Best of Wilmington 2026 - Food & Drink
Wilmington’s food and drink scene is broad enough to satisfy nearly any craving, but what connects this year’s winners is an unmistakable sense of place that includes local seafood, handmade bread, carefully sourced ingredients and neighborhood gathering spaces. To learn more, we checked in with nearly 10 winners about what keeps customers returning and what makes their businesses distinctly Wilmington.
For many, the answer begins with craftsmanship. Take Little Loaf Bakery and Schoolhouse, where breads and pastries are made from scratch daily, with favorites ranging from country sourdough and Spanish baguettes to croissants and chocolate chip sea salt cookies. “Our customers come for the bread and stay for the pastries,” says owner and baker Julia Castellano, who describes the growing community around the bakery as the achievement she is proudest of.
As a regular at The Half, I’m happy to see I’m not the only one impressed by its impressing mighty sandwiches like The Tucker, layered with turkey, provolone, cucumber and romesco on toasted ciabatta. “We like to think it’s our labor of love,” says President Andrew Dennison.
Manna takes a more elevated approach, building its farm-to-table experience around consistency, hospitality and close attention to detail. The team says its guests appreciate knowledgeable but approachable service, and that “EVERYONE thinks the oysters are special.”
Speaking of oysters, Seabird works with area farmers, fishers and foragers to serve seafood that reflects what is happening in local waters at any given moment. Its team says guests value “the stories we’re telling of the people behind” the ingredients, from hand-forged shellfish to locally caught fish and North Carolina oysters. Seaview Crab Company has built its business around that same connection to the coast, growing from a roadside crab stand into a 70-person operation with markets, a restaurant, wholesale service and home delivery. “For many people, fresh seafood truly hits home,” founders Nathan King and Jon Oracion say.
Elsewhere, community is as important as the menu. Fermental has evolved from a bottle shop into a gathering place for live music, food trucks and events, with a selection extending well beyond beer to wine, spirits and nonalcoholic options. “We’re not just a beer store,” owners Steve and Kristen Gibbs emphasize. Wilmington Brewing Company has followed a similar path, growing from a homebrew shop into a large brewing facility and taproom while hosting fundraisers, small-business events and community groups. “We love hosting and helping our community as much as possible,” says Business Operations Manager Mackenzie Atherholt.
Another long-running neighborhood favorite, Lovey’s Natural Foods & Café, has spent more than two decades helping customers navigate healthy choices through personal attention and product knowledge. Owners Marie Montemurro and Gabriella Parga say they are most proud to operate a successful family- and women-owned business whose staff and many longtime customers feel like family.
There’s also places like The Dive, a hidden gem no more, which has transformed from a bar that served food into a restaurant known for dependable late-night service and wings that keep regulars coming back. Owners Ryan and Laura O’Rourke say customers value “the consistency they can count on.”
Cuisine
Best Authentic American
True Blue
wearetrueblue.com
Best Barbecue
Moe’s Original BBQ — Wilmington
moesoriginalbbq.com
Best French
Caprice Bistro
capricebistro.com
Best Greek/Middle Eastern
Kipos Hellenic Cuisine
kiposwilmington.com
Best Healthy/Organic
Lovey’s Natural Foods & Cafe
loveysmarket.com
Best Indian
Tandoori Bites
tandooribites.net
Best Italian
Tarentelli’s
tarantellis.com
Best Japanese
Nori Asian Fusion & Sushi Bar
norisushinc.com
Best Latin/Spanish
Savorez
savorez.com
Best Seafood
Cape Fear Seafood Co.
capefearseafoodcompany.com
Best Thai
Indochine
indochinewilmington.com
Dining Experiences
Best Boat-Access Restaurant
Dockside Restaurant
thedockside.com
Best Breakfast
Blueberry’s Grill
blueberrysgrillnc.com
Best Brunch
Brunches
mimosasmademedoit.com
Best Caterer
Middle of the Island
Best Date-Night Restaurant
Olivero
oliveroilm.com
Best Family-Friendly Restaurant
Mess Hall ILM
messhallilm.com
Best Fine-Dining Restaurant
manna
mannaavenue.com
Best-Kept Secret Restaurant
Winnie’s Tavern
wilmingtonsbestburger.com
Best Late-Night Dining
Slice of Life Pizzeria & Pub
grabslice.com
Best Lunch
The Half
thehalfbev.com
Best Outdoor Dining
Indochine
indochinewilmington.com
Best Rooftop Restaurant
Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar
cloud9ilm.com
Best Sunset-View Restaurant
Smoke on the Water
smokeonthewaterwilm.com
Best Waterfront Dining
Oceanic
oceanicrestaurant.com
Drinks & Dessert
Best Bar
Satellite Bar and Lounge
Best Beer List
Fermental Beer & Wine
fermental.net
Best Bloody Mary
End of Days Distillery
eoddistillery.com
Best Cocktails
Casa Encanto
casaencantoilm.com
Best Coffee Shop
Hidden Grounds Coffee
hiddengroundscoffee.com
Best Craft Brewery
Wilmington Brewing Company
wilmingtonbrewingcompany.com
Best Dessert
Boombalatti’s
boombalattis.com
Best Distillery
End of Days Distillery
eoddistillery.com
Best Happy Hour
Yosake
yosake.com
Best Juice Bar
Coco Pipa
cocopipa.com
Best Martini
Concorde Espresso Bar
concordeespressobar.com
Best Pub/Tavern
The Copper Penny
copperpennync.com
Best Wine List
The Fortunate Glass
fortunateglass.com
Best Wine Shop
Bridgewater Wines + Dines
bridgewaterwines.com
Food Items
Best Appetizers
Front Street Brewery
frontstreetbrewery.com
Best Bagels
Beach Bagels
beachbagels.biz
Best Bakery
Little Loaf Bakery and Schoolhouse
littleloafbakeryilm.com
Best Burger
PT’s Grille
ptsgrille.com
Best Chicken Wings
The Dive Food & Spirits
thedivecarolinabeach.com
Best Crab Cakes
Cape Fear Seafood Co.
capefearseafoodcompany.com
Best Doughnuts
Britt’s Donuts
brittsdonutshop.com
Best Ice Cream
Boombalatti’s
boombalattis.com
Best Oysters
Seabird
seabirdnc.com
Best Pizza
Cugino Forno
cuginoforno.com
Best Raw Bar
Perla Raw Bar
perlarawbar.com
Best Salad
Rucker Johns Restaurant
ruckerjohns.com
Best Sandwich
The Half
thehalfbev.com
Best Seafood Market
Seaview Crab Co.
seaviewcrabcompany.com
Best Steak
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
ruthschris.com
Best Sushi
Yosake
yosake.com
Best Tacos
K38 Baja Grill
k38bajagrill.com
