com; 114 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Britt's Donuts

OK this isn't technically a restaurant, but it is one of the best places to eat in Wilmington –– or more specifically, Carolina Beach. Opened since 1939, this boardwalk shop is known for its homemade glazed donuts. There's only one thing on the menu, so line up with the rest of the smart folks in town to put in your count, then prepare to be amazed by the simple perfection of these melt-in-your-mouth treats. Every donut is made to order, so you won't have to worry if these fried pillows of dough are hot and ready.

brittsdonutshop.com; 13 Boardwalk, Carolina Beach NC

The Southerly

A warm, buttery biscuit may be the ultimate Southern delicacy; and The Southerly in Carolina Beach may have perfected the art. Get your house-made buttermilk biscuits split open and stuffed with everything from country ham and cheddar cheese to fried catfish. The other thing this place does well is pie. The Crack Pie, Grandma’s Apple, and Southern Pecan are instant classics anyone could love, but true North Carolinians know the real magic is in the Cherry Cheerwine Lattice Pie.

thesoutherlync.com; 1206 N. Lake Park Blvd, Unit D, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria

The best word to describe acclaimed chef Vivian Howard’s big-hearted restaurant in Wilmington’s South Front neighborhood is fun. From the giant mural of a Parmesan cheese being grated to the Southern Fried Chicken Parm appetizer that’s topped with hot honey, Stracciatella, and pickled peppers nothing at Benny’s Big Time is taken too seriously, minus the deliciousness of the food. This is kind of place locals visit on a weekly basis for all the nostalgia of takeout pizza night but with a chef’s spin.

vivianhoward.com/bennysbigtime; 206 Greenfield St., Wilmington, NC 28401

The Basics

The concept behind this all-day café in downtown’s Cotton Exchange complex is to make good, familiar food great with tiny tweaks and culinary twists. The breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menus at this cozy brick-walled space are centered around Southern comfort dishes like fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, but pay extra attention to the daily specials that tend to get a little more creative while keeping their roots.

thebasicsilm.com; 319 N Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401

Drift Coffee & Kitchen

Mint-green subway tile, pendant lighting, hanging baskets, and light wood tables create a cool, surfer town environment inside Drift’s six outposts that are sprinkled throughout the city and its beaches. You can certainly stop in for a cup of coffee, but several of the locations also offer a generous brunch and lunch menu with fresh bites to fuel your day. Kick off your morning with chia pudding or a breakfast burrito, or stop by later for a harissa grain bowl or smash burger.

driftcoffee.kitchen; multiple locations

Ceviche’s

Chef-owner Hunter Tiblier channels the flavors of his childhood in Panama at Ceviche’s, located just a few miles from the sandy shoreline of Wrightsville Beach. Find the blue-and-yellow house (there’s a mural of a toucan on one side, so it’s hard to miss), and begin the struggle of deciding what to order. Every meal must start with ceviche (even those averse to seafood can try the fresh, citrusy salad with coconut in lieu of fish or shrimp). From there, choose between entrees like Ropa Vieja, braised flank steak in a peppery tomato broth over coconut rice, and Corvina a la Plancha with chili-lime-ginger butter. A Panama Painkiller cocktail or margarita rimmed with salt straight from Wrightsville Beach is the perfect pairing.

bceviche.com; 7210 Wrightsville Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403

Catch

Helmed by James Beard semifinalist and Top Chef competitor Keith Rhodes, Catch has been a favorite occasion destination in Wilmington since 2006. Like many of its compatriots, Catch’s point of view centers around sustainability, seasonality, and locality. Southern influence is apparent, but so are flavors from around the world. For example, dishes like Fried Seafood Platter with jerk collards and Crispy Skin Salmon Filet with drunken noodles and miso honey glaze coexist beautifully on the menu.

catchwilmington.com; 6623 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405

Manna

The menu changes daily at this white-tablecloth spot downtown, so a return visit is a must. Offering creative New American cuisine, plus a large wine list and plenty of craft cocktails, this is a date-night spot that bars no expense to create a memorable dining experience. At Manna, the dish names are as creative as the cuisine. For example, the Swine Spectator features hickory-smoked North Carolina pork with summer succotash, chow chow, and jus. The Honeydew List includes summer melons, burrata, Tulsi Italian speck, and black pepper honey.

mannaavenue.com; 123 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Casey’s Buffet

If you’re in the mood for good, no-nonsense food, Casey’s is your spot. Since 2005, this all-you-can-eat restaurant has turned out some of the best country cooking you’ll find in the South. Soul food, barbecue—if it’s Southern they’ve got it. Dishes like fried chicken, catfish, barbecue pork, and their famous pig feet are always on the buffet. Look out for daily specials like chicken gizzards and livers, meatloaf, and hot wings, that get added to the mix.

caseysbuffet.com; 5559 Oleander Dr., Wilmington, NC 28403

The Green House Restaurant

The name of this plant-based restaurant is quite apt considering its property also is home to a greenhouse that contains 18 Tower Gardens growing more than 1,000 plants. The fresh-grown microgreens, lettuces, and herbs make their way onto the menu, where produce is the star, but you never feel like you’re missing out on meat. Yes, there are veggie-forward appetizers like seared turnips with arugula pine nut pesto, radish, minto, and shishitos. But there are also heartier dishes like Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Eggplant Agebitashi served over rice in a dashi-tamari broth.

thegreenrestaurant.com; 1427 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403

Nippy’s Soul Food Restaurant

The recipes used at Nippy’s are generations old and generously shared with hungry diners by brother-sister duo William and Marsha Bordeaux. The cinderblock building this hidden gem is housed in is nothing to look at, but the crab rice, turkey wings, and ox tails served inside sure are. Whatever you add to your plate, just be sure to save room for an order of banana pudding.

nippyssoulfood.square.site; 2206 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC 28401

Caprice Bistro

A love story is at the helm of this beloved French restaurant. Owners Thierry and Patricia met in Cannes in 1975, opened their first restaurant together in New York City a little over 10 years later, and eventually made their way South to North Carolina. Open since 2001, their latest endeavor, the intimate, dark-wooded Caprice Bistro shows off Thierry’s culinary chops and Patricia’s gift for hospitality. Share an order of Escargots Petite Gris and Beef Bourguinon with your special someone and you’ll feel instantly whisked away (at least for the evening) to the City of Love.

capricebistro.com; 10 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Savorez

Expertly fusing Latin and Southern flavors, the Sunday brunch at Savorez is one of the hottest tickets in town. Folks pack in for hearty, familiar options like biscuits and gravy and French toast, only with a south of the border flair. This means the biscuits and gravy re made with chorizo gravy and served with salsa fresca and avocado and the French toast is reimagined as fried hunks of Cuban bread with cinnamon syrup, strawberries, and whipped cream. The lunch and dinner menus offer similar creative takes on classic Latin cuisine.

savorez.com; 402 Chestnut Street, Wilmington, NC

Olivero

New kind on the block, Olivero has been making waves since it opened in fall of 2023. Inside the renovated grocery store, James Beard-nominated chef Sunny Gerhart explores his Spanish-Italian roots that eventually landed his family in New Orleans. With plates like lasagna with octopus Bolognese, chorizo, and whipped ricotta and spaghetti with charred romesco, zucchini, burrata, and basil, Olivero is already well on its way to accomplishing its goal of becoming the city’s “new favorite pasta spot.” Look for Spanish and Mediterranean influences in starters like croquetas with Serrano ham and smoked eggplant with piquillo pepper and anchovy.

oliveroilm.com; 522 S 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Tarantelli’s Ristorante Italiano

This family-owned restaurant was most recently awarded the title of Best Authentic Italian Food in Wilmington by Wilmington Magazine in 2023, but has won the honor many times over. Inside the warm downtown spot, the pasta is always homemade, the meatballs are prepared using a secret family recipe, and there’s always more wine to pour. For a true spectacle, order the Spaghetti al Formaggio Parmigiana, it’s made with flamed whisky and served tableside for two from an authentic Italian cheese wheel.

tarantellis.com; 102 South Second Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Fork ‘N’ Cork

One of the earliest discoveries to be featured on Guy Fieri's “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”, Fork ‘N’ Cork has built a legacy around creative and delicious bar food. Look for appetizers like Wellington Bites, Toasted Crab Bread, and deep-fried Duck Wings served with sauces that run the gamut from hot honey garlic to habanero orange marmalade. The burgers here are stacked high, the drinks are ice-cold, and the vibes are always top-notch.

theforkncork; 122 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401

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