Black Horn Bar
Enjoy an extensive selection of gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and specialty Americana in this rustic chic setting. From the dry-rubbed and slow-roasted Better Buffalo Wings to the hardwood smoked Duck Quesadilla, Black Horn offers unique twists on traditional foods. Always family friendly with smoke-free dining, a large arcade gaming area, 23 Hi-Def TV's and Nintendo Wii. Live music every weekend. 7 days a week, 11am–2am. 15 Carolina Beach Ave. North, "the boardwalk," Carolina Beach. 910) 458-5255.
Chris' Cosmic Kitchen Serving breakfast all day as well as lunch, and handmade cheesecakes, Chef and Owner Chris Lubben loves to make many of his menu items from scratch. Whether you're in the mood for a fluffy 3-egg Omelet, Shrimp & Grits, Prime Rib Sandwich or Andes Mint Cheesecake, Chris' Cosmic Kitchen is your "Out of this World" Breakfast/Lunch Destination. In-house catering available (restaurant rental) as well as a Personal Chef service. Chris' Cosmic Kitchen is located at 420 Eastwood Rd, Unit 109, on the corner of Racine Dr. and Eastwood Rd. Open Monday thru Thursday 7 am to 4 pm and 7am to 9pm on Friday and Saturdays. Take-out calls welcome, 792-6720.
The George on the Riverwalk
Drop your anchor at The George on the RiverWalk, your destination for complete sense indulgence. Watch the historic Cape Fear River unfold before you while you enjoy the best in Southern Coastal Cuisine. The menu combines elegance, creativity and diverse selection of steak, pasta, salad and fresh seafood, including the best Shrimp n' Grits in town. Warm in the sun on the expansive outdoor deck sipping an exotic, colorful martini, or unwind at the spacious bar inside boasting extensive wine and martini lists along with weekday appetizer specials from 4:00pm-6:30pm. Don't forget to try downtown's best kept secret for Sunday Brunch from 11am-3pm. You are welcome to dock your boat at the only dock'n'dine restaurant downtown, grab a trolley, or enjoy our free, front door parking (ask for pass!) Lunch and Dinner Tues-Sunday. Why satisfy when you can indulge? Find the George on the RiverWalk at 128 South Water Street. 910-763-2052.
Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort
Verandah Café Restaurant is casually elegant, serving culinary creations with spectacular ocean views from every table, inside and out! Chef Phillip Carter invites you to experience his Southern Cuisine specialties in this beautiful oceanfront setting. Sundays feature the area's most popular Brunch Buffet with Marc Siegal playing jazz. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 256-2231.
Mellow Mushroom
Now a smoke-free restaurant, mellow out and relax in the comfortable atmosphere that Mellow Mushroom offers. From the giant psychadelic 'shroom located in the bar area to the Cadillac hanging on the wall, this restaurant is far from ordinary. The open kitchen brings live entertainment as pizza dough flies in the air. Their hand-tossed, spring-water dough brings new meaning to pizzas and calzones—healthy!! With 20 drafts and an array of microbrews, domestic and import bottles, Mellow Mushroom has an extensive beer list and full bar. Also, check out their lunch specials and variety of sandwiches. Their menu also caters to everyone and offers many vegetarian dishes. Live jazz on Wednesdays. Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-10pm; Sun., 12pm-9pm. 4311 Oleander Drive, 910-452-3773.
The Little Dipper
Wilmington's only fondue restaurant! The Little Dipper specializes in unique fondue dishes with a global variety of cheeses, meats, seafood, vegetables, chocolates and fine wines. The warm and intimate dining room is a great place to enjoy a four-course meal, or indulge in appetizers and desserts outside on the back deck or in the bar while watching luminescent jellyfish. Open Tuesday-Sunday, serving dinner at 5pm. Reservations are appreciated for parties of any size, (910) 251-0433. 138 South Front Street at the corner of Front and Orange.
Savannah's
We invite you to enjoy the finest regional and seasonal specialties the Cape Fear Coast has to offer. Our entire staff is dedicated to the time-honored tradition of Southern hospitality. At Savannah's we believe that creative cuisine served in a warm and casual setting is the recipe for a great dinning experience. Join us in the Oak Room Bar for your favorite classic cocktail or select a wine from our extensive wine list. You can enjoy any of our menu selections in the Oak Room or reserve a table in the main dinning room. We also have banquet facilities available private parties and business functions. Serving Dinner at 5:30All ABC Permits. Reservations accepted. 530 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-6464. www.savannahswb.com.
Soho Steakhouse
At Soho Steakhouse customers enjoy a delicious New York-style meal while surrounded by an elegant atmosphere and nothing short of a friendly staff. The food includes original appetizers, such as Chef's Chardonnay Wings and Wild Mushroom Strudel, along with mouth-watering entrées, such as the Land and Sea, including lobster tail and filet mignon. Open from 11am-10pm with a bar menu starting after 10pm till 12 Midnight. Located at 4106 Oleander Drive (910) 792-6880.
Sticky Fingers Rib House
Sticky Fingers is known for the best authentic Memphis-style ribs, wings and barbecue in town. It's no secret that slow, low-temperature smoking produces mouth-watering, tender ribs, chicken and pork. Sticky Fingers smokes everything right here in the restaurant and has received national praise for award-winning ribs. The restaurant was recently featured in Bon Appetit, Southern Living and Food and Wine, and had fantastic television exposure on CNBC's "The Today Show," and the Food Network. Locals voted Sticky Fingers "Best Ribs" in Wilmington. Sticky Fingers Catering has become an obvious choice for company picnics, office meetings or social gatherings for parties of 15 to 5,000 people. They offer both full service and simple drop-off options to meet anyone's catering needs. 5044 Market Street, (910) 452-7427.
Trolly Stop
Trolly Stop Hot Dogs is family owned and operated with six locations throughout North Carolina. A family tradition for over 30 years specializing in homemade chili, slaw, burritos, tea and sauces. Smithfield all meat, Sabrett all beef, Oscar Mayer fat-free and Litelife veggie hot dogs. Try their unique "burger slab dog," which is a burger in a unique shape. 94 S. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach, 256-3421; Cape Fear Blvd. in Carolina Beach, 458-7557; 111A South Howe St., Southport, 457-7017; 121 N. Front St., downtown Wilmington, 343-2999; 784 King St., Boone, NC, 828-265-2658; 4502 Fountain Dr., 910-452-3952. Call individual stores for hours of operation.
The Underground
Appropriately located "underground" on the corner of Market and Front streets in downtown Wilmington, this lively restaurant and bar serves a variety of choices that includes everything from a Southwestern Chicken Caesar Wrap or a Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla to a Reuben with Potato Salad. In addition to a full bar with an interesting martini and shooters menu, Underground also offers a selection of draft and bottled beers. The atmosphere is friendly and casual yet elegant, and it's a great place to bring the family or join friends for a cocktail at night. Open Monday, 11am-5pm; Tuesday-Friday, 11am-2am; and Saturday, noon-2am, with a full menu served till midnight. Live music every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and karaoke every Wednesday! 103 Market Street, Corner of Front and Market, downtown Wilmington, 910-763-9686.
Wilson's
With 35,000 square feet dedicated to delicious food and exciting entertainment at a great value, Wilsons has something for everyone, including a newly renovated dining room, a casual family restaurant with delicious food in a beautiful surrounding; the Sports Bar, home to the most TVs in town, including a 200" big screen, in addition to interactive NTN Trivia and Texas Hold 'Em, free popcorn, and live music and entertainment; the Tiki Bar and Café, an outdoor, Caribbean-styled paradise, where the water meets the sky complete with an array of fiery torches, water fountains and its own tropical drink menu; and the Game Room, the center of all the fun for the young and young at heart! It features more than 110 virtual reality games including a roller coaster simulator and great new prizes! Weekday Lunch Buffet, $5.99, Sun.-Thurs. Prime Rib Buffet, 5-9pm, $9.99, under 12, $4.99. Sunday Brunch Buffet, $9.99, under 12, $4.99. Open Sun-Thur. 11am-midnight, Fri. and Sat., 11am-2am. 4925 New Centre Dr. 793-0999.
WOW Cafe and Wingery
WOW Cafe and Wingery serves wraps, over-sized salads, Angus burgers on Texas toast, southwest items including: quesadillas, fajitas and, of course, wings, tenders and shrimp. While none of this is atypical for a casual dining spot, their spin on the modern chicken dish is quite revolutionary. The poultry is always fresh, never frozen and possibly the biggest, juiciest slabs of all-white meat one will encounter. Their claim to fame relies heavily on their gourmet signature sauces and spices, which were developed by award-winning Chef Paul Prudhomme and do well in making any tender or wing pop off the plate. Some sauces worth mentioning here are: Parisian Lemon Pepper, Santa Fe Chipotle, Key West Citrus Salsa, Bombay Coconut Curry and Australian Taz Raspberry. Grab a moist towelette and discover all the others for yourself. You won't be sorry. Don't be afraid to make yourself at home at WOW either. It's difficult to be uptight when the hostess seats you at your table with menus and a remote. That's right. Every table in this establishment comes equipped with a flat screen television. You can surf through the channels yourself, whether your fancy is the "big game" or MTV; it's all right at your fingertips. No more arching your neck and straining to see the score. No more ignoring your friends and family via your distant gazing at the TV on the corner wall. Each table becomes its own individual living space for good times and good food. So bring your friends and enjoy Wilmington's best wings with your drink of choice from our fully stocked bar!
