Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Wilmington

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies 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!

Brent's Bistro

4.9

4.9 (651)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Upscale yet casual restaurant located in Wilmington, NC. Located near Wrightsville Beach. Menu changes weekly to highlight the freshest seafood and land dishes. Enjoy flavorful dinners and extensive wine selection in our welcoming atmosphere. When weather permits, book a seat outdoors on our covered patio. For reservations, please utilize Opentable or call us directly. However, reservations for Fridays and Saturdays can ONLY be booked by calling us directly. 910-839-3131.

Top review

Dennis

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

Wonderful meals and outstanding service as usual. The daily blackened snapper special was excellent ad was the current salmon entree. We loved our experience.

Seabird

4.9

4.9 (1490)

$50 and over

Seafood

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Mindfully sourced and thoughtfully prepared ingredients highlight the landscape of the food in our coastal community. Menu subject to change daily with local availability of seafood and produce. James Beard nominated chef and owner, Dean Neff.

Reservations available for dinner Wednesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays.

Brunch now served Saturday & Sunday!

Top review

RONALD

Dined 2 days ago

Fantastic food, fabulous service. Two of us shared oysters, pork ribs and Cioppino. All of it was really fantastic and different from anything we tasted before. Validated parking at garage across street.

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Experience

New Years Eve Prix Fixe Menu Only

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

Kipos Hellenic Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (726)

$30 and under

Greek

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Kipos Hellenic Cuisine, an elevated extension of Kipos Greek Taverna in Chapel Hill, boasts a large garden and extensive bar which features double-sided seating indoors and out – all of which lends to a spacious dining area that flows seamlessly from the dining room to the patio. The bright, light-filled dining room, with high ceilings, terrazzo floors, and a variety of seating areas.

Enjoy Kipos’ classic Greek menu, curated by Executive Chef George Delidimos – including its legendary Avgolemono, Moussaka, Tzatziki, grilled whole fish. In addition to the largest Greek wine selection in the area.

Top review

LynneVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Very nice meal, great waitress but a large party in the room made it very difficult to have a conversation.

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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.

The Green House Restaurant - Wilmington

4.7

4.7 (382)

$31 to $50

Vegetarian / Vegan

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

The Green House offers inventive, plant-based menu with an emphasis on sustainability, seasonality, and all of the amazing local producers this area has to offer

Top review

RaymondVIP

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

Our favorite place!!! It’s always a positive and pleasant experience.

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A night of Old Hollywood elegance

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.

Ellipsis

4.6

4.6 (33)

$31 to $50

Dining Bar

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Our new fall/winter menu, Farfalla, offers a rich celebration of Italian flavors tailored for the cooler seasons. Featuring comforting dishes like handmade pastas, hearty braised meats, and seasonal vegetables, each plate embodies the warmth and soul of traditional Italian cuisine. Indulge in bold flavors with our curated selection of wines, perfect for pairing with these seasonal delights.

Known for its culinary innovation, Ellipsis features pop-up concepts that change periodically, offering an ever-evolving dining experience. The restaurant sits on the corner of the South Front District of downtown Wilmington, NC, featuring an inviting outdoor porch under string lights and a quaint side garden that complement its cozy, inviting interior and exterior, perfect for any occasion.

Created by We Are True Blue restaurant group by Chef Bobby Zimmerman, Ellipsis invites you to discover the unexpected and stay surprised by what comes next...

Top review

Debbie

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Delicious Italian inspired entrees with a tasty twist!

Steam Restaurant - Embassy Suites

4.3

4.3 (644)

$30 and under

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Steam is bringing American cuisine to Wilmington using locally sourced goods & ingredients. With an extensive wine & beer selection, plenty of cocktails, indoor/outdoor seating, & beautiful views of the Cape Fear River, Steam is your go-to local restaurant.

Top review

Bob

Dined 5 days ago

We celebrated my wife’s 77th Birthday (oops, shouldn’t have said that!). The service was impeccable and the food was fantastic. We had the crab cakes and the Steamed shrimp and sausage over grit cakes (shrimp and grits) and both entrees were amazing. The crispy baked Brussel sprouts were amazing. Reasonable prices for the service and meal so we will be back soon!

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