Happened upon this quaint restaurant inside of a renovated home off Castle St. They have a nice selection of brunch bevies (think mimosas), breakfast/brunch/lunch meals and sides. Portions were just the right size without feeling stuffed. We even enjoyed a Key Lime tartlet for dessert. Hubs had the waffle with the BEST cheesy grits. I enjoyed the cubano & black eyed pea salad. We will be back again! read more

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We choose to visit Jesters Cafe while on vacation in Wilmington. We arrived right when they opened for breakfast on a Sunday and were seated right away. The service was good until the restaurant became busy and then it wasn't too good. The food was delicious though. Everything we ordered was delicious and had a great presentation. Paired with a beautiful location and great coffee. Overall I still recommend Jesters but I think the service could be better. read more

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A quaint small eatery. Wonderful service and good food. Shrimp and grits and quiche were delicious. I highly recommend, must try. read more

Arrived 10 minutes before they opened on Saturday, while reading the menu on their porch, staff member welcomed us in early and got us comfortable with a cup of coffee while they finished opening up for the day. The food was absolutely excellent!!! I got the frittata special - crab spinach and mushroom, with a side of home fires. Absolutely recommend! Super cute cafe! read more

Jester's Café - Crab Spinach Mushroom Frittata with a side of home fries - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Jester's Cafe is amazing! So cute & quaint. Very calm& peaceful environment. The staff is super friendly, service is quick and the food was delish!! read more

Jester's Café - Meat Quiche, Side Salad, and Muffin - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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if you're looking to just get food to go this wouldn't be the worst option. I ate the foxy loxy it was good and the salmon was made well, the potatoes were under seasoned but still fine since potato's being plain can be fine for some but the server made the experience horrible. He gave me a sense of not wanting to be there, barely interacted with my group, and made us work to pay for our own food in the way of being TOLD to follow him to split our payments, and didn't give us a friendly greeting or a nice goodbye or any gesture to have a good day once we paid. The smoke from the kitchen watered our eyes in the corner of the separate room and made it hard to enjoy our food or time here. would not come back. read more

One of my favorite places in Wilmington. I love the location, the food and especially the people. Feels like being welcomed to a friend's house when I go there instead of a cold restaurant. read more

Came here for breakfast with our friends. The food was really good! I got the loaded home fries which were very well seasoned and I got a good portion! Other people at the table got bacon as a side, but only got 2 pieces, even though the menu stated a side of bacon was 4 pieces. The service was good at first, but the busier the restaurant became, the slower our service was. I saw several people enter the restaurant and wait a while to be helped/seated. I understand they were very busy, but when we got our check, it was all on one ticket; they did not ask if we wanted the bill split. read more

A pace to come for breakfast. It is a Quant small restaurant in a neighborhood. I ordered the quiche. I was looking for a nice slice of quiche instead what I got was something that looked like a slice of pizza. It was very thin. I liked at the table across from me, and their poached eggs looked terrific. They only have regular coffee in small cups. They have free refills. They had some other interesting breakfast choices. I would come back to try them. read more

Jester's Café - The restaurant - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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There are just so many things to like about this place. It's in an area that is untouched by the encroachment of the "newness movement" engulfing Wilmington. The place itself is in a small house and they've painted the interior and exterior i bright, fun colors. The staff are always pleasant and smiling. I just always feel at ease as soon as I walk in. To top it off, the food is sensational!!! Their Benedict's are the best in the area! Go eat there! You'll enjoy it. Oh! And they have a free little library out front! Books and breakfast! Yes, please. read more

Jester's Café - Egg & Cheese with bacon and sausage Sandwich on rye - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Service was great he was very funny. Food was awesome and came out super quickly. The cafe was really cute overall.

Friendly staff but the food was really, really bland and unimpressive. It's a casual atmosphere, which is nice for breakfast, but between the four of us, we all agreed that we made a mistake by coming here. The poached eggs were the weirdest non-pouched things ever. read more

We had a wonderful brunch last week at Jester's. It was delicious and the service was great! We walked down the street to visit Kids Making It is a wonderful business that enriches so many young people. read more

Stopped by during a time period after lunch. I was drawn in by the quaint coziness. Was not surprised by the simple menu and ended up with tomato soup and Le Monsieur. It satisfied my hunger, nothing more. The waiter was pleasant and the decor was welcoming. The food arrived fast but was a bit dissatisfied that the soup was lukewarm. read more

Jester's Café - Le Monsieur with tomato Soup - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Jester's is a good place to go for some solid breakfast. The restaurant is quaint and has a nice interior filled with paintings. The service is mediocre but does the trick. I've been a few times over the years, and I just went today with my girlfriend. We had the avocado toast with poached eggs and French toast breakfast items. We also got coffees, which were alright and had free refills. The avocado toast was yummy, and my only wish was that they had put a little more avocado. 4/5 The French toast was textbook--tasty and soft! 4/5 We got hash browns and grits as our sides, and both were good. Try the mini muffins if you have a chance! read more

Mimosas please? Yes, thank you. Our waiter recommended a peach infused mimosa and we were not disappointed, it was the right amount of sweet. I had the Strata which was a breakfast casserole and some bacon on the side. My boyfriend had the french toast casserole with bluberries. He had an egg and sausage patties on the side also. The bread was super moist, it was delicious with the syrup and you can't beat fresh berries over anything. There was only about four berries though, a couple more would have made it just perfect. The sausages weren't my personal favorite (little too greasy for me) he enjoyed them! The service was great, really tasty food and all around wonderful time. read more

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I've been meaning to make it to Jester's for a while and finally went with a few friends this weekend. We were seated quickly and loved the atmosphere (it's an old house with tables scattered throughout). Everything we ordered was fantastic. I believe the strata was the collective winner, but my husband enjoyed his quiche and my friends liked la madame (though one recommended getting le monsieur instead as he didn't think the egg added anything). Service was a little off - ordered OJ and received peach juice, given a check to sign with no pens, etc. However this will not deter us from returning. Excellent reasonably priced breakfast option. read more

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We happened upon Jester's Cafe looking for brunch in the down town area to meet family and friends at. We had no idea what we were walking into but had absolutely no regrets. We had a table of 8 that included 2 small kids, they took a moment to put tables together and sat us comfortably. The restaurant was a house and it was remodeled but they still left the old house charm. I was pretty obsessed with the inside. I ordered the B.L.A.T. with a side salad and ate every bite. The BLAT had a special sauce that made it perfect. My fiancé had the country Benedict and house fries, he also loved it! My sister had the French toast casserole and thought it was perfect. Overall everyone had a great meal and we all would return! I recommend! read more

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I've been to Jester's twice within a few months this fall (2021). First time it was late morning on a Saturday but I got lucky with a table on the porch outside. I ordered a Croque Madame sandwich which comes with a poached egg on top. Being a small joint, it was clear they have some standards for presentation because they used a mold to make the egg perfectly round. I also ordered fresh fruit as the side and a sweet tea. Everything was okay, nothing special but homey. Second time, I ordered the French toast with fresh fruit and a cup of coffee that they refill occasionally. Unfortunately I don't like maple syrup so I didn't use it which may have made the bread less dry but there were some whipped topping and blueberries to accompany the dish. The decor inside is whimsical and feels like you're in a neighbors or friends house. Overall, the service and food is okay. If you prefer not to cook, don't want to I pay a ton of money for brunch, and seek quiet neighborhood downtown this is a go-to. Small business with a homey vibe. Wait staff is prompt, efficient and nice, TIP YOUR SERVERS! read more

Jester's Café - Croque Madame - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Visited with a friend for lunch the other day. It's located in a beautiful old house which gives it a very quaint feel. It was hot outside so we dined in. Service was prompt and friendly. I had the French Dip with a side of black eyed peas. The sandwich was delicious but the peas were bland. I noticed they had on the menu a "Cubano" Having been born and raised in Miami just let me say Wilmington NO ONE ABSOLUTELY NO ONE knows how to make a Cuban sandwich here. As for Jester's I would definitely go back as it has a very nice ambiance . read more

This is a review from my 5 month pregnant daughter Randi W about the reprehensible behavior of the manager of this restaurant this morning, May 19, 2024. Possible name is Wade. So wished she had called police after he hit her in the back with the door!!! Where can I begin? For starters, DO NOT EAT HERE! (Long post, but worth the read) My friends and I came here to grab breakfast, and it sadly became the worst experience out of our trip to Wilmington. I am five months pregnant, and have had bouts with heart racing in the past (needed to a heart monitor even at times). That being said, I can only drink decaf coffee for my heart to not race. Our server (who was very sweet) told us they did not serve decaf coffee, just regular. My friend then offered (out loud- in front of server) to go with me to grab a decaf coffee from the coffee shop across the street. Upon returning to the restaurant, the moment we opened the door, the manager comes barreling in from the kitchen screaming at my friend and I. We were so taken off guard, I honestly thought we hit someone coming in or something. "Absolutely not!" "No!" "No!" "Absolutely no outside beverages!" He continued to scream at us. At this point, he had grabbed the attention of nearly everyone in the restaurant. He scolded my friend and I as though we were children. As we both were caught off guard, neither of us said anything back (just in shock). He then opened the door, and demanded us to leave, pointing out a sign that was apparently at the door that read no outside drinks. As I was walking out (still not having said a word), he dropped the door on me, and the door knob pelted me in the back. I took a moment to cry it out and get myself together. My friend and I prayed before walking back in to speak with the manager about his treatment toward us. The conversation did not go well. We explained our situation, and he continued to bark over us. Here are a few of his responses: (when told I was pregnant and can only drink decaf) "Not my problem!" "How am I supposed to know she's pregnant?" And again, "Get out!" Customers nearby who couldn't help but hear his rant, apologized to me for his behavior. "I'm so sorry," they told me as the water works started back up. I have been told to not have an outside drink or food once or twice in my life, as I'm sure everyone has at some point. The fact that it turned into this giant episode of being loudly scolded in the middle of a dining room, while everyone stared on for breakfast and show- is completely insane, disrespectful, and absolutely unprofessional. The owner/manager of this business clearly has NO RESPECT for women what so ever, and has some personal issues that he is apparently taking out on his customers (probably staff too). Would not advise supporting him or his business. read more

The food was delicious! Our server was welcoming and aimed to please. What a homey, comfortable environment! Three of us had a version of eggs Benedict, one strata, and one chicken bacon ranch sandwich. All delectable! I really was torn between their version of avocado toast and their breakfast potatoes and egg. What a great Sunday with family. Thank you! read more

A sweet local hidden gem! My friends and I went in on a Sunday for brunch. The atmosphere is interesting and waitstaff is so kind. We overall had a great experience. We went around 11am and they were out of the home fries. They also don't have any sort of gluten-free bread for sandwiches but it was still a great experience. My group had the black bean benedict, french toast casserole and classic eggs benedict. All were great (see photos)! read more

Another beautiful day and another great meal at Jester's. I love it here. A downtown staple and place to come on Castle St. Food and service is always great. Ambience is great in this quaint house. I love to sit outside and enjoy my meal with my dog. The staff makes you feel like family. read more

Jester's Café - Breakfast on the porch at Jester's - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great little spot to get breakfast/brunch/lunch! This was a short walk from where we stayed in Wilmington. Woman owned restaurant. We ordered the smoked salmon benedict and it was perfect. It seemed like most of the options were low to no grease like a typical breakfast joint, so that was a happy finding. You should give this place a try if you are in Wilmington looking for something quick and tasty. read more

Awful management, no respect for customers or even speaking to you bc you made a mistake. He will just kick you out and hit you with the door. read more

I was so excited to finally get a chance to eat here today. The reviews are fantastic and the outside is just so cute. When we arrived for brunch around 11:15 there were people just standing at the door. The servers were not telling them where to stand (which was clearly by the hostess stand). We waited about 10 minutes until someone greeted us. There were two servers for the whole place. It is in 3 different sections. The old house into a restaurant was really cool and I liked the way it was set up. It was extremely hot in there and so I asked if they had outside space and they said they don't serve on the patio anymore. We got seated and our menus literally stuck to the table. It was kinda funny cause we couldn't get them up. Our server was clearly not wanting to work today cause he was as bland as non helpful as possible. It would have nice to know that they were out of certain items before we researched the menu because when we ordered he then told us they were out. My friend ordered the BLAT and asked for no tomatoes. When she got her sandwich it was missing the avocado. So we waited about 5 minutes til we saw our server again and told him. He grabbed the plate didn't apologize and then handed it back. You can look right into the kitchen and see how miserable the kitchen staff was, too. I ordered a sandwich called La Madame. I thought it was phenomenal. It came with delicious grits, too. They didn't have any hot sauce, or salt and pepper on the tables and when I asked they had to go look for some. The potato salad was also very good. So, as far as actual food- it was excellent. My friend and I both felt like we were just not wanted there and something was just off. I do not see myself returning here but would do a delivery order if they could. It's a shame that the service and general feel here was that bad. read more

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This place is super cute; it appears to be a house turned into a restaurant. The inside is decorated with local art and there's an eclectic feel. The server was friendly and the food came out quickly. We had late breakfast on a Thursday, so the place was fairly slow. The food was really good. The loaded home fries were delicious, the ingredients were all fresh. We also had the French toast casserole and Pork Loin Benedict; the poached eggs were a little over cooked, however the flavor on the pork was spot on. There are several unique menu options, and plenty of choices for brunch cocktails. Definitely would recommend this spot to anyone wanting a fun, tasty brunch with scratch made food read more

Jester's Café - French Toast Casserole - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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The food and service were great. My black bean burger was delicious and filling. The coffee is fresh and tasty.

Delicious and reasonably priced. I got the French toast with home fries, added a side of bacon. Really really tasty, got it to go. Bacon was good, and a generous portion. Just right amount of syrup. I like enough to cover it all but not make it float! Really nice staff and a cool vibe. Gonna eat in soon. read more

Wow! Just....Wow!! From service to flavor and ingenuity, it just doesn't get any better for Sunday brunch. :P After finding out about Jester's Cafe from other reviews on Yelp, my wife and I decided to give this place a shot. It also helps that Jester's is only a 5 minute drive away for us. We were promptly greeted and seated with a smile by the hostess and, soon after, introduced to our server, Jessica. Jessica excelled all around and seemed to thoroughly enjoy her job. Exceptional service! As for the Sunday Brunch entrees, we chose the Quiche of the Day with cheesy grits and French Toast Casserole with home fries. The quiche was a crab, bacon, spinach and white cheddar cheese and blew my mind and taste buds away. This may very well be the best quiche I have ever tasted. The French Toast Casserole with home fries was so good, I couldn't classify it as a breakfast or dessert! LOL. Overall, Jester's Cafe is a hidden gem of Wilmington and we will become regulars here for sure. read more

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Small, quaint, great food. Met a friend for brunch and just loved this little hidden gem. Friendly and attentive staff! Would recommend to anyone that wants a little bit of non-ordinary on their visit to Wilmington. read more

What a surprise! Four of us happened on Jester's for breakfast while on vacation. Lovely vibe-separate rooms with 6-8 seats in each area, keeping noise down. We loved the artwork and, while the food and menu were fresh, it wasn't too trendy (not kale forward). Despite post-Covid issues that many establishments have been experiencing, they had plenty of waitstaff and the food was out quickly. Friendly, bright-I can't wait to go back. Thank you for more than a meal, a whole experience, Jester's! read more

Jesters Cafe is a must try and staple of Wilmington. Famous for their quiches and sandwiches, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Tucked away in a house-style location, there is usually parking in the back or on the street. Castle street has lovely little shops to enjoy before or after you eat. read more

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Good service, Whimsical ambience and Great Quiche!

We were happy to come back and enjoy the great food at Jesters. The hostess was honest with us and told us that with limited staffing the food would take 20-25 min as she brought us our drinks. No big deal. We had a beautiful outdoor table and sunshine and my husband was able to pop over for a hair cut at the local barbers across the street. Service and amazing breakfast. A must visit!! read more

Jester's Café - Avocado toast - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Nice place for brunch. The setting is a converted house, and is comfortable and relaxed. Food was good, and the service was great. We were in Wilmington for a wedding, and found this on Yelp. They had a good rating and it was within a mile or so of our hotel, the Ballast on the riverfront. When we mentioned to some of the locals that we went to Jester's, all had a positive opinion of the place. Highly recommended. read more

I needed to take a moment to thank everyone at the jester for their outstanding service. The food is incredible but what really makes the difference is the combination of excellence from the front of the house as well as the back of the house. Wayne has been our server each time we've been there and he's awesome and what keeps us coming back. Thanks for being as cool as the flip side of my pillow Wayne. Sincerely Suzanne Sotelo Former Fitness Director for Frank Shamrock, MMA Disaster Relief ARC 307 read more

I really enjoyed my meal here! It's a very cute restaurant that seems to have been built out of an old house. Tried it out with my parents after having it recommended to me and we all really enjoyed our food! The presentation of each plate was very beautiful as well! read more

Jester's Café - Quiche of the Day w/ home fries - New American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My husband and I just left Jesters. We used to love the place, but the waiter was rude from the minute we walked in. I asked him if the cheese was orange or white. He rolled his eyes at me and said "yellow". Which, I can only assume he meant orange--I am allergic to the Annatto that makes white cheese orange. So, I ordered the French toast. He rudely told me I get a side. He offered, " Bacon, sausage or grits". Grits seemed harmless, so I ordered the grits. He comes back into the room stands behind me and says that the grits has "yellow cheese in it, so you need to choose something else. "I had to spin around in my chair to even see him. I asked him to please come around where I could actually see him. He started yelling at me that he was doing me a favor by protecting me from the yellow cheese. We, of course, left, and will never be back. If you are looking to be disrespected, while ordering over priced breakfast, then this is your place. We went to Chris's instead. The waitress offered me provolone when I asked her if they had white cheese. We will be choosing warm and welcoming places every time. read more