Cast Iron Kitchen

Absolutely wonderful liked everything we are planning on coming by it was so good can't wait to…read morecome back to try the chicken and waffles. The chicken pot pie is huge. Can't wait to try that. Everything just looks so good. The burgers are absolutely huge. Cannot wait to try everything on the menu.

Decided to try Rooster & The Crow during Memorial Day weekend when it was overcrowded and parking…read morewas limited. They wouldn't accommodate a party of 5 or more without everyone being present, which delayed our seating. Once we got to the table, the service was excellent (attentiveness to drink refills and quick delivery of food). The ambiance was family friendly, and the fried chicken was superb. There was even an arcade to entertain us while we waiting for the rest of the party to park. I think R&TC knows what they do well: southern style food for an affordable price and a family friendly atmosphere. In Wilmington if you're looking for a downtown location near the waterfront, you'll be hard pressed to find better.

Rooster Cogburn

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Chicken and waffles

The Basics

4.3(875 reviews)

Tanner .. Piping Plover Pilsner...made here in Wilmington…read moreNC!! Wife had Red Oak Bavarian Amber Lager I ordered the Meatloaf, with asparagus and mashed potato's My wife had her usual chicken sandwich which I've forgotten the name but she did enjoy and the portion was large enough for me to get a few bites lol All was very good and we went be back

We had a larger party, so waited for some time but this was expected on a Saturday. Sat outside,…read moreshaded at high tops. Mixture of food from shrimp and grits to salads to blts. I had a Bloody Mary, well made. Some sodas and beers for all as well. I had the Cobb salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette- good, fresh veggies (great cucumbers). I do wish there was more roasted chicken/protein. Had a deviled egg on it, but flavor was a bit off on that so didn't eat it. Shrimp and grits x4 were good- grits a little thin, but flavor good. Only turn off was the tails being left on. On grits (and pasta) that is a pet peeve for me as you lose some of the shrimp and t makes it difficult to eat. BLT- good, fresh veggies and thick bread. French toast x2 - really good with a great variety of fresh fruit. Service was good.

8/16/24 - Time To Dig In

Coca Cola cake decadent

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Casey's Buffet and BBQ

4.0(379 reviews)

6.7 mi

Of course yet another 5 star review for this amazing place…read more Bonus tonight... monster pork chops. My new favorite is to mix the limas,corn, and mashed potatoes. Good lord. Great service oh yea and cheated with a brownie and ice cream.

1st time visiting this establishment. I ordered a "to-go" plate with pork chop, mac n cheese,…read morecollards and hush puppies. The food was delicious. The hush puppies were too oily. The pork chop and side items were seasoned just right. Other than the hush puppies, the food was delicious. The staff and service were extremely nice and easy to talk to. I do plan to go back! The restaurant reminded me of a good soul food establishment with a lot of good memories on the wall and history!

Chitterlings, pig feet, and fat back

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Rumcow

4.3(304 reviews)

9.4 mi

We were finally able to stop into RUMCOW on Grace Street in Wilmington this weekend!…read more We had a reservation. We were seated within a couple of minutes. Our server Ava knew the menu and read the table well. No overselling, no scripted recitations. She just took care of us. Thanks Ava. The Blackened Chicken Breast came with basmati rice, seasonal vegetables, black bean salsa, and a chipotle cream sauce that worked harder than it had any right to. The flavors didn't compete. They really settled into each other. The Rumcow Salad, loaded with mixed greens, carrot, tomato, onion, cucumber, and wonton strips, we ordered topped with shrimp. It was sharper and more interesting than we had expected. It's a newer spot in Wilmington, and it shows. In The Best Sense. We'll be back for sure!

We've been to Rumcow many times over the years and always enjoyed it. It's a cool spot with two…read morefloors, a lively atmosphere, and a strong A sanitation rating (96.5), which is always reassuring. The service was friendly and attentive, and we started the evening with a bottle of Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay (2023), which was a nice way to begin dinner. Unfortunately, the food this time around just didn't live up to what we remember. We started with the Asian Tots, which used to be one of the best items on the menu. In the past, the peanut sauce was poured over the top so everything came together as one dish. Now it's served in a small cup on the side, and there isn't enough of it to properly coat the tots. They also stopped finishing the dish with the salt they used to sprinkle on top, and even the presentation has changed -- the silver dome they once used is gone. What used to be a great appetizer has been reduced to something that's simply okay. For the main courses, the results were mixed but mostly disappointing. My blackened chicken was a little overcooked. My wife ordered the miso salmon, and that was overcooked as well -- which is especially noticeable with fish. When salmon goes past the sweet spot it quickly becomes dry, and that seemed to be the case here. None of the food was terrible, but none of it really stood out either. Dessert didn't help much. I ordered the carrot cake, but what arrived looked more like a small cupcake buried under a heavy amount of icing, with a large mound of whipped cream on the side. There wasn't much actual cake there, and it wasn't what I expected from a carrot cake dessert. One thing that stood out during the meal is that it feels like the kitchen may be constantly adjusting dishes -- moving sauces, changing presentations, tweaking things that didn't necessarily need fixing. In restaurants, sometimes the best move is to pick a lane and execute it consistently rather than continually modifying dishes that customers already liked. So here's the bottom line. Rumcow is not the Rumcow of yesteryear. Was the food terrible? No. But it was mostly meh, and that may be the most disappointing part. This used to be a place known for memorable dishes and small details done right. Right now it feels like a restaurant that has drifted away from what made it special. The atmosphere and service are still good, but the food just doesn't match the reputation it once had.

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Caipirinha

Savor Southern Kitchen

4.5(280 reviews)

10.9 mi

Excellent menu, with a variety of choices including specials of the day. Large great tasting…read moredishes. Pleasant and efficient workers. 5 *****

This place has such yummy food wow…read more.. I ordered just a plain chicken sandwich (not on the menu) [$11] it was sooooo good and MASIVE... also got a side of candied bacon. Came with two pieces of bacon and it was delicious! Also got the country ham and it was sooo salty and savory! The mimosas were huge! Like two mimosas in one glass. Will def be coming back!!

So tasty the crab cake Benedict

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The best Bloody Mary I ever had! The shrimp was quality

Dram Yard

4.2(194 reviews)

•$$$

I've been to the Dram Yard a few times for cocktails at the outdoor bar and have always loved the…read moredrinks and the atmosphere with the fire pits but hadn't eaten dinner until last night. The whole experience was perfect. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready. It was such a minimal wait that I didn't think anything of it. Our waitress came over to our table, apologized, and said they'd be sending out their little gem salad and brussel sprouts. Both appetizers were plenty for four of us. The salad was romaine lettuce with fish roe and had a umami style to it that I really enjoyed. The Brussels were exceptional. I'm a big fan normally and these were by far some of the best I've had. For cocktails I tried the man of war and the ghost town which was complex and amazing. For dinner I tried the fish of the day, which were scallops from Maine with ancient grains and a small green salad. The scallops were rich tasting and succulent. My husband had the burger and said it was really good. The whole dining experience was exceptional. The servers were attentive yet knew how to pace our experience. We never felt rushed or imposed upon or forgotten. With all the restaurant choices in Wilmington, Dram Yard rises to the top.

Great spot for date night. They say the menu items are meant to share and come out as they're…read moreready, which felt a little awkward when our entree-ish items came out at different times. I had the chicken and dumplings, which was perfect for a chilly evening. Everything that our group ordered was great from the market fish to lamb and burger. I was disappointed there weren't any mocktails on the menu because I wasn't drinking, but the cocktails sounded good. atmosphere is upscale and modern. Looking forward to going back to try more!

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Dram Yard

Nippy's Soul Food

3.8(47 reviews)

10.4 mi

We appreciate them allowing us to dine in as we realized upon entering the hours on Yelp are not…read morecorrect. Call first to check the hours. We were served fairly quick. I had the pork chop meal and my children shared the chicken meal. Both were nice sized portions for the cost. It comes with rice and gravy but you also get to choose two sides. The green beans are way too salty so beware if you need to avoid high sodium dishes. The yams were tasty and we loved the cornbread.

I love coming to Nippy's for the lunch! The owners and everyone working there are seriously the…read moresweetest people. You go in, get seated, and someone brings you a drink. While you're waiting, your brain has already zeroed in on the delicious food in the buffet. While it doesn't look like a ton of food in terms of the variety, once you taste everything, you will stuff yourself silly with quantity because everything is delicious! I particularly love the mac'n'cheese, fried chicken, and the BBQ fish. Make sure you save room though for the desserts- there's usually some type of cobbler in the buffet too and it's always good.

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Ruth's Kitchen

3.9(60 reviews)

3.1 mi

•$

The food is great. The service is awesome. I love their vegetables . I love the fried flounder. My…read moregreat grandson who is 17 months old flirts with the waitresses. He just loves them,and he blows them kisses.

I was in Wilmington this weekend and looking for somewhere to eat and was hoping for some really…read moregood Fried Chicken. Google recommended Ruth's so I decided to check it out. The waitress was really friendly and the food was pretty amazing. The restaurant is really tiny and you could easily miss it. The next morning I was up very early for an event and decided to return for breakfast. My waitress was a lady named Lee who was amazing at her job. I had eggs, sausage, grits, and toast and couldn't have been more satisfied. I only hate that it's in Wilmington and not Winston Salem where I live or I would eat there more.

Inside booths and counter

Waffle with Pecans and a side of crispy bacon.

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Sign

The Fork n Cork

4.2(1.2k reviews)

I can't believe this was my first time to the Fork and Cork after living in Wilmington for 7 years!…read moreThey had a full house on a late Saturday afternoon, so we sat at the bar where I had a delicious bloody Mary and the 'brisket biscuit' from the brunch menu.OMG, it was a perfect pairing with the cocktail. The bbq pulled beef over homemade biscuits was topped with a spectacular mustard sauce with two perfect eggs and a side of sweet potato waffle-fries sprinkled with cinnamon, cayenne, and sugar... You guessed it, I ate the whole thing! My husband had the beet salad topped with blackened chicken, which he raved about the whole time we were there. I highly recommend this restaurant, it is small and cozy with a unique ambience, great service with a smile, quite loud, but worth the wait!

Better than average: Burger Average: Chicken sandwich,…read morefries, server Very Disappointing: over 30 minuto prepare two dishes Will not return

The Big Lew

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Lamb Burger . Super quality!!!

Copper Penny

4.4(1.4k reviews)

Finally! After many years, we made it back to Copper Penny! On our return trip from Southport we…read morestopped in downtown to grab a bite before heading home. We started walking around and my wonderful wife suggested Copper Penny. Absolutely! There was a short wait for a table, but we didn't mind. The inside is almost like we remember it. We did notice the menu is a lot smaller. The last time we dined here was around ten years ago. Definitely plenty of options. We went with the onion ring appetizer, Cobb salad, and the BBQ Burger. The atmosphere of Copper Penny is the same. Definitely missed this place. After a short wait our food was brought out. Everything was delicious. This is just an update, but we still love Copper Penny and will continue to return.

Went on a Saturday night, no reservations. Told 45 minutes at 7 for a table of 5 but seated within…read more25. Our server was wonderful, super helpful and nice. Inside we a long and narrow, mostly large wooden booths and a large bar. Darker. Started with sodas, a beer, and the dragonfruit mimosa (I didn't wind up drinking/liking the flavor- but also didnt say anything as honestly know my taste better. Sharing feedback for others that it is on the sweeter side- which you may love). Buffalo chicken sandwich, sauce on side with fries. Enjoyed, typical but large sandwich. Chicken pita, enjoyed- fries on side. Philly cheesesteak with Caesar salad side- really liked. Owner is from Philly, which made a difference. Grilled chicken with side Cobb salad- lots of cheese and mushrooms and onions. Super delicious bread- soft with some flake since still crunch and not soggy. Salad was fresh and delicious. Pork sandwich- my husband liked, it was good but I didn't love the meat flavor. Concepts with having spinach and such was great. Manager/owner(?) came by to each table too. Definitely worth a trip to explore- fresh ingredients. Next time the wings...