Tarantelli’s

Name: Tarantelli’s
Address: 102 S 2nd St, Wilmington, NC, United States, 28401
Telephone: (910) 763-3806
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (2978)

$30 and under

Italian

102 S 2nd St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Charming
Neighborhood gem

Tarantelli’s is located on Second Street, just one block from Front Street and in walking distance to the Cape Fear River. The restaurant and event venue is located in the historic district of downtown Wilmington. This lively area spans 230-plus blocks and is home to some of the best bars, restaurants, churches, architecture, and selection of fine art. There are several parking facilities nearby, but you can also reach Tarantelli's year round via horse drawn trolley and carriage, river taxi, trolley cars, or on foot.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(910) 763-3806
Website
http://www.tarantellis.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Zack Comis

Location
102 S 2nd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Neighborhood
Wilmington
Cross street
Dock Street
Parking details
Public Lot
Entertainment
The inspiration behind this restaurant was drawn from our grandfather, Anthony "Tony" Salvatore Tarantelli ("Papa") and our grandmother Mabel Tarantelli. Both Tony and Mabel believed that home cooked food brought family together. Our Papa's love for Italian food came from his father, Salvatore Tarantelli, who was born in the Abruzzo region of Italy in the province of L’Aquila. It is here that Tony began to appreciate Italian cuisine at its purest. Both Tony and Mabel were amazing cooks and deserve the credit for passing on many of our family recipes that we now have the pleasure and privilege to share with you.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,978 people are saying

Tarantelli’s reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Coastal North Carolina
Most Booked
Wilmington
Good for groups
Wilmington
Great for fine wines
Wilmington
Good for special occasions
Wilmington
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Tarantelli's offers "the best Italian meal outside of Italy" with its "amazing pasta" made in-house. Diners rave about the "fantastic service" and "generous portions." The Wagyu bruschetta and cheese wheel pasta are standout dishes. While some mention service inconsistencies, the overall dining experience is "absolutely wonderful."

2,978 Reviews

D
Daniel
Unspecified2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
wonderful as always. Tried a new appetizer that was crazy good!!
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L
Lane
Coastal North Carolina1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My go to for Italian. Thanks for the great service Gabriel!
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D
Diane
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The three of us had wonderful meals. We celebrated my husband’s 81st birthday. I had the traditional shrimp over thin home made pasta while my husband and sister had the seafood in red sauce over a beautiful home made sauce. My husband had the fradiablo sauce which had just the right bite. They finished their dinner with the best tiramisu that was light and so delightful. Of course I had to have a taste. A great day to celebrate a great man
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B
Barbara
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
It was busy. The food was delicious. Service a bit slow but competent. Very lovely experience.
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D
Deborah
Caribbean2 reviews
1.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 5
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
I had never been to Tarrentelli’s before, but friends said the food was wonderful, so I made reservations for myself and a companion. I arrived on time and was told to wait until my guest arrived, which was fine. But when we were finally seated, it was at a high-top table I didn’t request. I asked to move to a standard table and was told we could—but only for 90 minutes, as they’d need the table for another party. At a fine dining restaurant, being given a time limit before we even ordered was jarring. We typically enjoy two bottles of wine, several appetizers, entrées, dessert, and tip very well. But feeling rushed, we each ordered one glass of wine and skipped starters and dessert entirely. Oddly, half the restaurant remained empty throughout our meal. The staff seemed rushed and hovered near the hostess stand, creating an awkward energy. Still, the food was excellent—the best part of the night by far. The kitchen deserves praise for delivering well-executed, flavorful dishes. Before leaving, I asked to speak to the manager. I was told the owner was in. When he came over, I politely asked him to sit or come closer so I wouldn’t have to speak loudly. He declined, visibly annoyed, and repeated that the time limit was due to OpenTable errors and high cover counts. He acknowledged the hostesses were inexperienced. For someone who has dined in a broad spectrum of restaurants—from Michelin-starred landmarks to hidden neighborhood gems—this was among the least welcoming service experiences I’ve had. My ex-husband, an editor at one of the country’s top culinary magazines, once told me that true fine dining isn’t just about the food—it’s about how the guest feels from start to finish.
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r
richard
West Palm Beach1 review
4.0
Dined on June 4, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food delicious. Nicole wonderful server. the inside was too dark and hard back seating. expected a more lush interior. outside needed cleaned up view of trash bins in parking lot could be fixed with a mesh fence. flower pots had cigarette butts and plastic cups in them. Hostess did not look us in the eye and wait till we were seated before she left. A more professional hostess would have welcomed us and pulled the chair out for the lady.
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J
Jaime
Charlotte1 review
1.0
Dined on June 1, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Terrible customer service provided by the hostes. Extremely unprofessional. The
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M
Michelle
Coastal North Carolina1 review
5.0
Dined on June 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best Italian meal I’ve ever had outside of Italy. Our waiter recommended the Bruschetta with the wagyu filet and it was amazing. The filet was melt in your mouth delicious. We ordered the Spaghetti al Formaggio Parmigiana for 2. The presentation of preparing it at the table was entertaining and it was the best pasta I’ve ever eaten. We will definitely be going back!
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L
Lori
Washington, D.C. Area11 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A wonderful experience, we will come back when we return to Wilmington.
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J
John
New York City1 review
4.0
Dined on May 30, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was excellent, the desert needs much work; when the menu says, chocolate fudge cake, that’s what the customer is expecting; not chocolate muse.
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FAQs

Tarantelli’s offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (910) 763-3806.

Tarantelli’s is rated 4.7 stars by 2978 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

102 S 2nd St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Additional information

Cross street
Dock Street
Neighborhood
Wilmington
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Zack Comis
Entertainment
The inspiration behind this restaurant was drawn from our grandfather, Anthony "Tony" Salvatore Tarantelli ("Papa") and our grandmother Mabel Tarantelli. Both Tony and Mabel believed that home cooked food brought family together. Our Papa's love for Italian food came from his father, Salvatore Tarantelli, who was born in the Abruzzo region of Italy in the province of L’Aquila. It is here that Tony began to appreciate Italian cuisine at its purest. Both Tony and Mabel were amazing cooks and deserve the credit for passing on many of our family recipes that we now have the pleasure and privilege to share with you.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.tarantellis.com/
Phone number
(910) 763-3806

Tarantelli’s

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Menu

What 2,978 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Tarantelli’s offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Tarantelli’s restaurant rated?

Is Tarantelli’s currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information