Jester&#x27;s Café

Sometimes the view is what you need to get started. And when near the water, seafood is a good…read moreplace to start. And, being a beautiful night to watch the sunset, River 128 was the place to be. Traveling with friends we find a good place for cocktails, conversations and a view to enjoy., The choice of seafood was the tougher part. There were classics and new ideas to choose from. Where to begin was tough. But, over a martini, that made things easier. Our waiter was excellent, and patient, as we picked what we were thinking of. To start, we had a special appetizer for the table...It was Lobster Dip served with pita toast. It was a good portion to start with a martini or glass of wine as the sun set. It was fresh, and tasty. It was seasoned well so you could enjoy the dip in a good portion. Once complete next came the entrees. This was a good variety to try. We had a dish of Shrimp & Grits...a true Southern dish to have. And, as is typical in any region, this was based on the flavor of Cajun . A mound of grits that were fresh and creamy. This was toped for 12 large shrimp. There was a red Cajun sauce with the taste you would expect. It was warm and hot in flavor. It was rich and special to enjoy with each spoon you might take with each bite. It was a true Shrimp & Grits I was use to, with the spice to enjoy. We also had an order of Grilled Swordfish. This is a special to have if you want to try a piece of fish you do not usually have., This was very fresh of the day. It was de-boned and grilled to a state that allowed the taste with the seasoning it had on the grill. It was moist and firm and a taste to try and see what it was like. Finally, we had a dish of Sushi Tuna. This was a large portion that could be served as an appetizer, but was large enough to make it an entree. It was also very fresh for the day. The Tuna was the right look and style that is typical in a sushi bar. We ordered a side-dish of fresh asparagus. It was a good compliment to the tuna which was at room temperature and flavorful. When the meal was complete we did share an order of Key Lime Pie. Home-made and light, it was a good way to have a Southern dessert to share after the rich meal we enjoyed together. The team at River 128 is excellent. The portions are perfect. The price is what to expect when having a wonderful seafood meal right by the water. Next time I am in Wilmington, I will go back to have a good meal at sunset. Even with a martini in hand.

We sat out on the covered patio. It was a very nice view and great for our party (10). The service…read morewas excellent. The food was delicious. I had a shrimp and grits dish different than any I've had before. Great flavor. We shared. Tuna sashimi, calamari crab dip. And Brussels sprouts. All were amazing

Patio seating

River 128 Restaurant - Delicious Roasted Chicken breast with goat cheese, mash, brocollini, baby carrots and sweet mustard sauce. This dish is recommended by us

Delicious Roasted Chicken breast with goat cheese, mash, brocollini, baby carrots and sweet mustard sauce. This dish is recommended by us

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The food was ok. The staff was amazing! The view is nice if you sit outside. The crab dip was AMAZING!!

Michael's on the Waterfront

4.2(225 reviews)

0.7 mi

I've walked past this restaurant three times on three different occasions, but today we went in…read more The restaurant wasn't packed so we didn't have to wait for a table and was immediately greeted and sat at a table. There was a nice amount of menu options and drinks . There was plenty of dining room seating with a large bar area as well. The restaurant gives off very much coastal vibes! Lol, I ordered a crab cake and my son ordered the Wellington sub (I probaly got the name wrong). My crab cake sandwich was okay, but I must mention that it was big in size. My son loved the Wellington sub , the fries with the gravy sauce was amazing. Our server was amazing , service was awesome. The Restaurant itself was tidy and well kept and good times were awesome. The restaurant cuts right on the Wilmington Riverwalk and outside seating is available.

We made a reservation to Michael's on the Waterfront on a Friday night during the Christmas tree…read morelighting. We were seated promptly by our wonderful server, Taylor (I hope I'm getting her name right!). We got a round of amazing espresso martinis along with crab dip and a jumbo Bavarian pretzel to start. I get a big pretzel everywhere I go, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. It came with a lovely cheese sauce and a honey mustard-like sauce. We also loved the crab dip. Taylor quickly resolved any issues we had and got us everything we needed. I got the penne alla vodka with shrimp, and it was very good! Everyone who came with me was very happy with their meals as well. My partner got the prime rib dip and loved it. Overall, I had a blast and would definitely recommend dining here.

Sitting area

Shrimp linguini

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View from the patio

The River Grill

5.0(2 reviews)

I love this place! It's pretty much the best spot on the river - because you are essentially ON the…read moreriver! It is simple, cheap, and delicious. All of the employees are nice. It's a no-frills kind of place that's great for sitting and grabbing an easy lunch and a beer when you're walking around downtown. Definitely stop here - good food, good drinks, and a great breeze from the river!!

The River Grill, located on the barge where tour boats depart in downtown Wilmington, is the best…read moreburger in town! Super casual outdoor, dog friendly dining environment under the covered open barge! Enjoyed a hand patted super fresh burger on butter toasted kaiser with fries and a glass of cabernet! Perfect spot to kick back and relax watching the world pass by on the riverwalk! The burger can't be beat and the beer is cold! And in a tourist area, it's not easy to find a place where lunch with a drink and a tip still runs less than $10! This place does it right!

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!

Walking around Wilmington and discovered this neat little restaurant. Only 3 tables inside and…read moreseveral bar stools at the quaint bar area. Seating available outside as well on a warmer day. Had the crispy chicken chef salad...amazing! Their blue cheese dressing was tasty and the salad was fresh with lots of delicious items mixed in. Service was excellent. Will go back for sure!

The Big Lew

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Lamb Burger . Super quality!!!

Dram Yard

4.2(194 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$$

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

Anne Bonny's Bar and Grill

4.0(288 reviews)

Get the Seadog - Giant crispy fried cod served in a hoagie roll served with horseradish slaw,…read morelettuce tomatoes and cajun remoulade. This wasn't even the spot I had planned for while visiting Wilmington but it was a great choice! It was also a pretty popular spot during lunch compared to the other nearby restaurant. Its right on the water the food was delicious the views stunning and service amazing!

Great location right on the Cape Fear River. Really enjoyed the food! Highly recommend the River…read morePhilly! Very good service. Will definitely be back!

Great seating along the water front

Ship's Wheel Pretzel

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Strawberry Daquiri

Rebellion NC

4.2(285 reviews)

Last week my family held an event on the second floor here. The staff at the bar and that brought…read moreout food worked hard! I had a couple of tasty cocktails such as an old fashioned and an orange-based liqueur cocktail. The food was also very tasty. The sliders, Mac and cheese, fries, and pretty much everything else was fresh and well made. The bar has a great ambiance for a party. Pretty much any drink is makable here with tons of options. You can also catch a sports game here pretty easily with all the TVs. This place has a great staff, good food, and fun vibe. Definitely worth you checking out.

Rebellion in Wilmington has a great vibe--warm lighting, with a historic feel, laid-back…read moreatmosphere. We dropped by for wings after some recommendations, so our expectations were high. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and our waiter was especially attentive which we appreciated. The only hiccup was the food timing--our wings took at least 20 minutes to come out. That said, it felt like they may have just been having an off night, and the service throughout stayed positive and professional. Overall, it's a great place for drinks and atmosphere, with a staff that clearly cares about the experience.

Brussel Sprouts and the Rebel Yell sandwich.

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Drink

PinPoint Restaurant

4.4(395 reviews)

This restaurant had interesting vegan offerings; I'm sad it has closed. Nice ambiance. New one,…read morecalled Nils, opening in 2 weeks. Mediterranean options.

Went for appetizers, drinks and dessert. did not disappoint! Menu shown was in mid June…read more Our server was very knowledge and attentive. Hosts were very sweet! Nothing crazy or fun with decor. Highly recommend the espresso martini! It is made with Vietnamese coffee, new favorite espresso martini! The rose martini was delicious as well. Also highly recommend the Candy Bar for dessert, and split it with someone. It is delicious but super rich. All the food we ate was yummy! None of the mains were speaking to us, but maybe next time!!

Crab cakes a must

Fried chicken

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Award winning cheesecake

manna

4.3(288 reviews)

0.7 mi

•$$$

Amazing food. Upscale yet chill vibe. Great mocktails. We will be back…read more Didn't plan in advance so we were waiting when they opened as website mentioned they take walk ins. So glad we did. We were welcomed in and enjoyed every dish we tried. Menu changes daily no changes. Sit back and enjoy:)

Manna is one of my favorite restaurants ever. And, it's where I first learned about mounting sauce…read more-- a.k.a. "mantecatura" (tossing slightly al dente pasta in a sauce with fat (butter/oil/cheese) and starchy pasta water to create a light coating that clings to the pasta. The chef at Manna is a pro at this process, which I first discovered when I ordered the one of his specials -- the Arthur Ave Pasta, which was housemade spaghetti, with Italian Speck, spinach, shaky cheese, and pistachios. Wowza! (And, yes, I live in the Bronx near Aruthur Avenue but can't say I've ever had pasta this good in Little Italy Bronx). I also had the best Broccoli Soup I've ever had at Manna. I usually stay away from Broccoli Soup, as I usually consider it "pedestrian" or "very 90s." But this Broccoli Soup -- woah! It was f-ing fantastic! I want a second home in Wilmington just so I can go to this restaurant all the time. I just love it!

Dining room

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Covey

4.2(77 reviews)

2.7 mi

Sat at the bar on a Monday night to enjoy half night glasses of wine…read more Bartender Madison was very kind. Shared about the days specials and engaged in fun conversation with other parties at the bar and myself. Enjoyed rose and the shrimp n grits. While waiting for my entree a little cast iron skillet with two biscuits and butter appeared and they were hot and delicious. Perfect appetizer! All the fish is caught local except the mahi so I went with Madison's recommendation of the shrimp n grits and did not disappoint. Then the mousse was so yummy and beautiful presentation.

Made a reservation for a Saturday evening with a girlfriend at 6pm. Got seated immediately and our…read morewaitress was very nice. The duck appetizer was just ok. A little dry and almost tasted like BBQ instead of duck. The lamb shank was fall off the bone tender. Sauce needed a little bit of salt. Otherwise it was delicious. My friend loved her duck dish. The arugula with the vinaigrette made it. The pumpkin cheesecake matched the description. Very creamy but not overly sweet. The vibes there are great. It can get a little loud at times but nothing crazy. Would definitely come back for the next seasonal menu!