Approaching Wrightsville Beach

If you love veal that’s so tender you don’t need a knife to cut it and if you appreciate great, creamy risotto that’s cooked to order, you have to make your way to Rafaella, located at 6722 Wrightsville Avenue just off Oleander Drive. The building is beautiful, the wine list is comprehensive, the service is professional, the prices affordable and the food is delicious. The owners of Rafaella had a successful place of the same name in Greenwich Village and know the importance of using the freshest ingredients to prepare flavorful dishes. Be sure to try the Baked Oysters Rafaella appetizer or any of the delicious soups. You can have dessert without feeling guilty also – the fresh sorbet is outstanding. If it’s chocolate you crave, you’ll have a choice of several fine confections. Rafaella is open nightly for dinner at 5 p.m. Sunday brunch is served
from 10:30 a.m. with $3.50 Bloody Mary’s or Mimosas offered after noon. Rafaella also offers frequent specials so be sure to check the special offer section to see what is currently available.

At Lumina Station

On the informal side with a French flair, Brasserie du Soleil (Eatery of the Sun) at Lumina Station serves both lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and dinner on Sunday. There hungry shoppers and Red Hat ladies enjoy midday repasts selected from a delightful array of sandwiches, crepes, soups, and – best of all – Brasserie salads made to order from a selection of more than 30 fresh ingredients. The dinner menu starts with delectable offerings from the raw bar and appetizers. Entrees and daily specials feature beef and seafood cooked to perfection. The dessert tray defies resistance.

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 has a full bar and an extensive list of wines not offered elsewhere. They have recently added a group of somewhat smaller dinner offerings at a lower price, which has proven to be very popular. Save room for dessert at Port Land Grille – they are superb.

Stone Crab Oyster Bar is a new addition to the Lumina Station restaurants. If offers all types of seafood which can be prepared steamed, grilled or fried Calabash style. In addition to the oyster bar, diners will find daily specials that depend on what is fresh locally. Stone crabs and Alaska king crabs are not native to this area but are brought in regularly for those who love them. Stone Crab is open for lunch and dinner with sandwiches and fish tacos available too. The restaurant has a number of moderately priced wines and there are special prices on buckets and pitchers of beer. There is a large patio covered with a huge awning for those who love to dine al fresco.

Terrazzo Trattoria is another family owned Italian restaurant. It is located on Eastwood Road at Military Cutoff in the Landfall Shopping Center and offers lunch and dinner daily. The restaurant offers a full bar, more than 75 wines and an outdoor seating area that is a lovely spot to dine when the weather is gorgeous, as it is much of the year in Wilmington. Among the special dishes are delicious, thin crust pizza, such Italian favorites as Chicken Parmesan, a wide assortment of very fresh salads, and lunches that are very moderately priced, especially given the quality of the food. Terrazzo’s also offers delivery to nearby Wrightsville Beach.

A bit farther up Eastwood Road toward Wrightsville Beach is Boca Bay, another in the Aziz family of restaurants. The restaurant was recently renovated and now has a heavy emphasis on seafood and sushi. Among the  seafood choices as appetizers are three types of oysters on the half shell (Stump Sound, Blue Point or Malpeque), as well as steamed oysters, clams, mussels or shrimp. Oysters Rockefeller, Escargot and Clams Casino are among the hot appetizers offered. Entree selections include paella, homemade lobster ravioli in a saffron cream sauce, fish and chips and numerous fried seafood possibilities. Steaks and chicken are available for meat lovers too. Boca Bay is open for dinner from 5 p.m. every day and for its famous Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A Local Favorite

Just before you cross the causeway to Wrightsville Beach you’ll see Jerry’s restaurant on the right in one of Wilmington’s ubiquitous small shopping plazas. To get there, turn right at the light at Wrightsville Avenue and Eastwood then left to get into the strip mall. Jerry’s is located at the intersection of Wrightsville Avenue and Eastwood Road, just before you cross the bridge to Wrightsville Beach. It has been a favorite among locals for many years, with food to suit any taste or whim. The staff is professional and attentive and Jerry Rouse, the owner, expects both the food and service to be superb. Daily specials are always delicious and desserts are sinfully good. With a full bar and a very extensive wine list, Jerry’s is open daily at 6 p.m.