We had the best lunch here on Christmas Eve! I did make a reservation because I was nervous it being around the holidays with family in town. We arrived, sat ourselves, only ones in the restaurant. The servers were so friendly and the food speaks for itself. Our drinks were stiff and delicious and we had fun looking at all the different things on their menu. "Eclectic" certainly describes this place. From rabbit, to elk to bison to kangaroo. We all tried the kangaroo (Aussie frites) albeit chewy, the flavor was good. Everything is fresh and made from scratch, even their ketchup. We all enjoyed our meals, the "kid-cuterie" was adorable and they do have pizza, for those not as adventurous. My elk burger had duck prosciutto, so good. My husband had one of each patty (elk and bison) and the wild boar soup. My new go to when people are visiting or future date nights read more

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Great place to go!! My boyfriend and i went for the first time Tuesday, it was very slow but we were seated and our Server was very friendly and knew everything about the menu. We had the wildBoar soup with the bunny bites and home cut fries cooked in beef tallo. They do not fry food in seed oil!! Everything was great We will go back read more

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Very unique menu, this is the kind of place you go when you want to try something new. I really enjoyed the charcuterie board. read more

Platypus and Gnome - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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We celebrated Papa's 82nd bday tonight. Our server drew was great! I was disappointed that they were out of the kangaroo and bunny bites. But, everyone loves their food! I had the pretzel charcuterie and the duck prosciutto was my favorite part. My dormer has the game changer pizza and it was excellent as well as just the regular pepperoni pizza. Salads are also really good. 3 people at the table has the mushroom Swiss burger (2 had his on and 1 has elk.) The elk was probably my fav! It's such a relaxed, chill place and a fun vibe! The chili had a very Smokey fable and was god, too' read more

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First time here last night with DH and two others. DH dined here a few days earlier and brought home half of his Platyburger. I ate his leftovers. Wow, I really loved it. I've wanted to dine here for quite a while. I ordered the Platyburger, medium-rare (made of brisket, short-rib, and chuck). It's topped with a garlic aioli, lettuce, tomatoes and onion; and dill pickles. I added Gouda cheese. It was juicy and oh so flavorful. It was a little messy to hold because of the aioli and juice from the burger, but I didn't care. I ate it all! Really, really good! Along with the burger, I had the Tabbouleh, which was crunchy from the vegetables and a little sweetness from the cherries. It was a nice, healthy side that complimented the burger. DH ordered the smokehouse Panini that included fried chicken tenders, wild boar, smoked bacon, smoked gouda cheese (he skipped the BBQ sauce); and hand cut fries. I had a couple bites of each and they were equally as good as what I ordered. Our two friends ordered the Platyburger and the A Little Off-Beet salad. My friend who ate the burger said it was good; and my other friend loved her salad. We ordered a couple round of drinks. I had their Platypus Mule, which I enjoyed. Our waitress was apologetic while we were waiting for our first round of drinks. There was a large dinner party and the bartender was pretty busy. We didn't mind at all. One cute thing I noticed is that the kid's menu states for, "4,563 days or younger." You do the math. Their menu has a variety of "exotic game meats," such as wild boar, elk, ostrich, rabbit, duck, etc. They also have weekend specials and rotate their menu based on the season, so other times they will have other exotic meats like kangaroo, lamb, and venison. We'll be back!! read more

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I brought a friend to the new location for dinner recently and we had the best time- the candied bacon is deeeelicious, and the pizzas are so unique and amazing! The wait staff was wonderful, the ambiance was great, and I can't wait to go back! read more

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The place was almost empty on a Saturday night. We were seated right away and the server was kind, and tactically served our kids food first so they would not be bored waiting. I friggin love that. The kids surprisingly ate all of their food (bison hot dogs and fries) and my husband and I enjoyed our kangaroo and elk very much. I love that they fry in tallow and that they have such awesome game meats. The restaurant itself was really nice with clean bathrooms and plenty of seating. Highly recommend, will definitely be back! read more

What a delicious and different meal! We started with this incredible tuna crudo which was so fresh and vibrant. I had a salad with smoked chicken, fennel, apple, goat cheese and a light vinaigrette, but I dug right into it without thinking of taking a photo, but trust me it was hearty. As a gluten free person, it was nice they offer so many of their menu items with a gluten free option and some were naturally gf. My boyfriend got the very glutenous bison meatball and linguine special. Everything was so tasty that we ordered a pizza to go and justified it as being for lunch tomorrow. We went with the gf crust with lamb salami, fennel, and mushrooms. I felt obligated to share what a wonderful dinner we had so more people check out this awesome spot. Our server was very knowledgeable and helped make the meal special. Also very cool decore and good location close to Wrightsville. read more

Great service, low-key ambiance, and a unique menu. Convenient location close to the beach.

We went here tonight with my in-laws and family and had a very enjoyable experience. The food was excellent and creative.... with a unique focus on wild game which is fantastic. The service was a bit slow due to understaffing but our waitress was working extremely hard to accommodate everyone and cover almost all of the tables in the place. Overall a nice vibe with good food! read more

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We had a blast! The food was great. The building is as historic and eclectic as I wanted. The real star was the server, Derek. We arrived right at noon when they opened on Wednesday. The place filled up quickly after we ordered and we got to watch a show by the lone server. Derek had a hilarious nonchalant approach to handling a full house by himself. In the year of bad service he shined. By the time we left he was bartending and serving upstairs and downstairs by himself. He handled it all calm and cool with efficiency and humor. The food was mostly great. The candied bacon was a little dry, but the burgers and fries were on point! We'll definitely be back here read more

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Gave it a second try last week, in its new location. Had the burger and pizza; both were tasty and well prepared. Very nice staff also. Unfortunately, they haven't gotten the memo on draft beer prices. A 12oz draft is now $8, with a pint-pour no where to be found. Likely a deal killer for me. read more

Amazing food service and setting ! Definitely coming back again for drinks/date night without the kids :) read more

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A unique menu and great food! We went on New Year's Day and had great, friendly, service. I had a venison burger with great flavor. I would definitely recommend Platypus and Gnome when you're looking to switch it up from a routine menu and are wanting to step out of your comfort zone! read more

Absolutely kick ass burger, probably one of the best I've had in years. And completely SEED OIL FREE??? I already liked the place but that just sold it to me COLD!! Burger was fantastic, fries were killer, service was top notch, and window views were great. Y'all can come here and find out for yourselves. I'll put it this way - this place was so good that I willingly redownloaded Yelp, waited for it to load, signed in, and then left a review for this place. Worth the redownload lol. Come check this place out!!! I'd come back and drive 5 hours again just for this place... read more

It was by accident that our party of 12 ended up here for a celebration at 9pm on a Saturday To our surprise it surpassed expectations The food was phenomenal The burgers were juicy and fresh The paninis were off the chains The bacon appetizer was a huge hit The service was exceptional The ambiance was very nice - we had the upstairs couch seating The cuisine is bougie and well worth the trip! read more

Platypus and Gnome - Platy Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Bison swiss and mushroom burger was awesome. wild board soup really nice as side. Good service and ambience.

Wow! We have been sleeping on this place. This was such a delicious lunch. Amazing omelette--probably the best I've ever had. Folded to perfection with uniform flavor throughout! I can't wait to come back and try some of the cool and weird food options. $4 bloodies on Sundays! And hats off to the hiring manager! Ingrid was so hospitable and funny! Such a great server and host! Thank you!! read more

Platypus and Gnome - Fall Omelet - Gluten Free w/side salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

What happened to the kangaroo pizza???? Tried two others tonight. They are okay but nothing like the roo pizza.

Let's just talk ambiance. I did finally come back to try the gelato, paired with sparkling wine on a Sunday afternoon...and it was fine. If you're looking for the vibe of this restaurant's original ambiance though, look elsewhere. This is why we loved it. Why we visited. And, why we're done visiting. That ship has sailed. read more

Platypus and Gnome - Sunday Funday Mimosas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

I'm updating my review. I decided to give the food truck another shot and the difference between my first experience and this one was night and day. The burger was cooked medium, it was flavorful and juicy, as compared to the first time when it was burnt on both sides super tiny, enedible, and ended up being thrown away. The cheese was there, unlike last time when i was charged for it but didnt get any. I don't think they toasted the bun so it got soggy and started falling apart but I didn't really mind becuase it was so good! The only thing wrong last night was my own fault, I forgot to ask for napkins and was a mess by the time I was done eating but I was ok with it. Glad I tried them again. Different chef, different day made all the difference. read more

This is a local treasure with delicacies that are exotic and delicious. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere is inviting. We wanted to try a variety so, instead of two meals, we ordered four appetizers: the wild boar soup, the bunny nuggets, the elk poutine and the pretzel charcuterie. All were great, particularly the wild boar soup which I ordered out of curiosity but didn't expect to love. My wife, who never would have ordered it really loved it, too. The beer selection was also good, I had the Octoberfest and my wife had the stout, both terrific. We were so pleased that we made a point of thanking the owner and chatting. He could not have been nicer. I worry that great places like this have a bad habit of disappearing. So, the least I can do is to recommend it highly, which I certainly do. read more

We just stumbled in without checking Yelp. For me this place is a solid 3 1/2 star, I rounded it to 4. My wife would give this place 5 stars but she isn't writing this review. Great looking place. Some outdoor seating but it is limited. Great location in downtown. Lots of interesting game items on the menu like duck, elk sausage, venison, and wild boar. Surf and turf menu, with burgers at the low end, and seared tuna and steaks at the high end of the entrees. We started with the Sausage and Sage flatbread. The toppings were great but I wasn't a fan of the crust. The Mushroom Swiss Burger with root veggie chips was off the charts good. Same with the Seared Mesquite Tuna. Very good. Draft beer and wine selections were respectable. Mixed drinks available. For a dinner for two, you can easily drop $75 if you go for an appetizer, entrees, and adult drinks. You can get by cheaper if you do the burgers. The service was a miss. Everyone was friendly but there appeared to be confusion with who was suppose to be waiting on our table. It was probably 10 minutes after being seated before we got any service. Overall, recommend for good quality food that is a little more unique. read more

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We stopped by for lunch today. While we didn't try any of the game meat today what we did have was fantastic. It was perfect weather to dine outside. My husband started with the candies bacon, he devoured it. How can bacon be bad? I had the black bean and pumpkin chili, which was served in a little pumpkin. It was very smoky hot, but great. (The addition of celery was a bit odd). We spilt a bacon, bacon burger also delicious, even after had to lose the bottom bun after I spilled my drink. We look forward to going back and trying more of the menu. read more

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Came back to get a good burger for lunch today . It was lunchtime, and the place was not crowded. We were greeted promptly and shown to our table , menus were given and water was brought. We ordered a Arnold Palmer with unsweetened tea ,they make the best around - fresh made lemonade and I opted for just water. I decided on the Platyburger; custom hand pattied burger of ground brisket , short-rib and chuck comes with standard LTOand garlic-herb aioli, cooked medium well. Our other was Bacon Bacon Burger ; Platyburger, house bacon jam , Applewood bacon, LTO and smoked Gouda ( but the Gouda was held) , also cooked medium well. Both sides were tater tots . While we waited for our lunch we sat and enjoyed the music and interesting decor around, especially the lights . Lunch arrived and looked delicious. The pickles had great crunch , and the tater tots were seasoned lightly , fried perfectly. Perfect burger to bun ratio, and the LTO was not overpowering. One bite and I needed another napkin, it was that juicy. A perfectly seasoned and cooked . It's not an overwhelming burger , just enough where you do not feel stuffed. Both burgers were wonderful, I can't wait to go back and try something else or venture there for dinner. read more

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We stopped here before going to Tails Piano Bar. We sat at the bar and shared an app and a salad, and both were good. The salad was delicious and the flatbread was decent. I like their menu choices as they're original without trying too hard. I wish I had been hungrier because their special was Elk steak and I love elk; a man beside us ordered it and it looked delicious! We'll be back! read more

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I was so pleasantly surprised with my meal today. The Madre de Dios salad was amazing. the grilled chicken tasted fresh and the flavor was phenomenal. It was Perfectly blackened, looks like they cooked it on a cast iron skillet! I also added cheese. The balance of the mango , and avocado truly made this dish refreshing. I had ranch dressing which was also house made. It tasted like fresh dill. My husband had the platyburger and I tasted his fries. They were really good also. He enjoyed his burger. Our server was very nice. I didn't get her name but she truly was good seemed to enjoy her job. The ambiance did seem a bit out dated by they seem to already know that bc they are moving to a new location. I hope to visit again. read more

Platypus and Gnome - Platy Burger and fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Went in on a whim because Rebellion was closed for a private party and I'm so glad we did! There's a sort of hipster, divey, vibe in the space. The menus are just regular paper and suffered a bit from getting wet on the table. My boyfriend and I couldn't figure out what show was on the tv by the bar. Something like Project Runway? Even so, it seemed like we were 1 of 4 couples there for a date night so I would recommend the place for that. My boyfriend had the smokehouse tender panini and enjoyed it with fries. I'm so surprised to say this but, the Little Off Beet was the best salad I've had in ages! I opted for extra brussels and no pancetta or cheese, but if you're into that I think it would be even more delicious. The lettuce was crisp, the beets, brussels, and squash were perfectly cooked and the dressing was exquisite. I was literally saying "this is SO good!" with every bite! My drink, the Apple-Jack Cataract was good too. I'd never had moonshine before and was worried it might be too strong for my light-weight palate, but it was delicious and nice to look at too. Our server, Penka, was friendly and accommodating. She helped me select something that could be made vegan on the menu and I was not disappointed. She seemed to be the only person managing the bar, the entire restaurant floor, and someone who sat outside with her dog--7 parties. With that being said, it did take over 30minutes from the time we were sat to the time we got our food, but it was SO worth it in my opinion. Overall great experience and I would absolutely go back. read more

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I've always loved platypus and gnome, but so happy for there new residence and having them closer to WB now. The menu has changed, but still the same bangin unique creations. I've had the elk burger, boar soup (a MUST) and the kangaroo pizza (flavor explosion). The boss knows what's he's doing, have a little faith and try something new. You won't be disappointed, and love they kept the gelato for a sweet treat. Friendly staff and more relaxed atmosphere, but still a great date night any night. read more

Always wanted to try this place but never made it to downtown. They have moved closer to Wrightsville. Went by for lunch (door locked). Thought it was closed but as we were walking away, owner opened door (he had been downstairs). Despite tropical storm watch and limited staffing he was open and we got a fantastic pizza for lunch. Excellent service and excellent food. We will be back Menu is very interesting (game focused) but many options for people (and if you aren't interested in game, the can sub chicken) read more

Forced to eat and get a little bougie here since the dive next store was closed for renovations. My buddy's wife was happier. My elk burger was great, Roquefort on top was good, could have used a bit more than half a teaspoon of the red wine reduction. Table mates were happy with the Platy-burger, and a salad with Ahi Tuna topping. I'd go back, if someone objected to dive food. read more

Platypus and Gnome - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We went for lunch, not realizing they also have a weekend brunch. The brunch menu looked good. We decided to get the burgers which are great. Service was very friendly. We will definitely be back. read more

What a cool place! We stopped by last night to have a drink..turned into 2 drinks and something we'd normally never try. We had great service from Jake the bartender..very pleasant and easy going. We decided to order the black bean pumpkin chili. Trust me, try it. We thought it was the chef who brought it out, turns out it was the owner, who jokingly begged us to actually eat the pumpkin with the chili. Apparently most people just eat the chili which makes for an expensive bowl of chili when you ignore the main component! Anyway, we took his advice and it made all the difference. Very filling and such a unique group of flavors together! We finished off with a delicious piece of cheesecake..pumpkin coffee flavor. My husband hates coffee but loved this dessert. Really cool and different vibe inside. It feels like you're in someone's house at times..just homey and inviting. The bar area is really open and spacious with plenty of seating. Bathrooms are clean and they have a bowl of sugar scrub to exfoliate your hands The owner Matt was super easy to talk to and makes a point to connect with his patrons. Highly recommend!! read more

Platypus and Gnome - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Service was good. Food was meh. I was mislead a bit on what the protein options were for adding onto a salad. The waitress said Elk Steak, but what I received was more like slow cooked shredded elk. Not the same thing at all. Disappointing for an extra 12$ on top of a 14$ salad. I would've been better offer just ordering one of their burgers. read more

During challenging times such as this, I'm happy to cut some slack to many businesses due to staffing and/or product shortages. However, there are certain instances where I'm not willing to do so, and two of those are rudeness and poorly maintained rest rooms. Four of us walked in and since we didn't notice a hostess or a sign indicating we should wait we walked over to a high top. We were only interested in drinks and apps so thought that was appropriate, but the hostess came over and told us the table was too small and moved us to a regular table. I have no issue with that, but the way she spoke to us you would have thought we asked for her first born to be sacrificed to the Gods. Strike one. We almost walked out but opted to stick around and for a while we were glad we did. The food was quite good, and no complaints about the service overall. But then all but one of us went to the restroom and practically got nauseous. In fact, the ladies room was so bad I went to the mens room instead, which believe it or not was better, albeit very marginally. Strike two. You know the drill folks. If a public space like a bathroom is dirty there's no telling what the kitchen looks like. No strike three. So there's hope here. If you go, the beet salad is damn good. Just don't go to the bathroom! read more

Oh my gosh!!! Amazing food, service , and entertainment on Christmas Eve. We got the tuna, salad, and beetza. Best trio ever!

(4.25 stars) At first glance, this delightfully oddly named eatery may seem like it is trying too hard to stand out. However, there is more than mere gimmickry afoot here. The intriguing menu is paired with great ambiance and an efficient kitchen that has a good command of flavors. To begin, Platypus and Gnome is deceptively spacious. There are upstairs and downstairs dining areas as well as a bar. My wife and I scored an upstairs table, which gave us a nice view of everything down below - the bartender seemed to be on top of his game. The walls are lined with paintings for sale by local artists, and a jazz band was playing at the time of our visit. Put these elements together, and you're left with a cool and comfortable atmosphere. Platypus and Gnome's inventive menu makes abundant use of boar, duck, and squash in interesting ways. Appetizers include game poutine, candied bacon, and duck l'orange flatbread, sandwiches include everything from an elk burger to duck confit to a squash cake, and entrees range from the requisite New York strip to bacon-wrapped boar to braised venison. Though this variety made for a difficult decision, I couldn't resist crossing off a bucket list item: a house-made Turducken. My wife settled on the mesquite tuna, and we split a cup of wild boar soup beforehand. Flavors across the board were excellent. The soup (a squash/red pepper/smoked gouda base) was wonderfully smoky. The tuna was cooked to the desired medium doneness, and the sweet corn risotto that accompanied it was addictively creamy. Meanwhile, the Turducken was like eating Thanksgiving. Not only were the Cajun-rubbed turkey, chicken, and duck quite tasty, but the accompanying green beans were perfectly cooked with just enough bite and the mashed sweet potatoes were among the best I've had. For all that went right, there were still a few inconsistencies. The broccoli that came with the tuna was a bit undercooked while the edges of the turkey were somewhat dry. These issues are ordinarily easily forgivable, but with entrees priced (not outrageously) in the mid-$20s, they tend to command more attention. Overall, Platypus and Gnome made for a great meal, and I would not hesitate to return should I find myself back in Wilmington again. read more

Platypus and Gnome - Turducken! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Man I want to love this place...BUT duck nachos had no duck in them. Literally. Brought it up to server and they did nothing. Overcharged for wine. Hair in food. Really incredible burger but side of quinoa was subpar. I'd say that's my general review: subpar. And way overpriced! read more

Platypus and Gnome - Duck nachos. Do you see duck?! Maybe I missed it....good flavors but no meat!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This is a really cool place to try if you're a foodie! Had a super nice time with my boyfriend and it was very cozy. The food was also so good, the pretzel of the charcuterie was fantastic. This is a great spot to take a date or some friends :) read more

Decided to try something different, candied bacon! OMG! I had the Elk Burger she had the bacon cheese burger, we both had the farm veggies! Food was outstanding and the service was great! Highly recommend this place! read more

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