Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Wilmington by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Wilmington using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Osteria Cicchetti
- Rating: 3.9/5 (374 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1125 Military Cutoff Road Ste K Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Brasserie du Soleil
- Rating: 4.0/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1908 Eastwood Road Ste 118 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: French, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#28. CAVA
- Rating: 4.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 International Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Salad, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Tarantelli's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (283 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 102 South 2nd St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Yosake
- Rating: 4.0/5 (273 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 South Front St. Floor 2 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#25. The Melting Pot - Wilmington
- Rating: 4.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 885 Town Center Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#24. The Bridge Tender
- Rating: 4.1/5 (541 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1414 Airlie Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Roko Italian Cuisine
- Rating: 4.1/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6801-105 Parker Farm Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Circa 1922
- Rating: 4.2/5 (531 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 8 North Front St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. True Blue Butcher and Table
- Rating: 4.2/5 (299 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1125 Military Cutoff Road Ste A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars, Butcher
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Dram Yard
- Rating: 4.2/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 101 South 2nd St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Indochine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1666 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7 Wayne Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Thai, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Origins Food and Drink
- Rating: 4.3/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 102 Autumn Hall Drive Unit 120 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Salad, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Ida Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5924 Carolina Beach Road Ste 170 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Cafe Chinois
- Rating: 4.3/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3710 South College Road Ste 123 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Benny's Big Time Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (398 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206 Greenfield St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Catch Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6623 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Salad, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. manna
- Rating: 4.3/5 (251 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 123 Princess St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Floriana
- Rating: 4.3/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Quanto Basta
- Rating: 4.4/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 North 2nd St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Little Dipper Fondue
- Rating: 4.4/5 (268 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 138 South Front St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Fondue
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Kyoto Asian Grille
- Rating: 4.4/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4102 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Japanese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp
#8. PinPoint Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (369 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 114 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Cape Fear Seafood Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (751 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5226 South College Road Ste 5 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Seaview Crab Company - Midtown
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1515 Marstellar St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood Markets, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Caprice Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: French
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Ceviche's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (652 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7210 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Latin American, Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jerry's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 7220 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. City Club
- Rating: 4.6/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 23 South 2nd St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Salad, American, Wedding Planning
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The Green House Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1427 Military Cutoff Road Unit 106 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
