Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Wilmington

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots 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!

Genki Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (611)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Wilmington

About the restaurant

We look forward to welcoming you into our warm environment, with food so good you will swear you just stepped off of the train in Tokyo.

If you are reading this description, please take note that:
* Starting October 1st 2024: We will no longer be able to seat you unless your entire party has arrived and ready to sit ON TIME.
We will hold your Table/Seats for ONLY 10 minutes past the reservation time.
*After 10 minutes, you will lose your reservation to someone who is on the waiting list.
*Please take this serious as, it will allow us to provide better customer service to our guests as we increase in volume, and allow the evening to flow better with timing for our reservations through out the evening.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! Our customers mean the world to us!

*Also, please remember to count small children and babies as a person for seating. Thank you for your participation and understanding in this.
Thank you for your business! See you soon!

Top review

Gino / Gintaras

Dined 4 days ago

The owners and staff are amazing, friendly people. The staff is excellent and attentive. As for the sushi, always fresh and delicious. We are always welcomed like family. We highly recommend this establishment.

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4.8

4.8 (1434)

$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

Stevevip

Dined 1 day ago

Best meal I’ve had in recent memory - had 5 dishes by myself

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Experience

Southern Smoke WNC Fundraiser with Preeti Waas

Kipos Hellenic Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (693)

$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

RogerCvip

Dined 4 days ago

This is our favorite restaurant in wilmington. We've eaten there five times in the year and a half that we have lived here. One of our greek friends from New jersey has us take him to Kipos every time he comes to visit us.What a beautiful space and sitting in the garden is spectacular. Alana, our server was knowledgeable and helpful and paced the service, so we did not feel rushed. The greek pinot noir we had was excellent. I had the beef short rib, which was very good. Someone else at our table had the seafood stew and raved about it. Another member of our party loved the red snapper with fava beans. I highly recommend a baklava cheesecake for dessert.

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King Neptune Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (297)

$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

Kimberlyvip

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

We were a large party, they took great care of us. Loved the private parking lot across the street. Drink specials were very good!

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Flying Machine Oyster Bar

4.7

4.7 (126)

$31 to $50

Oyster Bar

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Harbor Island on Wrightsville Beach, Flying Machine Brewing Oyster Bar focuses on serving fresh oysters in creative ways showcasing local mariculture alongside Southern-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and Wilmington's award-winning Flying Machine Brewing Company beer. Join us inside or sit at our patio area overlooking the Loop!

Top review

Laura

Dined on Oct 2, 2024

The place was relatively quiet on this Wednesday night in early October. The local raw oysters were excellent, as was the local grouper special. There was a large variety of Flying Machine beers to choose from, though no porters or stouts. Our server Charlie was friendly and professional, as was Josh the bartender. The restaurant space is open and welcoming, with two small bars for additional seating - one in front of the bartender, and one in front of the oyster shucking station.

Riverside Kitchen & Bar

4.7

4.7 (177)

$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

Thomas

Dined 6 days ago

Brunch is our favorite at Riverside. Twelve of us meet there every Sunday for brunch. Great neighborhood vibe. Omelette station is the best.

G Prime

4.7

4.7 (188)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

G Prime offers the highest level of service and ingredients for the entire community to enjoy – from beautifully curated and customizable prime cuts, locally sourced fish and fresh seasonal produce, a classic craft cocktail and mixology program, to one of the largest, most prolific wine cellars in the area.

Top review

Krystal

Dined 1 day ago

It was delicious. I recommend trying the wagyu and the truffle fries! I would love to go back and try more food items 10/10 would recommend for a lovely dinner. Joshua was fantastic and don’t forget to have some space for dessert.

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Experience

Tour De France Wine Dinner

True Blue Butcher & Table - The Forum

4.6

4.6 (940)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

True Blue Butcher & Table, the flagship restaurant of the We Are True Blue brands, is located in The Forum in Wilmington, NC. Reflecting global cuisine with a modern American interpretation, Chef Bobby Zimmerman has crafted a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, quality cuts of steak, an extensive and delicious drink selection, and an impressive butcher counter.

We are open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Top review

Mickvip

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

I recently dined at The Blue Butcher & Table at The Forum while visiting Wilmington with my parents, and our experience was fantastic! It was our first time, and we couldn’t have asked for better service—Josiah, our server, was excellent. He was attentive, friendly, and really added to the overall experience. We ordered the skewers and Brussels sprouts, and both were delicious with amazing flavor and presentation. We left really impressed and will definitely be back next time I am in town!

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Shark's Bar & Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (15)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Bright white painted dining room serving a menu of carefully prepared coastal cuisine. Executive Chef Louie Sipler providing a southeastern oyster bar meets comfort foods at Wrightsville Beach next to Johnny Mercers Piers.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 17, 2024

Great food and great experience! Every dish was extremely flavorful, highly recommend the bang bang shrimp tacos and the spicy ceasar salad. The food was more expensive than anticipated. The staff was very nice and attentive.

Tequilas Waterfront

3.7

3.7 (112)

$30 and under

Mexican

Wilmington

About the restaurant

A culinary collaboration between Tequila Comida & Cantina and Marina Grill, infusing the vibrant flavors of Mexico into the heart of Wilmington’s waterfront. Established in 2018 by Chef Ramon Villasenor and Miguel Villasenor, Tequila Comida & Cantina has teamed up with Marina Grill to create an exceptional dining experience.

Nestled beside the Riverfront Park and boasting an extraordinary view of the Riverfront Marina, Tequila’s Waterfront offers a unique setting. Our spacious outdoor area is the perfect spot to enjoy live music during the summer months. Located next door to the Riverfront Park, home to the Live Oak Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater hosting open-air concerts and entertainment, we invite you to savor the magic of Mexican cuisine amid cultural warmth and breathtaking views.

Top review

Anne

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

We had dinner at Tequila's Waterfront last night with some friends. The service was very good as was the food. It's a great location looking out at the river. They had gotten one of the orders wrong but were quick to correct it. I'd go again.

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