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Belville, NC

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Cape Fear

4.4 (297 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

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Cape Fear Photos

Business Info

CAPE FEAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Cape Fear

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Grilled shrimp
Lynne A.

Came yesterday for lunch around 11:30. I opted to sit outside since it was a nice day. Tyler was being trained by another waitress. He was super friendly and accommodating. Had grilled shrimp which was overcooked but still ok to eat. Fries and spinach great as always. They checked on me often. Ice tea was good as well. Spoke with Daniel about having our car club meetings/lunch here as well. Tyler definitely gets 5 stars.

Tina L.

My partner and I shared a nice New Years meal here. First off, I want to point out that the service was great, and the restaurant has a lovely and fun atmosphere. However, I think the food was a bit underwhelming. I got the saltimbocca while my partner got the broiled seafood platter, and we shared crab legs. The crab legs were pretty good.. I think crab legs are overpriced in general, but I was craving them for a while, and the price here was fair. I wish there was some way to keep the meat hot throughout xD I actually loved everything about the saltimbocca except the fish. lol. It was pretty overcooked, and I honestly forgot it had prosciutto until I looked at other reviews post meal. I think the broiled seafood platter had potential. The scallops were cooked perfectly, but the other seafood was lacking a bit of flavor. We also agreed that the asparagus was undercooked. I think the best prepared part of our meal was actually the hush puppies. Was just passing through Wilmington, so probably won't get a chance to come back. However, the hush puppies were so well fried, I wish we had ordered some fried seafood instead.

Cape Fear Shrimp and Grits
Robert J.

Had an awesome dinner with friends while visiting Leland. It was on a Friday night around 7 PM and the wait was about 30 minutes. The restaurant is very clean and cozy. There was ample parking and the ambiance was of a higher end restaurant. The service was good. Food came out quickly. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. She kept water glasses full and checked on us frequently. She made recommendations and seemed knowledgeable about the menu. The food was absolutely delicious. While they have a small beer menu, the selections are good. We ordered some calamari with marinara sauce. The sauce was one of the best I have had and had a sweetness to it. We also ordered hush puppies. They were very hot and crispy outside with a tender and tasty inside. For dinner I had the Lemon Pepper Scallops. They were perfectly cooked with just a slight blackened seasoning and a lemon butter sauce. The risotto cakes were good but not as good as the creamy risotto my wife had. My wife and I also split the Pot au Chocolat which was very tasty but thick and rich. It could have been split among all four of us as a bite or two was all that was needed. A side note.. the waitress mentioned their shrimp and grits were rated top 5 in NC. Our friend tried them and was not disappointed. He said they were the best he has had.

Menu cover
Jeremy T.

I visited this small chain in NC during a recent work trip. Their main menu has a lot of good options. They also have a seasonal menu with food and drink choices. During my visit, they had 3 fresh catches: salmon, mahi and swordfish. I ended up ordering the grilled swordfish with asparagus and green beans. It wasn't exactly cheap. For starters, they give you French bread at the beginning, which is a small section of a loaf. Their loaf has a much smaller diameter than French bread served in seafood restaurants back in Louisiana or Texas, for reference. The rest of our table ordered the fried dishes and a grilled Mahi. Everyone pretty much cleaned their plates so it seems everyone enjoyed their food. I didn't notice gumbo on the soup menu, but then again, NC isn't exactly the south. Their dessert menu, which was tempting, had 2 choices for chocolate lovers. My clients say they have several locations in NC, 3 of which are in the Wilmington area.

I have been a frequent customer here for several years. I live very close in Waterford. The service and quality has been going down for the past 4 to 5 months and today it has caused me to write a review. I went in for lunch and sat at the bar. There were only 2 customers at the bar when I sat down at 12:05. The bartender, Shayna was great as always. She is very quick to get your order and very friendly. She put my order in within a couple of minutes, Shrimp Tacos and a cup of soup. The soup came out within minutes. A few other customers came in as I was waiting and everything seemed good. I waited and waited and waited for my order as other people started receiving their food, people who came in 10 minutes after me.... Shayna went back to check on my order twice and was very polite and went out of her way to try and make it right. She said it would be here soon. I finally told her to cancel it as I had to go. She was kind enough to not charge me for the soup I ate. As I was walking away they came out with my order in a to go container. I don't know what's changed up there but someone needs to be aware and make some changes so we can start enjoying it again.

Classic Caesar

I've tried this place three times now and I'm still not impressed with the food. The salad was heavy on the dressing. The "comeback" sauce on the sandwich was weird and didn't actually come on the sandwich or on the plate, I had to ask for it. The fries had some seasoning on it. The drink was amazingggg. I would go back for drinks and desert but entree wise I've given up.

Apple cider margarita

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Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the fresh, flavorful seafood, friendly, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere.

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3 months ago

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2 days ago

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5 days ago

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3 months ago

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6 days ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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27 days ago

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4 months ago

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7 months ago

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3 months ago

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1 month ago

This place has the best food, shrimp and grits and crab cakes, along with the crab leg special on wednesdays

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3 months ago

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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4 months ago

We love this place! Just moved to the area and love the food and attentive service. Shayna the bartender is fast and friendly!!

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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5 months ago

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1 year ago

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

Always great food and service! Love the shrimp and grits! Our go-to restaurant in Leland.

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

Their tacos were the best ive had in a long time. Everybody was friendly and made feel welcomed. Establishment is clean.

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7 months ago

I came in and was informed they let go of my favorite waitress! Laura was amazing!! So unfortunate for you all.

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

Great meal on a weekday night, terrific midweek specials for $80.00 for a two for one meal with wine one appetizer, entrees & dessert!?

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2 years ago

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Page 1 of 8

Ask the Community - Cape Fear

Do we need a reservation for the bar?

Folks seemed to just walk in and go right to the bar. Seems to get crowded. Just like most places, depends on time of day.

Seating by reservation only?

Seating by reservation is what's best. If it's pretty packed you have to wait a while to be seated. The first time I went I had to wait about 30 minutes due to the people who had reservations.

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4.7(10 reviews)
1.1 mi

2nd Round: Plump, juicy and wet BBQ Chicken Wings + Seafood Mac & Cheese for lunch!  I could eat a…read moreplatter of that Mac & Cheese...soooo good. FOOD: Chicken wings were very large, served up steaming hot, fried to a light-skinned crunch and smothered with some savory / sweet BBQ sauce. With just the right amount of heat, then dipped into the cup of ranch dressing...oh my. Fries were as to be expected with a light dusting of salt and minimal seasoning. Crinkle-cut aren't my top choice for fries and a little extra dusting of some southern seasoning would have added some more "bang" but still good. The highlight today was that Seafood Mac & Cheese with extra creamy cheese blended in with fresh backfin and claw crabmeat and medium-sized shrimp...seasoned and grilled wonderfully. I enjoyed this side very much! SCORE: 4.7 STARS!! SERVICE: Travis and Co. were on their A-Game today with soggy weather and light drizzle in the air. The food was served up hot, fast and with smiles all around. Well done again today. Consistently good service each time I've visited. SCORE: 5 STARS!! OVERALL SCORE: On Thyme brings that southern comfort food that you know you'll enjoy and come back next time for more. Great food, fryers were working today and a homerun delivered. 4.85 STARS!!

We had the Philly rolls omg so good…read more We also had a hot chicken sandwich. It was definitely on point for the heat! We sat outside and listened to their music

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On Thyme Restaurant  - OMG Fish Sandwich and fries

OMG Fish Sandwich and fries

On Thyme Restaurant  - On Thyme Catering

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Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - Blackened salmon

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar

3.8(148 reviews)
1.9 mi
•$$

Stopped into Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar while in Wilmington and this ended up being a really fun,…read morecasual seafood stop. The biggest surprise for me was the clam chowder. I've had plenty of chowder over the years, especially traveling through New England, and this was honestly one of the better bowls I've had outside of Boston. Creamy, rich and full of flavor without just tasting heavy. I'd come back for the chowder alone. Monday also means $0.75 steamed oysters, which is pretty hard to pass up. Fair warning: they come out steamed but you're doing some of the shucking yourself. It turned dinner into a little bit of work, but at 75 cents an oyster, I wasn't complaining. They were absolutely worth the effort. We also grabbed the mahi sticks to snack on. Crispy on the outside, flaky fish inside, and really good with a squeeze of lemon and the dipping sauce. Overall, this is exactly the kind of place I like finding while traveling: casual, local, good seafood and a deal that makes you want to order another round. Definitely put the Monday oyster special on your radar.

We had a really good experience at Shuckin' Shack overall. Our server was friendly, attentive, and…read moredid a great job taking care of our table. The drinks were good, and the food was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh, and it's easy to see why this place is so popular. The only negatives were fairly minor. Due to the current cyclospora outbreak, they weren't serving coleslaw, which is completely understandable. However, every entrée in our party would normally have come with slaw, and we weren't offered a substitute or any sort of discount for the missing side. One person in our group also ordered a side of sausage and potatoes that never made it to the table. I also understand that fresh seafood prices can fluctuate, so market pricing makes sense. That said, for such a casual restaurant, I was surprised by how many items were marked as market price. It would be nice if there were a board or printed list showing the current prices so guests know what to expect before ordering. Despite those issues, the service and food were excellent, and we'd definitely come back. Solid 4 out of 5 stars.

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Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar
Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - Hush puppies, fried hard

Hush puppies, fried hard

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Shirley's Diner - The soda selection

Shirley's Diner

4.2(54 reviews)
1.9 mi
•$

Shirley's makes the best Carolina style seafood dishes I have ever tasted. Their fried oysters are…read moreperfect, crispy and not greasy at all. Their flounder is delicious and, unlike in many other restaurants, I have never found a bone in one of their fillets. The hushpuppies at Shirley's are delicious, as is their fried shrimp. My kids love the bellybuster combo cheeseburger meals. The family that owns this restaurant treats their customers like family. The staff is friendly, efficient, and patient with diners who have special requests for the way in which they want their food prepared. I recommend Shirley's to anyone who likes top quality food served in a casual family setting.

A Legend, in Leland, a town located right where the Cape Fear river meets the sea. Shirley's is a…read moretiny local spot in a strip mall, but they know local seafood really well. Prices are extremely reasonable, and the service is timely, friendly, and attentive. But let's get to the food. Fried Oysters are plump, juicy, with a classical crust of seasoned cornmeal perfectly fried to a turn. Excellent as a platter, or available as a po' boy style sandwich. They often feature fresh Carolina fish in season, flounder, catfish, and Spots, which are small but delicious white-flesh fish that are native to the Carolinas, and near impossible to find elesewhere. Their platters come with fresh classic Carolina Cole-slaw and perfectly fried hush puppies. Flounder fillets thick and perfectly tender. Chef knows his business, everything I've ever ordered here has always been first-class, coming here for years now. Thank you for an excellent experience, each and every time. My friends tell me their pork chops are very, very good too, down home country flavor. But I dream about their fresh seafood.

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Shirley's Diner
Shirley's Diner
Shirley's Diner

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Cape Fear - seafood - Updated October 2026

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