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    Elijah's Restaurant

    3.5 (638 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Elijah's Restaurant Photos

    ELIJAH'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Elijah's Restaurant

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    False advertising in 1/2 price oysters. It's raw only. Bate and switch. Illegal in the state of NC.
    Jonathan B.

    Went 2 times in 2 days had issues both days. After $350 spent for 2 people. I would expect better service on day 1 and false advertising on day 2. Server Chelsea was not great on day 1 and While the manager made up for it, she certainly didn't make it easy on day 2. This place is only successful because of the location. Hard pass for the $$. Go elsewhere. Btw if corporate is reading this fix your signs. Your store team is blaming you.

    Today's oyster menu
    Nicolette G.

    First time in Wilmington & impromptu stopped here for lunch while on the riverwalk. Gorgeous day to be sitting outside! Our waiter Victor was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu, we went two of his recommendations, 1 doz oyster flight and the smoked fish dip. The dip is served cold so it was perfect for the beautiful day, it was also nice and light so perfect as an appetizer. Oysters were super fresh! We also ordered the crab cake sandwich, also delicious. It was a big sandwich but not heavy, the crab cake itself was melting in your mouth, my husband dubbed it "the best crab cake he's ever had". Perfect amount of tartar sauce, for a nice zing but not over powering. I'm also usually not a huge slaw person but the one in this sandwich was perfectly seasoned/mixed and added a nice bite to the sandwich. So glad we stumbled across this place!

    Fried Seafood Platter
    Menghai T.

    Came by this boardwalk restaurant for lunch and got the fried platter with four($26) and 6 fresh oyster ($15). For the platter I got oyster, fish, and double order of oysters (wanted scallops but they ran out). After about 20 minutes the food arrived. The fried fish had a good batter, was seasoned and crispy. The fried shrimp and fried oysters were also good. The fresh oyster were served with lemon, cocktail sauce with horseradish. The fresh oysters were a good size and had a medium briny taste to it. Staff and service were good given the crowd. Overall it was a good experience with the food and outside view looking at the pier. Food(50%): 8.2 Staff/service(25%): 7.0 Value(25%): 7.0 Overall: 7.6/10

    Crab fries

    The food was great, we got the crab fries and the crab cake with orzo. The orzo was similar to dirty rice and it was so good. The crab cakes were refreshing and so good. The crab fries were a nice find too, just a bit greasy. My fiancé liked the fries a lot, he got to them before I could take a picture so here are the remain. The service was fast and the employees were very nice. The atmosphere was nice, we sat outside by the board walk and it felt very cozy

    Flounder and oysters combo.
    Michael D.

    Yes ma'am. First of all, a beautiful night to be on the riverfront. The atmosphere outside on the riverwalk was super chill. My server Nicole was so nice. Big smile from the start and the perfect amount of attention. I didn't have to wait at all. Margarita on the table in minutes! The flounder/oyster combo was spot on "fish camp" perfect. Local fat belly oysters, flounder, both with a light crispy breading. Cooked perfectly. Nothing was greasy, not even the fries! Will definitely be back.

    View of Cape Fear River from the patio
    Joannie T.

    This is a must visit river front restaurant in Wilmington! I can't say enough about how good the food, service, and ambiance! Be sure to sit on the outdoor patio if weather permits. We started with the crab dip...best I've ever had! Served hot with hot fresh bread. We shared a seafood platter with shrimp and halibut (plenty for two). Ended with their amazing Key Lime pie. Delicious!

    Fried shrimp
    Jessica K.

    This was the perfect place for dinner before a concert at the Reel cafe. We got there a little after 5, and we were able to get a parking spot in the lot nearby. We had no wait and were seated outside with a nice view of the river. I got the fried shrimp, which was very good, and the fries were nice and crispy. I don't remember what my drink was called, but it was nice and refreshing. Our server was very attentive as well. I'm not sure what this place is like when it's busier, but it was great for us!

    Too much bun.

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    9 days ago

    My friend and I stopped by for lunch today. The food was amazing as always! Our server was Kendall. She was absolutely fantastic!

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    1 month ago

    Service was good and view was stunning. Drinks are tasty, could use a bit more alcohol for the price all I tasted was the mixer

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    5 months ago

    If your in the area and want seafood it's a pretty good spot! And the crab cakes are great.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Elijah's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Elijah's Restaurant

    Is the bar still doing oyster specials and/or has the raw bar?

    Yes ....Wednesday 4-6. We went and were not impressed. Oysters were tiny and service was not so good. Probably won't go back again for a while

    Is this restaurant dog friendly? We are thinking about stopping for lunch, but will have our dog with us.

    As long as you are willing to eat outside and wait until a table is available if it's busy.

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    The Loft on Front - The bridal suite is a perfect spot for brides to get ready on the day of the big wedding!

    The Loft on Front

    5.0(5 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Pictures of this event space do not do it justice. It is simply amazing. Small but intimate and…read moreopen, this is the perfect place for a rehearsal dinner, wedding, party, or even meeting space. Owner Ray Baca, has created a dream space for any event planner. The walls are original historic brick, and the furnishing is clean and modern. My favorite feature is the raw feel; this space can easily be outfitted to fit any event. The venue is also unique because of the kitchen and easy setup space for catering. You will not find another venue of this caliber with this unique setup anywhere is downtown Wilmington. The central location is also wonderful if the weddings located in downtown Wilmington. I am using this venue to host a business owner's info session. Mr. Baca has been a pleasure to work with and I hope to host other events here in the future. Tuesday night is open house if you are ever interested in dropping in to check out this beautiful event space.

    We used this space as our bridal suite in April. What an amazing space to get ready. From the bar…read morearea, to the bathrooms, to the hair/makeup room, to the open area for my bridesmaids to dance and do cartwheels...it was the perfect, relaxed atmosphere I wanted. Ray was a great host and made sure that we had everything we needed, without being intrusive. If you want some good photos on your day, this place will not disappoint.

    Photos
    The Loft on Front - We have tables and chairs to accommodate 50 guests for seated events and up to 60 people for cocktail and networking events.

    We have tables and chairs to accommodate 50 guests for seated events and up to 60 people for cocktail and networking events.

    The Loft on Front - Photo credit Matt McGraw Photography

    Photo credit Matt McGraw Photography

    The Loft on Front - The perfect venue for rehearsal dinners, corporate parties, special events and more!  Photo: Matt McGraw

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    The perfect venue for rehearsal dinners, corporate parties, special events and more! Photo: Matt McGraw

    The Atrium

    The Atrium

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Beautiful venue! We had our wedding ceremony at The Atrium. The staff went above and beyond for us…read more It poured on our wedding day. Poured. Hours before the ceremony I received a call from the staff offering to set up chairs under the covered section of the venue in case the rain didn't let up. Not only did they set up the chairs for us, in the hours leading up to the guests arriving they were sweeping, squeegeeing, and air blowing rain water into the drains to keep the area dry for guests. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. We didn't get to use the traditional aisle and benches but it was still just as beautiful and perfect as I imagined. I could not be happier and guests have continually been commenting on how beautiful and unique the space was.

    Great venue that becomes what you want of it…read more I went here for a wedding. It's a big L shape with a large hall leading to a central courtyard. The courtyard attaches to some interior space. The space has lots of trees and landscaping inside to bring nature into the space. The attached interior space has some bathrooms that were clean and worked well. It's got an urban rustic feel. Lots of exposed brick with greenery growing up into it. It kind of reminded me of where Ross and Emily got married in Friends with the open ceiling space. Fortunately the weather cooperated and there wasn't sun beating down on the guests. The long hall and open ceiling made for some nice breezes. We ended up eating along long tables in the large hall which made use of the long dimensions. We didn't need a separate dance floor as the courtyard served as that. The staff was very nice and attentive. Not sure if they were from the venue or caterer, but they did a great job. We lucked out and the weather was beautiful. There was only one airplane that flew overhead and not during the ceremony. It was pretty loud when it flew over during the rehearsal, but the ceremony went great. It's very centrally located to downtown, right off Market and 2nd. Parking is available across the street.

    Photos
    The Atrium
    The Atrium
    The Atrium

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    The Shell

    The Shell

    2.7(3 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    The second star is because one of my buddies did a great show here once, the reason I would've…read moregiven it 1 star otherwise is because whoever thought it'd be a great idea to do regular biker shows at this place can stick it where the sun don't shine. There is a massive apartment complex I happen to live in literally right next to this place, so obviously they figured exactly what we'd all want to hear right after the construction finally stops at the end of the day is a motorcade full of hundreds of obnoxious bikers doing donuts outside our bedroom and office windows accompanied by the raspy moaning of some D-grade cover band. I don't know whose initiative it is to turn Wilmington into some sorta Pender county biker destination, but it's about time to stop. Everyone who actually lives here hates it. I thought the whole romanticized biker lifestyle was freedom on the long open roads of the HIGHWAYS. Ya know, because nobody wants to listen to that garbage for very long. So why is it that they're constantly rumbling around every corner of downtown these days? Maybe try an electric car concert next time, huh?

    Well, it seems that my PhD in procrastination has borne further fruit (or more likely, some fruit…read moredied on the vine!). Went to The Shell for the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ event some time ago (not quite in a galaxy long, long ago) and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The staff there were gregarious and very helpful steering me to the various venues inside (getting the VIP ticket was well worth the extra as by the time the gates opened to everyone, it seemed what was already a good sized crowd became reminiscent of army ants on the march... Still, a great venue with fantastic views and one that I will be looking for future events.

    Photos
    The Shell
    The Shell
    The Shell

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    South Front Tavern - Pan-Seared Maryland Crab Cake
Shrimp Remoulade, Charred Corn Relish

    South Front Tavern

    4.8(60 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    We made another visit here, this time for dinner, and with different friends who have not visited…read moreSouth Front Tavern before. It was great weather this night, so we opted for an outside table that was in total shade. Very comfortable. Our server came by for drink orders. We had no appetizers this visit and went right into entrees. We tried the Port City Burger, the Gnocchi with chicken, cilantro lime shrimp quesadillas and the salmon tacos. Everything was delicious. The only complaint I would have is that the Salmon Tacos was a bit small. The dish is two small tacos with a side of tortilla chips. There is no salsa, no pico de gallo, no slaw. I was actually sorry that I didn't get an appetizer. I was still a little hungry after I finished. We didn't want any of the dessert offered this time. Again, everything was great. Service, food, atmosphere, outside patio. Just my dish was a little less in size. I will keep that in mind next time we visit. I'm not sure something like this would be changed on the menu, but I still wanted to voice my opinion. Still a great place with a great menu and service. If the weather is good, opt for the patio. It is really nice sitting out there.

    Came in for dinner at South Front Tavern with two colleagues who between them have nearly fifty…read moreyears of North Carolina under their belts. I'm the St. Louis visitor in the group, here to be educated on what Southern cooking is supposed to taste like. The verdict by the end of the night was mixed. The space itself is cute and clean, with an industrial-chic, open feel inside, but it gets very loud once it fills up, like hard to hear your side neighbor loud. We lucked into a set of club chairs in a corner away from the main dining area, which knocked the noise down enough that we could hear each other. Without that, I'm honestly not sure we would have stayed. The host didn't blink at seating us over there, and the wait staff throughout the night was friendly. Drinks were fine across the table. My grilled peach old fashioned was the only one I tried, and I was hoping for a sharper, smokier profile, what I got leaned peachy without much else going on. The clams my friend ordered had a little grit in them, so not perfectly cleaned, but the flavor was there. The six-hour baby back ribs was a great start, great sauce, not smothered, fall-off-the-bone tender, the kind of thing I'd come back for. I didn't get a photo because we tore into them too fast, which tells you most of what you need to know. After that, things got uneven. The pork empanadas are listed with an ancho chili jam, but no jam or sauce came with ours. The pastry was crisp and tasty, but the pork inside was under-seasoned, and we left a whole empanada on the plate. The crab cakes was the bigger letdown, my friend, who grew up in Maryland and knows what a crab cake should be, said hers tasted more like a flat, minced patty (possibly with fish filler) than actual crab. She didn't finish it. My gumbo ya-ya had chicken, shrimp, and andouille, but the sauce was thin and tomato-forward where I was hoping for, and a richer sauce. Spice was fine; the whole thing just landed middle-of-the-road. Desserts split the difference. The key lime crème brûlée was genuinely excellent, I'd order it again on its own. The North Carolina blueberry bread pudding was beautifully plated but a little dry in execution for use. We left half of it. One thing worth flagging: the restaurant closes at 8:30, and at 8:30 sharp, with us still finishing dessert, the music came on with the unmistakable "we're closed" energy, even though we'd arrived at 7 and no one else was wandering in late. It made the end of the meal feel rushed in a way that didn't match the otherwise warm service. 3.4 starts out of 5. To be fair: we didn't leave feeling the food was bad, just that we'd ordered into the weaker half of the menu. Our server highly recommended the skillet mac and cheese and the quesadillas, and the skillet cornbread looked great online - we just didn't pull the triggers. We have generous optimism a version of this meal that goes much better than ours did, and on a second visit I'd lean into those recommendations. For now, though, with friends in town and a list of places I haven't tried yet, I probably won't be steering people here for your one night in Wilmington. I'd come back to give it a fairer second shot if I lived here.

    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.

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

    South Front Tavern - South Front Tavern's Bayou Paella
Shrimp, Clams, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish, Saffron, Bomba Rice

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    South Front Tavern's Bayou Paella Shrimp, Clams, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish, Saffron, Bomba Rice

    Elijah's Restaurant - seafood - Updated June 2026

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