Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Wilmington

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Wilmington? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Catch - Modern Seafood Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (2092)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Serving the Best Seafood in North Carolina. James Beard Semi-Finalist and Bravo Tv's "Top Chef"contestant, Chef Keith Rhodes and his team, explore the Cape Fear Coast,for the best it has to offer. We feature Wild Caught & sustainably raised Seafood. Organic and locally sourced Produce.Providing the perfect compliment to our fresh Catch. Consecutively Voted Wilmington's Best Chef Dubbed by NYT's,"Modern Seafood Cuisine” we offer an array Fresh Seafood and Vegetarian options. We offer our Signature NC Sweet Potato Salad. Appetizers include our “Fire Cracker” Shrimp, NC Oysters on the 1/2 Shell, Seafood Ceviche & Conch Fritters . Larger Plates include our "Angry" Maine Lobster, Prime Steaks, Blackend Mahi Mahi & our Award winning Charleston Crab Cakes, Seared OBX Scallops, Flounder Escovitch & Pan roasted Black Grouper. Full ABC Permits.Large selection of boutique Wines by the Glass, Hand crafted Cocktails And over a half a dozen rotating local beer offerings.

Top review

Brittany

Dined 7 days ago

Food, drinks and service were exceptional! Ricky was confident in the kitchen and food and everything was amazing! We will be back!

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Popular dish

Chop Chop Caesar Salad

Popular dish

Catch Shrimp & Grits

Popular dish

Southern Fried Seafood Platter

The Melting Pot - Wilmington(NC)

4.8

4.8 (724)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Welcome and thank you for choosing The Melting Pot of Wilmington. We offer a very unique and interactive dining experience, with a heavy focus on personal service. Our Wait staff has been hand picked and extensively trained to have the ability to provide you, our guest, with nothing less than a "Perfect Night Out." Every visit will be hand tailored to fit your wants and needs during your fondue experience. We are a four-course full service restaurant. We offer a stunning variety of creamy, perfectly balanced cheeses that our servers hand craft table side for your dining pleasure. We have a selection of cold, crisp and fresh salads, paired with house made dressings. Our entrées are as beautiful as they are delicious. We offer a wide range of premium meats and seafoods with a variety of sophisticated marinades and sauces for dipping.

Top review

ThomVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

We love this place. We eat there a couple of times a month. Always great food and service. We also appreciate their commitment to Saint Judes Hospital and the fundraiser they do every year for the children.

King Neptune Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (309)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

King Neptune is now offering fresh, local seafood as well as variations of pork, beef, and poultry dishes. There are several salad options as well. Our chef Em Ecker has a very creative way of combining locally sourced ingredients to create the most tasteful and delicious meals for our guests.

Top review

Virginia

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Our brunch experience was great. We had nine women for a birthday and the service, food and atmosphere was perfect!

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4.7

4.7 (1812)

$50 and over

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Welcome to PinPoint Restaurant!

Located in Wilmington, NC, PinPoint Restaurant serves food deeply rooted in Southern tradition. Featured in Southern Living's Best Restaurants of 2019. The menu changes daily and features local seasonal offerings from Wilmington’s farmers, fishermen, and oystermen.

Top review

Catherine

Dined 1 day ago

The food, beverages and service are always top notch at Pinpoint. I’m never disappointed in my meal and I love that the menu is constantly changing so I can always try something new.

Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern

4.7

4.7 (276)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Seafood Restaurant in Winterville, North Carolina. Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern offers an amazing menu with the service to match. We hope you join us soon.

Top review

Tracy

Dined on Nov 19, 2024

1st time eating here and everything was amazing. Quick service friendly staff and the food omg was great. I highly recommend the crab dip for appetizer and the scalloped linguine for your entree. The homemade dressing with my salad was delicious. Definitely my new favorite.

Butcher and Barrel by True Blue

4.7

4.7 (520)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Chef Bobby Zimmerman and his team welcome you to Butcher & Barrel by We Are True Blue, located in the South Front District of downtown Wilmington, NC.

Celebrated for its prime cuts and lively atmosphere, Butcher & Barrel features a menu of locally sourced ingredients and an extensive selection of bourbon and whiskey. With its high ceilings, funky wallpaper, and art featuring local artist GERB, Butcher & Barrel aims to offer not only a delicious dining and drinking experience but also a memorable, vibrant one. Designed to give you a big city feel, it has that exciting air of "where are you going to go next?" after you finish your meal or drink.

Top review

Alfonso

Dined 2 days ago

I got the 6oz filet with crab bernaise and it was absolutely amazing. Fantastic meal for my birthday. Also the cocktail i got was perfectly balanced.

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Flying Machine Oyster Bar

4.7

4.7 (134)

$31 to $50

Oyster Bar

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Harbor Island on Wrightsville Beach, Flying Machine Brewing Oyster Bar focuses on serving fresh oysters in creative ways showcasing local mariculture alongside Southern-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and Wilmington's award-winning Flying Machine Brewing Company beer. Join us inside or sit at our patio area overlooking the Loop!

Top review

J. Scott

Dined 1 day ago

Great food…great beer. Service was attentive. Atmosphere was friendly.

Riverside Kitchen & Bar

4.7

4.7 (184)

$30 and under

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

At Riverside Kitchen & Bar, we specialize in New American Fusion cuisine, providing a sophisticated casual dining experience that strikes the perfect balance between upscale casual and relaxed comfort.

Our eclectic menu caters to diverse tastes, offering everything from indulgent
mac 'n' cheese to succulent short rib. We take great pride in using only the finest locally sourced ingredients to create a memorable culinary journey for our guests. Our chefs expertly fuse traditional American flavors with contemporary techniques, resulting in a menu that boasts both classic comfort dishes and innovative creations.

We offer a versatile menu that has something for everyone, including fresh salads, artisanal flatbreads, and mouthwatering sandwiches, in addition to our elegant entrées. Whether you're joining us for a casual lunch, a celebratory dinner, or a special event, we promise an unforgettable dining experience in a stylish yet relaxed setting at Riverside Kitchen & Bar.

Top review

Leslie

Dined 4 days ago

As always, the food & service are wonderful. Luke is an amazing chef & he always makes it fun to go the his restaurant. Brook & Ryan are great too.

True Blue Butcher & Table - The Forum

4.5

4.5 (953)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

True Blue Butcher & Table, the flagship restaurant of the We Are True Blue brands, is located in The Forum in Wilmington, NC. Reflecting global cuisine with a modern American interpretation, Chef Bobby Zimmerman has crafted a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, quality cuts of steak, an extensive and delicious drink selection, and an impressive butcher counter.

We are open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Have lived in Wilmington for over three years and for some reason had not tried this place. Food quality was excellent. Having a reservation was key for the extremely busy night of our visit. Special thanks to Eric for making our experience top notch.

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4.1

4.1 (141)

$30 and under

Mexican

Wilmington

About the restaurant

A culinary collaboration between Tequila Comida & Cantina and Marina Grill, infusing the vibrant flavors of Mexico into the heart of Wilmington’s waterfront. Established in 2018 by Chef Ramon Villasenor and Miguel Villasenor, Tequila Comida & Cantina has teamed up with Marina Grill to create an exceptional dining experience.

Nestled beside the Riverfront Park and boasting an extraordinary view of the Riverfront Marina, Tequila’s Waterfront offers a unique setting. Our spacious outdoor area is the perfect spot to enjoy live music during the summer months. Located next door to the Riverfront Park, home to the Live Oak Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater hosting open-air concerts and entertainment, we invite you to savor the magic of Mexican cuisine amid cultural warmth and breathtaking views.

Top review

Gina

Dined 5 days ago

Second time coming in! If anyone reading this hasn’t tried their frozen strawberry mezcal you definitely should. You can tell the bartenders care about your experience

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