“First time visit. Was impressed to say the least. The friends that I was with are regulars there. I ordered the seafood platter. First time in my life I have ever left seafood on the plate. And I ate very little of the slaw, however it was very good. Didn't eat any of the French fries. There was so much seafood on the plate, I literally could not eat at all. Most places have four oysters on the plate, I believe mine had seven. All fried very crispy and the food was hot when it came to the table. The breading on the seafood was excellent and they even gave me the dark side of the flounder. By the way in case you don't know, the dark side is the best side. There were six of us and we split an order of clam strips, calamari, and crab dip among us. All three of those were delicious too.“
“Great bar. Wonderful bartender. Knowledgeable, and insightful with the bourbons, which are plentiful, on hand. The best burger I've had in Wilmington. Double smash. Not to be missed. Looking forward to an opportunity to go back and trying more of the bourbons. Oh, the place was mostly empty. Kind of shocking considering the service and the decor, layout of the place. Place. It's got everything going for it except people.“
“Spectacular experience at your establishment last night!!! Attended the burlesque show, thoroughly enjoyed the show! The bar tenders were amazing, as always!!! No matter how busy, they are always helpful and friendly! Keep up the excellent service. wonderful establishment, super awesome location!“
“Loved this place! The decor was incredible, the drinks were fabulous and the pupu platters were delicious. Staff was awesome and very patient with all our questions. This will be someplace we want to visit whenever we are back in Wilmington. Thanks for all the fun, can't wait to visit again!“
“This place is cute! I came here with my mom, dad and some of my mom's friends on a weeknight and we had a great time. Their liquor selection is solid with some classics, local options, and new-to-me selections. We shared cocktails and tried a couple random rums. Service is friendly and patient with those who have a hard time deciding or have questions. I personally prefer service where they aren't constantly checking in on you and this was just that. Coming from NYC I was a little surprised by the pricing - it's pretty similar - but liked it all the same and would definitely come back.“
“Very relaxing atmosphere. The house drink was fantastic ? Employees were super. Needed this vibe after a long work week. Upstairs was my favorite spot to look out and see the beautiful lights and see planes flying by. Music choice was soothing.“
“Very fun experience. I have gone twice now, once with a smaller group and once with a slightly larger group; and both times have been thoroughly enjoyable.Parking: It is a fairly small parking lot with a Very steep entrance and exit. Our Subaru dragged pulling out, my truck did not.“
“The first night we visited, there was a super talented musician and a captivated audience. There seemed to be only one bartender that made drinks while the rest of the staff kept the bar stocked. The second night we visited, there was a dj and a totally different crowd.“
“Love this place! Have been going here for years. More spacious than most other bars/clubs. Three different bars to order drinks from. Dance club downstairs, large outdoor patio area with cornhole, as well as a full bar as soon as you walk in with plenty of seating and a pool table. 5/5“
“We had an incredibly great time last night. The front of house staff was very accommodating, the bar and wait staff were fast. Drinks were cold, quick, and reasonably priced. That says a lot with a sold out crowd. Bert Kreischer killed it by the way and performed for like 2 hours and hung out after. We'll certainly be back often. Thanks Dead Crow Comedy for a great night all around.“
“I recently had the pleasure of revisiting Olio Courtyard Bar! What truly sets Olio apart is the exceptional customer experience from Kelly and her exceptional drink selection!!!! My husband and I started a business one block away and this quickly became our escape to enjoy another family owned business! this is a place you must visit when in the Cargo District! She has drinks available to anyone, N.A. selections, wine, beer, craft drinks that are all to die for! This is more than your typical bar; this is a destination for all friends, family to come together and share good times! Kelly is over the top personable, makes you feel like you are part of her framily (friends that are family!) and the epitome of hospitality!10/10 must come here when in the area!!“
“This place lives up to it's name. The bar has a great offering of beer on tap, plus a huge variety of cans that the bartenders know really well.The space offers many types of sitting areas; indoor and outdoor with a casual environment. They also host great monthly events.Parking: Small parking lot and some street parking availableWheelchair accessibility: Not impossible but not made with handicap people in mind.“
“After following Fox’s on social media and seeing their magical menu in photo form, I finally got the chance to try them out a couple of months back. I’m just disappointed in myself for not trying them sooner. I immediately fell in love with the Ghostface Fillah which starts with a sourdough caraway bread grilled to perfection, cheese, arugula, hot roast beef, horseradish mayo, and a Demi glacé you want to dip everything in. It’s absolutely killer and I’ve not been able to stray away from it. But that’s not it, I’ve tried the fries, pasta salad, fried cheese, and Big Wes’ Little Weiners. Not sure who Wes is, but yknow what… good for him. Everything on the menu is delicious and somehow they’ve managed to keep that impeccable quality even when it’s for takeout/delivery. We’ve found many reasons to order from Fox’s recently and they never miss. Everything is packaged perfectly, nothing missing, all the sauces, and it’s just that damn good.We’ve also dined in and love the little hole in the wall this place really is. The restaurant is spotless and the guys working are super nice and attentive. The last time we dined in, the local health inspector came in and tried her best to ruin the kitchens day, but they still managed to take care of us and make sure we had everything we needed for a good experience. Can’t wait to continue supporting this little gem in Downtown Wilmington.“
“This is my new favorite in Wilmington! We did the chefs tasting menu and were so impressed. It was a ton of food and we got to try so many different options. Everything we tried was insanely delicious. We just moved from San Francisco and this food is seriously just as good as any upscale restaurant in SF. All the staff are so friendly and helpful. They are able to accommodate gluten free and modified several dishes. Definitely will be back!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free friendly“
“SUPER sweet & attentive staff! They explained how things work there and were always running around making sure we had what we needed (clearing empty glasses and restocking). We loved that they are dog friendly indoors! Lots of comfortable places to sit and endless options of a variety of beers, wines & cider. It was convenient being able to pour your own drinks when you wanted and as much as you wanted! They had everything well labeled & organized. We were told this was an old bank and the vault is the room used for the wines (see video).Food was temporarily unavailable, but there were plenty of restaurants with takeout within walking distance. We had no trouble finding paid parking on the street, although we went in the afternoon on Friday so it may be more difficult later in the evening.This place is massive. The upstairs even has a game room & additional taps as well as large windows spending across the entire wall with beautiful city views. This is a great place with a chill vibe to try a lot of local beers if you are short on time visiting Wilmington! :)“
“The Rusty Nail is one great spot to be in Wilmington NC. The staff and patrons are the friendliest around and the live music on Tuesday night nights and weekends ranks among the best blues I have ever seen and heard anywhere! In fact my wife and I are on our way there now, on Thanksgiving , for tonight’s Thanksgiving pot luck dinner. It will be a great time for those who don’t have local family, can’t travel or just want to have some holiday fun. No kidding, the Rusty Nail is a definite good time!“
“One of my favorite places in Wilmington. The views are amazing and the staff is incredible. The membership is 100% worth it and comes with a lot of perks. We just reserved a room for our friends birthday party and it was the perfect spot for it. Definitely check this place out!“
“This is my fave restaurant for a special night out in Wilmington, so when it came to choosing where to have my birthday dinner, it was a no brainer.An hour before the reservation, my babysitter had to cancel suddenly. I called the restaurant to ensure it was ok if my 2 year old joined and they assured me it was. I cannot stress enough how WONDERFUL the staff and chef were- even making himButtered noodles and giving him a condiment cup of his favorite - cherries! I was so stressed going into it but had no reason to be at all! Insanely good food and the kindest ppl. Thank you all so much.“
“My wife and I are NJ/NYC natives, and had my share of good Italian. Nicola’ is sold…meat, fish, or chicken you can’t go wrong. Plus homemade pasta. Last night I had my summer favorite…. Cavatelli with broccoli. Wine list is broad enough for anyone to find something they like. Wife is celiac, waitress understood what that means, and was totally accommodating.“
“I went to Bottega for the first time during the Brooklyn Arts District coffee crawl and absolutely loved it! It is a cute art bar that is subdivided into a few different areas, including a bar in the front with outdoor seating, an indoor lounge further back, and a hidden beer garden in the back! There is a ton of modern art to look at, and the drinks we had were great. I will definitely be back!“
“Great atmosphere & service. Dimly lit, candlelight, private balconies available. Amazingly lemony pesto, delicious burrata ravioli. Better Italian than I’ve had anywhere near Raleigh in 2 years. Aracini needs a bit more salt. Tiramisu was to-die-for. Best I’ve had since I left Chicago, nothing near Raleigh compares. Smaller portions but filling. Few vegetarian dishes.Vegetarian options: Not a lot but everything that is veg is really good.“
“Every time I come to Wilmington, I make sure to stay at the hotel next door JUST so I can come to this bar- BEST selection of beer always, a great staff, AND they have the best pool table around (and it’s free)! Super dog friendly, too- if you’re in downtown Wilmington, you gotta check this place out!“
“First time in Wilmington and was looking for a place with a smart, friendly, diverse crowd among whom to have a drink. Tried several places, but this one is it, hands down. Great jukebox and great people there to make those selections. Even the drink prices are right. If you're in my shoes sometime, save yourself some walking and head straight here.“
“Great place to chill and get in a virtual round of golf. Food is very good for pub food. The atmosphere makes it worth the visit as the staff is so friendly and very cool. Great place to go and let off some steam. If you go once you will be back!!“
“I'm a newer parent and my partner and I went far too long without a date night. When we finally got a sitter and were ready for a romantic night, I asked some in-the-know friends where to get a cocktail and Banter was top of their list. It was somewhere I'd been eyeing for a while, so I was excited, and I knew the space from its prior business. When we walked in, the bar at the entry was beautiful. The options were a bit confusing - there were menus on the bar but specials on the wall so it was a lot to take in. However, I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to go wrong. We each ordered a cocktail and walked toward the back. There were several rooms to scope out and the lighting and furniture truly was romantic and cozy. The highlight for us was all the way to the back. Once we stepped outside it was like being transported to a little European cafe. We enjoyed our cocktails there and promised ourselves we'd be back soon. We went back again last week and learned that on Thursdays they have a special - if you order one of a few select cocktails, you get a surprise. Score! We each ordered one of those cocktails. Toward the back there was a chest of drawers (like 30 or so of them), each taped shut. We selected a drawer, tore off the tape, and each got a surprise. My partner got a hat and I got two moonpies - can't say we needed either of those things, but I do love a good surprise! Again, we sat out back and sipped our tasty drinks while listening to the pretty great music they were playing. It's the kind of place I'd feel comfortable going to by myself, with girl friends, or on a date. Can't wait to go back.“
“This place has great food for a good price. Not to forget that the portions were plenty big. Not only is there famous fried chicken delicious, but so is there Mac and Cheese (preferred the plain style), potato salad and Cole slaw. Would highly recommend you give them a visit!“
“Awesome place. Owner is great. Bartender friendly. First time there. Outdoor space is amazing. Dog friendly which is very important to me. Clean. Invited friends to join us. First time too. They loved it. I will become a regular. If I could give more than 5 stars, they would get them.“
“After living here for years, my wife and I discovered this jewel of a restaurant. A great menu of fresh prepared daily options. To begin we enjoyed their chips & guac with queso, followed by a chopped house salad (wife) and a Caesar for me, then the short rib dinner. Everything was absolutely delicious, and plentiful. Sean Michael served us, and was able to give thoughtful insight on the dishes and the background of the restaurant, most helpful to a first (but not last) visit. The atmosphere was a bit ‘industrial’ in the downstairs dinning (they also have a rooftop outdoor dinning area), and we got there during happy hour, so it was a little loud (but this calmed down as we ate). Again, the food is fantastic! I would caution though (as Sean did before I ordered) the Ceasar salad is very intense with anchovy. Had I not been warned I would have sent it back, but I had been warned, and now so have you. Looking forward to our next visit, this time hopefully leaving room for dessert!“
“Showed up at opening (1pm) with my nephew. I understood it may have been a 21 and older. We couldn’t call to check. They didn’t answer before opening. So, we thought we would stop by and see. Maybe they serve food and can have under 18? We don’t know.A gentleman enthusiastically greeted us as we walked up, before I could ask anything about my nephew (who very obviously appears to be underage), and the gentleman said “Come on in folks”. We accepted his invitation only to be told almost immediately by the same person upon setting foot inside “,You know, it’s 21 and over…”Edited my original review, after Owner’s reply. Thank you for your invitation to return.“
“Stopped in for a couple of cold beverages, adult in nature, pretty good not great but opened and available. Kind of like a good place to grab one or two drinks before jumping to another location you'd be bored if you'd spend more than an hour in this place but the service was good and bar staff was attentive.“
“Stayed here for a second time and loved it. The room was so beautifully decorated, the bed was very comfortable, and the room is sparkling clean. The grounds are really pretty with lots of options for sitting outside I’m absolutely in love with the bathroom tile and intend to go home and redo my kitchen backsplash. Duncan at the front desk was welcoming and helpful. We opted to self park which was easy with lots of options on the street and in the parking lot across the street. Note that street parking is free after 6:30 at night and on Sundays. Some things that I would like to see improve are the air-conditioning in the rooms. Our room did not go below 70°, which is a little too hot for us for sleeping. We also didn’t like the Dram yard for dining. We like different kinds of foods, but the menu is just too unusual for us. We thought it was a safe bet for breakfast, but we were disappointed. The Crunchy lady, what could have been an artistic take on Eggs Benedict was inedible. It had a solid layer of pepper coating underneath the egg yet the bread and hollandaise were flavorless. It could have been described as blackened eggs (see photo). Although the staff is very friendly there, and the coffee is really good, we opted to go downtown for breakfast for the rest of our trip. Lastly, I don’t understand why they feel the need to have valet parking. The lot behind the hotel has more than enough parking for all of the guests and I would have preferred the convenience of self parking. Overall, I definitely recommend this hotel and will definitely stay here again“
“Great place to relax and have a beer or specialty cocktail from the master mixologist at the bar. Some great music played by some talented musicians including Fred the master mixologist. On occasion they offer mixologist college courses which are great weather your looking to brush up on making drinks at home or looking to learn a new trade.“
“This place is great. Our first time going was Saturday and I was not disappointed. The selection of Scotch was awesome and the food was terrific. Only thing...the fire wings are not hot enough....make them thangs FLAME! I'm kidding....food was terrific. We will definitely be back.“
“The server was extremely friendly and everyone was respectful and nice. I gave a 4 on service because they forgot to bring out my food and it took longer for everything to come out more then normal. But, the waitress was extremely apologetic about it. They have plenty of dairy free and gluten free options, as well as vegan. I recommend their salads and their ciders are very good if you're gluten free. Their gluten and dairy free pizza is decent. If you are going to get the Pizza, I recommend the white one or the might meat pizza GF.Dietary restrictions: Dairy free cheeseKid-friendliness: My 2 boys LOVE going. They too are gluten and dairy free and enjoy the pizza.“
“The server was extremely friendly and everyone was respectful and nice. I gave a 4 on service because they forgot to bring out my food and it took longer for everything to come out more then normal. But, the waitress was extremely apologetic about it. They have plenty of dairy free and gluten free options, as well as vegan. I recommend their salads and their ciders are very good if you're gluten free. Their gluten and dairy free pizza is decent. If you are going to get the Pizza, I recommend the white one or the might meat pizza GF.Dietary restrictions: Dairy free cheeseKid-friendliness: My 2 boys LOVE going. They too are gluten and dairy free and enjoy the pizza.“
“I moved here from Austin, Texas last October and found this open mic soon after that. It's great!!! Eric is a great host who dials everyone in till they sound just right. The list fills up quickly and it's not unusual to have 18-20 players in a nite. The audience varies from just a few to jammed packed, but they will listen if you get their attention. I have heard some amazing music in that room. I go to play and to listen almost every week. Try it... You'll like it.“
“Hands down one of my favorite bars in Wilmington! This bar is the oldest bar in Wilmington and one of the first I came to back in the 90s. Great selection of beer and spirits! The staff is always fast and friendly! The restrooms were clean with plenty of products! If you want to play pool then this is the place for you! I would highly recommend Barbary Coast if you are in the area! You won't find a more down-to-earth or authentic bar in town!!“
“It was so wonderful on so many levels! First a delicious glass of red wine and the butternut squash soup. It was so creamy and rich it was a meal itself! Then blackened mahi mahi with sweet potato puree and sautéed spinach. With the first bite so many flavors popped in my mouth! I haven’t had a meal this flavorful in many years. And I have traveled the world. My partner as well. And we both agreed. The atmosphere, food, and staff is top notch! Highly recommend!!!!!“
“Went here for the open mic. Been about 10+ years since I have been in the place. It has improved immensely! They must have picked up some cleaning solution and a 55 gallon drum of elbow grease? Good selection of beers on tap, large space, pool tables and other games. Places to sit and hang out...I like it. Delia and Shawn are running a 1st class open mic, very smooth with good back-line equipment and sound...we will be back.“
“when i first heard about the ibis i knew it was going to be a place i would really enjoy. not only do i enjoy music overall but have visited gravity records several times so seeing a collaboration between them was exciting to see. my first time at the ibis was definitely the most welcoming and played a big part in me continuing to come and grab a drink & have a chat with friends. i love the atmosphere, the music, & the cocktails always hit the spot. after the first time visiting, i started, realizing that the customer service and interactions overall were not that great. i tried to give it the benefit of the doubt and assume that they were possibly having an overwhelming and busy day. i will go ahead and mention that i am very respectful when it comes to me going out to public spaces. i have always been very good with my manners and would say i'm more patient than most people in our world these days. so for me to feel the need to say anything about this should say a lot in itself. i've been to the ibis about five times at this point and ever since the first time i have not been greeted with a welcoming vibe whatsoever. i'm not expecting much from the staff but basic phrases like "hey how are y'all doing?" or "how's it going?" are never used. not even a welcoming smile or anything. not only that but it seems like they stare at you & wait for you to say something first. i will also mention that this isn't only during cocktail hours. i've been there during coffee hours and the staff during that time seem to be the same. i really love this spot. it's an awesome place to have a casual drink or just to listen to some good music but i'm writing this because not only me but friends that have been there with their own friends have also had negative experiences with the staff. i have nothing against the staff, maybe they've just never worked a customer service job & don't realize that your body language and energy does affect the people around you. i just hate that i don't feel like can fully enjoy my time here when there's so much negative tension between the customers and staff. i hope there can be a meeting where this could be addressed, but overall beautiful spot and looking forward to future events.“
“I love this bar. There's a mix of older people & younger people that goes to this bar. Everybody treats ya like it part of the family. The only bad thing, which is why I rated it with 4 stars, is that they need to get some decent spirits in stock & they need to keep them stocked.“
“Prost is one of the best things to happen to downtown Wilmington in a while! I cannot recommend them enough for lunch or dinner—both are delicious. Their historic building's outdoor space in particular is truly special, and I try to sit there whenever the weather allows! As for food recommendations: - You have to get the pretzel. You just have to! It's mind-blowingly good. - I don't eat meat, but a companion of mine loves a good beef stroganoff, and he said it was the best one he had *ever* had. I heard similar reviews of the reuben! - The apple strudel is DELICIOUS. It's a surprisingly large portion—easily could feed two diners! Definitely give Prost a try. They won't disappoint!“