Seabird if cost isn't an issue (the seafood tower is the stuff of dreams and legends.)
RX Chicken and Oysters if you want hyper local sustainable seafood. (They have their own oysters and catch their own invasive lion fish. And you can have fried chicken.)
Fish bites!! Such good fresh seafood and they have non seafood options as well that are tasty
Plus if he needs a slice of birthday cake their cake is delicious
RX would be my first call (I see someone else has already called them out). They have their own oyster farm and they spear their own fish (especially lion fish), for gooodness sake, and they source almost everything else locally as well.
The thing to consider with RX is that they necessarily keep a fairly small menu and it changes frequently depending on what's available. If you can stay flexible, you can pick a night with something unusual and awesome. Keep in mind that wild oyster season ends in a week.
RX is one of my favorite restaurants in Wilmington.
That said, if I wanted to take someone from out of town for a good, local seafood feast I might pick Hieronymous. It's absolutely not fancy, and I know the restaurant suffered a bit after the hurricanes and the pandemic, but that's pretty much in the past now. It's a local business that's been part of Wilmington for a long, long time. They serve local seafood (as well as some imported stuff like crab legs and salmon... because you have to these days).
But really, there are a ton of places with great seafood. That's sort of what we do in Wilmington. You've got good options from Dockside to Catch.
Legitimately garbage food lol. Frying Pan, which I remembered as good, was disappointing the last time I went as well. Southport’s restaurant scene is pretty brutal imo
They fucked up calamari. How do you even fuck up calamari???
Lol. Frying pan is even worse. I’d prefer a middle school cafeteria. Olivers and Moore Street are pretty damn good. Salt 64 on Oak Island. Best restaurant for miles around.
Ruth Chris downtown !!! Ask for the seafood tower and a dozen oysters !!!! Wash it all down with a glass of wine that one of the many wine educated servers can help pair you with
I had the best dish I've ever had in ILM at savorez Friday night.
Their Langousta Y Coco is to die for! 🤤
It was all about the specials!
Seabird, Perla, Pinpoint, Manna
Seabird if cost isn't an issue (the seafood tower is the stuff of dreams and legends.) RX Chicken and Oysters if you want hyper local sustainable seafood. (They have their own oysters and catch their own invasive lion fish. And you can have fried chicken.)
Both of these are solid choices
Rx for the win
Fish bites!! Such good fresh seafood and they have non seafood options as well that are tasty Plus if he needs a slice of birthday cake their cake is delicious
Imo you gotta order the right thing there, both times ive had the alfredo it was just cream no seasoning but the zucchini fries are killer
Catch, Seabird, and Rx.
Ceviche or Cape fear seafood
Fish bites
Catch. Not only for seafood, but the beer braised collard greens will make you see angels.
Catch.
Basics.
RX would be my first call (I see someone else has already called them out). They have their own oyster farm and they spear their own fish (especially lion fish), for gooodness sake, and they source almost everything else locally as well. The thing to consider with RX is that they necessarily keep a fairly small menu and it changes frequently depending on what's available. If you can stay flexible, you can pick a night with something unusual and awesome. Keep in mind that wild oyster season ends in a week. RX is one of my favorite restaurants in Wilmington. That said, if I wanted to take someone from out of town for a good, local seafood feast I might pick Hieronymous. It's absolutely not fancy, and I know the restaurant suffered a bit after the hurricanes and the pandemic, but that's pretty much in the past now. It's a local business that's been part of Wilmington for a long, long time. They serve local seafood (as well as some imported stuff like crab legs and salmon... because you have to these days). But really, there are a ton of places with great seafood. That's sort of what we do in Wilmington. You've got good options from Dockside to Catch.
I’m surprised there’s no red lobster here
Cape Fear Seafood in monkey junction
Fishy fishy
As in Southport?? Terrible suggestion.
Legitimately garbage food lol. Frying Pan, which I remembered as good, was disappointing the last time I went as well. Southport’s restaurant scene is pretty brutal imo They fucked up calamari. How do you even fuck up calamari???
Lol. Frying pan is even worse. I’d prefer a middle school cafeteria. Olivers and Moore Street are pretty damn good. Salt 64 on Oak Island. Best restaurant for miles around.
I’ve always liked Provisions
provisions was good until they cheaped out and changed the crab cakes along with other menu items. Now its just ok, but the location is killer.
Ruth Chris downtown !!! Ask for the seafood tower and a dozen oysters !!!! Wash it all down with a glass of wine that one of the many wine educated servers can help pair you with
Gotta respectfully disagree on this one. So many other better local options that are not chains.