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    Pilot House

    3.5 (409 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Pilot House Photos

    Business Info

    PILOT HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Pilot House

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fried Green Tomatoes - 3/5
    Jay N.

    Beautiful restaurant by the river, we were able to see a stunning sunset before & as we were dining. We were sat at a further corner away from the busy main area so it was nicely quiet for our group to chit chat & enjoy our time. The services were fast & smooth, the waitress made sure our drinks were refilled and check on us multiple times. Food came out at a good pace, we didn't feel rush eating or waited too long. I ordered Blackened Redfish, it was sadly a bit too salty for my liking, but the LAYER OF CRAB RICE UNDERNEATH WAS AMAZING. Would just ordered this separately next time if I could. My partner ordered the Fried green Tomatoes - they enjoyed it, I was okay with it, also was too salty for my liking.

    Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
    John G.

    This place is near the end of the River walk with a beautiful view. Sit outside if you can. We had a small dog with us. They are dog friendly. The staff were super helpful and kind. Great service and great food. My wife and I both got the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich. We left nothing. We killed it. So... so good. We also both got the house side salad and Gin and Tonic. Wonderful lunch. Will definitely return! Nice job folks.

    Carolina Spritz

    Exceptional service by Emily L., food and drinks!!! Red drum and grouper were phenomenal. Try Carolina Spritz. It's delicious!!!

    The view
    Melissa G.

    We haven't been here since moving to the area but only because they're so many other places to try. Friends were in town and wanted to eat near the water so we chose this place. The outdoor eating area is phenomenal and difficult to beat! The service was good and he was friendly without being obtrusive. We each ordered different entrees and each was good. Not great, but good. This probably won't be our go-to place but I am happy we ate there again.

    drinks
    Chloe K.

    Walked around wilmington with the girls and found a cute outdoor patio to sit and get drinks at! All of the drinks were very good. We also got the spinach dip which was delicious! It was nice sitting outside, on the water, with lots of planes flying over us. Our waiter was nice as well.

    Scottish Salmon (not gluten free)
    Amy P.

    My mouth is watering just writing this review! The food was so good we went back again! Thomas was our server and did a phenomenal job! My tea was never empty, his recommendations were spot on, and he triple checked to be sure my items were gluten free! Pimento cheese with tons of fresh cut veg-full of flavor, amazing texture and huge portion. The filet with mashed potatoes melted in my mouth! Night two I had the lamb lollipops WOW! I haven't had lamb in ages, Thomas recommended and did not go wrong! I was pleased with the gluten free options, the non-gf was super happy as well. Prices are on par for the food, food is beyond delicious, service was great and portions are generous!

    Sweet Potato Grouper Sweet Potato Grouper
    Annabel W.

    My husband and I were in town for a funeral service. We stopped by this fine, yet casual establishment on 9/30, hours after Hurricane Ian came through. Pleasantly surprised that they were open as were other restaurants in Wilmington. When we called, they said they were not busy so we did not need to make reservations. When we arrived, there was a small wedding party on one side of the restaurant and we sat at the window with a view of the Cape Fear River. Service was great and so was our meal.

    Sweet Potato Grouper
    Paula T.

    If you are looking for a picturesque restaurant on the river then this is the place for you! The tables all overlook the river and they have outdoor seating. The servers were very knowledgeable and pleasant. Our server recommended the grouper with sweet potato and mushroom raviolis. This dish did not disappoint. It was cooked perfectly. We also had the stuffed salmon. Wow! Another excellent dish. Our server was gracious enough to split the dishes for us.

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    1 year ago

    Enjoyed my meal tonight! Everyone was wonderful! Vince checked in and recommended a delicious cocktail! Our group had a great time!

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    7 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Went to lunch and ordered shrimp and grits. Just ok, grits should be creamier and although shrimp was good I did not care for the sauce.

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    Page 1 of 11

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    Seaview Crab Company - Midtown - Soft shell crab bites

    Seaview Crab Company - Midtown

    4.5(78 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Seafood sounded delicious while in Wilmington on a day trip. We stopped by the Seaview Crab Company…read morefor a quick lunch. We were welcomed in by the friendly staff as well as the smell of fresh caught seafood. I ordered the fried flounder sandwich with a side of coleslaw. Hubby ordered a shrimp po'boy with french fries. I really enjoyed my fried flounder sandwich! The fish was moist, flaky and flavorful. The breading wasn't too heavy and was seasoned well. It paired very well with the simple coleslaw. Hubby's po'boy was overflowing with tasty fried shrimp. He loved the addition of tangy, spicy peppers. The french fries had a perfect crisp and were salted well. We also tried some of my brother-in-law's hushpuppies which were yummy. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. It was a successful lunch for our group!

    If you are spending spring break or the summer here in Wellington Beach, North Carolina this is the…read moreplace to get your cooked or fresh caught seafood. They have an amazing assortment of fresh caught fish as well as steamed or fried platters and boils. Prices are reasonable and flavor is outstanding...no shortcuts on seasoning. Service is reasonable. There is a short wait as they cook the food but its worth it. There is outdoor seating but definitely more of a carryout spot!

    Photos
    Seaview Crab Company - Midtown
    Seaview Crab Company - Midtown - Grilled fish

    Grilled fish

    Seaview Crab Company - Midtown - Fresh Whole fish available daily! Pick out your favorite fish and our team will clean it however you'd like!

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    Fresh Whole fish available daily! Pick out your favorite fish and our team will clean it however you'd like!

    Michael's on the Waterfront - The pretzel is a must-have!

    Michael's on the Waterfront

    4.2(225 reviews)
    0.3 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.

    Photos
    Michael's on the Waterfront - Sitting area

    Sitting area

    Michael's on the Waterfront - Shrimp linguini

    Shrimp linguini

    Michael's on the Waterfront - View from the patio

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    View from the patio

    Shuckin' Shack - Half peck of fresh oysters

    Shuckin' Shack

    3.6(311 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Casual waiting with napkins, utensils, packaged saltines, moist toilettes, and sauces at each…read moretable. Waitress was pleasant and provided recommendations. She was busy but still helped refill water. Was surprised to have pleasant live music on Friday night that wasn't too loud for conversations and also enjoyable. The food overall was solid. The clam chowder was the favorite thing we ordered, though a little over-seasoned and heavy on the salt. The fish and chips basket had great hush puppies but only the batter of the cod was flavored, not the cod itself. The low country boil was solid but not impressive. The corn was boiled and not flavored. The shrimp was fresh. Overall the environment was fun and vibrant. A nice place for a fast casual meal with solid seafood.

    I'll start this by saying I NEVER leave reviews, but I feel like this is necessary for public…read moresafety. This happened on 3/21/26: Me and a friend ordered 1lb of crab legs. ($40) They served us spoiled crab (smelled like ammonia) that was immediately swarmed by flies. Indoors. The woman who sat us pushed alcohol on us hardcore. Makes sense now. We literally said "Nah, we have to drive" and she openly pushed harder and encouraged drinking and driving. Terrible sales tactic. Terrible ethics. The only positive is the waitress who immediately gave us a refund, no questions asked. It's concerning that she wasn't surprised, but still. You'd think a beachside restaurant would serve fresh seafood. Edible, at least. This is a restaurant impossible candidate, no question. Insane.

    Photos
    Shuckin' Shack - Draft beer list.

    Draft beer list.

    Shuckin' Shack - Shrimp skillet and crab balls

    Shrimp skillet and crab balls

    Shuckin' Shack - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Copper Penny - Southwest Burger

    Copper Penny

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    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.

    It's been a long time since I last visited the Copper Penny and it's because of my overwhelmingly…read morepositive previous experience with their food and service that I recommend it to my colleagues (who had never been to Wilmington)when we were considering a place for dinner. It was a little embarrassed after spending $192, on food and drinks for 4, with glasses still full of alcohol when we're were asked to leave. We were told that they are enforcing a 90 min in restaurant visit...to the point where they don't care if we had finished our beer/alcohol...clearly they just wanted us out. I've been to a lot of restaurants all over the world but this was the first time in my life that I was asked to leave...we weren't loitering we only wanted to finish our drinks before leaving...the person didn't look at our situation...was very black and white, "you've been here more than 90mins". Their food is good, they are as popular as ever but clearly not a place for people who want to chat and hang out...copper penny is a restaurant not a hangout spot...to me that's loud and clear. As someone who isn't in Wilmington often I rely on my previous experience as a stating point to my ( restaurant) choice. This experience was so jarring that I'll never recommend copper penny to anyone. The food is good but they really don't want or need non local business!

    Photos
    Copper Penny - Order pick up!

    Order pick up!

    Copper Penny - Onion rings with spicy ketchup.

    Onion rings with spicy ketchup.

    Copper Penny - Bbq wings delivered plain with bbq for those who like it that way

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    Bbq wings delivered plain with bbq for those who like it that way

    Seabird - Raw Oysters

    Seabird

    4.6(294 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Ate here on April 3,2026- Although we didn't have a reservation, they made room for us. It was…read morepacked because of Easter Weekend. They were slammed, but you'd never know it. Service was exceptional, felt personal, like they really cared that, not only was our food good, but that we were satisfied with even the small details - my soy allergy was a big deal - and she split the meal into food I could eat and food I should avoid. Made it smooth, with no worries. Her Name was MACY and she is to be commended for her care and her gracious manner. Much more than that: the food was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. NYC eat your heart out! Atmosphere, Food, and really being treated like you matter, that is the heart of hospitality, the Seabird is marvelous, One tip: don't skip desert!

    For my birthday, my amazing fiancé surprised me with dinner at Seabird!! One of my favorites!! We…read morehad the best time!! Julia was our server, and she was fantastic. She did a great job of explaining everything on the menu and helping us pick some incredible options. We had the presquile chard, the seared fish, the schnitzel, the broiled oysters with hollandaise, the chili pork ribs, the Caroline handshake, the tall and fluffy cheesecake, and the brownie, and every bite was amazing! We were so pleasantly surprised by the hollandaise oysters- the sauce added a perfect taste to this appetizer. The restaurant wasn't super loud, only one table of ladies really enjoying their meal and laughing a bunch. My fiancé had told them it was my birthday when he made the reservation so our cheesecake came our with a birthday candle on it! We loved our experience and can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Seabird
    Seabird - Tuna Bolognese

    Tuna Bolognese

    Seabird - Chefs special - blue crab

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    Chefs special - blue crab

    Pilot House - seafood - Updated May 2026

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