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    Cape Fear

    4.4 (292 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Cape Fear Takeout or Delivery

    Cape Fear Photos

    Business Info

    CAPE FEAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cape Fear

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    Reviews With Photos

    Tina L.

    My partner and I shared a nice New Years meal here. First off, I want to point out that the service was great, and the restaurant has a lovely and fun atmosphere. However, I think the food was a bit underwhelming. I got the saltimbocca while my partner got the broiled seafood platter, and we shared crab legs. The crab legs were pretty good.. I think crab legs are overpriced in general, but I was craving them for a while, and the price here was fair. I wish there was some way to keep the meat hot throughout xD I actually loved everything about the saltimbocca except the fish. lol. It was pretty overcooked, and I honestly forgot it had prosciutto until I looked at other reviews post meal. I think the broiled seafood platter had potential. The scallops were cooked perfectly, but the other seafood was lacking a bit of flavor. We also agreed that the asparagus was undercooked. I think the best prepared part of our meal was actually the hush puppies. Was just passing through Wilmington, so probably won't get a chance to come back. However, the hush puppies were so well fried, I wish we had ordered some fried seafood instead.

    Cape Fear Shrimp and Grits
    Robert J.

    Had an awesome dinner with friends while visiting Leland. It was on a Friday night around 7 PM and the wait was about 30 minutes. The restaurant is very clean and cozy. There was ample parking and the ambiance was of a higher end restaurant. The service was good. Food came out quickly. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. She kept water glasses full and checked on us frequently. She made recommendations and seemed knowledgeable about the menu. The food was absolutely delicious. While they have a small beer menu, the selections are good. We ordered some calamari with marinara sauce. The sauce was one of the best I have had and had a sweetness to it. We also ordered hush puppies. They were very hot and crispy outside with a tender and tasty inside. For dinner I had the Lemon Pepper Scallops. They were perfectly cooked with just a slight blackened seasoning and a lemon butter sauce. The risotto cakes were good but not as good as the creamy risotto my wife had. My wife and I also split the Pot au Chocolat which was very tasty but thick and rich. It could have been split among all four of us as a bite or two was all that was needed. A side note.. the waitress mentioned their shrimp and grits were rated top 5 in NC. Our friend tried them and was not disappointed. He said they were the best he has had.

    Menu cover
    Jeremy T.

    I visited this small chain in NC during a recent work trip. Their main menu has a lot of good options. They also have a seasonal menu with food and drink choices. During my visit, they had 3 fresh catches: salmon, mahi and swordfish. I ended up ordering the grilled swordfish with asparagus and green beans. It wasn't exactly cheap. For starters, they give you French bread at the beginning, which is a small section of a loaf. Their loaf has a much smaller diameter than French bread served in seafood restaurants back in Louisiana or Texas, for reference. The rest of our table ordered the fried dishes and a grilled Mahi. Everyone pretty much cleaned their plates so it seems everyone enjoyed their food. I didn't notice gumbo on the soup menu, but then again, NC isn't exactly the south. Their dessert menu, which was tempting, had 2 choices for chocolate lovers. My clients say they have several locations in NC, 3 of which are in the Wilmington area.

    I have been a frequent customer here for several years. I live very close in Waterford. The service and quality has been going down for the past 4 to 5 months and today it has caused me to write a review. I went in for lunch and sat at the bar. There were only 2 customers at the bar when I sat down at 12:05. The bartender, Shayna was great as always. She is very quick to get your order and very friendly. She put my order in within a couple of minutes, Shrimp Tacos and a cup of soup. The soup came out within minutes. A few other customers came in as I was waiting and everything seemed good. I waited and waited and waited for my order as other people started receiving their food, people who came in 10 minutes after me.... Shayna went back to check on my order twice and was very polite and went out of her way to try and make it right. She said it would be here soon. I finally told her to cancel it as I had to go. She was kind enough to not charge me for the soup I ate. As I was walking away they came out with my order in a to go container. I don't know what's changed up there but someone needs to be aware and make some changes so we can start enjoying it again.

    Classic Caesar

    I've tried this place three times now and I'm still not impressed with the food. The salad was heavy on the dressing. The "comeback" sauce on the sandwich was weird and didn't actually come on the sandwich or on the plate, I had to ask for it. The fries had some seasoning on it. The drink was amazingggg. I would go back for drinks and desert but entree wise I've given up.

    Apple cider margarita
    Kiana M.

    My friend took me here while I was visiting Leland NC in January 2024. The. Food. Was. AMAZING!!! I ordered their famous shrimp and grits. Ate every last drop. It was creamy and smoky. I was only sad that there was barely any bacon in mine. The crap dip and pita chips were amazing. Super creamy and decadent. They also have complimentary bread and whipped butter. Their apple cider cocktails were delicious! The blueberry dessert was perfect. Not overly sweet and the blueberries were fresh. The salmon pasta was creamy and super filling. It needed some salt and pepper tho. All in all, I highly recommend this spot. Can't wait to come again and try something new when I'm in the area again!

    This appetizer with risotto was amazing

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    2 months ago

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    1 day ago

    Best sea food in leland, they also have one of the best steaks. Serive is always top notch. Love this restaurant.

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

    We love this place! Just moved to the area and love the food and attentive service. Shayna the bartender is fast and friendly!!

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Always great food and service! Love the shrimp and grits! Our go-to restaurant in Leland.

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Their tacos were the best ive had in a long time. Everybody was friendly and made feel welcomed. Establishment is clean.

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    6 months ago

    I came in and was informed they let go of my favorite waitress! Laura was amazing!! So unfortunate for you all.

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    8 months ago

    Great meal on a weekday night, terrific midweek specials for $80.00 for a two for one meal with wine one appetizer, entrees & dessert!?

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Cape Fear

    Do we need a reservation for the bar?

    Folks seemed to just walk in and go right to the bar. Seems to get crowded. Just like most places, depends on time of day.

    Seating by reservation only?

    Seating by reservation is what's best. If it's pretty packed you have to wait a while to be seated. The first time I went I had to wait about 30 minutes due to the people who had reservations.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    What a fantastic evening at Dram Yard…read more We were a little concerned we might miss our 5:30 reservation after getting delayed by a seven-car accident on the bridge, but we arrived just a couple of minutes late and it wasn't an issue at all. From the moment we arrived, the experience was relaxed, welcoming, and exactly what we needed. We chose to sit in the beautiful courtyard, and with temperatures in the 70s, sunshine overhead, and a gentle breeze, it couldn't have been a more perfect setting. The outdoor gazebo bar creates a wonderful atmosphere for enjoying a cocktail before dinner, and if the weather isn't cooperating, the indoor dining space is equally inviting. A special thank you to Sarah, whose service was outstanding. She was cheerful, attentive, and genuinely seemed happy to be there. The restaurant wasn't crowded, which made for a peaceful and unhurried dining experience. For drinks, I ordered the Ghost Town, while my wife enjoyed the Venus Flytrap. Both were beautifully prepared and easy to see why they're among the restaurant's popular cocktails. The food was equally impressive. I had the Spaghetti Carbonara, and it was exceptional. The kitchen even accommodated my request for extra freshly cracked black pepper, which took an already excellent dish to another level. My wife ordered the Little Gem Salad with shrimp, and it was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. We also shared the Tuna Tartare Tostada, which was outstanding--beautiful presentation, fresh tuna, and a great balance of textures and flavors. Adding to the experience was a bottle of Albariño that paired wonderfully with the meal. What stands out most about Dram Yard is its atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can settle in, slow down, enjoy a handcrafted cocktail, and forget about the stresses of the day. Whether you're looking for a date night, an evening with friends, or simply a quiet place to relax, Dram Yard delivers. Excellent service, creative cocktails, outstanding food, and one of the most relaxing outdoor dining spaces in Wilmington. We'll definitely be back.

    We all ordered the "tasting" menu each for $90 per person. We were made to think the portions…read morewould be ample for the price. We each got a bowl of gazpacho, an appetizer size portion of two very small duck lumpia followed by tile fish with flat noodles and a savory broth. The course then was a shared short rib that was entirely fat/gross, one smal grilled onion and two tiny empanadas to share . Desert was a small scoop of ice cream and small crumble type cobbler to share. We in no way felt like it was $90, the portions were not enough to sustain us and we felt incredibly cheated and somehow conned/robbed of over $200 for each of us couples out. Very disappointing!

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    Awesome bar

    Dram Yard - After (Shrimp and Grits)

    After (Shrimp and Grits)

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    Outside

    River 128 Restaurant - Roasted Salmon

    River 128 Restaurant

    3.5(70 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    Wonderful Dinner at River 128!…read more My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at River 128 in Wilmington. We really enjoyed our date night and had a great overall dining experience. My wife ordered the Cajun Chicken Pasta with fried Brussels sprouts, and she really enjoyed it. I had the Black Bass with asparagus, which was delicious and beautifully prepared. I also enjoyed a Blueberry Mojito Mocktail, which was refreshing and paired perfectly with the meal. A special shout-out to our server, Paige, who was absolutely sweet, attentive, and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our meal. Her warm personality and excellent service added to an already enjoyable evening. Great food, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere. We definitely enjoyed our experience at River 128 and would gladly return!

    Prime waterfront location but definitely room for improvement. We came here on Saturday at 9pm for…read moredinner after a sunset cruise. We made a reservation for a party of 5 and were seated outside at a table with a great view of the water. We chose this place because it had a decent selection of gluten free options. I had a bowl of clam chowder and a glass of wine since it was late and I wasn't super hungry. My friends ordered a mix of entrees including the burger and fish. While we enjoyed the food, the service was quite slow and a little lackluster. We asked for extra butter to go with the bread and were met with apathy and a small extra ramekin that wasn't really enough for all of us but we didn't bother requesting again. Although the food tasted good enough, the long wait and the high prices brought this down to a 3-3.5 star experience. @azfitfoodfun

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    River 128 Restaurant - Patio seating

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    River 128 Restaurant - Delicious Roasted Chicken breast with goat cheese, mash, brocollini, baby carrots and sweet mustard sauce. This dish is recommended by us

    Delicious Roasted Chicken breast with goat cheese, mash, brocollini, baby carrots and sweet mustard sauce. This dish is recommended by us

    River 128 Restaurant - The food was ok. The staff was amazing! The view is nice if you sit outside. The crab dip was AMAZING!!

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    2 stars only because food was so good…read more Service was probably some of the worst I've ever had. A table arrived after we got our appetizers and got their food, a box, paid, and left before we even ordered our entrees. Each drink took minimum of 15 minutes and were incorrect. The server had to come back and double check multiple orders. We were not checked on once unless we flagged her down. The list goes on. Will not return unless we order take out.

    Photos
    South Front Tavern - Interior of South Front Tavern in Wilmington's South  Front District.

    Interior of South Front Tavern in Wilmington's South Front District.

    South Front Tavern - South Front Tavern's Plancha Burger features Gruyere, Mushroom, Arugula, Tobacco Onion and Garlic Aioli on a Brioche Bun.

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    On Thyme Restaurant

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    4.9(9 reviews)
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    2nd Round: Plump, juicy and wet BBQ Chicken Wings + Seafood Mac & Cheese for lunch!  I could eat a…read moreplatter of that Mac & Cheese...soooo good. FOOD: Chicken wings were very large, served up steaming hot, fried to a light-skinned crunch and smothered with some savory / sweet BBQ sauce. With just the right amount of heat, then dipped into the cup of ranch dressing...oh my. Fries were as to be expected with a light dusting of salt and minimal seasoning. Crinkle-cut aren't my top choice for fries and a little extra dusting of some southern seasoning would have added some more "bang" but still good. The highlight today was that Seafood Mac & Cheese with extra creamy cheese blended in with fresh backfin and claw crabmeat and medium-sized shrimp...seasoned and grilled wonderfully. I enjoyed this side very much! SCORE: 4.7 STARS!! SERVICE: Travis and Co. were on their A-Game today with soggy weather and light drizzle in the air. The food was served up hot, fast and with smiles all around. Well done again today. Consistently good service each time I've visited. SCORE: 5 STARS!! OVERALL SCORE: On Thyme brings that southern comfort food that you know you'll enjoy and come back next time for more. Great food, fryers were working today and a homerun delivered. 4.85 STARS!!

    Fast delicious food Customer service is excellent…read more Hometown ambience Corey & Company are great

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    Cape Fear - seafood - Updated September 2026

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