Fine Dining Options

We hesitated to categorize restaurants as fine dining because for many, the term is synonomous with expensive. Although restaurants have to base their prices on the quality of the ingredients used, the food at these restaurants in well worth the price. Do yourself a huge favor. Try them all.

If you’re craving a wonderful USDA Prime steak, there is only one place to go in Wilmington that carries nothing but prime meats in all cuts. That restaurant is Ruth’s Chris Steak House, located in the Hilton Wilmington Riverside in Historic Downtown Wilmington. On the menu are all the best cuts of steak, including filet, strip, ribeye and t-bone, and you can even order a porterhouse for two.

Chops are available in lamb, pork or veal varieties and seafood, including a huge three-pound live Maine lobster, is on the available also. There is a wide array of side dishes to accompany your meal, including nine vegetables dishes, potatoes prepared eight ways, and seven salads.

In case that’s not enough, you’ll also find a vast assortment of appetizers, an extensive, award winning wine list, numerous beers, a full bar and delicious desserts. The lounge opens at 3:00 p.m. daily with dinner beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and at 5:00 p.m. all other days.

Port Land Grille, an attractive restaurant with well spaced tables, well trained staff and superb food, is located in Lumina Station. You won’t find run of the mill entrees here. Examples of chef owner Shawn Wellersdick’s seafood entrees are wood grilled wild striped bass and cajun BBQ rubbed North Carolina catfish over crawfish meat. Meat dishes currently available include antelope tenderloin, wood grilled Long Island duck breast and Port Land Grille’s meatloaf, made with 100 percent ground Provimi veal!

Port Land Grille also has a number of special dishes that are offered at a very modest price for a restaurant of this quality. For $19.95, you can order a USDA Prime sirloin steak that is served with two side dishes, including such favorites as salt and pepper fries and spinach either creamed or sauteed in butter and garlic. The bread and compound butter Port Land Grille serves is also terrific. Port Land Grille has a full bar and an extensive list of wines not offered elsewhere. Save room for the superb desserts.