Casual Restaurants

A wonderful spot to enjoy a casual meal is at The George on the Riverwalk, located in Historic Downtown Wilmington with a very large deck overlooking the Cape Fear River. The only riverfront restaurant downtown offering dock and dine, boaters can pull right up to the dock and moor free of charge while dining.

At The George patrons can sample Southern coastal cuisine for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Specials are prepared daily and the revamped menu is extensive. You’ll find a large assortment of appetizers as well as soups, salads, sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, seafood entrees, kids meals, steaks and pasta dishes. Fish and chips, Black Angus burgers, crab cakes served either as an entree or as a sandwich, numerous crisp salads and shrimp or oyster po’ boys are but a few of the popular choices.

A full bar that includes a large selection of martinis and a large and thoughtful variety of wines are offered too. If it’s classic American fare you crave, treat yourself to lunch or dinner at 

Henry’s Restaurant located at Shipyard and Independence Boulevards in Barclay Commons. A very large selection of salads, sandwiches, soups and luncheon plates are offered midday. In the evening, pasta, seafood, “two-handed” sandwiches and entrees such as a sausage stuffed pork chop with roasted red peppers, brie and portabella mushrooms are on the menu. The restaurant has a full bar and a large wine list. Live music is offered on the patio on Friday evenings.

Fat Tony’s Italian Pub has two locations in Wilmington, one downtown on Front Street and another on Racine Drive near UNCW and Wrightsville Beach. The huge menu offers everything you would expect and more: pizza by the slice or whole pies with the choice of a host of toppings, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, numerous pasta dishes, and calzones, among many others. What you might not expect is that Fat Tony’s offers the largest selection of draft beers in Wilmington. At last count, there were 25 beers on tap, available by the pint or pitcher. Numerous wines are offered too. Both locations are open daily from 11 to 2 a.m.; on Sunday they closed at midnight.

Huge, New Sports Bar

You’ll immediately know what the theme is when you open the door to the new Carolina Ale House, which opened on South College Road in early 2010. Two giant flat screen televisions and 46 others are located throughout the restaurant, as is memorabilia from all our local sports teams. The restaurant also has a very large outdoor bar that is sure to be a popular gathering place many months of the year. The menu at Carolina Ale House is oversized too, with heavy emphasis on sandwiches, burgers, wraps, wings, appetizers and dips. Chili is served every day and there is a homemade soup too. Several salads are available and some of the entree choices are Asian ahi tuna, Oriental chicken stir fry and a chargrilled ribeye. There also is a kid’s menu featuring such favorites as a corn dog and mac and cheese. Portions are huge and no one goes away hungry from this restaurant. The Carolina Ale House is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

A True Deli On Topsail Island

You’ll find authentic Reuben sandwiches on delicious rye bread at the New York Corner Deli in Surf City on Topsail Island. A large selection of delicious deli meats and all the salads you’d expect, including excellent egg salad, macaroni salad, potato salad, etc., all homemade, are served. Upstairs you’ll have a view of the ocean if you can turn your eyes from the New York memorabilia that graces the walls. Be sure to try the rice pudding – it’s the best you’ll find south of the Carnegie Deli in Manhattan. The New York Corner Deli is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner year-round.