Romantic Restaurants in Wilmington, North Carolina

1. Cape Fear Seafood Company

Cape Fear Seafood Company serves spectacular regional American seafood and an array of wine and spirits in a relaxed and casual setting.

Specializing in regional American seafood, CSFC presents a menu of hand cut fish, seafood plates and platters, prime steaks, chicken, and small plates to share. Whether you choose the Figure 8 Stuffed Flounder (twin baked roulades of flounder stuffed with crab fusion and draped with lemon beurre blanc) or Wilmington's Finest Filet crowned with Gorgonzola butter and cabernet demi-glace, each bite will leave you with a lasting memory.

Start with Bloody Mary Oysters or crab scampi risotto or share a grilled shrimp taco basket with friends and end on a sweet note with a traditional Southern key lime pie. The Cape Fear Seafood Company can be found in two locations.

Monkey Junction, 5226 S College Road Suite 5, Wilmington, NC, Phone: 910-799-7077

2. Indochine

Serving exquisite Thai-Vietnamese cuisine in a beautifully decorated environment, Indochine promises an authentic and unforgettable Asian dining experience.

Take your taste buds on a culinary journey to the Far East as you savor the exotic flavors and ingredients found in each dish on the menu, from Vietnamese black peppercorn, ginger, and garlic to crushed basil, cilantro, and fresh mint.

Accompanied by fragrant jasmine rice, entrées include a Happy Asian Medley of chicken, shrimp, beef, and scallops sautéed in a homemade soy sauce with ginger and garlic, grilled Salmon or mahi mahi with Asian fruit salsa and shrimp fried rice, and stir-fried steak in homemade soy-infused sauce with aromatic rice and vegetables.

End your meal with a sweet banana egg roll served with vanilla ice cream, honey, and sesame seeds and a pot of delicious Jasmine Tea.

7 Wayne Drive, Market Street at Forest Hills, Wilmington, North Carolina, Phone: 910-251-9229

3. Casey's Buffet & Barbecue

For classic Southern soul food and good home cooking, including everything from all-you-can-eat barbecue to chitterlings and fried chicken, head to Casey's Buffet & Barbecue. Established in 2005 by Larry Casey, Casey’s Buffet is a family-friendly eatery that is committed to the Southern tradition of food and family going hand-in-hand.

Casey’s lunch and dinner buffet menu leaves nobody wanting with a mouth-watering all-you-can-eat selection of meats, vegetables, salads, and bread, and you’ll find delights such as fried chicken, clam strips, rutabagas, black-eyed peas, pan-fried okra, sweet potato soufflé, chitlins, and mac-n-cheese. Desserts delight with choices like apple and blueberry cobbler, cherry cheesecake, and banana and bread pudding, just to name but a few.

The restaurant is comfortable and cozy with classic diner décor – walls are adorned with framed photographs and articles, and the ambiance is vibrant. Casey’s delicious buffet can be eaten in or taken away, and they offer catering services for special functions and events.

5559 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina, Phone: 910-798-2913

4. Circa 1922

Diners are sure to taste the authenticity of every meal at Circa 1922 . Located in downtown Wilmington, Circa 1922 is committed to using only the highest quality ingredients in its evolving, seasonal menu. As they source the freshest products from trusted local farmers and merchants, their dishes also proudly showcase the quality and distinct flavors of North Carolina. Every dish is crafted from scratch, as traditional dishes like seafood paella, braised short ribs, and seared flounder are given a modern twist. Complete your meal with a drink from the bar, which offers a variety of craft cocktails alongside an astounding selection of quality wines from around the globe.

8 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, Phone: 910-762-1922

5. Roko Italian Cuisine

Roko Italian Cuisine is an upscale Italian eatery that serves a menu of Mediterranean-influenced cuisine in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Owned by Chef Jadran Peros, a Croatian native who moved to the United States in 1985, Roko is dedicated to serving great Italian food that can be shared with friends and family.

An enticing menu takes you on a journey through Italy with antipasti of calamari fritta, shrimp scampi, and stuffed artichoke hearts, followed by choices of Zuppa e Insalata (soups and salads) with caprese, arugula, and Caesar salads making the list. A fine selection of pasta is available, including homemade gnocchi, stuffed ravioli, and Frutti di mare, while entrées include parmigiana, filet mignon, and grilled wild salmon.

Pair your fare with a selection of international wines from the wine list or one of their signature cocktails, spirits, or craft beers.

6801-105 Parker Farm Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina, Phone: 910-679-4783

6. Kornerstone Bistro

Enjoy the fresh flavors of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine at Kornerstone Bistro. Welcoming diners since 2007, this upscale bistro has received several accolades from statewide competitions as it offers worldly tastes to Wilmington locals. Kornerstone Bistro focuses on the Mediterranean philosophy of healthy, freshly prepared dishes built on key ingredients like olive oil, tomato, lemon, whole grains, and coastal bounty. Whether gathering with friends or out for date night, enjoy their easy-going atmosphere inspired by French, Spanish, and Italian cultures. Both lunch and dinner menus are offered at the bistro, along with vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. Outdoor dining is also available on their pet-friendly patio.

8262 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28411, Phone: 910-686-2296

7. Catch

Boasting two locations across town, Catch is a modern seafood restaurant that James Beard award-winning Chef Keith Rhodes and his wife Angela opened in 2006, and they have been serving outstanding seafood ever since.

Striving to support North Carolina’s organic farmers, local fisheries, and sustainable fishing practices, Chef Keith Rhodes presents a menu of produce caught and farmed off the Cape Fear Coast.

On the menu you will find creative dishes such as Red Miso Glazed Scottish Salmon served with wok-seared “drunken” rice noodles, bean sprouts, fresh coriander, and Thai basil, Cajun-fried North Carolina Oysters with Mindoro Blue Cheese Slaw and Texas Pete Aioli, and Pan-Roasted Oriental Back Fin, and Lump Crab Cakes served with White Truffle Mash and Pamlico Shrimp in a Cognac Bisque.

Although seafood-orientated, the menu also offers meat and poultry dishes, with chicken, duck, and baby backs ribs making an appearance. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at the convivial bar before feasting on some of the freshest seafood in town.

6623 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, Phone: 910-799-3847

8. Tarantelli’s Ristorante Italiano

Located in downtown Wilmington, Tarantelli’s Ristorante Italiano serves some of the city’s finest Italian food. The family-owned restaurant was inspired by the owner’s Italian grandparents, who passed on several delicious family recipes together with the importance of bringing family together through good, home-cooked meals. Diners will feel right at home in the warm, comfortable restaurant where they can enjoy a seasonally inspired menu full of the finest ingredients straight from Italy. Taste their rich burrata cheese, crunchy bruschetta, and several family dishes like Italian meatballs and lasagna. Their menu also offers an assortment of seafood, meat, and highly celebrated Italian wines to pair perfectly with your meal.

102 S 2nd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, Phone: 910-763-3806

9. Front Street Brewery

Home to the largest selection of whiskey in North Carolina and Wilmington’s only Restaurant & Brewery, the Front Street Brewery is a popular venue for casual lunches, laid-back dinners, and tasting tours with friends.

Located in Historic Downtown, the Front Street Brewery produces a range of microbrews and craft beers, and it stocks over 300 bottles of whiskey from around the world. The Brewery also serves a casual menu of tavern-style food, including gourmet burgers and sandwiches, soups and salads, and entrées of barbecue brisket, rib eye steaks, burritos, pulled pork, and a fresh catch of the day, which is available from 12 pm until 12 am every day.

Visitors can enjoy free guided tours of the brewery to learn about the beer-making process, as well as free tastings of the brewery’s products. The bar comes alive in the evenings with both locals and visitors flocking to the counter to savor cocktails, fine wines, and some of the world’s best whiskeys.

9 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, Phone: 910-251-1935