To celebrate our last night in Wilmington, and to thank my cousins for being such gracious hosts, I wanted to take the whole family out to dinner. The challenge was to find a fine restaurant with a sophisticated menu that's also accessible enough to satisfy a variety of appetites. I landed on Floriana, and I'm so glad I did. We arrived early and decided to kick the evening off with cocktails at the ground floor bar, where the friendly bartender poured me possibly the best Hendricks martini (ice cold, bone dry, twist) that I've ever had. Dinner was excellent across the board. Everyone was pleased. My standout dish was the scallop risotto, which was so spectacular I nearly cried. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent service by our young waitress with the colorful hair, whose name went in one ear and out the other. read more

Wow! Everything was amazing! The food, the service, and the experience. We have been wanting to sit on the balcony for 2 for a long time. We were going to show at 6:45 so we needed an early dinner. We made reservations for 4:30 hoping to get a balcony! We did! It brought tears to my eyes. What an experience. The food was delicious and the server Marissa made our experience even better!!!! read more

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The hostess, despite us not having a reservation, got us in on a balcony table overl

A great little spot on the Cape River. We were lucky and able to get a spot on the balcony during the sunset . We ordered the meat and cheese board, Caesar salad, scallops and the salmon. The salmon was for my little cousin so we asked for it to be modified slightly...no issues! Thanks for a great dinner! read more

Floriana - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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For date night, my fiancé and I enjoyed dinner here together. We had a reservation which was definitely needed (it's very busy here, especially on beautiful evenings downtown). Our waitress was Karasha who was super attentive and very sweet. We enjoyed several beverages including the Passione Eternal, a daily special cocktail, a Mediterraneo spritz, and the melon basil sangria. All of the drinks were delicious and fresh! For our appetizer we shared the calamari which was fresh and a good-sized portion. The sauce was a tad spicy for a total spice wimp like me, but manageable. We ate every single bite of the calamari. For our meals, we enjoyed the scallop and shrimp risotto which was super delicious. The short rib ragu was also fantastic. We both were stuffed and so happy after our meal. I am excited to go back! read more

Fantastic food, service and ambiance with the balcony seating. Would come again. I made a reservation for earlier than I wanted to eat knowing there would be a wait for the balcony seating. We were able to sit in the bar while we waited and ordered two amazing cocktails, the 1602 and the drink special, a strawberry mojito. They ended up being my favorite cocktails of our whole trip. The wait itself only ended up being 30 min after they estimated an hour. Once seated, service was amazing. We were there for my birthday and were greeted to a card and two glasses of Prosecco. They also comped a free dessert at the end of the meal for my birthday as well. Our server was so friendly and welcoming and gave great recommendations on everything. The hostess was also great and helped recommended our cocktails while we waited. For our dinner, we did the Mediterranean spritz and the sombra which were both very good. We did the salumi and formaggio board which was the perfect charcuterie size for two people. The crostinis and hot honey were the stand outs. They also provided complimentary bread with pesto sauce. For our entrees, I did the seared scallops. Cooked perfectly and the purée was fantastic. Husband did the spaghetti fra diavolo. Again cooked perfectly and with great flavor. Cant recommend enough! read more

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I made a visit to Wilmington for the first time after a work trip. . I was wandering along the river front and luckily found Floriana. I was looking for a great drink and watch some March Madness from the bar but got so much more. I had the delicious Date Walnut Old Fashion and then made the decision to try some food. Boy am I glad I did. I started with the Black Gnocchi and shrimp. Absolutely incredible. Deep rich flavors from the lobster bisque foundation and perfectly prepared gnocchi and shrimp. From there I transitioned to the Duck Breast. It was a great choice. Flavorful, moist duck over a polenta cake that balanced nicely with the a rich cherry demi. To compliment the meal was a friendly and engaged wait staff and great views of the river. Needless to say to say, I look forward to my return to Floriana and the beautiful city of Wilmington. read more

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Great first experience! The staff from hosts and server were very friendly and attentive. Being able to sit on the balcony on such a beautiful night. The food selection extensive and the flavor was outstanding! I failed to take a picture of our gnocchi with lamb bolognese; OMG!!! my wife and I were able to split our meal And both left satisfied. read more

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Great service and amazing food. This spot had been on my bucket list for years and it was well worth the wait! Next time, I hope to try a seafood dish. The views were everything and it was the perfect romantic dinner! read more

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Very good food and excellent service. The food quality is a solid 4 but this place has some great people and is very well managed. That is what pushes my rating to 5 stars. Great cocktails too! read more

Upscale ambiance and attentive service for pretty good upscale bistro food. The baby beet salad was flavorful and complex but was marred by arugula that was mostly stems. The cauliflower steak was charred a little with gremolata and a romanesco sauce. The amaretto rice pudding was the high point in my meal. 4 local beers available but mostly wine focused. read more

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Had a late dinner here after a show at the Wilson Center. It's a very atmospheric historic building with a perfect central riverfront location. The interior continues the history vibe with multiple types of dining spaces, including balconies overlooking the river. I chose to sit at the cozy bar, where the staff efficiently handled my order and prepared a very nice cocktail. I started with the field greens salad with sherry vinaigrette. They graciously accommodated a request to add Gorgonzola to this salad. (There's a beet salad with Gorgonzola on the menu, so I knew they had it in house. Beets are nasty, but Gorg is the best!) The sherry vinaigrette was wonderfully tangy, the greens were fresh, the cheese was perfectly mixed in, and there were a few shallots shaved on the top for a hint of bittersweet crunch. The online menu I looked at had a duck pappardelle and I was going to order that, but alas, it's been retired. (One of the owners stopped by to check on things as I was finishing up and said they are gradually refreshing the menu.) Instead, I ordered a gnocchi with chianti-braised lamb. Once I got a taste of that, all thoughts of the duck vanished, since the gnocchi was perfection in a pasta bowl. The entire dish was perfectly executed and scrumptious. Even with Wilmington's varied and strong dining scene, I'd plan a return visit here next time I'm in town. read more

Floriana - Baby greens salad with sherry vinaigrette. Tangy and wonderful. - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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This was our second visit to Floriana. As usual, the service was wonderful. My husband and I both had the fettuccine with the Bolognese sauce. It was excellent. Would highly recommend this restaurant for an intimate dinner or special occasion. read more

Wow! Stumbled upon this place as we were walking the Riverwalk and saw the cutest balconies. Just knew we needed to dine here for our anniversary. The food was exceptional and the service was prompt and friendly! The bread was delicious with pesto. The burrata salad and fried brussel sprouts to start were amazing! We ordered the tortelloni mignon and lamb gnocchi - omg! Do not skip this place, it's amazing! read more

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Delicious, authentic Italian food and excellent! Floriana is a favorite in Wilmington with great views of the waterfront. read more

Floriana - Fettuccine bolognese - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Excellent food in a two story bistro setting, with mini veranda tables. The Black Gnocchi is inventive and full of excellent tastes. The Salumi & Formaggio was basic, sparse, not worth the price. The Lamb Gnocchi also had a lot great flavor, but was short on lamb. There is a full bar and a wine list. Service was excellent. read more

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Went for my husband's birthday. Sat on the balcony which was sweet as it was cloudy so not hot! Food was good except for the tip of a pastry bag in my husband's salad! Should have compensated his meal, not just the salad. Probably will not return. read more

Floriana - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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First of all I want to say that the HYPE is REAL! It is WORTH it. I had an exceptional time from the music, the lighting, the elegance of the room. Service was fantastic, waiters friendly and gave good advice. They were very attentive, the host is also great she stopped by every table to make sure we're ok & almost everyone that was serving wished me a happy birthday! The food... It was one of the BEST meals I've had The first bite I took was an explosion of yumminess in my mouth... the meat was so tender and coming of effortlessly, and everything else has such a nice flavor. I also had a tiramisu which is one of the best ones I've had in the area. Do I recommend? read more

Floriana - Birthday dinner card - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Visited for a date night, waited 90 minutes for entrees that never arrived. Had to leave the restaurant due to slow service. Disappointed on all fronts. Avoid during the weekdays as kitchen is understaffed and management doesn't care read more

What a lovely experience! We stayed in NC for our "honey-moon" & this restaurant has been on my list for like four years. We shared we were there for our honeymoon and we got a glass of Prosecco each on the house and they were just so kind about it. We got to sit on the private balcony and it felt so fun and romantic. The view of the water was gorgeous and the breeze kept us from melting lol the waitress was also great! The arancini & Brussels sprouts were to die for. The homemade pesto was also fantastic. Our entrees were also delicious. We'll definitely be back for future special occasions when we are in the area! read more

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We were new to Wilmington, walking around trying to decide where to eat dinner and we saw the "Half Price Wine" on Sunday sign outside the restaurant! This is what pulled us in but once inside we were wowed! Issac was an awesome navigator for our experience. Friendly and knowledgeable but non intrusive.. We started with a wonderful bottle of wine along with the meat and cheese board. The board had three meats, three cheeses, olives and maple pecans. Additionally, we were served warm bread with a green pesto type sauce. Everything was delicious! For entrees, I had the striped bass over asparagus and risotto and Schweety LOVED his duck gnocchi! The sunset over the Cape Fear River was amazing from our window side table. What a great experience! read more

From the beginning, the service was immaculate. We had a reservation for the balcony seats, and let me tell you, they were very intimate and offered an amazing view. From the live music on the streets to all the other entertainment happening on the street, the green oil-based dip was out of this world, and the bread tasted fresh. The main dishes were just as delicious. You need to try this place, even if you sit inside. read more

Floriana - Lasagna - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Let's just say the service was amazing! Ty was knowledgeable, professional, and personable! My choice for dinner was the swordfish and it was average. I should have gone with the salmon. The rest of my party thoroughly enjoyed their dinner; shrimp and scallops risotto, burrata ravioli, lamb gnocchi. Would definitely come back to try some other items and for the service! Thank you again! read more

Floriana - Swordfish with risotto - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We haven't been to Floriana's in a few years and decided to return recently, much to our disappointment! The restaurant was still decorated for the Holidays, which was charming, but that is where the charm ended! The service was painfully slow and the food was odd to say the least. Their signature lasagna was served as dry meat with noodles. No tomato sauce whatsoever in their recipe made for a very dry meal and one that I would like to forget. Sorry to say, we would not recommend this restaurant! read more

Returned to the Floriana overlooking downtown Wilmington after 20 years for an anniversary dinner last night, and I cannot imagine anything less than 5 stars for this incredible establishment! I wish I could give 10!!! It's one of the few places that has the perfect location and view and exceptional cuisine and service. Our date was truly bliss and the only complaint I have is that it had to end. Whether you are seated inside the cozy interior or score a balcony seat, you will happy beyond description with every part of your experience. We started with the bar's take on a Paper Plane called Discovery Flight-a delicious bourbon-based drink...so good, we ordered a second! The appetizer black gnocchi in lobster cream with shrimp appetizer sounds filling, but was somehow light and so delicious. Handmade gnocchi pillows with creamy dreamy sauce and their complimentary bread to sop it up with fresh bright basil oil...pure magic. Hubs had the tortilloni mignon stuffed with tenderloin in a pomodoro cream sauce that was so lush and smooth. I absolutely loved the halibut with creamy smashed red potatoes, tender baby carrots, and amazing herb sauce and rosemary butter...it was divine! We splurged for dessert and had decadent tiramisu and crunchy, creamy cannoli. How often do you feel like you get more than what you pay for with the perfect view, delicious food and portion size, and service that was so attentive, you didn't have to ask for a single thing? Thank you, Danielle!!! It was well worth it, and we will return every opportunity we can while this chef, management, and staff are in business! read more

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Lovely environment, attentive service, and delicious food. My sister and I had a wonderful experience sitting on the balcony, overlooking the river. Everyone was extremely accommodating. read more

Perfect spot to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or anything! Best fine dining in Wilmington. Shrimp was great, seafood pasta was great, but the surprising winner was the unique black gnocchi for an appetizer (not pictured)! read more

Floriana - Surf and turf, drinks, pasta - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Haven't been to Floriana in a while, but unfortunately the portions are so small now. $30+ dollars for a small dish of pasta, a little protein and some sauce. The flavors are still wonderful and the service exceptional but I can't justify the prices for pasta dishes, even if homemade. This problem isn't just at Floriana, but most restaurants in the Wilmington area. I imagine a lot of restaurants aren't going to make it through 2026 without some major changes. read more

I want to leave a review for not only how good the food was but more importantly how kind and helpful the staff were. My dad is in a wheelchair and it makes getting in and out of restaurants very tricky. Sarah was two steps ahead in getting us in the building and accommodating us. Our server (I can't recall his name, some tattoos) was a gem and was very attentive. It means a lot to be able to get my dad into places that are old and have character and Sarah made my evening by helping us make that happen. Also! it was my mom's birthday and they sent us home with a candle and a tiramisu. There are good humans left in the world :) read more

Unsure of how to write this because it is by far my favorite restaurant in Wilmington. Let's start with the vibe/ambiance. It is perfect, they have several private balconies where you can dine with a friend, date, partner or by yourself. Each one has a great view of the Cape Fear River. The wine is pretty much all Italian wine from what I have noticed, they have an extensive list and do half off all bottles on Sundays. The pictures attached to this review are from my most recent stop. I started with a great Italian red then got their Field Greens Salad. It's made with a sherry vinaigrette that is so perfect and refreshing. For dinner, since I was at the beach, I went with their Spaghetti Neri Al Granchino. It's packed with lump crab meat, heirloom tomatoes, lobster cream sauce and squid ink pasta. A must get! read more

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I was actually really excited to visit this establishment as the location is spectacular and you can sit on your own private balcony. Once arriving we were informed by the manager that our table would be ready in 15-20 minutes, so we decided to have a drink at their very cute bar downstairs. The two female bartenders were very sweet and helped us pick which cocktail we would like. A few moments later the manager guided us upstairs and opened the door to this little balcony which was just for the two of us. When we sat down it was quite bright, but the view of the water was gorgeous. You can also view the passerby's which gives something to talk about especially if its a first date. We started off with glasses of prosecco on the house which was a nice way to start the dinner. For an appetizer we got the Black Gnocchi which in my opinion looked like a beautiful dish, but lacked in flavor. The dish had a few pieces of lobster in it, but it was basically flavorless. I wasn't to hungry, so we ordered the Burrata Ravioli and the Zuppa Di Salsiccia. The Burrata Ravioli was honestly very tasty and for a vegetarian, I would approve this dish. It was something different and thats why we ordered it. The Zuppa Di Salsiccia was flavorful and tasty, but it once again was lacking something. For the pricing of the items in this restaurant, I expected and had higher standards for the food. Maybe we didn't order the correct items and I will have to give them another chance the next time I visit. The service was amazing and the view is something that you can't truly get anywhere else. The charm of the restaurant makes you feel like your somewhere in an old italian village. I would give our experience a 7/10. read more

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We did not have a good experience here. The food is extremely overpriced for what you get to eat. Portions are tiny but flavorful. Drinks are decent but overpriced. You pay for the view of the riverfront if you are able to get a balcony seat. Not worth it in our opinion. Service was great however! read more

We found this place on open table and made a reservation for dinner. It's absolutely adorable and charming from the outside with the little balconies! It's located right in the heart of downtown with plenty of parking but we were able to walk to and from our hotel. We picked this restaurant for the seafood and ended up trying the halibut and a few other items. Overall we had a good time and would go back anytime we are in the area again. read more

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Food, service and ambiance is amazing. Definitely wait for a table on the balcony. Totally worth it! read more

Floriana - Beat salad, Arancini and Black Gnocchi - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Atmosphere and service was nice but did not enjoy the food. I've had much better Italian!!!!

I had the most delicious scallop dish, that I know I'm going to crave and think about for the next couple weeks. And the ambiance was beautiful, we loved eating dinner with the sunset. And our server Chris was so attentive, and had amazing recommendations. The hostest recommended inside, and it was such a nice experience and date night for us, and would 10/10 recommend. For anyone who lived here or visiting. read more

Floriana - Scallops - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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A staple white wine tablecloth restaurant along the riverfront of Wilmington. Mostly Italian pasta dishes, everything we got was delicious but did notice it took a little while to get the food out. We had a reservation (recommend) we got there early and they were able to seat us which was nice. A lot of places to check out and hang around before or after you eat here. Balcony tables are adorable but only 2 seaters. read more

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Service was okay We stood for a while until the teenage girl came to and got off her phone. We got seated outside on the balcony,which was very nice . The server was kind and welcoming but she recommended a dish that was just "okay" the squid ink pasta It was bland and needed salt and pepper. Also the consistency was just mushy and the crab tasted fishy. Almost like she just told us the most expensive menu item to get a nice tip. I ate all of my food because I was very hungry and it was my birthday dinner. My husband I got the same thing and he didn't even touch his food because he's too kind to send anything back. I also got a nice salad with beats and that was delicious. So I think we just got the wrong thing. The bread and homemade pesto was really delicious and the ambiance is very classy and calm. read more

Worth the celebration. They had a guava caipirinha which was just right. The pork belly and mussels were great. The restaurant itself is v. the bizness. Actually great to see families and runners and flanners along the water. Walkable to bars and other places. read more

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My boyfriend and I visited for my birthday! We got a meat and cheese board as an appetizer, but did not love it. The bread and pesto were AMAZING. I got the shrimp and scallop risotto and he got lasagna we both enjoyed our entrees. Our server was nice and brought us everything we needed. Advice for the balcony: We had no problem snagging a balcony on a Tuesday evening. However, I wish we would have waited an hour to eat. The sun was in the early stages of setting when we first got out there and it was HOT and a little miserable lol. But you can't beat the view, and by the end of the dinner it was a perfect temperature. I don't regret the balcony but I wish we would have waited for the sun to set a little more first. If you're a lady and plan to eat on the balcony you may want to put your hair up. It's windy! read more

Floriana - Shrimp and scallop risotto - Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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