Seafood Restaurants

A word of explanation here: in a area surrounded by water, great seafood is available in many restaurants. The choices listed here are restaurants that devote most of the menu to seafood.

“Elijah’s” is an American seafood grill and oyster bar that has been a mainstay in Historic Downtown Wilmington since 1984. It is located on Chandler’s Wharf in a building that was originally a maritime museum. Several of the paintings, ships models and nautical artifacts remain on display in the restaurant today. Elijah’s has a large deck overlooking the Cape Fear River and Riverwalk, which is a wonderful spot for people watching while enjoying lunch, drinks or dinner.

The menu at Elijah’s is extensive enough to please any diner. Of course the primary concentration is on seafood of all types, with oysters available on the half shell, steamed, fried, and Rockefeller. A Carolina bucket is comprised of steamed clams, mussels, shrimp, crab legs, sausage, new potatoes and corn on the cob. Other popular seafood items are seafood platters available either grilled or fried and shrimp stuffed with crabmeat. The restaurant is open seven days a week year round. It has a full bar with all ABC permits.

“The Pilot House” opened in 1978 and was the first restaurant in Chandler’s Wharf when it opened in 1978. Today, the restaurant specializes in Southern regional cuisine and all dishes are made from scratch with fresh ingredients and fish and fowl that is native to the area. Everything from “down home cooking” to Cajun to traditional southern fare with a contemporary flair is offered. Two examples illustrate the diversity of menu choices at lunch. A fried green tomato sandwich with goat cheese, roasted red pepper and mixed greens on sourdough bread is one while another is chicken breast sautéed in olive oil, Marsala wine and garlic, with mushrooms, shallots and sage served over linguine. Crunchy pan fried catfish served with collard greens, grits and red-eye gravy represents a traditional southern choice. Both the chicken breast and catfish are on the dinner menu as well, as are a tremendous choice of other dishes. Fried seafood platters, crabcakes an Louisiana hot and spicy shrimp are just some of the items offered.

The restaurant has a full bar menu with all ABC permits and is open for lunch, drinks and dinner seven days throughout the year. The restaurant and deck is available for weddings and other special events. With several private rooms and deck spaces, events from 30 to 300 can be accommodated easily and with style.

On Topsail Island in Surf City, you should visit Mainsail Restaurant, located at 404 Roland Avenue. Here the owners, brothers Michael and Stephen Pasquantonio, present fresh seafood with delicious sauces such as chipotle and creamy dill as well as daily fish specials. They offer a kids menu, have a full bar, and are open daily year round from 5 p.m. Upstairs at Mainsail is the Commodore Room, a perfect place for wedding receptions, special birthday dinners or family reunions; live music is offered several times during the summer at the Commodore Room. Mainsail also offers full catering services, both on site and off.