Where are the best Wilmington-area restaurants? Eat like a local at Wrightsville or Carolina Beach
If you vacation at a beach rental in the Wilmington area along the North Carolina coast every summer and have been doing so for years, you probably have your packing checklist down:
- Sheets for the four bunk beds and the three queens;
- Ground Smelly Cat Black Cat coffee for the week (since you learned the hard way once that your beach house doesn’t have a grind-and-brew); and
- The bin of beach toys and chairs, still packed and coated in last year’s sand.
And if you’re like my family, the meals are also pre-planned: Tuesday is lasagna, Wednesday is burgers, Thursday is Lowcountry Boil, Friday is dinner at a local restaurant.
Where are the best Wilmington-area restaurants?
A family dinner at a beach restaurant is always a treat — no Bi-Lo runs required, no pre-cleaning the mess the nephews made on the kitchen island at snack time, no dishes to do after. You just pick a restaurant, make a reservation and go. But where?
If you’re going to only eat out once or twice during your vacation, you want to make it count. So for the best restaurant recommendations, we reached out to the person who would know best: Wilmington StarNews food and dining reporter Allison Ballard.
[LOOKING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA BEACHES? Visit CharlotteFive.com for the 12 best restaurants to visit when you are vacationing along the Grand Strand and in the Lowcountry, according to our friends at Beaufort Gazette, Hilton Head’s The Island Packet and Myrtle Beach Sun News.]
Below, Allison’s favorite restaurants to take out-of-town guests in Carolina Beach, Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach:
Carolina Beach
Restaurant: Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar
Location: 1211 Lake Park Blvd S, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
“If ever I’m in need of a beachside break, Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar is where I like to go. There’s a dining room, including one open seasonally upstairs with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, where you can take guests for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. When I have friends in town, though, we go right to the tiki bar, located on the remnants of the Center Pier. It’s the perfect place to grab a cocktail and a fish taco with a side of salt air. Be sure to check out the live music lineup with shows at 7 p.m. Thursday evenings in June, July and August.” — Wilmington StarNews food and dining reporter Allison Ballard
Wilmington
Restaurant: Caprice Bistro
Location: 10 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28401
“There are so many great restaurants in Wilmington, and especially in downtown Wilmington. But for me, Caprice Bistro is always a go-to. Chef Thierry Moity (or just “chef,” as he’s known to just about everyone) along with wife Patricia have been offering locals a taste of authentic French fare since 2001. The restaurant, located in an historic building, has an intimate downstairs dining room and a cozy upstairs sofa bar, so you choose the right setting for the occasion. The Waterzooi seafood dish is a house specialty, but I also love the crepe Caprice and mussels served with frites.” — Wilmington StarNews food and dining reporter Allison Ballard
Wrightsville Beach
Restaurant: East at Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Location: 275 Waynick Blvd, Wrightsville Beach
“This family-owned hotel dates to the 1960s and is ideally situated between the ocean and sound. But even if you’re not staying there overnight, it’s a great place to have a meal for a taste of Wrightsville Beach. Chef Jessica Cabo (who you might recognize from the first season of Hell’s Kitchen) serves up an innovative, seasonally inspired menu that you can enjoy in the lavish, tropically decorated dining room, or on the outdoor patio that overlooks lush lawn and gardens that are a hidden gem on the property. For me, it’s a great place to take people because there is a variety of options, such as seafood, burgers, vegan and gluten-free.” — Wilmington StarNews food and dining reporter Allison Ballard
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 6:03 AM.
