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Cape Fear Dining
Most newcomers are familiar with the restaurants located on either side of Wilmington’s main arteries: Market Street, Oleander Drive and College Road. But once you veer off onto the roads less traveled, you will discover some of the best eateries in town.
Just off of Eastwood Road, in the Lumina Station shopping and dining complex, is Port Land Grille, past recipient of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award — one of the most prestigious awards in the fine-dining industry.
“Chef Shawn has a sense of humor and the ability to charm as well as challenge diners with his extensive knowledge of food and cooking ability,” said Anne Steketee, co-owner of Port Land Grille. “The menu has lots to offer and we do have some higher priced items available, but we also have an entire section of the menu devoted to plates perfect for the smaller or more diverse appetites. So for under $25, you can have a three-course meal and be completely sated.”
Another great location for dining is the Mayfaire Town Center and its adjoining Community Center. According to Paige McKenzie, director of marketing at Mayfaire Town Center: “Mayfaire is the place to taste the sweet life — whether you are looking for a quick bite, a causal organic meal or a white tablecloth experience, Mayfaire has over 19 restaurants to choose from.” And soon you will be able to enjoy a relaxed and leisurely dinner at The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant scheduled to open in January or February of 2009.
Of course, one can’t overlook all of the distinctive restaurants located in downtown historic Wilmington. With so many to select from, deciding where to go can be a daunting task. Should you try the Victorian-inspired Wilmington Tea Room for lunch, or the newly opened Ruth’s Chris Steak House inside the Wilmington Hilton for dinner? To help make your decision, visit www.DineWilmingtonOnline.com. The site offers restaurant ratings, articles, specials, events and coupons throughout New Hanover County.
When discussing the joys of Wilmington food and drink, you must include Port City Java. From its humble beginnings in 1995, this Wilmington-based coffee chain now boasts more than 60 cafés in seven states and two international locations. Enjoy a cup of your favorite brew inside, pick one up at the drive-through or order your favorite beans online. Port City Java also offers an assortment of sandwiches and desserts, as well as non-coffee beverages such as tea, Italian sodas and fruit smoothies — made with one pound of fruit!
Eddie Romanelli’s II in the Magnolia Greens area of Leland offers diners the same superb menu and dining experience that they have come to expect from the original Romanelli’s, which still operates on Oleander Drive in Wilmington. Both establishments, as well as Henry’s, Bluewater Grill and The Oceanic restaurants, were recently purchased by LM Restaurants, which according to their press release, “hope[s] to enjoy much success by working hard, providing superior food and service, and being involved in the community.”
Southport is home to Yacht Basin Provision Company, called Provisions by the locals, which features crab cakes, conch fritters, grouper salad and fantastic hamburgers. Also in Southport is Live Oak Café, described by one patron as “feel of a small town, food quality of the biggest cities!” The restaurant is located in a bungalow home, ensuring an intimate, upscale dining experience.
Four miles from Southport and accessible only by boat or ferry is the Bald Head Island Club. One of three eating establishments on Bald Head Island, the Club exudes ambiance in its elegant dining room and features regional seafood and fresh vegetables. During the summer season, live entertainment can be enjoyed in the adjacent lounge. Be sure to plan ahead for this excursion, however, since a temporary membership is required.
Further down the Brunswick County coast lies Ocean Isle Beach, which is home to Sharky’s Restaurant and The Sugar Shack. Sharky’s slogan, "It's feedin' time!," demonstrates its fun, family-oriented approach to food. With 150 feet of dock along the Intracoastal Waterway and its proximity to the Odell Williamson Municipal Airport, diners can arrive by air, land and sea. At the Sugar Shack, you can enjoy a wide assortment of Jamaican-inspired entrees, including baby back ribs, grilled mango tuna and curried goat.
And if it’s seafood you crave, then be sure to visit the town of Calabash. The Seafood Hut offers good food at such a low price that during the tourist season, lines snake around the establishment. Coleman's Original Calabash Seafood Restaurant offers a more varied menu, including stuffed flounder in hollandaise and soft-shell crabs. But perhaps the most recognized restaurant in Calabash is Ella’s, which has been featured in Coastal Living magazine and selected as one of Southern Living magazine’s regional favorites.
North of Wilmington in the Topsail Island area of Pender County, you can find a number of excellent restaurants to whet your appetite. “Great Food and Good Vibes” is the slogan for Thai Grille, which describes its menu as “authentic Thai cuisine with a twist of Americana and Asian fusion.”
Indigo Marsh, a waterfront chophouse, considers itself Topsail Island’s premier in casual fine dining. With culinary-school trained chefs, they create incredible steak, seafood, wild game, veal and duck entrees. Indigo Marsh was a finalist in the “Best Dish in North Carolina 2008” contest with its “Sneads Ferry Shrimp” appetizer.
Mollie’s Restaurant, a casual ocean-view establishment, offers the best of Southern cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you enjoy fishing, bring your cleaned fresh catch to Mollie’s where they will prep it and cook it to order.
The Mainsail Restaurant’s good food, relaxed atmosphere and friendly service keep patrons returning, and the Mainsail’s Commodore Room Lounge is the island’s premier nightclub and concert hall with live bands most Friday nights May-August.
Of course, many more quality restaurants can be found throughout Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. Take a drive and try new places. You will discover that southeastern North Carolina is a food lover’s dream come true.
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