Wilmington’s Top Food Spots: A Delicious Guide

Wilmington, North Carolina, it’s almost like a true gem on the coast, that is, and boasts quite a surprisingly diverse culinary scene. From quite homey seafood shacks to some pretty fancy restaurants, there really is something for everyone. This guide covers just five can’t-miss food and drink spots that really show off the best of what this beautiful coastal town has to offer. So, if you are ready for a great eating experience, come along, so too we’ll check out the top contenders!

Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria: A Slice of Naples in North Carolina

Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria, very, very likely a Neapolitan-style pizza place led by chef Vivian Howard (of Chef & the Farmer fame), is an actual treat for those yearning for true, hearth-baked deliciousness. In some respects, what distinguishes Benny’s is very much the combination of ingredients from nearby places along with traditional pizza-making. We all know those fresh flavors are absolutely amazing! They often use produce bought in the area for a truly real “farm-to-table” kind of thing on pizza, and in some ways you get what you pay for.

You really want to be sure that you don’t miss their margherita pizza – basic in theory, still packed with taste. You see that combination of a slightly chewy crust, some fresh mozzarella, some vibrant tomatoes and some basil, which all kind of melt in the right way. Speaking of appetizers, don’t leave out trying the polenta fries. The slightly sweet taste is totally balanced out from a sprinkle of parmesan with spices that provide extra flavor—like, actually addictive.

It really seems that the ambiance in Benny’s adds some pizzazz, too, to that entire eating outing. The interior’s so inviting, and actually casual with that slight country feeling. I mean you can either relax at a communal table and maybe catch some local chat, or get quite cozy over on the bar counter looking directly onto all the pizza-making happenings. Either is such fun and relaxing, that’s to say nothing about that truly homey service! Very warm workers actually seem truly committed to delivering an amazing, so good, supper and all-round visit.

Read our full review: Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book your Table)

The Little Dipper Fondue: Dive into a Pot of Flavor

Right now, for a really quite exciting dining experience, get on over to The Little Dipper Fondue. This cute, little location basically takes that typical food and gives it just some slight upgrades by presenting an actually special way to eat – I’m telling you fondue’s where it’s at! It will provide that perfect cozy setup and a quite fun method for sharing some meals – something that I know is good because I’ve been in that setting countless times. The Little Dipper brings something very amazing, that the entire restaurant is totally dedicated and devoted in really making sure your evening turns totally magical.

First you start that dinner out with some cheese fondue in different interesting versions—imagine a creamy queso fondue coupled either using jalapeños to add more spice or spinach with artichoke bringing subtle savory shades – these cheeses, too, can be completely addictive at the onset of something truly amazing and unforgettable in Wilmington!

For an amazing entree why not move yourself and that gathering through dipping meats (and even seafood!) into several aromatic, warm, bubbling broths, for example the Mojo flavor. Plus they offer an endless amount of accompanying condiments starting right from the steamed veggie range down right up onto that super special savory dippings—so customize, experiment or taste almost any variation conceivable, I swear it is such bliss. And just when one may suppose these amazing courses finish comes even much sweeter anticipation for that dessert!

Actually experience such heaven from some rich hot, flowing chocolate. What distinguishes their warm-flowing and actually sweet desserts that can get shared from others are, like the chocolate turtle with pecans combined with that caramel, which you too can totally coat bananas inside of or maybe marshmallows? All in that wonderful bowl – creating a true sensation!

This is a cozy restaurant spot for a special occasion, such an event or even something like date nights. That, still relaxed with that ever-so romantic atmosphere in reality makes one want it just slightly more unforgettable. You also just see such friendly, super considerate workers completely trying just too to keep things working beautifully while creating all night perfect bliss that makes dining here pretty exciting for people locally looking for that experience rather then simply wanting ‘food’.

Read our full review: The Little Dipper Fondue Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Reserve your Fondue)

Pilot House: Waterfront Views and Fresh Seafood

That Pilot House presents, like, unparalleled eating settings and quite breathtaking water views right along the Riverwalk of the downtown area so I suggest just doing this at night! We could argue it’s perfectly situated – not only just serves almost as that eye pleasure in terms about position still shows some fresh culinary dishes, focusing often just upon excellent seafood delicacies – it is the best experience and it must never escape people wanting perfect tastes along our shorelines!

You should likely start that whole culinary journey with starters! Imagine: creamy clam chowder made through nearby captured materials, followed sometimes alongside shrimp appetizers that may showcase all there freshness – those that want anything local would love some starter before heading somewhere bigger on that board listing right near such location as pilot house’s door during specific dining settings as such things do just vary, typically, from one season right over!

I promise that it could seem totally impossible though, when speaking main entrees there almost exist not any flaws – people often crave through Pilot Houses delicious preparation when looking across main meals here along the list! Actually, maybe just consider that famed crab cake meal! So they use quite lump flesh through very minimal stuffers (you would literally love these patties). To that point, one might suggest blackened snapper through those quite sensitive sides or through anything similar like locally caught catch made different daily! A totally, new dining memory with all dishes.

The bar will provide multiple crafted cocktails – that could just even showcase seasonal ingredient selection that can compliment not just flavors offered from this establishment then at anytime also provides many wines including local drafts available all through your dinners just really trying what is popular at hand; with setting on a waterfront that allows diners amazing perspective and tasty cuisine combined together makes something totally magical around our cities restaurant section. And too the setting just always shines! When someone wants memories this pilot stands well around our waters edge during day then also within some great lightings shining once those nights hit here locally.

Read our full review: Pilot House Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Secure Your Waterfront Table)

Havana’s Restaurant: A Taste of the Caribbean

Want quite some great taste, but Caribbean? Havana’s Restaurants make a good deal just bringing something fun, tropical onto the coast, it seems so different – those restaurants almost celebrate some Cuban cuisines! They take visitors around Cuba via taste through bringing rich aromas right throughout plates – people like! Just right from classic plate combinations through even imaginative recipes these meals never seem average nor standard when tried from us during a night tasting across Cuba (Wilmington instead)!

Begin that evening through enjoying yummy treats—start out by tasting dishes which are typically a perfect launch such evenings, just possibly sampling either the mariquitas( plantain crisps!) as sides just around yummy mojo. So, if anyone felt like some spicy-flavor taste that tastes truly genuine those fish ceviche always proves delicious!

But too you definitely are seeking Cuban dishes that do feel traditional what to consider instead, it’s almost certainly a ropa vieja that presents the slow boiled then quite beautifully-shredded steak along alongside tomato flavor and all this seems absolutely quite different.

The drinks right through at Havana’s often prove rather special during dinner as Cuban special drinks such those mojitos provide that zest which really is much refreshing plus that the flavor that pairs excellently coupled meals especially throughout warmer afternoons.

And I should let people be sure not slip by sampling treats near dessert because Cuban sweetmeats deserve something worthy around memory tasting, therefore! This establishment often presents excellent cakes plus those traditional custards that all could complete anything well at these dining scenarios which prove totally unforgettable across coast dining adventures whenever thinking something delicious.

Read our full review: Havana’s Restaurant Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book Your Cuban Getaway)

Beer Barrio: Tacos, Tequila, and Good Times

And so finally for the lovers regarding casual eating scenes Beer Barrio always shines like the star along downtown’s center—what this boasts often tends from street inspired taste combined through diverse bar scene (and excellent alcoholic delights!), almost totally appealing that want some super relaxing atmosphere that presents amazing tacos that aren’t only made tasty just yet always paired greatly through amazing crafted alcohol mixtures— I would honestly feel amazing inside with this selection because this sounds so amazing during dinner scenes!!

Of course! Get right onto sampling street cuisines—here one tastes small little snack styled delights—often maybe start by eating queso dipped chips including often chorizo perhaps— this might warm up that flavor, seriously! I really mean through choosing from what main styled meals look towards try those many tacos often – these tacos show anything traditional flavor styled paired using modern styles creating tasty combinations made possible only using quality sourced materials which create a true experience which often represents some street influenced styled cooking.

I’m trying express through flavor- those drinkers seeking cocktails can experience this via margaritas including some extensive alcohols from local providers around areas here that shows anything traditional done innovative way— that alcohol selections include regional produced brews for what wants trying area breweries right onto international drinking delight creations this allows all people regardless trying needs something during alcohol exploration (and possibly drinking too). With setting that welcomes combined social plus friendly dining options those experiences typically become totally popular right alongside local consumers also attracting people who seek fun times within Wilmington – truly cannot skip a delightful venue!

Read our full review: Beer Barrio Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Grab a Taco and a Brew)