Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Wilmington

OpenTable

Updated 05 September 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Wilmington? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Genki Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant

5.0

5 (734)

$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

Fred

Dined 3 days ago

We had a wonderful meal at Genki. Modest, unassuming location with great food and phenomenal service. Best sushi in Wilmington by far.

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Jerry's Food, Wine and Spirits

5.0

5 (591)

$30 and under

Regional American (Contemporary Southern)

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Serving the best from North Carolina's land and sea in a warm, casual setting since 1992. Contemporary American dishes lined with classic flavors of the South. Couple your meal with a glass/bottle from our hand picked wine list featuring many Napa, Sonoma, and Oregon options, or go with a delicious hand crafted cocktail like the Hellcat Holler. Jerry's has been featured on PBS' "NC Weekend" with Bob Garner, Wilmington Today, the Wilmington Star News, and has had the pleasure of serving a sitting Vice President, Hollywood actors, pro athletes, tourists and the wonderful Wilmington community for 30 years. We look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

Andrea

Dined on 12 Sept 2026

Delicious and great service! Small space but still a great atmosphere.

Brent's Bistro

4.9

4.9 (715)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wrightsville Beach

About the restaurant

Upscale yet casual restaurant located in Wilmington, NC. Located near Wrightsville Beach. Menu changes weekly to highlight the freshest seafood and land dishes. Enjoy flavorful dinners and extensive wine selection in our welcoming atmosphere. When weather permits, book a seat outdoors on our covered patio. For reservations, please utilize Opentable or call us directly. However, reservations for Fridays and Saturdays can ONLY be booked by calling us directly. 910-839-3131.

Top review

Scott

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent cocktails and appetizers. Main entrees a little under seasoned but good. Service a little slow . Manager Ken was friendly and attentive. Overall a wonderful experience.

Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern

4.9

4.9 (340)

$30 and under

Seafood

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Seafood forward Contemporary American Restaurant in Winterville, North Carolina. Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern offers amazing food and cocktail menus with the service to match. We hope you join us soon.

Parties of 8 or more are required to pay with one check.

Top review

Mary

Dined on 10 Sept 2026

Thursdays dinner at Main and Mill was outstanding. We started with Bruchetta and the best hushpuppies! Our server was wonderful! Dinner was very tasty and everyone loved their entrees. One of our fav restaurants in Winterville!

Bridgewater Wines + Dines - Porters Neck

4.8

4.8 (32)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Kirkland

About the restaurant

Bridgewater Wines + Dines Leland offers a unique blend of globally inspired American fare, craft cocktails and a curated wine selection, all in a warm, welcoming setting. Led by culinary expert Susan Zucker and wine enthusiast Doug Zucker, the restaurant invites guests to browse the wine shop or indulge in the monthly Explorers Wine Club. Enjoy thoughtful pairings and creative dishes, all crafted with a passion for culinary discovery. Bridgewater delivers a one-of-a-kind dining experience where great food and remarkable cocktails and wines meet. Bridgewater's restaurant is open 11 AM-9PM Monday-Saturday for your dining expereince and open for wine retail 10AM-9PM, Monday- Saturday. Follow us on social media for all of our events. Would you like to learn more about Bridgewater's monthly wine club? Use this link to find out more information about Bridgewater's Explorers Club: https://bridgewaterwines.com/introducing-the-explorers-club/

Top review

Deborah

Dined 4 days ago

We had a fabulous dinner and the atmosphere was amazing

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Experience

Wednesday Night Lobster Bash

Experience

Prime Rib Saturdays

Low Tide Steakhouse & SandBar

4.7

4.7 (147)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Surf City

About the restaurant

Welcome to Low Tide Steakhouse & SandBar, a laid-back, family-friendly destination in Surf City, North Carolina. We specialize in perfectly cooked steaks, fresh seafood, and mouthwatering burgers, all served in a casual and inviting atmosphere.

At Low Tide Steakhouse, we pride ourselves on offering a memorable dining experience. Our menu highlights include expertly prepared steaks, a variety of seafood like pan-seared scallops and grilled tuna, and the "freshest" salad bar that guests rave about. Be sure to try our popular appetizers, like the loaded cheese fries, and explore our extensive drink menu.

Top review

Adam

Dined 3 days ago

The service was excellent, they got our family of 8 seated even though we didn’t have a reservation, they accommodated us very well. The 10oz filet with the cowboy butter is to die for!! 10/10

Butcher and Barrel by True Blue

4.6

4.6 (672)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Chef Bobby Zimmerman and his team welcome you to Butcher & Barrel by We Are True Blue, located in the South Front District of downtown Wilmington, NC.

Celebrated for its prime cuts and lively atmosphere, Butcher & Barrel features a menu of locally sourced ingredients and an extensive selection of bourbon and whiskey. With its high ceilings, funky wallpaper, and art featuring local artist GERB, Butcher & Barrel aims to offer not only a delicious dining and drinking experience but also a memorable, vibrant one. Designed to give you a big city feel, it has that exciting air of "where are you going to go next?" after you finish your meal or drink.

Top review

Erin

Dined 1 day ago

Food and service were phenomenal. Our meals were fresh, delicious, and flavorful. We were particularly pleased with the peanut Brussel Sprouts, crab cakes, and steak. Our server, Ryan, was friendly and attentive without hovering. It was a great dinner experience.

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Bridgewater Wines + Dines - Leland

4.5

4.5 (185)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Leland

About the restaurant

Bridgewater Wines + Dines Leland offers a unique blend of globally inspired American fare, craft cocktails and a curated wine selection, all in a warm, welcoming setting. Led by culinary expert Susan Zucker and wine enthusiast Doug Zucker, the restaurant invites guests to browse the wine shop or indulge in the monthly Explorers Wine Club. Enjoy thoughtful pairings and creative dishes, all crafted with a passion for culinary discovery. At Leland, Bridgewater delivers a one-of-a-kind dining experience where great food and remarkable cocktails and wines meet. Bridgewater's restaurant is open 11 AM-9PM Monday-Saturday for your dining expereince and open for wine retail 10AM-9PM, Monday- Saturday. Follow us on social media for all of our events. Would you like to learn more about Bridgewater's monthly wine club? Use this link to find out more information about Bridgewater's Explorers Club: https://bridgewaterwines.com/introducing-the-explorers-club/

Top review

Marie

Dined 2 days ago

My food was excellent and there were enough items on the menu to please a variety of eaters.

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Experience

Monday Night Trivia with Mike

Experience

Wednesday Night Lobster Bash

Experience

Belt It Out Music Bingo

King Neptune Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (523)

$31 to $50

American

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 Nick Chavez, winner of Food Network's "Chopped," has a very creative way of combining locally sourced ingredients to create the most tasteful and delicious meals for our guests.

Top review

Diane

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent food and service! Can not wait to go back!

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4.0

4 (78)

$30 and under

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Come and join us for Dinner and enjoy our American cuisine with a global flair ✨

Top review

Alice

Dined on 24 Jul 2026

Great atmosphere and an amazing server! Tom was friendly, attentive, and made our experience excellent. The restaurant was a little loud, but that’s to be expected. The only downside was that we found the food a bit bland and could have used more flavor. Overall, we had a great time and would come back.

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