Finally! After many years, we made it back to Copper Penny! On our return trip from Southport we stopped in downtown to grab a bite before heading home. We started walking around and my wonderful wife suggested Copper Penny. Absolutely! There was a short wait for a table, but we didn't mind. The inside is almost like we remember it. We did notice the menu is a lot smaller. The last time we dined here was around ten years ago. Definitely plenty of options. We went with the onion ring appetizer, Cobb salad, and the BBQ Burger. The atmosphere of Copper Penny is the same. Definitely missed this place. After a short wait our food was brought out. Everything was delicious. This is just an update, but we still love Copper Penny and will continue to return. read more

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Went on a Saturday night, no reservations. Told 45 minutes at 7 for a table of 5 but seated within 25. Our server was wonderful, super helpful and nice. Inside we a long and narrow, mostly large wooden booths and a large bar. Darker. Started with sodas, a beer, and the dragonfruit mimosa (I didn't wind up drinking/liking the flavor- but also didnt say anything as honestly know my taste better. Sharing feedback for others that it is on the sweeter side- which you may love). Buffalo chicken sandwich, sauce on side with fries. Enjoyed, typical but large sandwich. Chicken pita, enjoyed- fries on side. Philly cheesesteak with Caesar salad side- really liked. Owner is from Philly, which made a difference. Grilled chicken with side Cobb salad- lots of cheese and mushrooms and onions. Super delicious bread- soft with some flake since still crunch and not soggy. Salad was fresh and delicious. Pork sandwich- my husband liked, it was good but I didn't love the meat flavor. Concepts with having spinach and such was great. Manager/owner(?) came by to each table too. Definitely worth a trip to explore- fresh ingredients. Next time the wings... read more

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It's been a long time since I last visited the Copper Penny and it's because of my overwhelmingly positive previous experience with their food and service that I recommend it to my colleagues (who had never been to Wilmington)when we were considering a place for dinner. It was a little embarrassed after spending $192, on food and drinks for 4, with glasses still full of alcohol when we're were asked to leave. We were told that they are enforcing a 90 min in restaurant visit...to the point where they don't care if we had finished our beer/alcohol...clearly they just wanted us out. I've been to a lot of restaurants all over the world but this was the first time in my life that I was asked to leave...we weren't loitering we only wanted to finish our drinks before leaving...the person didn't look at our situation...was very black and white, "you've been here more than 90mins". Their food is good, they are as popular as ever but clearly not a place for people who want to chat and hang out...copper penny is a restaurant not a hangout spot...to me that's loud and clear. As someone who isn't in Wilmington often I rely on my previous experience as a stating point to my ( restaurant) choice. This experience was so jarring that I'll never recommend copper penny to anyone. The food is good but they really don't want or need non local business! read more

The Copper Penny was highly recommended by Kenny, who assisted us in Outdoor Equipped. He said the pork sandwich & onion rings were the Copper Penny's specialty menu items. My mother & father in law said it was the first restaurant they went to when the moved to Wilmington and it was recommended to them as one of the best restaurants to go to there. We decided to go there based on people's personal experiences and the reviews written about it. Parking is expensive if you park at the close parking area right by the Copper Penny $18 for 2 hours and we had difficulty with the transaction going through. We had to park elsewhere since it would not register when we tried to pay for it, so we parked at a garage near by & significantly cheaper $1 for two hours. We were later charged $18 - slow transaction for parking lot - after we had driven away to park at the garage. Inside the Copper Penny was very cozy, real vinyl records in the hallway leading to the restrooms, Americana rustic interior decor, and small with limited seating . Lunch time had busy traffic with a wait for seating. We were told that it would be about 30 minutes until we could get seated but they managed to seat us early after waiting for about 9 minutes. I was surprised to see the Copper Penny was featured on Food Network's Diners , Drive-Ins and Dive with Guy Fieri in 2018 when I glanced at the menu. We ordered the Hot Roast Pork Sandwich with an au jus on the side, the 109 Chestnut Chicken, and the beer battered onion rings with chipotle ranch for an appetizer to share with my in-laws. They ordered a Reuben sandwich & a pimento cheeseburger. The onion rings were the star & best highlight of the Copper Penny. I would have been satisfied just having a drink and eating onion rings for lunch. They were the most unforgettable and delicious onion rings we ever ate. Our server was swift, friendly, and efficient. She made sure we had extra napkins and refills for drinks. We liked her immediately. Our sandwiches were delicious. My husband kept dipping his chicken sandwich in my au jus on the side for extra flavor & savory seasoning. I managed to eat half of my pork sandwich & tasted a little of my hot French onion soup. The soup was well made and good. I saved the rest and had it placed in a takeout container bag for dinner. My father in-law said that his Reuben sandwich was the best he ever had. The Copper Penny is a must see restaurant in downtown Wilmington especially for its all time favorite sandwiches and onion rings. Run don't walk there. (January 29, 2026) read more

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I am very sad to write this review. I love the copper penny and visited a year and a half prior. I came back because of how much I loved it. The food is really quite good and we love the penny slaw here. I get the BBQ burger and it is delicious. The ambiance is also quite great and centrally located in Wilmington. The service the first time I came was also good and it was okay until the issue we faced this time. The saddening issue I had to face here is that my partner is a vegetarian and the menu has very limited vegetarian options save for a black bean burger and a salad. A year and a half ago they allowed us to have a kids meal with a small up charge because of this, the grilled cheese was one of the few items on the menu that were vegetarian. The grilled cheese was delicious and the main reason my partner wanted to return, I got the BBQ burger both times (full adult meal) however this second time they would not allow us to get the kids meal. There was no possible way to do it even after our server went to discuss with the manager. We are deeply disappointed in the inflexibility and low quality customer service. The overall service immediately degraded as well and my partner had to settle for penny slaw and French friends. Very disappointed that they were unable to provide any allowances for dietary needs especially considering we ordered two full adult meals and planned on ordering drinks. read more

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Great bite to eat in downtown Wilmington. Ample portions. Friendly staff. We came within a hour of closing and they very nicely seated us at the bar and still served a full meal. Grateful to the nice staff. read more

Absolute amazing experience. The food was awesome. Portions very plentiful. Customer service was beyond belief and the owner came over to our table and asked how everything was. We ended up having quite a nice conversation. I would highly recommend. Oh yeah by the way? Prices were very fair. The atmosphere is amazing. Feel good tavern/pub like Thank you to everyone at the Copper penny for a terrific dining experience. read more

Our meal of four concluded with the best onion rings and best briquette sandwich we as a whole had ever had. I had the 109 Chicken sandwich which was definitely a great choice, no regrets. Fries were a little salty but tasty still. Service was wonderfully fast and accurate. We were told it was a 25 minute wait upon arriving, but we were seated within 10 minutes. All smiles. read more

Copper Penny - Best Onion Rings you'll ever taste. - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Great food and service. Kind of reminds me of a bar/ restaurant in a big city like NY. Good beer selection and the servers were attentive

Always our go-to when visiting my hometown of Wilmington. Go for the boozy beverages (Moscow Mules and craft beers) but stay for the classic pub fare, including the best Fish & Chips in town, great burgers. prime rib sandwiches and amazing Greek Chicken Pita. Their massive beer battered fried onion rings are the only app to have, but a half-order is plenty big for a two-top. Service is always solid, lots of cool, historic artwork on the walls and a great bar to catch a drink before a local show read more

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After a four-hour drive from Richmond, VA to Wilmington, NC for Mother's Day weekend, my wife and I were starving and ready for something special. We're big fans of the Yelp app (I don't just write reviews--I live by them), and Copper Penny's solid 4.5-star rating caught my eye. It was just a short walk from our downtown Airbnb, so I told the Queen to get dressed--we had a mission. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a warm and friendly hostess. The place was buzzing with energy, and those industrial-sized fans blasting cool air were a godsend after our walk in the Carolina heat. We stood in front of one like it was a shrine. Instant refreshment! The restaurant was packed, so we grabbed two seats at the bar. Our bartender was quick with the drinks and even quicker with a great appetizer recommendation. My wife is an onion ring connoisseur, and let me tell you--these were first class. Crispy, golden, and gloriously messy (a sure sign of greatness). The breading went everywhere, and we loved every bite. When it came time to order entrées, we were a bit overwhelmed by the delicious-looking options. We must've looked helpless because our bartender smiled and said, "Well, Guy Fieri tried the 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich and the Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich when he featured us on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." That sealed the deal. So we did what any smart couple would do--we got both. I went with the 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich, and my wife ordered the Hot Roasted Pork. Both were absolutely phenomenal. Flavor-packed, perfectly cooked, and worthy of the Fieri stamp of approval. Copper Penny delivered on every front: great food, friendly service, and a lively atmosphere. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this spot is a must-visit. read more

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Stopped by while visiting Wilmington for the Christmas Light displays. Sat at the bar bc there was quite a wait for a Tuesday night, so took the first available. I didn't take any pictures, but we ordered the onion rings, Philly Cheesesteak eggrolls, Buffalo eggrolls, wings, and Reuben. Everything was delicious! Eggrolls were stuffed with plenty of meat, wings and sauce were tasty and onion rings were plentiful. Not sure we get the rave about the onion rings, but they were big and the order was enough for all six of us. Obviously it was our choice, but almost everything was fried, so would like to come back and try some items that were from the grill. Can't go wrong with this place for dinner tho! read more

Wonderful place to come eat. Restaurant has a large bar and 9 tables. We only waited for 25 min. On a Saturday night. Food was amazing. Service was incredible. Wonderful place to eat and have a drink. They had some great specials and a lot of local beers on tap. I highly recommend this place. Onion rings and wings were amazing. Highly recommend the honey chipotle wings. read more

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Has a unique rustic modern vibe. Popped in for a late lunch and was seated right away. The menus are under a plexiglass table top which is nice and made seeing the whole menu easy. The service was timely, polite, and very helpful! We hot the Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich and the Philly Phanatic Cheessteak with a side salad and fries. The food was amazing and will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area. read more

Copper Penny - Hot roast Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My amazing fiance brought me here for dinner one week night (much easier to get in on a week night vs a weekend). I love the hot roasted pork sandwich- it's always on point and huge! He loves the steak and bacon- always on point. Copper Penny is consistently a good experience with great food. Just be super prepared for a long wait time on weekends because it is so good! read more

Don't hold it against them that the decor is focused on Philadelphia . This is a cute pub bustling with activity. We didn't have time for dinner but it was a great place to stop for a cocktail and some apps before a concert at the Live Oak Pavilion. We sat at the bar where they offered friendly, and attentive service. They have a nice, varied cocktail menu and plenty of tasty options. Next time we'll stay for a meal since the food looks exceptional. read more

Food is classic pub fare but reasonably priced nice atmosphere and great service, neat items inside the restaurant

The Copper Penny was recently recommended by a friend and so I went on a Monday night and they were really busy, but we scored seats at the bar. The staff at the bar taking care of us and all the other patrons were great and always on-point! The menu is incredible! It's loaded with the typical pub-type stuff, but is made so elevated compared to what you might be used to. They do have some interestingly unique items as well. I had a tough time deciding, but the items I did choose were incredible! Their 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich was excellent! I don't like mushrooms, so I got jalapeños in lieu of them and that was a much better way to go! The chicken was thinly sliced and the bread was soft and incredible - It all came together amazingly well! I can see why it was featured on DDD!!! Their onion rings are INSANELY HUGE! They were thick too! The sauce that came with them was very tasty to dip into and the batter was light and excellently seasoned! Their wings are also perfect! Meaty and packed with flavor. You can get two sauces on them, so we got Fire Dry Rub and Honey Chipotle. Both of these flavors were great and both were nicely spiced. Definitely worth visiting here!! read more

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We were delivering an excavator in the area and had been outside all morning and needed a place to warm up. By the time we got the parking app to work it was lunch time so we skipped coffee and agree to give the Penny a shot. So glad we did. Pub style decor and homey local pub feel. This is a neat old refurbished building. The outside is as neat as the inside. The owner was in there serving and checking on folks. Seated quickly. Our server was super nice and kept our tea glasses full. We had the chicken sandwich and two of us opted for the fish and chips. The bomb. All of was served steaming hot. The tartar sauce was even awesome. Great experience. Only negative is street parking and Wilmington charges an arm and a leg. Crazy. Over $5 to park two blocks away. Great meal and great service. If I am staying downtown I will be back. read more

Copper Penny - Menu - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

If I could put a negative number, I would. They call themselves a "family friendly" restaurant. I am here to say, this is far from the truth. My family is in Wilmington for the Azalea Festival. We were going to have lunch at the Copper Penny. There were 4 of us. We had been walking around downtown and decided to head over to the restaurant. Unfortunately, I am elderly with some health restrictions and I had to stop and sit down on the way there and my girls and grandson went ahead and ATTEMPTED to get seated. They were RUDELY spoken to by employees at this restaurant and were refused seating until I got there. I was about 5 minutes behind them. My girls were mortified by the way they were treated. This is unacceptable. This place has horrible employees and service and I would NEVER recommend this restaurant to anyone. Shame on you Copper Penny! read more

We sat down at this restaurant visited by Triple D host Guy Fieri, and had a beer and split our lunch. We knew by seeing other portions that this would be a heavy lunch. After placing our order, we were greeted by owner Christine. She said we made a great choice splitting the order. Let me tell you, WE WERE FULL! The food was fantastic! We found out her family was from Philly, our old stomping grounds. #GoPhillies #GoEaglz! We settled for splitting the roast pork sandwich and upacharged for the onion rings. Yummy with a smile! Expect a wait because this place has some great food. Our server and all the staff we met were so hospitable. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Great little pub with friendly service and a comfortable atmosphere. The fish and chips are some of the best I've ever had. Great white fish with a thin crunchy coating, no greasy texture at all. Definitely worth a stop. read more

Popped off the airplane and this was my first stop in Wilmington. Absolutely excellent and satisfying chicken sandwich with a really nice mushroom sauce on it. The bartenders were fantastic and the bar was playing golf. Felt like I was in a nice North Carolina hug for lack of writing ability. Really cool inside with a copper bar top. read more

Copper Penny - 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The Copper Penny is a popular restaurant in Downtown Wilmington. There was a waiting list when I arrived but I found a seat at the bar. Service was super attentive and friendly. My iced tea was kept full and they made sure I had everything I needed and I was even brought extra napkins. I ordered the Ft. Fisher Fish n Chips. It was fried cod and really delicious. I like when the breading falls off a little bit. I didn't have any of the tarter sauce as I don't like it but the fish came with fries and those were hot and crispy. The Copper Penny will be on my list for return visits. read more

Copper Penny - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Okay, where do I even begin... Whenever we travel, we make it a point to try at least one Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Triple D) spot, and Copper Penny was on our list. If you've seen the episode, you know Guy Fieri was obsessed with the onion rings--and now I totally get why! Let's talk about those onion rings. They were absolutely amazing--crispy, golden perfection. No oily residue, no soggy texture, and best of all, they didn't fall apart when you bit into them. Every bite had that perfect balance of onion and batter. I agree with Guy: take away the onion rings, and I'll probably eat nothing else every time I visit. They are that good. On to the wings: We tried both the dry rub and spicy garlic sauces. The flavors were bold and well-balanced--not too salty or overwhelming. The wings had a nice crunch, but unfortunately, they were a bit overcooked and dry. Still edible, just not a favorite. My husband ordered the Southwest Burger and--OMG--it was amazing. Juicy, perfectly cooked (no pink center but also not overdone), and bursting with flavor. The garlic aioli, jalapeños, and crispy onions worked beautifully together. Every bite was layered, flavorful, and satisfying. I ordered the Philly Phanatic Cheese Steak, and it was just as mouthwatering. The steak, cheese, mushrooms, and onions were all in perfect harmony--no single ingredient overpowering the others. It truly delivered that Philly cheesesteak experience...without having to go to Philly! Now for a few downsides: The noise level was a bit much for me; the background music was too loud for casual conversation. All the TVs were playing golf (not exactly thrilling), and there were no captions--which is something to consider for guests who are hard of hearing. The women's restroom was pretty tight--only two stalls and one sink. We arrived around 2 p.m. and still waited nearly an hour for a table, so be prepared for a wait even during off-peak hours. Final thoughts: Despite a few minor issues, I highly recommend Copper Penny for its outstanding burgers, cheesesteaks, and--most of all--those unforgettable onion rings. If you're a Triple D fan or just a lover of great comfort food, this place is absolutely worth the stop. read more

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Fun location with a lovely ambiance. I stopped in on a Tuesday night for dinner and the place was packed which was great to see! We were seated in a booth quickly and greeted by a happy faces server who answered our questions and took our order. My husband and I split a garden salad which was portioned well to share. I ordered the Greek chicken pita and my husband enjoyed the beef on weck. Both were good but not great. Overall the ambiance was fun so we would absolutely return for a drink and fun bar time. Parking was easy outside on the street with metered parking. read more

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Charming place with the best onion rings in all of Wilmington and they work magic with salmon. Definitely give this place a try.

Nothing fancy here, but the drinks were great, food was delicious and the service was perfect. Such a gem of a bar in downtown Wilmington!

I love living, learning and working in downtown Wilmington. Copper Penny is the Diamond Standard for downtown Wilmington. It is a MUST STOP in the Port City. My favorite meal is the Bacon Boomer (has been for the last year) but everything on the menu is top notch! If you're in town stop by Copper Penny and tell them Girard sent you read more

Awesome food and fun vibe in downtown Wilmington! Our group of 5 visited the Copper Penny on a Friday night and we enjoyed our experience. The restaurant is popular so there was an hour wait and the wait time was accurate. There's a great selection of local beers on draft and in cans/bottles. We ordered the cheese steak egg rolls and beer battered onion rings to share for the table. Both were very good but the egg rolls were my favorite. For dinner, I ordered the black and blue burger. The burger was favorable and the bacon on the burger was very tasty. I tried a bite of a few other sandwiches and the 109 chestnut chicken sandwich was my favorite. Overall, the experience was excellent and I would come back for another meal if I'm in the Wilmington area again! read more

Philly cheesesteak very good. Looks like all the entrees coming out of the kitchen were big portions. They batter their own onion rings.

I tried going to 3 other restaurants, and they were all closed for different reasons. One of those resins was the possibly of snow. The last place recommended the Copper Penny. You know, things happen for a reason. I showed up and was surprised at how big the place was and that it was open. I sat at the bar where Ms. B was the bar tender. I asked for her recommendations. The Old School Steak sangawich with Asian Coleslaw was the winner for me. The service was great. I got my meal quickly. OMG, the sangawich was really good and the coleslaw was fantastic. The flavor was better than expected on both of these. It's a little messy but so what. I had to see if they would give me some info on the Coleslaw. The Mgr Andrew was real nice and informative, But, no recipe. Oh well. The bar tender was fantastic. She was the one who recommended this plate. Awesome job with that. The place is nice. Nice ambiance. Great place to meet people and get some good food. Thank you Cooper Penny. I'm so glad the other places guided me towards your place. I recommend highly. read more

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We visited Wilmington for the day and had a great lunch to start of our day! I had the pork sandwich with onion rings and it was all amazing. Service was fast and responsive! We will definitely be back! read more

Copper Penny - Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich with Beer Battered Onion Rings - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

As a tourist and looking for a place to have lunch, we hit a jackpot! There were 9 of us so we were lucky enough to get two booths and the same server! The place just looks great and it looks like the food has to be good....and it was! We ordered some appetizer and immediately, they were off the chart....the wings and onion rings were some of the best I have ever had! The menu is not huge but they have all the comfort food that you would think a tavern/bar would have! I had a great burger...cooked perfectly with some grilled onion! It came with fries, which were great, too. The only thing that I was surprised about was that they were no pickles! I am a fan and I thought they would just come with the plate. oh well....it was still awesome! Everyone in our group of 9 raved about the service, the food, the beer choices and the overall vibe of the Copper Penny. Again, being a tourist, I was pleasantly surprised and would return in a heart-beat! read more

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A raging popular late night bar and restaurant in an area that's empty at night. Up from the waterfront. Worth the long wait for a table in the tall old dark wood booths. The food is well beyond what places with similar vibes produce. read more

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I felt unwelcome here. It seems that if you don't look like the locals you don't get service. One of the bartenders walked by me several times without saying a word. Provided menus to people right next to me and still ignored me. Another bartender came out and finally provided me with a menu. It is a sports bar through and through. The burger was decent but not worth feeling like an outcast. read more

Great food and vibes! Miss this spot since moving. Very cozy tavern like on the inside. They are pretty popular so expect possible wait time especially during dinner and on weekends. Staff is always helpful and friendly. The hot crab dip is delicious. Amazing chicken tenders and sandwiches. I love their sweet potato fries. They also have beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. read more

It is true! Best cheesesteak in town! Barsy environment with great service and drinks.

The food was amazing, the service was amazing, and overall amazing. If you're anywhere near this place, you have to eat there. It'll be a required stop on our annual Pgh to Holden beach trip. read more

Copper Penny - Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Gone down hill. Far too many extra charges. Insane prices and NO FRIES. They used to have delicious sweet potato fry's and now they don't have any frys which is crazy. The wings were bare bones. $18 for BONES and the house made chips were moist. Good server tho good drinks too. read more