We were finally able to stop into RUMCOW on Grace Street in Wilmington this weekend! We had a reservation. We were seated within a couple of minutes. Our server Ava knew the menu and read the table well. No overselling, no scripted recitations. She just took care of us. Thanks Ava. The Blackened Chicken Breast came with basmati rice, seasonal vegetables, black bean salsa, and a chipotle cream sauce that worked harder than it had any right to. The flavors didn't compete. They really settled into each other. The Rumcow Salad, loaded with mixed greens, carrot, tomato, onion, cucumber, and wonton strips, we ordered topped with shrimp. It was sharper and more interesting than we had expected. It's a newer spot in Wilmington, and it shows. In The Best Sense. We'll be back for sure! read more

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We've been to Rumcow many times over the years and always enjoyed it. It's a cool spot with two floors, a lively atmosphere, and a strong A sanitation rating (96.5), which is always reassuring. The service was friendly and attentive, and we started the evening with a bottle of Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay (2023), which was a nice way to begin dinner. Unfortunately, the food this time around just didn't live up to what we remember. We started with the Asian Tots, which used to be one of the best items on the menu. In the past, the peanut sauce was poured over the top so everything came together as one dish. Now it's served in a small cup on the side, and there isn't enough of it to properly coat the tots. They also stopped finishing the dish with the salt they used to sprinkle on top, and even the presentation has changed -- the silver dome they once used is gone. What used to be a great appetizer has been reduced to something that's simply okay. For the main courses, the results were mixed but mostly disappointing. My blackened chicken was a little overcooked. My wife ordered the miso salmon, and that was overcooked as well -- which is especially noticeable with fish. When salmon goes past the sweet spot it quickly becomes dry, and that seemed to be the case here. None of the food was terrible, but none of it really stood out either. Dessert didn't help much. I ordered the carrot cake, but what arrived looked more like a small cupcake buried under a heavy amount of icing, with a large mound of whipped cream on the side. There wasn't much actual cake there, and it wasn't what I expected from a carrot cake dessert. One thing that stood out during the meal is that it feels like the kitchen may be constantly adjusting dishes -- moving sauces, changing presentations, tweaking things that didn't necessarily need fixing. In restaurants, sometimes the best move is to pick a lane and execute it consistently rather than continually modifying dishes that customers already liked. So here's the bottom line. Rumcow is not the Rumcow of yesteryear. Was the food terrible? No. But it was mostly meh, and that may be the most disappointing part. This used to be a place known for memorable dishes and small details done right. Right now it feels like a restaurant that has drifted away from what made it special. The atmosphere and service are still good, but the food just doesn't match the reputation it once had. read more

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First off ignore any pictures of the menu prior to June 2026 since it's completely different now. Wanted a few items I saw on the old menu but they had none of those choices left. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. The food was decent but not worthy of the five stars some post here. Wife got sliders that were ok, I had the burger. Very dry and bacon was as hard as a diamond. They can relax on the ton of IOA beers and offer a few more choices read more

Rumcow - Dry burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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My husband and I enjoyed the shrimp and grit tacos as well as the Wagyu peppercorn flank steak. The service was wonderful. They were very attentive without interrupting constantly. It was a great experience and we are definitely going to be back! read more

Rumcow - Wagyu peppercorn flank steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We were in town for a show at the Wilson Center, and decided to grab dinner somewhere walkable from the theater. Rumcow came up and we made early reservations. We were seated in the window. Nice to have a view, but the table was so tiny it was a little tight. If you are just ordering drinks, it's fine, but we were eating. Server was very kind and helpful. She made recommendations for drinks and told us the specials. Sweet tea was very tasty. We decided on an appetizer to share. The Avocado Fries were good, but bland. Avocado already has a mild taste, so this was different for me. The dipping sauce helped, but unfortunately the flavor was lacking. For entrees we had the cornbread with chicken sliders and the fried green tomatoes sliders. Everything was fried. The cornbread had chicken, fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese. Hubs said it was tasty, and fries were crispy. The fried green tomato sliders were ok. Kind of small. This was an entree but it was appetizer sized with a tiny bit of greens on top. Not much sauce, or anything fresh on sliders to cut through the fried taste. Tomatoes on a bun with a side of fries. And pricey. I was on the fence with this review. There was some good (server, atmosphere) and some not so good( too small table, limited menu, small portions, high prices). I would like to see the dish I got redone with more greens and an aoli added to it. Would have been better. Bottom line, possibly would come back. Maybe I would try something else on the menu. I did like the vibe with the rustic cow theme. Cool downtown look too. I'd like to give it another chance another time. read more

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Walking around Wilmington, I discovered this eclectic spot. The decor was modern rustic garden with cow photos. Sounds crazy but it works! The favorite dish of the nice was the crispy pork belly tacos!!! The margarita was well balanced. The Brussels sprouts weren't as crispy as I prefer but the flavor was good. The staff seemed a bit green but did an amazing job as it was very busy with large parties. read more

Rumcow - Crispy pork belly pockets - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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REALLY good cocktails and great spot for either a dinner reservation or getting lucky and popping up at the bar. Split a few small plates and they were great. Seasonal holiday cocktails were the best. Was SUPER busy and packed - definitely a well loved spot! read more

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Great food and drinks and friendly staff :) bartenders were very funny and knowledgeable and servers were very fast and kind :)

The cocktails are great, and the food is high quality. However, I wish the menu was larger or they had more daily specials. I've been several times over the last few years and the menu hasn't evolved much. My go-to is the Nashville Hot Chicken Waffle Sliders. The chicken has a great breading. I also recommend the Coconut Margarita if you like sweet drinks - it's creamy and fruity! read more

Absolutely, recommend this place. Food and staff are top shelf. This review makes me want to go down there right now for brunch.

Prior to our visit, I contacted the restaurant regarding our reservation and was incorrectly told it was not under my name -- when in fact it was. That confusion set an unfortunate tone before we even arrived. Once seated, our server was absolutely delightful -- friendly, attentive, and efficient throughout the meal. She truly was the highlight of the evening, and we appreciated her professionalism and warmth. Unfortunately, the food itself did not live up to expectations. The rice was overcooked, the chicken was dry, and the salmon was also overcooked. To make matters worse, right after our bill was brought to the table -- before I had even signed the slip -- we were asked when we would be leaving because they needed the table. That felt rushed and unwelcoming, especially after spending the evening there as paying guests. RumCow has potential, and our server did an excellent job, but the food quality and handling by the front staff left much to be desired. read more

I had the blackened chicken, it was so delicious and my friend had the chicken and waffles which was just as great. Cute spot for little bestie date! read more

Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 Our waitress was amazing, we got Fried Avocado OMG 12/10 Queso dip 10/10 so good Tuna wonton tacos 10/10 We both got the BBQ steak with BBQ on the side it was amazing, I definitely will be back read more

Rumcow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This restaurant was something out of Bar Rescue. The hostesses were confused, the service was terrible, and the entire staff seemed miserable. Throughout the night, one of the bartenders was slamming bottles into the trash intentionally to make a loud noise. One of the servers told the guy to chill and he said "I can't." The food was barely edible and not good. I feel bad for the staff because you can tell that this is a management issue. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. read more

First this isn't a dog in the servers, my bartender was new, but made good drinks. I ordered sesame crusted tuna, rice and asparagus, one of the most blandest tuna I have had...rice was old dry and if you can't make rice buy a rice cooker. Can't F up asparagus but this meal was terrible hands down if it wasn't for the servers this would be a 1 star! read more

Rumcow - Old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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How did this get a 1 rating on yelp? I'm starting to lose my trust in these rankings. Food is awful Tuna was fishy and stringy Sent it back Steak was served cold and was chewy Chicken was dry and cold as well Servers seemed miserable Don't come here read more

Food was delicious, the kale chips and the shrimp and grit tacos were Upstairs ambience could use a little effort. The flickering led lights were a bit off putting, and a table for two was so small we couldn't fit our drinks and plates. read more

A girlfriend came back to town to visit and was craving RumCow- so as always I said yes! We enjoyed Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grit Tacos (I'm a creature of habit), and Pork Belly Pockets (habit!) along with several beverages. We had excellent service, excellent food, and excellent drinks. Love coming here!! read more

We had reservations for six at Rumcow on Saturday night. We arrived and were seated at the table immediately. Decor was nice. It looked like upscale farmhouse. The only thing about the aesthetic that I would change would be the chairs. They were uncomfortable to sit in for a long period of time. Unfortunately, I felt like they were not prepared for the night. They seemed very well staffed, but it took 15+ minutes to get drinks and our appetizers took 30+ minutes. Our server mentioned that the restaurant was booked out for reservations and that the bar got super overcrowded and that was why there was a delay on drinks. For an appetizer, my husband and I shared the char crusted tuna tataki. Tuna was very good! For my entree, I got the pulled pork sliders. The fries were also good, but the slider wasn't anything memorable. Our server was EXTREMELY nice, but we truly were disappointed with the wait times for everything. I don't think I'd come back here. read more

Rumcow - Char crusted tuna tataki - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I enjoy sitting outside this restaurant on warm days and find inside cozy on those that are cooler. The service is always great. I love those tacos. read more

Had a better experience with the food at my second visit. Made reservations online. Started off with the kale chips and crispy pork belly pockets, which I would eat both again. The kale chips were crunchy and flavorful. The crispy pork belly pockets were better than expected. I'm not a goat cheese fan so I was glad that the goat cheese was not overpowering, in fact, I didn't even notice it was there. The pork belly pockets were served like tacos in a pita like bread. The bread was so soft, it was almost like biting into a pillow. The peach chutney was the perfect addition to the pork belly. For the entrée, went with the fried green tomato sliders. They were good, couldn't finish all of it. They may have been the best fried green tomatoes I have ever had. The green tomatoes were cooked perfectly, were soft and were fried crispy. Perhaps it could've had a little bit more bacon aïoli, otherwise, it had a good amount of sweet thai chili sauce. It also came with sautéed arugula, which could've been chopped a bit. The arugula was a bit stringy to eat. The entrée came with fries, which you can change to salad or something else, for an upcharge. The fries were plain, slightly crispy. The dessert menu looked good, but was too full to indulge. We were sat at the table right next to the men's bathrooms, which was not the greatest place. It was astonishing the amount of men that used the bathroom that night. It was more than a pregnant woman using the bathroom. The men going in and out of the bathroom was distracting and a bit strange smelling. Other than that, had a good experience with the food overall. read more

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Service was quick and very friendly! Tasty dishes and decent portions with fun cocktail options. One inconsequential complaint is the shape of the salad bowl, hard to mix up without spilling everything on the table. read more

This place is delicious. Came for a girls night so we each had a beverage. Moscow mules were highly rated. We got a ton of appetizers and they were all amazing. Brussels sprouts, Asian tots, and fried avocado. The fried green tomato sliders were so fresh and delicious. But let me tell you. Our server recommended the bacon aioli. She was so right! Super grateful to her for that because it was delicious. Would definitely return! read more

Came into Rumcow tonight, had a wonderful time. Food was amazing and our server (believe her name was Kas?) was funny and so attentive. Will definitely be returning for the awesome vibes in there. read more

I came to Rumcow on a stellar recommendation from my Uber driver and a coworker. This restaurant is very well decorated. Spacing is tight and intimate but tasteful - a great place for a date or meal with a friend. I was greeted promptly by the bartender as I perched myself up at the bar. I ordered a drink with orange notes and it was very well made! For an appetizer I ordered avocado fries. I must say I was shocked to see the portion size. Each fry is a huge wedge. There is no way one person or even two people can finish this. The mayo sauce on the side was honestly kind of forgettable but I really loved the hot honey sauce. I think the breading on the avocado was excessive and they really need to consider improving this dish. I ordered the cornbread sliders next. I must say while I love the concept of this dish - it's too much fried components and not enough fresh components or acid to cur through that fat. The green tomato inside is also fried, and it didn't come with any sort of sauce to help the dish, so I used the hot honey to balance the flavors. The cornbread was also a little burnt? Or over-toasted. Overall I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. If you are in Wilmington definitely come here for the drinks. While the food can be improved, I still think they are doing exciting things with southern cuisine which is notable. read more

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Went here off a recommendation. Such a cute lil spot, the bartender was the sweetest! Loved their tortilla chips! read more

Rumcow - Queso Cheese Dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Went for my wife's birthday last year great staff great waitress and the food was absolutely phenomenal we will be back this year for her birthday again thank you Rumcow read more

Highly recommend reservations as it is very popular. Food was excellent. We had the edamame which was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Then the Miso Salmon, with seasonal veggies. Probably the best Salmon I've had in years! Was a little noisy but I think you would expect that for it's location. It's situated very close to a venue where events are usually held, so a go-to before. Could have had more barstaff. Alexis did a great job handling the amount of orders coming in. read more

Delicious, large servings of food and fun cocktails to choose from as well! The service was friendly and speedy as well. The one thing is it's a little hard to hear in there among the music and echoing of other people talking. But other than that it's a lovely spot with creative dishes! read more

Rumcow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Cozy atmosphere, solid food. They were out of quite a few basic ingredients including Bacon and Mayo. Pretty sure you can get those from the convenience store on the corner but solid dishes nonetheless! The black bean burger was delicious and moist and while the Brussels were flavorful they were extremely greasy. Waitress was sweet but not fully informed about the items or beers available. read more

Rumcow is a okay place to hang out and have some light dinner. The service is decently fast enough for its size. The menu is fresh and "exotic" but don't be expecting a red meat based restaurant just because the word cow is on the name haha... I think to properly rate this restaurant I will use a individual 1-10 rate of each important area so you understand my 4 star: Service - 9/10 - The service is fine, servers go at a decent phase and bring the stuff with a smile on. We did got wine with our meal and I kinda wish they pour the glass in front of me but thats just my preference. Ambience - 7/10 - The restaurant theme is a bit hard to get. Menu contrast with the establishment gives two different feelings entirely. It's also very compact so if they are busy it WILL get very loud. Consider this if you're looking for a quiet dinner. Food - 7/10 - I did read current reviews prior to my visit and wanted to make my own conclusions specially because I saw Wagyu meat on the menu (I love steak) ...I ordered the Wagyu strip plate and let me tell you that I was not impressed... It comes with a cold pasta salad and around 10-12 bites of Wagyu, I ordered the steak medium and it came nearly well done, the combination lacked flavor and they added a somewhat tasty sauce decoration on the plate but it was too small a portion to last more than 2 bites...I believe it was the most expensive plate they had at a 36ish dollars cap and doesn't justify the price. Let me say this again: the food wasn't bad but it wasn't worth of praising. We also ordered Shrimp Tacos as appetizer and I would say that they saved the night for sure. They were a nice little opener and were probably the best part of the meal. read more

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Rumcow is great. The servers are attentive. The food and drinks are tasty. I had a burger and it was delicious - I can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to have the chance to try it again. read more

Wow! It was a wonderful experience! Great drinks- The Venetian and the cucumber margarita- the food has both small plates and entrees! The small plates I had were exceptionally delicious- the pork belly pockets and the tuna poke tacos- had the lava cake for dessert - I will definitely be back the next time in Wilmington!! The bar manager - Alexis was just too cute and sweet! It is small! If you're eating later in the dinner hour would make reservations but I walked in at sat at the bar on a Monday. read more

Food good and service good, but a draft beer at this casual of a place should not cost $10!

We went on a Saturday night! It was pretty busy! Our waitress I believe her name was Kate or Catie! Was super kind, and was absolutely killing it during the rush. Unfortunately, we had a bit of a delay, because the kitchen was backed up, and it was super busy. But it was totally reasonable because it's tourist season! I ordered the Vietnamese chicken wraps, and a grilled chicken salad! Everything was delicious. They even had caipirinhas! I am Brazilian, and typically when I find caipirinhas in the United States, they have way too much simple syrup, but these were perfect! In all, our visit was a very positive experience but I did have a couple of pieces of constructive criticism: There was no soap in the women's bathroom, only hand sanitizer. I even looked underneath the sink and they were only hand sanitizer refills. As a biologist, hand sanitizer is great, and it is effective against many different types of bacteria but the fats in soap are more effective at breaking down the cell membranes of many bacteria. So please replace that asap! The chairs were also a bit uncomfortable, and the restaurant is pretty tight. I would love to come back when it's not as busy. If I had to be really nitpicky, the salad bowl was a little challenging to use, because my fork and knife kept falling out of it. It's really pretty, but it was just a very deep odd shape lol. I will definitely be back! I can't wait to try the rest of the menu! read more

Rumcow - Chicken salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Used to be a great local spot but this visit was not great. I ordered the island burger. It was not cooked to temp, no avocado, barely any chimichurri couldn't taste it and the pineapple salsa didn't taste fresh. Overall just disappointed. Could've got a better burger from a fast food place. My boyfriend had the southern fried chicken cornbread sliders. Used to be 3 now it's 2. Portions are smaller and prices have gone up too. I will say the service was good and the ambiance is nice. Would maybe stop in again for a drink but probably not for food. read more

While spending the night at the Courtyard (which is across the street from this restaurant/bar) we stopped in here for a nightcap and the GM took great care of us. We opted for a couple interesting cocktails, while seated at the bar. The décor in here is beautiful and light, nice use of materials too. The place was packed when we got there, but within about 25 mins, it was completely empty... turns out they close early on weeknights, and patrons were just finishing up to leave. They didn't rush us tho and they allowed us to take our time, sit & sip. I checked out their menu while there and it was decent looking. I could see coming back to try their food. read more

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First time here for a friend's birthday. Our server was friendly and attentive. It was a bit crowded and loud. Our food was lukewarm to cold and taste was average. We sent a drink back (the whiskey fig one) which tasted completely of lime. When we received the bill, the drink that was sent back (after a sip) was not taken off. Only after we complained about it was it taken off. No second chances here. read more

Great food. We shared a bunch of appetizers which are all amazing. Only complaint- very cold( it's in an old building with not good insulation!) I kept my puffer jacket on the whole time. Service quite good. read more

Very underwhelming experience with the food. Coconut curry shrimp and pork belly taco appetizers were not good at all. Brussels sprouts were good. Entrees were decent. Overall would not go back because food was nothing special. read more